JP2003081450A - Sheet material supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet material supplying device capable of effectively preventing variation of lateral register without increasing the number of parts. SOLUTION: The sheet material supplying device 20 is provided with a reference side fence 3b for abutting on an end surface on one side of the sheet material 1, and a pressing side fence 3a including elastic parts 4a, 4b, 4c for pressing the end surface on one side of the sheet material 1 to the reference side fence 3b by elastically energizing an end surface on another side of the sheet material 1. The elastic parts 4a, 4b, 4c are integrally formed with the pressing side fence 3a, and has a shape for fluctuating pressing force applied to the end surface of the sheet material 1 depending on the number of the sheet materials 1 to be loaded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material feeding device for placing a sheet material such as paper and feeding it one by one in order to perform printing, transfer and copying in a copying machine, a printing machine or the like. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional copying machine or printing machine, a large number of sheet materials such as paper are supplied to a sheet material supply device in a state of being stacked, and the sheet material supply device is used to sequentially machine the sheet materials from the uppermost sheet material. It is sent to and copied and printed.

In such a sheet material feeding device, a pair of side fences with a slight gap added to the width dimension of the sheet material are erected on both sides of the stacking surface of the sheet material, and the uppermost sheet is fed by a paper feed roller. I am trying to send in.

In such a form using the side fence, while the sheet material is easily stacked, the gap causes a variation in the lateral resist of the sheet material and a skew.

Therefore, at present, in a sheet material supply device in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, there is a strong demand for suppressing variations in lateral resist of the sheet material. This also applies to popular class models whose costs are kept low. Therefore, in the conventional sheet material supplying apparatus, in order to suppress the variation in the lateral resist, a sponge or a metal leaf spring is provided on the side fence, or the side sheet fence is used.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 156780, an elastic member is provided on the side fence to position the sheet material in the width direction.

[0006]

However, these conventional methods have a problem that the number of parts is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased because the elastic parts separate from the side fence are attached to the side fence. Moreover, the positional accuracy of the elastic member also varies greatly, which leads to the variation of the lateral resist.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet material feeding apparatus capable of effectively preventing the variation of the lateral resist without increasing the number of parts. is there.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a sheet feeding tray on which a sheet material is placed, and a sheet material placed on the sheet feeding tray. In the sheet material supply device including a pair of side fences that regulate the end surfaces of the sheet material, the side fences are a reference side fence that abuts one end surface of the sheet material, and the other end surface of the sheet material elastically. It is composed of a pressing side fence having an elastic portion that urges the one end surface of the sheet material against the reference side fence, and the elastic portion is formed integrally with the pressing side fence,
It is characterized in that it has a shape in which the pressing force applied to the end surface of the sheet material is changed according to the number of the sheet materials placed.

According to the invention described in claim 1,
Since the elastic portion is formed integrally with the pressing side fence, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional case where a separate elastic member is attached to the side fence. Further, since it is integrated, the position accuracy of the elastic portion is high. Further, since the elastic portion has a shape that changes the pressing force applied to the end surface of the sheet material according to the number of sheet materials to be placed, for example, when the number of stacked sheet materials is large, the elastic force is increased. When the number of stacked sheet materials is small, the elastic force can be weakened, and the lateral resist can be improved regardless of the number of stacked sheets.

The invention described in claim 2 is, in the invention described in claim 1, characterized in that the elastic portion is provided with a curl preventing rib for preventing curling of the sheet material. And

According to the invention described in claim 2,
It is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the first aspect, and it is possible to prevent the sheet material from curling due to the pressing force of the elastic portion. In particular, since the rib is provided integrally with the elastic portion, the rib can easily elastically spread in the seat width direction together with the elastic portion when the sheet material is set, and the sheet material can be easily set.

The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, a sheet metal is attached to the elastic portion.

According to the invention described in claim 3,
It is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the first or second aspect, and to prevent the elastic portion from being worn by the sheet metal, so that the lateral resist correction function can be favorably maintained.

[0014]

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

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet feeding device 20 as a sheet material feeding device according to the present embodiment is used as a sheet material for printing, transferring, copying, etc. in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printing machine. The transfer paper 1 is placed and supplied one by one, and both sides of the paper feed tray 2 on which the transfer paper 1 is placed and the stacking surface 1a of the transfer material 1 placed on the paper feed tray 2 are placed. Pair of side fences 3a, 3 provided in the
b, and a paper feed roller 5 for feeding the uppermost transfer material 1 to the main body (not shown) of the image forming apparatus. In this case, the side fences 3 a and 3 b are erected so as to form a slight gap with the transfer material 1 in the width dimension of the transfer material 1, and preferably move in the width direction of the transfer material 1.

One side fence 3a has three elastic portions 4a, 4 which elastically press the loading surface 1a of the transfer material 1.
The side fence 3b is a pressing side fence having b and 4c, and the other side fence 3b is a reference side fence having no elastic portion.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
The elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are made of a resin material and are formed by cutting out a part of the pressing side fence 3a. That is, the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are formed integrally with the pressing side fence 3a by being cut out from the pressing side fence 3a. in this case,
As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are
It projects from the side surface of the pressing side fence 3 toward the transfer material 1 side, and when the transfer material 1 is loaded, it is elastically pushed back by the loading surface 1a of the transfer material 1, and as a reaction thereof, the loading surface of the transfer material 1 is loaded. 1a can be elastically pressed.

Further, the tip portion of the pressing side fence 3a,
That is, the first elastic portion 4a formed on the sheet passing direction side (sheet leading end side) where the sheet feeding roller 5 is located is formed in a cantilever shape with the upper end being a free end. In addition, the second elastic portion 4b formed in the central portion of the pressing side fence 3a is also formed in a cantilever shape whose upper end is a free end. Furthermore, the third elastic portion 4c formed at the base end portion of the pressing side fence 3a is formed in a cantilever shape whose lower side is a free end. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the transfer material 1 is
It is placed on the flip-up plate 18 provided on the paper feed tray 2 and positioned between the side fences 3a and 3b, and the uppermost transfer material is fed by the urging force (jumping force) of the flip-up plate 18. It is designed to be pressed against the roller 5.

Next, the operation of the sheet feeding device 20 having the above structure will be described.

First, the side fences 3a and 3b are set at predetermined positions, and on the paper feed tray 2 (on the flip-up plate 18).
Then, a predetermined number of transfer sheets 1 of a predetermined size are stacked. At this time, the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c projecting from the side surface of the pressing side fence 3 toward the transfer material 1 side are elastically pushed back by the loading surface 1a of the transfer material 1, and as a reaction thereof, the transfer material 1a. The loading surface 1a of No. 1 is elastically biased to press the transfer material 1 against the reference side fence 3b. As a result, the transfer paper 1 becomes the reference side fence 3b.
As a result, the end faces are aligned, and variations in lateral resist can be suppressed.

Further, in this embodiment, the first and second elastic portions 4a and 4b formed at the tip portion and the central portion of the pressing side fence 3a are formed in a cantilever shape with the upper end being a free end. The third elastic portion 4c formed at the base end portion of the pressing side fence 3a is formed in a cantilever shape whose lower side is a free end. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the number of transfer materials 1 stacked is large, the elastic portions 4a, 4
Since substantially the entire surfaces b and 4c contact the stacking surface 1a of the transfer material 1, a large elastic force presses all of the transfer material 1 against the reference side fence 3b to surely align the end surfaces of the transfer material 1. be able to. On the other hand, when the number of stacked transfer materials 1 is small as shown in FIG.
By this action, the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c only contact the loading surface 1a of the transfer material 1 only at their tip portions, so that the transfer material 1 is not pressed by an excessive elastic force. That is, the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are formed in a shape that changes the pressing force applied to the transfer material 1 (paper) according to the number of the transfer materials 1 stacked.

As described above, in the sheet feeding device 1 of this embodiment, the reference side fence 3b that comes into contact with one end surface (loading surface) of the transfer material 1 and the other end surface of the transfer material 1 (loading surface). Pressing side fence 3 having elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c for elastically urging the surface) to press one end surface (loading surface) of the transfer material 1 against the reference side fence 3b.
a, and the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are integrally formed with the pressing side fence 3a. In this way, if the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are formed integrally with the pressing side fence 3a, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional case in which a separate elastic member is attached to the side fence, thus reducing the manufacturing cost. In addition, since it is integrated, the position accuracy of the elastic portion is high.

Further, in the sheet feeding device 1 of this embodiment,
The elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are shaped so as to change the pressing force applied to the end surface (loading surface) of the transfer material 1 according to the number of the transfer materials 1 placed. In particular, in the present embodiment, when the number of stacked transfer materials 1 is large, the elastic force is strong, and
Since the shapes of the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are set so that the elastic force is weakened when the number of stacked sheets is small, it is possible to improve the lateral resist regardless of the number of stacked sheets.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Since the present embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the paper feeding device of the present embodiment, the curl of the transfer material 1 (transfer material) is provided on the leading end side of each side fence 3a, 3b (paper feed direction side where the paper feeding roller 5 is located (paper leading end side)). A curl preventing rib 6 is integrally provided to prevent the transfer material 1 from being bent in the vertical direction and being raised by the elastic portions 4a, 4b and 4c being pressed in the width direction. Specifically, these ribs 6 extend substantially horizontally from the upper edge portions of the tips of the side fences 3a and 3b toward the opposing side fences, and in the pressing side fence 3a, the elastic portions 4a on the tip side are provided. It is integrally formed at the free end (upper end). The rest of the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the elastic portions 4a, 4
It is assumed that the curl amount of the transfer material 1 may increase depending on the settings of b and 4c. Therefore, in this embodiment, the curl prevention ribs 6 are installed to press the transfer material 1 from above with the ribs 6 and solve such a problem. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the rib 6 is provided integrally with the elastic portion 4a, so that the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the rib 6 is provided separately, and
The cost can be reduced, and there is no variation in assembly that occurs when assembling separate ribs, so the quality is stable.

The ribs 6 for curl prevention are generally
When the transfer material 1 is set on the paper feed tray 2, there is a risk that the transfer material 1 will be caught by the transfer material 1, but in the present embodiment, there is no such concern. That is, in the present embodiment, the rib 6
Are integrally formed with the elastic portion 4a, the rib 6 can easily elastically spread in the paper width direction together with the elastic portion 4a when the transfer material 1 is set, and the transfer material 1 can be easily set. When the setting of the transfer material 1 is completed, the elastic portion 4a
Is returned to the predetermined position, the rib 6 is also returned to the predetermined position, and the curl of the transfer material 1 can be prevented.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. Since the present embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the sheet metal 7 is attached to each elastic portion 4a, 4b, 4c of the pressing side fence 3a. The rest of the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment.

Generally, in the case of a paper feed tray or the like on which a large number of transfer materials 1 such as 500 sheets can be stacked, the elastic portion 4 is used.
Since the elastic force for lateral registration correction by a, 4b, and 4c becomes large, the elastic portions 4a, 4b, and 4c are strongly pressed against the transfer material 1, and the transfer material 1 causes the elastic portions 4a and 4c.
b and 4c are easily worn. However, in the present embodiment, since the sheet metal 7 is attached to the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c, the sheet metal 7 prevents the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c from being worn, and the lateral registration correction function can be favorably maintained. You can

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first and second elastic portions 4a and 4b formed at the tip end portion and the central portion of the pressing side fence 3a are formed in a cantilever shape with the upper end being a free end, and are pressed. The third elastic portion 4c formed at the base end portion of the side fence 3a is formed in a cantilever shape with the lower end being a free end, but the number and shape of the elastic portions 4a, 4b, 4c are the same. It is not limited. In short, the number and shape of the elastic portions are arbitrary as long as the pressing force applied to the transfer material 1 (paper) can be changed according to the number of the transfer materials 1 stacked.

[0032]

According to the invention described in claim 1, since the elastic portion is formed integrally with the pressing side fence, the number of parts is larger than that in the conventional case in which a separate elastic member is attached to the side fence. The manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since it is integrated, the position accuracy of the elastic portion is high. Further, since the elastic portion has a shape that changes the pressing force applied to the end surface of the sheet material according to the number of sheet materials to be placed, for example, when the number of stacked sheet materials is large, the elastic force is increased. When the number of stacked sheet materials is small, the elastic force can be weakened, and the lateral resist can be improved regardless of the number of stacked sheets.

According to the invention described in claim 2, it is possible to obtain the same function and effect as in claim 1, and it is possible to prevent the sheet material from curling due to the pressing force of the elastic portion. Especially, since the rib is provided integrally with the elastic part,
The ribs can easily elastically spread in the sheet width direction together with the elastic portion when the sheet material is set, and the sheet material can be easily set.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first or second aspect can be obtained, and at the same time, the abrasion of the elastic portion is prevented by the sheet metal, and the lateral resist correction function is well maintained. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet material feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a pressing side fence when the transfer material of the sheet material supply device of FIG. 1 is fully loaded.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a pressing side fence of the sheet material feeding device of FIG. 1 when a small amount of transfer material is used.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pressing side fence of the sheet material feeding device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sheet material feeding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pressing side fence of a sheet material feeding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Transfer material (sheet material) 2 paper tray 3a Pressing side fence 3b Standard side fence 4a, 4b, 4c elastic part 5 paper feed rollers 6 Curling rib 7 Sheet metal

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sheet material feeding device comprising: a sheet feeding tray on which a sheet material is placed; and a pair of side fences for regulating an end surface of the sheet material placed on the sheet feeding tray. Is a reference side fence that comes into contact with one end surface of the sheet material, and an elastic portion that elastically urges the other end surface of the sheet material to press the one end surface of the sheet material against the reference side fence. The elastic portion is formed integrally with the pressing side fence and has a shape that varies the pressing force applied to the end surface of the sheet material in accordance with the number of sheet materials to be placed. A sheet material feeding device characterized in that 2. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic portion is provided with a curl preventing rib for preventing curling of the sheet material. 3. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a sheet metal is attached to the elastic portion.