GB2245886A

GB2245886A - Supplying sheets from cassettes

Info

Publication number: GB2245886A
Application number: GB9113718A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiroshi Tokuda
Original assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1990-06-25
Filing date: 1991-06-25
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Also published as: GB9113718D0; JPH0455222A; DE4118472A1

Abstract

In a cassette type sheet supplying device, the two or more of adjoining spaces 30, 32 for installing standard cassettes S1, S2 therein are joined into a continuous space 34 to enable a large cassette L to be installed in the space in lieu of the two or more standard cassettes. The paper feeding rollers for any standard cassettes other than the uppermost standard cassette installed in the continuous space are arranged in positions wherein the installation of the large cassette is not obstructed. <IMAGE>

Description

CASSETTE TYPE SHEET SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR USING A PLURALITY OF STANDARD

CASSETTES OR A SINGLE LARGE CASSETTE The present invention relates to a sheet supplying device for supplying cut sheets, which are cut to predetermined sizes, to printers, facsimiles or copy machines one sheet at a time. Specifically, the present invention relates to a cassette type sheet supplying device where a plurality of cassettes, each holding cut sheets of sized paper. such as B5i A40 B4 and A3, can be installed to supply the desired sized sheets during printing or copying.

One known type of a cassette sheet supplying device is capable of having two or more cassettes installed at the same time and feeding a cut sheet from one of the cassettes by selectively driving the paper feeding neans associated with each cassette. According to this sheet,upplying device, the size of the cut sheet can be selected. Usually, the size of the cassettes can be such that the cassettes can be interchanged for one another. Thus, each said cassette can be installed on an arbitrary cassette mounting position. Therefore, each cassette accommodates essentially the same number of cut sheets.

However, some users occasionally want to use large quantities of a sheet of one size, such as B5 or A4 sheets. In order to respond to such demand, a type of sheet supplying device that can receive a 'large cassette capable of accommodating large quantities of cut sheets has been developed.

Fig. 8 schenatically shows this type of sheet supplying device. interchangeable standard cassettes can be installed in installation spaces 50, 52 and a large cassette can be installed in installation space 54.

This type of sheet supplying device is very convenient for a user who, for instance, always requires large quantities of sheets of A4 size and soretines uses is sheets of B5 or B4 size. However, it is not always convenient for the user who always uses sheets of various sizes and sometimes requires large quantities of a sheet of a specific size. For such users, the large cassette is unnecessary when variously sized sheets are required, and standard cassettes are unnecessary when large quantities of a specific size are required.

Figs. 7A and 7B show a conventional sheet supplying device having a plurality of standard cassettes and a single large cassette. A standard cassette S1 is installed in installation space 50 and a standard cassette S2 is installed in installation space 52. A large cassette L is installed in installation space 54. Paper feeding means 26(S1), for the cassette installed on the installation space 50, and paper feeding means 26(S2), 26(L), for the cassettes installed on the installation space 52, 54, are provided as shown.

In the conventional sheet supplying device thus constructed, it is impossible to install the large cassette L in the spaces 50, 52. Moreover, even if the large cassette L could fit into the space, by combining openings 501 52, it cannot be sealed properly because proper positioning is obstructed by the paper feeding means 26(S2).

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet supplying device which is capable of alternatively installing a plurality of standard cassettes or one large cassette.

It is another object of the present invention to elininate the requirenent for a space for holding the large cassette only and to thereby miniaturize the sheet supplying device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cassette type sheet supplying device comprising: a cassette installation main body having an opening portion to a mounting having first and second positions at which at least a first cassette holding cut sheets and a second cassette holding cut sheets whose size inay be different from the size of the cut sheets in said first cassette may be installed; paper feeding means associated with each of said first and second positions for feeding a cut sheet from a said cassette to a using apparatus, each of said paper feeding means being mounted in said cassette installation main body; and including a large cassette for storing cut sheets in an amount larger than that of said first and second cassettes, which may be installed in said mounting space in place of both said first and second cassettes so that sheets can be fed from it.

As shown in Fig. 61 in the present invention, two or more adjacent spaces, such as spaces 30, 32, for installing standard cassettes constitute a continuous space 34 into which a large cassette L can be installed. Moreover, the paper feeding means for the bottom standard cassette S2 is in a position where the installation of large cassette L is not obstructed.

According to the sheet supplying device of the invention, it is possible 'to install a plurality of standard cassettes 51, S2, or one large cassette L, in continuous space 34. Therefore, the sheet supplying device can supply the needs of the user who normally requires sheets of various sizes and occasionally requires large quantities of sheets of a specific size. According to this structure, it is unnecessary to have a space only for the large cassette, and it is therefore possible to miniaturize the sheet supplying device.

In the present invention, a plurality of standard cassettes can be installed or alternatively one large cassette can be installed instead of the standard cassettes. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide either an installation space or a paper feeding means for the large cassette only. Thus, it is possible to use a large cassette wAhout the sheet supplying device also being large-scale. As a result, the large cassette can be installed in small and desktop types of copy and facsimile machines and printers while satisfying the user's varying needs.

Further, it is unnecessary to have a paper feeding means f or f eeding the cut sheets f rom each of the plural standard cassettes and the large cassette and a paper feeding path for feeding the cut sheets from each cassette t.o the predeternined position. Therefore, the structure required for the large cassette only can be omitted.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective - view showing various cassettes used for a sheet supplying device which embodies the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view showing the main body of the sheet supplying device; Fig. 3 is a side sectional view showing the sheet supplying device with standard cassettes installed; Fig. 4 is a side sectional view showing the sheet supplying device with one large cassette installed; Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing a sheet supplying device in another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing how the cassette may be installed in the present invention; Fig. 7A is a front view showing a conventional sheet supplying device.

Fig. 7B is a side sectional view showing the conventional sheet supplying device.

Fig. 8 is a schenatic perspective view showing the conventional sheet supplying device.

Fig.1 is a perspective view showing various types of cassettes that can be used f or the sheet supplying device of this embodiment. SI is a standard cassette having a storage space of 15mm thickness f or holding cut sheet paper having lengths and widths smaller than that of the cassette, such as A4 "paper P (A4). S2 is a standard cassette which also has a storage space of 15nx thickness which can hold another sized cut sheet paper, such as A3 paper P(A3). For the standard cassettes SI, S2, the width E and the height D are equal, and either standaxd cassette can be installed in the same installation space. The length F of the standard cassette depends upon the sheet size. The change in length does not disturb installation interchangeability as the dimensions defining a standard cassette are its height and width.

Both the rear board 4 and the front board 8 of the standard cassette correspond to the A3 size. The side boards 2,2 vary depending on the length of paper. The combination of side boards 2,2, rear board 4 and head board 8 associated with standard cassette S2 define a cassette for A3 paper. Further, paper side edge arrangenent boards 16,16 are installed in the cassette S1 for adjusting the width to hold paper of A4 size and side boards 2,2 are shorter than those of cassette S2. A pair of separation clicks 10,10 is provided in the cassette r-I,S2. A separation click 10 engages each corner of an uppermost cut sheet at the lead edge in the insertion direction of the cassette. Moreover, projections 1451,14S2, having a different shape for each standard cassette based on the size paper it holds, are formed at the same position on the outer surface of one side board 2 of the cassette. The projection presses a switch 27u, 271 fixed to the side of sheet supplying device when the cassette is installed in the sheet supplying device. The switch 27u, 271 provides a signal indicating whether a cassette is installed or not. Further. the projection/switch combination identify the type of cassette installed.

As shown in Fig. 3, a hopper comprising a spring 17 and a bottom board 19, that is urged upwardly by spring 17 j is mounted in the bottom of each standard cassette S1i52. Both corners of the leading edge of the uppermost sheet of the cut sheets held in cassettes are engaged and retained by the separation clicks 10, as a result of the upward f orce exerted by the spring 17. The Lotton board 19 rotates on a hinge 15.

As shown in Fig. 1, a large cassette L can hold a large amount of the A4 cut sheet paper P(A4). The width E and height D of the upper part of the large cassette L are f ! 25 the same as that of the standard cassettes 51,52. Further, a projection 14L, having different shape from those on standard cassettes 51,S2, is formed in the same position as on a standard cassette. Although the width EL of the lower part of the large cassette L is narrower than width E of the upper part, it is wide enough to accommodate the cut sheets of A4 paper P (A4). The height G of the lower part of the large cassette L is greater than the height D of a standard cassette. That' is, as shown in Fig. 3, if the space between the bottom of the standard cassette S1 and the top of the standard cassette 52 when installed in the sheet supplying device is assumed to be H, the height G of the lower "part of the large cassette L becomes G=D+H. Therefore, in the large cassette L, the number of sheets that can be held in the holding space is more than the total number of sheets that can be held as a result of the height D of the two standard cassettes, such as SI, S2, because of space H.

As shown in Fig. 4, a hopper comprising a spring 17 and a bottom board 5 is f ormed in the bottom of the large cassette L. The bottom board 5 comprises two boards Sa and 5b connected by a hinge 7. A link is provided under the bottom board 5b, so that the bottom board 5b is kept horizontal as it rises. An arrangement board 6 for arranging the trailing edges of the sheets is joined by hinge 3 to the bottom board 5a. Therefore, when the bottom board 5 displaces (shown by the dash and dotted line in Fig. 4) as the number of sheets held in the cassette decrease and the remaining held sheets band to follow the contour of boards, the arrangement board 6 moves forward to follow the movement of the bottom board 5a and the trailing edges of the cut sheets P(A4) are arranged vertically. As a result, both corners of the leading edge of the topmost sheet are maintained in position against their respective separation click 10.

Fig. 2 is a schenatic sectional view of the sheet supplying device showing a cassette installation space 34 forned between a pair of side walls 20,20. A rail 24, is is fixed to each of the side walls 20,20, to define an upper space 30 for installing the standard cassette over a plane connecting the upper surface of the rails 24 and a lower space 32 for installing a second standard cassette under the plane. The space between rails 24 is wider than the width EL of the lower part of the large cassette L, shown in Fig. ii so that the large cassette L can be installed in the combined upper and lower spaces. A rail 22 is fixed to each of the sidewalls 20,20 under the combined cassette installation space 34. Rails 22 also serve to guide the second standard when installed in the lower space 32. A stopper 25 is fixed to each rail 24 for restricting the depth of the insertion of the cassette and a stopper 23 is f ixed to each rail 22. Stoppers 23 are deeper in the combined cassette installation space 34 than are the stoppers 25. Each cassette SIS2 is inserted, guided by its side boards 2, 2, front board 8, and guide part 12,12 along one of the pairs of the rails 22 or 24, until it touches the stoppers 23 or 25 respectively.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cassette installed in the lower space 32 is inserted deeper into the sheet supplying device than is the cassette installed in the upper space 30. Mounted to one side wall 20 defining the cassette installation space are switches 27u,271 for detecting both the presence of a cassette and identifying the kind of the cassette installed. The switches 27u,271 are mounted so to be engaged by the projection 14u, 141 or 14L formed on the cassette when a cassette is inserted until it touches the stoppers 23, 25. The presence of the cassette and the kind of the cassette installed are distinguished based upon the signal output by the switch 27u,271.

Rollers 26u,261 are installed over each of the upper and lower cassette installation spaces 30,32. One of the rollers 26u,261 is selectively driven by drive means 40 based upon the userfs choice of cut sheets to be used. -When the roller 26u or 261 rotates, an uppermost cut sheet of the cassette is drawn from the cassette and fed to the paper feeding path 2gu or 291.The rollers 1 1 26u,261 are arranged at different depths in the sheet supplying device corresponding to the permitted depth of insertion of the upper and lower cassettes. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 4, when the large cassette L is used, it does not come in contact with the roller 261 even though it is inserted along the rails 24, 24 until its front edge contacts the stoppers 25. Switches 28u, 281 are also provided for detecting when there are no cut sheets remaining in the cassette. Switches 28u,281 are attached to one of the devicets side walls 20. These switches do not affect the installation of the large cassette L. When large cassette L is installed, switch 281 is beyond the end of the cassette in the same manner as is roller 261.

Fig. 3 shows the sheet supplying device when the standard cassettes S1 and 52 are installed. If the roller 26u rotates, a cut sheet of A4 paper P(A4) is fed from the cassette SI, and if the roller 261 rotates, a cut sheet of A3 paper P(A3) is fed from the cassette S2.

When there is a need f or a large number of cut sheets of a specific size, the user can install the large cassette L. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, the user can use a larger number of sheets than the maximum total amount of sheets that can be held in two standard cassettes S1,S2. When the large cassette L is used, the signal of the switch 271 indicates that a cassette is not installed in lower space 32 and the lower roller 261 is not driven by mistake.

While the present invention has been described in the above enbodinent as a sheet supplying device where one large cassette L can be used replacing two sandard cassettes S1,S2, it is to be understood that the invention nay be embodied in a sheet supplying device where one large cassette can be used to replace three or more standard cassettes. Moreover, in the case where three standard cassettes or nore can be installed, it is possible to use a large cassette that replaces only the upper and middle standard cassettes or the middle and lower standard cassettes.

Further, as shown in Fig. 5, in a sheet supplying device having a space for four standard cassettes to be installed therein, it is possible to install four standard cassettes, or to install one large cassette and two standard cassettes as shown in Fig. 5, or to install two large cassettes. Thus, the varying needs of the user can be realized by the present invention.

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Claims

CLAIMS A cassette type sheet supplying device comprising: a cassette

installation main body having an opening portion to a mounting having first and second positions at which at least a first cassette holding cut sheets and a second cassette holding cut sheets whose size may be different from the size of the cut sheets in said first cassette nay be installed; paper feeding means associated with each of said first and second positions for feeding a cut sheet from a said cassette to a using apparatus, each of said paper feeding means being mounted in said cassette installation main body; and including a large cassette for storing cut sheets in an amount larger than that of said first and second cassettes, which may be installed in said mounting space in place of both said first and second cassettes so that sheets can be fed from it.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein in use the sheets are fed from the large cassette by the feeding means associated with one of the first and second printers.
3. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said cassette installation main body has a guide member for guiding and installing said first cassette.
4. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in claim 3, wherein in use said large cassette is installed on said guide member for said first cassette, a body of said large cassette having a step so that side walls of said large cassette do not interfere with said guide member for said first cassette.
5. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in any preceding claim, including first and second cassettes and wherein said second cassette is longer than said first cassette, and said paper feeding means includes a first roller for extracting a cut sheet from said first cassette and a second roller disposed more remotely than said first roller from said opening portion of said mounting for extracting a cut sheet from said second cassette.
6. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said large cassette is shorter than said second cassette, and said first roller for said first cassette extracts a cut sheet stored in said large cassette when said large cassette is installed in place of both said first and second cassettes.
7. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said mounting includes an upper space for installing said first cassette and a lower space provided under said upper space for installing said second cassette.
8. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said large cassette stores cut sheets of the same size as cut sheets which may be stored by said first cassette.
9. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a first installation detecting means for detecting the installation of a said first cassette into said mounting and a second installation detecting means disposed more remotely than said first installation detecting means from said opening portion of said mounting for detecting the installation of a said second cassette into said mounting, and wherein said first installation detecting means can detect the installation of said large cassette into said mounting when said large cassette is installed in place of both a said first and a said second cassette.
10. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a first 1 sheet detecting means for detecting if a cut sheet remains in a said first cassette and a second sheet detecting means disposed more remotely than said first sheet detecting means from said opening portion of said mounting for detecting if a cut sheet remains in a said second cassette, and wherein said first sheet detecting means can detect if a cut sheet remains in said large cassette when said large cassette is installed in place of both a said first and a said second standard cassette.
11. The cassette type sheet supplying device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising first and second sheet feeding paths communicating with a forward end of a said first and a said second cassette that is remote from said opening portion of said mounting, and wherein a cut sheet stored in said large cassette is fed through said first sheet feeding path when said large cassette is installed in place of both a said first and a said second cassette.
12. A cassette type sheet supplying device comprising: a plurality of standard cassettes which can hold cut sheets; a plurality of paper feeding means for extracting a top sheet of said cut sheets from said cassette, one of said plurality of paper feeding means being provided for each said cassette; a drive means for selectively driving one of said paper feeding means for extracting said top cut sheet from one of said plurality of standard cassettes; and a mounting which is capable of housing a large cassette for holding a greater number of sheets than that of at least two of said standard cassettes and which is capable of housing at least two of said standard cassettes, said paper feeding means for each said standard cassette being arranged not to interfere with the installation position of said large cassette when said large cassette is installed in said mounting.
13. A cassette type sheet supplying device comprising: a cassette installation main body having a mounting in which at least two cassettes may be installed at respective positions; paper feeding means associated with each of the at least two cassettes, said paper feeding means being mounted in said cassette installation main body; a large cassette capable of being installed in said mounting in place of at least two of the at least two cassettes wherein said paper feeding means for one of said at least two cassettes is capable of feeding paper from said large cassette and the paper feeding means for all other replaced cassettes do not obstruct the installation of the large cassette.
14. The cassette type sheet supply device as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a plurality of said mounting.
15. A cassette type sheet supplying device constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at The Patent Office. Concept House. Cardifr Road. NewportGwent NP9 IRH Further copies may be obtained iron. Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. C'ixmgelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd St 'lar Cray. Kent.

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