JP2002347955A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder capable of improving setting performance of paper sheets in a paper feed cassette. SOLUTION: This paper feeder is provided with a paper feed cassette 1 drawable from a device body and side plates 7 having guide plates 8 regulating the width direction of the paper sheets P. This device is characterized in that an air bag 2 is disposed between the device body 3 and the paper feed cassette 1, an air bag 10 is disposed in a hollow part or a clearance part 9 formed between the side plates 7 and the guide plates 8 movable for regulating the width of the paper sheets, and a flowing part 6 in which the inside air freely flows between the both air bags is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette which can be pulled out from an apparatus main body, and more particularly to a side plate provided with a guide plate for regulating the width direction of a sheet or a guide plate for regulating a rear end face in a sheet conveying direction. The present invention relates to a paper feeder of a type having a provided regulating plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A sheet feeder has a side plate (hereinafter, referred to as a side fence) for regulating the width direction of a sheet and / or a regulating plate (hereinafter, referred to as an end fence) for regulating a rear end face in a sheet conveying direction. Is generally provided, and is mainly small in size, and the number of stacked sheets is 50.
In a sheet cassette having 0 sheets or less, a mechanism is provided in which a user can freely slide the side fence and the end fence in the width direction and the conveyance direction, and can lock the fence at an arbitrary position. In the case of the paper feeding device having such a mechanism, the side fence and the end fence may move outward from the installed position due to the play of the slide or the play of the lock, and the paper is skewed during paper feeding. Or unsending may occur. to solve this problem,
There have been proposals in which an elastic material is attached to the regulating surfaces of the side fence and the end fence, or a leaf spring or the like is provided to obtain a regulating force in the width direction or the transport direction of the sheet. Also, a bottom plate is provided in the paper feed cassette whose front end swings around a fulcrum on the rear end side, and by urging the bottom plate upward, the paper stacked thereon is pressed against the paper feed roller. In the case of the paper feeding device, the distance from the end fence to the paper feeding roller contact is minimum when the paper is fully loaded and increases as the paper passes. Also, the angle of the trailing edge of the paper changes. For this reason, in the end fence installed at the time of full loading, the regulation of the transport direction is weakened as the paper is passed, which may adversely affect the transport performance such as non-feeding and double feeding. In order to solve this problem, proposals have been made in which an elastic material is attached to the regulating surface of the end fence or a leaf spring or the like is provided to obtain a regulating force in the transport direction, as described above.

[0003]

In the conventional paper feeding device, in order to obtain a regulating force in the width direction or the conveyance direction of the paper, the side fence and the end fence are aligned so as to come in contact with the paper surface as much as possible. An elastic material is attached to the regulating surface of the side fence or end fence, or a leaf spring is installed.When setting paper in the paper cassette, the paper may interfere with the side fence or end fence and set. There was a problem that it was difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device that can solve the problems of such a conventional sheet feeding cassette and can improve the sheet setting property.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feed cassette which can be pulled out from an apparatus body and a side plate provided with a guide plate for regulating a width direction of the paper. In the paper feeding device having the air bag disposed between the apparatus main body and the paper feeding cassette, a hollow portion or a gap portion provided between the side plate and a guide plate movable to regulate the width of the paper is also provided. The most important feature is that an air bag is arranged, and a flow portion is provided between the two air bags so that the internal air can freely flow. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding apparatus having a sheet feeding cassette which can be pulled out from the apparatus main body and a regulating plate provided with a guide plate for regulating a rear end surface of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction. A bladder is arranged between the cassettes, and a bladder is also arranged in a cavity or a gap between the regulating plate and a guide plate movable to regulate the position of the rear end face of the sheet. The most important feature is that a flow section is provided between the inside and the inside so that the air inside can flow freely. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder of the second aspect, the guide plate for regulating the position of the rear end face of the sheet is swingably and / or slidably attached to the regulation plate. Main features.

[0005]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a state in which a paper feed cassette is pulled out of the apparatus main body in the paper feed apparatus according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which a sheet cassette is set in the apparatus main body in the sheet feeding apparatus according to the embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a specific example of the guide plate according to the first embodiment. The paper feed cassette 1 includes a first balloon bag 2 attached to the rear side in the cassette pull-out direction and a pair of side fences 7 that can be manually moved in the width direction to guide the paper P in the width direction. Is provided. And on the guide surface side of the side fence 7,
A guide plate 8 that is movable in a direction for guiding the width of the sheet P is attached. Further, a cavity or gap 9 is provided between the side fence 7 and the guide plate 8 as shown in FIG. 2, in which a second balloon bag 10 is accommodated, and a first balloon bag 2 is provided. A pipe 6, which is a flow part through which the internal air can freely flow, is provided between the second balloon bag 10 and the second balloon bag 10. These balloon bags (air bags) are made of a flexible and elastic material, preferably rubber or vinyl, which does not allow air to pass through, and can change their shape flexibly by external force. The paper feed cassette 1 is provided in the fixed portion 3 in the main body device.
The convex portion 4 is formed at a position where the air bag 2 is crushed when the device is set in the apparatus main body, and the sheet feeding roller 5 is held.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out from the apparatus fixing portion 3, the first balloon bag 2 is not subjected to an external force, so that the inside of the tube 6 is at atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the guide plate 8 attached to the side fence 7 at this time is in a state of being in contact with the side fence 7 or in a free state as shown in FIG. It can be placed in a state where it is done. As shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the sheet cassette 1 is set in the main body fixing portion 3, the first balloon bag 2 is crushed by the convex portion 4 provided in the main body fixing portion 3 and receives an external force. Air pressure is generated in the air bag 6, and as shown in FIG. 4, the air inside the first balloon bag 2 flows to the second air bag 10, and the second air bag 10 is inflated. Accordingly, since the guide plate 8 moves in the direction of regulating the width of the sheet P and maintains the pressure, it is possible to eliminate a gap due to backlash or the like of the side fence 7 shown as α in FIG. FIG. 5 shows an example of the guide plate 8 devised to facilitate the setting of the paper P when the position of the side fence 7 is already fixed. A spring 11 is provided between the side fence 7 and the guide plate 8 so that the second air bag 10 is always in close contact with the side fence 7 when contracted. The reason for this is to secure space for setting the paper P. When the paper P is pulled out of the apparatus main body and the paper P is set by the mechanism, the side fence is always opened wider than the paper width, so that the setting operation can be easily performed. Also, paper P
The guide plate 8 is provided with a chamfered portion 8a so as not to catch on the guide plate 8 when setting.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the paper feed cassette is pulled out from the apparatus main body in the paper feed apparatus according to the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 8, showing a state in which a paper feed cassette is set in the apparatus main body in the paper feed apparatus according to the second embodiment. A first balloon bag 2 attached to the rear side in the cassette drawing direction and a paper P
And an end fence 15 which can be manually moved in the transport direction in order to guide the transport direction. On the guide surface side of the end fence 15, a guide plate 14 that is movable in a direction for guiding the sheet P in the transport direction is attached. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a hollow portion or a gap portion 17 is provided between the end fence 15 and the guide plate 14, in which a third balloon bag 18 is accommodated, and a first balloon bag 2 is provided. The third balloon bag 18 is communicated with the third balloon bag 18 by a pipe 19 which is a flow portion through which the air inside can flow freely. As shown in FIG. 6, in a state where the sheet cassette 1 is pulled out from the fixing portion 3 of the main body device, the inside of the pipe 19 is at the atmospheric pressure because the first balloon bag 2 is not subjected to external force. Therefore, at this time, the guide plate 14 attached to the end fence 15 is in a state of being in contact with the end fence 15 or in a free state as shown in FIG. Can be placed in As shown in FIG. 8, when the sheet cassette 1 is set in the fixing portion 3 of the main device, the first balloon bag 2 is attached to the fixing portion 3 of the main device.
The tube 1 is crushed by the convex portion 4 provided therein and receives an external force.
The air pressure is generated in the inside 9, and the third balloon bag 18 expands as shown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, the guide plate 14 moves in the direction that regulates the transport direction of the paper P, and maintains the pressure, so that the gap β due to the play of the end fence 15 as shown in FIG. 7 as β can be eliminated. Further, the guide plate 14 is provided with a chamfered portion 14a so as not to be hooked on the guide plate 14 when the paper P is set.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which the paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out in the paper feeder according to the third embodiment, FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 10, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 12, showing a state in which the paper feed cassette 1 is set in the paper feed apparatus according to the embodiment. In the third embodiment, the guide plate 16 of the end fence 15 is swung. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the guide plate 16 is attached to the end fence 15 such that the attachment portions 16a at both ends are fitted into the pins 21 planted on both sides of the end fence 15. Therefore, the guide plate 16 can slide in the direction for regulating the paper transport direction, and
1 can be swung about a fulcrum. The third balloon bag 18 is provided in the same manner as in the second embodiment. The paper feed cassette 1 is provided with a push-up plate 22 on which the paper P is loaded. As shown in FIG. 14, the push-up plate 22 is
The paper P is pressed against the paper feed roller 5 by being urged upward by the force of the spring 24 around the support shaft 23 provided at the center. As in the second embodiment, the third
When the balloon bag 18 is inflated, the guide plate 16 swings with the pin 21 as a fulcrum and regulates the rear end of the sheet P as shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a case where the amount of paper loaded on the push-up plate is large, and FIG. As shown in FIG.
When a large amount of paper is loaded, the rear end of the paper is
However, as shown in FIG. 15, when the sheet stacking amount is small, the push-up plate 22 is inclined upward by the angle θ, so that the lower side is wide between the end of the sheet P and the guide surface of the end fence. A triangular gap γ is generated. However, in the paper feeder of the third embodiment, the lower side of the guide plate 16 swings greatly, and when the paper feed cassette is set, the third balloon bag 18 expands to eliminate this gap. it can. Also,
As in the case of the guide plate 14 of the second embodiment, it is possible to eliminate gaps due to play of the end fence. Further, by providing the chamfered portion 16b as in the second embodiment, the sheet setting property can be improved.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the side fence is regulated in the width direction by utilizing the air pressure accompanying the attachment / detachment of the sheet cassette, and the sheet width end is set when the sheet cassette is set. Since the regulation is made by the air pressure and the regulation is released when the sheet cassette is pulled out, the sheet setting property is improved and the sheet can be fed with high reliability. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the regulation of the conveyance direction of the end fence is operated by using the air pressure accompanying the attachment / detachment of the sheet cassette, and when the sheet cassette is set, the rear end of the sheet is regulated by the air pressure, In addition, since the regulation is released when the paper feed cassette is pulled out, the sheet setting property is improved, and highly reliable paper feed can be performed. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the guide plate of the end fence is swingable, the guide plate is tilted in accordance with the rise of the push-up plate, thereby eliminating the gap generated at the rear end of the sheet accompanying the sheet passing. Can be. Therefore, highly reliable paper feeding can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a paper feed cassette is pulled out from a main body of a paper feeder according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding cassette is set in the apparatus main body in the sheet feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a specific example of a guide plate according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a paper feed cassette is pulled out from the apparatus main body in the paper feed apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding cassette is set in an apparatus main body in the sheet feeding apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a paper feed cassette is pulled out from a main body of the paper feed device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 illustrates a sheet feeding device according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a sheet cassette is set in the apparatus main body.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a case where the amount of paper loaded on the push-up plate is large.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a case where the amount of stacked paper on the push-up plate is small.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 paper cassette, 2 first balloon bag, 3 fixing part, 4
Convex part, 5 paper feed rollers, 6 tubes, 7 side fences,
8 Guide plate, 8a chamfer, 9 cavity, 10 second balloon bag, 11 spring, 14 guide plate, 14a chamfer, 15 end fence, 18 third balloon bag, 1
9 tube, 21 pin, 22 push-up plate, 23 support shaft, 24
spring

Claims (3)

[Claims] An air bag is disposed between the apparatus main body and the paper supply cassette in a paper supply apparatus having a paper supply cassette that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body and a side plate having a guide plate that regulates the width direction of the sheet. In addition, an air bag is also arranged in a hollow portion or a gap portion provided between the side plate and a guide plate movable so as to regulate the width of the sheet, and the internal air flows freely between the two air bags. A sheet feeding device, characterized in that a flow portion is provided. 2. A paper feeder having a paper feed cassette that can be pulled out from an apparatus main body and a regulating plate provided with a guide plate that regulates a rear end face in a sheet conveying direction. A bag is arranged, and an air bag is also arranged in a cavity or a gap between the regulating plate and a guide plate movable so as to regulate the position of the rear end face of the sheet. A sheet feeding device provided with a flow portion through which air can flow freely. 3. The paper feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the guide plate for regulating the position of the rear end surface of the sheet is swingably and / or slidably attached to the regulation plate. apparatus.