JPH08319039A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To receive as a large amount of paper as possible to a paper feed tray without increasing a height of an image forming device. CONSTITUTION: A device comprises a plurality of paper feed trays 21, 22 arranged in many steps in a vertical direction to have a cut up lower surface 44 of positioning a lower surface of a paper feed side part taken out with paper in the upward from a lower surface 43 of the other part and a paper feed unit U1 having a small diametric take out roll arranged in a space between the cut up lower surface 44 of the paper feed tray 21 in an upper side and a paper upper surface of the paper feed tray 22 in the downward and having a separation/contact mechanism of separating/bringing this take out roll from/ into contact relating to paper on the paper feed trays 21, 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus in which paper feed trays are vertically stacked in multiple stages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As the image forming apparatus of this type, the following technologies (J01) to (J06) are conventionally known. (J01) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-95040 discloses a paper feed tray, a take-out roll, a paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roll and a retard roll, a transport roll for transporting separated sheets, and the like. There is described an image forming apparatus having a multi-stage paper feed tray that is configured as a unit and is detachable from the front side. (J02) Technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-267226 In this publication, there is provided a multi-stage feeding device in which a take-out roll, a paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roll and a retard roll, one side of a pair of transport rolls, etc. are integrated into a unit. An image forming apparatus having a paper tray is described. (J03) Technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-267272 In this publication, an image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit for forming an image and a sheet feeding unit having a multi-stage sheet feeding tray are configured as separate units. Is listed.

(J04) Technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-305732 In this publication, a pair of guide plates for guiding a sheet taken out from a sheet feeding cassette (paper feeding tray) by one side of a pair of conveying rolls and a take-out roll. Of the image forming apparatus, one side of which is supported by a multi-stage paper feeding cassette (paper feeding tray). (J05) Technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-275342 In this publication, a paper feed tray, a take-out roll, a paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roll and a retard roll, a transport roll for transporting separated sheets, and the like are independent. An image forming apparatus configured as a unit and stacked and installed in multiple stages is described. (J06) Technology described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-140236 This technology describes a technology in which the operation of bringing the take-out roll into and out of contact with the paper on the paper feed tray is performed by one drive source. Further, in the technique of this publication, the positions of the upper paper feed tray and the lower paper feed tray are horizontally shifted. Then, the sheets taken out from the upper and lower sheet feeding trays are configured to be conveyed by one sheet feeding roll.

(J07) Technique shown in FIG. 8 FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an upper limit position designating element such as a mark indicating the upper limit position of a sheet stored in a conventional paper feed tray. FIG.
In the conventional paper feed tray 01, an upper limit position designating element 03 such as a mark serving as a mark of the upper limit position is provided on the side surface of the side guide 02 for positioning the side edge of the paper in order to indicate the upper limit position of the sheet that can be stored. Has been. The upper limit position designating element 03 is configured by a horizontal line (a line indicating the upper limit position) formed on a guide member 02 that guides the side edge of the paper stored in the paper feed tray 01. Upper end 0 of the paper feed side of the paper feed tray 01 (the side where the paper is taken out)
When arranged in multiple stages, 1a is provided at a position lower than the upper ends 01b of the other parts in order to form a space for accommodating the paper take-out mechanism between the lower surface of the upper paper feed tray and the lower surface. Conventionally, the upper limit position designating element for designating the upper limit position of the paper stored in the paper feed tray 01 is provided at a position lower than the lower upper end 01a of the paper feed side of the paper feed tray 01. .

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] (J01) to (J0)
In each image forming apparatus of 6), the larger the amount of paper that can be stored in one paper feed tray, the smaller the number of times paper is set in the paper feed tray. If the number of times the paper is set is reduced, the clerical work is reduced and the clerical work efficiency is improved. However, in the image forming apparatus with the multi-stage tray, since the height of the apparatus is limited to a certain height in terms of ergonomics, the number of sheet feeding trays and the sheet storage capacity of each sheet feeding tray are limited. Has become.

Each of the image forming apparatuses (J01) to (J06) has the following problems. (Problems of (J01) to (J05) above) (J01) to
In the technique of (J05), since the paper take-out roller that takes out the paper from the lower paper feed tray is arranged below the upper paper feed tray, the upper surface of the paper stored in the lower paper feed tray and the upper paper feed tray. It is necessary to secure the space required for disposing the take-out roll between the lower surface of and. Therefore, the height of the space required for disposing the take-out roll is a dead space in which the paper cannot be accommodated. Therefore, in order to reduce the dead space, the height of the space necessary for disposing the take-out roll (the distance between the lower surface of the upper sheet feeding tray and the upper surface of the sheets accommodated in the lower sheet feeding tray) is set to Must be small. However,
There is a limit to reducing the height of the space required for arranging the take-out roll, which increases the distance between the upper surface of the paper and the lower surface of the upper paper feed tray to accommodate many papers. I can't. Moreover, in the technology of (J05),
Since the paper taken out from the magazine (paper feed tray) is guided once downward and then conveyed upward, there is a problem that the horizontal dimension becomes long.

(Problem of (J06)) In the technology of (J06), the positions of the upper and lower paper feed trays on the paper take-out side are horizontally displaced, so that Requires extra space. In addition, the structure of the paper feed device that takes out the paper from the upper paper feed tray and feeds it to the feed roller is different from that of the paper feed device that takes the paper out of the lower paper feed tray and feeds it to the feed roller. The number of types is increased, and the overall configuration is more complicated than the configuration in which the same structure is arranged in multiple stages.

(Problem of (J07)) As described in (J07), the upper limit position designating element for designating the upper limit position of the paper stored in the paper feed tray 01 is provided on the paper feed side of the paper feed tray 01. If it is provided at a position lower than the lower upper end 01a of the portion, the number of sheets of paper that can be stored in the paper feed tray 01 is reduced. The reason for arranging the upper limit position designating element as described above is that no consideration has been given to increase the storage amount of paper.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances and examination results, the present invention has as its subject the contents described in (O01) below. (O01) In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on paper stored in a paper feed tray, it is possible to store as many paper as possible in the paper feed tray without increasing the height of the image forming apparatus.

[0010]

The present invention devised to solve the above problems will now be described. The elements of the present invention are to facilitate correspondence with the elements of the embodiments described later. Note that the reference numerals of the elements of the embodiments are enclosed in parentheses. The reason why the present invention is described in association with the reference numerals of the embodiments described later is to facilitate the understanding of the present invention and not to limit the scope of the present invention to the embodiments.

(First Invention) In order to solve the above problems,
The image forming apparatus of the first invention of the present application is characterized by having the following requirements. (Y01) A plurality of paper feed trays that are arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction and have a rounded-down lower surface (44) in which the lower surface of the paper feeding side portion from which the paper is taken out is located above the lower surface (43) of the other portion. (21, 22, 24 to 26), (Y02) each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 26) is arranged outside both sides of the paper feed side and the opposite side thereof. (21, 22, 24-26) tray support rails (3) that slidably support the both side portions.
6, 37), (Y03) the paper feed trays (21, 22, 22)
24 to 26) is arranged above the tray support rails (36, 37) along the sheet feeding side portion, and has a small diameter for taking out the sheets on the sheet feeding trays (21, 22, 24 to 26). (72) and a separating / contacting mechanism (67-69) for separating and separating the take-out roll (72) from the paper on the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-26) and the taken-out papers are separated one by one. And a paper feed mechanism (65 + 77) for carrying the same, and the take-out roll (72) and the separating / contacting mechanism (67-69) are located above the paper feed trays (21, 24, 2).
5) Sheet feeding units (U1) and (Y04) arranged below the raised bottom surface (44) of the sheet feeding unit (U1) opposite to the sheet feeding trays (21, 22, 24 to 26). A paper transport path (91) arranged on the side and extending in the vertical direction,
(Y05) Conveying rolls (9) for conveying the sheets fed from the sheet feeding trays (21, 22, 24-26) to the sheet conveying path (91) by the sheet feeding units (U1).
2).

(Second Invention) The image forming apparatus of the second invention of the present application is the same as the image forming apparatus of the first invention,
(Y06) Each of the paper feed units (U1) for feeding the paper to the paper feed path (91) first with a feeding force. Corresponding to each unit (U1), the paper transport path (9
1) and the corresponding paper feed unit (U1) takes out paper from the paper feed trays (21, 22, 2)
4 to 26), the conveyance rolls (92) arranged on the sides of the upper paper feed trays (21, 24, 25).

(Third Invention) An image forming apparatus according to the third invention of the present application is characterized in that the image forming apparatus according to the first or second invention has the following requirements.
07) The transfer roll (92) supported by a frame separate from the paper feed unit (U1).

(Fourth Invention) An image forming apparatus according to a fourth invention of the present application is characterized in that the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third inventions has the following requirements. (Y08) A swing arm (67) having a base end rotatably supported around the shaft (64) of the paper feed roll (65) and a rotatably supporting the take-out roll (72) at the tip end. A rotatable arm lifting shaft (69) parallel to the paper feed roll shaft (64), and an arm lifting shaft (6)
9) Separation / contact mechanism (67-69) of the take-out roll (72) having an arm lifting member (68) for moving the swinging arm (67) up and down according to the rotation, (Y09) the paper feed tray (Y09) Drive units (61 to 63) of the paper feeding unit (U1) arranged outside the side surfaces of the paper feeding units 21, 22, 24 to 26) along the paper feeding direction.

(Fifth Invention) An image forming apparatus according to the fifth invention of the present application is characterized by having the following requirements.
(Y010) Paper placement plates (45) that are vertically arranged in multiple stages and that support the lower surfaces of the sheets that are stacked and can be lifted, and side guides (46) that guide the side edges of the stored sheets. And a plurality of paper feed trays having a paper front end support wall (47) for positioning the front end of the contained paper in the transport direction and a paper rear end support wall (48) for positioning the rear end of the contained paper in the transport direction. (21,22,
24 to 26), (Y011) a sheet take-out mechanism accommodating space is provided between an upper end of a sheet feeding side portion from which the accommodated sheet is taken out and a lower surface of a sheet feeding tray (21, 24, 25) arranged thereabove. Forming the paper feed tray (22, 25, 2
6), (Y012) The upper end located at a position higher than the upper end of the sheet feeding side and rearward in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet feeding side and closer to the lower surface of the upper sheet feeding tray (21, 24, 25). The side guides (46) having (Y013)
An upper limit position designating element that indicates an upper limit position of the sheets to be stored, and the side guide (46) in which the upper limit position is set higher than the upper end position of the sheet feeding side portion;
(Y014) Each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-2)
6) is disposed outside both sides of the sheet feeding side portion and the opposite side portion of the sheet feeding tray (21, 22, 24-2).
6) tray supporting rails slidably supporting the both side portions, and (Y015) each of the sheet feeding trays (21,
22 and 24 to 26) along the paper feed side, and above the tray support rails.
1, 22, 24 to 26) for taking out the paper on the small-diameter take-out roll and this take-out roll for the paper feed tray (21, 22, 2).
4 to 26), a separating / contacting mechanism for separating and contacting the paper on the sheet, and a paper feeding mechanism (6) for separating and conveying the taken-out sheets one by one.
5 + 77), and the take-out roll and the separating / connecting mechanism are arranged below the lower surface of the upper paper feeding tray (21, 24, 25) and above the upper end of the paper feeding side portion. ), (Y016) a paper transport path that extends in the up-down direction and is arranged on the side opposite to the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-26) of the paper feed unit, and (Y017) each of the paper feed units described above. Paper trays (21, 22, 2
4 to 26), a conveyance roll that conveys the sheet fed to the sheet conveyance path,

(First Embodiment of the Fifth Invention) An image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the fifth invention of the present application is characterized in that the image forming apparatus of the fifth invention has the following requirements. (Y001) The paper front end support wall (47) formed on a paper guide surface whose upper end inner surface is inclined outward.

(Second Embodiment of Fifth Invention) An image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the fifth invention of the present application is characterized in that the image forming apparatus of the fifth invention has the following requirements. (Y018) The paper feed tray (21, 22, 2)
The side guides (46) detachably attached to (4 to 26).

[0018]

Next, the operation of the present invention having the above features will be described. (Operation of First Invention) In the image forming apparatus of the first invention of the present application having the above-mentioned features, the plurality of paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 26) arranged in multiple stages in the up-and-down direction are made of paper. The lower surface of the sheet feeding side from which the paper is taken out is the lower surface of the other portion (4
It has a rounded-up lower surface (44) located above 3). Therefore, the upper paper feed tray (21, 24, 2
Even if the distance between the lower surface (53) of the other part of 5) and the upper surface of the paper of the lower sheet feeding tray (22, 25, 26) is small, the space below the rounded-up lower surface (44) (rounded-up lower surface (44))
The space between the lower surface of the portion and the upper surface of the paper stored in the paper feed tray thereunder) can be a relatively high space. Each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-26)
The tray support rails (36, 37) arranged outside the both side portions of the sheet feeding side portion and the opposite side portion of the sheet feeding slide portion slide each side portion of each sheet feeding tray (21, 22, 24 to 26). Support as much as possible.

The small-diameter take-out roll (72) of the paper feeding unit (U1) and its separating / contacting mechanism (67-69) (mechanism for bringing the take-out roll (72) into contact with or away from the upper surface of the paper) are Upper paper feed tray (21, 24, 2
5) The space below the raised bottom surface (44) (the lower surface (43) of the other part of the upper sheet feeding trays (21, 24, 25) and the lower sheet feeding trays (22, 25, 26). It is arranged in a space having a height higher than that of the upper surface of the sheet. Therefore, the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-2
6) to take out the paper from the take-out roll (72) and the separating / connecting mechanism (67 to 69).
4, 25) are arranged in a space below the rounded-up lower surface (44), so that the upper sheet feeding trays (21, 2)
The bottom surface (4) of the portion other than the raised bottom surface (44) of (4, 25)
It is possible to reduce the distance between 3) and the upper surface of the paper of the lower paper feed tray (22, 25, 26). Therefore, it is possible to increase the amount of paper that can be stored in each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-26). If the amount of paper that can be stored in each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 26) is not increased, the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 2)
Since the space where 6) can be installed is increased, the paper tray (2
1, 22, 24 to 26) can be increased, or the height of the entire image forming apparatus can be reduced.

Each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-2)
6) each separation / contact mechanism (67-69) of the sheet feeding unit (U1) arranged above the tray supporting rails (36, 37) along the sheet feeding side portion (right side portion) of 6), 72) is brought into contact with or separated from the paper on the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-26). The take-out roll (72) takes out the paper on the paper feed tray (21, 22, 24-26) when it comes into contact with the paper on the paper feed tray (21, 22, 24-26) and rotates. The paper feed mechanism (65 + 77) separates and takes out the taken out paper sheets one by one. It is taken out by the take-out roll (72), and the paper feeding mechanism (65 + 77)
The sheets separated one by one by the sheet feeding tray (21, 22, 24 to 26) of the sheet feeding unit (U1).
The sheet is conveyed to a sheet conveying path (91) arranged on the opposite side. The paper fed to the paper transport path (91) is transported by the transport roll (92) along the paper transport path (91) extending in the vertical direction.

(Operation of the Second Invention) Further, in the image forming apparatus of the second invention of the present application, the conveyance is arranged in the paper conveyance path (91) corresponding to each of the paper feeding units (U1). The roll (92) is arranged on the side of the paper feed tray (21, 24, 25) above the paper feed tray (22, 25, 26) taken out by the corresponding paper feed unit (U1). The carrying roll (92) first applies a carrying force to the paper fed from the paper feeding units (U1) to the paper carrying path (91). Therefore, the transport rolls (92) are arranged beside the paper feed trays (21, 24, 25) above the paper feed trays (22, 25, 26) taken out by the corresponding paper feed unit (U1). Therefore, it is not necessary to store the paper in the space between the rounded-up lower surface (44) of the upper sheet feeding tray (21, 24, 25) and the upper surface of the lower sheet feeding tray (22, 25, 26). For this reason,
The transport roll (92) is connected to the upper paper feed tray (2
The sheet feeding unit (U1) housed in the space between the rounded-up lower surface (44) of the sheets 1, 24, 25) and the upper surface of the sheet of the lower sheet feeding tray (22, 25, 26) can be made compact. .

(Operation of Third Invention) Further, in the image forming apparatus of the third invention of the present application, the conveyance roll (92) provided in the paper conveyance path (91) extending in the up-down direction is provided with the paper feed. It is supported by a frame separate from the unit (U1). Therefore, since the transport roll (92) is provided separately from the paper feed unit (U1), the paper feed unit (U1) is smaller than when the transport roll (92) is integrally provided. Can be configured to.

(Operation of Fourth Invention) In the image forming apparatus of the fourth invention of the present application, the swinging arm (67) of the separating / contacting mechanism (67-69) is arranged around the paper feed roll shaft (64). The base end is rotatably supported by the. The swing arm (67)
Rotatably supports the take-out roll (72) at its tip. The arm elevating member (68) has an arm elevating shaft (6) which is rotatable in parallel with the paper feeding roll shaft (64).
The swing arm (67) is moved up and down according to the rotation of 9). Drive unit (61 to 6) of the paper feeding unit (U1)
3) is arranged on the outside of the side surface along the paper feeding direction of the paper feeding tray, so that the upper paper feeding trays (21, 24, 2)
5) Rounded up lower surface (44) and lower paper feed tray (22,
25, 26) between the upper surfaces of the sheets, the separation / contact mechanism (67-
69) and the take-out roll (72) only. The separating / connecting mechanism (67 to 69) includes a paper feed roll shaft (6
4) A swinging arm (67) rotatable around, an arm lifting shaft (69) parallel to the paper feed roll shaft (64) for moving the swinging arm (67) up and down, and an arm lifting shaft (6).
Since it is composed of an arm elevating member (68) for moving the swinging arm (67) up and down according to the rotation of 9),
The height can be low.

(Operation of the Fifth Invention) In the image forming apparatus of the fifth invention of the present application having the above-mentioned characteristics, a plurality of paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 2) arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction.
The sheet placing plate (45) of 6) supports the lower surfaces of the sheets that are stacked and accommodated so as to be lifted. A side guide (46) of each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 26) guides a side edge of the stacked sheets of paper, and each side of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 26). 26) Paper front end support wall (47) and paper rear end support wall (48)
Respectively positions the front end and the rear end of the accommodated sheets in the conveying direction. The upper end of the side guide (46) behind the sheet feeding side portion in the sheet conveying direction is located at a position higher than the upper end of the sheet feeding side portion and above the sheet feeding tray (21, 2).
4, 25) It is arranged at a position close to the lower surface. Then, the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24) indicated by the upper limit position designating element provided on the side guide (46).
26 to 26), the upper limit position of the sheets stored is set to a position higher than the upper end position of the sheet feeding side portion. Therefore, the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 26) can store paper up to a position higher than the upper end position of the paper feed side.
Then, the side end of the sheet accommodated at a higher position than the upper end position of the sheet feeding side portion of the sheet feeding tray (21, 22, 24 to 26) is guided by the side guide (46). That is, the upper end position of the sheet that can be stored in the paper feed trays (22, 25, 26) is set to the upper paper feed tray (21, 25).
Since it is possible to bring the lower surfaces of the sheets 4, 25) closer than before, it is possible to increase the number of sheets that can be stored in the sheet feeding trays (22, 25, 26).

Each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-2)
The tray support rails (36, 37) arranged on both sides of the sheet feeding side portion and the opposite side portion of 6) are
The both sides of each paper feed tray (21, 22, 24-26) are slidably supported. Paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 2) from which the stored paper is taken out
A paper take-out mechanism accommodating space is formed between the upper end of the paper feed side portion of 6) and the lower surface of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 26) arranged above it. Then, in the paper take-out mechanism accommodating space, the small-diameter take-out roll (72) of the paper feed unit (U1) and its separating / contacting mechanism (67-69) (take-out roll (72) are brought into contact with the upper surface of the paper. A mechanism for making them separate) is arranged.

Each of the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-2)
6) each separation / contact mechanism (67-69) of the sheet feeding unit (U1) arranged above the tray supporting rails (36, 37) along the sheet feeding side portion (right side portion) of 6), 72) is brought into contact with or separated from the paper on the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-26). The take-out roll (72) takes out the paper on the paper feed tray (21, 22, 24-26) when it comes into contact with the paper on the paper feed tray (21, 22, 24-26) and rotates. The paper feed mechanism (65 + 77) separates and takes out the taken out paper sheets one by one. It is taken out by the take-out roll (72), and the paper feeding mechanism (65 + 77)
The sheets separated one by one by the sheet feeding tray (21, 22, 24 to 26) of the sheet feeding unit (U1).
The sheet is conveyed to a sheet conveying path (91) arranged on the opposite side. The paper fed to the paper transport path (91) is transported by the transport roll (92) along the paper transport path (91) extending in the vertical direction.

(Operation of Embodiment 1 of Fifth Invention) In the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the fifth invention of the present application, the inner surface of the upper end of the paper front end support wall (47) is inclined outward. Since it is formed on the paper guide surface, the paper tray (2
1, 22, 24 to 26), the front end of the paper is not caught on the paper front end support wall (47),
It is taken out smoothly.

(Operation of Second Embodiment of Fifth Invention) In the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment of the fifth invention of the present application, the side guide (46) is provided with the paper feed trays (21, 22, 22).
24 to 26), the size of the paper stored in the paper feed tray can be easily changed. In addition, the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24-
Even if the height of the side walls of (26) in the paper transport direction is low, by increasing the height of the side guides (46), the upper limit of the paper stored in the paper feed trays (21, 22, 24 to 26). The position can be set higher than the height of the sheet feeding side portion.

[0029]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. In order to facilitate understanding of the explanation below,
Cartesian coordinate axes X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are defined in the directions of arrows X, Y, and Z that are orthogonal to each other in the drawing, and the arrow X direction is the front, the arrow Y direction is the left, and the arrow Z direction is the up. In this case, the X direction (front) and the opposite direction (-X direction) are backward,
The opposite direction (-Y direction) to the Y direction (left side) is the right side, and the opposite direction (-Z direction) to the Z direction (upper direction) is the lower side. The front (X direction) and the rear (-X direction) are referred to as the front-back direction or the X-axis direction, and the left (Y direction) and the right (-Y direction) are included in the left-right direction or the Y-axis direction. That is, the upper direction (Z direction) and the lower direction (−Z direction) are referred to as the vertical direction or the Z axis direction. Furthermore, in the figure, "○" is put in "○".
The one with "" means an arrow from the back of the paper to the front, and the one with "x" in "○" means an arrow from the front to the back of the paper.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of a copying machine as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the same embodiment and is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 3A and 3B are explanatory views of a side guide used in the embodiment, FIG. 3A is a side view, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the paper guide surface side as seen obliquely from above.
C is a perspective view seen from diagonally below on the side opposite to the paper guide surface. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the same embodiment and is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the paper feeding unit of the embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a drive mechanism for the retard roll of the paper feeding unit,
It is explanatory drawing of the pressing mechanism of the retard roll with respect to a paper feed roll. In FIG. 1, a copying machine F as an image forming apparatus is
It has a cover 1 that can be opened and closed at its upper end, and a transparent platen glass 2 on which a document is placed. The cover 1 is arranged so as to cover the platen glass 2 in a closed state. Below the platen glass 2, a document illumination unit 3 that scans while illuminating a document on the platen glass 2 is arranged. The document illumination unit 3 is
It has a document illumination light source 4 and a first mirror 5. Further, below the platen glass 2, a mirror unit 6 that moves at a speed half that of the original illumination unit 3 is arranged. The mirror unit 6 is emitted from the illumination light source and is reflected by the document 1 to be reflected by the first mirror 5
It has a second mirror 7 and a third mirror 8 which reflect the original image light reflected by the. The original image light reflected by the third mirror 8 passes through the imaging lens 9, and is further fixed mirror 1.
An image is formed on the surface of the drum-shaped image carrier 13 through 0, 11, and 12. IIT (image input terminal) from the elements indicated by the reference numerals 3 to 12
Is configured.

Next, the IOT (image output terminal) arranged below the IIT (image input terminal) will be described. The image carrier 13
Is arranged so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface thereof by the original image light formed at the latent image writing position Q1 while being rotationally driven. The image carrier (photosensitive drum)
A charging charger 14 that uniformly charges the surface of the image carrier 13 is disposed around the image carrier 13. A red developing unit (that is, a red developing device) 15, which sequentially develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, is provided downstream of the latent image writing position Q1 along the surface of the image carrier 13. A black developing unit 16, a transfer unit 17 for transferring the toner image on the image carrier 13 to the paper at the transfer position Q2, a cleaner unit 18 for scraping off the toner remaining on the image carrier 13 without being transferred to the paper, and the like. Are arranged. Also,
In FIG. 1, on the left side of the transfer position Q2, a fixing device 19 for heating and fixing the toner image transferred onto the sheet is arranged. An unfixed paper transport path 20 for transporting the paper on which the unfixed toner image is transferred is provided between the transfer position Q2 and the fixing device 11.

Further, the IOT has a paper supply device H, which is used for a plurality of paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 corresponding to the kind of paper and double-sided copying. It has a reversing tray 23 and a paper carry-in path 27 for carrying the paper taken out from each of the trays 21 to 26 to the transfer position (between the transfer device 17 and the image carrier 13) Q2. Further, the fixing device 19 includes
A reversing conveyance path 28 for reversing the sheet on which the toner image is fixed (that is, a fixing sheet) and then conveying the sheet to the reversal tray 23 and a sheet discharge path 29 are connected. A switching gate 30 is provided at a branch portion of the reverse conveyance path 28 and the sheet discharge path 29. A discharge roller 31 is arranged at the end of the paper discharge path 29.
Discharges the paper to the discharge tray 32.

Each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26
Rails 3 extending in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 1 to 3) on the left and right sides (Y-axis direction), respectively.
6, 37 are arranged. In FIGS. 2 and 4, rollers 38 are rotatably supported below the lower surface of the right rail 37 of each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26. The upper portion of the roller 38 projects above the lower surface of the rail 37 from a hole formed in the lower surface of the rail 37. A roller 38 (not shown) similar to the right rail 37 is rotatably supported on the lower surface of the left rail 36 of each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26.

In FIG. 1, each of the paper feed trays 21 and 2 is
Guide rails 39 and 40 that bulge outward are provided at the lower portions on the left and right sides of 2, 24 to 26, respectively, so as to extend forward and backward. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the right guided rail 40 is supported on the upper surface of the roller 38 on the lower surface of the rail 37. In addition, each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 22
The guided rails 39 on the left side of 24-26 are also supported on the upper surface of the roller 38 on the lower surface of the rail 36, similarly to the guided rail 40 on the right side. Therefore, each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 is configured to be able to move in and out along the rails 36, 37 forward (in the X direction).

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the bottom plate 41 of each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 is provided with ribs 42 (see FIG. 2) for maintaining the strength of the bottom plate 41, or each paper feed tray. It is necessary to provide the components necessary for lifting the sheets stored in the trays 21, 22, 24-26 upward. While the bottom surface of the conventional bottom plate is formed to have substantially the same height, the bottom plate 41 of the present embodiment is
The ribs 42 and the like are not provided on the lower surface of the right side portion of each of the paper feeding trays 21, 22, 24 to 26, that is, the paper feeding side portion (the right side portion in FIGS. 2 and 4) from which the paper is taken out, Other part where the rib 42 and the like are provided (left side part)
The lower surface is formed at a position higher than the lower surface position. That is, in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, and 24 to 26 is located at the lowermost lower surface 43 located on the left side, and is located on the right side and is raised above the lowermost surface 43. A raised bottom surface 44 located in position. The distance between the upper surface of the sheets accommodated in each of the paper feed trays 22, 25 and 26 and the rounded up lower surface 44 of each of the paper feed trays 21, 24 and 25 on the upper side of the tray is equal to the distance from the lowermost surface 43. It's getting bigger in comparison. Round-up bottom surface 44 of each of the paper feed trays 21, 24, 25 above the paper upper surface and the trays 22, 25, 26 for accommodating the paper
The space formed by the space between and is a space for accommodating a sheet feeding unit U1 described later.

Each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26
A sheet placement plate 45 on which sheets are placed is accommodated inside. The paper loading plate 45 has its left end rotatably supported on the inner bottom surface of each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26. The sheet placing plate 45 is provided in the sheet feeding tray 2 when the maximum number of sheets that can be placed is placed.
It is adapted to be horizontally laid and supported on the bottom surfaces of 1, 22, 24 to 26 (see FIG. 2). When the sheet placed on the sheet placing plate 45 is taken out and conveyed, both ends in the conveying direction of the sheet are guided by the side guides 46 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the side guide 46 is a member having an L-shaped side surface, and one ridge 46a as an upper limit position designating element for designating the upper limit position of the sheets to be stored is provided on the sheet guide surface. Has been formed. Then, a paper (see FIG. 3) printed with "upper limit position" is attached to the side of the ridge 46a. The bottom plate 4 is provided on the lower surface of the side guide 46.
1. The locked projection 46b that fits into the locking hole 41a formed in the No. 1
Is provided. That is, by engaging or disengaging the locked protrusion 46b with the locking hole 41a,
The side guides 46 are the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26.
The bottom plate 41 is detachably attached.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the side guide 46 is arranged at a position slightly forward of the central portion of each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction). . The height of the side guide 46 is set to the paper feed tray 21,
The height is set to be higher than the height of the sheet feeding side portions 22 and 24 to 26 (right side portion in the drawing). That is, the upper end position of the side guide 46 is located at the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24-2.
It is arranged above the upper end position of the sheet feeding side portion of 6. Further, the height of the side guide 46 is set to the paper feed tray 21,
22 and 24 to 26 have the same height as the portion (left side portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) other than the sheet feeding side portion (right side portion in FIGS. 1 and 2). Further, the one ridge 46a as the upper limit position designating element is provided with the paper feed trays 21, 22, 22.
24 to 26 are arranged above the upper end position of the sheet feeding side portion. In the present embodiment, the one protrusion 46a as the upper limit position designating element is the sheet feed tray 2
It is provided at a predetermined distance h (h = 8) mm-α (α = 3) mm = 5 mm above the upper end position of the sheet feeding side of 1, 22, 24 to 26. In the present embodiment, the h is the lower surface and the paper feed trays 21, 22 and 24 when the take-out roll (see reference numeral 72 in FIG. 4) described later is in the upper position.
Distance h from the upper end position of the paper feed side of ~ 26 (see FIG. 4)
Is. As described above, the height of the protrusion is set to h (= 8) m
The reason why the value is set to be α (= −3) mm lower than m is that it is necessary to prevent the top sheet from coming into contact with the lower surface of the take-out roll and misaligning when the tray is inserted or removed.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed trays 21 and 21 are shown.
The front ends (right ends in the figure) of the papers 2, 24 to 26 are supported by the paper front end support wall 47, and the rear ends of the paper in the paper transport direction are supported by the paper rear end support wall 48 (see FIG. 1). There is. A lever through hole 49 is formed in the lower portion of the paper front end support wall 47. A raising rotary shaft 50 is arranged outside the paper front end support 47. The rotating shaft 50 for raising is configured to hold the upper end position of the sheet at an appropriate position when it is rotated clockwise by a motor of a drive device described later. In addition, the rotating shaft for raising 50
Instead of controlling the rotational position by the motor as described above, the spring can be configured to receive a clockwise rotating force by a spring (not shown). At both ends in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) of the lifting rotary shaft 50, L
One end of the character-shaped lifting lever 51 is fixed. The other end of the raising lever 51, whose one end is fixed to the raising rotary shaft 50, penetrates through the lever through hole 49 and slidably contacts the lower surface of the sheet placing plate 45.

Therefore, the sheet placing plate 45 is lifted to the upper limit position as shown in the upper sheet feeding tray 21 in FIG. 2 when the sheet is not placed thereon. Further, when the maximum number of sheets that can be placed on the sheet placing plate 45 is the maximum number of sheets that can be placed, the upper limit of the uppermost sheet position is regulated, so that the sheet feeding plate in the lower stage of FIG. The tray 22 is held at the lower limit position as shown in the tray 22. Figure 1
As can be seen from 3, each of the paper feed trays 21, 24, 2
Since the rounded-up lower surface 44 of FIG. 5 is arranged above the lowermost surface 43, a comparison is made between the rounded-up lower surface 44 and the upper surface of the sheets accommodated in the paper feed trays 22, 25, and 26 below the rounded-up lower surface 44. A space with a high height can be formed.

Each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26
A paper feeding unit U1 is arranged on the right side of the. The paper feeding unit U1 is fixedly supported by a body frame (not shown) of the image forming apparatus. 4 and 5, the paper feeding unit U1 has a unit frame 52.
In FIG. 5, the unit frame 52 has a front panel 53, a frame-shaped rear frame 54, and a tie plate 55 connecting the same. The tie plate 55
A supporter (support member) 56 is supported by the. The frame-shaped rear frame 54 is provided on each of the paper feed trays 21 and 21.
2, 24 to 26 and the reversing tray 23 are arranged on the outer side (rear side) of the side surface (rear side surface, that is, the side surface on the −X side) along the sheet conveying direction. Further, the paper guides 57 and 58 (see FIG. 4) are supported by the front panel 53 and the rear frame 54.

In FIG. 5, the frame-shaped rear frame 5
A drive device (61 to 63) having a drive motor 61, a solenoid 62, a gear train 63, and the like is supported by 4. The gear train 63 is composed of a plurality of gears that are rotationally driven by the drive motor 61. The rear frame 5
A paper feed roll shaft 64 is rotatably supported by the support roller 4 and the supporter 56. The paper feed roll shaft 64 is configured to be rotationally driven by the drive motor 61 via the gear train 63. A paper feed roll 65 is fixed to the paper feed roll shaft 64, and the paper feed roll shaft 64 and the paper feed roll 65 are configured to rotate integrally.

A swing arm 67 is attached to the paper feed roll shaft 64.
The right end (base end) of is rotatably supported. The swing arm 67 has a flat top plate and a side plate bent downward from its side end. The left end of the swing arm 67 tries to rotate downward due to the action of gravity and a weak spring (not shown), but the rear end of the upper plate of the swing arm 67 (the -X side end). The lower surface of the is supported by an elevating lever 68 as an arm elevating member that controls downward rotation. The elevating lever 68 is fixed to an arm elevating shaft 69 (see FIG. 5) extending in the front-rear direction. A rear end portion (-X side end portion) of the arm elevating shaft 69 is rotatably supported by the rear frame 54, and a front end portion thereof is rotatably supported by the tie plate 55 via a bracket (not shown). ing.

At the rear end of the arm lifting shaft 69 (the end on the -X side), a lever that is connected to a telescopic rod (not shown) of the solenoid 62 is fixed.
It is configured so that it can be rotated by a fixed angle by the expansion and contraction of 2. The arm lifting shaft 69 is connected to the solenoid 6
When 2 is off, the lifting lever 68 is held in the raised position, and when the solenoid 62 is on, the lifting lever 68 is held.
Is held in the lowered position. Reference numeral 67
Elements 69 to 69 constitute a mechanism for bringing a take-out roll, which will be described later, into contact with or away from the upper surface of the paper, that is, a separating / contacting mechanism (67-69).

In FIG. 5, the swing arm 67 is provided with a position control protruding piece 67a extending leftward (Y direction). The position control protruding piece 67a is a swing arm 67.
It moves up and down according to the swing of. A swing arm attitude sensor S including a light emitting element Sa and a light receiving element Sb is arranged at a position sandwiching the movement path of the position control protruding piece 67a from the front-rear direction (X axis direction). When the swinging posture of the swinging arm 67 falls below a predetermined position, the position controlling protrusion 67a enters between the light emitting element Sa and the light receiving element Sb to turn off the swinging arm posture sensor S. Is configured.

A take-out roll shaft 71 extending forward (in the X direction) is rotatably supported at the left end (tip) of the swing arm 67. A pair of front and rear take-out rolls 72 and a gear 73 are fixed to the take-out roll shaft 71. The gear 73 meshes with a gear 75 fixed to the paper feed roll shaft 64 via a gear train 74 rotatably mounted on the swing arm 67. Therefore, when the paper feed roll shaft 64 rotates, the paper feed roll 65 and the gear 75 fixed to the paper feed roll shaft 64 rotate, and at the same time, the gear 73 rotates via the gear 75 and the gear train 74. . When the gear 73 rotates, the take-out roll shaft 71 and the take-out roll 72 rotate.

In FIG. 4, when the swing arm 67 is lifted upward (state shown by the solid line position in FIG. 4), the lower surface of the take-out roll 72 and the paper feed tray 21 arranged below it. , 22, and 24-26, the distance h from the upper end of the sheet feeding side portion (right side portion in the drawing) is h = 8 (m
m) is set. As described above, the one protrusion 46a and the paper feed tray 21 as the upper limit position designating element,
Since the distance from the upper end of the sheet feeding side portion of 22, 24 to 26 (the right side portion in FIGS. 1, 2, 4) is h-α = 5 mm,
The position of the lower surface of the take-out roll 72 shown in the solid line position in FIG.
The height is α (= 3) mm higher than the position of the one ridge 46a as the upper limit position designating element. Therefore, the upper surface of the sheet when the sheet is stored up to the upper limit position is 3 mm below the lower surface of the take-out roll 72 shown by the solid line in FIG.

The swing arm 67, the gear train 74 supported by the swing arm 67, and the take-out roll 72 are thin in the vertical direction, and the rounded-up lower surface 44 of each of the paper feed trays 21, 24 and 25 and the lower surface thereof. Side paper feed trays 22, 25, 26
Space between the upper right side (-Y side) of the paper feed side,
(That is, the lower surface 44 and the paper feed trays 22 and 2)
5 and 26 are arranged in a space between the upper surfaces of the sheets. Similarly, the raising / lowering lever 68 and the arm raising / lowering shaft 69 similarly have the rounded-up lower surface 44 of each of the paper feed trays 21, 24, 25 and the paper feed trays 22, 25, 25,
Space between the upper end of the paper feed side portion of 26 and the lower surface 44
And the upper surface of the paper).

In FIG. 5, a retard roll shaft 76, a retard roll 77 fixed to the retard roll shaft 76, and a gear 78 are disposed below the paper feed roll 65. The retard roll 77 is rotatably supported by a swingable swing support member 79 (see FIG. 6). The paper feed roll 65 and the retard roll 77 constitute the paper feed mechanism (65 + 77) of this embodiment.

Next, a mechanism for rotationally driving the retard roll 77 and a mechanism for pressing the retard roll 77 will be described. 4 and 5, the retard roll drive shaft 81
Are rotatably supported by a bracket 55a provided on the tie plate 55 and a rear frame 54, and the drive motor 61 and the gear train 63 (see FIG. 5).
It is configured to be rotationally driven by. A torque limiter 82 is mounted on the retard roll drive shaft 81.

In FIG. 6, the torque limiter 82 is shown.
Is an input hub 83 fixed to the retard roll drive shaft 81, an output hub 84 arranged around the input hub 83, and an output hub 84.
The magnet 85 fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the
5 and a magnetic powder 86 housed between the input hub 83. Output hub 8
Reference numeral 4 is integrally connected to a gear 87 rotatably supported on the retard roll drive shaft 81. The swing support member 79 has a gear 8 that sequentially meshes with the gear 87.
8, 89 are rotatably supported. And gear 8
Reference numeral 9 meshes with a gear 78 fixed to the retard roll shaft 76.

The swing support member 79 (see FIG. 6) is provided with a tension spring (not shown) for the retard roll drive shaft 81.
The retard roll 77 supported by the swing support member 79 is rotated around and is pressed by the paper feed roll 65 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). In addition, the drive motor 6
Since the rotational force of the retard roll drive shaft 81 that is rotationally driven by 1 is transmitted to the retard roll 77 via the torque limiter 82, when a large load acts on the retard roll 77, the input hub of the torque limiter 82 is operated. 83 is configured to idle.

1 and 2, the paper feeding unit U1
On the side opposite to the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 (right side of the paper feed unit U1), a paper transport path 91 extending in the vertical direction is arranged. In the paper transport path 91,
Each of the paper feed trays 21, 21
Conveying rolls 92 for conveying the sheets fed from 22, 24 to 26 to the sheet conveying path 91 are arranged. An opening / closing cover 93 (see FIG. 1) that can be opened / closed by a hinge (not shown) is arranged on the right side of the image forming apparatus U, and the paper conveyance path 91 and the conveyance roll 92 are provided on the inner surface of the opening / closing cover 93. It is arranged along. The paper transport path 91 has a left guide 91a and a right guide 91b for guiding the paper upward, and the transport roll 92
Has a drive roll 92a and a driven roll 92b.

In FIG. 2, the left side guide 91a and the driving roll 92a are supported by the main body frame, and the right side guide 91b and the driven roll 92b are supported by the opening / closing cover 93. The left guide 9
Part of 1a is constituted by the outer surface of the paper feeding unit U1. Therefore, if the open / close cover 93 is opened when a jam occurs in the paper transport path 91, the paper transport path 9 is opened.
The right side guide 91b and the driven roll 92b of No. 1 move to the right together with the opening / closing cover 93 to open the sheet conveying path 91 so that the jammed sheet can be easily removed.

The transport rolls 92 are arranged corresponding to the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 and the paper feed units U1, respectively. In addition, the transport roll 92
Are arranged corresponding to the reversing tray 23. Each of the transport rolls 92 arranged in the paper transport path 91 corresponding to each of the paper feed units U1 first applies a transport force to the paper fed from the trays 21 to 26 to the paper transport path 91. Rolls to be applied, and the paper feed trays 21, 24 above the corresponding trays 22, 25, 26.
It is arranged on the side of 25. The paper feed trays 21 and 2
The transport rolls 92 corresponding to 2, 24 to 26 are arranged separately from the sheet feeding unit U1 of the sheet feeding trays 21, 22, 24 to 26, and the corresponding trays 22, 25,
Since it is disposed on the side of the paper feed trays 21, 24, 25 on the upper side of 26, the paper feed unit U1 can be made compact and low in height.

(Operation of Embodiment) Next, the operation of the embodiment (copying machine) F of the image forming apparatus of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will be described. Copier (image forming apparatus) F having the above characteristics
Then, a plurality of paper feed trays 2 arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction
The sheet loading plates 45 of 1, 22, 24 to 26 support the lower surfaces of the sheets that are stacked and stored so as to be lifted. The side guides 46 of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 guide the side edges of the sheets of paper stacked and stacked, and support the front end of the paper of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26. The wall 47 and the paper rear end support wall 48 position and support the front end and the rear end of the contained paper in the conveyance direction, respectively.

The upper ends of the side guides 46 arranged rearward of the sheet feeding side portion in the sheet conveying direction are located higher than the upper ends of the sheet feeding side portions and above the upper sheet feeding trays 21, 24.
25 is located close to the lower surface. Then, the paper feed trays 21 and 2 indicated by the protrusions 46a as upper limit position designating elements provided on the side guides 46.
The upper limit position of the sheets accommodated in 2, 24 to 26 is set to a position higher than the upper end position of the sheet feeding side portion. Therefore, the paper can be stored in the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24-26 up to a position higher than the upper end position of the paper feed side.
Then, the side end of the sheet accommodated at a position higher than the upper end position of the sheet feeding side of the sheet feeding trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 is guided by the side guide 46. Since the upper end positions of the papers that can be stored in the paper feed trays 22, 25, and 26 can be made closer to the lower surfaces of the upper paper feed trays 21, 24, and 25 than before, the papers that can be stored in the paper feed trays The number of sheets can be increased.

In the copying machine F having the above-mentioned characteristics, the plurality of paper feed trays 21, 22, 22 arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction.
24 to 26 have a rounded-down lower surface 44 in which the lower surface of the sheet feeding side portion (right side portion) from which the sheet is taken out is located above the lowermost surface 43 of the other portion (left side portion). Therefore, even if the distance between the lower surface of the upper sheet feeding trays 21, 24, 25 and the upper surface of the lower sheet feeding trays 22, 25, 26 is small, the space below the rounded-up lower surface 44 (the rounded-up lower surface 4
The space between the lower surface of the sheet No. 4 and the upper surface of the sheets accommodated in the sheet feeding trays 22 to 25 below it can be a relatively high space. Each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24
The tray support rails 36 and 37 arranged outside the both side portions of the sheet feeding side portion (right side portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) and the opposite side portion (left side portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) of FIG. The both sides of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 are slidably supported. Then, each paper feed tray 21,
22 and 24 to 26 are pulled out forward (X direction) along the tray support rails 36 and 37 at the time of work for supplying paper.

Each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26
The sheet feeding unit U1 disposed above the tray supporting rails 36 and 37 along the sheet feeding side portion (right side portion) of
A small-diameter take-out roll 72 for taking out the paper from the paper feed trays 21, 22 and 24-26 and a separating / contacting mechanism (67) for bringing the take-out roll 72 into and out of contact with the papers on the paper feed trays 21, 22 and 24-26. ~ 69) and drive device (61-63)
have. The drive devices (61 to 63) for raising and lowering the arm raising and lowering shaft 69 and rotationally driving the paper feed roll 65, the retard roll 77, the take-out roll 72, etc.
Since the paper feed trays 21, 22 and 24-26 are arranged on the outer side surfaces along the paper feed direction (horizontal direction), the rounded lower surface 44 of the upper paper feed trays 21, 24 and 25 and the lower paper feed tray 22. , 25, and 26, the separating / contacting mechanism (67 to 69) and the take-out roll 72 are disposed between the upper surfaces of the sheets. The separating / connecting mechanism (67-69) includes a swing arm 67 rotatable around the paper feed roll shaft 64, an arm lifting shaft 69 parallel to the paper feed roll shaft 64 for moving the swing arm 67 up and down, and an arm. Since it is composed of a lifting lever (arm lifting member) 68 for moving the swinging arm 67 up and down according to the rotation of the lifting shaft 69, the height can be reduced.

As described above, the take-out roll 72 having a low height and the separating / contacting mechanism (67 to 69) are connected to the upper sheet feeding tray 2.
A space below the rounded-up lower surface 44 portion of 1, 24, 25 (that is, the space between the lowermost surface 43 of the upper sheet feeding trays 21, 24, 25 and the upper surface of the lower sheet feeding trays 22, 25, 26). By adopting a configuration in which it is arranged in a space having a height higher than that of the above-mentioned paper feed trays 21 and 21,
Lower surface of the portion other than the rounded-up lower surface 44 of 4, 25 (lowermost surface)
It is possible to reduce the distance between the sheet 43 and the upper surface of the sheets of the lower sheet feed trays 22, 25 and 26. Therefore, it is possible to increase the amount of paper that can be stored in each of the paper feed trays 21, 22, and 24-26. In addition, each of the paper feed trays 21,
If the amount of sheets that can be stored in 22, 24 to 26 is not increased, the space in which the sheet feed trays 21, 22 and 24 to 26 can be installed increases, so the sheet feed trays 21, 22 and 24 to 2
It is possible to increase the number of stages of 6 or to reduce the height of the entire image forming apparatus U.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of the operation of the drive motor 61 and the solenoid 62 (see FIG. 5) of the drive device (61 to 63). In FIG. 7, the drive motor 61 and the solenoid 62 operate simultaneously. While the drive motor 61 is rotating, the take-out roll 72,
The paper feed roll 65 and the retard roll 77 continue to rotate. Further, while the solenoid 62 is on (ON), the take-out roll 72 is in contact with the paper on the upper surface of the paper feed tray. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the solenoid 62 is turned off earlier than the drive motor 61. This is because when the paper taken out by the take-out roll 72 is in a state of being conveyed while being sandwiched by the paper feed roll 65 and the retard roll 77, the solenoid 62 is turned off, and even after the solenoid 62 is turned off. This is because 65 and the like continue to rotate.

When the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 are inserted with the paper placed in the paper feed trays 21, 22, 24 to 26 up to the upper limit position (the height of the ridge 46a), the paper is taken out from the upper surface of the paper. Since the space between the lower surface of the roll 72 and the lower surface of the roll 72 is α (= 3) mm, the upper surface of the sheet does not come into contact with the lower surface of the take-out roll 72 to be displaced. When the paper is fed with the paper loaded to the upper limit position, the separating / contacting mechanism (67 to 69) moves the take-out roll 72 downward to bring it into contact with the upper surface of the paper. At this time, the take-out seal 72 only lowers by about α (= 3 mm), and does not lower to the position where the swing arm attitude sensor S is turned off. In this case, since it is not necessary to raise the sheet mounting plate 45, the raising rotary shaft 5
It does not rotate 0. When the position of the upper surface of the sheet is lowered and the swing arm posture sensor S is turned off, the raising rotary shaft 50 is rotated to lift the sheet placement plate 45. The swing arm posture sensor S is always off
The rotation position of the lifting rotary shaft 50 is controlled so that

In FIG. 5, each of the paper feed trays 21 and 21 is
2, the separation / contact mechanisms (67-69) of the sheet feeding unit U1 arranged above the tray supporting rails 36, 37 along the sheet feeding side portions (right side portions) of 2, 24 to 26 are connected to the solenoid 62. Depending on the on / off state, the take-out roll 72 is brought into contact with or separated from the paper on the paper feed trays 21, 22, and 24-26. The take-out roll 72 includes the paper feed trays 21, 22 and 24.
~ 26 Paper feed tray 2 when rotated in contact with the paper on
Take out the sheets on the sheets 1, 22 and 24-26. The paper feed roll 65 and the retard roll 77 separate the taken out sheets one by one and convey them. Taken out by the take-out roll 72, the paper feed roll 65 and the retard roll 77
The sheets separated one by one by the sheet feeding unit U
The sheet is conveyed to a sheet conveying path 91 arranged on the opposite side (right side) from the sheet feeding trays 21, 22 and 24-26.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a transport roll 92 is arranged in the paper transport path 91 corresponding to each paper feed unit U1. Further, the transport roll 92 is provided in the paper feed tray 2 taken out by the corresponding paper feed unit U1.
It is arranged on the side of the paper feed trays 21, 24, 25 on the upper side of 2, 25, 26. The transport roll 92 first applies a transport force to the paper fed from the paper feed unit U1 to the paper transport path 91. Then, the paper fed to the paper transport path 91 is transported upward by the transport roll 92 along the paper transport path 91 extending in the vertical direction.

Since the transport rolls 92 are arranged beside the paper feed trays 21, 25, 26 above the paper feed trays 21, 25, 26 taken out by the corresponding paper feed unit U1, the transport rolls 92 are The upper paper feed tray 21,
Rounded up lower surface 44 of 24, 25 and lower paper feed tray 22,
It is not necessary to store it in the space between the upper surface of the sheets 25 and 26. Therefore, the upper paper feed trays 21, 24, 25
Rounded-up lower surface 44 and lower paper feed trays 22, 25, 26
It is possible to reduce the height of the sheet feeding unit U1 housed in the space between the sheet and the upper surface of the sheet. Further, since the carrying roll 92 provided in the paper carrying path 91 extending in the vertical direction is provided separately from the paper feeding unit U1,
The paper feed unit U1 can be made smaller than the case where the transport roll 92 is integrally provided.

(Modifications) The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and is within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Thus, various changes can be made. A modified embodiment of the present invention is illustrated below. (H01) The arm elevating member (arm elevating lever) 68 may have a structure in which a member separately formed from the arm elevating shaft 69 is attached to the arm elevating shaft or a structure integrally formed with the arm elevating shaft 69. . For example, the arm elevating member can be configured by a cam surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of the arm elevating shaft 69. In that case, a part of the swing arm 67 may be engaged with the cam surface, and the swing arm 67 may swing in response to the rotation of the cam surface. (H02) The separating / contacting mechanism for contacting or separating the take-out roll 72 with respect to the sheet can be omitted. In that case, the take-out roll 72 may be always in contact with the paper and may be rotationally driven only when necessary.

[0067]

The image forming apparatus of the present invention described above can achieve the following effects. (E01) In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet stored in a paper feed tray, the amount of sheets stored in the paper feed tray can be increased without increasing the height of the image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus U of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the same embodiment and is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

3A and 3B are explanatory views of a side guide used in the same embodiment. FIG. 3A is a side view, FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a paper guide surface side as seen obliquely from above, and FIG. 3C is a paper guide surface. It is the perspective view seen from diagonally downward on the opposite side.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the same embodiment, which is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a sheet feeding unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a retard roll driving mechanism of the paper feeding unit and a pressing mechanism for the paper feeding roll.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of the operation of the drive motor 61 and the solenoid 62 of the drive device (61 to 63).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

U1 ... Paper feeding unit, 21, 22, 24 to 26 ... Paper feeding tray, 36, 37 ... Tray support rails, 43 ... Lower surface (lowermost surface) of other portions, 44 ... Rounded up lower surface, 45 ... Paper loading plate, 46 ... Side guide, 47 ... Paper front end support wall, 48 ... Paper rear end support wall, 64 ... Paper feed roll shaft, 65
... Paper feed roll, 67 ... Swing arm, 68 ... Arm elevating member (elevating lever), 69 ... Arm elevating shaft, 72 ... Take-out roll, 77 ... Retard roll, 91 ... Paper transport path, 9
2 ... conveying rolls, (61 to 63) ... driving device, (65+
77) ... Paper feeding mechanism, (67-69) ... Separation / contact mechanism,

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 24, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 4]

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Harada 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takuo Matsumura 2274, Hongo Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Tanaka 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Harufumi Ito 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Takashina 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture Address within Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus characterized by having the following requirements: (Y01) The lower surface of a paper feed side portion in which sheets are taken out is arranged more than the lower surface of other portions, which are arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction. (Y02) a plurality of paper feed trays having a rounded-down lower surface located above, and (Y02) both side parts of each paper feed tray disposed outside both side parts of the paper feed side part and the opposite side part of each paper feed tray (Y03) A small-diameter take-out rail for taking out the paper from the paper feed tray, which is arranged above the tray support rail along the paper feed side portion of each of the paper feed trays. The take-out roll and the separating / contacting mechanism are provided with a roll, a separating / contacting mechanism for separating / contacting the take-out roll with respect to the paper on the paper feed tray, and a paper feeding mechanism for separating and taking out the taken-out paper one by one. Is the upper feed A sheet feeding unit disposed below the rounded-up bottom surface of the lay, (Y04) a sheet conveying path extending in the up-down direction disposed on the opposite side of the sheet feeding unit from the sheet feeding tray, and (Y05) each sheet feeding unit. A transport roll that transports the paper fed from each of the paper feed trays to the paper transport path by the paper unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the following requirements are satisfied, and (Y06) a conveying force is first applied to the sheet fed to the sheet conveying path from each of the sheet feeding units. In order to do so, the conveyance is arranged corresponding to each sheet feeding unit in the sheet conveying path and the corresponding sheet feeding unit is arranged on the side of the sheet feeding tray above the sheet feeding tray for taking out the sheet. roll. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the following requirements: (Y07) The transport roll supported by a frame separate from the paper feeding unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the base end portion is rotatably supported around the axis of the paper feed roll. In addition, a swing arm that rotatably supports the take-out roll at its tip, a rotatable arm elevating shaft that is parallel to the paper feed roll shaft, and the swing arm that moves up and down according to the rotation of the operating arm shaft. (Y09) A driving device for the paper feeding unit arranged outside the side surface of the paper feeding tray in the paper feeding direction. 5. An image forming apparatus having the following requirements, (Y010) arranged in multiple stages in a vertical direction,
A sheet placing plate that supports the lower surfaces of the sheets that are stacked and stored so as to be lifted, a side guide that guides the side edge of the accommodated sheets, and a sheet front end support wall that positions the front end in the transport direction of the accommodated sheets. A plurality of paper feed trays having a paper rear end support wall for positioning the rear end of the accommodated paper in the transport direction, (Y011) arranged above the upper end of the paper feed side portion from which the accommodated paper is taken out (Y012) a sheet feeding tray which forms a space for accommodating a sheet take-out mechanism between the sheet feeding tray and the lower surface of the sheet feeding tray, and is located at a position higher than the upper end of the sheet feeding side portion and rearward in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet feeding side portion. The side guide having an upper end arranged at a position close to the lower surface of the paper tray, (Y013) an upper limit position designating element indicating an upper limit position of the stored sheets is provided, and the upper limit position is the paper feed side portion. (Y014) the side guides that are set at a position higher than the end position, (Y014) are disposed outside both sides of the sheet feeding side portion and the opposite side portion of each sheet feeding tray, and the both side portions of each sheet feeding tray (Y015) A small-diameter take-out rail that is arranged above the tray support rails along the paper feed side portion of each paper feed tray and that takes out the paper from the paper feed tray. The take-out roll and the separating / contacting mechanism are provided with a roll, a separating / contacting mechanism for separating / contacting the take-out roll with respect to the paper on the paper feed tray, and a paper feeding mechanism for separating and taking out the taken-out paper one by one. Is a sheet feeding unit disposed below the lower surface of the upper sheet feeding tray and above the upper edge of the sheet feeding side portion, (Y016) A vertical direction disposed on the opposite side of the sheet feeding unit from the sheet feeding tray. Extended to That the sheet conveying path, (Y017) conveying roll for conveying the paper feed by the paper in the paper transport path from each of the paper feed tray by the sheet feeding unit, 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein (Y018) the side guide detachably attached to the paper feed tray.