JP2001341880A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder capable of properly conveying the paper to a front side paper storage part from a rear side paper storage part. SOLUTION: In this paper feeder comprising a first paper storage part 11 arranged at a front side in the paper conveying direction, a second paper storage part 12 arranged at a rear side in the paper conveying direction, a paper conveying means 13 pressed and kept into contact with the upper paper P stored in the second paper storage part 12 from an upper part to convey the paper to the first paper storage part 11, a floating separating means 14 blowing the air to an upper front surface of the paper stored in the first paper storage part 11 for floating the uppermost paper to separate the same from the lower paper, and a suction conveying means 15 for sucking and conveying the floated uppermost paper, a pressing member 25 is further mounted for pressing the paper P to be conveyed from the second paper storage part 12 to the first paper storage part 11, from the upper part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an air suction type paper feeder provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-286596, an air stream is blown to a front end portion of stacked paper sheets to float and separate the upper layer paper, and the uppermost layer paper is separated by vacuum suction means. In the air suction type paper feeding device configured to suction and transport the paper, a vertically movable movable pressing member is arranged between the feeding stretch belt and the uppermost sheet on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the pressing member There is known a paper feeder in which between an uppermost sheet and a sheet below the uppermost sheet, an airflow blown from the front is blocked, and the air is expanded to reliably separate the two sheets. .

Further, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-100190, for example, a paper feeder having at least a first and a second storage section for supplying paper to an image forming section of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. In the apparatus, a first paper supply path and paper supply means for supplying paper in the first storage section provided on the front side in the paper supply direction to the image forming section are provided, and the paper supply section is provided on the rear side in the paper supply direction. A second paper feeding unit that feeds the paper in the second storage unit provided to the paper feeding unit in the first storage unit;
A paper feed path is provided, and the paper in the second storage section is fed to the image forming apparatus forming section via the first paper feed path by the paper feeding means in the first storage section.

[0004]

The above-mentioned former (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 286596/286, an air stream is blown onto the stacked sheets placed on the sheet placing table by a blowing means to float the upper layer sheet, and the uppermost sheet is reliably separated by a pressing member. A plurality of sheet storage units are arranged in the sheet feeding direction as in the latter case (JP-A-6-100190), and sheets in the first storage unit positioned on the front side are empty. When the configuration is such that the paper in the storage section located on the rear side is moved to the front side at the time of, the following problem arises.

For example, in the sheet feeding device 200 shown in FIG. 7, after the sheets in the first sheet storage section 202 are emptied, the sheets P in the second sheet storage section 204 are placed one by one in the first sheet storage section 20.
2 and the floating separation means 2 of the paper feeding device 200
From 06, a stream of air is blown toward the leading edge of the paper being transported. The air flow is blown between the transported sheet P and the sheet placement plate 208 of the first sheet storage unit 202, so that the front end of the sheet P in the traveling direction is located above the sheet feeding device 200. The sheet is levitated toward 210, is sucked by the suction conveyance unit 210, and is carried into a sheet feeding path 212 toward an image forming unit (not shown).

Here, the paper P is transferred from the second paper storage unit 204 to the first paper storage unit 202, and is transferred to the suction transport unit 21.
0, the sheet conveying means 214, 2
The sheet is transferred by 16 transport rollers 216 and 218 and is pressed against the lower sheet mounting plate 208 or the lower sheet. However, portions other than the transport rollers 216 and 218 were in a state of floating due to the airflow from the levitation / separation means 206. For this reason, the sheet P is inclined with respect to the traveling direction, or is transported in a state where both sides in the traveling direction are turned up and folded, and the suction transport unit 210 and the sheet feeding path 2
12 caused a paper jam (problem 1).

For example, in the paper feeding device 200 shown in FIG. 7, when the paper P stacked in the first paper storage portion 202 is levitated and separated by the air flow from the levitating / separating means 206, the rear end of the upper layer paper in the transport direction. Since there is no trailing edge pressing plate on the side, the portion other than the transport roller 216 is still in a floating state due to the airflow, and a paper jam occurs due to skew of the paper or broken edges. Alternatively, when the uppermost sheet floats and separates, a part of the front end of the second stacked sheet from the top is exposed at the uppermost portion, and the suction conveyance unit 2 is simultaneously exposed with the uppermost sheet.
A double feed caused by suction at 10 occurred (problem 2).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is directed to a paper feeder using an air paper feed system having a plurality of paper storage sections in a paper feed direction. Provided is a paper feeding device capable of effectively preventing skew, breakage, or paper jam due to the skew of a sheet even when the sheet is transported and fed from a storage section to a downstream paper storage section. The purpose is.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding apparatus using an air sheet feeding method having a plurality of sheet storage sections in a sheet feeding direction, wherein sheets stacked in a downstream sheet storage section are fed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device capable of effectively preventing skewing or folding of a sheet, or paper jam or double feed caused by the skew or folding.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeder using an air paper feed system having a plurality of paper storage sections in the paper feed direction and capable of preventing the above problem at low cost. I have.

[0011]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A first paper storage unit arranged on the front side in the paper conveyance direction;
A second paper storage unit arranged on the rear side in the paper conveyance direction;
Sheet transfer means for pressing the upper layer sheet stored in the second sheet storage section from above to transfer the sheet to the first sheet storage section, and an upper front surface of the sheet stored in the first sheet storage section And a suction / conveying means for sucking and conveying the levitated uppermost sheet by blowing air onto the uppermost layer to levitate and separate the uppermost sheet from the lower sheet. It is characterized in that a pressing member is provided for pressing a sheet transferred from the second sheet storage section into the first sheet storage section from above.

According to the above configuration, since the presser member for pressing from above is separately provided, it is possible to prevent the sheet to be transported from being levitated by the airflow from the levitation / separation means so that the sheet is not inclined.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first aspect, a load applied to the sheet by the pressing member when the sheet is transferred is caused by a movement of the sheet in a direction opposite to the transfer direction. It is characterized by being smaller than the load to be applied.

According to the above construction, the upper layer paper of the first paper container or the paper conveyed to this container is prevented from moving backward by the wind pressure of the air from the flotation / separation means. Feeding from this storage section can be performed smoothly with a low load.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to any one of the first to second aspects, the pressing member is arranged such that the second one is located above a portion other than on the transport direction line where the paper transport means is in pressure contact with the paper. It is characterized by being arranged linearly or in a band shape from the paper storage section to the first paper storage section.

According to the above construction, since the pressing member presses the paper width direction other than the pressing by the paper transfer means, the pressing effect is increased, and the paper does not flutter and become skewed. In addition, since the pressing member is arranged in a linear or band shape from the second sheet storage section to the first sheet storage section, the transfer of the sheet can be performed smoothly. In addition, even when the paper stacked in the first paper storage unit is fed, the uppermost paper can be effectively pressed, the flutter of the paper is suppressed, and skewing and double feeding do not occur.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder of the third aspect, the paper transport means is disposed substantially at the center of the paper width, and the pressing members are disposed at both ends of the paper width. Features.

According to the above construction, since the pressing members are arranged at both ends of the sheet, both sides in the sheet traveling direction are not turned up, and the sheet side is effectively prevented from being bent.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder of the first to fourth aspects, the pressing member is a brush-like member.

According to the above configuration, since a pressing member having an extremely large number of pressing points, such as a brush, is used, it is possible to effectively prevent even a small broken ear. In addition, the cost is reduced by using an inexpensive member such as a brush.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder of the fifth aspect, the brush-like member is characterized in that a tip of a bristle is inclined in a paper transport direction.

According to the above configuration, since the direction of the brush tip is the paper transfer direction, the paper transfer is smoother.
The front edge of the paper does not break between the brush hairs.

[0023]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet feeding device 1 according to the present invention. This image forming apparatus includes a paper transport unit 4 having a registration roller 2 and a feed roller 3, an image forming unit 9 having a photosensitive drum 5, a developing unit 6, a transfer belt 7, a cleaning device 8, and the like; And a fixing unit 10 having A paper feeding device 1 is disposed below the image forming unit 9 and the like. The paper P fed from the paper feeding device 1 is supplied to the image forming unit 9 via the paper conveying unit 4. It has become so.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feeder 1 has a first paper storage section 11 arranged on the front side (downstream side) in the paper transport direction and a rear side (upstream side) in the paper transport direction. A second paper storage unit 12 provided, paper transfer means 13 for transferring the upper layer paper P stored in the second paper storage unit 12 to the first paper storage unit 11, and the first paper storage unit A flotation / separation unit 14 for blowing air to the upper front surface of the paper P accommodated in the unit 11 to levitate and separate the uppermost paper P from the lower paper P, and sucks the levitated uppermost paper P. And a suction conveyance unit 15 that conveys the paper to the paper conveyance unit 4.

The first and second sheet storage units 11 and 12 are
A mounting plate 17 on which paper P of a predetermined size is mounted,
18, a pair of front and rear press plates 19 to 22 for restricting the longitudinal movement of the paper P placed on the placing plates 17 and 18, and a pair of right and left press plates for regulating the lateral movement of the paper P (FIG. (Not shown). The placement plates 17 and 18 are moved up and down by elevation driving means (not shown) so that the uppermost surface of the paper P placed on the placement plates 17 and 18 is moved to the transport position of the suction transport means 15. The paper P is moved up to the transfer position of the paper transfer means 13 as the paper P is consumed.

When all of the sheets P placed on the placing plate 17 of the first sheet accommodating section 11 have been consumed, the placing plate 17 is moved to the uppermost position as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. By ascending to the upper guide position, it functions as a guide plate for the sheet P conveyed from the rear second storage section 12. When all the sheets P stored in both the first and second sheet storage units 11 and 12 have been consumed, the placing plates 17 and 18 are moved down to the lowest sheet supply position. It is configured.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rear presser plate 20 disposed behind the first sheet storage section 11 has an upper end slightly above the upper mounting plate 17 raised to the uppermost guide position. The dimension in the height direction is set so as to be located below (about 15 mm below the upper surface of the mounting plate 17), thereby securing a transfer path for the sheet P transferred from the second sheet storage unit 12 at the rear. It is supposed to be. Further, a front holding plate 19 provided in front of the first paper storage unit 11 and a front holding plate 21 provided in front of the second paper storage unit 12.
Is configured such that its installation height is set to be substantially the same as that of the rear pressing plate 20 of the first paper storage unit 11 so as to secure a transfer path for the paper P.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper transport means 13 is provided above a first transport roller 23 disposed above the first paper storage section 11 and above the second paper storage section 12. It has a second transport roller 24 and a brush 25 as a pressing member for the paper P, which is disposed linearly and continuously from the first paper storage unit 11 to the second paper storage unit 12. Details of the brush 25 will be described later. The first and second transport rollers 23 and 24 are rotatably supported at the tip of a bracket 26, respectively, and the bracket 26 is swingable about a rotation shaft 27 provided on a support frame 28 as a fulcrum. It is pivoted.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view (a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB) of the upper portion of the first paper storage unit 11 in FIG. 2, and is a view of the cross section viewed from the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. The paper transport means 13 is a
At the approximate center in the width direction. The rotating shaft 27 provided on the support frame 28 (not shown) is driven to rotate from the right side of FIG. 2 (the rear side in FIG. 2) by an unillustrated driving means such as an electric motor or the like. The force is transmitted to the first transport roller 23 by a gear mechanism and a clutch mechanism (not shown), and the first transport roller 23 is rotated. That is, a power transmission means 66 composed of a transmission belt and a pulley is arranged between the two brackets 23 supported by the rotating shaft 27,
The two first transport rollers 23 rotatably supported on the outside of each of the brackets 23 are configured to be driven and rotated in the direction in which the paper P is transported. The first transport roller 23 is rotated in accordance with the driving force transmitted from the rotation shaft 27 in a state in which the first transport roller 23 is in contact with the uppermost sheet P by its own weight, thereby transferring the uppermost sheet P. It is configured to transfer in the direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. This configuration corresponds to the second paper
The same applies to the transport roller 24, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The support frame 28 of the paper transport means 13
In addition, the first and second sensors each include a photo sensor that detects the upper limit position of the sheet P stored in the first and second sheet storage units 11 and 12 by detecting the swing displacement of the bracket 26. By detecting the upper limit detection switches 29 and 30 and the reflected light of the light irradiated toward the upper surface of the paper P, it is detected whether or not the paper P exists on the mounting plates 17 and 18 respectively. First and second empty sensors 31, 32 composed of a photo sensor or the like are provided (FIG. 2).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the suction conveyance means 15 of the paper feeding device 1 includes four driving rollers 41 and a driven roller 41 which are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals in the paper feeding direction. And a suction duct 43 disposed between the driving roller 41 and the driven roller 42.
1 and a transport belt 44 wound around the driven roller 42. Then, the drive shaft 54 connected so as to rotate integrally with the drive roller 41 is rotationally driven by an unillustrated drive means such as an electric motor, so that the transport belt 44 moves in the transport direction (feeding direction) of the sheet. (Paper direction).

The suction duct 43 has upper and lower walls 45 and 46 disposed vertically, a front wall 47 and a rear wall 48 disposed before and after in the paper feeding direction, and left and right in the paper feeding direction. It is formed in a box shape having a pair of side walls 49 and 50 provided. On the lower wall 46, four suction ports 51 are formed at positions corresponding to the installation portion of the transport belt 44. A vacuum pump 52 is connected to the side wall 50 via a connection tube 53.

The transport belt 44 is 0.5 to 1.5 m
It has a thickness of about m and is made of synthetic rubber material having a large number of through holes 55 formed therein. Then, the vacuum pump 52 sucks the air in the suction duct 43 to generate a negative pressure for sucking the sheet on the bottom surface of the transport belt 44.

As shown in FIG. 5, the flotation / separation means 14 of the sheet feeding device 1 includes a blow duct 55 extending in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, and a connecting duct 56 at a base end of the blow duct 55. And a blower 57 connected thereto. The air duct 55 includes an upper wall 58 and a bottom wall 59.
And a pair of front and rear side walls 60, 61, and a closing plate 62 for closing the front end.

A plurality of floating nozzles 63 are provided on the side wall 60, 61 at a position facing the installation portion of the first paper storage unit 11, that is, on the side wall 61 provided on the rear side in the paper feeding direction. 55 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. The floating nozzle 63 has an opening having a predetermined length extending in the up-down direction of the side wall 61, and blows air from the opening to the upper front surface of the paper housed in the first paper housing unit 11, The uppermost sheet is configured to float.

A plurality of separation nozzles 65 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the air duct 55 at a connection (corner) 64 between the side wall 61 and the upper wall 58 of the air duct 55. ing. The separation nozzle 65 is formed of an opening having a predetermined length extending in the longitudinal direction of the air duct 55, and blows air toward the lower surface of the suction conveyance unit 15 as shown in FIG. It is configured to separate the sheet adsorbed on the sheet 15 from other sheets.

As shown in FIG. 3, the brush 25 of the paper transport means 13 is attached to the mounting plate 70 near both sides in the width direction of the paper P.
Is laid through. The brush 25 includes a base 71
The base material 71 is adhered to the mounting plate 70 with a double-sided tape or the like. The bristle part 72 on the free end side of the nylon thread
In the first and second sheet storage units 1, one or a plurality of rows of hairs are arranged in a line or a band in the transport direction of the sheet P.
The upper surface of the uppermost sheet 1 or 12 or the upper surface of the sheet P transferred from the second sheet storage unit 12 to the mounting plate 17 of the first sheet storage unit is set to be lightly contacted.

For example, the first and second transport rollers 23, which are provided substantially at the center of the sheet P in the width direction and press the sheet P,
24, the total pressing force of the brush pressing both sides in the sheet width direction on the paper P is 1/5.
Or less, preferably 1/10 or less. If the pressing force of the brush is larger than 1/5, the load of the transfer of the paper P by the first and second transport rollers 23 and 24 is imposed, and the stop position of the paper P on the mounting plate 17 is shifted, so that the double feed or skew is performed. In particular, in the case of thin paper, both ends in the paper width direction are wrinkled without being able to withstand the pressing force of the brush. When the pressing force of the brush is small, it is only necessary that the tip of the bristle part is sufficiently close to the paper P (for example, within 1 mm), and the fluttering of the paper can be suppressed. Does not occur.

For the bristle portion 72 of the brush 25, besides nylon, various fibers such as organic synthetic fibers such as polyester, natural fibers such as wool and hemp, and inorganic fibers such as glass wool can be used. Can also be freely selected.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3 as viewed from the left side of the drawing. 6, the length direction of the brush 25 is shown in the left-right direction on the paper surface. In the paper feeding device of the present embodiment, the brush 25 is continuously laid in a linear or band shape from the second paper storage unit 11 to the first paper storage unit 12. The length a of the brush 25 laid on the paper P in the second paper storage unit 11 may be several mm or more.
May be exceeded in the transport direction. When the length a is short and the front end of the paper P in the second paper storage unit 12 is not hung, a curl or the like at the front end of the paper cannot be suppressed and ear breakage or the like easily occurs. Also, the first paper storage unit 1
The length b of the brush 25 laid on one mounting plate 17 is
In order to press the sheet P in cooperation with the brush 25 on the second sheet accommodating portion 12, it is sufficient if the length is more than several mm. However, if the length b exceeds the length bmax to the driven roller 42 of the suction conveyance unit 15, When the sheet P is levitated to the suction / conveying means 15 by the levitating / separating means 14, the brush 25 hinders the levitating of the sheet P, and it is easy for the paper P to be fed.

The bristle portion 72 of the brush 25 has a leading end inclined in the paper transport direction. This inclination causes the front end of the paper, particularly the curled leading end, to enter the inside of the bristle portion 72 at the time of transport, causing breakage of the ears. Preventing it from happening. Further, since the leading end of the bristle portion 72 is inclined in the sheet transfer direction, when the sheet is transferred from the second sheet storage portion 12 to the first sheet storage portion 11, or when the stacked sheets of the first sheet storage portion 11 are stacked. When the paper is fed one by one toward the image forming unit by the paper transport unit 13, a light load is applied in the traveling direction of the paper, and the paper P moves backward by the wind pressure of the air from the flotation / separation unit 14. When trying, it is against the inclination of the bristle part 72, and a heavy load is given. As a result, the backward movement of the sheet can be prevented, and the transfer or the sheet feeding can be performed smoothly.

As shown in the above embodiment, after the paper P is transferred from the second paper storage section 12 to the first paper storage section 11,
When the paper P is fed toward the image forming unit by the suction conveyance unit 15, the brush 25 that presses from above is provided separately, so that even if the transported paper floats by the airflow from the floating separation unit, The paper P does not become skewed.

Also, since the tip end of the bristle portion 72 of the brush 25 is configured to be inclined in the paper transport direction, the upper layer paper of the first paper storage portion or this storage portion is generated by the wind pressure of the air from the floating separation means. The paper conveyed to the printer does not move backward to cause a double feed or the like, and the transfer and the paper feeding from the storage section can be smoothly performed with a low load.

Further, since the brush 25 presses other than on the transfer direction line where the first and second transport rollers 23 and 24 are in press contact, the paper is supported at a plurality of points on different lines. Even if the sheet fluctuates due to the air flow of the flotation / separation means, the sheet P does not skew or bend. Further, the second paper storage unit 12 to the first paper storage unit 11
, The paper is smoothly transferred along the brush. In addition, since the pressing of the brush also works on the first paper storage unit 11,
Also in the floating separation of the loaded paper from the storage section, it is possible to prevent the paper from fluttering and prevent skew or double feeding.

Further, since the first and second transport rollers 23 and 24 are located substantially at the center in the sheet width direction and the brushes 25 are arranged on both sides, the side break due to the fluttering of the sheet is effectively prevented. You.

Further, since a member having an extremely large number of pressing points, such as a brush, is used, even small ear breaks can be effectively prevented, and the cost is further reduced.

Further, since the direction of the tip of the brush is inclined in the paper transfer direction, the transfer of the paper is smoother, and the front end of the paper does not break between the brush hairs.

In the above embodiment, the brush is used as the pressing member, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sponges may be laid in a planar shape (Modification 1), or may be hung in a ribbon shape and arranged in a band (Modification 2). Alternatively, a long cross section of a resin film such as PET is pressed toward paper (Modification 3),
A plurality of strip films may be arranged in a slanted manner in the paper transport direction so as to be stacked one on another (Modification 4). Modifications 2 and 3 belong to claim 3 of the present application, and modification 4 belongs to claim 2. However, not limited to these modifications, various applications are possible within the scope of all claims of the present application.

[0049]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the pressing member for pressing from above is separately provided, the transfer member is transferred from the second sheet storage portion to the first sheet storage portion. There is no possibility that the sheet is levitated by the airflow from the flotation / separation means and becomes skewed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the load applied to the sheet by the pressing member when the sheet is transferred is made smaller than the load applied to the sheet movement in the direction opposite to the transfer direction. Therefore, the paper in the upper layer of the first paper storage unit or the paper transferred to this storage unit does not move backward due to the wind pressure of the air from the flotation / separation means to cause double feed or the like. The transfer and the paper feeding from the storage section can be performed smoothly with a low load.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the pressing member presses the paper width direction portion other than the pressing by the paper transporting means, the pressing effect is increased, and the paper can be removed. There is no slant. In addition, since the pressing member is arranged in a linear or band shape from the second sheet storage section to the first sheet storage section, the transfer of the sheet can be performed smoothly. In addition, even when the paper stacked in the first paper storage unit is fed, the paper can be prevented from fluttering and skew or double feeding can be prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the paper transport means is disposed substantially at the center of the paper width and the pressing members are disposed at both ends of the paper width, both sides in the paper traveling direction are provided. The paper is not turned up and the paper side is effectively prevented from being bent.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the pressing member uses a pressing member having an extremely large number of pressing points, such as a brush, it is possible to effectively prevent even small ear breakage. In addition, the cost is reduced by using an inexpensive member such as a brush.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the brush-like member has a bristle tip inclined in the paper transport direction, the paper transport is smoother, and between the brush hairs. The front edge of the paper does not break in.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a specific configuration of a sheet feeding device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a specific configuration of a sheet transfer unit and a pressing member. (B-B sectional view of FIG. 2)

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a specific configuration of a suction conveyance unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration of the levitation separating means.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific arrangement of a holding member.
(C-C sectional view of FIG. 3)

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional example of a sheet feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feeder 11 1st paper accommodating part 12 1st paper accommodating part 13 Paper transfer means 14 Levitation | separation means 15 Suction conveyance means 25 Brush (pressing member)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Fuchi 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Kyocera Mita Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Kashiwagi 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka Kyocera Mita Stock Company Internal F-term (reference) 3F343 FA02 FB02 FC15 GA01 GB01 GC01 GD01 HC22 JB05 JD28 KA04 KA11 KA13 KA20

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first array arranged on the front side in the paper transport direction.
A paper storage unit and a second paper storage unit arranged rearward in the paper conveyance direction.
A sheet storage unit, sheet transfer means for pressing the upper layer sheet stored in the second sheet storage unit from above to transfer the sheet onto the first sheet storage unit, and a sheet storage unit stored in the first sheet storage unit Flotation separation means for blowing air on the upper front surface of the paper and floating the uppermost paper to separate it from the lower paper,
In a paper feeder provided with suction conveyance means for sucking and conveying the levitated top layer paper, a pressing member for pressing the paper transferred from the second paper storage section into the first paper storage section from above is provided. A paper feeding device comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a load applied to the sheet by the pressing member when the sheet is transferred is smaller than a load applied to the movement of the sheet in a direction opposite to the transfer direction. Paper feeder. 3. The pressing member is formed in a linear or band-like manner from the second paper storage section to the first paper storage section above a portion other than on the transport direction line where the paper transport means is in pressure contact with the paper. 3. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding device is arranged. 4. The paper feeding device according to claim 3, wherein said paper transport means is disposed substantially at the center of the paper width, and said pressing members are disposed at both ends of the paper width. 5. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member is a brush-like member. 6. The paper feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the brush-like member has a bristle tip inclined in a paper transport direction.