JP2001002265A - Sheet stack cassette and image forming device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To handle sheets of various thickness by one cassette by stacking the sheets fed out by contacting with a sheet feeding means, providing a plurality of sheet separating means for feeding the sheets to a main body, and selectively using one of the sheet separating means corresponding to a thickness of the sheet. SOLUTION: This sheet stack cassette 2 in a card printer 10 comprises a pressure plate 202 upward energized by a spring 203 in a cassette body 201, first and second sheet separating means 221, 222, a rear end regulating plate 207 or the like. Only the uppermost paper P is fed out by the rotation of a semicircular pick-up roller press-contacted with the paper P. On this occasion, when the thick paper P is to be fed, a knob 209 is turned to screw a sheet separating plate 205 of the second sheet sparating means 222 for adjusting the clearance gap with respect to a paper upper surface control plate 208. Then the knob 211 is loosened, and a sheet separating plate 204 of the first sheet separating means 221 is lowered to a standby position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a sheet stacking cassette for stacking sheets and an image forming apparatus having the sheet stacking cassette in a main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, sheets include plain paper, thin resin sheets which are substitutes for plain paper, postcards, cardboard, sealed letters, plastic thin plates, and the like.

[0003] Therefore, when an image is formed on these sheets by an image forming apparatus, a sheet stacking cassette in which sheets are stacked for each sheet having a different thickness from thin plain paper to a thick plastic thin plate (card) or the like. Prepare
Selectively use a sheet stacking cassette, or
The sheet separation mechanism that separates the sheet employs a separation method irrespective of the sheet thickness.

[0004]

However, when several types of sheet stacking cassettes are prepared, there is a sheet stacking cassette for each sheet thickness, which requires management and cost.

When a separation method irrespective of the sheet thickness is adopted for the sheet separation mechanism, the separation mechanism may be a separation roller method, a friction pad separation method, or the like.

However, in the separation roller system, the friction pad separation system, and the like, since the back surface is strongly rubbed with a roller or a friction pad from the end of the sheet, there is a high possibility of rubbing strongly with a thick sheet.
The sheet may be damaged.

In the case of a sheet for forming a double-sided image, an already formed image may be damaged.

Furthermore, the cost of the image forming apparatus may increase due to the complicated mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet stacking cassette capable of stacking sheets of a plurality of thicknesses by a single sheet and capable of reliably separating sheets without using a sheet separating mechanism. The purpose is.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet stacking cassette for stacking sheets to be fed out in contact with a sheet feeding means and for setting the thickness of the sheets on a side of the main body where the sheets are fed out. Any one of a plurality of sheet separating means selectively used in accordance with the function is provided so as to function.

The sheet stacking cassette can selectively stack a plurality of types of sheets having different thicknesses. The sheet separating means is selected and used according to the thickness of the stacked sheets.

The sheets stacked on the sheet stacking cassette are fed out of the sheet stacking cassette by sheet feeding means. At this time, when the sheets are fed in an overlapping manner, the sheets are separated by the sheet separating means and only the first sheet is fed.

When the first sheet is fed from the sheet stacking cassette, the next sheet contacts the sheet feeding means and is fed by the sheet feeding means.

In the sheet stacking cassette according to the present invention, the sheet separating means has a vertically adjustable plate-like sheet separator which can be adjusted in height, and is arranged side by side on the sheet feeding side. A sheet guide surface inclined to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is provided above the sheet separator of any one of the sheet separating means.

In the sheet stacking cassette, any one of the plurality of sheet separating means is selected, and the height of the sheet separating member of the sheet separating means is set to the height of the second and subsequent sheets of the overlapped sheets. The sheet is adjusted so that the sheet does not come in contact with the sheet stacking cassette and is fed out.

Therefore, if the sheets are overlapped when being fed from the sheet stacking cassette, the second and subsequent sheets are prevented from being fed by the sheet separator, and only one sheet is fed.

In the case of a relatively thin sheet, it is difficult to adjust the height of the sheet separator so that the second and subsequent sheets come into contact with each other. For this reason, a sheet separator having a sheet guide surface formed at the top is used. The sheet is moved along the sheet guide surface. On the way, movement of sheets other than the top sheet is prevented by friction of the sheet guide surface. Therefore, the overlapped sheets are separated, and only the top sheet is fed by the sheet feeding means.

In the sheet stacking cassette according to the present invention, the sheet separating means has a plate-like vertically separated sheet separator detachable on a side of the main body where the sheet is supplied.
A sheet guide surface inclined to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is provided above a sheet separator of any one of the plurality of sheet separating means.

The sheet loading cassette can selectively load a plurality of types of sheets having different thicknesses. The sheet separating means is selected according to the thickness of the loaded sheet and mounted on the side where the sheet is supplied,
The height of the sheet separator of the sheet separating means is adjusted so that the second sheet of the overlapped sheets abuts and is not fed out of the sheet stacking cassette. Therefore, if the sheets are overlapped when being fed from the sheet stacking cassette,
The second and subsequent sheets abut on the sheet separator and are not fed.

In the case of a relatively thin sheet, a sheet separator having a sheet guide surface formed on the upper portion is selected and used. The sheet is moved along the sheet guide surface. On the way, movement of sheets other than the top sheet is prevented by friction of the sheet guide surface. Therefore, the overlapped sheets are separated, and only the top sheet is fed by the sheet feeding means.

The sheet stacking cassette according to the present invention is characterized in that at least one of the plurality of sheet separating means is capable of adjusting the height of a sheet separating member.

In the above-mentioned sheet stacking cassette, the height of the sheet separation member whose height can be adjusted is set to 2
The sheet is adjusted so that the sheet does not come into contact with the sheet and is not fed from the sheet stacking cassette. If the sheets overlap when being fed from the sheet stacking cassette, the second and subsequent sheets abut on the sheet separator and are not fed.

In the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of sheet separating means has a through-slit formed in a sheet separating member of the sheet separating means to allow only a sheet having a specific thickness to pass therethrough. It is characterized by.

The sheets stacked on the sheet stacking cassette are fed out of the sheet stacking cassette by the sheet feeding means, and pass through the through slit of the sheet separating body.

When a plurality of sheets are fed and stacked,
A plurality of sheets abut on the sheet separator, and only the sheet corresponding to the through slit passes through the through slit.

In the sheet stacking cassette according to the present invention, the sheet separator has a pair of slit forming plates whose edges are opposed to each other, and at least one of the slit forming plates can approach and separate from the other slit forming plate. The gap between the through slits can be adjusted.

The sheet stacking cassette of the present invention is characterized in that the height of the pair of slit forming plates is adjustable.

In the sheet stacking cassette, the height of the sheet separator is adjusted so that the passage slit of the sheet separator faces the uppermost sheet.

The sheet stacking cassette according to the present invention is characterized in that the sheets are stacked on a sheet stacking plate which is accessible to the sheet feeding means.

In the sheet stacking cassette, when a sheet is fed, a gap is provided between the next sheet and the sheet feeding means by the thickness of the sheet. But the sheet is
The sheet is pushed up by the sheet stacking plate and comes into contact with the sheet feeding means.

Therefore, the sheets in the sheet stacking cassette come into contact with the sheet feeding means and are always fed.

In the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, there are two types of sheet separating means, a thin sheet separating means for separating thin sheets and a thick sheet separating means for separating thick sheets. It is characterized by:

In the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, there are two types of sheet separating means, a thin sheet separating means for separating thin sheets and a thick sheet separating means for separating thick sheets. The thin sheet separating means has a sheet separating body provided with the sheet guide surface.

In the sheet stacking cassette, in the case of a relatively thin sheet, it is difficult to adjust the height of the sheet separator so that the second and subsequent sheets come into contact with each other. is there. For this reason, a sheet separator having a sheet guide surface formed at the top is used. The sheet is moved along the sheet guide surface. On the way, movement of sheets other than the top sheet is prevented by friction of the sheet guide surface. Therefore, the overlapped sheets are separated, and only the top sheet is fed by the sheet feeding means.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as any one of the above.
And an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet fed from the sheet loading cassette.

[0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a sheet stacking cassette according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus provided with the in-use stacking cassette will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic external perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus, that is, a card printer 10, which is an example of an image forming apparatus in which the sheet stacking cassettes 2, 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention are mounted on the main body 1. .

Note that the image forming apparatus includes a card printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and a composite device thereof. The sheet stacking cassette according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the main body of the card printer but also to the main body of another device. Can also be attached.

The printer according to the embodiment of the present invention can print on various sheets such as business cards, postcards, plain paper, and plastic cards.

(First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, a card printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention
It is roughly composed of a sheet stacking cassette 2, a paper discharge tray 3, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet stacking cassette 2 includes a cassette body 201, a pressure plate 202 on which a large number of business card papers P, which are recording media of the card printer 1 according to the present embodiment, are placed, and a pressure plate serving as a pickup roller. Spring 2 to press
03, a first sheet separating unit 221, a second sheet separating unit 222, a horizontal regulating plate 206 for holding the business card paper P in the width direction, a rear end regulating plate 207 abutting on the rear end of the sheet, and the like. I have.

To set the business card paper P in the sheet stacking cassette 2, the business card paper P is set at a predetermined position while pressing the business card paper P with the pressure plate 202 under the paper upper surface regulating member 208 integrated with the cassette body 201. Thereafter, the horizontal regulating plate 206 and the rear end regulating plate 207 are pressed against the business card paper P to align both sides and the rear end of the business card paper P. When the sheet stacking cassette 2 is mounted at a predetermined position of the printer main body 1, the business card paper P is pushed down by the pickup roller 101 when the semicircular pickup roller 101 rotates against the spring 203. Become like

As shown in FIG. 3, when receiving a print command, the printer main body 1 moves the semi-circular pickup roller 101 located above the sheet stacking cassette 2 in the direction of arrow 101a by a paper feed motor (not shown). By rotating, the uppermost business card paper P-b in the sheet stacking cassette 2 is fed out from the sheet stacking cassette 2.

The uppermost business card sheet Pb fed from the sheet stacking cassette 2 by the pickup roller 101
Together with several lower-order business card sheets hit the sheet separating plate 204 of the first sheet separating means 221.

The sheet separation plate 204 is in the form of a slope separation system, and several business card sheets P including the uppermost business card sheet Pb fed by the pickup roller 101 are fed in the sheet feeding direction. The uppermost business card paper P-b and the second and subsequent business card papers P-c due to the inclination angle and the frictional resistance of the sheet guide surface 204a inclined to the downstream side.
And separated.

Thereafter, the business card paper P-b is abutted against a nip portion between the stopped pinch roller 102 and the registration roller 103, and is pressed obliquely by being pressed for a predetermined time. The pinch roller 102 driven by the LF motor starts rotating, and the business card paper Pb is drawn into the nip between the pinch roller 102 and the registration roller 103.

The pickup roller 101 rotates to a position where the pickup roller 101 does not contact the business card paper P.

Thereafter, the business card paper P-b is sandwiched between the needle roller 104 and the LF roller 105 and the print head 11
0, the image is printed, discharged from the printer body 1 by the discharge roller (A) 120, the discharge roller (B) 121, the discharge roller (C) 122, and the discharge roller (D) 123, and placed on the discharge tray 3. Is discharged.

When the sheet is a thick sheet such as a plastic card S, the sheet separating plate 205 of the second sheet separating means 222 in the sheet stacking cassette is
From the state shown in FIG. 4, the knob (A) 209 is rotated and screwed into the cassette body 210, and is pushed up and adjusted so that the gap of the gap 210 matches the thickness of the plastic card S as shown in FIG.

At this time, the sheet separating plate 204 of the first sheet separating means 221 also loosens the knob (B) 211,
The tightening of the sheet separating plate 204 with respect to the cassette body 210 is released, the sheet separating plate 204 is lowered by its own weight, and even if the plastic card S is conveyed, it is evacuated to a position where the plastic card S does not interfere. The sheet separation plate 2
04 is formed with vertically elongated holes 211 through which the screw portion of the knob 211 penetrates.

When the sheet separation plate 205 of the second sheet separation means 222 is used, as shown in FIG. 6, when a print command is received, the semi-circular pickup roller 101 located above the sheet stacking cassette 2 is used. Is rotated in the direction of arrow 10la by a sheet feeding motor (not shown), and the topmost plastic card S-b of the plastic card S in the sheet stacking cassette is fed out of the sheet stacking cassette.

The plastic card Sb driven by the pickup roller 101 is conveyed together with the several lower plastic cards Sc, hits the sheet separating plate 205, and is adjusted by the clearance 210 adjusted by the sheet separating plate 205. The upper plastic card S-b and the second and subsequent plastic cards S remaining in the sheet stacking cassette
-C.

Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed and printed in the same manner as when the first sheet separating means 221 is used.

(Second Embodiment) The sheet stacking cassette 20 of the second embodiment has a third and a fourth sheet separating means 42.
3,424 is detachable. Portions other than the sheet separating means are substantially the same as those of the sheet stacking cassette of the first embodiment, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

When the business card paper P is set in the sheet stacking cassette body 401 and printing is performed, the sheet stacking plate 402 of the third sheet separating means 423 is picked up by the knob (B) 403 as shown in FIGS. Cassette body 41
0, the business card paper P is set in the sheet stacking cassette 401 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the sheet stacking cassette 401 is
Set to a predetermined position. The sheet separation plate 402 includes:
A sheet guide surface 402a for separating the sheet is formed to be inclined downstream in the sheet feeding direction. In addition, a hole through which the knob (B) 403 penetrates is formed in the long hole 406 so that the position of the sheet separation plate 402 can be adjusted in the vertical direction.

In the case of a thick sheet such as a plastic card S, the third sheet separating means 423 in the sheet stacking cassette 401 is removed, and the fourth sheet separating means 424 is removed as shown in FIGS. Set it in place.

The fourth sheet separating means 424 includes a slit forming upper plate 410 attached to the sheet stacking cassette main body 401 by a knob (B) 403, and a sheet passing hole 41 formed in a bent portion of the slit forming upper plate.
Slit forming lower plate 41 held by knob 412
3 and the like.

The fourth sheet separating means 424 is provided in the slit-forming upper plate 410 with the elongated holes 4 formed in the vertical direction.
15, 415, the sheet stacking cassette body 401
Is provided so that the position can be adjusted vertically.

The knob 412 is for the slit forming upper plate 41.
0 is screwed into the upper part of the slit forming lower plate 413.

When the knob 412 is rotated, the slit-forming lower plate 413 moves up and down, and the upper edge 41 of the sheet passage hole 411 is raised.
The gap between the slits 414 formed by the upper edge 413a of the lower plate 413 and the slit forming lower plate 413 can be adjusted according to the thickness of the sheet. The height of the slit 414 itself can be adjusted by adjusting the height of the slit forming upper plate 410.

Therefore, the fourth sheet separating means 424
The slits 414 allow the plastic cards S to be reliably separated one by one.

[0062]

According to the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, the sheet separating means is selected and used according to the thickness of the stacked sheets. It is no longer necessary to prepare a computer, and costs can be minimized.

Further, there is no need to store unnecessary sheet stacking cassettes, so that the management of the sheet stacking cassettes is facilitated and the risk of loss is eliminated.

Further, since the sheet can be separated optimally according to the type and thickness of the sheet, the sheets can be reliably separated.

As in the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, the sheet separating means includes a vertically adjustable sheet separating plate having a height adjustable and is arranged side by side on the sheet feeding side, and a plurality of sheet separating means. If a sheet guide surface inclined to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is provided above the sheet separation plate of any one of the sheet separation means, any one of the plurality of sheet separation means may be provided. The sheet separating means can be selected, and the height of the sheet separating plate of the sheet separating means can be adjusted so that the second and subsequent sheets of the overlapped sheets abut and are not fed out of the sheet stacking cassette, In the case of a relatively thin sheet, the sheet separation can be reliably performed by using a sheet separation plate provided with a sheet guide surface.

As in the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, the sheet separating means has a vertically detachable sheet separating plate on the sheet feeding side of the main body. If a sheet guide surface inclined to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is provided above the sheet separation plate of any one of the sheet separation means, any one of the plurality of sheet separation means may be provided. And the height of the sheet separation plate of the sheet separation means can be adjusted so that the second and subsequent sheets of the overlapped sheets abut and are not fed out of the sheet stacking cassette. In the case of a thin sheet, the sheet can be reliably separated by using a sheet separating plate provided with a sheet guide surface.

As in the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, when the height of the sheet separation plate of at least one of the plurality of detachable sheet separation means is adjustable, the height of the sheet separation plate is adjusted. Can be adjusted so that the second sheet of the overlapped sheets does not come into contact with the sheet and is not fed from the sheet stacking cassette.

As in the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of sheet separating means has a through slit formed in a sheet separating plate of the sheet separating means to allow only sheets of a specific thickness to pass therethrough. And, when a plurality of sheets overlap and are fed, the plurality of sheets abut on the sheet separating plate, and only the sheet corresponding to the through slit,
It can pass through the through slit.

When the through slit is formed in the sheet separation plate whose height can be adjusted as in the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, the passage slit of the sheet separation plate is aligned with the uppermost sheet, and the sheet is securely inserted. Can be separated.

When sheets are stacked on a sheet stacking plate accessible to the sheet feeding means as in the sheet stacking cassette of the present invention, the next sheet is fed after the sheet is fed out. By contacting the means, it is possible to reliably supply the liquid.

Since the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with the sheet stacking cassette for reliably feeding out the sheets as described above, it is possible to reliably form an image on the sheets.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a card printer which is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along a sheet feeding direction of the sheet stacking cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along a sheet feeding direction when the sheet stacking cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a main body of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a sheet feeding direction when a first sheet separating unit is used in the sheet stacking cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along a sheet feeding direction when the height of a sheet separation plate of a second sheet separation unit is adjusted in the sheet stacking cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along a sheet feeding direction when a sheet separation plate of a second sheet separation unit is used in the sheet stacking cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view of a sheet stacking cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention, on which a third sheet separating unit is mounted, as viewed from a downstream side.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along arrow 8-8 in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view of a sheet stacking cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention, on which a fourth sheet separating unit is mounted, as viewed from a downstream side.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along arrow 10-10 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a fourth sheet separating unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2, 20 Sheet loading cassette 10 Card printer (image forming apparatus) 101 Pickup roller (sheet feeding means) 101a Pickup roller rotation direction 110 Print head (image forming means) 201 Cassette main body 202 Pressure plate (sheet loading plate) 203 Spring 204 Sheet separation plate (sheet separation body) of first sheet separation means 204a Sheet guide surface 205 Sheet separation plate (sheet separation body) of second sheet separation means 206 Lateral regulating plate 207 Rear end regulating plate 208 Paper upper surface regulation Member 209 Knob (A) 210 Gap 211 Knob (B) 212 Slot 221 First sheet separating means 222 Second sheet separating means 401 Sheet stacking cassette main body 402 Sheet separating plate (sheet separating body) of third sheet separating means ) 402a Sheet guide surface 4 3 Knob (B) 406 Long hole 410 Upper slit forming plate (sheet separating body, slit forming plate) 411 Sheet passing hole 411a Upper edge 412 Knob 413 Lower slit forming plate (sheet separating body, slit forming plate) 413a Upper edge 414 Slit (Through slit) 415 slot 423 third sheet separating means 424 fourth sheet separating means P business card paper (sheet) P-b top-level business card paper Pc second and subsequent business card paper S plastic card (sheet ) S-b Top-level plastic card S-C Second and subsequent plastic cards

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Seiji Niida 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-city, Ibaraki Prefecture Within Canon Aptex Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Tadashi Saito 5540-11 Sakate-cho, Mizukaido-shi, Ibaraki F-term in Canon Aptex Co., Ltd. (Reference) LD12

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A sheet which is fed in contact with a sheet feeding means is stacked, and a main body is provided with the sheet to be fed.
A sheet stacking cassette, wherein any one of a plurality of sheet separating units selectively used according to the thickness of the sheet is provided so as to function. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sheet separating means includes a vertically adjustable plate-shaped sheet separating body which is adjustable in height, and is arranged side by side on said sheet supply side. 2. The sheet stacking cassette according to claim 1, wherein a sheet guide surface inclined to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is provided above the sheet separator of any one of the sheet separating units. 3. The sheet separating means has a vertically detachable plate-shaped sheet separating body detachable on a side of the main body where the sheet is supplied, and any one of the plurality of sheet separating means. 2. The sheet stacking cassette according to claim 1, wherein a sheet guide surface inclined to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is provided above the sheet separating body of the one sheet separating means. 4. The sheet stacking cassette according to claim 3, wherein a height of a sheet separator of at least one of the plurality of sheet separating units is adjustable. 5. A sheet separating body of at least one of the plurality of sheet separating means, wherein a through slit which allows passage of only a sheet having a specific thickness is formed. 5. The sheet stacking cassette according to 2, 3, or 4. 6. The sheet separator according to claim 1, wherein the sheet separator has a pair of slit forming plates whose edges are opposed to each other, and at least one of the slit forming plates can approach and separate from the other slit forming plate. Item 6. The sheet stacking cassette according to Item 5. 7. The sheet stacking cassette according to claim 6, wherein the height of the pair of slit forming plates is adjustable. 8. The sheet stacking cassette according to claim 1, wherein the sheets are stacked on a sheet stacking plate accessible to the sheet feeding means. 9. The sheet separating means includes two types of sheet separating means for separating a thin sheet from a thin sheet, and a sheet separating means for separating a thick sheet from a thick sheet. Item 6. The sheet stacking cassette according to any one of Items 1 to 5. 10. A thin sheet separating means for separating a thin sheet and a thick sheet separating means for separating a thick sheet. The sheet stacking cassette according to claim 2, wherein the separation unit includes a sheet separation plate provided with the sheet guide surface. 11. A sheet stacking cassette according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed from the sheet stacking cassette. Characteristic image forming apparatus.