JP2002240986A - Sheet material guide device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a length changeable of a cover associated with opening/ closing action of the cover, and use the cover as a feed tray of a sheet material. SOLUTION: This device includes a device main unit 23 guided with a sheet material and a cover 26 which can be opened/closed by a hinge pin 25 previously determining a conveying port 24 formed in the device main unit 23 to be laterally extended, the cover 26 is provided with guide members 27a, 27b capable of taking two conditions of a first condition overlapped with the cover 26 and a second condition protruded from the cover 26 in a direction distant from the hinge pin 25 to support the sheet material guided. The device further includes a drive means 28, the drive means 28 is associated with angular displacement around the hinge pin 25 of the cover 26, to hold the guide members 27a, 27b in the first condition overlapped with the cover 26 in a position closing the conveying port 24 by the cover 26, to drive the guide members 27a, 27b in the second condition protruded from the cover 26 in a position opening the conveying port 24 by the cover 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a sheet guide device, and more particularly, to a sheet guide device in which a lid provided on a sheet guide device can be used as a sheet feeding tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet guide device is a device for guiding a sheet, for example, a recording sheet, to an apparatus main body, and is used in an image forming apparatus for recording image information on the recording sheet. 2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as ink jet printers and laser beam printers have been miniaturized with the progress of technological development of electronic components and optical devices related to information processing technology. Prior art for reducing the size of an image forming apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-192054. In this prior art, a lid provided on the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus is also used as a paper feed tray. That is, when the lid is closed, the lid becomes a part of the exterior of the apparatus, and when the lid is opened, the lid can be used as a paper feed tray.

When a lid of a miniaturized image forming apparatus is also used as a paper feed tray, the lid of the lid is designed to sufficiently function as a paper feed tray for recording paper having a size larger than that of the image forming apparatus. Guide means is provided for supporting the recording paper by extending the length and guiding the recording paper to the apparatus main body.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a simplified configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus 1, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a simplified configuration of another conventional image forming apparatus 2.
A conventional image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
And a cover 5 formed in the apparatus main body 3 and provided at a transport opening 4 through which the recording paper is transported so as to be openable and closable. The apparatus main body 3 has a discharge port 6 for discharging recording paper. FIG.
(A), when the lid 5 is at a position where the transfer port 4 is closed,
Forms a part of the exterior of the image forming apparatus 1. Figure 1
1 (b) indicates that the lid 5 is being opened, and a guide member 7 is provided on the inside of the apparatus main body 3 of the lid 5. FIG. 11C shows a state in which the cover 5 is in the position where the conveyance port 4 is opened, and after the cover 5 is opened, the guide member 7 is pulled out to support the recording paper and guide it to the apparatus main body 3. Become. In this state, the guide member 7 extends the length of the cover 5 in the recording paper transport direction, and is used as a paper feed tray. When the guide member 7 is accommodated in the apparatus main body 3, the above-described operation is performed in reverse order.

[0005] Another conventional image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 12 is similar to the conventional image forming apparatus 1, but differs from the conventional image forming apparatus 1 in that the lid 8 is being opened as shown in FIG. In addition, the lid 8 is not provided with a guide member in advance. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12C in which the cover 8 is in the position where the conveyance port 4 is opened, after the cover 8 is opened, a guide member 9 prepared separately from the image forming apparatus 2 is attached to the cover 8. I do. The attachment of the guide member 9 to the lid 8 is performed, for example, as follows. The lid 8 is formed by a pair of support pieces 10 provided in parallel with the recording paper conveyance direction at intervals on the inner surface of the apparatus main body 3 of the cover 8 and the inner surface of the apparatus main body 3 of the cover 8. The guide member 9 is inserted and mounted in the support groove. As a result, the guide member 9 is in a state of supporting the recording paper and guiding it to the apparatus main body 3. In this state, the guide member 9
Extends the length of the cover 8 in the recording paper transport direction, and is used as a paper feed tray.

[0006]

The above-mentioned conventional image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 have the following problems. Lid 5, 8
In order to use as a paper feed tray, the guide members 7, 9
Therefore, it is necessary to extend the lengths of the lids 5 and 8 in the recording paper conveyance direction. In order to extend the length of the lid 5 by the guide member 7, the operation of pulling out the guide member 7 from the lid 5 must be manually performed, and to extend the length of the lid 8 by the guide member 9, The operation of mounting the member 9 in the support groove formed in the lid 8 must be manually performed.

Further, when the guide member 7 is pulled out from the lid 5 and the guide member 9 is mounted on the lid 8, the guide members 7, 9 protrude from the lids 5, 8, and the main body of the apparatus. 3, the lids 5 and 8 hinder the operation of opening and closing the transport port 4.

Therefore, in order to allow the lids 5 and 8 to open and close the transfer port 4, the guide member 7 is moved by the reverse operation to extend the length of the lids 5 and 8. Must be inserted or removed from the lid 8. That is, although the lids 5 and 8 can be used as a paper feed tray,
The operation of pulling out the guide member 7 required for use from the lid 5 or inserting the guide member 9 into the lid 5,
Has to be performed each time the lids 5 and 8 are opened and closed, which makes the operation complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet guide apparatus which can change the length of a cover in conjunction with opening and closing operations of the cover and which can use the cover as a sheet feeding tray. .

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus main body to which a sheet member is guided, a lid which can be opened and closed by a horizontally extending hinge pin which defines a transport port formed in the apparatus main body, and Takes the two stable positions of the closed position and the position where the transfer port is opened by being inclined at a predetermined angle, provided on the lid, the first state overlapping the lid, and the lid in the direction away from the hinge pin. A guide member that can take two states, a second state that projects and guides and supports the sheet body, and a guide member that is interlocked with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin and that is closed when the lid closes the transport port. And a driving unit for driving the guide member to the second state in which the guide member protrudes from the lid when the lid opens the conveyance port while maintaining the first state overlapping the lid.

According to the present invention, in conjunction with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin, in the position where the lid closes the transport port, the guide member is kept in the first state overlapping the lid, and the position where the lid opens the transport port. And driving means for driving the guide member to a second state in which the guide member projects from the lid to guide and support the sheet member. This allows the guide member to move from the first state to the second state in conjunction with the opening operation of the lid, and to move from the second state to the first state in conjunction with the closing operation of the lid. Can be.
Therefore, the lid can be used as a sheet feeding tray only by a simple operation of opening and closing the lid.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the guide member is provided on an inner side of the apparatus main body of the lid.

According to the present invention, the guide member is provided on the inner side of the lid body. Therefore, at the position where the cover closes the transfer port, the guide member is accommodated in the apparatus main body in the first state in which the guide member overlaps the cover, so that the apparatus can be downsized.

Further, according to the present invention, the driving means includes a rack member which reversibly moves in a sheet conveying direction in association with an angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin, and wherein the guide member comprises
The lid is provided so as to be angularly displaceable about the axis of a shaft protruding from the inner side surface of the apparatus main body, and a sector gear is formed on this guide member. The guide member is driven from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state by moving the member.

According to the invention, the driving means includes a rack member which reversibly moves in the sheet conveying direction in conjunction with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin, and wherein the guide member is provided inside the apparatus main body of the lid. It is provided so as to be angularly displaceable around the axis of a shaft protruding from the side surface. The sector gear formed on the guide member and the rack member mesh with each other and the guide member is angularly displaced by the movement of the rack member, so that the guide member is reliably driven into either the first state or the second state. can do.

Further, according to the present invention, the rack member has an extended portion extending in the sheet conveying direction along the inner surface of the lid body and the bent portion in a direction away from the inner surface of the lid body. A support projection extending in the vicinity of the base end of the rack member, the support protrusion extending parallel to the inner surface of the lid body and perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction; And a support hole is formed in the rack support bracket, and the support protrusion is loosely fitted in the support hole.

According to the present invention, the rack member has a base end, and a support projection is formed near the base end of the lid that is bent in a direction away from the inner side surface of the apparatus main body.
It is loosely fitted into a support hole formed in a rack support bracket provided in the apparatus main body. This makes it possible to move the rack member in the sheet feeding direction with a simple configuration, so that the rack member can be easily moved in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the lid, and the guide member is moved by the movement of the rack member. Can be driven.

Further, according to the present invention, the support hole is formed in the rack support bracket in a V-shape, and the rack support bracket is mounted on the rack support bracket such that the corner of the V-shaped support hole is closest to the hinge pin. Provided in the main body, the support hole has at least a rest recess, an operating recess, and a deployment recess, and the rest recess is located at one end of the V-shaped support hole,
The operating recess is located at the corner of the V-shaped support hole,
The deployment recess is located at the other end of the V-shaped support hole, and the support protrusion loosely fitted into the support hole moves from the recessed recess to the working recess in conjunction with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin. The rack member is moved in the sheet conveying direction by moving the rack member to the developing recess or moving from the developing recess to the working recess to the resting recess.

According to the present invention, the support projection loosely fitted in the support hole is moved in the V-shaped support hole of the rack support bracket in conjunction with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin. Then, the rack member is moved in the sheet conveying direction. Therefore, the movement of the rack member in the sheet conveying direction can be realized by a simple mechanical structure, so that the cost can be reduced, and the driving means is less likely to malfunction and the life of the apparatus can be extended.

[0020]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a simplified configuration of an image forming apparatus 21 which is a sheet guide apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a lid 26 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which the transfer port 24 is closed, FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which the cover 26 shown in FIG. 1 opens the transfer port 24, and FIG. 4 is an image shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a simplified configuration of a forming apparatus 21.

Image forming apparatus 21 serving as a sheet body guiding apparatus
Is an ink jet printer, for example, which includes a device main body 23 through which a recording sheet 22 as a sheet is guided, and a lid 26 which can be opened and closed by a horizontally extending hinge pin 25 which defines a transport port 24 formed in the device main body 23. In addition, the lid 26 has two stable positions: a position where the transfer port 24 is closed, and a position where the transfer port 24 is opened by inclining at a predetermined angle θ1 exceeding 90 degrees.

The image forming apparatus 21 includes a first state provided on the lid 26 and overlapping the lid 26, and a second state in which the recording paper 22 projects from the lid 26 in a direction away from the hinge pin 25 and guides and supports the recording paper 22. The guide members 27a and 27b, which can take two states, and the angular displacement of the lid 26 around the hinge pin 25, and when the lid 26 closes the transfer port 24, the guide members 27a and 27b overlap the lid 26. In the position where the cover 26 opens the transfer port 24, the guide members 27a and 27b
Driving means 28 for driving to a state.

The lid 26 is made of a hard synthetic resin and has a substantially rectangular shape. Surface 29 of cover 26 inside device main body 23
Is provided with a pair of shafts 30a, 30b protruding from the surface 29. Hereinafter, the inner surface of the lid 26 on the inner side of the apparatus main body 23 is referred to as an inner surface 29. On one side 31 of the lid 26 in the longitudinal direction, there are provided insertion portions 32a and 32b which are connected to the lid 26 and through which the hinge pins 25 are inserted. The hinge pin 25 is provided with an insertion portion 32 and pin holes 51a formed in lid support brackets 50a and 50b provided in the apparatus main body 23 described later.
51b, and the lid 26 is attached to the apparatus main body 23 so as to be openable and closable. As a result, the lid 26 takes two stable positions, that is, the position where the transport port 24 is closed as described above and the position where the transport port 24 is opened by inclining at an angle θ1 exceeding 90 degrees which is predetermined. be able to. The cover 26 forms a part of the exterior of the image forming apparatus 21 when the transport port 24 is in a closed position.

The guide members 27a and 27b are arm-shaped flat members made of hard synthetic resin. Guide member 27
Guide members 27a, 2b are located near one end of the guide members 27a, 27b.
Shaft holes 33a and 33b penetrating through 7b are respectively formed. Further, sector gears 34a, 34b are formed on the outer edges near the one ends of the guide members 27a, 27b by cutting teeth. Shaft hole 33 formed in guide members 27a and 27b
a, 33b, a shaft 30 provided on the inner surface 29 of the lid 26;
a, 30b are inserted respectively, and the guide members 27a, 27
b is mounted so as to be angularly displaceable about the axes of the shafts 30a and 30b. The guide members 27a, 27b are
After being mounted on the shaft b, a retaining member (not shown) such as an e-ring is fitted to the shafts 30a and 30b to prevent the guide members 27a and 27b from falling off.

The driving means 28 includes a hinge pin 25 of the lid 26.
The rack member 35 includes a rack member 35 that reversibly moves in the conveying direction of the recording paper 22 in conjunction with the angular displacement around the rack. Rack member 35
Is an elongate member made of a hard synthetic resin, and an elongate portion 36 elongate in the conveying direction of the recording paper 22 along the inner surface 29 of the lid 26, and an elongate portion 36 in a direction away from the inner surface 29 of the lid 26. Base end 37 bent at an angle determined in advance
And a lid 2 near the base end 37 of the rack member 35.
6, supporting projections 38a and 38b are formed which extend in parallel to the inner surface 29 and perpendicular to the direction in which the recording paper 22 is conveyed.

The extending portion 36 of the rack member 35 has first and second long holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the rack member 35.
Guide holes 39 and 40 are formed. First and second mounting pins 41 and 42 are inserted through the first and second guide holes 39 and 40, respectively, and the first and second mounting pins 41 and 42 are provided.
Is fixed to the inner surface 29 of the lid 26, and the rack member 35 is attached to the lid 26. A retaining member (not shown) is fitted to the other end of the first and second mounting pins 41 and 42 to prevent the rack member 35 from coming off the lid 26.

The inner edge of the extending portion 36 in which the first and second guide holes 39 and 40 are formed, and the first and second mounting pins 4
The rack member 35 can slide in the longitudinal direction in a state where the rack members 35 are in contact with the rack members 35. Therefore, the rack member 35 is guided by the first and second guide holes 39 and 40, and moves in the transport direction of the recording paper 22 within the length L1 of the first and second guide holes 39 and 40. Can be. In addition, teeth are carved on a side portion near the free end portion 43 which is an end portion on the extension portion 36 side, and the first and second tooth portions 44 and 45 are formed.
Is formed. The first and second tooth portions 44 and 45 are provided on the sector gears 34 formed on the guide members 27a and 27b.
a, 34b.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the image forming apparatus 21. A pair of lid support brackets 50a and 50b are provided on a back surface 49 of the apparatus main body 23 at predetermined intervals. Pin holes 51a and 51b for supporting the hinge pins 25 are formed in the lid support brackets 50a and 50b, respectively. A pair of lid support brackets 50a, 50b
And the insertion portions 32a and 32b formed on the lid 26 are aligned. The lid 26 is attached to the apparatus main body 23 by inserting the hinge pin 25 through the pin holes 51a and 51b of the lid support brackets 50a and 50b and the insertion portion.

In the apparatus main body 23, a projecting portion 46 is formed to extend shortly in a direction parallel to a horizontal plane when the apparatus main body 23 is placed in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of gravity when facing the transport port 24. You. The rack member 35 is
Rack support brackets 47a, 47b for supporting
Is provided. A pair of rack support brackets 47a, 4
Reference numeral 7b denotes a member made of a synthetic resin having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
5 are provided facing each other at an interval that allows the insertion of the fifth element 5. The rack support brackets 47a and 47b are formed with substantially V-shaped support holes 48a and 48b, and the support holes 48a and 48b are provided with the support protrusions 38a and 38b formed on the rack member 35, respectively. Each is loosely fitted.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of the support projection 38a loosely fitted in the support hole 48a, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the cover 26 is in a position where the transfer port 24 is closed. 8 is a side view showing a state where the lid 26 is in the middle of opening and closing, FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state where the lid 26 is in the position where the transfer port 24 is opened, and FIG. 10 is a side view showing FIGS. Lid 2 shown
It is a side view which also shows operation | movement of FIG. Here, FIG.
FIG. 10 shows a state in which only one side plate of the lid 26 is removed.

The rack support brackets 47a and 47b are
The V-shaped support holes 48a, 48b formed in the rack support brackets 47a, 47b are formed substantially in a V-shape so that the V-shape is substantially transverse to the overhang portion 46 of the apparatus main body 23, that is, the V-shaped support hole 48a. , 48b are provided on the apparatus main body 23 such that the corners are closest to the hinge pin 25.

The support holes 48a and 48b are
, A first guide projection 53, an operation recess 54, a second guide projection 55, a development recess 56, a first guide 57, an intersection 58, and a second guide 59. The rest recess 52 is
It is located at one end of the V-shaped support holes 48a and 48b. The first guide projection 53 and the operating recess 54 are connected to the rest recess 52 in a direction approaching the hinge pin 25, and the operating recess 54 is located at a corner of the V-shaped support holes 48a and 48b.

A second guide convex portion 55 and a developing concave portion 56 are further connected to the operating concave portion 54 in a direction away from the hinge pin 25, and the developing concave portion 56 has a V-shaped support hole 48.
a, 48b at the other end. In the development recess 56,
The first guide portion 57, the intersection portion 58, and the second guide portion 59 are continuous, and the second guide portion 59 is continuous with the rest recess 52.
Supporting holes 48a and 48b are formed by continuous portions from the rest concave portion 52 to the second guide portion 59.

The operation of the pair of support projections 38a and 38b loosely fitted in the support holes 48a and 48b, respectively, is the same. Therefore, only the operation of one of the support projections 38a will be described below. When the cover 26 shown in FIG. 7 is in the position where the transfer port 24 is closed, the support protrusion 38a formed near the base end 37 of the rack member 35 is
Located in.

When the lid 26 is manually opened, for example,
Moves from the position where the transfer port 24 is closed to the position in the middle of opening and closing as shown in FIG.
4 moves to the open position. First, the cover 26 is connected to the transfer port 2
In the process of shifting from the closed position to the position in the middle of opening and closing, the rack member 35 is angularly displaced around the hinge pin 25 by the opening operation of the lid 26, and moves toward the hinge pin 25 along the inner surface 29 of the lid 26 by gravity. Go to As a result, the support protrusion 38a moves from the rest recess 52 to the direction approaching the hinge pin 25, that is, to the operation recess 54 guided by the first guide protrusion 53. This is the movement from the position A to the position B shown in FIG.

Next, in the process of moving the cover 26 from the position in the middle of opening and closing to the position where the transfer port 24 is opened,
Is further angularly displaced around the hinge pin 25, whereby the rack member 35 further moves in the direction approaching the hinge pin 25 along the inner surface 29 of the lid 26. The movement of the rack member 35 causes the first and second mounting pins 4
1 and 42 are in contact with the inner edge of the rack member 35 facing the free end 43 facing the first and second guide holes 39 and 40 formed in the extending portion 36. In this state, the rack member 35 is
The base end 37 bent at an angle θ2 with the extending portion 36 is integrated with the extending portion 36 of the rack member 35.
Angular displacement as if the fulcrum is a bent portion formed by the base portion 37 and the bent portion. This allows the support projection 3
8a is moved away from the hinge pin 25, that is, is moved from the operating concave portion 54 to the developing concave portion 56 by being guided by the second guide convex portion 55. This is a movement from the position B to the position C shown in FIG.

When the cover 26 is angularly displaced around the hinge pin 25 with the opening operation of the cover 26 and moves from the position where the transfer port 24 is closed to the position where the transfer port 24 is opened, as described above, the support protrusion is formed. 38a and 38b are supporting holes 48a and 4
Rack support brackets 47a, 47b on which 8b is formed
Moves from the rest recess 52 to the working recess 54 along the inner edge of the working recess 54, and further moves from the working recess 54 to the deployment recess 56. By the operation of the support protrusions 38a and 38b, the rack member 35 can move in the transport direction of the recording paper 22 along the inner surface 29 of the lid 26.

The lid 26 is angularly displaced about the hinge pin 25 while the rack member 35 is
Since the a and 38b are loosely fitted in the support holes 48a and 48b, the base end 37 is angularly displaced in a state where it is always near the support holes 48a and 48b. Therefore, when the lid 26 and the support protrusions 38a and 38b, that is, the base end 37, are on the apparatus main body 23 side in the same direction with respect to the hinge pin 25, and when the lid 26 and the support protrusions 38 are in different directions with respect to the hinge pin 25. The position of the rack member 35 with respect to 26 changes relatively.

When the cover 26 is at the position where the transfer port 24 is closed, the cover 26 and the support projections 38a and 38b are both on the apparatus main body 23 side, and the rack member 35 has the entire length overlapping the cover 26. On the device body 23 side. When the cover 26 is in the position where the transfer port 24 is opened, the cover 26 is on the opposite side of the apparatus main body 23 with respect to the hinge pin 25, but the support protrusions 38 a, 38 b, that is, the base end 37 is connected to the hinge pin 25. Therefore, the rack member 35 has a length from the base end 37 to the hinge pin 25 substantially on the device body 23 side, and the rack member 3
5 overlaps with the lid 26 and the length thereof becomes shorter. That is, the rack member 35 relatively moves in the transport direction of the recording paper 22 along the inner surface of the lid 26.

As described above, the rack member 35 includes the first and second mounting pins 4 for mounting the rack member 35 on the lid 26.
1, 42 and the inner edge of the rack member 35 in which the first and second guide holes 39, 40 are formed, slides and is guided in the direction in which the recording paper 22 is conveyed. You can move. The first member formed on the rack member 35
And second tooth portions 44, 45, and guide members 27a, 27b.
When the rack member 35 moves in the transport direction of the recording paper 22, the guide members 27a and 27b are rotated by the shafts 30a and 30b.
b from the first state overlapping the lid 26 in the direction away from the hinge pin 25,
6 is driven to the second state protruding from the second state.

As described above, without providing a driving means such as an electric motor, the rack member 35 having the support protrusions 38a and 38b and the rack support brackets 47a and 47b having the support holes 38a and 38b are simple. With this configuration, the guide members 27a and 27b can be reliably driven reversibly between the first state and the second state.

The guide members 27a and 27b in the second state protruding from the cover 26 extend the length of the cover 26 in the direction in which the recording paper 22 is conveyed.
3 is suitably used as a feeding tray for guiding to 3. The guide members 27a and 27b are connected to the device main body 23 of the lid 26.
Since it is provided on the inner side, the guide members 27a and 27b in the first state overlapping the lid 26 can be accommodated in the apparatus main body 23. By allowing the guide members 27a and 27b to be housed in the apparatus main body 23, the size of the apparatus can be reduced, and at this time, the lid 26 can be used as a part of the exterior of the apparatus.

By the closing operation of returning the cover 26 from the open position to the closed position by the lid 26, the guide members 27a, 27b
Can easily be returned from the second state protruding from the lid 26 to the first state overlapping the lid 26. By closing the lid 26, the support protrusions 38a and 38b
The operation is performed in the reverse order to the case of the opening operation. That is,
The support protrusions 38a and 38b move from the developing recess 56 to the working recess 54, and further move from the working recess 54 to the resting recess 52.
Move to. The rack member 35 is moved by the operation of the support protrusions 38a and 38b in accordance with the closing operation of the lid 26.
Since the recording paper 22 moves in a direction opposite to the conveying direction, the guide members 27a and 27b are driven from the second state protruding from the lid 26 to the first state overlapping the lid 26.

As described above, the guide members 27a and 27b are reversibly driven into the first state in which the guide members 27a and 27b are overlapped with the lid 26 and the second state in which the guide members 27a and 27b project from the lid 26 by the simple operation of opening and closing the lid 26. Therefore, it is possible to easily use the lid 26 as a feeding tray for the recording paper 22.

Returning to FIG. 4, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 21 of the present embodiment will be described. When image formation is started, first, the lid 26 is angularly displaced around the hinge pin 25 in the direction of the arrow 60, and is inclined at an angle θ1 exceeding a predetermined 90 ° to move to the position where the transfer port 24 is opened. With the angular displacement of the lid 26, as described above, the rack member 35, the support protrusions 38a and 38b, and the rack support bracket 47
a, 47b including guide members 27a, 2b.
7b is angularly displaced around the axes 30a and 30b,
The guide members 27a and 27b are driven from the first state overlapping the lid 26 to a second state protruding from the lid 26 in a direction away from the hinge pin 25.

As a result, the cover 26 is
The length of the guide members 27a and 27b protruding from the lid 26 is extended in the transport direction, and the guide members 27a and 27b guide and support the recording paper 22 and become ready to be supplied to the apparatus main body 23. That is, the lid 26 and the guide members 27a, 27
In the state b, the recording sheet 22 is placed on the cover 26 and the guide members 27a and 27b because the recording sheet 22 has a function as a feeding tray. In FIG. 4, the entire configuration of the image forming apparatus 21 is shown in a simplified manner.
The description of 8 is omitted.

The apparatus main body 23 to which the recording paper 22 is guided from the lid 26 and the guide means 27a and 27b includes a paper feed roller 61, a separating plate 62, a PS roller 63, and a first roller 63.
An idle roller 64, an image forming unit 65, a discharge roller 66 and a second idle roller 67, and a discharge tray 68
And a housing 69.

The paper feed roller 61 has a rotation axis parallel to the width direction perpendicular to the direction in which the recording paper 22 is conveyed.
The third housing 69 is rotatably supported. A drive mechanism such as an electric motor (not shown) is connected to the paper feed roller 61 and is driven to rotate. The separating plate 62 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped plate member that is elongated in the width direction, is provided in contact with the surface of the sheet feeding roller 61, and is pressed against the sheet feeding roller 61 by a spring member 71 at a predetermined pressure. You. One of the outermost recording papers 22 in which the frictional force between the paper feed roller 61 and the recording paper 22 is larger than the pressing force of the discarding plate 62 against the paper feed roller 61 is fed to the paper feed roller 61 and the discarding plate 62.
And is conveyed in the direction of arrow 70. As a result, the recording paper 22 is moved by one after the paper feed roller 61.
The sheets are conveyed one by one.

The PS roller 63 and the first idle roller 64 have an axis parallel to the axis of the paper feed roller 61 and are rotatably supported by the housing 69. PS roller 63
Is connected to a drive mechanism such as a motor (not shown).
Based on the image information, the PS roller 63 synchronizes the timing of the start of image formation in response to the image information with the recording start position of the recording paper 22 in the transport direction, and the first idle roller 6
4, the recording paper 22 is conveyed by squeezing. At this time, the first
The idle roller 64 is pressed by the PS roller 63 and is driven to rotate. PS roller 63 and first idle roller 64
The recording paper 22 conveyed by the nip is transported by the image forming unit 6.
Sent to 5.

The image forming section 65 includes an ink carriage 72 on which an ink head is mounted, and a platen 73 provided facing the ink carriage 72. The ink carriage 72 is held by an ink carriage holding shaft (not shown), and is driven in the width direction by a driving mechanism (not shown). When the recording paper 22 is fed to the image forming unit 65 by the PS roller 63 in synchronization with the timing of the start of image formation in response to the image information, the ink carriage 72 is driven in the width direction and responds to the image information. Ink is ejected from the ink head to form an image on the surface of the recording paper 22.

When the ink carriage 72 travels once in the width direction, the conveyance of the recording paper 22 is temporarily stopped, and the recording paper 22 is stopped.
Is transported in the direction of arrow 70 by a predetermined length.
Here, the predetermined length is the length of the ink carriage 7.
2 is a length of the ink nozzle of the ink head mounted on the recording paper 22 in the transport direction of the recording paper 22. After the recording paper 22 has been conveyed by a predetermined length, the above-described driving of the ink carriage 72 in the width direction and ejection of ink from the ink head are performed. By repeating these operations, image information corresponding to one sheet of the recording paper 22 is formed on the surface of the recording paper 22.

The recording paper 22 on which the image information has been formed is conveyed toward a paper discharge roller 66. The paper discharge roller 66 and the second idle roller 67 have an axis parallel to the axis of the paper feed roller 61 and are rotatably supported by the housing 69. A drive mechanism (not shown) is connected to the discharge roller 66. The drive mechanism of the paper discharge roller 66 may be shared, for example, by transmitting the driving force of the drive mechanism connected to the paper feed roller 61 by a gear or the like. The second idle roller 67 is pressed by the paper discharge roller 66 and is driven to rotate.
The recording paper 22 on which the image information is formed is conveyed by being squeezed between a paper discharge roller 66 and a second idle roller 67, discharged from a discharge port 74 formed in a housing 69 to a paper discharge tray 68, and subjected to a series of image forming operations. The operation is completed.

When the image formation on the recording paper 22 is completed, the recording paper 22 placed on the lid 26 and the guide members 27a and 27b is removed. Thereafter, the lid 26 is angularly displaced around the hinge pin 25 in the direction of the arrow 75. In conjunction with the angular displacement of the lid 26, the driving means 28
Since the a and 27b are angularly displaced around the shafts 30a and 30b, the guide members 27a and 27b are driven from the second state protruding from the lid 26 to the first state overlapping the lid 26. Thus, when the cover 26 moves from the position where the transfer port 24 of the apparatus main body 23 is opened to the position where it is closed, the guide members 27a and 27b do not hinder the movement of the cover 26. When the cover 26 is at the position where the transfer port 24 is closed, the guide members 27a and 27b
3 is housed in the apparatus main body 23 because the
Constitutes a part of the exterior of the image forming apparatus 21.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the sheet body guiding device is the image forming device 21, but is not limited thereto, and may be an image reading device, a facsimile device, a copying machine, or the like. Document feeder, book cover material feeder, or the like. In addition, lid 2
6 and the guide members 27a, 27b, etc., are provided at the opening, to which the sheet body, which is the conveyance port 24, is supplied.
The present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided at an opening, such as a discharge port, where a sheet body is discharged.

The guide members 27a and 27b are
Although it is provided on the inner side of the apparatus main body 23, it is not limited to this, and may be provided on the outer side of the apparatus main body 23. Further, the first state of the guide members 27a and 27b and the second state
The driving in the state is performed by engagement of the first and second tooth portions 44 and 45 formed on the rack member 35 with the sector gears 34a and 34b formed on the guide members 27a and 27b, but is not limited thereto. Instead, the rack member 35 and the guide members 27a and 27b may be connected by a leaf spring member or the like to change the linear movement of the rack member 35 into the angular displacement movement of the guide members 27a and 27b.

[0056]

According to the present invention, in conjunction with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin, when the lid closes the transport port, the guide member is kept in the first state overlapping the lid, and the lid opens the transport port. And a driving means for driving the guide member to a second state in which the guide member projects from the lid to guide and support the sheet member. This allows the guide member to move from the first state to the second state in conjunction with the opening operation of the lid, and to move from the second state to the first state in conjunction with the closing operation of the lid. Can be. Therefore, the lid can be used as a sheet feeding tray only by a simple operation of opening and closing the lid.

Further, according to the present invention, the guide member is provided on the inner side of the apparatus main body of the lid. Therefore, at the position where the cover closes the transfer port, the guide member is accommodated in the apparatus main body in the first state in which the guide member overlaps the cover, so that the apparatus can be downsized.

Further, according to the present invention, the driving means includes a rack member which reversibly moves in the sheet conveying direction in conjunction with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin, and the guide member is provided inside the apparatus body of the lid. It is provided so as to be angularly displaceable about the axis of a shaft provided to protrude from the one side surface. The sector gear formed on the guide member and the rack member mesh with each other and the guide member is angularly displaced by the movement of the rack member, so that the guide member is reliably driven into either the first state or the second state. can do.

According to the present invention, the rack member has a base end, and a support projection is formed near the base end of the lid that is bent in a direction away from the inner surface of the apparatus main body. It is loosely fitted into a support hole formed in a rack support bracket provided in the apparatus main body. This makes it possible to move the rack member in the sheet feeding direction with a simple configuration, so that the rack member can be easily moved in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the lid, and the guide member is moved by the movement of the rack member. Can be driven.

Further, according to the present invention, the support projection loosely fitted in the support hole is interlocked with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin,
The rack member is moved in the sheet conveyance direction by moving in the V-shaped support hole of the rack support bracket. Therefore, the movement of the rack member in the sheet conveying direction can be realized by a simple mechanical structure, so that the cost can be reduced, and the driving means is less likely to malfunction and the life of the apparatus can be extended.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a simplified configuration of an image forming apparatus 21 which is a sheet guiding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which a cover 26 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which a cover 26 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing a simplified configuration of the image forming apparatus 21 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the image forming apparatus 21.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the operation of the support protrusion 38a loosely fitted in the support hole 48a.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state where the lid 26 is at a position where the transfer port 24 is closed.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state where the lid 26 is at a position in the middle of opening and closing.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state where the cover 26 is at a position where the transfer port 24 is opened.

FIG. 10 is a side view also showing the operation of the lid 26 shown in FIGS. 7 to 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a simplified configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus 1.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a simplified configuration of another conventional image forming apparatus 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Image forming apparatus 22 Recording paper 23 Device main body 24 Transport port 26 Lid 27 Guide member 28 Driving means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AQ05 AQ06 AS02 CD07 CD14 3F063 AB06 AC03 AD01 BA04 BA08 BC01 CA04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A device main body to which a sheet body is guided, a lid which can be opened and closed by a horizontally extending hinge pin which defines a transport port formed in the apparatus main body, and a lid which has a predetermined position where the transport port is closed. It takes two stable positions where the conveyance port is opened by being inclined at an angle. The first state is provided on the lid, and the sheet state is guided by projecting from the lid in a direction overlapping with the lid and away from the hinge pin. A guide member capable of taking two states of a second state to be supported; and a first state in which the guide member overlaps the lid when the lid is closed at a position where the lid is closed, in conjunction with angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin. And a driving means for driving the guide member to the second state where the guide member protrudes from the cover when the cover opens the conveyance port. 2. The sheet body guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is provided on an inner side of the lid body. 3. The drive means includes a rack member which reversibly moves in a sheet conveying direction in conjunction with angular displacement of the lid around a hinge pin, and wherein the guide member has an inner surface of the lid body. The guide member is provided with a sector gear, and the sector gear of the guide member and the rack member mesh with each other, and the rack member moves to guide the guide member. 3. The sheet body guiding device according to claim 1, wherein the member is driven from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state. 4. A rack member comprising: an extension portion extending in the sheet conveying direction along the inner surface of the lid body; and a base end portion bent in a direction away from the inner surface of the lid body. A support projection is formed near the base end of the rack member and extends parallel to the inner surface of the lid body and perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, and the rack body supports the rack member. The sheet guide device according to claim 3, further comprising a rack support bracket, a support hole formed in the rack support bracket, and the support protrusion being loosely fitted in the support hole. (5) The support hole is formed in a V-shape in the rack support bracket, and (b) the rack support hole is formed so that the corner of the V-shaped support hole is closest to the hinge pin. A bracket is provided on the apparatus main body. (C) The support hole has at least a resting recess, an operating recess, and a deployment recess. The resting recess is located at one end of the V-shaped support hole, The operating recess is located at the corner of the V-shaped support hole, the deployment recess is located at the other end of the V-shaped support hole, and (d) a support that is loosely fitted into the support hole. The projection is moved from the rest recess to the working recess to the developing recess in conjunction with the angular displacement of the lid around the hinge pin, or by moving from the deploying recess to the working recess to the rest recess to seat the rack member. 5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the body moves in a body transport direction. Body guidance device.