JP2001163459A - Paper feeding cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect a chip housing part of a paper feeding cassette. SOLUTION: A chip housing part for accumulating chips of recording paper cut by a printer is formed in a space surrounded by a lid member 34 and a cover member 43. A support plate 45 is installed on an upper surface inner wall of the cover member 43, and a shutter plate 46 freely slidable in the setting direction of a paper feeding cassette is incorporated between the support plate 45 and the cover member 43. The shutter plate 46 always projects to the rear of the cover member 43 by energization of shutter springs 47a, 47b to protect a chip carrying mechanism 40 incorporated into the chip housing part. When setting the paper feeding cassette in the printer, a pressing object piece 60 is pressed, the shutter plate 46 slides in the cover member 43, and the chip carrying mechanism 40 is exposed in the printer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette, and more particularly, to a paper feed cassette provided with a chip storing section for storing recording paper chips.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a printer, for example, a thermal printer,
It is known that a thermal head prints a full-color image sequentially in three color planes by a thermal head while reciprocating a thermal recording paper a plurality of times. In a thermal printer, the thermosensitive recording paper reciprocates while being nipped by transport rollers. Since the thermal head is arranged at a position close to the transport roller, an image cannot be recorded on a portion corresponding to the distance between the transport roller and the thermal head, and this portion becomes blank. Also, the thermal head nips the thermal recording paper with the platen roller.However, if the platen roller is heated by the part of the thermal head that protrudes from the thermal recording paper, the Deteriorates. Therefore, blank portions are left on both sides of the thermal recording paper, and images are recorded on both sides. For these reasons, printed thermal recording paper has margins formed along four sides.

[0003] Recently, the number of users who desire prints without margins is increasing. Although a postcard size is widely used as a thermal recording paper, there is a problem that this size is too large and inconvenient when attaching a photo album. For this reason, it is desirable to provide a shearing type front and rear end cutter for cutting margins at the front and rear ends of the recording paper after recording, a rotary cut type slitter for cutting side margins of the recording paper, and the like.

[0004] When cutting means for cutting such a margin is provided, chips in the margin are scattered in the printer. Therefore, a printer provided with a waste box for collecting chips under the cutter has been proposed so that chips can be easily taken out of the printer and discarded.

In addition, instead of separately providing a waste box, a paper feed cassette provided with a chip storage portion for storing chips has been proposed. Further, in order to prevent chips from collecting near the entrance of the chip storage section, a paper feed cassette incorporating a transport belt for transporting chips to the inside of the chip storage section has been invented. The transport belt is connected to a belt drive mechanism provided on the printer when the paper cassette is set in the printer.

[0006]

The transport belt uses a thin rubber for the purpose of reducing the weight of the chips and not increasing the size of the sheet cassette. For this reason, if the hand directly touches the transport belt, there are problems such as the transport belt being displaced, turned up, damaged, and cut. In addition, it is also conceivable that the device is cut due to deterioration due to light, or an operation failure is caused by adhesion of dust.

Further, when the paper feed cassette is to be removed from the printer in a state where a large amount of chips are stored in the chip storage section, the chips overflowing from the chip storage section are entangled with the paper feed mechanism of the printer and are damaged. It is also possible that

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to protect a conveyor belt when a sheet cassette is a single unit.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a paper feed cassette according to the present invention opens a chip storage section when setting a chip storage section and a chip storage section when removing the chip storage section from the paper supply section. Is provided with a shutter mechanism for closing the shutter.

The shutter mechanism includes, for example, a shutter plate movable between an open position for opening the chip storage portion and a closed position for closing the chip storage portion, and the shutter plate facing the closed position. It can be simply configured with the shutter spring to be urged. Further, the shutter plate may be slidable in accordance with the operation of setting and removing the sheet cassette.

Further, a receiving portion for receiving the leading edge of the shutter plate may be provided in the chip storing portion, or both the leading edge and the receiving portion may be provided so that the shutter plate at the closed position is positioned at an appropriate position. May be provided, or a notch and a protrusion may be provided on each of the leading edge of the shutter plate and the receiving portion of the chip storage portion. Further, in order to reduce the dimension of the sheet feeding cassette in the thickness direction, it is preferable to incorporate the shutter spring so as to fit within the thickness of the shutter plate.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a color thermal printer 3 using a sheet cassette 2 embodying the present invention. In the center of the front of the thermal printer 3, the paper cassette 2
The cassette insertion slot 4 in which is set is provided. Behind the cassette insertion slot 4, the set paper cassette 2 is set.
A paper feed unit 6 for pulling in the color thermal recording paper 5 from the printer and discharging the printed color thermal recording paper 5 is incorporated.

About half of the leading end of the sheet feeding cassette 2 in the insertion direction is housed in the sheet feeding portion 6, and the rear end of the sheet feeding cassette 2 projects out of the apparatus. The upper surface of the paper feed cassette 2 is a paper discharge tray section 8 on which printed color thermal recording papers 5 are stacked. A main switch 9 for turning on / off the power of the color thermal printer 3 and a pilot lamp 10 which is turned on when the power is turned on are provided beside the cassette insertion slot 4.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main portion of the vicinity of the paper feeding section of the color thermal printer 3. The sheet cassette 2 inserted from the cassette insertion slot is positioned and held in the sheet feeding unit 6. A paper feed roller 13 incorporated in the paper feed unit 6 enters an opening 12 provided on the upper surface of the paper feed cassette 2, and is stacked and stored in a recording paper storage unit 15 below the paper feed cassette 2. Abuts on the upper surface of the color thermal recording paper 5.
The paper feed roller 13 rotates in the paper feed direction clockwise in the drawing during printing, and feeds the uppermost layer of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 from a feed port 16 provided on the back of the paper feed cassette 2 to the paper feed cassette 2.
Send out.

The color thermosensitive recording paper 5 sent from the paper feed cassette 2 is conveyed through a paper feed passage 18 to a print unit 20 provided at the back of the paper feed unit 6. Printing unit 20
Although not shown in detail, a pair of transport rollers for nipping and transporting the color thermal recording paper 5 and pressing the color thermal recording paper 5 being transported by the transport rollers to form three thermal recordings of yellow, magenta, and cyan A thermal head that prints color-developing layers in a sequential manner, a platen roller that presses the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 against the thermal head, and ultraviolet irradiation after printing on the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and after printing on the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer. And an optical fixing device for fixing each thermosensitive coloring layer.

The color thermal recording paper 5 on which printing has been completed passes through a paper discharge passage 22 provided above the paper supply unit 6 and is discharged from the cassette insertion port 4 onto the paper discharge tray unit 8 of the paper supply cassette 2. Is done. In the paper discharge passage 22, the color thermal recording paper 5
A cutter 23 for cutting the front end, a cutter 24 for cutting the rear end, and a pair of slitters 25 are arranged to cut off the margins at the four corners.

The front end cutter 23 includes a fixed blade 23a and a movable blade 23b extending in the main scanning direction of the color thermal recording paper 5.
It is composed of Then, when the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 reaches a predetermined position, the movable blade 23b is lowered to cut off the front end margin, which is the margin on the front end side of the recording area of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5. Similarly, the rear end cutter 2
Reference numeral 4 also includes a fixed blade 24a and a movable blade 24b, and cuts off a trailing margin on the trailing end side of the recording area of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5. The slitter 25 is a rotary cutter including an upper blade 25a and a lower blade 25b, and cuts off both side margins formed on both sides of the recording area of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 being discharged.

The paper discharge passage 22 is connected to the paper supply section 6 in which the paper supply cassette 2 is set.
4 and the slit chip 28 cut by the slitter 25 are placed in a chip storage section 30 provided between the paper discharge tray section 8 of the paper feed cassette 2 and the recording paper storage section 14. Be accumulated.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the sheet cassette 2, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the sheet cassette 2. The paper feed cassette 2 includes a recording paper storage unit 14 in which the color thermal recording paper 5 is stored, a chip 27 and a slit chip 2.
And a paper discharge tray section 8 on which the printed color thermosensitive recording paper 5 is placed.

The recording paper accommodating section 14 is formed of a light-blocking plastic in a substantially box shape, and has a cassette body 32 in which sheets of, for example, postcard-sized color thermosensitive recording papers 5 are stacked and accommodated, A lid member 34 is attached to the upper part of the main body 32 by a hinge 33 so as to be rotatable. The setting of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 in the recording paper storage part 14 is performed with the lid member 34 opened. At the front end of the cassette body 32 and the lid member 34, a lock mechanism for locking the lid member 34 at the closed position is provided. The release of this lock mechanism is performed by a slide operation of the release lever 35.

On the upper surface on the rear end side of the lid member 34, two rotating shafts 37 and 38 rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 and thin rubber are formed. Between the two rotating shafts 37 and 38 at equal intervals.
A chip transport mechanism 40 including book transport belts 39a, 39b, and 39c is incorporated. Rotation shaft 37 on the rear end side
A connecting gear 41 for rotatingly driving the rotating shaft 37 is attached to the end of the connecting gear 41. When the sheet cassette 2 is set in the color thermal printer 3, the connecting gear 41 meshes with a driving gear provided in the printer. The chip transport mechanism 40 constitutes a part of the chip storage unit 30, and the chips 27 of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 cut by the cutters 23 and 24.
Falls on the three conveyor belts 39a to 39c. Then, the chips 27 are sent into the chip storage unit 30 by driving the three conveyor belts 39a to 39c.

The chip storage unit 30 is provided on the upper surface 34 of the lid member 34.
a, a cover member 43 attached to an upper portion of the lid member 34, a disposal lid 44 which is opened when the chip 27 is taken out from the chip storage unit 30 and disposed of, and between the lid member 34 and the cover member 43. A support plate 45 to be installed, a shutter plate 46 to be installed between the cover member 43 and the support plate 45, and two shutter springs 47a and 47b for urging the shutter plate 46 in a direction to protrude from the cover member 43.
And the chip transport mechanism 40 described above. The cover member 43, the waste cover 44, the support plate 45, and the shutter plate 46 are formed of transparent plastic so that the amount of the chips 27 stored in the chip storage unit 30 can be visually recognized.

The cross section of the cover member 43 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of transport of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 is substantially U-shaped and opened downward.
At the same time, the space above the lid member 34 is closed to form the chip storage portion 30. The upper surface of the cover member 43 is a paper discharge tray section 8 for receiving the printed color thermal recording paper 5 discharged from the upper part of the cassette insertion slot 4. On both sides of the upper surface of the cover member 43, regulating pieces 43a for preventing the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 from dropping from the discharge tray section 8 are provided upright.

The waste cover 44 is a chip storage portion 30 formed by the front end side of the cover member 43 and the upper surface 34a of the cover member 34.
Of the cover member 34, and the support pieces 44a provided on both ends are rotatably attached to the ribs 34b provided on both sides of the upper surface of the lid member 34. The disposal port 49 is opened and closed.

The support plate 45 is positioned and mounted on the rib 34b of the lid member 34, and the cover member 43
Is fixed by being attached. On the upper surface of the support plate 45, a concave portion 51 for slidably supporting the shutter plate 46 in the setting direction of the sheet cassette 2 is formed. The width of the concave portion 51 is formed slightly larger than the width of the shutter plate 46 so that the shutter plate 46 can slide without any trouble.

On both sides of the concave portion 51 of the support plate 45, guide pieces 52 for receiving the slit chips 28 of the color thermal recording paper 5 cut by the slitter 25 of the color thermal printer 3 and guiding them into the chip storing section 30 are integrated. Is formed. The guide chip 52 and the upper surface of the cover member 43 form slit dust 2
A chip receiving port 53 for receiving the sheet 8 is formed, and the slit chips 28 are fed into the chip storing section 30 from the chip receiving port 53 together with the discharge of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5.

In the concave portion 51 of the support plate 45, a regulating groove 54 into which two slide pins 45a erected on the lower surface of the shutter plate 46 are inserted, and a spring accommodating groove 55a in which shutter springs 47a and 47b are respectively accommodated. , 55b. The shutter plate 46 includes a slide pin 45a,
The slider 45b slides along the inserted restriction groove 54, and the slide is restricted at a position where the slide pins 45a and 45b contact the inner wall surface of the restriction groove 54.

The shutter springs 47a and 47b are
Both ends are respectively hung on spring hooking pieces 57a, 57b erected at the ends of the fifth spring housing grooves 55a, 55b and spring hooking pieces 58a, 58b formed on the edge of the lower surface of the shutter plate 46, respectively. . Thereby, the shutter spring 4
7a and 47b urge the shutter plate 46 in a direction to protrude from the rear end side of the cover member 43, that is, in a direction to cover and protect the upper part of the chip transport mechanism 40 as shown in FIG. Further, since the shutter springs 47a and 47b are incorporated between the spring housing grooves 55a and 55b and the shutter spring 46, the size of the sheet cassette 2 in the thickness direction is not affected.

The shutter plate 46 is substantially plate-shaped, and has a closed position for covering the chip transport mechanism 40 and, as shown in FIG.
It is incorporated between the cover member 43 and the support plate 45 so as to be slidable between an open position where the chip transport mechanism 40 is exposed. A pressed piece 60 protruding upward is formed integrally with a top end of the upper surface of the shutter plate 46 in the sliding direction. When the paper feed cassette 2 is inserted into the cassette insertion slot 4 of the color thermal printer 3, the pressed piece 60 comes into contact with a pressing strip 61 disposed behind the cassette insertion slot 4. When the sheet cassette 2 is inserted into the color thermal printer 3 to a predetermined position, the pressing piece 6
1, the pressed piece 60 is pressed, and the shutter plate 46 slides in a direction in which the shutter plate 46 is housed in the cover member 43. As a result, the upper part of the chip transport mechanism 40 is automatically opened simultaneously with the setting of the paper feed cassette 2, and preparation for receiving the chips 27 of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 cut in the color thermosensitive printer 3 into the chip storage unit 30. Is completed.

When the paper feed cassette 2 is taken out of the color thermal printer 3, the shutter springs 47a, 47
The upper part of the chip transport mechanism 40 is covered and concealed by the bias of b. This restricts access to the transport belts 39a to 39c of the chip transport mechanism 40 when the paper feed cassette 2 is a single unit, so that the transport belts 39a to 39c are displaced or turned up, cut by scratches, or cut by light. Deterioration, adhesion of dust and the like can be effectively prevented.

As shown in FIG. 6, a receiving portion 63 for receiving the leading edge of the shutter plate 46 when the shutter plate 46 slides to the closed position is provided at a rear portion of the chip conveying mechanism 40 of the lid member 34. I have. Angled inclined surfaces are formed on the receiving portion 63 and the lower surface of the leading edge of the shutter plate 46. Therefore, when the shutter plate 46 slides to the closed position, the leading edge easily gets on the receiving portion 63, and the vertical displacement of the leading edge of the shutter plate 46 is restricted.

A triangular projection 65 protrudes from the center of the receiving portion 63, and a triangular cutout 66 with which the projection 65 engages is formed at the leading edge of the shutter plate 46.
Thereby, the displacement of the shutter plate 46 in the left-right direction at the closed position is restricted. The inclined surface and the notch 66 of the shutter plate 46 and the inclined and projection 65 of the receiving portion 63
As a result, the shutter plate 46 at the closed position is positioned at an appropriate position, so that the contact between the pressing piece 61 and the pressed piece 60 when the paper feed cassette 2 is set in the color thermal printer 3 is ensured. can do.

Next, the operation of the printer will be described. The color thermal printer 3 is used by being connected to a personal computer, for example, and the print form, the number of prints, the instruction to start printing, and the like are performed from the personal computer. As preparation for printing by the color thermal printer 3, as shown in FIG. 1, the paper cassette 2 in which the color thermal recording paper 5 is stored in the recording paper storage section 14.
Into the cassette insertion slot 4.

When the paper cassette 2 is not set in the color thermal printer 3 and is a single unit, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the chips are conveyed by the shutter plate 46 urged by the shutter springs 47a and 47b. The upper part of the mechanism 40 is covered and protected. Therefore, the chip transport mechanism 40
The transport belts 39a to 39c are not in direct contact with each other, so that the transport belts 39a to 39c are prevented from being displaced or turned up, cut due to scratches, deteriorated by light, adhered to dust, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the paper feed cassette 2 is inserted into the cassette insertion slot 4, the pressed piece 60 of the shutter plate 46 is pressed by the pressing piece 61 incorporated in the back of the cassette insertion slot 4. . Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the shutter plate 46 is pushed into the cover member 43 against the bias of the shutter springs 47a and 47b, and the chip transport mechanism 40 is exposed.

After setting the paper cassette 2, the main switch 9 is operated to turn on the power of the color thermal printer 3. Then, an image to be printed is selected on the personal computer, and a print start operation is performed. When printing is instructed, the paper feed roller 13 rotates in the paper feed direction, and the uppermost color thermal recording paper 5 in contact with the paper feed roller 13 is rotated.
Is sent out of the paper feed cassette 2 from the feed port 16. The sent color thermosensitive recording paper 5 is conveyed to the printing unit 20 through the paper feed path 18.

In the printing section 20, the color thermosensitive recording paper is reciprocated by the transport rollers, and during this time, the thermal head prints on the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer, the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer. Also, after printing on the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer,
Ultraviolet light is emitted from the optical fixing device to fix the image.

The color thermosensitive recording paper 5 on which the full-color printing has been completed is sent out to the paper discharge passage 22. In the paper discharge passage 22, the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 is discharged by a paper discharge roller pair 68.
And transported toward the cassette insertion slot 4. On the way, once the front end cutting position of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 reaches the front end cutting cutter 23, the paper feed is stopped once, the movable blade 23b descends and the front end side of the recording area of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 is lowered. Chip 2 at the front margin
As 7, it is cut off on the chip transport mechanism 40. The color thermal printer 3 rotates the drive gear by a motor with the lowering of the movable blade 23b, and connects the drive gear 4 to the drive gear.
1 is rotated in the transport direction. Thereby, the conveyor belt 3
9 a to 39 c are driven, and the chips 27 are sent into the interior of the chip storage unit 30.

After the front margin is cut, the paper is fed again. When the scheduled cutting position of the rear end of the color thermal recording paper 5 reaches the rear cutting cutter 24, the paper feeding is stopped again, and the movable blade 24b descends. Thus, the chips 27 in the rear margin, which is the margin on the rear end side of the recording area of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5, are cut off on the chip transport mechanism 40. The color thermal printer 3 drives the transport belts 39 a to 39 c as the movable blade 24 b descends and sends the chips 27 to the back of the chip storage unit 30, similarly to the cutting of the front end margin. The cutting cutter on the front end side and the cutting cutter on the rear end side may be used as one.

The leading edge of the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 is fed into the slitter 25 by the conveyance after the cutting of the front end margin described above, and the margins on both sides are cut off as slit chips 28. The tip of the slit chip 28 is the chip receiving port 5
3 and is guided by the guide piece 52 to receive the chip storage portion 3.
Go inside 0. Then, as the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 is discharged, the recording paper is stored inside the chip storage unit 30. The color thermosensitive recording paper 5 from which all the surrounding margins have been cut off is discharged onto the discharge tray section 8 from above the cassette insertion slot 4. Thus, one full color print is completed.

The slit chips 28 fed into the chip storage unit 30 are placed with their rear ends placed on the guide pieces 52, and the rear edge of the slit chips 28 in the chip receiving port 53 is cut.
The paper feed cassette 2 is disposed at the rear of the paper feed cassette 2 with respect to the position where the paper 8 enters. As a result, the leading edge of the slit chip 28 to be fed next abuts against the rear edge of the previously stored slit chip 28, and the slit chip 2 is inserted into the chip receiving port 53.
8 will not be clogged. Further, the slit waste 28 stored first is the slit waste 28 sent next.
Therefore, the slit wastes 28 can be stored in a state of being stacked neatly.

When the color thermosensitive recording paper 5 stored in the paper cassette 2 becomes low, the paper cassette 2 is pulled out from the cassette insertion slot 4 of the color thermal printer 3. Then, since the shutter plate 46 is automatically closed by the urging of the shutter springs 47a and 47b, the chip transport mechanism 40 is appropriately protected. This prevents chips from being caught by the mechanism in the color thermal printer when the paper cassette 2 is removed.

When the shutter plate 46 is closed, the leading edge of the shutter plate 46 is received by the receiving portion 63.
Since the inclined surface of the leading edge coincides with the inclined surface of the receiving portion, no vertical displacement of the leading edge of the shutter plate 46 occurs. Further, since the notch 66 of the shutter plate 46 and the projection 65 of the receiving portion 63 are engaged with each other, there is no shift of the leading edge of the shutter plate 46 in the left-right direction. Thus, when the sheet cassette 2 is set in the color thermal printer 3 again, the contact between the pressed piece 60 and the pressing piece 60 is ensured.

When replenishing the color thermosensitive recording paper 5, the chips 2
7 and the slit waste 28 may be discarded. The scraps 27 and slit scraps 29 can be discarded by rotating the discard lid 44 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6 and exposing the discard opening 49. Therefore, the shutter plate 46 is forcibly opened by the user. The protection of the chip transport mechanism 40 can be continued.

In the above embodiment, the shutter plate 46
Is moved along the setting direction of the sheet cassette 2 in the open position and the closed position, but may be moved in another direction using a cam mechanism or a link mechanism. Further, the shutter plate can be opened and closed by turning.

Further, a notch 66 is formed in the shutter plate 46 and a projection 65 is formed in the receiving portion 63.
6 may be formed with a projection, and the receiving portion 63 may be formed with a notch. Although the shutter plate 46 is formed of transparent plastic, it may be formed of opaque plastic because the shutter plate 46 does not hide the chip storage section 30 when the sheet cassette 2 is a single unit.

In the above embodiment, a color thermal printer has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to various printers such as a thermal transfer printer, an ink jet printer, and a laser printer.

[0048]

As described above, according to the paper feed cassette of the present invention, the chip storage portion is closed by the shutter plate when the paper feed cassette is taken out, so that the chips do not overflow. In addition, when the sheet feeding cassette is a single unit, the transport belt for transporting the chips incorporated in the chip storage unit can be appropriately protected.

Further, since the shutter plate is moved by using the setting operation of the sheet cassette with the minimum component configuration, it can be adopted at low cost.

Further, since the leading edge of the shutter plate at the time of closing is positioned, damage due to displacement of the shutter plate can be prevented, and the operational reliability at the time of reloading the sheet cassette can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a sheet cassette of the present invention and a color thermal printer using the same.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part in the vicinity of a paper feeding unit of the color thermal printer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a sheet cassette when a shutter plate is closed.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a sheet feeding cassette.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a sheet feeding cassette when a shutter plate is opened.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part of the paper feed cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 2 paper feed cassette 3 color thermal printer 4 cassette insertion port 5 color thermal recording paper 6 paper feed section 8 paper discharge tray section 14 recording paper storage section 30 chip storage section 37, 38 rotating shaft 39 transport belt 40 chip transport mechanism 43 cover member 44 Waste cover 45 Support plate 46 Shutter plate 47 Shutter spring 63 Receiving part 65 Projection 66 Notch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Koji Asako 3-13-45 Izumi, Asaka-shi, Saitama Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Toma 2-18-10 Shimura, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Nippon Electric Corporation (72) Inventor Yuichi Ozawa 2-18-10 Shimura, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Nidec Copal Corporation F-term (reference) 3F343 FA02 FB04 HB03 KB10 KB20 LC12

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A paper feed cassette comprising a recording paper storage section for storing a plurality of recording papers and a chip storage section for storing chips of recording paper cut in a printer, and set in a paper supply section of the printer. The sheet feeder according to claim 1, further comprising a shutter mechanism for automatically opening the chip storage section when setting the chip storage section, and automatically closing the chip storage section when removing the chip storage section from the sheet supply section. cassette. 2. The shutter mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a shutter plate movable between an open position for opening the chip storage portion and a closed position for closing the chip storage portion, and having the shutter plate facing the closed position. 2. The sheet cassette according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing shutter spring, wherein the shutter plate moves from a closed position to an open position by being pressed by a component of the printer when the shutter plate is set in the sheet feeding section. 3. The sheet cassette according to claim 2, wherein the shutter plate is slidable along a direction in which the shutter plate is set in the sheet feeding unit. 4. The feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the chip storage portion is provided with a receiving portion for receiving a leading edge orthogonal to a sliding direction of the shutter plate when the shutter plate is in the closed position. Paper cassette. 5. An inclined surface inclined in the thickness direction of the shutter plate is provided on a side of the distal end edge of the shutter plate facing the receiving portion, and the inclined portion has the same angle as the inclined surface of the distal end edge. The paper feed cassette according to claim 4, wherein the paper feed cassette is provided. 6. A notch is formed at one of a tip edge of the shutter plate and a receiving portion of a chip storage portion, and a projection is formed on the other to engage with the notch. 5. The paper cassette according to 5. 7. The paper feed cassette according to claim 2, wherein the shutter spring is provided so as to fit within a thickness of the shutter plate. 8. The paper feeder according to claim 1, wherein a chip transport belt for transporting the chips to the inside of the chip storage unit is incorporated near an entrance of the chip storage unit. cassette.