JPH06107343A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The paper replenishment work of the paper storage means that is vertically stacked in multiple stages and that can be pulled out in the front direction of the device can be performed independently of other paper storage means. (EN) Provided is a sheet feeding device that allows an operator to perform sheet replenishment work without bending the sheet storage means in the lower stage. An elevating lever 52, one end of which is rotatably attached by a rotating shaft 53 to a bottom plate of a sheet feeding tray 40 pulled out in a forward direction during a sheet replenishing operation, is rotated by the rotating shaft 53. When the paper tray 50 is pushed up, the guide hole 43
The pin 55 loosely fitted inside is abutted against the upper end of the guide hole 43 and locked, and the paper tray 50 receives the pushing force of the elevating lever 52 and rotates counterclockwise around the pin 55, The trailing edge of the trailing edge rises and stops at the sheet replenishing position, so that sheets can be easily stacked on the sheet tray 50.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a plurality of vertically stacked sheet storage means that can be pulled out in the front direction of the apparatus. Sheets stored in the sheet storage means are fed out one by one and covered. The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that is configured to feed a feeding path on a feeding side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, particularly in a medium-sized or larger copying machine, in order to eliminate the trouble of replacing the transfer paper each time the size of the original or the copy magnification is changed, the transfer paper supplied from the paper supply unit is In many cases, one of a plurality of paper feed cassettes or transfer papers stored in a paper feed tray and having different sizes or orientations is selected and used. further,
Eliminates the hassle of loading and unloading paper cassettes, uses a relatively small space during operation, and is equipped with multi-tiered paper trays that are visually attractive and perform paper replenishment work from the front of the copier. The so-called front loading type copying machines have become mainstream. By the way, in this type of copying machine in which the reflected light of the original is directly guided onto the photoreceptor to form a latent image, the original reading position must be located above the copying machine, and as a result, the paper feeding unit Will be placed under the image forming section, that is, at the bottom of the copying machine. As the number of copies and the frequency of copying increase, the frequency of paper replenishment work to the paper feed tray also increases. Especially, when the paper replenishment work to the lowermost paper feed tray is performed, the female clerical worker is required to work in a bent posture. And so on. Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 29873 discloses a sheet containing a cut sheet in which a vertical partition is formed by a movable gate that can be opened and closed, and when the sheets are exhausted, the lower movable gate of the upper chamber is released to store the sheets. There is disclosed a cut sheet storage mechanism capable of transferring the sheet to the lower storage chamber.

[0003]

However, in such a cut sheet storage mechanism, when the sheets in the lowermost storage chamber are exhausted, the sheets are replenished to the uppermost storage chamber, which is easy to work, and the sheets are refilled. When transferring to the lower storage chamber, all the storage chambers between them must be emptied and placed, which greatly restricts the usage form of the storage chamber. In addition, even if the paper in the upper storage chamber is sequentially transferred to the lower storage chamber and the upper storage chamber is always replenished with the paper and used, the paper is exhausted every time the paper is exhausted. Moreover, not only is the operation of sequentially transferring the paper in the upper storage chamber to the lower storage chamber troublesome, but the paper in the storage chamber is replaced each time, so the operator is often confused when selecting the paper. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve such a problem in the prior art, and the paper replenishment work of the paper storage means that is stacked in multiple stages in the vertical direction and that can be pulled out in the front direction of the apparatus is independent of other paper storage means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device that can perform the sheet replenishment work without the operator having to bend greatly into the lowermost sheet storage means.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is mounted in a paper storing means which is vertically stacked in multiple stages and which can be pulled out in the front direction of the apparatus, and a large number of papers are mounted thereon. A paper feed for maintaining a constant contact pressure between the paper stacked on the paper tray on which the paper can be stacked and the paper feeding means for feeding the paper loaded on the paper tray one by one and sending it to the feed path on the supply side. During the paper feeding operation, the pressure maintaining means reduces the amount of paper stacked on the paper table that has been moved upward while maintaining a substantially horizontal state, and when the paper is exhausted, the paper storage means is pulled forward. And a paper table moving means for moving the paper table further upward from the paper feeding position when the paper is exhausted, and gradually inclining the front so as to be located on the lower side and moving the paper table to the paper supply position. Slide on the front edge of the paper stand by its own weight In which fallen sheet had a sheet aligning member is aligned by impinging.

[0005]

In the paper feeding operation, as the number of sheets stacked on the paper table decreases, the paper table is moved upward by the paper feeding pressure maintaining means while maintaining a substantially horizontal state. When the paper storage means is pulled out forward due to the exhaustion of the paper, the paper tray moving means raises the paper tray to a position higher than the paper feed position when the paper is exhausted, and the front is gradually moved downward. Tilt it so that it is positioned and move it to the paper supply position. When the replenishment sheets are stacked on the sheet tray, the sheets slide down due to their own weight and abut against the sheet abutting member to be aligned.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming unit for forming a copy image on a transfer sheet fed according to a well-known electrostatic photography process, 2 denotes an operation display panel for inputting operation information and displaying the input information and the operating state of the copying machine, Reference numeral 3 denotes a pressure plate that presses the placed document on a contact glass (not shown), and reference numeral 4 denotes a paper feed unit including a three-stage paper feed tray. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the lowermost paper feed tray 40 of the paper feed unit 4 is pulled out toward the front of the copying machine to be in a paper supply state. The paper feed tray 40 is provided with a paper tray 50 on which the transfer paper P is mounted. A leading edge fence 51 is erected on the leading edge (left edge in FIG. 1) of the paper tray 50.
A pair of arms 56 are projectingly provided on both sides of the bottom surface of the lower paper tray 50, and pins 55 are planted on the outer sides of the tips thereof. The pin 55 is loosely fitted in a guide hole 43 formed in a pair of ribs 42a provided on both sides of the back surface of the front cover 42 of the paper feed tray 40 so as to be vertically movable.
As a result, the front edge position of the paper tray 50 is regulated. Further, a locking rib 50b is provided at a substantially central portion of the bottom surface of the paper table 50, and a locking hole 50c extending parallel to the bottom surface of the paper table 50 is formed in the locking rib 50b. A locking pin 54, which is planted at the other end of an elevating lever 52 whose one end is fixed to a rotary shaft 53 rotatably supported on the bottom of the paper feed tray 40, is loosely fitted in the locking hole 50c. ing. Rotating shaft 53
A driving force from a lifting motor (not shown) is transmitted to the lifting lever 52 so that the lifting lever 52 can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. In addition,
A leg wheel 10 is attached to the bottom of the copier body for the convenience of transportation.

At the time of the paper feeding operation, the paper tray 50 supports the support spring 44.
The transfer paper P is supported by the transfer roller P and is maintained in a horizontal position.
In order to keep the contact pressure of the feeding roller constant, the elevating lever 52 is gradually rotated in the clockwise direction so as to push up the paper tray 50 upward. When the transfer paper P mounted on the paper tray 50 is exhausted, a paper exhaustion sensor (not shown) for detecting exhaustion of the transfer paper P sends a paper exhaustion signal to the control unit, and the lift lever 52 is moved by the control signal from the control unit. Further, it rotates in the clockwise direction to move the paper table 50 to the paper replenishment preparation position shown by the chain line in the figure. An operator who visually recognizes a paper exhaustion lamp lit on the operation display panel 2 based on the paper exhaustion signal resists the urging force of a not-shown gentle spring installed between the paper feed tray 40 and the copier body frame. When the grip 41 provided on the front surface of the front cover 42 of the paper feed tray 40 is grasped and the paper feed tray 40 is pulled out to a predetermined position, the pull-out sensor (not shown) detects that the paper feed tray 40 is pulled out to the predetermined position. On the basis of the pull-out detection signal, the support lever 67 is rotated counterclockwise about the fulcrum 68 by a drive mechanism (not shown), and the tip end of the support lever 67 presses the floor surface to support the paper feed tray 40. It is like this. At the same time, the elevating motor begins to rotate, and the elevating lever 52 rotates clockwise to separate the paper tray 50 from the support spring 44 and push it upward. At this time, the front edge of the paper tray 50 is planted at the tip of an arm 56 projecting from the bottom surface of the paper tray 50, and a pin 55 loosely fitted in the guide hole 43 is provided in the guide hole 4.
Since it abuts against the upper end of 3 and is locked, the upward movement is suppressed, and the paper tray 50 rotates counterclockwise around the pin 55 under the push-up force of the rotating lift lever 52. , Then the edge rises. After the raising / lowering lever 52 is rotated by a predetermined amount, the raising / lowering motor stops rotating, so that the paper tray 50 stands still in a state of being inclined forward as shown in the drawing. After that, when the operator releases the grip 41, the paper feed tray 40 is pulled back by the urging force of the gentle spring described above, and the rear edge 50a of the paper tray 50 is stored in the next upper position. By hitting the front surface of the front cover 42 ', the backward movement is suppressed and stopped.
Since the rear edge 50a of the paper tray 50 is locked to the front surface of the front cover 42 ', a more stable paper supply operation can be performed. In this way, the lowermost paper feed tray 40 enters the paper supply standby state, but the paper tray 50 is
Since the bottom plate of No. 0 rises considerably upward and the bottom surface of the bottom plate is stationary with the front surface tilted forward, the operator holds one end of the transfer sheet P for supply and hangs the other end thereof. Contact the bottom surface of the paper tray 50, slide forward along the bottom surface and abut against the front edge fence 51,
Since the bundle of transfer paper P is aligned and stored in the paper feed tray 40, the operator can perform the paper replenishing work in a comfortable posture without being greatly bent during the paper replenishing work. It should be noted that the front edge fence 51 has a transfer sheet P stacked on the sheet table 50.
A paper bundle amount scale is provided for visually recognizing the bundle amount.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the paper tray 50. The bottom surface of the paper tray 50 has a through groove 57 extending vertically and horizontally.
a and 57b are respectively formed, and through grooves 57a,
A support member, which is provided upright from the bottom side of the paper tray 50 and integrally supports vertical and horizontal side fences 60a and 60b for holding the edges of the stored transfer paper P bundle, is loosely fitted to 57b. . Vertical and horizontal side fences 60a,
60b is driven by a fence moving motor (not shown) provided on the back side of the paper tray 50 to pass through the through grooves 57a, 5a.
It is movable vertically and horizontally along 7b.
A vertical width sensor 59 and a horizontal width sensor 59 of the transfer paper P are arranged at predetermined intervals along the long edges of the through grooves 57a and 57b. A paper reference position mark 58 is printed on the right end of the bottom edge of the bottom surface of the paper table 50. Further, the paper reference position mark 58 corresponds to the position of the other corner of the transfer paper P having a different size with the paper reference position mark 58 as one corner. Multiple paper size marks 6
1 is printed. When the size of the transfer sheet P placed on the sheet table 50 in accordance with the sheet reference position mark 58 is detected by the vertical width sensor and the horizontal width sensor 59, the fence moving motor is rotated by the control signal to reach the standby position. The existing vertical and horizontal side fences 60a and 60b are moved to a position where they are in contact with the two adjacent sides of the placed transfer paper P. FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing the right and left front edges of the paper feed tray 40 in an enlarged manner. The position of the paper reference position mark 58 is shown on the upper surface of the front cover 42 at the right front edge of the paper feed tray 40 shown in (a), and a guide display prompting the user to place one corner of the transfer paper P at this position. A label 49 is attached. Further, on the paper tray 50 near the back surface of the front cover 42 at the left front edge of the paper feed tray 40 shown in (b), the manual knob 48 provided on the front surface of the front cover 42 is rotated by the operator's rotation operation. A cylindrical paper placement direction indicator 70 having a rectangle corresponding to the shape of the transfer paper P printed on the upper surface, which indicates the paper placement direction of the transfer paper P when the operator performs the paper supply operation. Is provided. By using the sheet placement direction indicator 70 to indicate the sheet placement direction of the transfer sheet P placed on the sheet table 50, the transfer sheet P stored in the sheet feed tray 40 is fed. When exhausted,
It is possible to prevent the operator from being confused during the paper replenishment work because the paper placement direction of the transfer paper P stored in the paper feed tray 40 was unknown last time. Fig. 5 shows that due to error or careless external force,
Do not damage the paper tray 50, the front cover 42, etc., or
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a paper feed tray protection mechanism for preventing the paper from swinging. A lock lever 45 is attached to the side surface of the bottom plate of the paper feed tray 40 so as to be rotatable around a support pin 46 on one end side, and is attached to the other end side on the paper feed tray 40.
The operating rod of the solenoid 12 is attached to the rear portion of the solenoid 12 and is capable of applying an urging force that pulls the other end upward against the urging force of the return spring 47 that pulls the other end downward. A protrusion 45 a having a vertical rising edge is formed on the rear surface at substantially the center of the upper surface of the lock lever 45. When the paper feed tray 40 is pulled out during the paper supply operation, the solenoid 12 is energized to rotate the lock lever 45 in the counterclockwise direction to be locked at the locking position. At the locking position, the tip of the projection 45a projects above the lower end of the front surface of the locking piece 13 attached to the main frame of the copying machine, and when the paper feed tray 40 is pulled out by the maximum distance, the rising edge of the projection 45a is engaged. The mounting position of the support pin 46 is defined so as to face the front surface of the stop piece 13. When the paper replenishment work is completed, the solenoid 12 is de-energized by pressing the paper replenishment work end button on the operation display panel 2, and the lock lever 45 is rotated clockwise by the urging force of the return spring 47. The rising edge of the protrusion 45a is separated from the front surface of the locking piece 13, and the locking operation of the paper feed tray protection mechanism is released.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the paper feed tray 40 is pulled out forward by the operator during the paper replenishing work, the bottom of the paper tray 50 is automatically raised to the paper replenishing position while the bottom surface is inclined forward. Although such a mechanism is provided, it may be selectively raised by pressing a button on the operation display panel 2 or manually raised. Even if the paper tray 50 has a mechanism such that the paper tray 50 simply moves up when the paper feed tray 40 is pulled out forward, the effect according to the present embodiment can be expected. Hereinafter, application examples of the present invention having such a mechanism will be described in detail. FIG. 6 shows the first
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the lowermost paper feed tray 40 of the paper feed unit 4 of the copying machine according to the application example 1 is pulled out in the front direction of the copying machine to be in a paper supply state. Parts that are the same as or can be regarded as the same as those in the embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In this application example, the link mechanism 76 performs the raising / lowering operation of the paper tray 50 provided in the paper feed tray 40. Similar to the above-described embodiment, when the transfer paper P mounted on the paper table 50 is exhausted in the paper feeding state (the position of the paper table 50 indicated by the one-dot chain line in the figure), a transfer paper exhaust sensor (not shown) Based on the paper exhaustion signal, the paper tray 50 moves to the paper supply preparation position (the position of the paper tray 50 shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure). After that, the paper feed tray 40 is pulled out by the operator, and a paper replenishment operation is performed in which the stack of transfer paper P is stacked on the paper table 50 maintained at the height of the paper replenishment preparation position. The stack amount of the transfer paper P bundle is close to the rear edge of the paper tray 50, and the supply paper amount indicating plate 7 is erected on the bottom plate of the paper feed tray 40.
It is grasped by visually observing the scale of 1. Also in this application example, since the paper supply position of the paper tray 50 is slightly higher than the paper supply position, the operator can easily perform the paper supply work.

Next, the paper supply position of the paper table 50 can be set to a higher position, and the paper table 50 can be set at 90 °.
A second application example that is rotatable will be described. FIG. 7 shows the lowermost paper feed tray 4 of the paper feed unit 4 of the copying machine according to the second application example.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which 0 is pulled out in the front direction of the copying machine to be in a paper supply state. When the paper feed tray 40 is pulled out by the operator and the drawer sensor (not shown) detects the drawer of the paper feed tray 40 to a predetermined position, the lifting motor 73 is generated based on the drawer detection signal.
Starts to rotate and the worm gear 79 connected to the drive shaft
As a result, the multistage link mechanism 76 'extends and pushes the paper tray 50 upward. When the paper tray 50 rises to the paper supply position, the lift motor 73 stops rotating. FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the paper table 50 showing a retracting mechanism for the supply amount indicator plate 72 provided near the rear edge of the paper table 50. The supply paper amount instruction plate 72 is rotatably supported on the paper table 50 by a support shaft 74, and is rotated clockwise by a pulling force of a spring 75 hung between one end of the plate 72 and a support member of the paper table 50. A biasing force that rotates is applied.
During the paper replenishing operation, this urging force is used to supply the replenishment paper
The other end side of 2 is exposed on the upper side of the upper surface of the paper table 50, and the stacking amount of the transfer paper P bundle can be visually recognized by the scales engraved on the side surfaces. Paper supply amount indicator 7 during paper feeding operation
The protrusion 72a formed on the lower part of one end side of the sheet feeding tray 4
By hitting an engagement piece (not shown) attached to the bottom plate of No. 0, the supply amount indicator plate 72 rotates counterclockwise around the support shaft 74, and the other end side of the supply amount indicator plate 72 is placed on the sheet. The replenishment paper amount indicating plate 72 is set below the upper surface of the table 50 so as not to interfere with the paper feeding operation. In this application example, during the paper replenishing operation, the paper tray 50 rises much higher than the paper feed position of the paper feed tray 40 due to the extension of the multistage link mechanism 76 ', so that the paper replenishment work by the operator becomes easy.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are a plan view and a sectional view taken along the axis of rotation of the paper tray 50 of the lowermost paper feed tray 40 according to the second application example. The paper table 50 is formed in a substantially disk shape, and the support shaft 7 is supported by the rotation shaft 64.
8 is rotatably supported. Engagement grooves 77 are formed at positions slightly closer to the center on the back surface of the paper tray 50 along the circumferential direction over a quarter circumference with concave holes at both ends, and are formed at the center of the front surface. Shows a paper placement direction display 69 representing a rectangular paper surface for indicating the paper placement direction of the transfer paper P. Further, cutouts 80 having a predetermined length are formed at three positions which are separated from the outer circumference of the paper tray 50 toward the center by an angle of about 90 °, and the vertical and horizontal side fences are formed in the cutouts 80. 60a and 60b can be fitted. On the other hand, a holding hole 78a is provided in a position facing the engaging groove 77 on the surface of the support plate 78, and the spring 62 is held in the holding hole 78a. Sphere 63 interposed between the engaging groove 77
Are pressed against. After the stack of the transfer paper P is placed on the paper tray 50 by the operator in accordance with the paper placement direction display 69, the paper feed operation end button on the operation display panel 2 is pressed, whereby the lift motor 73 is operated. Reverse rotation causes the multi-stage link mechanism 76 'to shrink and lower the paper tray 50 to the height of the paper feed position. The vertical and horizontal side fences 60a and 60b at the standby position are fitted into the notches 80 to hold the stack of transfer paper P, and the size of the transfer paper P is determined based on their moving distances. A paper size signal representing the size of the transfer paper P that has been determined is sent to the control unit, and the size of the transfer paper P is displayed on the operation display panel 2. When the orientation of the transfer sheet P is different from the desired or appropriate orientation, the orientation of the transfer sheet P is rotated by 90 degrees by manually or by pressing the sheet rotation button on the operation display panel 2. Can be changed.

[0012]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the paper tray on the paper storing means pulled out in the forward direction during the paper replenishing operation is further above the paper feeding position when the paper is exhausted. The paper is mounted on the paper tray and tilted so that the front is positioned on the lower side, and is mounted on the paper tray. As a result, the operator can carry out the paper supply operation without bending greatly, and the operation of aligning the papers mounted on the paper tray can be automatically performed. According to the second aspect of the invention, the paper table moving means has one end having a rotation fulcrum on the paper storage means and the other end supporting the paper table substantially central portion, and the support member is rotated. Since the rotation driving means and the locking means that rotatably locks the front end portion of the paper tray at the predetermined position, the paper tray moving means can be configured easily and inexpensively. According to the third aspect of the invention, when the sheet storage means is pulled out in the forward direction due to the exhaustion of the sheets stacked on the sheet tray, the pulled-out sheet storage means is supported on the floor surface. Therefore, the paper supply operation can be stably performed, and the pulled-out paper storage means can be reinforced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a lowermost paper feed tray of a paper feed unit of a copying machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is in a paper supply state.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a paper tray.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view showing enlarged right and left front edges of a paper feed tray.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a paper feed tray protection mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the lowermost paper feed tray of the paper feed unit of the copying machine according to the first application example is set to a paper supply state.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a lowermost paper feed tray of a paper feed unit of a copying machine according to a second application example is set to a paper supply state.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a paper tray showing a retracting mechanism for a supply amount indicator plate.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the paper tray of the lowermost paper feed tray.

FIG. 10 is likewise a sectional view along the axis of rotation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Paper Feeding Section 40 Paper Feed Tray 50 Paper Stand 52 Lifting Lever 53 Rotating Shaft 42 Front Cover 42a Rib 43 Guide Hole 50c Locking Hole 54 Locking Pin 51 Front Edge Fence 55 Pin 56 Arm 44 Support Spring 67 Support Lever 68 Support Point

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A paper storage unit that is vertically stacked in multiple stages and that can be pulled out in the front direction of the apparatus; and a paper storage unit that is mounted on the paper storage unit and maintains a substantially horizontal state during a paper feeding operation, and above it. A sheet table on which a large number of sheets can be stacked, sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets stacked on the sheet table one by one and sending them to a feed path on the supply side, and Along with the decrease, the paper table is provided with a paper feed pressure maintaining means for moving the paper table upward while maintaining a substantially horizontal state and maintaining a constant contact pressure between the paper stacked on the paper table and the paper feeding means. In the sheet feeding device, when the sheets stacked on the sheet table are exhausted and the sheet storage means is pulled out in the forward direction, the sheet tray is further moved upward from the sheet feeding position when the sheets are exhausted. As you raise it, the front is gradually positioned on the lower side And a sheet abutting member which aligns the sheet slidably dropped due to its own weight against the front edge of the sheet tray. Paper equipment. 2. The paper table moving means has one end having a rotation fulcrum on the paper accommodating means and the other end supporting a substantially central portion of the paper table, and a rotation driving means for rotating the support member. And a locking means that rotatably locks the front end of the paper tray at a predetermined position.
The paper feeder described. 3. A support means for supporting the pulled-out sheet storage means with respect to the floor when the sheet storage means is pulled out in the forward direction when the sheets stacked on the sheet tray are exhausted. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein