JP2002226065A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder stabilizing the sheet carrying performance and preventing the malfunction by causing no imperfect connection between a sheet storage part and a paper feeder body, constantly and surely holding the electric connection between the sheet storage part and the paper feed device body, when the sheet storage part is set to the paper feeder body, and causing no imperfect connection of a connector before/after the lateral regist adjusting operation of the paper feeder. SOLUTION: This paper feeder is provided with a lock mechanism reducing rattle as much as possible and having a retaining force against a displacement slide force which is applied on the first sheet storage part 100 in the front/rear- direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeder used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, a multifunction machine thereof, a printing machine, and the like. The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device capable of automatically replenishing a sheet when it has been sent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of paper feeders in an image forming apparatus are provided, each of which accommodates sheets of various sizes. For convenience, a larger sheet capacity is better, but some restrictions are inevitable for miniaturization of the apparatus, and how to use the dead space in the apparatus is a current issue. Since one sheet storage unit can store only one type of sheet, when a small size sheet is set, the space on the side opposite to the sheet feeding side is useless at all. Therefore, various proposals have been made conventionally.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 3-195639 has a detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of a sheet, a sheet accommodating section which can move up and down in parallel, and a sheet accommodating section for feeding paper.
Although a paper feeding device that effectively utilizes the empty space has been proposed, there is a problem that sheets cannot be supplied to the paper feeding sheet storage unit during operation of the device. JP-A-6-1
In Japanese Patent No. 44600, the above problem is solved by providing a lock mechanism in the sheet storage section. However, with the movement of the sheet accommodating portion, the engagement of the tooth portions in the lock mechanism may be displaced, and a poor connection of the connector between the sheet feeding device main body and the sheet accommodating portion may occur.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the positioning of the sheet accommodating portion, which performs the sheet feeding operation, with respect to the sheet feeding device main body can be reliably performed with a simple configuration, and the sheet conveying performance is stable. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper feeding device. Further, the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device which reliably holds an electrical connection between the first sheet storing portion and the sheet feeding device main body when the first sheet storing portion is set in the sheet feeding device main body to prevent malfunction. With the goal. Further, even before and after the horizontal registration adjustment operation of the sheet feeding device that performs the horizontal registration adjustment by moving the stop position of the first sheet storage unit forward and backward,
An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device that can reliably perform positioning of a sheet accommodating portion with respect to a sheet feeding device main body with a simple configuration and that prevents malfunction.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first sheet accommodating section in which a plurality of sheets are stacked, and one sheet from the first sheet accommodating section. Sheet feeding means for feeding sheets one at a time, a second sheet storage portion disposed horizontally and in parallel with the first sheet storage portion, and sheets stacked in the second sheet storage portion being collectively stored in the first sheet storage portion. And a lock mechanism capable of pulling out only the second sheet storage portion at a right angle to the sheet transfer direction while the sheet feeding operation is continued from the first sheet storage portion. The backlash in the front-rear direction of the receiving portion and the sliding force in the front-rear direction applied to the first sheet storing portion are reduced as much as possible, and a lock mechanism having a holding force against the front-rearward sliding force is provided. Characteristic paper feeder and That. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first aspect, a connector for electrically connecting / disconnecting the first sheet accommodating portion and the main body of the paper feeding device is provided. A lock mechanism is provided on each of the main body side, and has a locking mechanism having an elastic member for securely holding the connector, and having a holding force against a longitudinal sliding force generated by the elastic member. Paper feeder. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the sheet feeding apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the lateral registration adjustment of the first sheet storing section is performed before and after the first sheet storing section is set in the sheet feeding apparatus main body. A mechanism for adjusting the stop position in the first direction is provided, and regardless of the stop position of the first sheet storage portion, the play in the front-rear direction of the first sheet storage portion and the back-and-forth direction applied to the first sheet storage portion A sheet feeder is characterized in that the displacement slide force is reduced as much as possible and a lock mechanism having a holding force against the displacement slide force in the front-rear direction is provided.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet feeding device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the sheet feeding device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view. First sheet storage section (100) and second sheet storage section (200)
Are arranged horizontally and in parallel, and each exists as an independent sheet storage portion. 1st sheet part (10
0) and the second seat portion (200) are integrated or separated from each other depending on the behavior of the first lock claw (107). The first lock claw (107) is driven by a lock claw driving device (20). FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the lock claw driving device (20). FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the lock claw driving device (20). FIG. 5 (a) shows a state where the second lock claw (22) is engaged with the first sheet accommodating portion (100), and FIG. Shows a state where the first lock claw (107) is engaged with the second sheet accommodating portion (200).

When the solenoid (23) is ON, the second lock pawl (22) rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the second lock pawl (2) is turned on.
2) The tooth profile (22a) at the tip and the first sheet storage (1
00) provided on the sheet feeding device main body (60) and the first sheet accommodating portion (100) are locked. Each tooth profile (22
a, 100a) are set to almost the same minute pitch (2 mm or less), and the second locking claw (2
2) Even if the tooth peaks of the respective tooth portions (22a, 100a) collide with each other at the time of rotation, the teeth are engaged by being displaced by the play of the second lock claw (22). In addition, it is assembled to the second lock claw (22),
The arm (21) is connected to the stud (25),
When the solenoid (23) is in the ON state, the arm (21) rotates in the direction of the arrow with the stud (26) as a fulcrum, and the first lock claw (107) in the first sheet accommodating portion acts on the torsion coil spring (28). To rotate around the support shaft (27).

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a sheet feeding device according to the present invention. FIG. 7 shows the first sheet storage unit (10
FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a connection state between the connector and the paper feeding device main body (60), wherein FIG. 4A shows a normal state and FIG. A first connector (120) and a second connector (220) for electrically connecting the sheet feeding device main body (60) to the first sheet storing section (100) and the second sheet storing section (200), respectively. Are provided, and are connected to the corresponding connectors (81, 82) on the side of the sheet feeding device main body (60) when the sheet storage unit is set.

The second sheet storage section (200) is provided with a projection (222). A retraction member (90) is provided on the side of the paper feeding device main body (60), and the elastic member (90c) and the rotating body (90a) act on the support shaft (90b) as a fulcrum to allow the second sheet storage part (200) to operate. Rotating body (90
a) is positioned at a position over the apex of the projection (222), gives an appropriate click feeling at the time of setting, and pulls the second sheet accommodating portion (200) in the direction of arrow A. Thereby, the second sheet storage unit (200)
The first sheet accommodating portion (100) is pressed in the direction of arrow A to apply a force.

On the other hand, the connectors (81, 82) on the side of the sheet feeding device main body (60) are slidable by a support shaft (83) and an elastic member (84), and are connected to the connector (1) of the sheet accommodating portion.
20, 220), the connectors (81, 82) on the side of the paper feeder main body (60) are pressed in the direction of arrow B. Arrow A by sheet storage unit (100, 200)
Since the pulling force in the direction is set to be larger than the pressing force in the direction of arrow B by the connectors (81, 82) on the side of the paper feeding device main body (60), the first sheet storage portion (100) and the second sheet When the accommodating portion (200) is set integrally with the sheet feeding device main body (60), as shown in FIG. 7A, the first connector (120) or the second connector (220) of the sheet accommodating portion and the sheet feeding device main body. (60) side connector (81
Or 82) is in a state of being securely connected, and from the fixing plate (80) fixing the support shaft (83) of the connector of the paper feeder main body (60) to the connector of the paper feeder main body (60). (81 or 82) stops at the position of the gap C slightly away.

However, when the second sheet storage section (200) is pulled out during sheet feeding from the first sheet storage section (100), the pressing force in the direction of arrow A against the first sheet storage section (100) is lost. The force of the elastic member (84) pressing the connector (81) of the paper feeder main body (60) pushes the paper feeder main body side connector (81) to the position of the fixing plate (80). The first sheet accommodating portion (100) is pushed out to form a gap of the gap D, and a connection failure of the connector may occur. Therefore, the second lock claw (1
07) and the first sheet storage portion (100) according to the first embodiment, the amount of the first storage portion (100) pushed out when the second sheet storage portion (200) is pulled out is as follows. It is possible to suppress only the rattling of the teeth of each tooth profile (22a, 100a).

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a horizontal registration adjusting mechanism of the sheet feeding device of the present invention. A stopper (110) is provided on the side surface of the first sheet storage portion (100) of the configuration of the present invention so as to adjust the mounting position, and the stopper (110) is provided on the positioning table (31) of the frame (30) of the sheet feeding device main body (60). At the abutting position, the first sheet storage unit (1
00) is fixedly positioned in the sliding direction. That is, by moving the mounting position of the stopper (110), the fixing position of the first sheet storage portion (100) in the sliding direction can be adjusted. In this case, when the mounting position of the stopper changes, the pressing force in the direction of arrow B for pushing out the first sheet storage portion (100) may change. However, according to the configuration of the present invention,
The connection of the connector can be maintained by fixing the first sheet storage portion (100) without being affected by the change in the pressing force.

[0013]

As described above, in the paper feeder according to the present invention, the play in the front-rear direction on the first sheet storage portion and the displacement sliding force in the front-rear direction on the first sheet storage portion are reduced.
The play is reduced as much as possible and the lock mechanism having a holding force against the sliding force in the front-rear direction is provided.
It is possible to provide a sheet feeding device that can reliably perform sheet positioning with respect to the sheet feeding device main body with a simple configuration and that has a stable sheet conveyance property. Further, a lock mechanism having a holding force against a sliding force in the front-rear direction generated by an elastic member for reliably holding the connection between the first sheet storage portion and the connector for electrically connecting and disconnecting the sheet feeding device body. Is provided, when the first sheet accommodating portion is set in the paper feeding device main body, the electrical connection between the first sheet accommodating portion and the paper feeding device main body can be reliably maintained at all times, and the paper feeding device which prevents malfunction is provided. Can be provided. Furthermore, by horizontal registration adjustment,
Even if the stop position of the first sheet storage unit is shifted in the front-rear direction, the backlash in the front-rear direction of the first sheet storage unit and the sliding displacement in the front-rear direction applied to the first sheet and the storage unit are reduced as much as possible, and Since the lock mechanism having a holding force against the sliding force in the front-rear direction is provided, the positioning of the first sheet storage portion with respect to the sheet feeding device main body can be reliably performed with a simple configuration even during registration adjustment, and the sheet conveyance is performed. Performance is stable,
An electrical connection between the first sheet storage portion and the sheet feeding device main body can be reliably held, and a sheet feeding device in which malfunction is prevented can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the sheet feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the sheet feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a lock claw driving device.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of a lock claw driving device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the sheet feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a connection state between a connector of the first sheet storage unit and a sheet feeding device main body.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a horizontal registration adjusting mechanism of the sheet feeding device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 20 lock claw driving device 21 arm 22 second lock claw 22 a second lock claw toothed portion 23 solenoid 25 second stud 26 first stud 27 support shaft 28 torsion coil spring 30 frame 31 positioning table 60 paper feeder main body 80 fixing plate 81 , 82 connector 83 support shaft 84 elastic member 90 pull-in member 90a rotating body 90b support shaft 90c elastic member 100 first sheet storage portion 100a first sheet storage portion toothed portion 107 first lock claw 110 stopper 120 first connector 200 second sheet Housing part 220 Second connector 222 Projecting part

Claims (3)

[Claims] A first sheet storage unit configured to stack a plurality of sheets, a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheets one by one from the first sheet storage unit, and a horizontal and parallel arrangement with respect to the first sheet storage unit. A second sheet storage unit provided, sheet transfer means for collectively transferring stacked sheets of the second sheet storage unit to the first sheet storage unit, and a second sheet storage unit for continuously feeding sheets from the first sheet storage unit. In a sheet feeding device having a lock mechanism capable of pulling out only the sheet storage section substantially at right angles to the sheet transfer direction, the backlash in the front-rear direction of the first sheet storage section and the sliding force in the front-rear direction applied to the first sheet storage section are reduced. And a lock mechanism having a holding force that minimizes backlash and resists a sliding force in the front-rear direction. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein connectors for electrically connecting and disconnecting the first sheet storage portion and the sheet feeding device main body are respectively provided on the first sheet storage portion and the sheet feeding device main body side. And a lock mechanism having an elastic member for securely holding the connector connection, and a locking mechanism having a holding force against a longitudinal sliding force generated by the elastic member. . 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the lateral registration adjustment of the first sheet storage portion is performed by adjusting a stop position in a front-rear direction when the first sheet storage portion is set in the sheet feeding device main body. No matter where the stop position of the first sheet storage unit is, the backlash in the front-rear direction of the first sheet storage unit and the sliding force in the front-rear direction applied to the first sheet storage unit, The sheet feeding device is characterized in that the play is minimized and a lock mechanism having a holding force against a displacement sliding force in the front-rear direction is provided.