JP2000344369A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize an image recording device by applying the frictional separation method for closely pressing a member having a frictional coefficient free from the driving force to a first sheet feeding means to separate sheets in a first separating means, and applying a separation method different from that of the first separating means, in a second separating means. SOLUTION: Recording sheets S stacked on a MP cassette tray 13a are closely contacted with a MP separation roller 30a as a first sheet feeding means by upwardly rotating a MP intermediate plate 13c by a pressing member 13b, and separated one by one by a MP separation pad 30b as a first separating means (frictional separation method). An upper surface of a top plate 11h is used as a bottom plate of a recording device body 1. The recording sheets S stacked on a tray 11a of an optional feeder is separated one by one by a semi-circular feeding roller 11b as a second sheet feeding means and a pair of separation claws 11d as a second separating means, by energizing an intermediate plate 11e by an intermediate plate spring 11f (claw separation method).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, a copying machine, and a printer for recording on a recording sheet supplied from a loaded recording sheet stacking cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, regarding stacking of recording sheets used in an image recording apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile machine,
An image recording apparatus 100 in which a sheet cassette 101 capable of stacking several hundred sheets as shown in FIG. 10 is arranged below an image recording unit for recording an image is mainly used.

Further, since images are expected to be recorded on a larger number of sheets, an optional sheet cassette 102 can be attached to the lower part of such an image recording apparatus, that is, the lower part of the sheet cassette on the main body side. The user can attach such an optional sheet cassette to the lower portion of the apparatus main body according to the use situation.

In such a sheet cassette, sheet feeding means 103 such as a pick-up roller for feeding stacked sheets to an image recording section, and separating means (not shown) for separating sheets fed by the sheet feeding means into one sheet. ) Is provided.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional apparatus has the following problems.

As for the sheet cassette, both a default sheet cassette 101 previously connected to the apparatus and an optional sheet cassette 102 that can be retrofitted have the same shape, the same sheet feeding means 103 and the same separating means. There were many. In other words, the sheet cassettes 101 and 102 are inevitably large so that they can be loaded from a small amount to a large amount and can be loaded with sheets of various sizes in order to withstand any use situation.
In many cases, the separation means has a high reliability but an expensive retard separation method so that sheets of various materials and sizes can be separated.

[0007] At present, the users of the recording apparatus have a wide variety of uses, and there are various needs for the number of sheets used, the material and size of the sheets used for recording, and all these needs are to be satisfied. Therefore, the apparatus becomes expensive and the operability is sacrificed due to the increase in size.

In other words, a small and low-cost image recording apparatus is provided with a sheet cassette that satisfies the needs of a user who wants to record on sheets of various sizes and materials and a user who uses a large number of sheets of a frequently used size. Was not present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image recording apparatus which is small, inexpensive, highly reliable, and can meet various needs of users. Is to provide.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image recording means for recording an image on a sheet, a first sheet supporting cassette for supporting a sheet for recording an image on the image recording means, First sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets supported by the sheet support cassette, first separating means for separating the sheets sent by the first sheet feeding means into one sheet, A second sheet supporting cassette provided below the first sheet supporting cassette and supporting a sheet for recording an image by the image recording means;
A second sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets supported by the second sheet support cassette; and a second sheet separating the sheets fed by the second sheet feeding means into one sheet.
Wherein the first separating means presses against the first sheet feeding means a member having a coefficient of friction to which no driving force is applied to separate the sheets. A separation method is used, and the second separation means uses a separation method different from that of the first separation means.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the overall configuration of a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention will be schematically described with reference to FIGS.

1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording apparatus main body, 2 denotes an original mounting table configured so that a plurality of originals D can be stacked on an upper cover of the recording apparatus main body 1, 3
Is an image reading unit for reading image information of the document D, 4 is a recording unit composed of a laser beam printer, 5 is a document conveying unit, 6 is a document pressing unit, 7 is a contact image sensor, 8 is a document discharge tray, 9 is Laser scanner 10, image forming unit 1,
Reference numeral 1 denotes a sheet cassette unit (hereinafter, referred to as an optional feeder unit) as a second sheet support cassette, 12 denotes a recording sheet discharge tray, and 13 denotes an MP (multi-function) as a first sheet support cassette provided in the apparatus main body. (Recording paper) cassette unit, 14 is a cartridge cover, 15 is an ADF (automatic document feeder) cover, 16 is an upper document guide, 17 is a weight shaft, 18 is a document pressing plate, 19 is a lower document guide, and 20 is an image reading Unit and a recording unit, 21 is a control unit of the facsimile machine, 22 is a handset, 23 is a transport guide, 2
4 is an operation unit, 25 is a display unit, 26 is a tally lamp indicating the operation state of the facsimile machine, 27 is a second-stage optional feeder unit, 28 is a light cover, 29 is an MP (multi-recording paper) cassette sensor, and 30 is a An MP (multi-recording paper) separation unit as a separation unit.

The image reading section 3 feeds and separates the originals D stacked on the original placing table 2 one by one by a preliminary transport roller 5b pressed against the preliminary transport pressing piece 5a and a separation roller 5d pressed against the reverse rotation roller 5c. Then, the original D is conveyed to the close contact type image sensor 7 by a paper feed roller 5f pressed against a paper feed roller 5e pressed by a pressing spring 5k, and the original pressing portion 6 transfers the original D by a weight shaft 17 and an original pressing plate 18. After reading the image information of the document D while pressing and bringing the document D into close contact with the contact type image sensor 7, the document D is transferred to the document discharge tray 8 by a discharge roller 5h pressed against a discharge roller 5g pressed by a pressing spring 5k. It is designed to discharge. During this time, the document D is guided by the upper document guide 16 and the lower document guide 19.

A slider 2a slidable in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the original D is transported (in the width direction of the original D) is mounted on the original placing table 2.
Is provided, and both sides of the document D stacked on the document table 2 can be aligned by the slider 2a. When the document D is a long document, by opening the extension document tray 2b, the rear end of the document D can be prevented from protruding from the document table 2 and hanging down.

The recording unit 4 emits a modulation signal from a laser beam oscillator 9a of the laser scanner 9 based on the image signal output from the control unit 21, and this modulated beam is exposed to light of the image forming unit 10 by a polygon mirror 9b. The body drum 10a is irradiated with scanning light to form image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10a, and is fed to the image forming unit 10 from the optional feeder unit 11, the second-stage optional feeder unit 27, or the MP cassette unit 13. After transferring and fixing the image information to the recording paper S, the paper is discharged to the recording paper discharge tray 12.

The photosensitive drum 10a is integrally incorporated into a recording cartridge 10e together with a primary charger 10b, a developing roller 10c and a cleaning roller 10d, and is configured to be detachable from the recording apparatus main body 1. The surface of the photoreceptor drum 10a is uniformly charged by the primary charger 10b, and when the scanning light is reflected from the polygon mirror 9b and reflected by the return mirror 9c to irradiate the surface, a latent image is formed. The image is visualized by the toner supplied from 10c.

A transfer charger 10f is arranged around the photosensitive drum 10a of the image forming section 10, and a heat fixing device 10f is provided on a recording paper transport path downstream of the photosensitive drum 10a.
g, and a paper discharge roller 10h.

After the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10a is transferred to the recording paper S by the transfer charger 10f, the recording paper S is transported along the transport guide 23, and the toner image is fixed by the thermal fixing device 10g. The recording paper is discharged onto a recording paper discharge tray 12 by a discharge roller 10h.

The recording apparatus body 1 includes a cartridge cover 1.
4 is provided so as to be openable and closable, and the cartridge cover 1
By opening the recording cartridge 4, the recording cartridge 10e can be pulled out of the recording apparatus main body 1 and replaced.

The cartridge cover 14 is provided with an interlock mechanism.
Is open or the recording unit 4 is not operated when the recording cartridge 10e is not set in the recording apparatus main body 1. The drum exposure prevention shutter 10i provided on the recording cartridge 10e is adapted to be linked with the setting of the recording cartridge 10e in the recording apparatus main body 1. By opening the cartridge cover 14, the recording cartridge 10e can be connected to the recording apparatus main body 1. When the shutter is set, the shutter 10i is opened, and when the recording cartridge 10e is removed from the recording apparatus main body 1, the shutter 10i is closed to prevent unnecessary exposure of the photosensitive drum 10a.

If a jam occurs during recording, the recording paper S staying inside can be taken out by opening any one of the cartridge cover 14, the light cover 28, the paper discharge cover 10j, and the jam release cover 11i. Is available.

4. Further, it is necessary to open the discharge cover 10j after removing the recording paper discharge tray 12.

The partitioning section 20 is a duct for separating the image reading section 3 and the recording section 4, and the image reading section 3 is adversely affected by heat generated from the recording section 4 by flowing air by a fan (not shown). This prevents water vapor evaporating from the recording paper S from condensing and dropping onto the recording paper S.

The close contact type image sensor 7 has an L
Light is emitted from the ED array to the image information surface of the document D, and reflected light reflected from the image information surface is focused on a sensor element by a selfoc lens to read image information.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system 300 of the facsimile apparatus using the LBP according to the present invention. In the figure, a CP 301 controls the entire facsimile machine.
U, a ROM 312 for storing an MPU 311, a control program for the MPU 311, and a RA used as a work area for various data processing and a temporary storage for image information.
M313, an image processing unit 314 that performs image scaling, resolution conversion, and the like. The CPU 301 is provided with a calendar, a clock function, and the like having a known configuration. An area of the RAM 313 for storing important system setting information such as one-touch key destination information, software switch information, and the like is provided by a battery backup so that an unexpected failure such as a power failure occurs. Protected from. The control system of the facsimile apparatus includes the CPU 301 described above and the following elements 302 to 31.
0 through an interface.

The operation unit 302 includes various key switches such as a ten-key 314, a function key 315, a one-touch key 316, a start key 317, and a stop key 317. The display unit 303 includes an LCD 318 for displaying various messages and various LEDs 3 for displaying a transmission mode and the like.
19, a tally lamp 320 for notifying a distant operator of a communication state and occurrence of a failure.

The reading unit 304 includes a driving unit 3 such as a reading motor.
21, a reading sensor 322 for reading an image, an image processing unit 323 for shading and binarizing the read image,
It is composed of various sensors 324 and the like for detecting a document.

The recording unit 305 is a driving unit 32 such as a recording motor.
5, a recording unit 326 for controlling a laser scanner or an electrophotographic process, an image processing unit 327 for smoothing an image to be recorded, and various sensors 328 for detecting recording paper and the like. The communication control unit 306 that performs outgoing calls, incoming calls, encoding of image data, and the like has a connection unit 329 including a DSU, an NCU, and the like, and a communication network 307 and a handset 308 are connected to the connection unit 329. The CPU external interface 309 is an interface for directly transmitting and receiving data from the CPU 301, and includes, for example, RS232C, SCS
The apparatus is used as a scanner printer or the like of the external computer by connecting to a computer external to the apparatus via I, LAN, or the like. The HDD 310 is used as a large-capacity nonvolatile memory for storing image information and the like.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the basic operation of the LBP.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 400 denotes a semiconductor laser which blinks a laser beam with respect to image data to be recorded; 401, a polygon motor; 402, a polygon mirror rotated by the polygon motor 401; System, 404 is a photodetector, 405 is a folding mirror, 406 is a photosensitive drum, 407 is a developing device, 40
8 is a recording paper, 409 is a conveyance guide, and 410 is a fixing device.

In the above configuration, first, the semiconductor laser 4
The laser light emitted from 00 is reflected by the polygon mirror 402 and deflected, and is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 406 via the optical system 403 and the return mirror 405 (main scanning). At this time, the head is caught by the photodetector 404 and the irradiation position is determined. While this main scanning is completed for one line, the photosensitive drum 406 rotates one line (sub-scan). The image formed on the photosensitive drum 406 as described above is developed by the developing device 407 and the recording paper 4
08 is transferred. The sheet is further conveyed along a conveyance guide 409, is fixed by a fixing device 410, and is discharged.

The photosensitive drum 406 and the developing device 40
7. Sub-scanning system elements such as a conveyance guide 409 and a fixing device 410 are operated by a recording motor (not shown), a gear, a belt, and the like.
Driven synchronously.

Next, the MP cassette unit 13, the optional feeder unit 11, and the second-stage optional feeder unit 27 for stacking and storing sheets for recording images will be described. Here, since the option feeder unit 11 and the second-stage option feeder unit 27 have the same configuration, the description of the second-stage option feeder unit 27 is omitted.

The MP cassette section 13 is disposed at the bottom of the main body 1 of the recording apparatus. The recording paper S loaded on the MP cassette orchestra 13a is pressed by the pressing member 13b into the MP middle plate 13c.
Are rotated upward, are pressed against the MP separation roller 30a as the first sheet feeding means, and are separated one by one by the MP separation pad 30b as the first separation means (friction separation method). Transported along the separation base 30c, further provided with a transport roller 28a, a cover-side U-turn guide 28b disposed on the light cover 28,
Main unit side U-turn guide 2 arranged on the recording device main unit 1 side
8c. Further, the leading end position of the recording paper S being fed is detected by the registration sensor 28d, and the recording paper S is fed and the image output timing is adjusted so that the leading end of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 10a and the leading end of the recording paper S coincide. Then, the sheet is conveyed between the transfer charger 10f and the photosensitive drum 10a. The image is recorded on the lower surface side of the recording paper S stacked on the MP cassette unit 13.

The recording paper S has its side and rear end surfaces regulated by an MP regulating plate 13d movably mounted in accordance with the recording paper size so that skewing and non-feeding do not occur. Further, the size and presence / absence of the recording paper S are detected by the MP cassette sensor 29. The number of sheets that can be stacked is about 100, and is configured to be pulled out to the left side toward the recording apparatus main body 1 (side loading method). In addition, the stackable recording paper sizes are A4, letter, and legal. In FIG.
3d is set to A4 size.

The optional feeder section 11 as a second sheet supporting cassette is disposed so that the top plate 11h of the optional feeder section 11 is in contact with the bottom lower surface of the recording apparatus main body 1, and the upper surface of the top plate 11h is for recording. The bottom plate of the apparatus main body 1. The middle sheet 11e of the recording sheet S stacked on the orchest 11a of the optional feeder is urged upward by a middle plate spring 11f, and a semicircular sheet feeding roller 11b as a second sheet feeding means, and a second sheet feeding roller 11b. The recording paper S is separated one by one by a pair of separation claws 11d as a separation means (claw separation method), and the separated recording paper S is conveyed by a pair of cassette conveyance rollers 11c, and is moved between the MP separation base 30c and the paper passing guide 28e. , A conveying roller 28 a and a cover-side U-turn guide 28 b disposed on the light cover 28.
Is reversed by the main body side U-turn guide 28c arranged on the recording apparatus main body 1 side. From here on, it is the same as the sheet feeding from the MP cassette unit 13 described above. The sheet paths join immediately before the conveying roller 28a. The image is recorded on the lower surface side of the recording paper S stacked on the optional feeder unit 11.

Although the second-stage optional feeder section 27 is omitted in FIG. 1, the configuration is substantially the same as that of the illustrated optional feeder section 11, and the recording paper S inside the orch 27a of the second-stage optional feeder is provided. Is supplied to the recording unit 4 through the side space 11g of the optional feeder unit 11.

Each of the option feeders 11 and 27 has a capacity of 500 sheets of recording paper, and is configured to be pulled out to the front of the recording apparatus main body 1 (front loading method). Further, the stackable recording paper sizes are A4 and letter.

The optional feeder unit 11 and the second-stage optional feeder unit 27 can be separated and combined with each other. When combined with the MP cassette unit 13, the number of recordable sheets of the entire apparatus can be reduced from 100 to 11
It is possible to handle up to 00 sheets.

With such an apparatus configuration, a user who does not perform a large amount of recording uses an apparatus having only the MP cassette unit 13, and a user who requires a large amount of recording can use an optional feeder as necessary. Part 11, two more
By connecting the tier option feeder unit 27, it is possible to configure the apparatus according to the needs of each recording volume.

Next, the MP cassette section 13 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The discharge cover 10j is a hinge portion 10k.
It can be opened and closed around the center. Discharge cover 10j
In order to open the paper discharge cover 10j, the lock (not shown) is released by operating the release button 35. In FIG. 6, the MP cassette 13a has the MP regulating plate 13d set to the legal size. Since the legal size is longer than the A4 size, the rear end protrudes from the side surface of the recording apparatus main body 1.

The MP cassette 13a has a protruding portion 31 for containing the protruding portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the protruding portion 31 is raised along the lower surface of the recording paper discharge tray 12 when the discharge cover 10j is closed.
The distance between the protrusion 31 and the recording paper discharge tray 12 is 3 mm, so that the protrusion 31 and the recording paper discharge tray 12 do not come into contact with each other when the MP cassette 13a is mounted. Also,
The back side of the protruding portion 31 is recessed to form a handle 32. Since the protruding portion 31 is raised along the lower surface of the recording paper discharge tray 12, the height of the handle 32 can be secured without raising the MP cassette portion 13 itself, and operability is achieved despite the thin cassette. No sacrifice.

The height of the portion of the MP cassette section 13 housed in the recording apparatus main body 1 is about 20 mm, and the height of the protruding section 31 is about 35 mm. Further, the recording paper discharge tray 12
Since the projection 31 and the lower surface of the recording paper discharge tray 12 contact each other at the contact portion 33 while the rotation of the discharge cover 10j is suppressed, the operator needs to remove the recording paper discharge tray 12. Can be recognized. At this time, the paper ejection cover 1
The rotation angle of 0j is about 5 degrees, and in this state, the stacking surface of the recording paper discharge tray 12 is kept high on the leading end side. Therefore, even if the operator erroneously tries to open the discharge cover 10j. The recording paper S already loaded on the recording paper discharge tray 12 does not fall.

Next, a case where the discharge cover 10j is opened with the recording paper discharge tray 12 removed will be described with reference to FIG.

When the discharge cover 10j is opened with the recording paper discharge tray 12 removed, the concave portion 1 of the discharge cover 10j
Since 0l is wider than the protruding portion 31 of the MP cassette unit 13, the protruding portion 31 comes into contact with the contact portion 34 in a state where the protruding portion 31 enters the concave portion 10l of the paper discharge cover. For this reason, even though the protruding portion 31 is at a high position, the rotation angle of the paper discharge cover 10j can be opened to about 80 degrees, which is not inconvenient for the jam clearance.

Next, a case where the sheet ejection cover 10j is opened with the recording sheet ejection tray 12 and the MP cassette 13a removed will be described with reference to FIG.

Recording paper discharge tray 12 and MP cassette 13
a, the discharge cover 10j is opened when the cover 10j is opened.
It is possible to rotate up to the k rotation allowable amount. For this reason, since the rotation angle of the discharge cover 10j exceeds about 100 degrees and 90 degrees, it is possible to cope with a case where the discharge cover 10j is required to be opened further, such as for jam processing or maintenance of the fixing device 10g.

As described above, the MP cassette section 13 is of the side loading type, and the stackable recording paper size is A
There are three types: 4, letter and legal, and the number of sheets that can be loaded on the recording paper is about 100. The optional feeder unit 11 and the second-stage optional feeder unit 27 are of a front-loading type. The stackable recording paper sizes are A4 and letter, and the number of stackable recording sheets is 500.

In the case of the front loading system, cassette guides 11j and 11k for guiding the cassette orchestra 11a of the optional feeder are required. For this reason, when the recording paper size becomes longer, the interval between the cassette guides 11j and 11k must be increased, and the width of the optional feeder 11 becomes wider.

In the case of the side loading method, even if the size of the recording paper increases, the length of the MP cassette insert 13a changes and the amount of protrusion of the MP cassette 1 to the outside changes, and the width of the recording apparatus main body 1 changes. No change appears. Further, by setting the insertion direction to the recording paper S discharge side, the protruding portion 31 can be arranged below the recording paper discharge tray 12, and the installation area does not increase. Further, the width of the protruding portion 31 is smaller than the width of the recording paper discharge tray 12, and the height of the protruding portion 31 along the lower surface of the recording paper discharge tray 12 causes dust or the like to be formed inside the MP cassette portion 13. Is difficult to enter, and it is not necessary to attach a dustproof cover to the MP cassette orchestra 13a.

Next, a method of separating each cassette will be described.

As described above, the MP cassette section 13 as the first sheet supporting cassette is disposed below the apparatus main body 1, and the number of stacked sheets is about 100.

In FIG. 1, the friction separation system used for the MP separation section 30 has a relatively large number of materials and types of recording paper S that can be relatively used. For example, a corner at the top of the sheet and on the front end side in the feeding direction is used. OH that has a claw part that regulates the
P-sheets, thick sheets, etc. can be fed, but the mechanism tends to be more complicated than the claw separation method. MP separation roller 30a as first sheet feeding means, MP separation pad as first separation means There is also a problem that 30b is worn and the separation performance is easily changed.

Therefore, in the present invention, the size and type of recording paper that can be stacked are large, and the number of sheets that can be stacked is small.
MP for feeding infrequently used sheets
The separation unit 30 employs a friction separation system, and the size and type of recording paper that can be stacked are limited, but the claw separation system, which has extremely high durability, uses the optional feeder unit 11 and the second stage, which have a large number of stackable recording papers. It was adopted for the optional feeder unit 27. With such a configuration, the option feeder unit 1
In the case where the first and second-stage optional feeder units 27 are not mounted, that is, in the case of an apparatus in which only the MP cassette unit 13 is installed, various types of recording paper S can be fed. If the optional feeder unit 11 and the second-stage optional feeder unit 27 are mounted, the standard size that is frequently used can be handled by the optional feeder unit that is highly durable and capable of supporting a large capacity.

Even when the optional feeder unit is connected, the MP cassette unit 13 can be used for a sheet which is not frequently used, and even if a general sheet is inserted, the MP cassette unit 13 can be fed without any problem by the friction separation system. it can.

That is, if the user wants to use sheets of various sizes and types, the user can satisfy the needs by using the recording apparatus 1 in which the MP cassette 13 of the friction separation system is mounted. And highly reliable sheet separation. For a user who does not perform a large amount of recording, only an apparatus having a miniaturized MP cassette unit 13 is sufficient, and a large image recording apparatus in which an unnecessarily large cassette is mounted as in a conventional apparatus is sufficient. Since no device needs to be installed, space can be saved.

In addition, for a user who intends to use the apparatus on the premise that a large amount of recording is performed, the optional feeder unit 1 adopting a highly durable claw separation system.
By attaching the first or second-stage optional feeder unit 27 to the recording apparatus 1, such needs can be sufficiently satisfied.

Naturally, even in the MP cassette section 13, general sheet feeding can be performed with good separability. Therefore, even if a user who does not use a sheet of a special size or material is used, the MP cassette section 13 normally uses a large amount of sheets. Is stored, and the MP cassette unit 13 is not wasted.

Therefore, an inexpensive and easy-to-use image recording apparatus can be provided for a wide range of user needs.

In the case of the front loading method,
The recording paper S can be replenished by pulling out the cassettes 11a and 27a to the front of the apparatus, so that a large amount of recording paper S can be replenished. Further, since the number of sheets of the MP cassette 13a that can be loaded on the recording paper is small, the weight of the MP cassette 13a itself is light, and the operation of removing the MP cassette 13a from the recording apparatus main body 1 is not so troublesome.

The MP separation roller 30a as the first sheet feeding means, and the paper feed rollers 11b and 27b of the optional sheet feeder 11 and the second stage optional feeder 27 as the second sheet feeding means are connected to the main body 1 of the recording apparatus. Recording paper S
Are collectively arranged on the side surface opposite to the discharge direction.
Thus, the drive systems of the above-described rollers can be arranged collectively. Further, since the paper path from the optional feeder unit 11 and the second-stage optional feeder unit 27 can be arranged on the back side in the insertion direction of the MP cassette 13a, the optional feeder unit 11 and the second-stage optional feeder unit can be arranged regardless of the presence or absence of the MP cassette 13a. 27 can be fed.

Further, the jam of the recording paper S, which is likely to occur near the separation section, is also reduced by the light cover 28 and the jam release cover 11.
It can be easily removed by opening i.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the separation pad is used as the separation means of the MP cassette unit 13 as the first sheet supporting cassette. Instead, a friction separation method may be provided, or a roller having a friction coefficient that does not rotate may be pressed against the roller. That is,
The separation method adopted for the first sheet supporting cassette may be a friction separation method in which a member having a friction coefficient to which no driving is input is pressed against a roller for feeding a sheet.

Further, the optional feeder units 11 and 27 for stacking a large number of sheets of substantially constant size employ a nail separation system as the second separation means. The method is not limited to the method, and a retard separation method in which the sheet is separated by a roller to which the drive in the direction of returning the sheet to the cassette orch is input may be used, or a slope separation method in which the sheet is separated by separating the sheet by hitting the leading end thereof to the slope. May be. Further, a separation method combining them (for example, a combination of claw separation and retard separation, or a combination of slope separation and retard separation) may be used.

Although the image recording unit has been described using LBP,
As long as cut paper is used, the present invention can be applied to other electrophotographic, thermal transfer, and ink jet image recording apparatuses.

The number of paper feeding units, the type of recording paper used, and the number of stacked papers are not particularly limited as long as they do not deviate from the configuration of the present invention.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an easy-to-use image recording apparatus that is reduced in size and cost, and that matches the use of the recording apparatus desired by the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall vertical sectional view of a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a basic operation of the LBP.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a recording paper discharge unit of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram in a case where a sheet ejection cover is opened with a recording sheet ejection tray removed.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram in a case where a sheet ejection cover is opened with an MP cassette removed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an image recording apparatus according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording device main body 4 Recording part which consists of a laser beam printer 10 Image forming part 11 Optional feeder (2nd sheet support cassette) 11a Paper cassette cassette (2nd sheet support cassette) 11b Paper feed roller (2nd sheet supply 11d Claw section (second separating means) 12 Recording paper discharge tray 13 MP cassette section (first sheet supporting cassette) 13a MP cassette section (first sheet supporting cassette) 21 Control section of facsimile machine 23 Transport guide 24 Operation unit 25 Display unit 27 Second-stage optional feeder (second sheet support cassette) 30a MP separation roller (first sheet feeding unit) 30b MP separation pad (first separation unit) S Recording paper ( Sheet)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65H 3/52 310 B65H 3/52 310Z 330 330G 3/56 310 3/56 310Z

Claims (9)

[Claims] An image recording unit for recording an image on a sheet; a first sheet supporting cassette for supporting a sheet for recording an image on the image recording unit; and a first sheet supporting cassette supported by the first sheet supporting cassette. First sheet feeding means for feeding sheets; first separating means for separating the sheets sent by the first sheet feeding means into one sheet; and a first sheet supporting cassette below the first sheet supporting cassette. A second sheet support cassette provided for supporting a sheet on which an image is to be recorded by the image recording means, and a second sheet feeding means for feeding the sheet supported by the second sheet support cassette An image recording apparatus comprising: a second separating unit configured to separate a sheet fed by the second sheet feeding unit into one sheet; wherein the first separating unit includes the first sheet feeding unit. To the stage,
A friction separation method is used in which the sheet is separated by pressing a member having a friction coefficient to which no driving force is applied, and the second separation means uses a separation method different from the first separation means. Image recording device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second separating unit has a claw portion that engages with an upper surface of the sheet supported by the second sheet supporting cassette and a front end in a sheet feeding direction. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sheet is separated into one by bending the sheet between the second sheet feeding means and the claw portion. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second separating unit includes a feeding rotator that feeds the sheet in the direction of the image recording unit, and a separating rotator that rotates in a direction of returning the sheet to the second sheet supporting cassette. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is of a retard separation type. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sheet supporting cassette is detachably provided on the apparatus main body. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maximum number of sheets that can be supported by said first sheet support cassette is smaller than the maximum number of sheets that can be supported by said second sheet support cassette. 2. The image recording device according to item 1. 6. The sheet size that can be supported by the first sheet supporting cassette is larger than the size of a sheet that can be supported by the second sheet supporting cassette. The image recording device according to any one of the above. 7. The first sheet support cassette is configured to be insertable into the apparatus from a side surface of the image recording apparatus, and the second sheet support cassette is arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first sheet support cassette is inserted. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is configured to be insertable into the apparatus from the front side of the image recording apparatus. 8. An image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first sheet support cassette protrudes from said apparatus main body in an insertion direction. 9. An image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first sheet feeding means feeds a sheet in a direction parallel to an insertion direction with respect to said apparatus main body.