JP2000226139A - Paper sheet feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a paper sheet feeding device which detects a minute and accurate residual amount in a simple structure. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a paper sheet loading plate 1, a paper sheet shortage detecting means 2, a feed roller 3, a feed roller position detecting means 4, a rotary lifter 5, a detecting means 7, a memory means 8, a transmitter means 9, a control means 10, a rotary body 11, a luminous element 12a, and a luminous element. The detecting means 7 detects the number that the light from the luminous element 12a is received by the other luminous element, and the paper sheet residual amount is detected depending on the cumulative light receiving number.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper supply apparatus for supplying recording paper and originals to image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers and facsimile machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional paper feeding apparatus is configured to automatically feed a plurality of stored papers one by one toward an image forming means of an image forming apparatus by a feed roller one by one. Some conventional paper supply devices include a remaining amount detection unit that detects the remaining amount of paper, and the remaining paper amount information based on the detection is displayed on a display unit provided in the paper supply device or in the image forming apparatus. There is something to display.

[0003] For example, a paper loading plate on which a paper is loaded and rotatable in the vertical direction is placed on a paper feeding device, and a feed roller which comes out of contact with the uppermost portion of the paper loaded on the paper loading plate is provided. A rotating lifter that rotates the paper mounting plate upward until the top of the paper contacts the feed roller, and a remaining amount detecting unit that rotates about an axis in conjunction with the operation of the rotating lifter,
As shown in FIG. 10, two protrusions 2 of the remaining amount detecting means 21 that rotates in association with the operation of the rotary lifter about the shaft 20.
Two switches S provided with predetermined positions 1a and 21b
It is configured to be turned ON only when passing through W1 and SW2. As shown in FIG. 11, four levels of remaining paper are detected when the switches SW1 and SW2 are ON and OFF, and the remaining paper information is obtained. Some are displayed on a display unit (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
-274869). Alternatively, there is a type in which a plurality of detection switches are provided along a moving path of the sheet mounting plate to detect the remaining amount.

[0004]

However, in the conventional remaining amount detecting means, a predetermined range (for example, 0 to 25 in FIG. 11) is used.
%, 25 to 50%, 50 to 75%, 75 to 100%), it is possible to detect only the approximate remaining amount, and even if the number of protrusions and switches is increased or the number of detection switches is increased, There has been a problem that the remaining amount cannot be detected precisely and accurately.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has been made in view of the above circumstances. A sheet feeder comprising: a feed roller for feeding the sheet in contact with the uppermost portion of the sheet; and a lifter for rotating or moving the sheet placement plate upward to an optimum position. A rotating body that rotates about a central axis in conjunction with the operation of the lifter; and a pair of light emitting and receiving units that are disposed opposite to each other with the rotating body interposed therebetween and pass through the opening. A paper feeding apparatus comprising: detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of paper based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit or the number of times of light reception; and transmitting means for transmitting information on the amount of remaining paper detected by the detecting means to an internal or external display means. It is what it was.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a paper supply device connected to the lower side of the printer main body and supplying paper to an opening at the bottom of the printer main body. The paper mounting plate 1, paper out detecting means 2, feed roller 3, feed roller position detection Means 4, rotating lifter 5, detecting means 7, storage means 8, transmitting means 9, control means 1.
0, a rotating body 11, a light emitting element 12a, and a light receiving element 12b (not shown).

The paper placing plate 1 is a plate on which the paper is placed, and the right end thereof can be turned up and down with the left end in the drawing as a fulcrum. The feed roller 3 is configured to be movable in the up and down direction and contacts the uppermost portion of the sheet placed on the sheet placing plate 1,
The roller is a roller that feeds only the uppermost sheet to the right by rotating in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing, and the sheet sent by the feed roller 3 is conveyed to the image forming means of the printer main body. The feed roller position detecting means 4 is a means for detecting whether or not the feed roller 3 is at a position where the sheet feeding condition is the best. For example, when the feed roller 3 is at a preferable position, a switch is turned ON and a High signal is output. May be transmitted as long as it transmits to the control means 10. The rotary lifter 5 may have any configuration as long as the paper mounting plate 1 is rotated upward. The rotary lifter 5 rotates until the feed roller position detecting means 4 detects that the feed roller 3 has reached a preferable position. Perform the action. An arc-shaped interlocking portion 5a interlocked with the operation of the rotary lifter 5 is provided. Teeth 5b are provided on the side surface of the interlocking portion 5a, and mesh with the teeth 11b of the rotating body 11. 1 and 6, the teeth 5b are indicated by dotted lines. The paper-out detecting means 2 raises the paper-mounting plate 1 as the remaining amount of the mounted paper decreases, but the paper-out detecting device 2 is provided at a position where the paper-mounting plate 1 reaches when the paper runs out, and detects the paper out. Any means may be used as long as it is a means for detecting, for example, a means for turning on the switch when pressed by the paper placing plate 1 and transmitting a High signal to the control means 10.

The rotating body 11 is formed in a disk shape, and has a side surface formed with teeth 11b and a central shaft 11 for meshing with the teeth 5b.
Rotate around c. Further, a plurality of openings 11a are provided at equal distances and at equal intervals from the central axis. In the present embodiment, the rotating body 11 is formed in a disk shape. However, even if the rotating body 11 has another shape, a plurality of openings 11a may be provided at an equal distance from the central axis and at equal intervals. 1 and 6, the tooth 11
b is indicated by a dotted line. The light emitting element 12a and the light receiving element 12b face each other with the rotating body 11
It is arranged at the position where passes. In FIG. 1, the light emitting element 12a
The light receiving element 12b is provided on the back surface of the rotating body 11 facing the light emitting element 12b. The detecting means 7 is a means for detecting the number of times that the light from the light emitting element 12a is received by the light receiving element 12b and detecting the remaining amount of paper based on the cumulative number of times of receiving the light. For example, as shown in FIG.
, The light passing through the opening 11a is received by the light receiving element 12b, which is a photoelectric conversion element, and the light receiving element
The current flowing through 2b changes, and the detection means 7 converts the current into a voltage, converts it into a pulse, and accumulates the number of times of pulse generation as the number of times of light reception. The storage means 8 is a means for storing the number of light receptions accumulated by the detection means 7 and stores the number of light receptions even when the power of the paper supply device is turned off, and adds the number of light receptions after the power is turned on to the stored number of light receptions. And memorize it.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fact that the accumulated number of times of light reception is large means that the remaining amount of the paper placed on the paper placing plate 1 is small and the inclination angle of the paper placing plate 1 is large. Conversely, the fact that the accumulated number of times of light reception is small means that the remaining amount of paper placed on the paper
Is small. Therefore, since there is a relationship between the number of times of light reception and the remaining amount of paper, the data as shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the storage unit 8 so that the detection unit 7 can detect the number of times of light reception (the number of counts in FIG. 4). It is possible to accurately and accurately detect the remaining amount of paper.

The transmitting means 9 is a means for transmitting information on the remaining amount of paper detected by the detecting means 7 to a display means provided in the paper supply apparatus, the image forming apparatus or the like. The control unit 10 is a unit that controls the entire sheet supply device 3.

In this embodiment, since the remaining amount of paper can be finely detected, the time when the remaining amount of paper is 0% can be detected only by the detecting means 7 without providing the out-of-paper detecting means 2.

The display means for displaying the remaining amount of paper may be provided in the paper supply apparatus or in the image forming apparatus. However, the image forming apparatus equipped with or connected to the paper supply apparatus may be connected to a host computer or a personal computer in a network environment or the like. (Hereinafter, information processing device), it is preferable to use the screen of the information processing device as a display means. Conventionally, since it is impossible to confirm the remaining amount of paper in the paper supply device from the information processing device side, the user goes to the place where the image forming apparatus is placed, and displays the remaining paper amount display portion of the image forming device or the paper supply device. This was very inconvenient because the user had to check the information and directly check it by pulling out the paper tray.However, by using the screen of the information processing device as a display means, the user can easily and quickly check the remaining amount of paper on the spot. Will be able to know.

When the cumulative number of light receptions stored in the storage means 8 after the power is turned on exceeds a predetermined number, it is more preferable to delete the number of light receptions stored before the power was turned on.
Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. N
Is the cumulative number of light receptions stored in the storage means 8. X is the number of light receptions required to reach the paper-out detecting means 2 from the lowermost position of the paper mounting plate 1. L is a determination signal, which is a signal of 0 or 1.

When the power is turned on, that is, when the power is turned on (step 1), the cumulative number of received light stored in the storage means 8 before the power is turned on is set to N 'and L = 0 (step 2), and the feed roller is turned on. It is determined whether or not the position detecting means 4 is at an optimum position (step 3).

If the feed roller 3 is not at the optimum position, that is, at the position where the sheet feeding conditions are the best, the rotation of the rotation lifter 5 is performed (step 4), and the number of light receptions is accumulated in N 'to make the accumulation number. N "is set (step 5), and it is determined whether or not N"<X (step 6).

If N "<X, return to step 3,
If N ″ ≧ X, it means that the paper placing plate 1 was moved downward because the paper placing plate 1 was pulled out of the paper supply device and the paper was added when the power was turned off. Since it is necessary to delete the received light frequency, L = 1 is set (step 8), and the process returns to step 3.

If it is determined in step 3 that the feed roller position detecting means 4 is at the optimum position,
If L = 1, and the rotary lift is rotating, the rotation is stopped (step 8), and it is determined whether L = 0 (step 9).

If L = 0, the cumulative number of light receptions obtained by adding the number of light receptions before power-on to the number of light receptions before power-on is set to N (step 10). If L = 1, the cumulative number of light receptions before power-on is calculated. The number of light receptions is deleted, and the number of light receptions after the power is turned on is set to N (step 11). Based on the number of light receptions, the remaining amount of paper is detected by the detecting means 7 (step 12).

The transmitting means 9 transmits to the display means a signal for performing an empty display when the remaining amount of paper is 0 (step 13). Send it (step 14).

It should be noted that the same processing as in the flowchart of FIG. 5 may be performed even when the paper mounting plate 1 is moved downward due to the paper mounting plate 1 being pulled out and the paper being added when the power is turned on. In this case, the number of light receptions before the sheet mounting plate 1 moves downward may be reset. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the paper placing plate is rotated has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained even in a configuration in which the paper placing plate moves up and down as a whole.

Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The configuration is the same except that a ′ has a shape that gradually becomes smaller along the rotation direction, and the detection unit 7 detects the remaining amount of paper based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12b. In the present embodiment, the shape becomes smaller along the rotation direction, but may be made larger.

In the present embodiment, since the amount of light received by the light receiving section 12b changes depending on the position of the opening 11a ', the light receiving section 12b shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the fact that the amount of received light is small means that the remaining amount of paper placed on the paper placing plate 1 is small and the inclination angle of the paper placing plate 1 is large, and conversely, the amount of received light is large. This means that the remaining amount of paper placed on the paper placing plate 1 is large and the inclination angle of the paper placing plate 1 is small. Therefore, since there is a relationship between the amount of received light and the remaining amount of paper, the data as shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the storage unit 8 so that the detecting unit 7 detects the amount of received light (in FIG. 8, the relative photocurrent). , It is possible to accurately and accurately detect the remaining amount of paper.

Hereinafter, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the power is turned on, that is, when the power is turned on (step 1), it is determined whether or not the feed roller position detecting means 4 is at an optimum position (step 2). If the paper position is not a good position, the rotation of the rotary lifter 5 is performed (step 3), and the process returns to step 3. If it is determined in step 3 that the feed roller position detecting means 4 is at the optimum position, the rotation of the rotary lift 5 is stopped (step 4), and the detecting means 7 is detected based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element 12b. To detect the remaining amount of paper (step 5).

The transmitting means 9 transmits to the display means a signal for displaying an empty display when the remaining amount of paper is 0 (step 6). Transmit (step 7).

[0025]

As described above, according to the paper supply apparatus of the present invention, a rotating body having one or a plurality of openings and rotating about a central axis in conjunction with the operation of a lifter, A pair of light receiving and emitting units disposed opposite to each other with the opening passing therethrough, and detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of paper based on the amount of light received or the number of times of light reception by the light receiving unit. Further, it is possible to provide a paper supply device which is capable of finely and accurately detecting the remaining amount with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a paper supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a rotating body and a light receiving / emitting unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of a sheet placement plate when two sheets are remaining according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the number of times of light reception and the remaining amount of paper according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a paper supply apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state of a sheet mounting plate when two sheets remain according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the amount of received light and the remaining amount of paper according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a conventional remaining amount detecting unit.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a method of detecting the remaining amount of paper by a conventional remaining amount detecting unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: paper loading plate 2: paper out detection means 3: feed roller 4: feed roller position detection means 5: rotary lifter 7: detection means 8: storage means 9: transmission means 10: control means 11: rotating body 11a, 11a ': Opening 12a: Light emitting element 12b: Light receiving element

Claims (4)

[Claims] A sheet mounting plate on which a sheet is placed and which can be turned or moved in a vertical direction; a feed roller for sending out a sheet in contact with an uppermost portion of the sheet on the sheet mounting plate; And a lifter for rotating or moving the lifter upward to an optimum position, a rotating body having one or a plurality of openings, and rotating about a central axis in conjunction with the operation of the lifter. A pair of light receiving / emitting units disposed opposite to each other with the rotating body interposed therebetween and passing through the opening, and a detecting unit for detecting a remaining amount of paper based on the amount of received light or the number of times of reception of the light receiving unit And a transmitting means for transmitting remaining paper amount information detected by the detecting means to an internal or external display means. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said openings are provided at an equal distance from a central axis and at equal intervals, and said detecting means detects a remaining amount of paper based on a counted number of light receptions of said light receiving section. The sheet supply device according to claim 1. 3. A storage means for accumulating the number of light receptions of said detection means and holding the number even when the power is turned off. If the accumulated number of light receptions exceeds a predetermined number after the power is turned on, the number of light receptions after the power is turned on is newly increased. 3. The number of times of light reception.
Paper supply device according to the above. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the opening is gradually increased or decreased in the direction of rotation of the rotating body, and the detecting means detects the remaining amount of paper based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit. The paper supply device according to claim 1, wherein: