JP2002104669A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder capable of reducing a space without generating a paper feed failure. SOLUTION: The paper feeder 1 has a first paper accommodation part 6 loaded with paper sheets P, a separation/feed means 4 having a swingable paper feed roller 14 and for separating/feeding the paper sheets P from the first paper accommodation part 6; a second paper accommodation part 7 loaded with the paper sheets P and horizontally provided in parallel to the first paper accommodation part 6; a paper transferring means 9 for collectively transferring the paper sheets P loaded on the second paper accommodation part 7 to the first paper accommodation part 6; and a paper feed roller rocking means 20 for rocking the paper feed roller 14 from a first position at which the paper feed roller 14 is abutted to the paper sheets P at the uppermost position to a second position at which it is left from the paper sheets P at the uppermost position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeder having a first paper storage unit, a second paper storage unit, and a paper transfer means for transferring the sheets in the second paper storage unit to the first paper storage unit at a time. It relates to a paper device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A first plate having a bottom plate tray for loading sheets of paper is provided.
A sheet accommodating section, a separating / feeding means for separating / supplying the sheet from the first sheet accommodating section, a second sheet accommodating section loaded with sheets and arranged horizontally in parallel with the first sheet accommodating section; For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H05-205702 discloses a paper feeder having a sheet transporting unit that transports the sheets stacked in a sheet storage unit to a first sheet storage unit at a time.
The one disclosed in JP-A-124737 is known. In this paper feeder, the second paper storage unit can be pulled out and paper can be supplied during the paper feed operation, and a large amount of images can be formed without interrupting the paper feed operation. Separation feeding means for separating and feeding sheets one by one is provided in the vicinity of the first sheet storage section of the sheet feeding device, and the separation feeding means is provided with the sheet stacked on the first sheet storage section. A swingable paper feed roller that contacts the top sheet is included.

[0003]

When the sheets in the first sheet storage section are used up, the bottom plate tray in the first sheet storage section is lowered to the lowermost position, and then the second sheet storage section is moved by the sheet transfer means. The sheet is transported onto the bottom tray in the first sheet storage section. At this time, the sheet feeding roller occupies a position where it can contact the sheet as shown in FIG. When the bottom plate tray is raised to the position indicated by the dashed line, the sheet feeding roller is swung to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, and comes into contact with the uppermost sheet with a predetermined pressing force. Therefore, when the paper is transported from the second paper storage unit to the first paper storage unit, if the downstream end of the transported paper in the transport direction comes into contact with a paper feed roller located below, a problem occurs. It is necessary to take a sufficient distance x between the paper roller and the paper, and the amount of rise y in which the first paper storage unit rises from the lowermost position to the paper supply position increases, thereby increasing the space of the entire apparatus. There is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a sheet feeding device capable of reducing a space without causing a sheet feeding defect.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A first paper storage unit for loading paper, a separation feeding unit for separating and feeding paper from the first paper storage unit, and a first paper storage unit for loading paper;
A paper feeder having a second paper storage unit horizontally arranged in parallel with a paper storage unit, and a paper transfer unit that collectively transfers the paper stacked in the second paper storage unit to the first paper storage unit. , Wherein the separating and feeding means has a swingable paper feed roller in contact with the uppermost sheet stacked on the first sheet storage portion, and the sheet feed roller makes contact with the uppermost sheet. The paper feed roller swing means swings between a position 1 and a second position separated from the uppermost sheet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sheet feeding apparatus according to the first aspect, when the sheet feeding roller occupies the second position, the interval between the sheet and the uppermost sheet is the maximum warpage of the sheet. It is characterized by being located above the height.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first or second aspect, the paper feed roller moving means further comprises a paper transport means for transporting the paper loaded in the second paper storage unit. When the paper is transported, the paper feed roller is swung to a second position when the downstream end of the paper being transported in the transport direction passes through the paper feed roller.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first, second, or third aspect, a load amount detection unit further detects a load height of the sheets transferred by the sheet transfer unit. Means for operating the paper feed roller swing means when the stacking height of the sheets is equal to or higher than a predetermined height.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the fourth aspect, the load amount detecting means is further provided in the second sheet storage portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the fourth aspect, the load amount detecting means is further provided in the first sheet storage portion.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a sheet feeder employing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a paper feeder 1 is disposed below an image forming apparatus 2 which is a stencil printing machine or an electrophotographic copying machine. , A paper transport roller pair 5 and the like are provided.

The paper feed tray 3 is supported by the housing 1a so as to be able to be pulled out in the front direction of FIG. 1, and a first paper storage section 6 and a second paper storage section 7 are provided on the upper part thereof. I have. The first sheet storage section 6 and the second sheet storage section 7 are both spaces in which sheets P of the same size can be stacked. The first sheet storage section 6 has a bottom plate tray 8, and the second sheet storage section 7 has a sheet tray. End fences 9 as transfer means are provided respectively. The bottom plate tray 8 is supported by the paper feed tray 3 so as to be movable up and down, and is moved up and down by the operation of a lifting unit (not shown). The end fence 9 is provided on the paper feed tray 3 so as to be movable in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, and is moved rightward from the position shown in FIG.

Each of the sheet storage units 6, 7
And a pair of side fences 10 at positions corresponding to
11 (only one of the back side is shown) is provided. Each of the side fences 10 and 11 is configured to be adjustable in position, and the side fence 10 is provided at a position where the vertical movement of the bottom plate tray 8 is not hindered.

On one side fence 10, there is provided a reflection type detecting device that detects when the uppermost sheet of the sheets P stacked in the first sheet storage unit 6 reaches a predetermined position by the elevation of the bottom plate tray 8. A paper position detection sensor 26 is provided. The position of the paper position detection sensor 26 is such that the paper P is fully loaded in the second paper storage unit 7 and the fully loaded paper P
Is transferred to the first sheet storage unit 6 by the end fence 9, the uppermost sheet P in the first sheet storage unit 6 can be detected, and the sheet P is not fully loaded in the second sheet storage unit 7. The uppermost sheet P is transferred to the first sheet storage unit 6
Is set at a position where it cannot be detected.

The other side fence 11 is provided with sensors 12a and 12b as stacking amount detecting means for detecting the height of the sheets stacked in the second sheet storing portion 7, and the second sheet fence 11 is provided with sensors 12a and 12b. A presence / absence detection sensor 13 that detects whether or not there is a sheet in the second sheet storage unit 7 is provided below the storage unit 7. The sensor 12a detects when the paper P is fully loaded in the second paper storage unit 7 and issues a signal, and the sensor 12b has the paper P loaded above the predetermined height H0 of the second paper storage unit 7. Sometimes it detects this and emits a signal. The predetermined height H0 will be described later. The presence / absence detection sensor 13, which is a reflection type sensor, detects a sheet P remaining in the second sheet accommodating section 7 from the difference in reflectance and outputs a signal.

A separating / feeding unit 4 is disposed at the upper right side of the first paper storage unit 6 and near the downstream end of the paper P stacked in the first paper storage unit 6 in the transport direction. The separating and feeding means 4 has a sheet feeding roller 14, a feed roller 15, a separating roller 16, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the feed roller 14 and the feed roller 15 are
One end of 15a is rotatably supported by the link 17, and the other end is rotatably supported by a member (not shown). A bracket (not shown) fixed to the housing 1a is mounted via a bearing (not shown) in the middle of the support shaft 15a, and the paper feed roller 14 is configured to be swingable about the support shaft 15a. I have. A drive gear and a toothed pulley (not shown) are attached to the other end of the support shaft 15a, and the feed roller 15 is driven to rotate by a driving force from a drive motor (not shown) having a pinion that meshes with the drive gear (not shown). . A toothed pulley (not shown) is also attached to the support shaft 14a, and a toothed belt (not shown) is stretched between the pulley and the pulley on the support shaft 15a. The driving force is transmitted, and the rotation is driven in the same direction in synchronization with the feed roller 15. The separation roller 16 having a high frictional resistance member such as rubber on the surface is rotatably supported by the housing 1a via a torque limiter (not shown), and is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 only when paper is multi-fed. To prevent double feeding of paper.

A projection 17a is integrally formed on the upper end of the link 17, and the presence / absence detection sensor 18 and the other end of a tension spring 19 having one end fixed to the housing 1a are attached to the lower end. The presence / absence detection sensor 18, which is a reflective sensor similar to the presence / absence detection sensor 13, detects when the sheet P is not present on the bottom plate tray 8 and outputs a signal.

In the vicinity of the link 17, a paper feed roller swinging means 20 is provided. Paper feed roller swing means 20
Has a solenoid 21, an L-shaped plate 22, and the like. The pull type solenoid 21 is attached to the housing 1a,
One end of an L-shaped plate 22 is rotatably attached to the plunger 21a. The bent portion of the L-shaped plate 22 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 23 a implanted in a bracket 23 attached to the housing 1 a, and the other end of the L-shaped plate 22 is biased by a tension spring 19 in FIG. It is engaged with the projection 17a to which downward turning power is applied.

When the solenoid 21 is not operated, the feed roller 14 occupies the lower limit position shown by the solid line in FIG.
At the time of the operation 1, the protrusion 17a is pushed upward in FIG. 2 by the L-shaped plate 22, so that the paper feed roller 14 occupies the second position which is the upper limit position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. When the feed roller 14 occupies the lower limit position, the protrusion 17
a functions as a stopper for restricting the downward swing of the link 17.

The paper transport roller pair 5 includes a drive roller 5
a and a driven roller 5b. Drive roller 5
a and the driven roller 5b are both rotatably supported by the housing 1a, and a rotational driving force from a driving unit (not shown) is transmitted to the driving roller 5a, and the driven roller 5b is driven by an urging unit (not shown). Is pressed against. A guide plate 24 for guiding the paper P when the paper P fed from the separation feeding unit 4 is fed into the image forming apparatus 2 via the paper transport roller pair 5 is provided near the paper transport roller pair 5. , 25 are provided. Each of the guide plates 24 and 25 is fixed to the housing 1a.

Here, the position of the paper feed roller 14 and the paper P
The relationship with the loading height will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the second position of the paper feed roller 14 is such that the paper P fully loaded in the second paper storage unit 7 is transferred into the first paper storage unit 6 and the bottom plate tray 8 is moved to the lowest position. When the paper P is placed at the lower limit position, the maximum warpage height S of the paper P is added to the full loading height H1 of the paper P.
The paper feed roller 14 is set so as to be located at a position equal to or more than the height (constant value W is equal to or greater than 0) (constant for each apparatus). In FIG. 4, the paper P is being transferred from the second paper storage unit 7 to the first paper storage unit 6.
Further, the tension spring 19 moves the sheet P from the state shown in FIG.
The first position, which is the contact position at which the sheet feeding roller 14 contacts the uppermost sheet P as shown in a two-dot chain line in FIG. When occupied, the spring constant is determined so that the paper feed roller 14 comes into contact with the uppermost paper P with a predetermined pressure contact force required to feed the paper P. When the sheet P fully loaded in the second sheet storage section 7 is transferred into the first sheet storage section 6, the topmost sheet of the transferred sheet P is detected by the sheet position detection sensor 26.

Next, the lower limit position of the paper feed roller 14 is transferred to the first paper storage unit 6 in a state where the paper P is not fully loaded in the second paper storage unit 7, and the bottom plate tray 8 is moved by a lifting means (not shown). When the paper feed roller 14 is raised and moved from the lower limit position shown by the two-dot chain line to the first position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, the tension spring 19 is used to generate the same predetermined pressing force as described above. It is set to the extension position. At this time, the position where the lifting of the bottom plate tray 8 stops is set to the position where the uppermost sheet P on the bottom plate tray 8 is detected by the sheet position detection sensor 26, and accordingly, the first position of the sheet feeding roller 14 is set. The position of the uppermost sheet P for determining the position is always kept at a fixed position.

When the paper P is transported into the first paper storage unit 6 in a state where the paper P is not fully loaded in the second paper storage unit 7, the paper P to be transported and the lower limit position are indicated by solid lines in FIG. When the paper feed roller 14 occupies no interference,
As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, there is a case where the sheet P to be transported interferes with the sheet feeding roller 14 occupying the lower limit position. The sensor 12b described above is provided to distinguish between these two cases, and has the predetermined height H described above.
0, as shown in FIG. 8, from the height H2 from the upper surface of the bottom plate tray 8 placed at the lowermost position to the paper feed roller occupying the lowermost position, the maximum warpage height S of the paper P and the margin value W ( 1
(About 10 mm).

The operation of the paper feeder 1 based on the above configuration will be described below. When the sheet feeding device 1 receives a sheet feeding command from a control unit (not shown), the sheet feeding roller 14 and the feed roller 15 are actuated, and at the same time, the sheet conveying roller pair 5 is actuated, so that the sheet P stacked on the bottom plate tray 8 is moved.
Is continuously fed. At the time of feeding, the bottom plate tray 8 is raised by a predetermined amount every time a predetermined number of sheets (for example, 3 to 5 sheets) of paper P is fed by a lifting means (not shown).
Is controlled so that the uppermost sheet surface of is always detected by the sheet position detection sensor 26.

When the sheet P is left on the bottom plate tray 8 as the feeding progresses, the presence / absence detection sensor 18 detects this and outputs a signal to control means (not shown). The control unit that has received the signal includes a feed roller 14, a feed roller 15,
The operation of the sheet transport roller pair 5 is stopped, and the elevating means is operated to lower the bottom plate tray 8 to the lowermost position. When the bottom plate tray 8 occupies the lowermost position, the control unit confirms that the paper absence signal is not output from the paper presence / absence detection sensor 13, moves the end fence 9 forward, and moves the paper in the second paper storage unit 7. P is transferred into the first sheet storage unit 6.

Prior to this transfer, the control means checks output signals from the sensors 12a and 12b. First, when the paper P is fully loaded in the second paper storage unit 7,
A signal is output from both the sensor 12a and the sensor 12b. Upon receiving the output signals from the sensors 12a and 12b, the control means operates the solenoid 21 to position the paper feed roller 14 at the second position. Solenoid 2
After the positioning of 1, the control means moves the end fence 9 forward to transfer the paper P into the first paper storage unit 6, and the paper P is completely moved into the first paper storage unit 6 based on the movement amount of the end fence 9. When it is determined that the transfer has been made, the end fence 9 is moved backward and the operation of the solenoid 21 is released. When the operation of the solenoid 21 is released, the sheet feeding roller 14 is released.
Is positioned at the first position, and the sheet feeding device 1 is in a sheet-feedable state.

Next, a predetermined height H in the second sheet storage section 7 is set.
When the sheets P are stacked to 0 or more and less than the full height, a signal is output only from the sensor 12b. The control means that has received the signal from the sensor 12b operates the solenoid 21 in the same manner as described above, and
After positioning the sheet P at the second position, the end fence 9 is moved forward to transfer the sheet P into the first sheet storing section 6. After the transfer of the sheet P, the bottom plate tray 8 is raised after the end fence 9 is moved backward and the operation of the solenoid 21 is released, and when the sheet position detection sensor 26 detects the topmost sheet P, the bottom plate tray 8 is raised. Is stopped,
The paper feed roller 14 is positioned at the first position, and the paper feeder 1 is in a paper feedable state.

Next, when the stacking height of the paper P in the second paper storage unit 7 is less than the predetermined height H0, each sensor 12
No signal is output from any of a and 12b. The control unit moves the end fence 9 forward without operating the solenoid 21 to transfer the sheet P into the first sheet storage unit 6. After the transfer of the sheet P, the end fence 9 is moved backward and the bottom plate tray 8 is moved up. When the sheet position detection sensor 26 detects the top sheet P, the rise of the bottom plate tray 8 is stopped, and the sheet feeding roller 14 is moved. The sheet feeding device 1 is positioned at the first position, and becomes in a sheet feeding enabled state.

With the above-described configuration, when the sheets P are fully loaded in the second sheet storage portion 7, the sheet can be fed without raising the bottom plate tray 8.
Space and paper feed time can be reduced. Also, the second position of the paper feed roller 14 is
Since the height is set higher than the maximum warp height S of the sheet P, it is possible to prevent occurrence of a sheet conveyance failure during transfer. Further, only when the stacking height of the paper P is higher than a predetermined height by the sensor 12b, the solenoid 21
, So that the power consumption of the solenoid 21 is reduced,
It is possible to prevent a rise in temperature and extend the life.

In the above embodiment, after lowering the bottom plate tray 8, the solenoid 21 is operated based on signals from the sensors 12a and 12b, and thereafter the end fence 9
Is moved forward, but after the bottom plate tray 8 is lowered, the end fence 9 is moved forward to
Immediately before the downstream end of the paper P in the paper transport direction passes through the paper feed roller 14 occupying the first position, the solenoid 21 is controlled based on signals from the sensors 12a and 12b.
May be operated. With such a configuration, the operation time of the solenoid 21 can be shortened, and the power consumption of the solenoid 21 can be reduced, the temperature can be prevented from rising, and the life can be extended.

When the above configuration is adopted, it is not necessary to detect the loading height of the paper P in the second paper storage unit 7, and the loading height of the paper P transferred into the first paper storage unit 6 is not required. Sensor 12a, 12
In place of b, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
The same function and effect can be obtained by providing a sensor 27a having the same function as 2b in the side fence 10. In this case, the function of the sensor 12a can be replaced by the sensor 26.

[0032]

According to the present invention, when the second sheet storage section is full of sheets, the sheet can be fed without raising the sheet, so that the space of the sheet feeder can be reduced and the sheet can be fed. Paper time can be reduced. In addition, since the second position of the paper feed roller is set above the maximum warpage of the paper, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of paper conveyance failure at the time of transfer. Further, since the paper feed roller swing means is operated only when the stacking height of the paper is higher than the predetermined height by the load amount detecting means, the power consumption of the paper feed roller swing means is reduced, the temperature rise is prevented, and the life is shortened. Can be extended. Further, by operating the paper feed roller rocking means when the downstream end of the paper being transported in the transport direction passes through the paper feed roller, the power consumption of the paper feed roller rocking means is further reduced, and the temperature rises. Prevention and extension of life.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a sheet feeding apparatus employing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a sheet feeding roller swing unit used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a lower limit position and a second position of a sheet feeding roller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a paper full height and a second position of a paper feed roller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first example of a sheet feeding roller according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a position and a second position.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first example of a sheet feeding roller according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic diagram explaining the position of.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a paper stacking height and a lower limit position of a paper feed roller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a predetermined height in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a problem of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feeder 4 Separation feeding means 6 1st paper accommodation part 7 2nd paper accommodation part 9 Paper transfer means (end fence) 12a, 12b, 27a, 27b Loading amount detection means (sensor) 14 Paper supply roller 20 Paper supply Roller swinging means H0 Predetermined height P Paper S Maximum warpage height

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F343 FA02 GA01 GB01 GC01 GD01 GE02 GE05 GE09 GE17 HA14 HA29 HB04 HC04 HC24 HD16 JA14 JD09 KB03 KB17 KB18 LA04 LA14 LA15 LC02 MA24 MB09 MC17

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first sheet storage unit for storing sheets, a separating and feeding unit for separating and feeding sheets from the first sheet storage unit, and a plurality of sheets stacked and horizontally arranged in parallel with the first sheet storage unit. The second
The paper loaded in the paper storage unit and the second paper storage
A sheet feeding unit having a sheet transfer unit that transfers the sheet to the sheet storage unit at a time, wherein the separation / feeding unit contacts a top sheet stacked on the first sheet storage unit; And paper feed roller swing means for swinging the paper feed roller between a first position in contact with the uppermost sheet and a second position away from the uppermost sheet. Paper feeder. 2. The paper feed roller according to claim 1, wherein when the paper feed roller occupies the second position, the interval between the paper feed roller and the uppermost sheet is higher than the maximum warp height of the sheet. Paper feeder. 3. The paper feed roller moving means, wherein when the paper transport means transports the paper stacked in the second paper storage section, a downstream end of the paper being transported in the transport direction is the feeder. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding roller is swung to a second position when passing through the paper roller. 4. A stacking amount detecting means for detecting a stacking height of the sheets transported by the sheet transporting means, wherein the sheet feed roller swings when the stacking height of the sheets is equal to or higher than a predetermined height. 4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the moving means is operated. 5. The paper feeder according to claim 4, wherein said load amount detecting means is provided in a second paper storage portion. 6. The paper feeder according to claim 4, wherein said load amount detecting means is provided in said first paper storage section.