JP2003048632A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of forming images on various sheets while keeping a cost increase to a minimum. SOLUTION: Feeders 51-54 individually having sheet storing parts and sheet feeding parts 51A-54A for feeding sheets are additionally provided in the plural number on a device body 50 in the vertical direction. A driving part 56 is provided for the feeder 53 additionally provided in position, out of the feeders 51-54 additionally provided in the plural number. The driving part 56 is used to drive the sheet feeding parts 53A, 54A of the feeder 53 and the feeder 54 adjacent to the feeder 53.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus in which a plurality of feeders each provided with a sheet storage section and a sheet feeding section for feeding sheets can be added in the vertical direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer mainly in a low / medium speed class, a feeder is provided at a lower portion of an apparatus main body including a reader section and an image forming section, and a sheet storage section and a sheet are fed. There is one in which a plurality of feeders each having a paper feeding unit for feeding can be added in the vertical direction.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a cassette extension state in such a conventional image forming apparatus. In FIG. 11, 90 is an apparatus main body provided with an image forming section and a reader section (not shown), and 92 is. It is a feeder provided at the bottom of the apparatus main body 90. Further, 91 is a motor which is a drive unit provided in the apparatus main body, and the motor 91 supplies drive to each unit (not shown) and the feeder 92 in the apparatus main body. The motor 91 drives a sheet feeding unit (not shown) so that the sheets in the feeder 92 are fed to the image forming unit.

On the other hand, reference numerals 93 to 95 denote additional feeders optionally added to the lower portion of the main body 90 of the apparatus. These additional feeders 93 to 95 feed sheets (not shown) housed therein, respectively. Section and sheet feeding motors 96 to 98 which are driving sections for driving the sheet feeding section.

Then, in this way, a plurality of extension feeders 9
3 to 95 can be added in the vertical direction, and various sheets (different size, colored paper, etc.) can be stored in each of these extension feeders 93 to 95 to form images on various sheets desired by the user. I am trying.

FIG. 12 is a view showing another cassette extension state in the conventional image forming apparatus. In FIG. 12, 100 is an apparatus main body, and 102 is a feeder provided below the apparatus main body 100. Further, 101 is a main motor which is a drive unit provided in the apparatus main body, and the main motor 101 supplies drive to each unit (not shown) and the feeder 102 in the apparatus main body.

On the other hand, 103 is an additional feeder optionally added to the lower part of the apparatus main body 100, and is provided with a paper feed unit (not shown) for feeding the stored sheets. The additional feeder 103 does not have a drive unit for driving the paper feed unit, and the drive of the paper feed unit is performed by the main motor 101 of the apparatus main body 100. The cost of the additional feeder 103 is reduced by configuring as above.

[0008]

However, the conventional image forming apparatus in which such an additional feeder can be added has the following problems and disadvantages.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11 described above, the dedicated feeder motors 96 to 9 are respectively provided to the additional feeders 93 to 95.
In the case of the configuration in which 8 is provided, a multi-stage paper feed configuration can be adopted to accommodate various sheets, but an increase in the cost of the entire product is inevitable.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12 described above, in the structure in which the drive is supplied from the apparatus main body 100 to the additional feeder 103, it is difficult to balance the cost with the number of sheet feeding stages to be set. That is, when aiming at multi-stage paper feeding, the apparatus main body 10
It is necessary to increase the size of the main motor 102 of 0, which causes an increase in cost of the standard model (apparatus body 100). Further, if the size of the main motor 102 is suppressed by giving importance to cost in the standard model (apparatus main body 100), the number of additional stages of the additional feeder 103 is limited, and the user needs to form an image on various sheets. I will not be able to respond.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on various sheets while suppressing an increase in cost as much as possible. Is.

[0012]

The present invention provides a device main body,
An image forming apparatus capable of adding a plurality of feeders each including a sheet storage section and a sheet feeding section for feeding sheets, wherein a main body side drive section is provided in the apparatus main body, and the plurality of feeders are added. A feeder close to the apparatus main body is driven by the main body side drive unit, a drive unit is provided in a feeder to be added at a predetermined position among the plurality of added feeders, and the feeder is added to the predetermined position by the drive unit. The present invention is characterized in that the sheet feeding section of the feeder and the sheet feeding section of the feeder adjacent to the feeder are driven.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a feeder in which the sheet feeding section is driven by the main body side driving section of the apparatus main body, and a feeder in which the sheet feeding section is driven by the driving section of the feeder added to the predetermined position. It is characterized by having the same structure.

According to the present invention, the feeder additionally installed at the predetermined position transmits the drive of the drive section of the feeder to the sheet feeding section of the feeder and drives the feeder driven by the drive section of the feeder. The feeder driven by the driving unit of the feeder added to the predetermined position includes a relay unit to which the drive of the driving unit is transmitted from the transmitting unit, and a receiver which is received by the relay unit. And a transmission section that transmits the drive to the sheet feeding section.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the transmission part of the feeder added to the predetermined position and the transmission part of the feeder driven by the drive part of the feeder added to the predetermined position have the same structure. It is what

Further, according to the present invention, a feeder having the same structure as the feeder is connected to a feeder driven by a driving unit of the feeder additionally installed at the predetermined position, and the drive from the driving unit is transferred to the relay unit and the transmission unit. It is characterized in that it is sequentially transmitted to the feeder through the section.

Further, according to the present invention, the feeder driven by the main body side drive section is received by the relay section and the relay section to which the drive from the main body side drive section is transmitted via the main body side transmission section. A transmission unit for transmitting the drive to the sheet feeding unit, and the transmission unit transmits the feeder driven by the transmission unit of the feeder installed at the predetermined position and the drive unit of the feeder installed at the predetermined position. It has the same structure as the section.

Further, according to the present invention, a feeder having the same structure as the feeder is connected to a feeder driven by the main body side drive section, and the drive from the main body side drive section is sequentially performed through the relay section and the transmission section. It is characterized in that it is transmitted to the feeder.

Further, according to the present invention, the drive unit of the feeder added at the predetermined position is driven by the relay unit of the feeder driven by the drive unit of the feeder added at the predetermined position or the main body side drive unit. It is characterized in that it can be replaced with the relay section of the feeder.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined position is below a feeder in which a sheet feeding section is driven by the main body side driving section.

The present invention is also characterized in that each of the plurality of added feeders has one or a plurality of sheet feeding sections.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the schematic arrangement of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is an image forming apparatus,
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus body 50 and an apparatus body 50.
And an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 2 mounted on the upper surface of the. Here, the scanner unit 6 which is an image reading unit is arranged at the top of the apparatus main body 50, and the image forming unit 3 is arranged at the center.

Further, at the lower part of the apparatus main body 50, there are a manual paper feeding section 7, or a permanent feeder 51, which will be described later, and registration rollers 4 for conveying the sheets fed from the additional feeders 52 to 54 to the image forming section 3. The provided sheet conveying unit 5 is arranged.

Then, the image forming apparatus 1 having such a configuration.
When a start button (not shown) is pressed, the scanner unit 6 starts reading the original G, and then a toner image is formed in the image forming unit 3 based on the read image information of the original G. This toner image is fed to the manual paper feed unit 7, or the permanent feeder 51 and the additional feeders 52 to 5
It is adapted to be transferred to the sheet S fed from No. 4.

Next, the sheet S on which the toner image is transferred is
The toner image transferred to the fixing device 8 is fixed on the sheet by the fixing device 8. Then, after the toner image is fixed in this manner, the sheet S is ejected onto the sheet ejection tray 9
It is designed to be discharged above.

By the way, the image forming apparatus 1 includes feeders 51 to 51 capable of accommodating 250 sheets S in four stages at the maximum.
54 is mountable. Further, each of the feeders 51 to 54 is configured so as to be completely separated from the apparatus main body 50, and when mounted (added) to the apparatus main body 50, as shown in FIG. The device main body 50 and the feeder 51,
Alternatively, the feeders are connected to each other.

By separating the apparatus main body 50 and the feeders 51 to 54 in this manner, it is possible to connect another feeder capable of storing, for example, 500 sheets, or a standard model (the apparatus main body 50). It is possible to improve the flexibility and expandability of the product, for example, by providing only the manual paper feed section 7.

In the present embodiment, for example, the apparatus main body 50 is provided so as to meet a wide range of user needs.
In this case, one feeder 51 is permanently installed, and three additional feeders 52 to 54 are optionally added.

By the way, each of these feeders 51-54
Is a cassette 10 which is a sheet storage portion made of ABS resin or the like, an intermediate plate 12 which is a sheet stacking base rotatable around a fulcrum 13a provided on the cassette 10, and both ends of the sheet S facing the cassette 10. And a pair of separating claws 11 serving as an upward regulation unit for feeding the uppermost sheet S1 among the sheets S on the middle plate one by one, and an upper regulating unit in the standby state of the sheets S, respectively. .

Further, each of these feeders 51 to 54 is
Separation part provided with a pickup roller 21 having a substantially half-moon shape, a feed roller 22, and a retard roller 23 that is reversely driven and transmitted via a torque limiter (not shown) on the same axis, and is arranged on the downstream side of the separation part. Further, sheet feeding units 51A to 54A including a pair of conveying rollers 24 and 25 are provided.

At the time of image formation, the sheets S stored in the cassette 10 are picked up by the pickup roller 21 and the separation claw 1.
After being separated one by one by the separation unit and the separation unit, they are conveyed to the image forming unit 3 via the pair of conveying rollers 24 and 25. In the figure, 13 is a compression coil spring for pushing up the intermediate plate 12 toward the pickup roller 21.

On the other hand, FIG. 3 shows such an image forming apparatus 1.
2 and drive units of the feeders 51 to 54. In the figure, reference numeral 55 denotes a main motor which is provided in the apparatus main body 50 and is a main body side drive unit that drives the image forming unit 3 and the sheet conveying unit 5. Reference numeral 57 denotes a transmission gear that constitutes a relay portion provided in a feeder (hereinafter referred to as a permanent feeder) 51 that is permanently installed in the apparatus main body 50, and 58 is a drive transmission gear train that is a main body side transmission portion that is provided in the apparatus main body 50. The drive of the main motor 55 is transmitted to the transmission gear 57 of the permanent feeder 51 via the drive transmission gear train 58.

Reference numeral 32 denotes the drive of the main motor 55 transmitted to the transmission gear 57, and the sheet feeding section 51 of the permanent feeder 51.
The input gear 32 is a transmission unit that transmits to A, and the input gear 32 meshes with the transmission gear 57. Accordingly, when the transmission gear 57 is rotated by the drive of the main motor 55, the input gear 32 is rotated accordingly, and the sheet feeding portion 51A is rotated.
Are being driven.

The first additional feeder 52, which is optionally set directly below the permanent feeder 51, is provided with the transmission gear 57 and the input gear 32, like the permanent feeder 51. When the first extension feeder 52 is added directly below the permanent feeder 51, the permanent feeder 51
The input gear 32 and the transmission gear 57 are meshed with each other.

As a result, when the first additional feeder 52 is added, the main motor 55 provided in the main assembly 50 of the apparatus.
As a result, the input gear 32 of the first additional feeder 52 rotates via the transmission gear 57, and the sheet feeding portion 52A is driven. As described above, the permanent feeder 51 and the first additional feeder 52 are driven by the main motor 55 provided in the apparatus main body 50.

On the other hand, the second add-on feeder 53, which is added directly below the first add-on feeder 52 whose paper feed section is driven by the main motor 55 at a predetermined position, is equipped with a stepping motor 56 as a drive section. The rotation of the stepping motor 56 is transmitted to the input gear 32 via the idler gear 59, so that the sheet feeding portion 53A of the second additional feeder 53 is driven.

In the present embodiment, this second
The third extension feeder 54 is added directly below the extension feeder 53. Here, this second extension feeder 5
The third extension feeder 54, which is a feeder close to 3,
Like the permanent feeder 51 and the first additional feeder 52 described above, the input gear 32 and the transmission gear 57 are provided.

When the third add-on feeder 54 is installed directly below the second add-on feeder 53, the input gear 32 of the second add-on feeder 53 and the transmission gear 57 mesh with each other. As a result, the second extension feeder 5
When the stepping motor 56 of No. 3 rotates, the input gear 3
2 rotates via the transmission gear 57, and the sheet feeding portion 54A is driven.

As described above, when the paper is fed from the third additional feeder 54, the drive is transmitted from the stepping motor 56 to the input gear 32 through the idler gear 59, and the paper feed is driven in the same manner as described above. . That is, when feeding paper from the third additional feeder 54, the drive is supplied to the transmission gear 57 via the input gear 32 of the second additional feeder 53 so that the third additional feeder 54 performs the paper feeding operation. You can

Next, the feeder 51 configured as described above.
The paper feeding operation of 54 to 54 will be described.

In each of the feeders 51 to 54, when a paper feed command is issued to a predetermined feeder 51 to 54 from a control unit (not shown) of the apparatus main body 50, the main motor 55 or the stepping motor 56 is rotated. Then, by the rotation of the motors 55 and 56, first, the corresponding feeder 51 is
The pickup rollers 21 to 54 start rotating from the position shown in FIG. 4A, and thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4B, of the sheets S stacked on the middle plate 2, Contact the sheet S1.

The input gear 3 of each feeder 51-54
2 and the sheet feeding units 51A to 54A, a clutch mechanism using a toothless gear controlled by the control unit is provided, and the other feeders 51 to 51 are controlled by the clutch mechanism.
The pickup roller 21 of 54 does not rotate. Details of the clutch mechanism using this toothless gear will be described later.

Next, in this state, the pickup roller 21
When is further rotated, as shown in FIG. 5A, the leading end of the uppermost sheet S1 is disengaged from the separation claw 11 and enters the separation section. Here, the retard roller 23 that constitutes this separation unit is connected to the motors 55 and 56 that are drive units via a so-called torque limiter, which is a power transmission mechanism that idles when a torque of a predetermined value or more is applied as a load.

Therefore, when one sheet S1 is fed, the load torque applied to the torque limiter from the sheet S1 via the retard roller 23 exceeds a predetermined value, and the torque limiter idles. As a result, the retard roller 23 is driven to rotate by the sheet S1 conveyed by the feed roller 22.

On the other hand, the feed roller 22 is in synchronization with one rotation of the pickup roller 21 and is the second one shown in FIG.
The driving force is transmitted by a driving force transmission mechanism having a clutch gear 36, and the sheet S1 is conveyed to the downstream conveying roller pair 24, 25.
To transport. After that, the feed roller 22 is driven to rotate by the sheet S1 that is transported to the downstream transport roller pair 24, 25.

When the separating claw 11 cannot completely separate the sheets and two or more sheets are sent to the separating section, the frictional force between the sheets is applied as a load torque to the torque limiter via the retard roller 23, Since this value is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the torque limiter does not idle and the retard roller 23
Rotates in the direction of returning the sheet to the cassette 10. As a result, even if the separation claw 11 fails to separate the sheets, the separation unit prevents the sheets S from being double-fed to the downstream side.

Next, the paper feeding section 51 of each feeder 51-54.
The drive transmission mechanisms A to 54A will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. In the present embodiment, each feeder 5
The sheet feeding units 51A to 54A of 1 to 54 have the same configuration as shown in FIG. 1, and the drive transmission mechanism thereof is also the same.

As described above, the stepping motor 56 of the extension feeder 53 or the main motor 55 of the apparatus main body 50.
When the drive is transmitted from the transmission gear 57 via the transmission gear 57, the input gear 32 is first transmitted in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow.
Then, this drive is finally transmitted to the pickup roller 21, the feed roller 22, the retard roller 23, and the transport roller 24 via the first and second clutch gears 35 and 36 and the full-tooth gear 37 that are coaxial. .

Here, the full-tooth gear 37 is the idler gear 3
The retard gear 3 of the retard roller 23 via 8, 40
9 and the transport roller gear 41 of the transport roller 24 constantly transmit the drive. In addition, the first clutch gear 35
Is a toothless gear 35a that meshes with the pickup gear 33 that rotates the pickup roller 21 at a predetermined timing.
The second clutch gear 36 includes a toothless gear 36a that meshes with the input gear 32 and a toothless gear 36b that transmits the drive force to the feed gear 34 that rotates the feed roller 22.

Incidentally, the first and second clutch gears 35, 3
Reference numeral 6 is fitted by a boss (not shown) so as to rotate coaxially and integrally. Also, the feed roller 2
The 2 and the retard roller 23 are arranged so that they can be easily replaced by being attached to the cantilevered shafts 22a and 23a for supporting the front side as shown in FIG.

By the way, the cam portion 35b of the first clutch gear 35 is formed with a claw portion 35c for locking the tip of the flapper 31a of the sheet feeding solenoid 31, and the end portion of the cam portion 35b has a torsion coil spring. Cam lever 42 biased by cam 43 in the direction of arrow K with respect to cam portion 35b
Is pressed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the clutch gear 3
When the tip of the flapper 31a of the sheet feeding solenoid 31 is locked to the claw portion 35c of the cam portion 35b of No. 5, the first clutch gear 35 does not mesh with the pickup gear 33 against the pressure contact force of the cam lever 42. , The second clutch gear 3
6 is held at a position where it does not mesh with the input gear 32.

In this state, that is, when there is no drive input to the pickup gear 33, the pickup roller 21 has a notch portion with a notch portion by the urging means (not shown).
It stands by at a position (see (a) of FIG. 4) opposed to.

Next, when a paper feed command is issued in this state, the paper feed solenoid 31 is first excited and the flapper 31 is excited.
a is disengaged from the claw portion 35c of the first clutch gear 35. Then, due to the action of the cam lever 42, the first and second clutch gears 35 and 36 start to rotate integrally in the clockwise direction. Then, as described above, the first and second clutch gears 3
When the gears 5, 36 start rotating, the toothless gear 36a of the second clutch gear 36 then meshes with the input gear 32, whereby the drive is transmitted to the first and second clutch gears 35, 36.

Next, when the drive is transmitted to the first and second clutch gears 35 and 36 in this way, the tooth-chipped gear 35a of the first clutch gear 35 is eventually replaced by the pickup gear 3.
3, and the pickup roller 21 starts to rotate. Further, the partly tooth-missing gear 36b of the second clutch gear 36 meshes with the feed gear 34 at a predetermined timing, and the feed roller 22 starts rotating accordingly.

As described above, according to the present drive transmission mechanism, it is possible to perform the synchronous control of the pickup roller 21 and the forward rotation feed roller 22 and the one-rotation control of the pickup roller 21 with only one electric component of the sheet feeding solenoid 31. Become.

As a result, the sheets S stored in the permanent feeder 51 or the additional feeders 52 to 54 are separated one by one by the pickup roller 21, the separating claw 11 and the separating section, and then the conveying roller pairs 24 and 25 are inserted. After that, it is conveyed to the image forming unit 3.

As described above, the stepping motor 56 of the second extension feeder 53 brings the second extension feeder 53 close to the second extension feeder 53. In the present embodiment, the second extension feeder 53.
54A of the third extension feeder 54 located immediately below
By also driving the sheet, it is possible to form an image on various sheets while suppressing the cost increase as much as possible. Further, along with this, multi-stage sheet feeding is possible without increasing the size of the main motor 55 equipped in the apparatus main body 50, and as a result, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom and expandability as a product.

By the way, as described above, the feeder mounted on the apparatus main body 50 is the second extension feeder 53 having the stepping motor 56, and the main motor 55 of the apparatus main body 50 or the stepping motor 56 of the second extension feeder 53. Permanent and additional feeders 51 driven by
There are two types, 52 and 54.

Here, as described above, each feeder 51-
The paper feeding units 51A to 54A of 54 have the same configuration, and the feeders 51 to 54 are respectively provided with the input gear 32. That is, the feeders 51, 5 that receive the drive supply
2, 54 have exactly the same configuration.

Further, in the present embodiment, the stepping motor 56 of the second extension feeder 53 is connected to the transmission gear 5.
It is configured to be replaceable with 7. Accordingly, if the transmission gear 57 is attached instead of the stepping motor 56,
The second extension feeder 53 is a feeder 5 that receives a drive supply.
The configuration is exactly the same as 1, 52, 54.

By thus making the stepping motor 56 and the transmission gear 57 exchangeable, the feeders can be diverted. As a result, standardization of parts and units is promoted, and it is possible to provide a feeder that greatly contributes to cost reduction and REM (remanufacturing) and an image forming apparatus 1 including the feeder.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a cassette addition state in the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the permanent feeder 61 capable of storing 250 sheets and the five-stage additional feeders 62 to 66 capable of storing 250 sheets can be mounted. Here, the second additional feeder 63 from the top and the second additional feeder 65 from the bottom which are additionally provided respectively include a stepping motor 68 which is a drive unit.

The permanent feeder 61 mounted on the apparatus main body 60 and the first additional extension feeder 62 added are connected to the main motor 67 of the apparatus main body 60 and the third extension feeder 64 is changed to the second extension feeder 63. From the stepping motor 68, the bottom extension feeder 66 is the stepping motor 68 of the second extension feeder 65 from the bottom.
It is designed to receive drive supply from each. As a result, it is possible to adopt a flexible multi-stage paper feed structure without increasing the cost of the product.

Also in this embodiment, the stepping motor 68 and the input gear (see FIG. 3) are used as the feeder.
And a stepping motor 68 are used instead of the stepping motor 68. Two kinds of transmission gears (see FIG. 3) and an input gear are used. The motor 68 and the transmission gear are replaceable.

As a result, similar to the above-described first embodiment, the feeder can be diverted by exchanging the stepping motor 68 and the transmission gear. As a result, standardization of parts and units is promoted, and cost is reduced. It is possible to provide a feeder that greatly contributes to down and REM (remanufacturing) and an image forming apparatus 1 including the feeder.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cassette addition state in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, one permanent feeder 71 capable of storing 500 sheets and two-stage additional feeders 72, 73 capable of storing 500 sheets can be mounted. Here, the added first additional feeder 72 from the top includes a stepping motor 75 which is a drive unit.

The permanent feeder 71 mounted on the apparatus body 70 is from the main motor 74 of the apparatus body 70, and the second extension feeder 73 is the first extension feeder 7.
Each of the two stepping motors 75 is adapted to receive a drive supply. As a result, it is possible to adopt a flexible multi-stage paper feed structure without increasing the cost of the product.

Also in this embodiment, a stepping motor 75 and an input gear (see FIG. 3) are used as a feeder.
And a stepping motor 75 are used instead of the stepping motor 75. Two types of transmission gears (see FIG. 3) and input gears are used. The motor 75 and the transmission gear are replaceable.

As a result, similar to the above-described first and second embodiments, the feeder can be diverted by exchanging the stepping motor 75 and the transmission gear, and as a result, commonalization of parts and units is promoted. Cost reduction and RE
It is possible to provide a feeder that greatly contributes to M (remanufacturing) and an image forming apparatus 1 including the feeder.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the feeder having one sheet feeding section has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of sheet feeding sections are arranged in the vertical direction. You may use the feeder of.

Further, although the configuration has been described so far in which the extension feeder provided with the drive unit drives the extension feeder immediately below, the present invention is not limited to this, and the extension feeder directly provided with the drive unit is provided. You may make it drive a feeder. Furthermore, a plurality of additional feeders may be driven by an additional feeder equipped with a drive unit. Further, the additional feeder may be configured to be horizontally added.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of feeders each having a paper feed section are added to the apparatus main body, and the drive is transmitted from the drive section of the apparatus main body to the paper feed section. In addition, by providing a driving unit in the feeder to be added at a predetermined position, and driving the paper feeding unit of the feeder to be added at the predetermined position and the paper feeding unit of the feeder adjacent to this feeder by this driving unit. It is possible to form images on various sheets while suppressing cost increase as much as possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus and a feeder or feeders are connected to each other.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the image forming apparatus and drive units of a permanent feeder and an additional feeder provided in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of a paper feeding operation in the permanent feeder or the additional feeder.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the remaining part of the paper feeding operation in the permanent feeder or the additional feeder.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a drive transmission mechanism of a sheet feeding unit of the permanent feeder or the additional feeder.

FIG. 7 is a top view showing a configuration of a drive transmission mechanism of a sheet feeding unit of the permanent feeder or the additional feeder.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a configuration of a drive transmission mechanism of a sheet feeding unit of the permanent feeder or the additional feeder.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a cassette addition state in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cassette addition state in the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a cassette addition state in a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another cassette addition state in the conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image forming device 3 Image forming section 10 cassettes 32 input gear 50 device body 51 Permanent feeder 52-54 Expansion feeder 51A to 54A paper feeding unit 55 Main motor 56 stepping motor 57 transmission gear 58 Drive transmission gear train 61 Permanent feeder 62-66 Expansion feeder 67 Main motor 68 Stepping motor 71 Permanent feeder 72,73 Expansion feeder 74 Main motor 75 stepping motor

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus in which a plurality of feeders, each of which includes a sheet storage section and a sheet feeding section for feeding sheets, can be added to the apparatus main body, the apparatus main body having a main body side drive section Among the plurality of added feeders, the feeder close to the apparatus main body is driven by the main body side drive unit, and the feeder added to a predetermined position among the plurality of added feeders is provided with a drive unit, The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the sheet feeding unit of the feeder and the feeding unit of the feeder adjacent to the feeder are driven by the unit. 2. A feeder in which a paper feeding unit is driven by the main body side driving unit of the apparatus main body and a feeder in which the paper feeding unit is driven by a driving unit of a feeder added to the predetermined position have the same structure. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The image forming apparatus described. 3. The feeder to be added to the predetermined position,
A transmission unit for transmitting the drive of the drive unit of the feeder to the paper feeding unit of the feeder and for transmitting the drive to the feeder driven by the drive of the drive unit of the feeder, and the feeder added to the predetermined position The feeder driven by the driving unit includes a relay unit for transmitting the drive of the driving unit from the transmitting unit, and a transmitting unit for transmitting the drive received by the relay unit to the paper feeding unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the image forming apparatus comprises: 4. The transmission unit of the feeder installed at the predetermined position and the transmission unit of the feeder driven by the drive unit of the feeder installed at the predetermined position have the same structure. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to item 3. 5. A feeder having the same structure as that of the feeder is connected to a feeder driven by a driving unit of a feeder added to the predetermined position, and driving from the driving unit is performed via the relay unit and the transmission unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus sequentially transmits the image to a feeder. 6. The feeder driven by the main body side drive section supplies a relay section to which the drive from the main body side drive section is transmitted via the main body side transmission section, and a drive received by the relay section. And a transmission unit for transmitting to the paper unit, and the transmission unit is
5. The transmission unit of the feeder installed at the predetermined position and the transmission unit of the feeder driven by the drive unit of the feeder installed at the predetermined position have the same structure. Image forming apparatus. 7. A feeder having the same structure as the feeder is connected to a feeder driven by the main body side drive section, and the drive from the main body side drive section is sequentially transmitted to the feeder via the relay section and the transmission section. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein
The image forming apparatus described. 8. The drive unit of the feeder added at the predetermined position is a relay unit of the feeder driven by the drive unit of the feeder added at the predetermined position or a relay unit of the feeder driven by the main body side drive unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is replaceable. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined position is below a feeder in which a paper feeding unit is driven by the main body side driving unit. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of added feeders has one or a plurality of sheet feeding units.