JP2001192124A - Sheet material feeder and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet material feeder for regulating the width direction of a sheet material and preventing conveying failure caused by skew sending during feeding. SOLUTION: When a large size sheet material S' rises in the arrow 4 as shown in Fig. 3 (a), it contacts with a tapered part 1b of a movable side regulating plate 1. When the sheet material S' further rises, it rises while being pushed in the arrow 5 direction by the side regulating plate 1 as shown in Fig. 3 (b), the sheet material S' stops in a state in which it is pressed onto a fixing-mode side regulating plate 6 by a spring 3 as shown in Fig. 3 (c), and the sheet material S' is placed in a straight state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to an external apparatus, and is applied to, for example, an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional sheet material supply apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 shows a large-capacity sheet feeding deck 300 as a conventional sheet material supply device for storing the stacked sheet materials S.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus main body 400 provided with an image forming means for transferring and fixing an image to a sheet material S fed from the paper feed deck 300 and discharging the image to a paper discharge unit. .

Here, the sheet feeding deck 300 will be described in detail. The paper feed deck 300 has a cover 101, and the cover 101 is configured to rotate around a rotation shaft 102. To detect the open / close state of the cover 101 and control the operation of the sheet feeding deck 300, the cover 1
01 includes a protruding portion 103, and an opening / closing detecting portion 104 that detects the open / closed state of the cover 101 by fitting the protruding portion 103 into the storage side.

The operation of opening and closing the cover 101 of the large-capacity sheet feeding deck 300 can be roughly divided into the following two cases. One is to replenish the sheet material S to the storage, and the other is to remove the jammed sheet material S in the sheet feeding deck 300.

Therefore, in order to facilitate such work, a configuration is often used in which the lifting / lowering operation of the lifter 105 on which the sheet material S is stacked is linked to the open / close state of the cover 101.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of this operation. When the cover 101 is opened, the lifter 105
When the lifter 105 descends to the position where the lower limit sensor is provided, the lower limit sensor is turned on, and the lifter 105 stops.

Conversely, when the cover 101 is closed, the lifter 105 rises, and when the paper surface detection sensor for detecting that the paper surface height of the stacked sheet material S has reached a predetermined position is turned on, The lifter 105 stops.

The paper feed deck 3 configured to perform such an operation
In FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 9, the cover 101 can be changed to the large-size cover 106 and the lifter 105 can be changed to the large-size lifter 107 to easily support the large-size sheet material S ′. It is.

A more detailed view is shown in FIG. Inside the paper feeding deck 300, a pickup roller 110 as a sheet material feeding unit with a lifting mechanism and a paper feeding roller pair located downstream thereof are installed.

The sheet feeding roller pair includes a sheet feeding roller 111 for conveying a sheet material, and a retard roller 112 driven and input via a torque limiter in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction. When a plurality of sheet materials are conveyed by 110, the excess sheet material is returned to the upstream side, and when only one sheet material is conveyed, the drive is cut off by the torque limiter and the feed roller 1 is turned off.
I am going to go with 11.

A large-size lifter 107 for stacking and supporting sheets is provided with a roller 107a that rolls on a rail 113a provided on a deck side plate 113 and a gear 11
5 and 116, and a connecting portion 107b for connecting the chain 117 passed between the lower limit sensor 119 and a flag 107c for disconnecting the lower limit sensor 119.

The sheet material is stacked on the large-size lifter 107 with the width direction regulated by the regulating plate 108.

The driving of the lifter motor 118 is controlled by the gear 11
5 is transmitted to the large-size lifter 107 via the chain 117, and the lifter motor 118 is controlled so that the sheet surface height is always constant at the sheet passing height.

When the cover 106 is closed, the large-size lifter 107 is moved up to the paper position. When the cover 106 is opened, the lower limit sensor 119 is turned on.
The lifter motor 118 is controlled so that the flag 107c of the large-size lifter 107 is lowered to a position where.

With the above configuration, it is possible to easily provide the sheet feeding deck 300 corresponding to the large-size sheet material S '.

[0017]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, the large-size sheet material S 'is used.
When replenishing the paper storage deck of the paper feed deck 300, the paper may be placed diagonally as shown in FIG.

In this arrangement, the width direction of the sheet material is regulated by a regulating plate 108 provided on the main body of the sheet feeding deck. When a large-size sheet material S 'is stacked, the large-size sheet material S' is placed on the cover 106 side. The sheet material S 'protrudes considerably, and the large-size sheet material S'
Can be restricted only in the width direction on the front end side in the paper feeding direction, and the width direction on the rear end side in the paper feeding direction of the large size sheet material S ′ is not restricted, so that a positional deviation is likely to occur.

The sheet material placed obliquely in this way is skewed and conveyed, so that it is easy to have a conveyance failure compared to the sheet material placed straight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to restrict the width direction of a sheet material and prevent a conveyance failure due to skew during feeding. To provide a sheet material supply apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

[0021]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet material supporting means for supporting a sheet material stacked thereon, and a feeding position for the sheet material loaded on the sheet material supporting means. Sheet material feeding means for feeding the sheet material to the external device in order from the uppermost sheet material, and feeding tip side width regulating means for regulating the width direction of the feeding tip side of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting means. And a cover that can be opened and closed to cover the sheet material loaded on the sheet material supporting means, wherein the sheet loaded on the sheet material supporting means when the cover is closed on the cover. It is characterized in that a feed rear end side width regulating means for regulating the width direction of the material rear end side is provided.

Accordingly, the width direction of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting means is restricted, and a conveyance failure due to skew during feeding is prevented.

It is preferable that the feeding rear end width regulating means is interlocked with the opening and closing operation of the cover, and separates from the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting means when the cover is opened.

Thus, the work such as replenishment of the sheet material when the cover is opened is not obstructed by the width regulation means on the rear end side of the feeding.

It is preferable that the feeding rear end side width regulating means regulates the sheet material near the inner feeding position of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting means.

Thus, the width direction of the sheet material is regulated near the feeding position.

The sheet material supporting means is provided so as to be able to move up and down, and when there is no sheet material at the feeding position when the cover is closed, the sheet material supporting means is raised to make the most of the stacked sheet materials. The upper part is located at the feeding position,
It is preferable that the sheet material is regulated by the rear-end width regulating means in the vicinity of the feeding position.

It is preferable that the feeding rear end side width regulating means is constituted by a pair of regulating plates facing each other across the sheet material in the width direction.

[0029] In the feeding rear end width regulating means constituted by the pair of regulating plates, it is preferable that at least one of the regulating plates is supported by an elastic body or an elastic body.

The feeding rear end width regulating means constituted by the pair of regulating plates has a tapered shape for gradually regulating the sheet material as at least one of the regulating plates approaches the upper feeding position from below. Is preferably provided.

A cover opening switch for opening the cover, and a switch for detecting the position of the uppermost part of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting means, which is provided below the feeding rear end side width regulating means. Upon receiving a cover opening switch signal from the top opening detecting means and the cover opening switch,
It is preferable that the apparatus further comprises cover opening means for lowering the sheet support means and opening the cover when the uppermost part of the stacked sheet materials is lower than the position of the uppermost position detecting means.

The present invention is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned sheet material supply device and image forming means for supplying a sheet material from the sheet material supply device and forming an image on the sheet material.

Therefore, the width direction of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting means is restricted, and a conveyance failure due to skew during feeding is prevented.

[0034]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, a side deck 300 which is a sheet material supply device according to the present invention is described.
Will be described. The sheet feeding deck 300 is provided in an image forming apparatus as an external device for forming an image on a sheet material and feeds the sheet material. In the case of the image forming apparatus, an image is formed on the sheet material by an image forming unit. Since this is a conventionally known technique for forming, the detailed description is omitted here.

The parts described in the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. The features of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1A shows a sheet feeding deck 300. Reference numeral 1 denotes a movable side regulating plate serving as a feeding rear end width regulating means which is the most characteristic configuration of the present invention. , Is elastically supported via a spring 3 as an elastic body, and is rotatably mounted around a rotating portion 1a.

The arm 2 includes a large-size cover 106.
The pivot arm 2 is rotatably mounted on the pivot portion 2a, and is connected to the groove 4b of the release arm 4 by the protrusion 2b.

The release arm 4 is rotatably mounted around the rotation portion 4a, and is connected to the large size cover 106 via the spring 5.

The fixed side regulating plate 6 serving as a trailing end side width regulating means is attached to the large size cover 106. The movable side regulating plate 1 and the fixed side regulating plate 6 support the width direction of the rear end side of the large-size sheet material S ′ in the sheet feeding direction, so that the front end side of the large-size sheet material S ′ in the sheet feeding direction. The large-size sheet material S ′ is prevented from being placed obliquely by the regulating plate 108 serving as a feeding-end-side width regulating unit that supports the width direction of the large-size sheet material S ′.

As shown in FIG. 1B, when the large size cover 106 is opened in the direction of arrow a, the spring 5 is contracted, and the movable side regulating plate 1 is moved in the direction of arrow b.
The fixed type side regulating plate 6 avoids the large size sheet material S ′ in the direction of arrow c. Thereby, the side regulating plates 1 and
The large-size cover 106 can be opened and closed without the 6 contacting the large-size sheet material S ′.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the large-size sheet material S 'has been stacked on the large-size lifter 107 up to the loading upper-limit position instruction 7, and the large-size cover 106 is shown.
Is closed, the large-size lifter 107 rises in the direction of arrow d, and stops when the paper surface detection sensor is turned on.

FIG. 3 shows details of the side restrictions 1 and 6 when the large size lifter 107 is raised in the direction of the arrow d until the paper surface detection sensor is turned on.

First, when the uppermost portion of the large-size sheet material S 'is lower than the side regulating plates 1 and 6, FIG.
As shown in (a), when the large-size sheet material S ′ rises in the direction of arrow d, the tapered portion 1b of the movable side regulating plate 1
Contact with.

When further raised, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the large-size sheet material S 'is raised while being pushed in the direction of arrow e by the movable side regulating plate 1, and as shown in FIG. 3 (c). The sheet material S 'stops in a state where the sheet material S' is pressed against the fixed type side regulating plate 6 by the spring 3.

When the large-size sheet material S 'is stacked on the large-size lifter 107 up to the loading upper-limit position instruction 7, the large-size sheet material S' is closed by closing the large-size cover 106. 1
3b, and as shown in FIG.
It is pushed in the direction and regulated.

Thereafter, the large-size sheet material S 'is raised in the direction of the arrow d by the lifting of the large-size lifter 107, and as shown in FIG.
Stops while being pressed against the fixed side regulating plate 6 by the spring 3.

With the above configuration, even if the large-size sheet material S 'is placed obliquely when replenishing the storage, the large-size sheet material S' is automatically closed after the large-size cover 106 is closed. It can be placed straight with the width direction restricted.

For this reason, at the time of sheet feeding and conveyance by the pickup roller 110, skew of the large-size sheet material S 'is prevented, and conveyance failure can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 4 to 8 show a second embodiment. The same components and operations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 4A shows a large-size cover 106.
Is open, and the large-size cover 1 is shown.
06, a back side of the side regulating plate 14 as a feeding rear end side width regulating means, and a feeding member which is elastically supported by a fixing member 12 via a spring 13 and is rotatably mounted around the rotating portion 11a. A front side regulation plate 11 as a rear end side width regulation unit, and a loading height detection sensor 15 as a top position detection unit for detecting the top position of the loaded large size sheet material S ′ are provided. I have.

However, the loading height detection sensor 15 is located below the lowermost position of the side regulating plates 11 and 14.

FIG. 4B shows a state in which the large size cover 106 is closed. The latch 16, the arm 17, the spring 18, the solenoid 19, and the cover opening switch attached to the large size cover 106 are shown. The door switch 20 forms a cover opening / closing unit as cover opening means.

As shown in FIG. 5, a spring is mounted on the rotating shaft 102, and when the latch 16 of the cover opening / closing portion is released, the large size cover 106 is automatically opened. .

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of this operation.
When the cover 106 is open, the large size lifter 107 is stopped. Also, the large-size sheet material S ′ is supplied onto the large-size lifter 107,
Door switch 2 with large size cover 106 closed
If 0 is not pressed, the large-size lifter 107 rises, and when the paper height detection sensor for detecting that the paper height of the large-size sheet material S 'has reached a predetermined position is turned on, the large size Lifter 107 stops.

During such an operation, when the door switch 20 is pressed, the large size lifter 107 is lowered while the loading height detection sensor 15 is ON, and when the loading height detection sensor 15 is OFF, the solenoid 19 is turned off. As a result, the latch 16 is released, and the large size cover 106 is opened.
Then, when the lower limit sensor is turned on, the large size lifter 107 stops.

FIG. 6 shows details of the side regulating plates 11 and 14 when the large size lifter 107 is raised. As in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the large-size sheet material S ′ rises in the direction of arrow d, it comes into contact with the tapered portion 11b of the front side 11 of the side regulating plate.

When the sheet is further raised, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), the large-size sheet S 'is raised while being pushed in the direction of arrow e by the front of the side regulating plate 11, and as shown in FIG. 7 (c). S 'is stopped in a state where S' is pressed against the inner side of the side regulating plate 14 by the spring 13.

When the large-size sheet material S 'is stacked on the large-size lifter 107 up to the maximum loading position indication 7, the large-size sheet material S' is closed by closing the large-size cover 106. 1
As shown in FIG. 7 (b), it comes into contact with the first tapered portion 11b and is restricted by being pushed in the direction of arrow e.

Thereafter, the large-size sheet material S 'is raised in the direction of arrow d by the lift of the large-size lifter 107, and as shown in FIG.
Is stopped by the spring 13 being pressed against the inner side of the side regulating plate 14.

With the above configuration, similarly to the first embodiment, even if the large-size sheet material S 'is placed obliquely when the large-size sheet material S' is supplied to the storage box, the large-size sheet material S 'is closed and closed. Automatically large size sheet material S '
Can be placed straight by regulating the position in the width direction.

For this reason, at the time of sheet feeding and conveyance, in which the sheet is fed by the pickup roller 110, skew of the large-size sheet material S 'is prevented, and defective conveyance can be prevented.

[0063]

As described above, the present invention automatically regulates the width direction position of the sheet material after closing the cover, even if the sheet material is placed obliquely when replenishing the storage. Then you can put it straight.

For this reason, at the time of feeding to the external device, skew of the sheet material is prevented, and defective conveyance can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a sheet feeding deck according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a sheet feeding deck according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a side regulating plate of the sheet feeding deck according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a sheet feeding deck according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a sheet feeding deck according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of lifting and lowering a lifter when a cover of a sheet feeding deck according to a second embodiment is opened and closed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a side regulating plate of a sheet feeding deck according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a paper feed deck and an image forming apparatus main body according to the related art.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding deck and an image forming apparatus main body according to the related art.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a lifter elevating operation at the time of opening and closing a cover of a sheet feeding deck according to the related art.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a paper feed deck according to the related art.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating oblique placement of a sheet material.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 movable side regulating plate 2 arm 3, 5, 13 spring 4 release arm 6 fixed side regulating plate 7 loading upper limit position indication 11 in front of side regulating plate 12 fixing member 14 side regulating plate depth 15 loading height detection sensor 16 latch 17 arm DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 Spring 19 Solenoid 20 Door switch 101 Cover 102 Rotating shaft 105 Lifter 106 Large size cover 107 Large size lifter 108 Regulator plate 110 Pickup roller 111 Paper feed roller 112 Retard roller 300 Paper feed deck 400 Image forming apparatus main body

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F343 FA02 FB01 FC01 FC12 GA01 GB01 GC01 GD01 HA12 HA33 HB04 HC28 HD07 HD16 HE03 HE12 HE20 HE27 JA01 JD03 JD09 KB03 KB08 KB20 LA04 LA15 LC03 LD04 LD25 MA04 MA18 MA32 MB04 MB09 MB18 MC17 MC20

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A sheet material supporting means for stacking and supporting sheet materials, and a sheet material feeding means for sequentially feeding the sheet materials loaded on the sheet material supporting means to an external device from a topmost sheet material at a feeding position. Means, a feeding tip side width regulating means for regulating the width direction on the feeding tip side of the sheet material loaded on the sheet material supporting means, and an openable / closable cover for covering the sheet material loaded on the sheet material supporting means. A sheet feeding device, comprising: a cover; and a cover, on the cover, when the cover is closed, the width of the sheet material loaded on the sheet material supporting means in the width direction of the sheet feeding end. A sheet material supply device provided with a width regulating means. 2. The sheet feeding end width regulating means interlocks with the opening and closing operation of the cover, and separates from the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting means when the cover is opened. Item 2. The sheet material supply device according to Item 1. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the feeding rear end width regulating device regulates a sheet material near an inner feeding position of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting device. The sheet material supply device described in the above. 4. The sheet material supporting means is provided so as to be able to move up and down, and when there is no sheet material at a feeding position when the cover is closed, the sheet material supporting means is raised and the stacked sheet materials are provided. 4. The sheet material supply device according to claim 3, wherein an uppermost portion of the sheet material is disposed at a sheet supply position, and the sheet material is regulated by the sheet rear end side width regulation means near the sheet supply position. 5. 5. The sheet material feeding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said feeding rear end side width regulating means is constituted by a pair of regulating plates facing each other across the sheet material in the width direction. . 6. The feeding rear end width regulating means composed of a pair of regulating plates, wherein at least one of the regulating plates is supported by an elastic body or an elastic body. Sheet material feeder. 7. A feeding rear end side width regulating means constituted by the pair of regulating plates regulates the sheet material gradually as at least one regulating plate approaches the upper feeding position from below. The sheet material supply device according to claim 5, wherein the sheet material supply device is provided in a tapered shape. 8. A cover opening switch for opening the cover, and a position of an uppermost portion of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material supporting means, the switch being provided below the feed rear end width regulating means. Receiving the cover opening switch signal from the cover opening switch, and lowering the sheet supporting means, so that the uppermost part of the stacked sheet material is lower than the position of the uppermost position detecting means. The sheet material supply device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, further comprising: cover opening means for opening the cover when the sheet material is supplied. 9. A sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit configured to supply the sheet from the sheet supply apparatus and form an image on the sheet. An image forming apparatus comprising: