JP2004115212A - Sheet storage device, sheet feeding device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet storage device, sheet feeding device, and an image forming device which can fix the position of each sheet regulation means by fixing a sheet loading means and each sheet regulation means at the time of transportation with a simple and stable method, and can prevent damage and breakage due to vibration and shock. <P>SOLUTION: The sheet storage device is equipped with a sheet loading base 5 which loads the sheet and liftably provided, a reference side regulation member 19 which is movably provided according to the size of sheet loaded, and abuts to the end of the loaded sheet to regulate the position of the sheet, non-reference side regulation member 20, and a rear end regulation member 21. The device is equipped with a fixing member 39 at transportation which holds the sheet loading base 5 and attachably/detachably provided, and the fixing member 39 at transportation regulates movement of the reference side regulation member 19, the non-reference side regulation member 20 and the rear end regulation member 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet storage device, a sheet feeding device, and an image forming device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, and a composite device for forming an image on a sheet include a sheet storage device that stores a sheet to be fed to an image forming unit by a sheet feeding device.
[0003]
Here, the sheet storage device stacks sheets, and moves the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction (hereinafter, referred to as “width direction”) by moving the sheet stacking member up and down to the sheet feeding position. A side regulating member for regulating the side edge of the stacked sheets, and a rear end regulating member for regulating the position of the stacked sheets in the sheet feeding direction by contacting the rear end opposite to the sheet feeding direction. And
[0004]
The sheet stacking member and each sheet regulating member are provided movably with respect to the sheet storage device.
[0005]
Therefore, each sheet regulating member may move due to vibration or impact during transportation, and may be shifted from a position set at the time of shipment.
[0006]
Further, there is a possibility that the sheet stacking member and the respective sheet restricting members may be damaged, which may cause damage or breakage of the sheet stacking member, the respective sheet restricting members and members around the sheet stacking member.
[0007]
Therefore, in the conventional sheet storage device, a fixing member or the like for attaching a tape or transport is provided on the sheet stacking member and each sheet regulating member to position the sheet regulating member and fix the sheet stacking member and each sheet regulating member during transportation. Some of them prevent scratches or breakage due to vibration or impact of
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional method of fixing the sheet stacking member and each sheet regulating member by sticking the tape, if the adhesive force of the tape is weak, the tape may be peeled off during transportation, and if the tape is too strong, it is difficult to peel off the tape. Was very difficult to manage.
[0009]
In addition, even when using a fixing member for transportation, it is necessary to attach the fixing member to each member at the time of assembly, and it is necessary to use a number of fixing members before use by the user, It was very time-consuming.
[0010]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and an object of the present invention is to restrict the movement of the sheet stacking means and the sheet restricting means in a simple and stable manner so as to prevent damage due to vibration or impact. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet storage device capable of preventing breakage, a sheet feeding device including the sheet storage device, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a sheet storage device according to the present invention is provided with a sheet stacking means for stacking and elevating a sheet, and movably provided according to a size of a sheet stacked on the sheet stacking means. A sheet regulating means for regulating the position of the sheet by contacting an end portion of the stacked sheets; and a detachably provided fixing means for regulating the movement of the sheet stacking means. Restricts the movement of the sheet restricting means.
[0012]
Further, in the sheet storage device according to the present invention, the sheet restricting unit is provided so as to be movable in a width direction substantially orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction, and is in contact with a side end of a sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit. Side regulating means for regulating the position of the sheet in the width direction, and a movable member provided in the sheet feeding direction so as to be in contact with the rear end of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking means and to adjust the position of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction. And a connecting means for connecting the side restricting means and the rear end restricting means. The fixing means restricts movement of the connecting means to thereby control the side restricting means. And restricts the movement of the rear end restricting means.
[0013]
Further, in the sheet storage device according to the present invention, the fixing means may be provided below the two through holes through a through hole provided in the sheet stacking means and a through hole provided in the connecting means. The movement of the sheet stacking means and the sheet restricting means is restricted by fitting with the fitting part.
[0014]
Further, in the sheet storage device according to the present invention, when the fixing means is fitted with a fitting part provided at a lower part of the two through holes, the fixing means includes a contact part which comes into contact with the connecting means. When the contact portion comes into contact with the connecting means, the movement of the connecting means is restricted.
[0015]
Furthermore, a sheet feeding device according to the present invention includes the above-described sheet storage device, and sheet feeding means for feeding sheets stored in the sheet storage device.
[0016]
Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and the above-described sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit.
[0017]
Note that the regulation in the present invention means control relating to the position of a target member, for example, restricting the movement and position of the member, fixing the position, or adjusting the position.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto unless otherwise specified. Absent.
[0019]
In the following drawings, parts that are the same as the parts described in the aforementioned drawings are given the same reference numerals. Further, the description of the embodiment of the sheet storage device according to the present invention described below also serves as the description of the embodiment of the sheet feeding device according to the present invention and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[0020]
(One Embodiment of Sheet Storage Device)
First, an embodiment of a sheet storage device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus provided with a deck type sheet feeding device, which is an example of a sheet feeding device, provided with an embodiment of a sheet storage device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sheet storage device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a sheet feeding device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a door opened, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a sheet feeding device included in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a door closed.
[0021]
Therefore, the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Further, the sheet storage device shown in FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the sheet storage device according to the present invention. Further, the sheet feeding device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 shows one embodiment of the sheet feeding device according to the present invention.
[0022]
First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus main body, and reference numeral 2 denotes a deck-type sheet feeding apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a "sheet feeding deck") attached to a lower side of the image forming apparatus main body 1.
[0023]
Reference numeral 1A denotes an image forming unit (image forming means of the present invention) which is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 1 and forms an image by an electrophotographic method. The image forming unit 1A is a photosensitive drum 14 for forming a toner image. A laser scanner 12 for irradiating the photosensitive drum 14 with light according to an image signal; a transfer roller 15 for transferring a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 to a sheet S;
[0024]
When an image forming operation is started in the image forming unit 1A having the above-described configuration, first, light corresponding to an image signal is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 14 by the laser scanner 12, and the light is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 14 by the light irradiation. A latent image is formed.
[0025]
Next, a toner image (visible image) is formed on the photosensitive drum 14 by developing the latent image with toner stored in the toner cartridge 13.
[0026]
On the other hand, when the sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding deck 2 as described later in parallel with the toner image forming operation as described above, the sheet S is transported by the conveying roller 11 and the registration roller 11A. The sheet is conveyed to a transfer section composed of the photosensitive drum 14 and the transfer roller 15 in synchronization with the image formed on the transfer roller.
[0027]
In the transfer section, a toner image is transferred to the sheet S by applying a bias to the transfer roller 15.
[0028]
The sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred in this manner is thereafter conveyed to a fixing member 16, where the toner image is fixed by being heated by the fixing member 16, and thereafter, the apparatus is discharged by a discharge roller 17. It is discharged to the upper discharge section 18.
[0029]
Next, the configuration of the sheet feeding deck 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet feeding deck 2 is provided in a sheet storage (device main body) 3a for storing sheets S so as to be able to move up and down, and is a sheet stacking table 5 serving as a sheet stacking member for stacking a sheet bundle Sa. (The sheet stacking means of the present invention), and a later-described reference side regulating member 19 (side regulating means of the present invention), a non-reference side regulating member 20 (side regulating means of the present invention), and a rear end regulating member (the present invention). The sheet storage device 3 (the device shown in FIG. 2) including a sheet regulating member (the sheet regulating device of the present invention, see FIG. 2) such as a rear end regulating device 21, and the like. A sheet feeding roller 7 serving as a sheet feeding member for feeding the uppermost sheet S1 of the sheet bundle Sa, a feed roller 8 rotating the sheet S fed by the sheet feeding roller 7 in a feeding direction, and not shown. And a retard roller 9 which rotates in the direction for returning the sheet S is fed by the feed rollers 8 at a predetermined torque through a torque limiter.
[0030]
These sheet feeding roller 7, feed roller 8 and retard roller 9 constitute a sheet feeding means of the present invention.
[0031]
The feed roller 8 and the retard roller 9 constitute a pair of separation rollers constituting a retard separation system.
[0032]
Further, the sheet feeding deck 2 includes a conveying roller 10 that conveys the sheets S separated and fed one by one by the separation roller pair to the image forming apparatus main body 1.
[0033]
The sheet stacking table 5 is suspended by wires 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d as shown in FIG. 2, and the wires 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are wound by a wire winding shaft 6, or Is moved (elevated) up and down by unwinding.
[0034]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the sheet feeding deck 2 includes a door 2A that is opened when the sheet bundle Sa is stacked on the sheet stacking table 5.
[0035]
The door 2 </ b> A is disposed on the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 1, and the sheet S can be taken in and out from the operation side of the image forming apparatus main body 1.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the door 2A is opened, a control unit (not shown) that detects the door 2A rotates the wire winding shaft 6 in the forward direction. As a result, the wires 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are unwound, and the sheet stacking table 5 is lowered to the lowermost position as shown in FIG.
[0037]
On the other hand, when the stacking of the sheet bundle Sa on the sheet stacking table 5 is completed and the door 2A is closed as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit (not shown) that detects this closes the wire winding shaft 6 in the reverse direction. , Whereby the wires 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are wound up, and the sheet stacking table 5 is raised.
[0038]
Thereafter, the height of the sheet stacking table 5 is adjusted by a control unit (not shown) based on a signal from a sheet surface detecting member (not shown) so that the uppermost sheet S1 of the stacked sheet bundle Sa is transported by the transport roller 10. And is moved to a position where it can smoothly enter the nip of the separation roller pair, and is raised and lowered to maintain this position.
[0039]
On the other hand, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 19 denotes a reference-side side regulating member, and reference numeral 20 denotes a non-reference-side side regulating member, each of which is provided on the sheet stacking table 5 so as to face the sheet S on the sheet stacking table 5. It is a plate-like side regulating member (side regulating means of the present invention) for regulating movement in the width direction.
[0040]
The reference side regulating member 19 is a side regulating member for defining a feeding reference position in a direction intersecting the sheet feeding direction (sheet width direction). The side regulating member 20 is a side regulating member provided with a width shift plate (not shown).
[0041]
On the side of the non-reference side regulating member 20 that regulates the sheet, a width shift plate is provided, and the width shift plate is urged by a spring as an elastic member, whereby the sheet S on the sheet stacking table 5 is referenced. The structure is such that the sheet S is pressed against the side side regulating member 19, whereby the position of the sheet S in the width direction is regulated.
[0042]
Further, reference numeral 21 denotes a rear end regulating member (rear end regulating means of the present invention) which is provided on the back side in the sheet storage direction and regulates the rear end of the sheet bundle.
[0043]
Reference numeral 22 denotes an operation lever. When the user moves the operation lever 22, the reference side restriction member 19, the non-reference side restriction member 20, and the rear end restriction member 21 interlock with the operation lever 22. The size of the sheets that can be stacked can be changed.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, three types of sheets of letter size, A4 size, and legal size are stacked on the sheet stacking table 5.
[0045]
The size of the stacked sheets is not limited to this sheet size.
[0046]
Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the operation of the reference side regulating member 19, the non-reference side regulating member 20, and the rear end regulating member 21 will be described. FIG. 5 shows a mechanism for operating the reference side regulating member 19, the non-reference side regulating member 20, and the rear end regulating member 21 provided on the sheet stacking table 5 in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a top view.
[0047]
In FIG. 5, the operation lever 22 is provided so as to be slidable along the opening front edge of the sheet storage 3a on the door 2A side.
[0048]
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 23 denotes a board member as a connecting means of the present invention. The board member 23 is engaged with the operation lever 22 through a slit 24c formed obliquely, and is operated by the slit 24c. When the lever 22 is slid in the direction of the arrow a shown in the figure, the board member 23 is moved in the direction of the arrow b perpendicular to the direction of movement of the operation lever 22.
[0049]
Here, the rear end regulating member 21 is connected to the board member 23, and when the board member 23 moves in the direction of the arrow b in response to the operation of the operation lever 22, the rear end regulating member 21 is interlocked therewith. The member 21 moves in the direction of arrow b (the direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction) along a slit (not shown). When the operation lever 22 is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow a, the rear end regulating member 21 moves in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow b (sheet feeding direction).
[0050]
The board member 23 is provided with slit portions 24a and 24b which engage with the reference side regulating member 19 and the non-reference side regulating member 20, so that when the board member 23 moves, the slit portions 24a , 24b move so that the reference side regulating member 19 and the non-reference side regulating member 20 provided along the shape thereof move symmetrically in the directions of arrows c and d shown in FIG. ing.
[0051]
As described above, when the operation lever 22 is operated, the rear end regulating member 21 is configured to move in the front-rear direction.
[0052]
Also, when the operation lever 22 is operated, the reference side regulating member 19 and the non-reference side regulating member 20 are configured to move in a direction of approaching and separating.
[0053]
Thereby, the reference side regulation member 19, the non-reference side regulation member 20, and the rear end regulation member 21 can be easily moved.
[0054]
Here, a method of fixing the sheet stacking member and each sheet regulating member during transportation will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. FIG.
[0055]
FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view of the sheet storage showing attachment of the transport fixing member (the fixing means of the present invention) 39 in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 7A and 7B are process diagrams illustrating a method of attaching the transportation fixing member 39 illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein FIG. 7A illustrates a state before the attachment, and FIG. 7B illustrates a state after the attachment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the transportation fixing member 39 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0056]
The sheet loading table 5 and the board member 23 are provided with through holes 39d (through holes of the present invention) for attaching the transport fixing members 39, whereby the transport fixing members 39 are attached to the sheet loading tables 5 and The lower side of the board member 23 can be fitted to the sheet storage main body.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 7, the transport fixing member 39 passes through the through hole 39d provided in the sheet stacking table 5 and the board member 23 from the sheet stacking table 5 and reaches the sheet storage main body. It is attached to the table 5 and the board member 23.
[0058]
As shown in FIG. 8, the transport fixing member 39 is provided with a claw portion 39a for regulating the vertical direction of the sheet storage main body, and the transport fixing member 39 is rotated by 90 degrees. At this time, the claw portion 39a is hooked on a hooking portion 39e as a fitting portion of the present invention provided in the sheet storage main body, whereby the vertical direction in the figure can be regulated.
[0059]
As shown in FIG. 8, the transport fixing member 39 includes an abutting portion 39 b that comes into contact with the sheet stacking table 5. The transport fixing member 39 includes a cylindrical portion (a contact portion of the present invention) 39c for restricting the movement of the board member 23.
[0060]
However, the transport fixing member 39 of the present invention is not limited to the shape as shown in FIG. 8, and the sheet stacking table 5, the reference-side side regulating member 19, the non-reference-side side regulating member 20, and the rear What is necessary is just to be able to regulate the movement of the end regulating member 21 or the like.
[0061]
Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, the transport fixing member 39 is in contact with the sheet stacking table 5 at the abutting portion 39b, whereby the sheet stacking table 5 is moved relative to the sheet storage main body. Fixed.
[0062]
Also, at this time, since the movement of the board member 23 is also restricted by the cylindrical portion 39c of the transport fixing member 39, the reference side regulating member 19 connected to the board member 23, the non-reference side regulating member 20, and the rear side. The position of the end regulating member 21 is fixed.
[0063]
As described above, in the sheet storage device of the present embodiment, each of the sheet regulating members of the sheet stacking table 5, the reference side regulating member 19, the non-reference side regulating member 20, and the rear end regulating member 21 is fixed by the fixing member 39 during transportation. By fixing, it is possible to transport the user from the positions set at the time of shipment to the user without shifting these positions.
[0064]
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent scratches or breakage caused by the movable part being violent due to vibration or impact during transportation by a simple and inexpensive method.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, since the movement of the sheet stacking means and the sheet regulating means can be restricted by the fixing means, the displacement of each means due to vibration and impact during transportation by a simple and inexpensive method, It is possible to prevent scratches and breakage caused by the ramping of the movable part.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a deck-type sheet feeding device, which is an example of a sheet feeding device, including an embodiment of a sheet storage device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sheet storage device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a sheet feeding device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a door opened.
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a sheet feeding device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a door closed.
5 shows a mechanism for operating a reference side regulating member 19, a non-reference side regulating member 20, and a rear end regulating member 21 provided on the sheet stacking table 5 in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a top view.
6 is an overall perspective view of the sheet storage illustrating attachment of a transport fixing member 39 in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
7A and 7B are process diagrams showing a method of attaching the transportation fixing member 39 shown in FIG. 6, wherein FIG. 7A shows a state before attachment, and FIG. 7B shows a state after attachment.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the transport fixing member 39 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus main body 1A Image forming part 2 Sheet feeding deck 2A Door 3 Sheet storage device 3a Sheet storage (device main body)
4a, 4b, 4c, 4d Wire 5 Sheet loading table 6 Wire take-up shaft 7 Sheet feed roller 8 Feed roller 9 Retard roller 10, 11 Transport roller 11A Registration roller 12 Laser scanner 13 Toner cartridge 14 Photoconductor drum 15 Transfer roller 16 Fixing member 17 Discharge roller 18 Discharge portion 19 Reference side restricting member 20 Non-reference side restricting member 21 Rear end restricting member 22 Operating lever 23 Board members 24a, 24b, 24c Slit portion 39 Transport fixing member 39a Claw portion 39b Butt Part 39c cylindrical part 39d through hole 39e hook part S sheet S1 top sheet Sa sheet bundle

Claims (6)

Sheet stacking means for stacking sheets and being provided so as to be movable up and down,
Sheet regulating means provided movably in accordance with the size of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means and abutting on the end of the stacked sheets to regulate the position of the sheets;
For regulating the movement of the sheet stacking means, comprising a detachably provided fixing means,
The sheet storage device, wherein the fixing means restricts movement of the sheet restricting means. The sheet regulating means,
A side regulating unit provided to be movable in a width direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction, and abutting against a side end of the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit to regulate a position of the sheet in the width direction; A rear end regulating unit that is provided so as to be movable in a feeding direction and abuts on a rear end of a sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit to regulate a position of the sheet in a sheet feeding direction;
A connecting means for connecting the side regulating means and the rear end regulating means,
2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit restricts movement of the coupling unit, thereby restricting movement of the side regulating unit and rear end regulating unit. 3. The fixing means passes through a through-hole provided in the sheet stacking means and a through-hole provided in the connection means, and is fitted with a fitting portion provided below the two through-holes.
The sheet storage device according to claim 2, wherein movement of the sheet stacking unit and the sheet restricting unit is restricted. The fixing means,
When fitting with a fitting portion provided at the lower part of the two through-holes, provided with a contact portion that comes into contact with the connecting means,
4. The sheet storage device according to claim 3, wherein the movement of the connection unit is restricted by the contact of the connection unit with the connection unit. 5. A sheet storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A sheet feeding device for feeding sheets stored in the sheet storage device. Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: the sheet feeding device according to claim 5 for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit.

Images