JP2004345848A - Paper feeding device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeding device capable of preventing a hand and a paper from being caught when storing paper in a paper feeding tray. <P>SOLUTION: This paper feeding device has the paper feeding tray 2 storing a bundle of papers and a pair of side fences 13, 13 erected on a bottom face of the paper feeding tray 2. The side fence 13 is provided with regulation faces 14 opposing at a predetermined interval at both side fringes in the direction L of paper width, and a regulation member 15 regulating a position in the direction L of paper width of a bundle of papers is provided in a front part in the direction W of paper conveyance of the side fence 13. The regulation member 15 has a regulation plate 16 abutting on a side fringe in the direction L of paper width of the bundle of papers and an energizing member 17 provided between the regulation plate 16 and the side fence 13 to energize the regulation plate 16 in the direction of side fringe in the direction L of paper width. The regulation plate 16 has a bent part 16b whose upper part 16d protrudes onto a paper bundle side and which is bent onto an outer side in the direction L of paper width along an upper end face of the side fence 13 from its upper end part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet feeder and an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer includes a sheet feeding device that separates and feeds sheets P one by one from a sheet bundle in which a large number of sheets are stacked and stored in a sheet feeding tray.
[0003]
In the paper feed tray, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of side fences 50, 50 (see FIG. 6) are used to correct the positional deviation of the paper bundle in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction (paper feed direction). 6, only one of them is displayed). The space between the side fences 50, 50 is set to be slightly wider (about 1 to 2 mm) than the width of the paper P stored in the paper feed tray, and the side edge of the paper bundle and the side fences 50, 50 are set. Is provided with an interval δ. This is because it is difficult to accurately align the side edges of the sheet bundle because several hundred sheets P are stacked, and the sheet P cannot be stored between the side fences 50 unless the interval δ is provided. That's why.
[0004]
For this reason, the position of the sheet P stored in the sheet feed tray in the sheet width direction may be shifted by the above-mentioned interval δ. Since this positional deviation causes a deviation of the image transfer position of the sheet P, it is necessary to minimize the positional deviation.
[0005]
Therefore, in the conventional sheet feeding device, a regulating plate 51 made of a thin synthetic resin plate is attached to the side fence 50 of the sheet feeding tray via an urging member 52 made of sponge or the like. In addition, the position of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction is corrected using the elastic force of the urging member 52 that supports the sheet bundle.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the cut thin plate is exposed at the upper end 51a of the regulating plate 51, a hand or a sheet is caught when the sheet is stored in the sheet feeding tray, and the regulating plate 51 is damaged. There was something.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and provides a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus having a regulating plate that does not catch hands or sheets when sheets are stored in a sheet feeding tray. That is the task.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feed tray for accommodating a paper bundle in which a plurality of paper sheets are stacked, and an upright standing on the bottom surface of the paper feed tray to regulate a paper width. A regulating member for regulating a position of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction at a front portion of the side fence in the sheet conveying direction, the regulating member comprising a pair of side fences; A sheet feeder having a regulating plate abutting on a side edge of the sheet and an urging member interposed between the regulating plate and the side fence to urge the regulating plate in a side edge direction in the sheet width direction. In the regulating plate, at least the upper portion abutting on the side edge in the width direction of the sheet slightly protrudes toward the sheet bundle, and is bent outward from the upper end thereof along the upper end surface of the side fence in the sheet width direction. Characterized by having a bent part A paper feeding device for.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first aspect, the regulating plate has a second bent portion bent downward from a tip of the bent portion, and an opening is formed in the second bent portion. Is provided, and a protrusion provided to project outward of the side fence in the paper width direction is loosely fitted into the opening.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first or second aspect, the regulating plate is connected to the upper portion and the bent portion by a bent inclined portion.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first or second aspect, an angle formed between the bent portion and the upper portion of the regulating plate, which is in contact with a side edge of the sheet bundle, is an acute angle. It is characterized by having.
[0012]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the urging member is attached to the regulating plate.
[0013]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the regulating plate is inclined toward a surface of the side fence at a rear side edge in the sheet transport direction. A bent portion is provided, and a cut is provided in a portion of the bent portion adjacent to the lower end of the urging member.
[0014]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate.
[0016]
[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic structure of a sheet feeding device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2A is a partially cutaway side view of FIG. FIG. 2B is a plan view of FIG. 1 when one side fence is viewed from the B direction.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a paper feeder, the paper feeder 1 includes a paper feed unit 3 for feeding paper P one by one from a bundle of paper accommodated in a paper feed tray 2, and the paper feeder 3. A paper lifting mechanism 4 is provided for pushing up the paper feed side end of the paper bundle accommodated in the paper feed tray 2 to contact the feeding means 3.
[0018]
The sheet feeding means 3 feeds a sheet P from the sheet bundle, a spring 6 for urging the sheet feeding roller 5 in the direction of the sheet bundle, and separates and feeds the fed sheet P one by one. It is composed of a feed roller 7, a separation roller 8, and the like.
[0019]
The paper lifting mechanism 4 includes a lifting motor (not shown), a lifting arm 10 driven by the lifting motor to lift the paper bundle in the direction of the paper feed roller 5, a mounting plate 11 for mounting the paper bundle, and the like.
[0020]
The paper feed tray 2 is provided with a pair of side fences 13, 13 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) for correcting a deviation of the position of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction L (FIG. 2). As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a pair of side fences 13, 13 erected on the bottom surface of the sheet feed tray 2 are arranged in a sheet width direction L orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction W of the sheet bundle. A regulating surface 14 is provided on both side edges to face each other at a predetermined interval, and a regulating member 15 for regulating the position of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction L is provided at the front of the side fence 13 in the sheet conveying direction W. . The restricting member 15 is accommodated and arranged in a flexible restricting plate 16 abutting on a side edge of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction L and a cutout recess 13 a formed on the upper side of the side fence 13. 16 and an urging member 17 for urging the regulating plate 16 in the side edge direction in the sheet width direction L. At least the upper portion 16d of the regulating plate 16 which abuts on the side edge of the sheet P in the width direction slightly protrudes toward the sheet bundle, and extends from the upper end along the upper end surface of the side fence 13 in the sheet width direction L. It has a bent portion 16b bent outward. The upper end surface of the side fence 13 where the bent portion 16b is disposed is formed one step lower than the surrounding upper end surface. The lower end 16 a of the regulating plate 16 is fixed to the side fence 13 at a position lower than the urging member 17 by a concave portion 14 a formed by cutting the regulating surface 14. The regulating plate 16 has a second bent portion 16c bent downward from the tip of the bent portion 16b, and an opening 18 is provided in the second bent portion 16c. A guide projection 19 protruding outward in the sheet width direction L is loosely fitted on the opposite surface 14 a of the surface 14. The distal end 20 of the guide projection 19 is formed to have a slightly larger diameter than the size of the opening 18.
[0021]
Here, the regulating plate 16 is preferably formed of a synthetic resin having flexibility, and for example, polyethylene terephthalate (trade name Mylar) or the like can be suitably used.
[0022]
The urging member 17 is attached only to the regulation plate 16 side, and only abuts the surface of the concave portion 14 a of the side fence 13. Further, the biasing member 17 has appropriate elasticity, has a property of returning to the original shape when the force causing the deformation is removed, and can hold the regulating plate 16 at a predetermined position. The material is not particularly limited as long as it is a suitable material, but a cushion material such as a sponge is suitable.
[0023]
The projection length of the guide projection 19 is preferably such that the opening 15 does not come off from the projection 19 when the urging member 17 is completely crushed. That is, it is preferable that the projection length of the projection 19 be larger than the thickness of the urging member 17 in the paper width direction L.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the sheet feeding device 1 of the present embodiment will be described. On the paper feed tray 2 of the paper feed device 1, a bundle of papers whose ends are aligned to some extent is placed on the placing plate 11 between the regulating surfaces 14, 14 of the side fences 13, 13 by the user's hand. At this time, at the upper part of the sheet bundle, the side edges of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction L abut on the regulating plates 16, 16, whereby the position in the sheet width direction L is regulated.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, when the sheet feeding device 1 feeds the sheet P, an ascending arm 10 is driven by an ascending motor, whereby the sheet feeding side end of the sheet bundle placed on the placing plate 11. The sheet P at the top of the sheet bundle is conveyed by being lifted to the sheet feeding height and abutting against the sheet bundle at a predetermined sheet feeding pressure by a spring 6 or the like urging the sheet feeding roller 5 in the sheet bundle direction. Paper is fed in the direction W.
[0026]
As described above, according to the sheet feeding device 1 of the present embodiment, the upper end of the regulating plate 16 is bent outward in the sheet width direction L to form the bent portion 16b. At the time of storage, the hand or the paper P is not caught on the upper end of the regulating plate 16.
[0027]
Since the regulating plate 16 is bent in a U-shape, the exposed end of the regulating plate 16 does not protrude into the operation area of the user, and the hand or the paper P is not caught on the regulating plate 16.
[0028]
In the upper end surface of the side fence 13, the portion where the bent portion 16b is provided is formed one step lower than the surrounding upper end surface, so that the bent portion 16b does not protrude into the operation area of the user, and the regulating plate 16 There is no possibility that the hand or the paper P is caught on the paper.
[0029]
A guide projection 19 provided on the side fence 13 is loosely fitted in an opening 18 provided in the second bent portion 16c of the regulating plate 16. Accordingly, when the sheet bundle abuts on the regulating plate 16 and the urging member 17 is deformed in the sheet width direction L, the regulating plate 16 moves in the sheet width direction L while being guided by the guide projections 19. The regulating plate 16 is not twisted. At this time, since only the elastic force of the urging member 17 is applied to the regulating plate 16, the pressing force is not applied to the sheet P, and a uniform pressing force can be stably applied to the sheet P.
[0030]
Since the lower end 16a of the regulating plate 16 is fixed to the side fence 13 and the opening 18 is loosely fitted to the guide projection 19 at the second bent portion 16c, the urging member 17 is attached only to the regulating plate 16 side. Also, the posture of the regulating plate 16 can always be kept at an appropriate position. Further, the number of steps for attaching the urging member 17 can be reduced.
[0031]
[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 3 is a side view of the sheet feeding device 1 according to the second embodiment, with a part of FIG.
[0032]
The paper feeder 1 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the regulating plate 16 is connected by an inclined portion 16e in which an upper portion 16d and a bent portion 16b are bent. The inclined portion 16e has such an inclination that it approaches the surface of the side fence 13 as it goes upward in the vertical direction. Further, the upper end of the inclined portion 16 e is arranged so as not to protrude from the regulating surface 14.
[0033]
According to the second embodiment, it is possible to reduce the resistance when the sheet bundle is stored in the paper feed tray 2. Further, even when the end portion of the sheet bundle comes into contact with the vicinity of the bent portion 16b when the sheet bundle is stored in the sheet feed tray 2, the inclined portion 16e allows the regulating plate 16 to escape outward in the sheet width direction L. Damage to the regulating plate 16 can be prevented.
[0034]
[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the sheet feeding device 1 according to the third embodiment with a part of FIG. 2A omitted.
[0035]
The paper feeding device 1 of the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the angle θ formed between the upper portion 16d that contacts the side edge of the sheet bundle and the bent portion 16b is acute. In other words, the upper portion 16d has an inclination such that the upper portion 16d is separated from the surface of the side fence 13 (as close to the side edge of the sheet bundle) as goes upward in the vertical direction.
[0036]
According to the third embodiment, since the upper portion 16d of the regulating plate 16 can be inclined downward, even if the sheet P warps due to moisture absorption after the sheet bundle is stored in the sheet feed tray 2, the end of the sheet P The portion is held down by the upper portion 16d, and the sheet does not come off from the regulating plate 16.
[0037]
[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 5A is a side view of the paper feeding apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment with a part of FIG. 2A omitted, and FIG. 5B is a top view of FIG. It is the top view seen from.
[0038]
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in the sheet feeding device 1 of the present embodiment, the regulating plate 16 is inclined toward the surface of the side fence 13 at the rear edge 16 f in the sheet conveying direction W. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment (FIG. 3) in that a bent portion 21 is provided, and a cut 21a is provided in a portion of the bent portion 21 adjacent to the lower end of the urging member 17. Here, the notch recess 13a formed in the upper part of the side fence 13 is formed wider in the sheet conveyance direction W than in the other embodiments, and the tip of the bent portion 21 is located in the notch recess 13a. It is located so as not to protrude beyond the regulating surface 14 of the side fence 13.
[0039]
According to the fourth embodiment, when the sheet bundle is stored in the sheet feed tray 2 from the rear in the sheet conveyance direction W (FIG. 1), the front end of the sheet bundle in the sheet conveyance direction W Even when the sheet bundle contacts the rear side edge 16f, the sheet bundle does not catch on the rear side edge 16f, and the bent portion 21 allows the regulating plate 16 to escape outward in the sheet width direction L. Can be prevented from being damaged. Further, since the notch 21a is provided in a portion of the bent portion 21 adjacent to the lower end of the biasing member 17, the bending of the regulating plate 16 in the paper width direction W is not hindered.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, the bent portion 11e is provided only on the rear edge 16f of the regulating plate 16 in the paper transport direction W, but the bent portion 11e of the same shape is also provided on the front edge 16g in the paper transport direction W. It may be provided. With this configuration, the regulating plate 16 having the same shape can be used for the other side fence 13 that is opposed to the sheet bundle, thereby facilitating component management.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a sheet feeding device having a regulating plate that does not catch hands or sheets when sheets are stored in the sheet feeding tray.
[0042]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device according to the first to sixth aspects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a schematic structure of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view (A) of one side fence viewed from the direction A, and FIG. 1 is a plan view (B) of one side fence viewed from the direction B.
FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a sheet feeding device 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with a part of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a sheet feeding device 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, with a part of FIG.
5A is a side view of the sheet feeding apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, with a part of FIG. 2A omitted, and FIG. 5A is a plan view of FIG. B).
FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a conventional technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 paper feed tray 13 side fence 14 regulating surface 15 regulating member 16 regulating plate 17 biasing member 16b bent portion

Claims (7)

A sheet feeding tray for accommodating a sheet bundle in which a plurality of sheets are stacked, and a pair of side fences erected on a bottom surface of the sheet feeding tray to regulate a sheet width; A regulating member that regulates a position of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction at a front portion of the sheet bundle, the regulating member includes a regulating plate that abuts on a side edge of the sheet bundle in the sheet width direction, And a biasing member interposed between the fence and the biasing member biasing the regulating plate in a side edge direction in the sheet width direction.
The regulating plate has a bent portion in which at least an upper portion in contact with a side edge in the width direction of the sheet slightly protrudes toward the sheet bundle, and is bent outward from the upper end thereof along the upper end surface of the side fence in the sheet width direction. A sheet feeding device, comprising: The regulating plate has a second bent portion bent downward from a tip of the bent portion, and an opening is provided in the second bent portion, and the opening protrudes outward of the side fence in the sheet width direction. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the projection provided is loosely fitted. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the regulating plate is connected to the upper portion and the bent portion by a bent inclined portion. 4. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein an angle between an upper portion of the regulating plate that contacts the side edge of the sheet bundle and the bent portion is an acute angle. 4. The paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the urging member is attached to the regulating plate. The regulating plate is provided with a bent portion inclined toward the surface of the side fence at a rear edge in the paper transport direction, and a cut is provided in a portion of the bent portion adjacent to the lower end of the biasing member. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sheet feeding device is provided. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet feeding device according to claim 1.

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