JPH06227689A - Paper sheet supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a paper sheet supply device capable of certainly positioning a paper cassette against a device case as well as smoothly inserting and taking the paper cassette into and out of the device case and preventing lowering of printing quality and arranging switches and others on the side part of the device case. CONSTITUTION:A guide groove 11 is formed in the longitudinal direction on a bottom surface of a paper cassette 10 and simultaneously, an engagement protruded part 14 to engage with the guide groove 11 of the paper cassette 10 is formed on a device case 1. Consequently, even when there is a play in the cross direction between the paper cassette 10 and the device case 1, by engagement of the guide groove 11 and the engagement protruded part 14, it is possible to regulate movement of the paper cassette 10 in the cross direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device used in, for example, a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a paper cassette for accommodating recording paper of a facsimile machine is formed separately from an apparatus case for accommodating an image sensor, a photosensitive drum, etc., and can be put in and taken out from the apparatus case. When replenishing the recording paper or changing the size of the recording paper, the paper cassette is removed from the apparatus case. To remove this paper cassette, pull it out toward you and pull it out of the device case. On the contrary, when the paper cassette is attached to the device case, the operation opposite to that at the time of extraction is performed.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned facsimile machine, the guide means composed of a rail or the like is provided between the device case and the paper cassette on the side portion of the paper cassette and the device case. A play is provided between the device case and the paper cassette so that the paper cassette can be smoothly taken in and out of the device case. Therefore, the paper cassette moves in the width direction with respect to the device case by an amount of play.

Therefore, the position of the paper cassette in the apparatus case is not fixed in the width direction of the paper cassette. This leads to the result that the printing device for the recording paper is not constant, the print quality is degraded, and in some cases, jam (paper jam) is caused.

On the other hand, the paper cassette is provided with a dog or the like which indicates the type of recording paper by operating a switch on the apparatus case side. In this case, it is desirable that the switch is provided on the side of the device case from the viewpoint of ease of assembly. However, if a rail or the like for guiding is provided on the side portion of the paper cassette, the dog arrangement on the side portion becomes an obstacle, and the switch is often arranged on the bottom portion of the apparatus case.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to allow a paper cassette to be smoothly taken in and out of an apparatus case and to ensure the positioning of the paper cassette with respect to the apparatus case. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device that can be performed and can prevent deterioration of print quality.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an apparatus case is provided between a bottom surface of a paper cassette for accommodating recording sheets and an apparatus case for detachably supporting the paper cassette. The gist of the invention is to provide guide means for restricting the movement of the paper cassette in the width direction with respect to the paper cassette and guiding the paper cassette in and out.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the above construction, when the paper cassette is taken in and out from the apparatus case, the widthwise movement of the paper cassette is restricted by the guide means provided between the paper cassette and the apparatus case. , The paper cassette is reliably positioned with respect to the device case.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a paper feeding device of a facsimile machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a drum case 3 for supporting the photosensitive drum 2 in a positively rotatable manner is arranged at the substantially center of the apparatus case 1. A photoconductive film 4 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2. A charger 5 for uniformly charging the photoconductive film 4 to a predetermined potential is arranged above the photosensitive drum 2 in the drum case 3. Further, above the photosensitive drum 2 in the drum case 3, an exposure device 6 is arranged to form an electrostatic latent image of a predetermined potential on the photoconductive film 4 by irradiation of light.

On the right side of the drum case 3 in FIG.
The developing device 7 is arranged. The developing device 7 includes a toner case 8 for storing the toner T, a developing roller 9 and the like. A predetermined potential is applied to the toner T by the developing roller 9, and the toner T is attached to the electrostatic latent image based on the difference between the potential and the potential of the electrostatic latent image to visualize the electrostatic latent image. It is supposed to be done.

A paper cassette 10 is detachably mounted on the lower bottom wall 1a in the apparatus case 1. A large number of recording papers P are stored in the paper cassette 10 in a stacked state. A paper feed roller 24 is supported above the paper cassette 10 so as to be positively rotatable. Then, when the paper feed roller 24 is rotated, the recording papers P are fed out one by one from the paper cassette 10, and the recording papers P are fed through the pair of recording paper guides 25 and the pair of feed rollers 26. It is transferred to the lower part of the photosensitive drum 2. A guide roller 21 that holds the recording paper P from the feed roller 26 in close contact with the photosensitive drum 2 is rotatably supported below the photosensitive drum 2.

Further, below the photosensitive drum 2, a transfer device 2 is provided.
7 are arranged. The transfer device 27 applies a predetermined electric potential to the contact portion with the photosensitive drum 2, and transfers the toner image onto the recording paper P based on the difference between the electric potential and the electric potential of the toner image. Further, below the photosensitive drum 2, there is arranged a discharging lamp 34 for exposing the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2 after the transfer operation to discharge the charge.

The photosensitive drum 2 is provided in the drum case 3.
A brush 28 that is lightly in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sheet and removes paper dust and the like adhering to the photosensitive drum 2 after transfer is attached and fixed. Similarly, in the drum case 3, the toner T that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2 and remains on the photosensitive drum 2 after transfer
A memory removing brush 29, which is a conductive brush that scatters the light and uniformly disperses it on the photosensitive drum 2, is attached and fixed.

In parallel with the above-described developing operation, the developing device 7 also performs a cleaning operation for collecting the residual toner T dispersed by the memory removing brush 29 by electrostatic attraction. A heat fixing device 3 is provided downstream of the photosensitive drum 2.
0 is placed. The heat fixing device 30 includes a heating roller 31 and a pressure roller 32 that comes into contact with the heating roller 31 with a required pressure. The recording paper P transferred from the photosensitive drum 2 side is the heating roller 3
1 and the pressure roller 32, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 33.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper cassette 1 is
At the end of 0, a handle 10 for attaching and detaching the cassette 10 is provided.
a is integrally formed. A guide groove 11 is formed on the bottom surface of the paper cassette 10 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction and open toward the end on the handle 10a side. On one side surface of the paper cassette 10, a dog 12 which is engaged with a switch (not shown) on the side of the apparatus case 1 and indicates the size of the recording paper P stored therein is formed in a protruding manner. A stopper 1 that engages with a spring (not shown) provided in the device case 1 on the other side surface of the paper cassette 10 and elastically restricts the frontward and rearward movement of the paper cassette 10 with respect to the device case 1.
3 is formed to project.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, on the bottom wall 1a of the apparatus case 1 at a position corresponding to the guide groove 11 of the paper cassette 10, a cylindrical engagement protrusion engaging with the guide groove 11 is formed. The parts 14 are fixedly arranged at two front and rear positions. The engagement convex portion 14 and the guide groove 11 constitute a guide means.

When the paper cassette 10 is attached to the device case 1, the engaging projection 14 of the device case 1 is made to correspond to the guide groove 11 of the paper cassette 10. Then, when the paper cassette 10 is pushed in until the stopper 13 engages with the spring in the apparatus case 1 in that state, the paper cassette 10 is set at a predetermined position. Then, the push-up lever 21 arranged in the apparatus case 1 enters the paper cassette 10 and pushes up the recording paper P to the paper feed roller 24 side via the push-up plate 23 in the paper cassette 10. When the paper cassette 10 is mounted in the device case 1, the engagement protrusion 14 is engaged with the guide groove 11, so the paper cassette 10 does not move in the width direction with respect to the device case 1.

As described above, in this embodiment, the guide groove 11 is formed on the bottom surface of the paper cassette 10 in the longitudinal direction, and the engaging projection 14 that engages with the guide groove 11 of the paper cassette 10 is formed on the apparatus case 1. Was formed.

As a result, even if there is a play in the width direction between the paper cassette 10 and the apparatus case 1, the guide groove 1
The paper cassette 1
The movement of 0 in the width direction can be restricted. Therefore, the device case 1
Since the paper cassette 10 can be reliably positioned relative to the recording paper P, the printing position on the recording paper P does not shift, the printing quality can be improved, and the occurrence of jams can be significantly reduced.

Further, since the guide groove 11 constituting the guide means is provided on the bottom surface of the paper cassette 10, the dog 12 indicating the type (size) of the recording paper P is provided in the cassette 10.
Can be installed on the side of For this reason, the switch operated by the dog 12 is also easy to assemble.
Can be placed on the side of.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be constructed as follows, for example, within the scope of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, only one guide groove 11 is formed on the bottom surface of the paper cassette 10 as a guide means, but it may be embodied as two or more guide grooves. Of course,
In this case, the engaging convex portion 14 of the device case 1 also has the guide groove 1.
It increases corresponding to the number of 1s.

(2) In the above embodiment, the printing apparatus is embodied as a facsimile apparatus, but it may be embodied as a copying machine or a printer.

[0024]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
The paper cassette can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the device case, and the paper cassette can be reliably positioned with respect to the device case. Therefore, it is possible to improve printing quality and prevent jams. It has an excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a facsimile device embodying this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the paper cassette.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a paper cassette is attached to the device case.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device case, 10 ... Paper cassette, 11 ... Guide groove as guide means, 14 ... Engagement convex part as guide means, P ... Recording paper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. Between the bottom surface of a paper cassette for accommodating recording paper and the device case that detachably supports the paper cassette, the movement of the paper cassette in the width direction with respect to the device case is restricted so that the paper cassette can be removed. A sheet feeding device provided with a guiding means for guiding the taking in and out.