JP2005082377A - Sheet feeder and sheet handling device using the sheet feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet feeder having a sheet guide capable of easily operating a regular positioning mechanism and an irregular positioning mechanism, and a sheet handling device using the sheet feeder. <P>SOLUTION: This sheet feeder comprises a sheet tray 2 capable of storing stacked sheets 1, sheet guides 3 (3a, 3b) restricting the end face of the sheets stacked on the sheet tray 2, and a positioning mechanism 4 positioning the sheet guides 3 at the end face of the stacked sheets. The positioning mechanism 4 comprises the regular positioning mechanism 5 positioning the sheet guide 3 to a regular sheet size, the irregular positioning mechanism 6 positioning the sheet guide 3 to an irregular sheet size, and an operating mechanism 7 having a common operation member for the releasing and moving operations of the regular positioning mechanism 5 and the irregular positioning mechanism 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet supply apparatus used in a sheet processing apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to a sheet supply apparatus capable of handling various sheet sizes in an aspect in which an end face of a stacked sheet is regulated. The present invention relates to an improvement of the used sheet processing apparatus.

In general, a sheet processing unit such as a copying machine or a printer incorporates a sheet supply unit that supplies a sheet such as a sheet to a predetermined path of the apparatus body. This type of sheet supply unit is provided with a sheet guide for positioning and fixing the stacked sheets at a predetermined position according to the sheet size.
Further, such a sheet supply unit requires a positioning mechanism that moves the sheet guide to the restriction position of the sheet end surface and holds the sheet guide at that position.

By the way, as the sheet guide in the sheet supply unit, there are a side guide that regulates the side edge of the sheet and an end guide that regulates the rear end of the sheet. From the viewpoint of preventing skew or the like during sheet conveyance, The positioning mechanism is more important.
Furthermore, since there are various sizes of sheets supplied to the sheet processing apparatus, it is necessary to adjust the side guides of the sheet supply unit for each sheet size.

Therefore, it is desired that the side guide can be easily moved to match the sheet size of the stacked sheets and can be applied to various sizes.
However, there are various sizes, that is, standard sizes and non-standard sizes, and in order to cope with these with a single sheet supply unit, each unit is equipped with a positioning mechanism for both standard sizes and non-standard sizes. It is necessary to keep it.

Conventionally, as this kind of positioning mechanism, when the sheet is of a standard size, a system is known in which positioning is performed by setting a positioning pin on the side guide side in a positioning hole for the standard size.
In addition, for example, a non-standard-size sheet is also targeted. For example, a rack member is disposed on the unit body side, and a saw-tooth rack groove portion that is continuously arranged at a fine pitch is formed on the rack member. In addition, a system is also proposed in which a stopper claw on the side guide side is engaged with the rack groove portion, and the sheet is positioned regardless of a fixed size or an atypical size (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-10-129848 (column of embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1)

  However, in the former case, in order to use the non-standard size positioning mode for the standard size, remove the positioning pin set in the standard size positioning hole from the side guide set to the standard size. After the side guide is moved to a predetermined position, a troublesome operation such as fixing the side guide with a screw or the like is required. Further, for example, even when switching from the non-standard size to the standard size, a troublesome operation of removing the screw again is required.

On the other hand, in the aspect of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to set the rack groove pitch to enable positioning of both the regular size sheet and the non-standard size sheet.
At this time, the rack groove portion pitch must be set finely because the positioning target sheet size is large. Then, since the rack groove portion pitch is small, the engagement between the rack member and the stopper claw becomes shallow, so that the engagement is easily disengaged even with a slight impact, and the positioning strength is weakened.
In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable that the rack groove portion pitch is set slightly coarse to increase the positioning strength between the rack member and the stopper claw.
However, in this aspect, the gap between the sheet and the side guide may not be appropriate, and if the gap becomes as wide as possible, an image defect occurs due to skew when the sheet is fed out. On the other hand, if the gap is too narrow, there is a concern that the sheet conveyance load increases, leading to sheet conveyance failure.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above technical problem, and provides a sheet supply apparatus excellent in operability regardless of whether the sheet size is fixed or non-standard, and a sheet processing apparatus using the same. To do.

  That is, according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a sheet tray 2 that can store stacked sheets 1 and a sheet guide 3 that regulates sheet end surfaces stacked in the sheet tray 2 are provided. Specifically, the sheet feeding apparatus includes 3a, 3b) and a positioning mechanism 4 that positions the sheet guide 3 on the end face of the stacked sheets. The positioning mechanism 4 positions the sheet guide 3 to a standard sheet size. A fixed positioning mechanism 5, a non-standard positioning mechanism 6 that positions the sheet guide 3 in a non-standard sheet size, and a common operation member that performs a releasing operation and a moving operation of the standard positioning mechanism 5 and the non-standard positioning mechanism 6. The operation mechanism 7 is provided.

In such technical means, the sheet guide 3 of the present case may be appropriately selected such as one that regulates the side end position of the sheet 1 or one that regulates the rear end position of the sheet 1.
In the sheet guide 3 that regulates the position of the side edge of the sheet 1, the number of the sheet guides 3 is not particularly limited. For example, one side wall of the sheet tray 2 is used as a guide wall. In this case, the sheet guide 3 may be provided in one place, or the sheet guide 3 may be provided in two places as in the center cash register method, for example. Moreover, the aspect by which the quantity beyond it is arrange | positioned is also included.
Furthermore, the shape of the sheet guide 3 may be any shape as long as it regulates the sheet end surface, and may be, for example, a plate shape or a rod shape.

Furthermore, the sheet guide 3 is supported so as to be movable along a predetermined locus, and is positioned at a predetermined position by the positioning mechanism 4.
The positioning mechanism 4 includes a standard positioning mechanism 5 that positions a standard size sheet and a non-standard positioning mechanism 6 that positions a non-standard size sheet.
The fixed positioning mechanism 5 and the non-standard positioning mechanism 6 according to the present invention each include a positioning member operated by the operation mechanism 7 and an engaging portion disposed on the sheet tray 2 side and engaged with the positioning member. I have.

The positioning member of the fixed positioning mechanism 5 is constituted by a positioning pin that advances and retreats, for example, and a preferable embodiment of the positioning pin is preferably a metal rod from the viewpoint of strength and safety.
The engaging portion of the fixed positioning mechanism 5 includes, for example, an engaging hole. The planar shape of the engaging hole with which the positioning pin engages is any of a circle, an ellipse, an oval system, a quadrangle, and the like. Alternatively, the engagement holes may be discretely arranged according to the standard size of the sheet 1, or a mode in which a part of the engagement holes communicates. Then, unless the positioning pin is engaged with the engagement hole and then released by the operation mechanism 7, the shape of the engagement hole is not particularly limited as long as the engagement is maintained.
Furthermore, in order to make the fixed positioning mechanism 5 operable at all times, it is more preferable that the positioning pin is provided with a biasing member that biases toward the engagement hole side that engages with the positioning pin.
On the other hand, the positioning member of the atypical positioning mechanism 6 is composed of, for example, a swingable positioning piece having a claw portion that can be freely engaged and disengaged at the tip, and at a pitch that can correspond to the atypical sheet size constituting the engaging portion. It meshes with the rack member in which the sawtooth groove is formed.

The operation mechanism 7 in the present invention has a common operation member, and by operating this operation member, the fixed positioning mechanism 5 and the non-standard positioning mechanism 6 are released or moved. .
Here, the operation mechanism 7 is not particularly limited to one. For example, when the sheets 1 are stacked at the center register, the sheet guides 3 (3a, 3b) at both ends of the sheet 1 move. A mode in which the two sheet guides 3a and 3b move in conjunction with each other is preferable. However, for example, a mode in which the operation mechanism 7 is provided in the sheet guides 3 (3a and 3b) at both ends may be employed.

The operation mechanism 7 includes an operation member that enables a release operation and a movement operation of the positioning mechanism 4 and an urging member that urges the operation member in a direction opposite to the release operation direction of the positioning mechanism 4. It is preferable.
Furthermore, the operation mechanism 7 preferably includes a switching mechanism from the viewpoint of enabling selection of at least one of the fixed positioning mechanism 5 and the non-standard positioning mechanism 6.
Here, “to make at least one selectable” means that when the standard positioning mechanism 5 is selected, the non-standard positioning mechanism 6 operates (the positioning member of the non-standard positioning mechanism 6 and the engaging portion are It means that even if it is a mode of engaging).

Further, this switching mechanism is composed of a switching operation member and an interlocking member provided at the end of the operation member, and the operation member can be moved by sliding the switching operation member to contact and separate from the interlocking member. In particular, when the switching operation member is in the fixed size position, it is ensured that the positioning member of the non-standard positioning mechanism 6 is separated from the engaging portion.
Therefore, the switching mechanism makes it possible to enable or disable the atypical positioning mechanism 6.

In the present invention, when the non-standard positioning mechanism 6 is disengaged due to some unexpected cause and the sheet guide 3 moves, the standard positioning mechanism 5 adjacent in the moving direction of the sheet guide 3 operates, and the sheet guide 3 is moved at that position. It is preferable to hold it from the viewpoint of preventing the sheet guide 3 from being damaged.
That is, the fixed positioning mechanism 5 operates as a stopper mechanism at a predetermined positioning position when the locked state by the non-standard positioning mechanism 6 is released and the sheet guide 3 moves.
Further, the positioning member of the atypical positioning mechanism 6 may be configured as a part of the operation member, or may be configured separately from the operation member and operate integrally with the operation member.
The present invention is intended not only for a sheet supply apparatus but also for a sheet processing apparatus using the same.

According to the present invention, the side guide capable of handling the standard size and non-standard size sheets is subjected to the positioning release operation and the movement operation with the same operation member, and the standard positioning mechanism is always maintained in an operable state. Therefore, when changing the sheet size, it is possible to supply a sheet supply apparatus that can be easily operated with a simple configuration and that is sufficiently resistant to impacts such as insertion into the sheet processing apparatus main body.
Further, by using this sheet supply apparatus, it is possible to provide a sheet processing apparatus with improved operability and resistance to impact.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the sheet processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 1, a sheet processing apparatus 10 forms a color image on a sheet and discharges it from the apparatus main body 20. Inside the apparatus main body 20, each color component (for example, yellow (Y), An image forming module 21 on which magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images are formed is provided, and a tray unit that is provided in a multistage manner so that it can be pulled out below. 31-34.

  Here, in the image forming module 21 used in the present embodiment, the photosensitive drums 22 (specifically 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K) that form and carry the respective color component toner images are arranged in parallel. Each of the color component toner images formed at 22 is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 23, and is transferred to a sheet such as paper supplied from the tray units 31 to 34 by a secondary transfer device (for example, a secondary transfer roll) 24. The above color component toner images are secondarily transferred and guided to the fixing device 25.

Further, in the present embodiment, the conveyance path 40 from the tray units 31 to 34 is directed upward from the left side of the apparatus main body 20 in the drawing, and is not shown through the secondary transfer portion of the image forming module 21 and the fixing device 25. A main conveyance path 41 toward the discharge tray, a reversal conveyance path 42 that is provided in a substantially Y shape on the lower side near the exit of the main conveyance path 41 and conveys the sheet by reversing the front and back of the sheet, and the reversal conveyance path 42, a return conveyance path 43 that is connected to a part of 42 and returns a sheet whose front and back sides are reversed to the main conveyance path 41 in front of the image forming module 21 again.
Reference numeral 44 denotes a manual feed path that opens to the left side of the apparatus main body 20 in the drawing and is connected to the horizontal portion of the main feed path 41.
A registration roll 45 that transports the sheet after positioning is positioned upstream of the secondary transfer site of the main transport path 41, and a transport belt 46 that transports to the fixing device 25 downstream of the secondary transfer site. An appropriate number of transport roll pairs 47 are provided in the paths 41 to 44. A reversing mechanism 48 for reversing and conveying the front and back of the sheet is disposed in the reversing conveyance path 42.

Here, the tray units 31 to 34, which are characteristic points of the present case, will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the tray units 31 to 34 have the same configuration, the tray unit 31 will be described.
In the tray unit 31, a bottom plate 57 is disposed at the bottom of the housing 56 so as to be freely lifted. By pushing up and supporting the sheet with the bottom plate 57, the bottom plate 57 is placed on the pickup roll disposed on the top of the tray unit 31. The upper sheet is pressed.
Further, the tray unit 31 is provided with a sheet guide 50 that regulates the side and rear ends of the sheets stacked on the bottom plate 57 and a positioning mechanism 60 that positions the sheet guide 50.

The sheet guide 50 according to the present embodiment includes a pair of side guides 51 (specifically 51a and 51b) that regulate the side edges of the stacked sheets, and an end guide 61 that regulates the rear ends of the stacked sheets. It consists of
Further, the support structure of the side guide 51 is provided with a plurality of guide rails 52 disposed on the bottom of the housing 56 of the tray unit 31, and a pair of side guides 51 are slidably supported on the guide rail 52, and at the bottom of the housing 56. These are a pair of interlocking rack members 53 that are movable in conjunction with the side guides 51 so as to face each other via a gear train (not shown).

The positioning mechanism 60 in the present embodiment is provided only in one side guide 51a of the pair of side guides 51 (51a, 51b), but the side guide 51 positioning when the stacked sheets are of a standard size. A fixed positioning mechanism 70 used for printing, a non-standard positioning mechanism 80 used for positioning the side guide 51 when the stacked sheets are non-standard sizes, and a release operation and a movement operation of the fixed positioning mechanism 70 and the non-standard positioning mechanism 80. And an operation mechanism 90 for performing the above.
The fixed positioning mechanism 70 includes a positioning pin 71 that can be moved back and forth in the vertical direction, and a positioning hole 72 is opened for each predetermined fixed size on the bottom of the housing 56 of the tray unit 31. The pin 71 is fitted and locked.

  Here, the positioning hole 72 may be not only a circular through hole as shown in FIG. 7A, but also an elliptical shape as shown in FIG. 7B, for example, or FIG. Even if it is a hole which is connected as shown in Fig. 5, it is sufficient that the positioning pin 71 and the positioning hole 72 are fitted to each other and then the shape does not easily move. Although the positioning hole 72 is configured to penetrate the housing 56 in this example, the positioning hole 72 is not limited to this and may be a hole that does not penetrate.

  The atypical positioning mechanism 80 has a swingable stopper arm 81 having a locking claw 82 formed at one end, and a rack having a rack claw 84 formed on one side at the bottom of the housing 56 of the tray unit 31. A member 83 is provided, and the locking claw 82 and the rack claw 84 are meshed at a predetermined position when positioning the non-standard size sheet.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the rack member 83 in the present embodiment is not particularly limited in the shape of the rack claw 84. For example, when the tray unit 31 is set in the apparatus main body. From the viewpoint of improving the resistance to impact, a mode in which a surface 841 extending in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the side guide 51 is provided on a part of the rack claw 84 as shown in FIG. At this time, the locking claw 82 of the stopper arm 81 that meshes with the rack claw 84 also takes the same shape. From the viewpoint of resistance to impact, the surface 841 extending in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the side guide 51 has a force (when the tray guide 31 is inserted into the apparatus main body 20) by which the side guide 51 tries to spread due to the impact ( Specifically, it is preferable to suppress the direction of arrow A in the figure.
For this reason, it is difficult for the locking claw 82 of the stopper arm 81 to come off from the rack claw 84 of the rack member 83 to be engaged, and the impact resistance may be improved.

Further, the operation mechanism 90 has a common operation lever 91 for operating the fixed positioning mechanism 70 and the non-standard positioning mechanism 80.
The operation lever 91 is supported swingably with a fixed arm 92 provided integrally with the guide body 511 of the side guide 51a and a shaft 512 protruding from the guide body 511 as a swing point, and is opposed to the fixed arm 92. A substantially L-shaped movable arm 93, and a spring 95 that constantly urges the fixed arm 92 and the movable arm 93 in a direction in which they are separated.
Note that the fixed arm 92 and the movable arm 93 constituting the operation lever 91 are provided with knurling portions 921 and 931 for preventing slipping for easy operation.

  The movable arm 93 is provided with a window hole portion 932, and one bent end portion of the positioning pin 71 of the fixed positioning mechanism 70 is engaged with the window hole portion 932. For this reason, the positioning pin 71 constantly biased downward by the spring 73 mounted between the E ring 74 and the one end surface 511a of the guide main body 511 causes the positioning of the positioning hole 71 by the upward movement of the movable arm 93. 72 is lifted.

  In the present embodiment, the stopper arm 81 of the atypical positioning mechanism 80 is integrally provided on a part of the movable arm 93, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the movable arm 93 moves in conjunction with the operation of the movable arm 93. Any mode can be used.

The operation mechanism 90 in the present embodiment further includes a switching mechanism 94 that enables selection of at least one of the fixed positioning mechanism 70 and the non-standard positioning mechanism 80.
The switching mechanism 94 is integrally provided with an operation receiving portion 943 on the guide body 511 side, and a slit 944 is formed in the operation receiving portion 943. A switching operation piece 941 is slidably provided in the slit 944, The switching operation piece 941 switches between a fixed position and an atypical position.
On the other hand, the switching mechanism 94 has an interlocking lever 942 from which a part of the movable arm 93 protrudes on the opposite side of the swing point (specifically, the shaft 512) of the movable arm 93. A protrusion 942a that engages with and disengages from the switching operation piece 941 is integrally formed at the tip of the.
Therefore, when the switching operation piece 941 is set at the non-standard position by the sliding operation of the switching operation piece 941, the switching operation piece 941 comes into contact with the protrusion 942a of the interlocking lever 942 and closes the operation lever 91. It comes to regulate.
Note that the slit 944 of the operation receiving portion 943 serves as a guide for sliding the screw 945 attached to the switching operation piece 941.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9 to 11, the end guide 61 in the present embodiment includes an end guide main body 62 that regulates the rear end of the sheet, and an end guide positioning mechanism.
The support structure of the end guide body 62 is formed with a linear guide slit 55 at the bottom of the housing 56, while an engagement leg 621 is formed at the lower end of the end guide body 62, and the end guide 61 is engaged with the guide slit 55. The leg portion 621 is engaged so as to be slidable and prevent detachment. The end guide 61 is engaged with the guide slit 55 by inserting the engaging leg 621 at the lower end of the end guide 61 from an opening 55 a provided at one end edge of the guide slit 55.

Further, the end guide positioning mechanism is provided at the lower end of the movable operation unit 65 among the end guide operation lever 63 including the fixed operation unit 64 and the movable operation unit 65 for operating the end guide positioning mechanism. On the other hand, the bottom of the housing 56 of the tray unit 31 is provided with an engagement hole 67 for each predetermined size, and the protrusion 65a is engaged with the predetermined engagement hole 67. .
Further, the end guide operating lever 63 is provided with a coil spring 66 that is always urged in a direction in which the fixed operating portion 64 and the movable operating portion 65 are separated.
The fixed operation unit 64 and the movable operation unit 65 constituting the end guide operation lever 63 are provided with knurling processing units 641 and 651 for easy operation.

Next, the operation of the tray unit 31 in the sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be mainly described.
12-14 is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation of the side guide 51a, FIG. 12 has shown the condition where the fixed size sheet is set and the fixed positioning is performed.
In the same figure, since the switching operation piece 941 is located on the standard size side, the projection 942a at one end of the movable arm 93 comes into contact with the switching operation piece 941, and the movable arm 93 swings further. Thus, the locking claw 82 of the stopper arm 81 remains separated from the rack member 83.
At this time, the positioning pin 71 urged downward by the spring 73 is fitted in the positioning hole 72 corresponding to the sheet size.

Therefore, for example, when setting the positioning position in order to set a sheet of a different standard size, as shown in FIG. 13, the operation lever 91 is pinched and the movable arm 93 is moved closer to the fixed arm 92 side. The side guide 51a is moved as it is.
At this time, the movable arm 93 swings about the shaft 512 protruding from the guide body 511 and the window hole 932 provided in the movable arm 93 is lifted, so that the positioning pin 71 is lifted upward. .
And the lower end (part fitted with the positioning hole 72) of this positioning pin 71 lifts from the positioning hole 72, and the side guide 51a will be in the movable state.
It should be noted that the switching operation piece 941 may be maintained on the fixed position side (specifically, the right side in the figure).
Therefore, at the time of switching between the standard-sized sheets, the switching is performed without the locking claw 82 of the stopper arm 81 and the rack member 83 being in contact with each other.

Next, in order to set a non-standard size sheet, the switching operation piece 941 is switched to the non-standard position (specifically, moved to the left in the figure), and the locking claw 82 of the stopper arm 81 is used. Therefore, it is necessary to mesh with the rack claw 84 of the rack member 83.
FIG. 14 shows this state. When the switching operation piece 941 moves to the atypical position side, the movable arm 93 swings around the shaft 512 and the interlocking lever extends from the movable arm 93. The protrusion 942a at the end of 942 is lifted upward. Therefore, the locking claw 82 of the stopper arm 81 is engaged with the rack claw 84 of the rack member 83 provided on the bottom of the housing 56.

Therefore, for example, when the tray unit 31 to which the standard size is applied is changed to the non-standard size, first, the switching lever 941 is moved to the non-standard position side, and then the operation lever is lifted to lift the movable arm 93. By operating 91, the positioning pin 71 is separated from the positioning hole 72. Then, after moving the side guide 51a to a predetermined position while leaving the operation lever 91 as it is, when the operation lever 91 is released, the movable arm 93 is lowered, and the locking claw 82 of the stopper arm 81 is provided at the bottom of the housing 56. The rack member 83 engages with the rack claw 84.
At the time of normal fixed positioning, the switching operation piece 941 is set on the fixed position side (right side in the figure). However, it is possible to perform fixed positioning while being set on the non-fixed position side. At this time, the locking claw 82 of the stopper arm 81 comes into contact with the rack member 83 side, but may be engaged depending on the shape of the teeth.

Further, in the present embodiment, the side guide 51 is set to an atypical size, and at that time, for example, an impact such as violently inserting the tray unit 31 into the apparatus main body 20 is applied to the tray unit 31, and the atypical positioning mechanism 80 is detached. In such a case, the side guides 51 are directed in the direction in which they spread. At this time, since the positioning pin 71 of the fixed positioning mechanism 70 is always urged toward the positioning hole 72, the positioning pin 71 is fitted into the adjacent positioning hole 72, so that the side guide 51 does not further spread. And then stop there. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the side guide 51 from being damaged.
In the present embodiment, the side guide 51 includes the positioning mechanism 60 according to the present case and accurately controls the position of the stacked sheets. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of image defects due to the influence of skew or the like.

Further, the end guide 61 does not adopt a configuration like the atypical positioning mechanism 80 of the side guide 51. This is simple because there is no need to accurately control the trailing edge of the stacked sheets (when a sheet is fed from the tray unit 31, a slight shift in the feeding direction is not affected by the sheet registration mechanism at the time of image formation). Although the positioning mechanism is used, it is possible to provide a mechanism similar to that of the side guide 51 of this example.
Furthermore, in this example, the positioning mechanism 60 is provided only on one side guide 51a of the pair of side guides 51a and 51b. However, the same positioning mechanism 60 may be provided on the other side guide 51b.
Furthermore, when the side edge regulation of the sheet is one place, it is possible to provide the same positioning mechanism in one side guide.

As described above, the tray unit 31 according to the present embodiment does not require the addition of new parts, and can be used for a standard size and a non-standard size sheet with a simple configuration. Any switching to the standard size (specifically, within the standard size, within the non-standard size, or switching between the standard size and the non-standard size) can be easily performed.
Further, the positioning of the side guide 51 in the non-standard size is less likely to be displaced with respect to the impact when the tray unit 31 is set on the apparatus main body 20, and it is not possible due to a cause such as when the tray unit 31 is mounted. Even if the fixed positioning mechanism 80 is displaced, the positioning pin 71 of the fixed positioning mechanism 70 is always urged downward, so that the positioning pin 71 is fitted into the adjacent positioning hole 72, and the side It becomes possible to prevent the guide 51 from being damaged.

(A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the sheet supply apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows Embodiment 1 of the sheet processing apparatus with which this invention was applied. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an appearance of a tray unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tray unit in the first embodiment. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a tray unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a side guide according to Embodiment 1. FIG. (A) (b) (c) is explanatory drawing which shows the shape of the positioning hole of a fixed type positioning mechanism. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the shape of the rack member of an atypical positioning mechanism. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an end guide in the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the support mechanism of an end guide. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positioning mechanism of an end guide. It is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation (state positioned to the fixed size) of the side guide. It is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation (operation | movement of a movable arm) of a side guide. It is explanatory drawing which shows the action | operation (state positioned in the non-standard size) of the side guide.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sheet, 2 ... Sheet tray, 3 (3a, 3b) ... Sheet guide, 4 ... Positioning mechanism, 5 ... Standard positioning mechanism, 6 ... Non-standard positioning mechanism, 7 ... Operation mechanism

Claims (13)

A sheet supply apparatus comprising: a sheet tray that can store stacked sheets; a sheet guide that regulates a sheet end surface stacked in the sheet tray; and a positioning mechanism that positions the sheet guide on the stacked sheet end surface. ,
The positioning mechanism includes a fixed positioning mechanism that positions the sheet guide to a fixed sheet size,
An atypical positioning mechanism for positioning the sheet guide to an atypical sheet size;
A sheet supply apparatus comprising: an operation mechanism including a common operation member that performs a release operation and a movement operation of the fixed positioning mechanism and the non-standard positioning mechanism. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The standard positioning mechanism and the non-standard positioning mechanism are a positioning member operated by an operation mechanism,
A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: an engaging portion that is disposed on a sheet tray side and engages with a positioning member. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member of the fixed positioning mechanism is a positioning pin that moves forward and backward, and the engaging portion is an engaging hole that engages with the positioning pin. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The positioning member of the atypical positioning mechanism is a detachable claw member, and the engaging portion has a rack claw having a pitch interval that can correspond to the atypical sheet size, and the rack claw is engaged with the rack claw. A sheet feeding apparatus characterized by the above. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
The fixed-type positioning mechanism includes a biasing member that is provided on the positioning pin side and biases toward the engagement hole side that engages with the positioning pin. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The non-standard positioning mechanism includes a positioning member provided integrally with the operation member. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The operation mechanism includes a common operation member that enables a release operation and a movement operation of the positioning mechanism,
A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: an urging member that urges the operation member in a direction opposite to a release operation direction of the positioning mechanism. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation mechanism includes a switching mechanism that enables selection of at least one of a fixed positioning mechanism and an atypical positioning mechanism. The sheet supply apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The switching mechanism includes a switching operation member that is movable between switching positions,
It is composed of an interlocking member that is engaged with and disengaged from this switching operation member, is provided in a part of the operation member, restricts the operable range by the operation member, and selects either the fixed positioning mechanism or the non-standard positioning mechanism A sheet feeding apparatus characterized by being provided. The sheet supply apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The sheet feeding apparatus characterized in that the switching mechanism enables or disables the atypical positioning mechanism. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 or 8,
The operation mechanism is configured to hold the fixed positioning mechanism in an operable state when the non-standard positioning mechanism is operated. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
The sheet feeding device, wherein the fixed positioning mechanism operates as a stopper mechanism at a predetermined positioning position when the sheet guide moves when the locked state by the non-standard positioning mechanism is released.   A sheet processing apparatus using the sheet supply apparatus according to claim 1.

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