JPH0729068Y2 - Automatic paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to an automatic paper feeder for automatically feeding paper to a terminal device such as a printer, and particularly for separating relatively thick paper. The present invention relates to an automatic sheet feeder having a separation claw.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in a terminal device such as a printer, it is necessary to automatically supply paper to a place to be printed out, and an automatic feeding device having a separation claw for separating and supplying paper one by one is provided. A paper machine is provided.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional automatic sheet feeder, FIG. 6 is a side view of the conventional automatic sheet feeder, and FIG. 7 is a state of sheet feeding of the conventional automatic sheet feeder.

In the figure, 1 is a relatively thick paper such as a postcard to be printed out, and a plurality of the papers 1 are stacked on a pair of left and right paper stacking plates 2a and 2b that constitute a paper stacking unit.
The paper 1 is attached to the outer side of each of the paper stacking plates 2a and 2b.
The paper guides 3a, 3b for restricting the positions of both side edges of the paper are formed upright, and the bottom of the paper stacking plates 2a, 2b is stepped downward as shown in FIG. Then, the push-up plates 4a and 4b are disposed on the stepped portion so as to be swingable about the rear side thereof as an axis.

Then, through holes 5a, 5b are provided at the front portions of the sheet stacking plates 2a, 2b, and through holes 6a, 6 are provided at the front portions of the push-up plates 4a, 4b so as to face the through holes 5a, 5b.
b is formed. Further, the square shaft 7 extends through the middle part of the sheet stacking plates 2a and 2b.

Supports 8a and 8b are provided outside the paper stacking plates 2a and 2b, and a guide plate 9 extends and is fixed in front of the supports 8a and 8b. Then, the guide elements 10a, 10b arranged at the front ends of the respective sheet stacking plates 2a, 2b slide on the guide plate 9
The sheet stacking plates 2a and 2b are freely engaged and the guides 10a and 1b
It is supported so as to be movable left and right via 0b and the angular axis 7.

11 is a drive shaft passed between the supports 8a and 8b,
The drive shaft 11 is rotated by a driving device (not shown) to rotate the paper feed rollers 12a and 12b.

Here, 13a and 13b are elastic members such as springs provided between the stepped portions of the sheet stacking plates 2a and 2b and the push-up plates 4a and 4b, respectively, and the push-up plates are formed by the elastic members 13a and 13b. The sheets 4a, 4b are urged upward, so that the sheet 1 on the push-up plates 4a, 4b is pressed against the sheet feeding rollers 12a, 12b.

14a and 14b are separating members arranged to separate the thin paper 1 when it is fed, and are attached to the front ends of the paper guides 3a and 3b. Also, 15a, 15b
Is a separation claw for separating the thick paper 1, and is formed of a flexible material such as a polyester film, and its upper end has a substantially triangular shape.

Reference numerals 16a and 16b denote crank members whose rear ends are rotatably attached to the angular shaft 7, and rigid holding pieces 17a and 17b are arranged at the tips of the crank members 16a and 16b. 17a, 1
7b extends from the lower surface side of the sheet stacking plates 2a, 2b through the through holes 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, and vertically projects above the push-up plates 4a, 4b.
Then, the separation claws 15a, 15b are fixed to the surface of the holding pieces 17a, 17b on the side of the sheet 1 so that the separation claws 15a, 15b come into contact with the leading end of the sheet 1 via the separation claws 15a, 15b.

Here, the uppermost ends of the separation claws 15a and 15b are higher than the holding pieces 17a and 17b, and project to a position slightly higher than the lower ends of the paper feed rollers 12a and 12b.

Further, 18a and 18b are engagement grooves arranged in the crank members 16a and 16b. Reference numeral 19 denotes a switching lever which is arranged so as to rotate around a support shaft 20.
A switching shaft 21 is fixed to the switching lever 21 and the switching lever 21 is engaged with the engaging grooves 18a and 18b.
Is transmitted to the crank members 16a and 16b.

Next, the operation of the above-described conventional automatic sheet feeder will be described with reference to the sheet feeding state diagram shown in FIG.

Here, FIG. 7 (A) shows the state at the start of sheet feeding, and FIG. 7 (B) shows the state after the start of sheet feeding.

First, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the sheet feeding rollers 12a and 12b are rotated integrally with the drive shaft 11 in the direction of the arrow by a driving device (not shown), the uppermost sheet is fed by the sheet feeding rollers 12a and 12b. A forward feeding force is applied to the sheet 1.

At this time, the leading edge of the sheet 1 is in contact with the upper ends of the separating claws 15a and 15b, but since the separating claws 15a and 15b have flexibility, they are subject to pressure from the sheet 1. The upper ends of the separation claws 15a and 15b are bent back in the sheet feeding direction.

As a result, the leading edge of the sheet 1 rises up along the separating claws 15a and 15b, and the seventh sheet is moved along with the rotation of the sheet feeding rollers 12a and 12b.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the separation claws 15a and 15b are passed over and fed out.

In this way, the sheets 1 can be sequentially fed one by one.

When feeding thin paper 1, switch the lever
By turning 19 in a predetermined direction and pushing down the crank members 16a, 16b via the switching shaft 21, the holding pieces 17a, 1
The separation claws 15a, 15b are retracted below the push-up plates 4a, 4b together with 7b. At that time, the sheet 1 is separated by the separating members 14a and 14b.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-described conventional automatic paper feeder, the switching lever 19 must be operated when the thin paper 1 and the thick paper 1 are exchanged.

When feeding thick paper 1, the separation claws 15a, 15b
By appropriately setting the height of the upper end of the sheet 1, it is possible to surely separate the sheets 1 one by one and stably feed the sheets, but for example, it is only for one type of sheet 1 such as a postcard. When using multiple types of thick paper 1,
Stable paper cannot be fed.

For example, when the heights of the upper ends of the separation claws 15a and 15b are set in accordance with the postcard, when the paper 1 that is thicker than the postcard is to be fed, its rigidity is high. When 1 is fed, the separation claws 15a and 15b are warped more than necessary. As a result, not only the uppermost sheet 1 but also the second and third sheets 1 easily get over the separation claws 15a and 15b due to the frictional force between the sheets 1, and double feed, triple feed, etc. Double feed will occur.

In order to prevent this double feeding, if the height of the upper ends of the separation claws 15a and 15b is increased, for example, when feeding postcards,
The tip may be broken when it goes over the separation claws 15a and 15b, which may cause an obstacle in the next carrying process or processing process. The same is true when feeding thick paper that is not as thick as a postcard.

As described above, the conventional device is effective in feeding only a single thickness of paper, but is difficult to apply to papers of various thicknesses and lacks versatility.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional automatic paper feeder, and when paper of different paper thickness is fed, it is possible to feed paper one by one without operating the switching lever or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic paper feeding device that can perform double feeding and can prevent double feeding.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, in the automatic sheet feeder of the present invention, a sheet stacking unit having a push-up plate and a sheet feeding unit for feeding out the sheets stacked in the sheet stacking unit by a rotating operation. A roller and a pressing member that pushes up the push-up plate to press the paper against the paper feed roller.

Then, the sheet is placed in front of the sheets stacked in the sheet stacking section and extends perpendicularly to the feeding direction by the sheet feeding roller,
In addition, the upper end is set to be slightly higher than the lower end of the paper feed roller, and the separation claw that is bent back by receiving the sheet feeding force is joined to the separation claw and is slightly lower than the top of the separation claw. The friction member is separated from the portion and extends obliquely upward in the feeding direction by the sheet feeding roller, and a spring member joined to the back surface of the friction member and elastically supporting the friction member.

Further, the separating claw and the friction member are arranged at positions different from the paper feed roller in the width direction of the paper.

(Operation) According to the present invention, as described above, in the automatic paper feeder, the paper stacking unit having the push-up plate, and the paper feed roller for feeding the paper stacked on the paper stacking unit by the rotation operation. A pressing member that pushes up the push-up plate to press the paper against the paper feed roller.

Then, the sheet is placed in front of the sheets stacked in the sheet stacking section and extends perpendicularly to the feeding direction by the sheet feeding roller,
In addition, the upper end is set to be slightly higher than the lower end of the paper feed roller, and the separation claw that is bent back by receiving the sheet feeding force is joined to the separation claw and is slightly lower than the top of the separation claw. The friction member is separated from the portion and extends obliquely upward in the feeding direction of the paper feed roller, and a spring member joined to the back surface of the friction member and elastically supporting the friction member.

In the case of feeding thick paper, when the feeding force of the first paper is applied from the paper feed roller, the first paper is advanced. In this case, since the upper end of the separating claw is higher than the lower end of the sheet feeding roller, the leading end of the first sheet is brought into contact with the separating claw. Since the separating claw extends perpendicularly to the feeding direction of the paper feed roller, the first sheet is pushed up by the feeding force while warping the separating claw and gets over the separating claw.

When the feeding force is further applied to the above-mentioned paper, the first paper comes off the separation claw, and at this time, when the second and subsequent papers try to get over the separation claw, the separation claw is further warped. . Therefore, the second and subsequent sheets of paper are regulated by the separation force corresponding to the amount of warp from the vertical direction. After that, the first sheet comes into contact with the friction member supported by the spring member, slides on the friction member, and is fed.

As described above, in the case of thick paper, the separation claw mainly separates the first sheet and the second and subsequent sheets.

Further, the separating claws warp according to the thickness of the paper, and separate the first paper and the second and subsequent papers by the separating force corresponding to the amount of warping.

On the other hand, in the case of thin paper, the first paper and the second and subsequent papers may get over the separation claws, but since a friction member is provided, frictional resistance due to the friction member causes The first sheet and the second and subsequent sheets are sufficiently separated, and the second and subsequent sheets are not fed.

Further, since the friction member extends obliquely upward in the feeding direction of the paper feed roller, the paper fed to the friction member comes into contact obliquely, and there is little resistance when the paper comes into contact with the friction member. The paper will not be bent.

The separation claw and the friction member are arranged at positions different from the paper feed roller in the width direction of the paper.

Therefore, regardless of whether the paper is thick or thin, the paper is fed without being strongly pinched by the paper feed roller, the separating claw, and the friction member.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part of an automatic sheet feeder showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a spring member for separating sheets of the present invention, a friction member,
It is a figure which shows the structure of a separation nail.

In the figure, 1 is a sheet, 11 is a drive shaft, and 12a,
Reference numeral 12b is a paper feed roller which is rotationally driven by the drive shaft 11.

The separation claw 31 is provided in the feeding direction of the sheets 1 stacked on the sheet stacking section by the sheet feeding rollers 12a and 12b, that is, in the front of the sheet feeding direction.
a and 31b are arranged vertically. The upper ends of the separation claws 31a and 31b are set to be slightly higher than the lower ends of the paper feed rollers 12a and 12b. Then, the separation claws 31a, 31b
To the front in the paper feeding direction, friction members 32a and 32b such as urethane rubber having a high friction coefficient are joined to the back surfaces of the separating claws 31a and 31b, and separated from a position slightly lower than the top of the separating claws 31a and 31b. It extends diagonally upward in the direction.

Further, in front of the friction members 32a and 32b in the sheet feeding direction, a spring material 33 made of elastic stainless steel for spring is provided.
a, 33b is joined to the back surface of the friction members 32a, 32b,
The friction members 32a and 32b are elastically supported. These members are joined as described above and supported by the holding pieces 34a and 34b.

Here, the separation claws 31a, 31b have triangular shapes at the upper ends, and the surfaces of the friction members 32a, 32b on the side of the sheet 1 so that the upper ends thereof are slightly higher than the lower ends of the sheet feeding rollers 12a, 12b. It is bonded to the. This joint is the holding piece
The spring material 33a, 3a
It is possible to freely set the positions of the upper portion of 3b and the upper portions of the separating claws 31a and 31b.

Next, the operation of the above-described automatic sheet feeder will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a paper feeding state of automatic paper feeding according to the present invention. FIG. 3 (A) shows the state at the start of sheet feeding, and FIG. 3 (B) shows the state after the start of sheet feeding.

In the figure, the drive shaft 11 is
When the paper feed rollers 12a, 12b are rotated integrally with the paper feed rollers 12a, 12b, a feeding force is applied to the uppermost sheet 1 pressed against the paper feed rollers 12a, 12b, that is, the first sheet 1.

By the way, in the case of feeding the thick sheet 1, when the feeding force is applied from the sheet feeding rollers 12a and 12b to the first sheet 1, the first sheet 1 is advanced. In this case, since the upper ends of the separation claws 31a and 31b are higher than the lower ends of the paper feed rollers 12a and 12b, the leading end of the first sheet 1 is brought into contact with the separation claws 31a and 31b. Since the separation claws 31a and 31b extend perpendicularly to the sheet feeding direction, the first sheet 1 is pushed up by the feeding force while warping the separation claws 31a and 31b, Get over 31a and 31b.

When the feeding force is further applied to the sheet 1, the first sheet 1 comes off from the separating claws 31a and 31b, and at this time, when the second sheet and subsequent sheets 1 try to get over the separating claws 31a and 31b, the separation is performed. Nail 3
1a and 31b will be even more warped. Therefore, the second and subsequent sheets of paper 1 are separated by the separating force corresponding to the amount of curling.
Is regulated. After that, the first sheet 1 is the spring material 33a,
The friction members 32a and 32b supported by the 33b contact the friction members.
It is fed by sliding on 32a and 32b.

As described above, in the case of the thick paper 1, the separation claws 31a,
The first sheet 1 and the second and subsequent sheets 1 are separated by 31b, and only the first sheet 1 is smoothly delivered as the sheet feeding rollers 12a and 12b rotate.

Further, the separating claws 31a and 31b warp in correspondence with the thickness of the sheet 1, and separate the first sheet 1 and the second and subsequent sheets 1 by the separating force corresponding to the amount of warping.

On the other hand, in the case of the thin sheet 1, the first sheet 1 and the second and subsequent sheets 1 may pass over the separation claws 31a and 31b, but the friction members 32a and 32b are provided. So
Due to the frictional resistance of the friction members 32a and 32b, the first sheet 1 and the second and subsequent sheets 1 are sufficiently separated, and the second and subsequent sheets 1 are not fed.

Further, since the friction members 32a, 32b extend obliquely above the paper feed, the paper 1 fed to the friction members 32a, 32b comes into abutting contact with each other obliquely, so that the paper 1 comes in contact with the friction members 32a, 32b. The resistance at the time of contact is small, and the paper 1 is not bent.

The separation claws 31a and 31b and the friction members 32a and 32b are arranged at positions different from the paper feed rollers 12a and 12b in the width direction of the paper 1.

Therefore, regardless of whether the paper 1 is thick or thin, the paper feed rollers 12a and 12b, the separation claws 31a and 31b, and the friction member are used.
Since the paper 1 is fed without being strongly sandwiched by the paper 32a and 32b, the leading edge of the paper 1 hits the friction members 32a and 32b, and the paper 1
The strength of the waist prevents the automatic paper feeder from being stopped.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship of forces applied to a sheet. Fourth
The figure shows the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 1 are separated simultaneously.
The relationship of forces applied to the sheet 1 when the sheet 31a, 31b is overcome is shown.

In the figure, the friction coefficient between the paper feed rollers 12a and 12b and the first sheet 1 is μ ₁ , and the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 1 are
Paper 1 to the friction coefficient mu _2, the paper feed roller 12a, 12b between the
The force to press is P ₁ , and the spring materials 33a and 33b are the first sheet of paper 1.
The spring force applied to the spring force to P _2, second sheet of paper 1 to give the
Let P ₃ , the friction coefficient between the friction members 32a, 32b and the paper 1 be μ ₃ , the reaction force on the first paper 1 be F ₃ , and the reaction force on the second paper 1 be F _4. , The following relationship is obtained.

That is, the feed force of the first sheet of paper _{1 F 1 = μ 1 × P} 1 feed force of handsome paper _{1 F 2 = μ 2 × P} 1 F 3 = μ 3 · P 2 · cosθ -1 F 4 = Μ ₃ · P ₃ · cos θ ⁻¹ .

Here, the friction coefficient μ ₁ between the paper feed rollers 12a and 12b and the first sheet 1 is larger than the friction coefficient μ ₂ between the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 1, and μ ₁ > Μ ₂ , and the first sheet 1 is on the second sheet 1 to prevent the second sheet 1 from rising.
Moreover, the spring force of the spring members 33a and 33b becomes weaker as the distance from the supporting portion increases, so that P ₃ > P ₂ .

Therefore, F ₁ > F ₂ and F ₄ > F ₃ .

Here, the friction coefficient μ ₂ between the first sheet 1 and the second sheet 1 is sufficiently small, and the feed force F ₂ of the second sheet 1 generated thereby is also reduced accordingly, so that the friction Member 32a,
By increasing the friction coefficient μ _{3 of} 32b, F ₁ > F ₄ > F ₃ > F ₂ can be satisfied.

That is, under the condition of the above equation, the second sheet 1
Is stopped by the frictional force of the friction members 32a and 32b, and only the first sheet 1 can be fed out.

While the paper 1 is being fed out as described above, the spring members 33a, 33b are
Remains in a warped state, but the separation claws 31a and 31b are the paper 1
Is in a position lower than the surface contacting the friction members 32a, 32b, and therefore maintains the vertical state regardless of the feeding of the sheet 1. Therefore, the second and subsequent sheets of paper 1 are securely held by the separation claws 31a and 31b. Even if a force is applied to the second and subsequent sheets of paper 1 due to the friction between the sheets of paper 1, the feeding force is small, so the separation claw 31a that maintains the vertical state,
The feeding of the sheet 1 is blocked by 31b.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

(Effect of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in the automatic paper feeding device, the paper stacking unit having the push-up plate and the paper stacked on the paper stacking unit are fed by the rotation operation. And a pressing member that pushes up the push-up plate to press the paper against the paper feeding roller.

Then, the sheet is placed in front of the sheets stacked in the sheet stacking section and extends perpendicularly to the feeding direction by the sheet feeding roller,
In addition, the upper end is set to be slightly higher than the lower end of the paper feed roller, and the separation claw that is bent back by receiving the sheet feeding force is joined to the separation claw and is slightly lower than the top of the separation claw. The friction member is separated from the portion and extends obliquely upward in the feeding direction of the paper feed roller, and a spring member joined to the back surface of the friction member and elastically supporting the friction member.

In the case of feeding thick paper, when a feeding force is applied from the paper feed roller to the first sheet, the first sheet is advanced. In this case, since the upper end of the separating claw is higher than the lower end of the sheet feeding roller, the leading end of the first sheet is brought into contact with the separating claw. Since the separating claw extends perpendicularly to the sheet feeding direction, the first sheet is pushed up while being bent back by the feeding force, and gets over the separating claw.

When the feeding force is further applied to the above-mentioned paper, the first paper comes off the separation claw, and at this time, when the second and subsequent papers try to get over the separation claw, the separation claw is further warped. . Therefore, the second and subsequent sheets of paper are regulated by the separating force corresponding to the amount of curling. After that, the first sheet comes into contact with the friction member supported by the spring member, slides on the friction member, and is fed.

As described above, in the case of thick paper, the separation claw mainly separates the first sheet and the second and subsequent sheets. Therefore, only the first sheet can be smoothly delivered as the sheet feeding roller rotates.

Further, the separating claws warp according to the thickness of the paper, and separate the first paper and the second and subsequent papers by the separating force corresponding to the amount of warping.

Therefore, even when a plurality of types of thick paper are used, the separation claws can reliably feed the sheets one by one without operating the switching lever or the like, and the double feed or triple feed can be performed. Sending will not occur.

On the other hand, in the case of thin paper, the first paper and the second and subsequent papers may get over the separation claws, but since the friction member is provided, the friction resistance due to the friction member causes The first sheet and the second and subsequent sheets are sufficiently separated, and the second and subsequent sheets are not fed. Therefore, it is possible to surely feed the sheets one by one by the friction member, and the double feeding, the triple feeding, and the like do not occur.

Further, since the friction member extends obliquely upward in the paper feed direction, the paper fed to the friction member comes into contact obliquely, and there is little resistance when the paper comes into contact with the friction member, and the paper is bent. It will not happen.

The separation claw and the friction member are arranged at positions different from the paper feed roller in the width direction of the paper.

Therefore, in the case of thick paper, the paper is fed without being strongly pinched by the paper feed roller, the separation claw, and the friction member. Therefore, when the leading edge of the paper hits the friction member, the strength of the paper is automatically adjusted. The paper feeder will not be stopped.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part of an automatic sheet feeder showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a spring member for separating sheets of the present invention, a friction member,
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the separating claw, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the feeding state of the automatic sheet feeder of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship of forces applied to sheets, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the conventional automatic sheet feeder. FIG. 6 is a side view of a conventional automatic sheet feeder, and FIG. 7 is a sheet feeding state diagram of the conventional automatic sheet feeder. 1 ... Paper, 2a, 2b ... Paper stacking plate, 3a, 3b ... Paper guide, 4a, 4b ... Push-up plate, 7 ... Square shaft, 8a, 8b ... Support,
9 ... Guide plate, 11 ... Drive shaft, 12a, 12b ... Paper feed roller, 13a, 13b ... Elastic member, 14a, 14b ... Separation member,
19 …… Switching lever, 21 …… Switching shaft, 31a, 31b…
… Separation claws, 32a, 32b… Friction members, 33a, 33b… Spring materials,
34a, 34b ... Holding pieces.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References Shown 63-31037 (JP, U) Shown 60-62170 (JP, U) Shown 63-90639 (JP, U) Shown 56- 62349 (JP, U) Actual public 35-8406 (JP, Y1)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A paper stacking unit having a push-up plate, a paper feed roller for feeding out the paper stacked on the paper stacking unit by a rotation operation, and a push-up plate pushed up to press the paper against the paper feed roller. (A) an automatic paper feeding device provided with a pressing member, wherein (a) the paper is placed in front of the paper stacked in the paper stacking section, extends perpendicularly to the feeding direction of the paper feeding roller, and the upper end is the paper feeding The separation claw is set to be slightly higher than the lower end of the roller, and is bent back by receiving the paper feeding force; and (b) is joined to the separation claw and separated from a position slightly lower than the top of the separation claw. And (c) a spring member that is joined to the back surface of the friction member and elastically supports the friction member, and (d) the separating claw. And the friction member is An automatic paper feeder, which is arranged at a position different from a paper feed roller in a width direction of paper.