JP2000229731A - Paper feeding device and picture image formation device with this device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet feeding device capable of preventing a corner part of a sheet from being bent and an end part of a top face of a sheet from turning up when sheets are stored from the horizontal direction and a picture image formation device provided with this device. SOLUTION: A side end regulation member 3a in contact with a side end orthogonal to a storage direction of a sheet S is provided in a storage part to regulate a side end position of the sheet S by the side end regulation member 3a, and the sheet S is guided into a contact part 2 by a guide face 2a formed in a side end part on the upstream side in the direction of sheet storage of the contact part 2 in contact with the sheet S of the side end reulation member 3a when the sheet S is stored in the storage part from the lateral direction. Moreover, an upper regulation member 1 is provided in an upper part of the storage part to regulate upward deformation of the sheet S stored by the upper regulation member 1, and the sheet S is guided below the upper regulation member 1 by a guide face 1a formed on a lower face of the upper regulation member 1 when the sheet S is stored.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeder and an image forming apparatus provided with the same, and more particularly, to a configuration of a storage unit provided inside the paper feeder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional image forming apparatuses include a paper feeder for storing recording paper (sheets) and feeding the recording paper to the main body of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of such a conventional sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same, in which 400 is an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit therein, 400A is an image forming apparatus main body, Reference numeral 300 denotes a sheet feeding deck which is a sheet feeding device detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 400A.

The paper feeding deck 300 is of a side loading type in which a recording material is stored in a recording material storage section 109 provided therein from a horizontal direction. After the image is transferred and fixed inside the image forming apparatus main body, the recording paper S is discharged to a paper discharge unit.

By the way, such a conventional paper feed deck 3
At 00, the upper end of the recording material S stacked and stored in the recording material storage unit 109 may be turned up due to moisture absorption of the recording paper S or the like. Here, when the upper end is turned up in this manner, the upper end is caught on a guide surface end or the like (not shown) provided in the recording material storage unit 109 during a paper feeding operation, causing a jam or the like. , And the desired paper feed performance cannot be exhibited.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper end of the recording paper S is pressed against a pair of side regulating plates 103 for regulating the side surfaces of the recording paper S stored in the recording material storage section 109, as shown in FIG. Claw part 101 is provided. The other side regulating plate provided to face the side regulating plate 103 is not shown in FIG.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for an improvement in the position and timing accuracy of the recording paper S sent from the paper feeder for the purpose of improving the accuracy of the image writing position of the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7, a paper pushing plate 102 for regulating the side edge of the recording sheet S while pressing the side edge thereof is provided on the side regulating plate 103 so as to be movable in the width direction of the recording sheet S.

Here, the paper push plate 102 is usually
As shown in FIG. 5, the recording paper S is urged in the width direction of the recording paper S by an urging spring 102b provided on the back surface of the side regulating plate 103, and the distance between the paper pressing surface 102c and the other side regulating plate is reduced.
The recording sheet S is protruded to a position where the recording sheet S is narrower than the width of the recording material.

When the recording paper S is stored in this manner, the recording paper S is urged in the width direction while the paper pressing plate 102 is displaced, so that the stored recording material side end of the paper pressing plate 102 is Since the sheet can be adjusted by the sheet pressing surface 102c, the accuracy of the side edge position and the accuracy of the angle of the recording sheet S sent from the sheet feeding device (anti-skew property) can be improved.

Next, the paper feed deck 3 constructed as described above
The recording material storage operation at 00 will be described.

When the recording paper S is stored, the user is required to
Is opened, and the recording paper S taken out from a paper pack (not shown) is stored horizontally in the direction of the arrow b shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 in the recording material storage section 109. At this time, the user tries to store it in advance. The recording paper S is stored along a pair of side regulating plates 103 set according to the size of the recording paper S to be printed.

As a result, the recording paper S is stored with the side edges being adjusted by the paper pushing plate 102 provided on the one side regulating plate 103, and finally the claw 101 shown in FIG.
Is stored below the lower surface 101a. When the user finishes storing the desired number of recording sheets S, the user closes the deck door 110.

It should be noted that the recording paper S stored in this manner is eventually printed (or copied or faxed) by the user.
Etc.), the paper is fed from the recording material storage unit 109 by a paper feed roller (not shown), and then fed into the inside of the image forming apparatus main body from a feed port 401 formed in the side wall surface of the image forming apparatus main body 400A shown in FIG. Paper. And after this,
After the toner image is transferred to the recording sheet S by the transfer unit provided in the image forming apparatus main body 400A, the image is fixed by the fixing unit, and is discharged to the sheet discharge unit.

[0013]

However, in such a conventional paper feeding apparatus, when the recording paper S is stored in the horizontal direction, the recording paper S is pressed and adjusted by the paper pressing surface 102c of the paper pressing plate 102. Before the recording, the recording paper S is hooked on the side end 102a of the paper push plate 102 shown in FIG. 8 and the corners of the recording paper S are broken, and the recording paper S may be stored in the recording material storage unit 109 in this state.

When the corners are bent in this manner, a jam occurs when the recording paper S is sent out to the image forming apparatus main body 400A by a paper feed roller (not shown) of the paper feed deck 300 or the like. Further, even when the sheet is sent to the image forming apparatus main body 400A without causing a jam, the jam may occur in the image forming apparatus main body 400A, or in the worst case, the sheet may be wrapped around the transfer unit. .

On the other hand, when the recording paper S is stored in the recording paper storage 109, the central portion of the recording material bundle is recessed downward to facilitate the storage, and the recording paper storage 10 is held while maintaining the V shape.
9 in some cases.

However, when the recording material bundle is horizontally stored in the recording paper storage portion 109 with the central portion of the recording material bundle recessed downward, the upper end portion of the recording material bundle is located above the lower surface 101a of the claw portion 101. When the V-shaped state is released, the upper few sheets of the recording material bundle are moved to the claw portions 10 as shown in FIG.
In some cases, the position may be higher than 1.

When the upper few sheets of the recording material bundle are located above the claw 101, the claw 101 cannot press the upper end of the recording material bundle.
As a result, the end portion is turned up, and in the paper feeding operation, a jam or the like is caused as described above, and the desired paper feeding performance cannot be satisfied.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and when the recording paper is stored in the horizontal direction, the corners of the recording paper may be broken or the upper end of the recording paper may be turned up. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device capable of preventing the occurrence of an image and an image forming apparatus provided with the same.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sheet feeder for storing sheets laterally in a storage portion provided therein, wherein the sheet storage direction is provided in the storage portion. A side end regulating member that abuts a side end perpendicular to the side and regulates a side end position of the sheet, and an upper regulating member that is provided at an upper portion of the storage section and regulates upward deformation of the stored sheet. A guide surface for guiding the sheet to the contact portion when storing the sheet is formed at an upstream end of a contact portion of the side end regulating member that contacts the sheet when the sheet is stored. A lower inclined guide surface for guiding the sheet below the upper regulating member when storing the sheet is formed on a lower surface of the upper regulating member.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the upper regulating member protrudes from an upper portion of the side end regulating member on the contact portion side.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a lower end of the guide surface of the upper regulating member is located a predetermined distance above the accommodated sheet.

Further, according to the present invention, the contact portion of the side end regulating member is provided on the side end regulating member so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the sheet storage direction, and is urged to protrude toward the sheet. It is characterized by being constituted by the sheet pushing member which is done.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including an image forming section and a sheet feeding device, wherein the sheet feeding device is as described in any one of claims 1 to 4. Things.

Further, as in the present invention, a side end regulating member which comes into contact with a side end orthogonal to the sheet storage direction is provided in the storage section,
The side end regulating member regulates the side end position of the sheet, and a guide surface formed on the upstream end of the contact portion of the side end regulating member that comes into contact with the sheet in the sheet storage direction.
When the sheet is stored in the storage section from the lateral direction, the sheet is guided to the contact section. Further, an upper regulating member is provided at an upper portion of the storage portion, and the upper regulating member regulates upward deformation of the accommodated sheet, and accommodates the sheet by a guide surface formed on a lower surface of the upper regulating member. At this time, the sheet is guided below the upper regulating member.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 200 denotes a printer, which is an example of an image forming apparatus;
Denotes a printer main body, and 100 denotes a large-capacity paper feeding deck which is a paper feeding device detachably mounted on the printer main body 200A.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the printing operation of the printer 200
00, a controller 23 for controlling a paper feeding operation, etc., an operation unit 21 having a copy switch (not shown), and image information sent from a computer (not shown) according to print, facsimile, etc. instructions to the controller 23. Network unit 22, a reader unit 24 for reading an image of a document or the like, and a printer unit 25 which is an image forming unit for printing out an image signal sent from the reader unit 24. The reader unit 24 may have a scanner function that can send the read image information to the computer via the network 22.

Further, the printer 200 includes a paper feeding unit 2
6 is provided. Here, the paper supply unit 26 rotates the paper supply motor 27 based on a paper supply instruction from the controller 23 to rotate the separation roller pair 7 and the pickup roller 6, and also sucks the pickup solenoid 28 at a predetermined timing. This is for dropping the pickup roller 6 onto the recording paper S stored in the recording material storage unit 9.

In the image forming apparatus 200 configured as described above, the sheet feeding deck 100 is mounted, and, for example, when a user inputs a copy command through the operation unit 21, the controller 23 that has received the copy command switches to the reader unit. At the same time, it instructs the printer unit 24 to read an image, instructs the printer unit 25 to output an image based on the image signal sent from the reader unit 24, and simultaneously instructs the paper feed unit 26 to start feeding.

For example, when image information is sent via the network 22 in accordance with a print instruction from a computer, an image output is instructed to the printer unit 25 based on the image information, and the image is fed to the paper feeding unit 26. Instruct to start.

Then, in response to such a paper feed start instruction from the controller 23, the paper feed unit 26 rotates the paper feed motor 27 and sucks the pickup solenoid 28 at a predetermined timing. Thereby, the pickup roller 6
The recording paper S stored in the recording material storage unit 9 in a state where is rotated.
The recording paper S is sent out toward the downstream paper feed roller 7 by the rotation of the pickup roller 6.

Thereafter, the recording paper S is separated one by one by a paper feed roller 7, sent out of the paper feeder by a transport roller (not shown), and delivered to the image forming apparatus 200. Thereafter, the recording paper S transferred to the image forming apparatus 200 is transferred with a toner image by a transfer unit (not shown) provided in the printer unit 25, and then the image is fixed by a fixing unit (not shown). Is discharged.

On the other hand, the paper feed deck 100 is of a side loading type in which the recording paper S is stored in a recording material storage section 9 provided inside shown in FIG. The recording paper S is fed to the image forming apparatus 200 as described above.

In the figure, reference numeral 3a designates a side regulating plate which is a side end regulating member provided inside the recording material storing portion 9, and the side regulating plate 3a is
And a side edge position of the recording paper S stored in contact with a side edge orthogonal to the storage direction of the recording paper S together with another side regulating plate 3b configured as shown in FIG. Is regulated.

In this embodiment, the paper feed deck 100 can feed two types of recording paper S of A4 size and LTR size, and the side regulating plates 3a and 3b are arbitrarily set according to these sizes. It can be fixed by fixing means (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the recording paper S stacked and stored in the recording material storage section 9 does not turn over the upper side of the side regulating plate 3a due to moisture absorption of the recording paper S. A claw portion 1 as an upper regulating member for pressing the upper surface of the recording material is provided. Further, the lower surface of the claw portion 1 is inclined downward by a predetermined angle toward the storage direction, and an arrow a
The upper end of the recording paper S stored horizontally from the direction is claw 1
The guide surface 1a is formed to be guided downward.

As shown in FIG. 4, a claw portion 8 is provided at a position symmetrical to the claw portion 1 of the one side regulation plate 3a above the other side regulation plate 3b. Is also inclined downward by a predetermined angle toward the storage direction, and arrow a
The edge of the upper surface of the recording paper S stored horizontally from the
Guide surface 8a is formed to be guided downward.

The two side regulating plates 3a, 3b facing each other are provided with claws 1, 8 respectively, and the lower surfaces of the claws 1, 8 are formed with guide surfaces 1a, 8a inclined at a predetermined angle. Thus, when the recording paper S is stored, the recording paper S moves below the claw portions 1 and 8 while being guided by the guide surfaces 1a and 8b of the claw members 1 and 8.

The guide surfaces 1a, 8 of the claws 1, 8
If the lowest point of a is set to the same height as the recording material feeding surface height (= the recording material height surface when the paper feeding deck 100 feeds the recording paper S), as described above, When the recording paper S is sent out by the pickup roller 6, the lower ends of the guide surfaces 1a and 8a come into contact with the recording paper S, which causes resistance, so that the lowest point is higher than the upper surface of the recording material bundle by a predetermined height. There is a need to.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, the lowest point, which is the lower part of the guide surfaces 1a, 8a of the claw portions 1, 8 is set so as to be 5.4 mm higher than the recording material feeding surface height. By setting the lowest point of the guide surfaces 1a and 8a to such a height, good paper feeding performance is secured.

On the other hand, the uppermost points (upper ends) of the guide surfaces 1a and 8a are formed by denting the center of the recording material bundle downward as described above, and when the recording material bundle is stored while being held in a V-shape. Is set so that the upper end of the upper surface does not catch on the guide surfaces 1a and 8a.

Thus, when the recording material bundle in the V-shape is stored, when the recording material bundle approaches the claw portions 1 and 8, the upper end of the recording material bundle must be in contact with the claw portions 1 and 8. Guide surface 1
Since the recording material bundle is located below the guide surfaces 1a and 8a, the recording material bundle can be prevented from being caught on the guide surfaces 1a and 8a.

By setting the uppermost point to such a height, when the recording material bundle is thereafter pushed in the storage direction,
Eventually, the upper end of the recording material bundle comes into contact with the guide surfaces 1a, 8a, and the recording material bundle moves below the claw portions 1, 8 while the upper surface end is pressed by the guide surfaces 1a, 8a. .

As a result, even when the storage is completed and the V-shaped state is released, the upper part of the recording material bundle is positioned below the claw portions 1 and 8, and thereafter, the recording material bundle is released. Even in the case where the upper several sheets are going to be deformed upward, the deformation can be restricted by the claw portions 1 and 8.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a paper pushing plate 2 which is a paper pushing member and extends in the vertical direction is provided on the side regulating plate 3a.
The recording paper S is provided to be movable in the width direction. Here, the paper pushing plate 2 is normally urged in the width direction of the recording paper S by an urging spring 2b provided on the back surface of the side regulating plate 3a as shown in FIG. It protrudes to a position where the distance from the side regulating plate 3b becomes smaller than the width of the recording paper S.

In this embodiment, the paper pressing plate 2 is provided only on one side regulating plate 3a so as to arrange the recording paper S with reference to the other side regulating plate 3b. Further, in the present embodiment, the paper pressing plate 2 projects so as to be 1 mm narrower than the width of the recording material to be stored.

As shown in FIG. 5, a guide surface 2a for guiding the recording paper S to the paper pushing surface 2c of the paper pushing plate 2 is provided at the upstream end of the paper pushing plate 2 in the storage direction. When the recording paper S is stored, the recording paper S is stored with the end corners in contact with the guide surface 2a.

When the recording paper S is stored in this way, the paper pressing plate 2 is pressed against the guide surface 2a by the pressing force from the recording paper S so that the paper pressing plate 2 resists the urging force of the urging spring 2b while the recording material width position is maintained. To be displaced.

Thus, the end portion of the recording material of the paper pressing plate 2 can be adjusted by the paper pressing surface 2c.
As a result, it is possible to improve the side edge position accuracy and the angle accuracy (anti-skew property) of the recording paper S fed out. Further, finally, the accuracy of the image writing position of the image forming apparatus main body 200A can be improved.

In this embodiment, the guide surface 2
The angle a is set at an angle of 33 degrees with respect to the paper pressing surface 2c, thereby ensuring a good recording material storage property.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a deck door, and in FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 4 denotes a lifter plate on which the recording paper S is placed and which can be moved up and down. It is a tip regulation plate to regulate.

Next, the recording material storing operation of the sheet feeding device thus configured will be described.

When storing the recording paper S, the user can
Then, the deck door 10 is opened, and thereafter the positions of the side regulating plates 3a and 3b are confirmed before the recording paper S is stored. When the side regulating plates 3a and 3b are set at positions different from the size of the recording sheet S to be stored, the side regulating plates 3a and 3b are reset to the set position of the recording material size to be stored.

Next, after confirming the positions of the side regulating plates 3a and 3b, the recording material bundle is taken out from a paper pack (not shown), and the taken out recording material bundle is then moved to an arrow a shown in FIG.
It is stored in the recording material storage unit 9 from the direction.

At this time, when the corner of the end portion of the recording material bundle to be stored reaches the guide surface 2a of the paper push plate 2, the recording material bundle is guided by the guide surface 2a and the guide surface 2a.
The paper push plate 2 is accommodated while being displaced to the recording material width position while resisting the urging force of the urging spring 2b via a.

By storing the recording material bundle while displacing the paper pressing plate 2 to the recording material width position in this manner, the recording material end can be adjusted by the paper pressing surface 2c of the paper pressing plate 2. . Further, when the recording paper S is stored, the recording material bundle is stored while being guided by the guide surface 2a, so that the recording material bundle can be stored without breaking the corners of the recording paper S.

On the other hand, when the recording sheet S is stored, when the recording material bundle reaches the claws 1, 8, the upper end of the recording material bundle is guided by the guide surface 1 a formed on the lower surface of the claws 1, 8. , 8a to move below the claw portions 1, 8 while being pressed.

The bundle of recording materials stored while the side edges are adjusted by the paper pushing plate 2 and the upper surface is pressed by the claw portions 1 and 8 eventually strikes the leading end regulating plate 5 and is set by the user. It can be easily adjusted by the operation of adjusting the rear end of the recording material bundle. When the user finishes storing the desired number of recording materials, the user closes the deck door 10.

When the recording paper S is stored, as described above, the central portion of the recording material bundle may be recessed downward and stored while holding it in a V-shape. Even when the paper S is stored, since the height of the uppermost point of the guide surfaces 1a and 8a is located above the upper end of the recording paper S in the V-shape, the height is maintained in a V-shape. Recording paper S
Reaches the guide surfaces 1a, 8a of the claws 1, 8, the upper end of the recording paper S is positioned below the guide surfaces 1a, 8a.

As a result, when the recording material bundle is further pushed in, the recording material bundle is moved to the guide surfaces 1a and 8a.
It is guided below the claw portions 1 and 8 without getting caught in the claw portions.
After that, when the storage is completed and the V-shaped state is released, the upper part of the recording material bundle is located below the claw portions 1 and 8, so the claw portions 1 and 8 are located at the upper end of the recording material bundle. The part can be reliably held down.

As described above, when storing the recording paper S, the recording paper S is guided to the paper pressing surface 2c of the paper pressing plate 2 by the guide surface 2a formed on the paper pressing plate 2, and The guide sheet 1a, 8a formed on the lower surface causes the recording paper S
By guiding the recording paper S below, it is possible to prevent the corners of the recording paper S from being broken or the edges from being turned up when the recording paper S is stored.

In the above description, the side regulating plate 3a has been described in which the side end position of the recording paper S is regulated by the paper pushing plate 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. Side regulating plates 3a, 3 without
In the case of the configuration in which the side edge position of the recording paper S is regulated only by b, the same effect can be obtained by the configuration in which the guide surface is formed at the recording material insertion end of each side regulation plate.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a sheet is stored in the storage portion from the lateral direction, the contact portion that contacts the sheet of the side end regulating member is formed at the upstream end in the sheet storage direction. The sheet is guided to the contact portion by the guide surface provided, and the sheet is guided below the upper regulation member by the guide surface formed on the lower surface of the upper regulation member. Can be prevented from being broken or the upper end of the sheet from being turned up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus (printer).

FIG. 3 is a side view of one side regulating plate provided in a recording material storage section of the paper feeding device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another side regulating plate provided in the recording material storage section.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one side regulating plate provided in the recording material storage section when viewed from above.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus including a conventional sheet feeding device.

FIG. 7 is a side view of one side regulating plate provided in a recording material storage section of a conventional sheet feeding device.

FIG. 8 is a top view of one side regulating plate provided in a recording material storage section of the conventional paper feeding device.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a main part of one side regulating plate provided in a recording material storage section of the conventional paper feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 8 claw portions 1a, 8a guide surface 2 paper pressing plate 2a guide surface 2b biasing spring 2c paper pressing surface 3a (one) side regulating plate 3b the other side regulating plate 5 tip regulating plate 6 pickup roller 7 separation roller pair 9 Recording material storage section 10 Deck door 25 Printer section 100 Paper feed deck 200 Printer (image forming apparatus) S Recording paper

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sheet feeding device configured to store sheets from a lateral direction in a storage portion provided therein, wherein the sheet feeding device is provided in the storage portion and abuts on a side end orthogonal to a sheet storage direction. A side end regulating member that regulates a side end position of the sheet, and an upper regulating member that is provided at an upper portion of the storage section and regulates upward deformation of the stored sheet. A guide surface for guiding the sheet to the contact portion when storing the sheet is formed at an upstream end of the contact portion of the member that contacts the sheet in the sheet storage direction, and a lower surface of the upper regulating member. A sheet feeding device, characterized in that a lower inclined guide surface for guiding the sheet below the upper regulating member when storing the sheet is formed. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the upper regulating member protrudes from an upper portion of the side end regulating member on a contact portion side. 3. A lower end of a guide surface of the upper regulating member,
3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is located a predetermined distance above the stored sheets. 4. A sheet abutting portion of the side end regulating member is provided on the side end regulating member so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the sheet storage direction, and is urged to protrude toward the sheet side. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is constituted by a pressing member. 5. An image forming apparatus provided with an image forming unit and a sheet feeding device, wherein the sheet feeding device is the one according to any one of claims 1 to 4. .