JP2003201025A - Paper feeder and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder capable of being used by any person easily and properly without requiring skill in the operation thereof. <P>SOLUTION: This paper feeder 1 is provided with a feeding table 11 rockingly supported to the main body of a copying machine 2 and set a storage position to a paper loading position and the main body of the machine, a bottom plate 12 which is rockingly supported to the feeding table 11 and on which papers are loaded, and a pressurizing lever 14 holding the bottom plate 12 at a paper accepting position and setting to a paper feeding position. A lever operating part 30 is mounted on the main body side of the copying machine 2. The lever operating part 30 is engaged with the pressurizing lever 14 when the feeding table 11 is opened from the main body side of the copying machine 2, turns the pressurizing lever 14 according to the opening operation of the feeding table 11 and holds the bottom plate 12 at the paper accepting position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device provided with a sheet feeding table for stacking a large number of sheets, and more particularly to a manual sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided with this manual sheet feeding device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sheet feeding device in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, a separation method using frictional force is used to feed sheets one by one.
As a separation method, a so-called friction pad method and a friction roller method are known as typical methods. Of these, a separation method called a friction pad method is a method of separating sheets between a paper feed roller and a friction pad such as a rubber cork into individual sheets by utilizing a difference in friction coefficient. The so-called separation method feeds a sheet between a pair of rollers that rotate in different directions and utilizes the difference in the friction coefficient between the forward rotation side and reverse rotation side rollers and the sheet to cause the sheets to be fed when double-fed. It is a method of separating.

Now, a conventional typical sheet feeder 1 adopting a friction pad system will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the paper feeding device 1 is provided on, for example, the side surface 3 of the copying machine 2 and is a so-called manual paper feeding device. 8 is a perspective view of a main part showing a state where the sheet feeding device 1 is attached to the copying machine 2, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the sheet feeding device, and FIG. 10 is a side view of the copying machine showing a state where the sheet feeding device is closed and not used. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the sheet feeding device, and FIG. 11 is a side view of the copying machine and a sectional view of the sheet feeding device showing a state in which the sheet feeding device is opened and used.

In these drawings, the sheet feeding device 1 basically comprises a sheet feeding table portion 10 and a sheet feeding mechanism 20, and the sheet feeding table portion 10 includes a sheet feeding table 11, a bottom plate 12 and a side guide 13.
Further, it is mainly composed of a pressure lever 14, and the paper feed table 11 is supported by a fulcrum 15 so as to be swingably supported in the storage portion 2a on the side surface of the copying machine 2. The bottom plate 12 is swingably supported by a support fulcrum 16 on the free end side of the paper feed table 11, and is supported by the pressure lever 14 around the support fulcrum 16 to receive a sheet (sheet) in a stackable state. 11 position) and a paper feeding position (position that is pushed up to bring a sheet bundle into contact with a sheet feeding roller, which will be described later, or sheet unacceptable position-FIG. 10). The free end side of the bottom plate 12 is constantly elastically urged toward the sheet feeding roller 21 described later by a bottom plate pushing-up spring (not shown), and a contact pressure sufficient to feed the sheet bundle stacked on the bottom plate 12 by the sheet feeding roller 21. Is given. A pair of side guides 13 is provided on both sides of the bundle of sheets, and has a function of slidingly moving in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction to align the sheets with the center as a reference.

The paper feed mechanism 20 is provided on the copying machine 2 side and comprises a paper feed roller 21, a separation pad 22, a pad base 23 and a separation spring 24. The sheet feeding roller 21 is driven by a driving device (not shown) to convey the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table 11, and the separation pad 22 contacts the sheet feeding roller 21 to separate the sheets one by one. The separation pad 22 is held by a pad base 23, and the pad base 23 is further elastically biased by a separation spring 24 so that the separation pad 22 is brought into contact with the paper feed roller 21 by a predetermined pressure.

In the conventional manual paper feeding device 1 having the above-described structure, the paper feeding table 11 is used when the paper feeding device 1 is not used.
10 is in the state of FIG. 10, and even if the sheet feed tray 11 is opened from this state, the sheet feed roller 21 and the bottom plate 12 are kept in contact with each other. In this state, the sheet cannot be fed by the sheet feed roller 21, so the bottom plate 12 must be held in a stackable state in order to feed the sheet. Therefore, in order to stack the sheets on the sheet feed tray 11 in the manual sheet feeder 1,
The pressure lever 14 is rotated as shown in FIG. 11 to bring the bottom plate 12 to the lowermost position by the contact state of the cam 14c of the pressure lever 14. As a result, a predetermined gap is formed between the paper feed roller 21 and the bottom plate. By thus locating the bottom plate 12 at the lowermost position, the paper feed roller 21
A gap in which a stack of sheets can be stacked appears between the bottom plate 12 and the bottom plate 12, and, for example, stacking and feeding of a maximum of about 100 sheets becomes possible.

In order to take such a configuration, in the copying machine 2 equipped with this type of paper feeding device 1, the operation manual describes that the operation of releasing the bottom plate is performed, and it is clearly stated that this operation is indispensable. Then, the user is urged to perform the above operation at the time of feeding.

On the other hand, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-189344 is also known as a device which does not require such operation. According to the present invention, the raising / lowering operation of the bottom plate (the pushing-up pressure releasing operation for the bottom plate) is performed using the motor in the manual paper feeding device, and the raising / lowering operation is controlled according to the mode.

[0009]

However, even if it is explained in the operation manual that the operation for releasing the pushing-up pressure of the bottom plate is performed as described above, when the operation is actually performed, the operation for the operation as described above is performed. It is necessary for the person to understand and to be familiar with the operation. There is a large personal difference in understanding and proficiency, and not everyone can easily do so.

Further, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-189344, since the drive source such as the motor is required for the ascending / descending operation of the bottom plate as described above, the electric control is required and the mechanical structure is complicated. In addition to the above, the device also becomes large in size, and it is not possible to meet the recent demand for reduction in size and weight.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances of the prior art as described above, and a first object thereof is a paper feeding device which does not require any proficiency in operation and can be easily and properly used by anyone. To provide.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized paper feeding device which can automatically move the bottom plate up and down with a simple mechanical structure.

Further, a third object is that the paper feeding device can be used easily and properly by anyone without the need for skill in operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with a small paper feeding device that can automatically move the bottom plate up and down with a simple mechanical structure.

[0014]

To achieve the first object, the first means is swingably supported by the main body of the apparatus.
A paper feed table in which a paper stacking position and a storage position in the apparatus main body are set, a bottom plate swingably supported by the paper feed table and on which paper is stacked, and the bottom plate is held at a paper receiving position, and A sheet feeding device having a lever for setting the sheet feeding position, the lever is engaged when the sheet feeding table is opened from the apparatus main body side, and the lever is rotated according to the opening operation of the sheet feeding table. Lever operating means for moving the bottom plate to hold the bottom plate at the sheet receiving position is provided on the apparatus main body side.

In order to achieve the first object, the second object
In the first means, the lever operation means engages with the lever to rotate the lever only when the sheet feeding table is opened, and sets the bottom plate to the sheet feeding position when the lever is closed. In this state, the passage of the lever is allowed.

Further, in order to achieve the first object, the third object
In the first or second means, the lever operating means is characterized in that the lever operating means is formed into a hook-shaped cross section by an elastic member.

Further, in order to achieve the first object, the fourth object
In the first or second means, the lever operating means is such that the lever operating means projects from the apparatus body side and is fixed to the apparatus body, and is swingable at the tip of the supporting section, and the lever rotation means is provided. It is characterized by comprising an abutment portion axially supported so that the swinging movement is restricted at a predetermined position during movement.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, the fifth object
In the first means, the means further comprises a releasing means for releasing the holding state by the lever when the sheet bundle is set on the bottom plate while holding the bottom plate at the sheet receiving position. And

Further, in order to achieve the third object, a sixth means is a sheet feeding device according to the first to fifth means,
The image forming apparatus is configured by an image forming unit that forms a visible image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding apparatus. ,

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the respective parts equivalent to those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 8 to FIG.
Overlapping description will be omitted as appropriate.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a manual sheet feeder according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a non-use state.

The sheet feeding device 1 comprises a sheet feeding table portion 10 and a sheet feeding mechanism 20. The paper feed tray portion 10 is mainly composed of a paper feed tray 11, a bottom plate 12, a side guide 13 and a pressure lever 14, and the paper feed tray 11 can swing to a side opening of the copying machine 2 by a fulcrum 15. Supported and attached. The bottom plate 12 is swingably supported by a support fulcrum 16 on the free end side of the paper feed table 11, and is moved by the pressure lever 14 to a paper receiving position and a paper feed position about the support fulcrum 16. Is able to.

The paper feed mechanism 20 is provided on the copying machine 2 side and comprises a paper feed roller 21, a separation pad 22, a pad base 23 and a separation spring 24. The sheet feeding roller 21 is driven by a driving device (not shown) to convey the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table 11, and the separation pad 22 contacts the sheet feeding roller 21 to separate the sheets one by one. The separation pad 22 is held by a pad base 23, and the pad base 23 is further elastically urged by the separation spring 5 to bring the separation pad 22 into contact with the paper feed roller 21 with a predetermined pressure.

Although these configurations are similar to those of the above-mentioned conventional example, in the present embodiment, a lever operation section 30 is provided on the copying machine main body side with respect to the sheet feeding device 1 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. It is characterized by that. Here, the lever operating portion 30 is formed of an elastic member represented by, for example, a rubber (including a synthetic resin material) material. As shown in FIG. 1, the lever operating portion 30 is formed in a hook shape in cross section, and a free end side portion 30 a of the hook shape has a free end portion 14 a of the pressing lever 14.
8 is provided on the side surface of the storage section 2a of the sheet feeding device 1 on the front side of the copying machine 2 in FIG. 8, and the movement operation of the bottom plate 12 to the sheet receiving position by the pressure lever 14 is performed. It can be performed in conjunction with the opening operation of the table 11.

The other parts are constructed in the same manner as the above-mentioned conventional example.

When the lever operating portion 30 is provided in this way,
When the paper feed tray 11 is opened from the state of FIG. 1 and rotated to the position of FIG. 2, the free end 14a side of the pressure lever 14 abuts on the free end 30a side of the lever operating portion 30, and the pressure lever 1
Block 4 movement. As a result, the pressure lever 14 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 around the fulcrum 14b, and the free end of the pressure lever 14 is the free end 3 of the lever operating portion 30.
0a so that the pressure lever 14 is located at the lock position of the bottom plate 12 and the pressure lever 14 and the lever operation portion 3
The shape, size, and mounting position of 0 are set. Then, in the locked state, the space between the bottom plate 11 and the paper feed roller 21 is opened by a predetermined amount as shown in FIG. 3, and it becomes possible to set a paper sheet or a sheet bundle.

In this state, when the pressure lever 14 is returned (the cam c is released from the dead point and the locked state is released by just returning it slightly), the bottom plate 11 is elastically urged by the bottom plate pushing-up spring (not shown). Is pushed up, the sheet bundle stacked on the bottom plate 11 comes into contact with the sheet feeding roller 21 with a predetermined contact pressure, and sheet feeding becomes possible.

When the paper feed tray 11 is housed in the paper feed tray and is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the free end 14a of the pressure lever 14 contacts the free end 30a of the lever operating portion 30. The elastic force of the lever operating portion 30 elastically deforms the free end 30a side toward the main body of the copying machine 2, and the free end 14a of the pressure lever 14 passes through the free end 30a of the lever operating portion 30 without being caught. However, the storage of the paper feed table 11 is smoothly performed.

The copying machine 2 is of an electrophotographic type having an original reading section, an image forming section, a transfer section, and a fixing section. The read original image is digitally processed, and light writing is performed based on digital information. To do. Therefore, by inputting image information from the outside using the interface, it functions not only as a copying machine but also as a printer or FAX. When forming an image based on image data input from an information processing device, a scanner, or the like, not only the electrophotographic printing unit described above, but also a known printing unit including an inkjet system is used.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the pressure lever 14 locks the bottom plate 12 at the sheet receiving position, and after the sheet bundle is set on the bottom plate 12, the pressure lever 14 is slightly moved. Although the cam 14c is returned and the locked state of the cam 14c is released to shift the bottom plate 12 to the sheet feeding state, this operation is also automated in the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a lever return spring 17 is mounted around the fulcrum 14b of the pressure lever 14 so that the pressure lever 14 is always unlocked (clockwise in FIG. 4). When the cam 14c of the pressure lever 14 is displaced from the dead center, the pressure applied to the bottom plate pushing-up spring can be released. In this example, as in the first embodiment, the bottom plate 12 is locked at the sheet receiving position, and from this position the sheet bundle P is placed on the bottom plate 12 as shown in FIG.
When it is set above and the bottom plate 12 is slightly sunk downward due to its weight, in other words, when the bottom plate 12 is slightly rotated counterclockwise in the figure around the fulcrum 12a, the cam 14 of the pressure lever 14 is rotated.
The lock of c is released. Pressure lever 17 when unlocked
Is rotated clockwise in the figure by the elastic force of the lever return spring 17, and the bottom plate 12 is also rotated clockwise in the figure to push up the stacked sheet stack P to the side of the sheet feed roller 21 to enable sheet feeding. . Since the cam 14c is unlocked by the weight of the sheet bundle P in this manner, the bottom plate 12, the cam 14c, and the paper feed tray 11 are preliminarily provided with a gap 18 that allows the bottom plate 12 to be lowered by the weight of the sheet bundle P. The positional relationship of is set.

With this structure, the bottom plate 12 can be locked and unlocked automatically by only a mechanical structure.

Each unit not particularly explained is constructed and functions in the same manner as in the first embodiment and the conventional example described above.

<Third Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the lever operating portion 30 includes the free end 30a and the pressure lever 1.
The bottom plate 12 is brought into a locked state or the pressure lever 14 is returned to the original position depending on the engagement state with the free end 14a of No. 4. At that time, the lever operating part 30 is formed of a lock elastic member, and is capable of the above-mentioned operation by being deformed by its own elastic force. The third embodiment is another example of the configuration of the lever operation unit 30 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an essential part of the lever operating portion 30 in the third embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the paper feed tray 11 when it is returned. In these figures, the lever operating portion 30 is composed of a shaft portion 31, an abutting portion 32, and a supporting portion 33. The contact portion 32 is rotatable about the shaft portion 31 as a fulcrum, but when the sheet feeding table 11 is rotated in the opening direction, the rotation is stopped at the point of contact with the support portion 33. Therefore, even if the contact portion 32 and the free end 14a side of the pressure lever 14 contact each other, the contact portion 32 does not escape, and the pressure lever 1 is surely released.
The bottom plate 12 can be held at the sheet receiving position by positioning the position 4 in the lock position. On the other hand, when the paper feed tray 11 is stored (FIG. 7), the contact portion 32 and the free end 14 of the pressure lever 14 are fed.
Since the contact portion 32 rotates (clockwise in the drawing) even when a comes into contact with the contact member a, it can be smoothly accommodated in the copying machine 2 without being caught. The shaft portion 31 is attached to the support portion 33 as shown in FIG.
In this position, it is supported non-rotatably counterclockwise in the drawing.

With this structure, the lever operating portion 30
Since the elastic member is not elastically deformed compared to the case where the elastic member is used, the operation can be surely performed.

Each part not particularly described is constructed and functions in the same manner as in the first and second embodiments and the conventional example described above.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the paper feed tray is opened from the apparatus main body side, the lever is engaged, and the lever is rotated according to the opening operation of the paper feed tray. Since the lever operating means for holding the bottom plate at the sheet receiving position is provided on the side of the apparatus main body, it is not necessary to be familiar with the operation, and anyone can easily use the sheet feeding table for proper use.

Further, according to the present invention, since the bottom plate is held at the sheet receiving position, the releasing means for releasing the holding state by the lever when the sheet bundle is set on the bottom plate is provided. It is possible to provide a small-sized sheet feeding device capable of automatically raising and lowering the bottom plate with a physical configuration.

Further, according to the present invention, when the paper feed tray is opened from the apparatus main body side, the lever is engaged, and the lever is rotated in accordance with the opening operation of the paper feed tray so that the bottom plate receives the paper. Since the image forming means forms a visible image on the paper fed by the paper feeding device provided on the main body of the device, the lever operating means for holding it in the position does not need to be familiar with the operation, and anyone can use it easily and properly. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device capable of performing the above operation, or a small sheet feeding device that can automatically move the bottom plate up and down with a simple mechanical structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a non-use state of a manual paper feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a paper feed tray of the manual paper feeder according to the first embodiment of the present invention is opened and a pressure lever is operated.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a paper receiving state with the paper feed tray of the manual paper feeder according to the first embodiment of the present invention opened.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a paper receiving state with the paper feed tray of the manual paper feeder according to the second embodiment of the present invention opened.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an operation when a sheet bundle is set on a sheet feed tray of a manual sheet feeder according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a sheet receiving state is automatically released.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a state of a lever operation part according to a third embodiment when a lever is operated.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where a lever operation unit according to a third embodiment is closed when a paper feed tray is closed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a copying machine and a sheet feeding device which have been conventionally implemented.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional paper feeding device.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a non-use state of a conventional manual paper feeding device.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a paper receiving state of a conventional manual paper feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Paper feeder 2 Copier 10 Feeder part 11 Paper feed stand 12 Bottom plate 14 Pressure lever 14a Free end 14b fulcrum 14c cam 15, 16 fulcrum 17 Lever return spring 18 Gap 20 Paper feed pores 21 Paper feed roller 22 Separation pad 23 Pad stand 24 Separation spring 30 Lever operation part 30a free end 31 Shaft 32 Contact part 33 Support

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A paper feed table, which is swingably supported by the apparatus main body and has a sheet stacking position and a storage position in the apparatus main body,
A sheet feeding device having a bottom plate that is swingably supported by the sheet feeding table and on which sheets are stacked, and a lever that holds the bottom plate at a sheet receiving position and sets the sheet feeding position. When the table is released from the apparatus body side, the lever operation means is engaged with the lever, and the lever is rotated in accordance with the opening operation of the sheet feed table to hold the bottom plate at the sheet receiving position. A paper feeding device characterized by being provided on the side. 2. The lever operating means engages with the lever to rotate the lever only when the sheet feeding table is opened, and when the closing operation is performed, the lever is operated while the bottom plate is set to the sheet feeding position. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein passage is permitted. 3. The lever operating means is formed into a hook-shaped cross section by an elastic member.
Alternatively, the sheet feeding device described in 2. 4. The lever operating means is oscillating at a supporting portion projecting from the apparatus body side and fixed to the apparatus body, and a tip portion of the supporting portion, and oscillating at a predetermined position when the lever is rotated. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a contact portion that is axially supported so as to be regulated. 5. A release means is further provided for releasing the holding state by the lever when the sheet bundle is set on the bottom plate with the bottom plate held at the sheet receiving position. The paper feeder described. 6. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, and an image forming unit that forms a visible image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding device. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.