JP2001063830A - Sheet material loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet material loading device having excellent operability, and a sheet width regulating member in the conveyance direction without impairing its appearance. SOLUTION: This sheet material loading device is provided with a sheet material loading table 1 where a sheet material is loaded, and sheet width regulating members 2, 3 regulating the width direction of the sheet material loaded on the sheet material loading table 1 so that the sheet width regulating members 2, 3 may be incorporated into the sheet material loading table 1 so as to move orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction by a moving guide mechanism, wherein the moving guide mechanism is provided with a protrusion or a groove formed on the sheet width regulating members 2, 3, and a guide protrusion engaged with a guide groove or the groove part which is formed on the sheet material loading table 1, guides the movement of the protrusion and is formed so as to be orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction, and a plurality of moving guide mechanism are mounted on the different positions in the conveyance direction of the sheet width regulating members 2, 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material stacking device for stacking sheet materials and regulating the width thereof, and more particularly, to a sheet material such as an image reading device in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine. The present invention relates to a sheet material stacking device provided in a sheet supply unit of a device that performs conveyance of a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine has an image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original made of sheet materials of various sizes. The image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit including an image scanner, and a sheet material on which the sheet material is placed and stacked in order to supply a sheet material (hereinafter, simply referred to as a sheet material) for a document to the image reading means. Loading means,
A sheet feeding means such as a feeding roller for feeding sheet materials stacked on the sheet material stacking means to the image reading means one by one is provided.

A sheet stacking means (hereinafter, referred to as a sheet stacking device) is disposed near the sheet feeding means in an original sheet feeding section of the image reading apparatus, and a document stacking table for stacking sheet materials. And a sheet width regulating member that regulates the width of the sheet material stacked on the original loading table, and the sheet width regulating member is orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by the moving guide mechanism with respect to the original loading table. In general, the sheet member is configured so as to be movable in a width direction of the sheet material (hereinafter, referred to as a sheet width direction).

[0004] In the sheet material stacking apparatus, the sheet width loaded on the document stacking plate is adjusted so that the sheet width is not skewed and stable when the sheet feeding means feeds the image reading means to the image reading means. Regulating member performs accurate regulation in the sheet width direction which is perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction,
Further, it is required that the sheet width regulating member move smoothly with respect to the document stacking table so that the sheet width regulation can be performed for the sheet materials of various sizes.

Hereinafter, an example of a sheet stacking apparatus provided in a conventional image reading apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing an example of a document stacking apparatus as a conventional sheet stacking apparatus. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the appearance of the document stacking apparatus 100, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the original loading device 100 includes an original loading table 10 as a base member on which a sheet material is loaded.
1 and a pair of sheet width regulating members 102 and 103 for regulating the width of the sheet material stacked on the document loading table 101, and a concave portion 1 recessed from the upper surface of the document loading table 101.
04, 105, each sheet width regulating member 102,
Reference numeral 103 is configured to be movably attached in a sheet width direction (arrow BC direction) orthogonal to the sheet material conveyance direction (arrow A direction).

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,
Drilled holes 106 and 107 are formed in the concave portions 104 and 105 of the document loading table 101 in the sheet width direction, and guide ribs 101 a and 101 b rise near the holes 106 and 107 on the back surface of the document loading table 101. Further, a pinion (small gear) 110 is rotatably mounted on the back side of the center of the sheet material of the document loading table 101 in the width direction. On the other hand, the base ends of the rack members 108 and 109 are attached to the bottom surfaces of the sheet width regulating members 102 and 103 by screws or the like. This rack member 10
8, 109, the longitudinal width of the holes 106, 107
And a rack (plate gear) meshing with the pinion 110 is formed along the longitudinal direction from the front end side, and further, a guide rib 101a of the document loading table 101 is formed from a side edge opposite to the rack. , 101b are formed.

In the document stacking apparatus 100, rack members 108, 109 on the sheet width regulating members 102, 103 side are loosely fitted into the holes 106, 107 of the document stacking table 101, and the rack members 108 108,
When the racks 109 are attached so as to mesh with each other, the respective sheet width regulating members 102 and 103 are mutually moved with respect to the center line in the width direction while keeping their main surfaces (sheet contact surfaces) parallel to each other. The target moves and regulates the width of the sheet material loaded on the document loading table 101.

In the document stacking apparatus 100, the longitudinal projections 108a, 10a of the rack members 108, 109 are provided.
9b to guide ribs 101a, 101 of the document loading table 101.
b, each sheet width regulating member 102, 10
Guide the movement of 3.

[0010]

However, in the document stacking apparatus 100 described above, the sheet width regulating members 102, 1
03, the load position is divided into an upstream side and a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction. When the operator operates the seat width regulating members 102 and 103 with the same position in the left-right symmetry, for example, in the vertical direction (the front-rear direction of the operator), there is a difference between the left and right in the operation force required for the movement. I feel uncomfortable.

In the document stacking apparatus 100, the load position and the support position are not on a straight line but are
2 and 103, a moment is generated, so that each of the sheet width regulating members 102 and 103 and the rack members 108 and 10
It is necessary to strengthen the connecting portion (fixing portion) with the fixing member 9, so that the fixing portion between each of the sheet width regulating members 102, 103 and the rack members 108, 109 becomes large, and is provided for moving the fixing portion. Holes 106 and 10 as escape grooves
The width of 7 becomes wide, and the beauty is spoiled. On the other hand, if the blind holes 106 and 107 are blindfolded so as not to impair the aesthetic appearance, there is a problem that the number of components increases and the cost increases.

In view of such conventional problems, there has been proposed a document stacking apparatus in which the load position and the support position are aligned with each other and the width of the clearance groove is reduced.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the document stacking apparatus 1 described above.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a document stacking device 200 as a sheet material stacking unit improved from FIG. 00, FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the document stacking device 200, and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the document stacking apparatus 200 controls a document stacker 201 serving as a base member on which a sheet material is stacked and a width direction of the sheet material stacked on the document stacker 201. A pair of sheet width regulating members 202,
The sheet width regulating members 202, 203 are provided in the area of the recesses 204, 205, which are recessed from the upper surface of the document loading table 201, so that the sheet width regulating members 202, 203 transport the sheet material (the direction of arrow A).
Sheet width direction orthogonal to (the direction of arrow BC)
It is configured to be movably attached to the.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, guide grooves 206 and 207 are formed in the recesses 204 and 205 of the document loading table 201 in the width direction of the sheet material.
A pinion (small gear) 210 is rotatably mounted on the back side of the center of the sheet material of the document loading table 201 in the width direction.
Further, columnar rack guide bosses 201a and 201b are formed upright in the vicinity of the pinion 210 on the back surface side of the document loading table 201. On the other hand, the sheet width regulating member 2
02, 203 are the guide grooves 206,
207, a plate-shaped rib-shaped protrusion 202a, 2
03a are formed rising, and these rib-shaped projections 2 are formed.
The base ends of the rack members 208, 209 are attached to the base members 02a, 203a by snap fitting. The rack members 208 and 209 are formed with a rack (plate gear) meshing with the pinion 210 along the longitudinal direction from the front end side, and the rack guide boss 20 of the document loading table 101.
Guide holes 208a, 20 into which 1a, 201b are fitted.
9a is formed along the longitudinal direction.

In the original stacking apparatus 200, the rib-shaped projections 202a and 203a inserted into the guide grooves 206 and 207 of the original stacking table 201 are movable in the width direction of the sheet material. , 203a
Rack member 20 snap-fitted to
8 and 209, the guide holes 208a and 209a of the document loading table 101 are fitted with rack guide bosses 201a and 201b.
8 and 209 are mounted so as to mesh with each other, so that the respective sheet width regulating members 202 and 203 maintain their main surfaces (sheet contact surfaces) in parallel with each other with respect to the center line in the width direction. The widths of the sheets loaded on the document stacking table 201 are restricted by moving the objects relative to each other.

Here, in the document stacking apparatus 200, the guide grooves 206 and 207 of the document stacking table 201 into which the rib-shaped projections 202a and 203a to which a load is applied when operating the sheet width regulating members 202 and 203 are inserted into each other. Since the load position and the supporting position are on a straight line, no moment is generated when the load position of each of the sheet width regulating members 102 and 103 is operated. Further, the plate-shaped rib-shaped projections 202a,
Since the base ends of the rack members 208 and 209 are attached by snap fitting with the 203a inserted in the guide grooves 206 and 207, the width of the guide grooves 206 and 207 as escape grooves is reduced. Can be.

However, in the document stacking device 200,
Rib-shaped projections 20 of sheet width regulating members 202 and 203
2a, 203a and the guide groove 206 of the original loading table 201,
Since a single guide portion 207 is disposed at a substantially central position in the sheet conveyance direction, when the end portions of the sheet width regulating members 202 and 203 are operated, a moment is generated and the movement is reduced, and the sheet width is reduced. Control members 202, 20
A large operation force is required for the movement of 3. here,
When the guide portions are arranged in a straight line, the length L of the sheet width regulating members 202 and 203 is changed to the rib-shaped protrusion portion 20.
2a, 203a freely with respect to the length W (for example, L >>
W), the following problem arises.

That is, in the original stacking apparatus 200, in order to stabilize the movement of the sheet width regulating members 202 and 203, the rib-shaped projections 202a and 203a provided in the direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction in the sheet width direction. It is important to make the length W as long as possible with respect to the length L of the sheet width regulating members 202 and 203 in the sheet conveying direction. However, in order to increase the length W of the rib-shaped protrusions 202a and 203a, The width of the width regulating members 202 and 203 must be increased, and the device becomes large. When the length W of the rib-shaped protrusions 202a and 203a is reduced,
If the length L of the sheet width regulating members 202 and 203 in the sheet conveying direction is not shortened, the movement of the sheet width regulating members 202 and 203 becomes reluctant.
When the length L of 02, 203 is shortened, there is a problem that the performance of regulating the sheet is reduced, and skewing or the like is likely to occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet width regulating member which is excellent in operability without widening the width of the sheet width regulating member, and which is long in the transport direction and can carry out stable sheet transport without skew. It is to provide a material loading device.

[0021]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet material loading table for loading a sheet material,
A sheet width regulating member for regulating the width of the sheet material loaded on the sheet material loading table in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by a movement guide mechanism with respect to the sheet material loading table. In the sheet material stacking device movably assembled to the sheet conveying device, the movement guide mechanism includes a protrusion or a groove formed on the sheet width regulating member, and a sheet conveying direction formed on the sheet material stacking table and guiding the movement of the protrusion. And a guide groove formed in a direction orthogonal to the guide groove or a guide protrusion engaging with the groove, and a plurality of guide grooves are provided at different positions in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet width regulating member.

In the sheet material stacking apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of moving guide mechanisms are provided at different positions in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet width regulating member, so that the rotational force due to the moment generated when the sheet width regulating member is operated is reduced. It is converted into a force in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction.

The sheet width regulating member is configured to be assembled as a pair to the sheet material mounting table. In this case, it is preferable that the movement guide mechanism arranges the one sheet width regulating member and the other sheet width regulating member at the same position in the sheet conveying direction and linearly. Thereby, when both the sheet width regulating members are operated at the same time, it is possible to easily move the sheet width regulating members, and when both the sheet width regulating members are operated in the symmetrical positions, the operating force becomes substantially the same, No uncomfortable feeling during operation.

Further, it is preferable to provide a driven mechanism in which the movement of one sheet width regulating member causes the other sheet width regulating member to follow the center line in the width direction of the sheet material placing position in symmetry.

The moving guide mechanism includes, for example, a first moving guide mechanism connected to a driven mechanism, and a second moving guide mechanism provided upstream of the first moving guide mechanism in the sheet conveying direction. Configuration. In this case, a third moving guide mechanism may be further added to the first moving guide mechanism on the downstream side in the sheet conveying direction.

The first movement guide mechanism is preferably provided at a substantially central position of the sheet width regulating member in the sheet conveying direction.

The driven mechanism includes a pinion rotatably mounted at a substantially central position in the width direction of the sheet material placement position on the back surface side of the sheet loading surface of the sheet material loading table, and a rack meshing with the pinion at one end. And a pair of rack members, the other end of which is integrally connected to the sheet width regulating member,
The configuration is such that the movement of one sheet width regulating member and the rack member causes the other rack member and the sheet width regulating member to be driven via the pinion.

In this case, the first moving guide mechanism is
A through hole as a guide groove provided in the sheet material loading table, and a rib-shaped protrusion as a protrusion formed in the sheet width regulating member and inserted into the through hole are provided for each sheet width regulating member. And the rib-shaped projection in the first movement guide mechanism and the other end of the rack member in the driven mechanism are connected by snap fitting.

With this configuration, the load transmitting directions of the seat width regulating member and the rack member on the operation side, the rack member on the pinion and the driven side, and the sheet width regulating member are substantially parallel and on a straight line. The sheet width regulating member can be easily moved.

The contact surface between the sheet width regulating member and the sheet material mounting table has a structure in which a portion where the movement guide mechanism is formed is a sliding contact portion, and a gap portion is formed in other portions. By doing so, the contact area is reduced, and the sliding resistance can be reduced.

The sheet material mounting table is arranged in a document sheet supply section of the image reading apparatus.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of a sheet material stacking apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a document stacking apparatus 10 as a first embodiment of a sheet stacking apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the document stacking device 10, and FIG.
FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the original loading device 10
Document loading table 1 as base member on which sheet material is loaded
And a pair of sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 for regulating the width of the sheet material stacked on the document loading table 1, and the inside of the concave portions 4 and 5 recessed from the upper surface of the document loading table 1. Each of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 is moved by a movement guide mechanism described later so that the sheet material is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction (arrow A direction, hereinafter referred to as a sheet conveying direction) (arrow direction). BC direction, hereinafter referred to as sheet width direction)
It is assembled so that it can be moved.

In the document loading table 1, first guide grooves 6, 7 are formed substantially in the sheet conveying direction in the area of the concave portions 4, 5 in parallel with the sheet width direction. These first guide grooves 6 and 7 are provided on the upper surface side of the document loading table 1 (sheet loading surface side).
Through the member from the back to the back side, and are arranged in a straight line with each other. Also,
Second guide grooves 8, 9 are formed at the upstream end in the sheet conveying direction in the area of the recesses 4, 5 in parallel with the sheet width direction, and are arranged in a straight line with each other.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the original loading table 1
Has a box-like outer shape whose lower side (back side) is open, and a pinion 11 is supported at a substantially central position on the back side of a region sandwiched between the recesses 4 and 5. It is attached so as to be rotatable about a shaft 11a. In the vicinity of the pinion 11, rack guide bosses 12, 13 for guiding the movement of rack members 18, 19, which will be described later, are formed so as to rise from the back surface of the document loading table 1. The rack guide boss 13 is located on the upstream side in the sheet transport direction with respect to the pinion 11.

Each of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 has a substantially L-shaped outer shape when viewed from the sheet conveying direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the contact area of the bottom with the document loading table 1 is small. It has a truss structure to reduce the number.

In the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3, the document loading table 1 is moved from substantially the center of the bottom surface in the sheet conveying direction.
Plate-shaped first rib-shaped projections 14 and 15 inserted into the first guide grooves 6 and 7 are formed to rise. The thickness of the first rib-shaped protrusions 14 and 15 is slightly smaller than the groove width of the first guide grooves 6 and 7 of the document loading table 1.

Second ribs inserted into the second guide grooves 8, 9 of the document loading table 1 from the most upstream end of the bottom surface of each of the sheet width regulating members 2, 3 in the sheet conveying direction. Shape projections 16 and 17 are formed to rise. The thickness of the second rib-shaped protrusions 16 and 17 is slightly smaller than the groove width of the second guide grooves 8 and 9 of the document loading table 1. The lengths of the first rib-shaped protrusions 14 and 15 and the second rib-shaped protrusions 16 and 17 in the longitudinal direction (the sheet width direction) are substantially equal to each other.

In each of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3, the first guide grooves 6 and 7 and the second guide grooves 8 and 9 of the document loading table 1 are provided.
When the first rib-shaped protrusions 14 and 15 and the second rib-shaped protrusions 16 and 17 are respectively aligned and inserted into the first rib-shaped protrusions 14 and 15, as shown in FIGS. 15 protrudes from the back side of the document loading table 1.

Then, with respect to the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 in this state, the bar-shaped rack members 18 and 19 formed with the racks (plate gears) 18a and 19a are mounted on the original loading table 1.
Of the rack members 18a, 1
As the pin 9a meshes with the pinion 11, the pinion 11 is rotated by the movement of one of the sheet width regulating members and the rack member, and the other rack member and the sheet width regulating member are driven.

More specifically, the rack members 18 and 19 are provided with the first rib-shaped projections 14 of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3, respectively.
15 are provided on the base end side, and racks 18a and 19a that mesh with the pinion 11 are formed along the longitudinal direction from the front end side. Guide groove 18 into which one rack guide boss 12, 13 is fitted.
b and 19b are formed substantially parallel to the tooth surfaces of the racks 18a and 19a in the longitudinal direction. And the rack member 1
Reference numerals 8 and 19 denote first rib-shaped protrusions 14 and 15 and second rib-shaped protrusions 16 and 1 of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3, respectively.
7 are inserted into the first guide grooves 6, 7 and the second guide grooves 8, 9 of the document loading table 1, and are inserted into holes 14 a, 15 a formed in the first rib-shaped projections 14, 15. Positioning ribs 20a, 2 of snap-fit connecting portions 20, 21
1a, the positioning ribs 20a, 2
A pair of claw portions 20b and 21b formed on both sides of the first
Are engaged with the rib-shaped projections 14 and 15 to prevent them from coming off, and are integrally connected to the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 by snap fitting.

The guide grooves 18b and 19b of the rack members 18 and 19 correspond to the rack guide bosses 12 and
13 and the rack 18 of each rack member.
a and 19a are attached so as to mesh with the pinion 11 of the document loading table 1. When the rack members 18 and 19 are moved in the sheet width direction, the guide grooves 18b and 19b are fitted to the rack guide bosses 12 and 13. Since it moves while being guided, the distance between the teeth of the racks 18a and 19a and the teeth of the pinion 11 is accurately maintained.

In the document stacking apparatus 10, when one of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 is moved in the sheet width direction, the first rib-shaped projection of the sheet width regulating member is moved to the first position of the document loading table 1. And the other rack member and the sheet width regulating member are driven by the rotation of the pinion 11, and each of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 is brought into contact with its main surface (sheet abutment). With the side surfaces held in parallel with each other, the objects move relative to each other with respect to the center line of the width of the sheet material stacked on the original loading table 1 (the center line of the original loading table 1), and are stacked on the original loading table 1. The width of the sheet material is regulated.

Here, in the document stacking apparatus 10, the first guide groove of the document stacking table 1 on which the first rib-shaped projections 14, 15 to which a load is applied when the sheet width regulating members 2, 3 are operated is supported. Since the load position and the support position are on a straight line since the members 6 and 7 are formed on a straight line with each other, and when the moving operation is performed while grasping the load position of each of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3, No moment is generated. The plate-shaped rib-shaped projections 14 and 15 are the first
The rack members 18,
19 is configured to be attached by snap-fitting from the back side of the document stacking table 1, so that the width of the first guide grooves 6 and 7 as escape grooves can be reduced.

Further, in the document stacking apparatus 10, the first rib-shaped projections 14, 15 and the first guide grooves 6, 7 are provided.
The second rib-shaped protrusions 16 and 17 and the second guide grooves 8 and 9 are provided on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the movement guide mechanism having the following (hereinafter, referred to as a first movement guide mechanism). Since the second movement guide mechanism is provided, the following effects are obtained.

In the document stacking device 10, one sheet width regulating member 3 is moved in FIG. 1 in order to adjust the sheet width contact surfaces of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 to the width of the sheet material stacked on the document stacking table 1. When the operation is performed at the position of the action point P1, the first rib-shaped protrusion 15 of the sheet width regulating member 3 is moved in the sheet width direction by the operation force while being guided by the first guide groove 7, and the rack is moved. The other sheet width regulating member 2 is caused to follow the sheet width direction and the direction opposite to the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3 via the member 19, the pinion 11, and the rack member 18.

At this time, the load direction at the point of action P1 and the load transmission direction of the rack member 19 are substantially parallel and in a straight line, and the force transmitted by the pinion 11
8 and the sheet width regulating member 2 are substantially parallel and in a straight line, so that the first rib-shaped projections 14 and 15
Are guided by the first guide grooves 8 and 9, and the sheet width regulating member 2 can be easily moved.

Next, in order to adjust the sheet width contact surfaces of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 to the width of the sheet material loaded on the document loading table 1, one of the sheet width regulating members 3 is operated as shown in FIG. When the operation is performed at the position of the point P2, a moment is generated between the connection portion (fixed portion) between the sheet width regulating member 3 and the rack member 19 and the action point P2. The moment is guided to the second guide groove 9 of the document loading table 1 by utilizing the length of the second rib-shaped projection 17 of the sheet width regulating member 3, so that the rotational force due to the moment is guided in the guide direction. (The sheet width direction), and the sheet width regulating member 3 can be moved in the guide direction, that is, the operation direction.

When the sheet width regulating member 3 moves in the operation direction, the first rib-shaped projection 15 of the sheet width regulating member 3 is guided by the first guide groove 7 and the sheet width is regulated by the operation force, as described above. Direction and the rack member 1
9, the other sheet width regulating member 2 is driven via the pinion 11 and the rack member 18 in the sheet width direction and in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3.

At this time, the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3 and the load transmitting direction of the rack member 19 are substantially parallel and on a straight line, and the force transmitted by the pinion 11 also exerts a force between the rack member 18 and the sheet width regulating member 2. Since the load transmission directions are substantially parallel and on a straight line, the first rib-shaped projections 14,
15 is guided by the first guide grooves 8 and 9, and the sheet width regulating member 2 can be easily moved.

Similarly, when a portion other than the action points P1 and P2 of the seat width regulating member 3 is operated, the moment generated at the time of the operation is applied to the second portion of the sheet width regulating member 3.
Of the original loading table 1 using the length of the rib-shaped projection 17
The second guide groove 9 guides the rotation force of the moment to the force in the guide direction (the sheet width direction), and moves the sheet width regulating member 3 in the guide direction, that is, the operation direction. it can.

When the sheet width regulating member 3 moves in the operating direction, the first rib-shaped projection 15 of the sheet width regulating member 3 is guided by the first guide groove 7 and the sheet width is regulated by the operation force as described above. Direction and the rack member 1
9, the other sheet width regulating member 2 is driven via the pinion 11 and the rack member 18 in the sheet width direction and in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3.

At this time, the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3 and the load transmitting direction of the rack member 19 are substantially parallel and on a straight line, and the force transmitted by the pinion 11 also causes the force transmitted between the rack member 18 and the sheet width regulating member 2 to change. Since the load transmission directions are substantially parallel and on a straight line, the first rib-shaped projections 14,
15 is guided by the first guide grooves 8 and 9, and the sheet width regulating member 2 can be easily moved.

According to the document stacking device 10, the second guide grooves 8, 9 of the document stacking table 1 are formed at the upstream end in the sheet conveying direction in the area of the recesses 4, 5.
On the other hand, the second rib-shaped projections 16 and 17 rising from the end of the bottom surface of each of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 on the most upstream side in the sheet conveying direction are inserted. The second moving guide mechanism formed by the guide grooves 8, 9 and the second rib-shaped projections 16, 17 enters the blind spot of the operator at the time of operation, so that the appearance of the apparatus is not spoiled.

Further, according to the document stacking device 10, the sheet width regulating members 2, 3 are reduced as described above so that the contact area of the bottom of each sheet width regulating member 2, 3 with the document loading table 1 is reduced. Has a truss structure, so that sliding resistance can be kept low, and the operating direction and the moment in the height direction between the seat width regulating member and the fixed part of the rack can be reduced. Since it can be changed, there is little loss of operating force.

Further, with respect to the contact surface between the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 and the sheet material loading table 1, a portion where the movement guide mechanism is formed is used as a sliding portion, and other portions are provided with gaps as much as possible. With the configuration in which the portion is formed, the sliding resistance on the contact surface can be further reduced, and the loss of the operating force can be reduced.

In this embodiment, when the sheet width regulating member is operated, the point of action (P) is set at the position where the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 and the rack members 18 and 19 are fixed to the second rib-shaped projection. When the length of the second rib-shaped projections 16 and 17 on the opposite side to the direction having the portions 16 and 17 is not more than twice the length, or when the rigidity of the sheet width regulating members 2 and 3 is sufficiently high, Especially effective.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a document stacking device 30 as a second embodiment of the sheet stacking device.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the document stacking device 30, and FIG.
FIG. The parts having the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the original loading device 30
Document loading table 1 as base member on which sheet material is loaded
A, and a pair of sheet width regulating members 2A, 3A for regulating the width of the sheet material stacked on the original loading table 1A, and in the area of the concave portions 4, 5 which are recessed from the upper surface of the original loading table 1A. The sheet width regulating members 2A and 3A are assembled so as to be movable in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction by a movement guide mechanism described later, and are compared with the above-described document stacking apparatus 10. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a third movement guide mechanism described below is added, and the other configuration is the same.

That is, in the original loading table 1A of the original loading device 30, the third guide grooves 32 and 33 are formed parallel to the sheet width direction in addition to the configuration of the original loading device 10 described above. The third guide grooves 32, 33 are arranged in a straight line with each other at the downstream end in the sheet conveying direction in the area of the concave portions 4, 5.

On the other hand, the sheet width regulating members 2A and 3A in the document stacking device 30 are provided with the third guide groove 3 of the document stacking table 1A in addition to the configuration of the document stacking device 10 described above.
3rd rib-shaped projections 34 and 35 inserted in 2, 33
Is provided. Third rib-shaped projections 34, 35
Is formed so as to rise from the most downstream end of the bottom surface of the sheet width regulating members 2A, 3A in the sheet conveyance direction, and has a thickness slightly smaller than the groove width of the third guide grooves 32, 33. I have. The lengths of the first rib-shaped projections 14 and 15 and the third rib-shaped projections 34 and 35 in the second longitudinal direction (the sheet width direction) are substantially equal to each other.

This document stacking device 30 has the same effect as the document stacking device 10 described above, and further has a third rib-shaped projection 34, downstream of the first moving guide mechanism in the sheet conveying direction. 35 and third guide grooves 32, 33
Is provided with a third moving guide mechanism including the second guide grooves 8 and 9, the following effects are obtained.

In order to adjust the sheet width contact surfaces of the sheet width regulating members 2A and 3A to the width of the sheet material loaded on the document loading table 1A, one of the sheet width regulating members 3A is moved to the action point P3 shown in FIG. When operated at the position, the sheet width regulating member 3
Connection part (fixed part) between A and rack member 19 and action point P3
A moment is generated between and. This moment is utilized as the third guide groove 33 of the document loading table 1A by utilizing the length of the third rib-shaped projection 35 of the sheet width regulating member 3A.
, The rotational force due to the moment can be changed to a force in the guide direction (sheet width direction), and the sheet width regulating member 3A can be moved in the guide direction, that is, the operation direction.

When the sheet width regulating member 3A moves in the operating direction, the first rib-shaped projection 15 of the sheet width regulating member 3A is guided by the first guide groove 7 and the sheet width is regulated by the operating force, as described above. Direction, and via the rack member 19, the pinion 11 and the rack member 18,
The other sheet width regulating member 2A is driven in the sheet width direction and in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3A.

At this time, the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3A and the load transmitting direction of the rack member 19 are substantially parallel and in a straight line, and the force transmitted by the pinion 11 also causes the force transmitted between the rack member 18 and the sheet width regulating member 2A to move. Since the load transmitting directions are substantially parallel and on a straight line, the first rib-shaped projection 1
4 and 15 are guided by the first guide grooves 8 and 9, and the sheet width regulating member 2A can be easily moved.

Similarly, when a portion other than the action points P1, P2, and P3 on the seat width regulating member 3A is operated, the moment generated at the time of the operation is applied to the third rib-shaped projection 35 of the sheet width regulating member 3A. By using the length to guide the sheet in the third guide groove 33 of the document loading table 1A, the rotation force due to the moment can be changed to the force in the guide direction (sheet width direction), and the sheet width regulating member 3A Can be moved in the guide direction, that is, the operation direction.

When the sheet width regulating member 3 moves in the operation direction, the first rib-shaped projection 15 of the sheet width regulating member 3 is guided by the first guide groove 7 and the sheet width is regulated by the operation force, as described above. Direction and the rack member 1
9, the other sheet width regulating member 2 is driven via the pinion 11 and the rack member 18 in the sheet width direction and in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3.

At this time, the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 3A and the load transmitting direction of the rack member 19 are substantially parallel and on a straight line, and the force transmitted by the pinion 11 also causes the force transmitted between the rack member 18 and the sheet width regulating member 2A. Since the load transmitting directions are substantially parallel and on a straight line, the first rib-shaped projection 1
4 and 15 are guided by the first guide grooves 8 and 9, and the sheet width regulating member 2A can be easily moved.

In each of the embodiments described above, the case where only one sheet width regulating member (3, 3A) is operated has been described. However, the case where only the other sheet width regulating member (2, 2A) is operated is also described. It goes without saying that a similar effect can be obtained.

In the document stacking apparatus according to each of the above-described embodiments, the document stacking apparatus is attached to an image reading apparatus or the like of the image forming apparatus. It is conceivable to operate the sheet width regulating members simultaneously. Also in this case, as described above, the sheet width regulating member can be easily moved, and when both (left and right) sheet width regulating members are operated at symmetrical positions, the force required for the operation is substantially the same. Therefore, no uncomfortable feeling is felt during operation.

Further, in each embodiment, the example in which the rib-shaped projections, which are the rib-shaped projections, are formed on each sheet width regulating member has been described. However, a plurality of cylindrical projections are formed in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. For example, a guide rib having a shape supported at two or more points may be provided. In this case, the rotation force due to the moment can be changed to the force in the guide direction. In addition, the sheet width regulating member can be easily moved in the guide direction = the operation direction.

Further, for each moving guide mechanism,
It is needless to say that a configuration reverse to the above-described embodiments, that is, a configuration in which a guide groove is provided on each gate width regulating member side and a guide rib is provided on the original loading table side, and in this case, the sheet width is also set. The regulating member can be easily moved.

In each of the embodiments described above, the example of the sheet stacking device provided in the image reading device of the image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied as a sheet material stacking device provided in a sheet insertion unit for supplying a sheet material to a sheet.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a plurality of moving guide mechanisms are provided at different positions of the sheet width regulating member in the sheet conveying direction, a rotational force due to a moment generated when the sheet width regulating member is operated is converted into a force in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction. Thus, the sheet width regulating member can be easily moved.

Further, a pair of sheet width regulating members are assembled to the sheet material stacking table, and the moving guide mechanism for one sheet width regulating member and the other sheet width regulating member has the same structure in the sheet conveying direction. By arranging the positions on a straight line, it is possible to easily move the sheet width regulating member when both sheet width regulating members are simultaneously operated, and to operate both sheet width regulating members at symmetrical positions. The operating force is substantially the same, and the user does not feel uncomfortable during the operation.

As for the contact surface between the sheet width regulating member and the sheet material loading table, a portion where the movement guide mechanism is formed is a sliding contact portion, and a gap portion is formed at other portions. As a result, the contact area is reduced, the sliding resistance can be reduced, and the moment in the height direction between the operating position and the seat width regulating member and the fixed portion of the rack is changed to the force in the operating direction. Operating loss is reduced.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet width regulating member which is excellent in operability without extending the width of the sheet width regulating member, and which is long in the transporting direction and capable of performing stable sheet transport without skew. It is possible to provide a sheet material stacking device that can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of a sheet material stacking apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet stacking device.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sheet stacking device.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a second embodiment of the sheet stacking device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet stacking device.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the sheet material stacking device.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view illustrating an example of a conventional sheet material stacking apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the sheet material stacking device.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view showing another example of the conventional sheet material stacking apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the sheet material stacking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 30 Document loading device 1 Document loading table 2, 3 Sheet width regulating member 4, 5 Depressed portion 6, 7 First guide groove (through hole) 8, 9 Second guide groove 11 Pinion (small gear) 12 , 13 Rack guide bosses 14, 15 First rib-shaped projections 14a, 15a Holes 16, 17 Second rib-shaped projections 18, 19 Rack members 18a, 19a Racks (flat gears) 18b, 19b Guide grooves 20, 21 Snap-fit connection portion 32, 33 Third guide groove 34, 35 Third rib-shaped protrusion P1, P2, P3 Action point of sheet width regulating member

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A sheet material loading table for loading a sheet material,
A sheet width regulating member for regulating a width of the sheet material loaded on the sheet material loading table in a sheet conveying direction by a movement guide mechanism with respect to the sheet material loading table. And a sheet material stacking device assembled so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the sheet material, wherein the movement guide mechanism is formed on the sheet material stacking table with a protrusion or groove formed on the sheet width regulating member, A guide groove formed in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction for guiding movement or a guide protrusion engaging with the groove, and a plurality of the sheet width regulating members are provided at different positions in the sheet conveying direction. A sheet material loading device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The sheet stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet width regulating member is paired with the sheet stack. 3. The moving guide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein one of the sheet width regulating members and another of the sheet width regulating members are provided.
3. The sheet material stacking apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet material stacking device is arranged in a straight line at the same position in the sheet conveying direction. 4. The movement of one sheet width regulating member causes
4. The sheet material stacking device according to claim 2, wherein a driven mechanism is provided in which the other sheet width regulating member is driven symmetrically with respect to a center line in a width direction of the sheet material placing position. 5. A moving guide mechanism comprising: a first moving guide mechanism connected to the driven mechanism; and a second moving guide provided upstream of the first moving guide mechanism in the sheet conveying direction. The sheet loading device according to claim 4, further comprising a mechanism. 6. The sheet member according to claim 5, wherein the movement guide mechanism includes a third movement guide mechanism provided downstream of the first movement guide mechanism in the sheet conveyance direction. Loading device. 7. The sheet material stacking apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first movement guide mechanism is provided at a substantially central position in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet width regulating member. 8. A pinion rotatably mounted at a substantially central position in a width direction of a sheet material placement position on a back surface side of a sheet loading surface of the sheet material loading table, and the driven mechanism meshes with the pinion. A rack is formed from one end side, and the other end side has a pair of rack members integrally connected to the sheet width regulating member. One of the sheet width regulating member and the rack member is moved to move through the pinion. 8. The sheet material stacking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the other rack member and the sheet width regulating member are driven. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first movement guide mechanism includes a through hole as the guide groove provided in the sheet material stacking table.
A rib-shaped projection formed on the sheet width regulating member and inserted into the through hole as the projection, for each sheet width regulating member, and a rib-shaped projection in the first movement guide mechanism. 9. The sheet material stacking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the other end of the rack member in the driven mechanism is connected by snap fitting. 10. A portion where the movement guide mechanism is formed is a sliding contact portion with respect to an abutting surface between the sheet width regulating member and the sheet material mounting table, and a gap portion is formed in other portions. The sheet material stacking device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: 11. The sheet material stacking device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material stacking table is provided in a document sheet supply unit of the image reading device.