JP2005330085A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder allowing an operator to relatively comfortably and easily set a rolled sheet thereon without using a special mounting device. <P>SOLUTION: The paper feeder comprises a first flange part 10 engageable with a first end 31 of the rolled sheet 30 for changing the attitude of the rolled sheet 30 in the engaging condition between an approximately vertical attitude and an approximately horizontal attitude and a second flange part 20 engageable with a second end 32 of the rolled sheet 30 in the state that the rolled sheet 30 is in the approximately horizontal attitude. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that supplies a sheet to an image forming apparatus such as a printing machine, a copying machine, or a printer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a paper feeding device capable of easily setting a roll sheet used for image formation in an image forming apparatus.

  When an image forming process such as printing or copying is performed by an image forming apparatus, a roll sheet composed of continuous sheets in addition to standard size plain paper is often used as a printing target. The roll sheet is obtained by winding a long continuous sheet around a core tube in a predetermined direction. Some image forming apparatuses using such a roll sheet use a sheet having a large size such as A0 size or B0 size mainly for business use.

Conventionally, when such a large size roll sheet is used, the roll sheet is set on the sheet feeding device by first attaching flanges to both ends of the roll sheet by an operator, lifting it with both hands, and then feeding paper. This was done by mounting the device at a predetermined position. Alternatively, a dedicated mounting device is used, and a roll sheet with a flange attached is conveyed to a paper feeding device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-240996 (FIG. 4)

  However, a large roll sheet is very difficult for an operator to handle. In other words, in addition to having a large external shape, it has a considerable weight, so the work of setting a roll sheet on a paper feeder is hard work to be done by one person, even for an adult male. Then, it was difficult to set the roll sheet alone.

  On the other hand, in the case of using a dedicated mounting device described in Patent Document 1, it can be freed from heavy labor for setting a roll sheet. However, since it is very expensive to use such a dedicated mounting device, it is not very realistic. Even if the mounting apparatus is introduced, there is a problem that a considerable work space is required in addition to the installation space for the image forming apparatus and the paper feeding apparatus due to the large size of the mounting apparatus itself.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a paper feeding device that enables a worker to set a roll sheet relatively easily and easily without using a dedicated mounting device. The purpose is to provide.

  The characteristic configuration of the sheet feeding device according to the present invention is engageable with the first end portion of the roll sheet, and the posture of the roll sheet can be changed between a substantially vertical posture and a substantially horizontal posture in the engaged state. And a second flange portion engageable with a second end portion of the roll sheet in a state where the roll sheet is in a substantially horizontal posture.

  In the paper feeding device having this configuration, the first flange portion is engaged with the first end portion of the roll sheet, and the posture of the roll sheet can be changed between a substantially vertical posture and a substantially horizontal posture in this state. Therefore, if the roll sheet is inserted from above with the first flange portion raised, the operator can relatively easily engage the first end portion of the roll sheet with the first flange portion. Further, when the posture of the first flange portion is changed so that the roll sheet is tilted substantially horizontally from the standing state, the second end portion of the roll sheet becomes engageable with the second flange portion. The operator can set the roll sheet on the paper feeder relatively easily.

  In the sheet feeding device of the present invention, the first flange portion includes an engagement portion that can be engaged with the first end portion of the roll sheet, and the engagement portion between a substantially vertical posture and a substantially horizontal posture. It is also possible to provide a support shaft that is swingably supported.

  With the sheet feeding device having this configuration, with the first end of the roll sheet engaged with the first flange, the first flange is swung around the support shaft to be in a substantially horizontal posture. Only then, the operator can set the roll sheet relatively easily and easily.

  In the sheet feeding device according to the aspect of the invention, the second flange portion may engage with the second end portion of the roll sheet, and the engagement portion may be disposed in an axial direction in a substantially horizontal posture of the roll sheet. It is also possible to provide a slide support portion that supports the slide.

  In the paper feeding device having this configuration, after the first flange portion engaged with the first end portion of the roll sheet is brought into a substantially horizontal posture together with the roll sheet, the second flange portion is slid in the axial direction of the roll sheet. The operator can set the roll sheet relatively easily and easily.

  In the sheet feeding device according to the present invention, the second flange portion includes a taper-shaped engagement portion that is thinner toward a distal end side that engages with the second end portion of the roll sheet, and the engagement portion is substantially the same as the roll sheet. It is also possible to include a holding part that holds the movable part in an axial direction in a horizontal posture and a biasing member that biases the engaging part toward the tip side.

  In the case of the sheet feeding device having this configuration, the taper-shaped engaging portion is moved to the first position of the roll sheet only by bringing the first flange portion engaged with the first end portion of the roll sheet into the substantially horizontal posture. Since it automatically fits into the two ends, the operator can set the roll sheet relatively easily and easily.

  In the paper feeding device of the present invention, the slide support portion includes a roll sheet support portion that supports the roll sheet when the roll sheet is in a substantially horizontal posture, and the roll sheet support portion includes the second flange portion. In accordance with the operation of engaging with the second end portion of the roll sheet, it is possible to retract from the support position of the roll sheet.

  In the case of the sheet feeding device having this configuration, when the roll sheet is tilted and the second flange portion is engaged with the second end portion of the roll sheet, the roll sheet support portion retreats from the roll sheet support position and rolls. Since the sheet is not in contact with the sheet, the operator can immediately supply the sheet from the sheet feeding device to the image forming apparatus.

  In the sheet feeding device according to the present invention, the second flange portion is engaged with the second end portion of the roll sheet in conjunction with the posture change of the roll sheet from a substantially vertical posture to a substantially horizontal posture. It is also possible.

  In the case of the sheet feeding device having this configuration, the two steps of the step of changing the posture of the roll sheet from the substantially vertical posture to the substantially horizontal posture and the step of engaging the second flange portion with the second end portion of the roll sheet are performed. Therefore, the operator can efficiently set the roll sheet in the sheet feeding device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure described in the following embodiment and drawing.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The sheet feeding device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a first flange portion 10 and a second flange portion 20 in the case 1. The case 1 is formed in a size that can accommodate the roll sheet 30. The 1st flange part 10 and the 2nd flange part 20 are comprised in the shape which can be engaged with the 1st end part 31 and the 2nd end part 32 of the roll sheet 30, respectively. In addition, the first flange portion 10 can change the posture of the roll sheet 30 between a substantially vertical posture and a substantially horizontal posture while being engaged with the roll sheet 30, and the second flange portion 20 In a state where the roll sheet 30 is in a substantially horizontal posture, the roll sheet 30 is configured to be engageable with the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30. Hereinafter, the first flange portion 10 and the second flange portion 20 will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first flange portion 10 in the first embodiment. The first flange portion 10 supports an engagement portion 11 that can be engaged with the first end portion 31 of the roll sheet 30, and supports the engagement portion 11 so as to be swingable between a substantially vertical posture and a substantially horizontal posture. A support shaft 12 is provided. The engaging portion 11 includes an insertion member 13 that is directly inserted into the core hole 33 of the first end portion 31 of the roll sheet 30 and a base 14 on which the insertion member 13 is installed. And the engaging part 11 can be comprised so that attachment or detachment with respect to the mounting base 15 which attaches the base 14 is possible. In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 11 and the mounting base 15 are separate structures, and the engaging portion 11 is detachable from the mounting base 15, but it is also possible to configure both as a single body. It is. The insertion member 13 has at least some elasticity such as plastic so that it generates a biasing force against the inner wall of the core hole 33 when inserted into the core hole 33 of the first end portion 31 of the roll sheet 30. It is comprised with the material which has. At this time, the insertion member 13 can be inserted into the core hole 33 if its outer diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the core hole 33 on the distal end side and slightly larger than the inner diameter of the core hole 33 on the base 14 side. In addition, the insertion member 13 is more preferable because the roll sheet 30 can be securely fixed by pressure bonding to the wall surface of the core hole 33. The support shaft 12 can be configured as, for example, a rotation shaft 12 a of the hinge 16. In the example of the present embodiment, the hinge 16 is fixed between one end portion of the bottom of the mounting base 16 and the bottom surface of the case 1, whereby the engaging portion 11 is in a substantially vertical posture (roll sheet) with respect to the case 1. 30 in a substantially vertical position) to a substantially horizontal posture (a state in which the roll sheet 30 is laid in a substantially horizontal direction). The terms “substantially horizontal” or “substantially vertical” used in this specification are not only “horizontal” or “vertical” but also “horizontal” or “vertical” to the extent that they do not affect the set of roll sheets 30. "Means that a predetermined angular width is allowed.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second flange portion 20 in the first embodiment. The second flange portion 20 has an engagement portion 21 that can be engaged with the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30, and the engagement portion 21 in the axial direction in the substantially horizontal posture of the roll sheet 30 (the arrow direction in FIG. 3). And a slide support portion 22 that is slidably supported. The engaging portion 21 includes an insertion member 23 that is directly inserted into the core hole 33 of the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30 and a base 24 on which the insertion member 23 is installed. And the engaging part 21 can be comprised so that attachment or detachment with respect to the mounting base 25 which attaches the base 24 is possible. In this embodiment, the engaging portion 21 and the mounting base 25 are separate structures, and the engaging portion 21 is detachable from the mounting base 25. However, it is also possible to configure both as a single body. It is. In addition, the shape of the engaging portion 21 used for the second flange portion 20 and the shape of the engaging portion 11 used for the first flange portion 10 may be the same or different, but they are the same. This is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost. The insertion member 23 is attached to the inner wall of the core hole 33 when the insertion member 23 is inserted into the core hole 33 of the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30, similarly to the insertion member 13 of the engagement portion 11 shown in FIG. 2. In order to generate a force, it is made of a material having at least some elasticity such as plastic. At this time, when the insertion member 23 is inserted into the core hole 33, the outer diameter thereof is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the core hole 33 on the distal end side and slightly larger than the inner diameter of the core hole 33 on the base 24 side. In addition, the insertion member 23 is more preferable because the roll sheet 30 can be securely fixed by being crimped to the wall surface of the core hole 33. The slide support member 22 extends along at least one (two in the example of FIG. 3) slide rails 27 provided in the case 1 in the axial direction of the roll sheet 30 in the substantially horizontal position (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3). ) Is slidable. Moreover, the slide support part 22 can also be provided with the roll sheet support part 26 so that the roll sheet 30 may be supported when the roll sheet 30 is set to a substantially horizontal posture. The roll sheet support portion 26 can be configured as, for example, a roller 26 a having a rotation axis in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the roll sheet 30 that supports the roll sheet 30 from below. At this time, the roller 26 a can be configured to retract from the support position of the roll sheet 30 in accordance with the operation in which the second flange portion 20 engages with the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30. The retracting operation of the roller 26a will be described in detail later.

  Next, the setting operation of the roll sheet 30 by the sheet feeding device 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  4A to 4D are schematic diagrams illustrating a procedure for setting the roll sheet 30 in the sheet feeding device 100 according to the present embodiment. (A) First, the first end portion 31 of the roll sheet 30 is inserted and attached to the first flange portion 10 from above with the engaging portion 11 of the first flange portion 10 facing upward. (B) The roll sheet 30 is tilted by swinging the first flange portion 10 to which the roll sheet 30 is attached around the support shaft 12. (C) The roll sheet 30 is placed on the roller 26a to be in a substantially horizontal state. (D) The second flange portion 20 is slid and attached so as to be inserted into the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30 in a substantially horizontal posture. Here, in the procedure of (d) above, if at least a part of the engaging portion 21 of the second flange portion 20 is inserted into the core hole 33 of the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30, the roller Since the roll sheet 30 is supported on both sides by the first flange portion 10 and the second flange portion 20 even if the 26a is retracted from the support position of the roll sheet 30 (the position where the roller 26a contacts the roll sheet 30), The substantially horizontal posture of the roll sheet 30 is maintained. At this time, since the roll sheet 30 is in a non-contact state except for the places where the first flange portion 10 and the second flange portion 20 are engaged at both ends, the operator immediately thereafter turns the image forming apparatus (see FIG. It is possible to carry out sheet feeding to (not shown). The retracting operation of the roller 26a can be realized by, for example, the retracting mechanism 40 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a retracting mechanism 40 for performing the retracting operation of the roller 26a from the roll sheet 30. FIG. As shown in (a), the retracting operation mechanism 40 is provided with a guide groove 28 in which the rotation shaft 26b of the roller 26a can move. The rotating shaft 26b of the roller 26a is inserted and held together with an elongated hole 29 and a guide groove 28 provided in the slide support member 22 at both ends thereof. When the slide support member 22 is slid, the slide support member 22 moves together with the slide support member 22 while being restrained by the elongated hole 29, and can move within the range of the guide groove 28. Further, the guide groove 28 guides the roller 26 a downward from the time when at least the tip of the engaging portion 21 of the second flange portion 20 is inserted into the core hole 33 of the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30. In other words (that is, the roller 26a is retracted from the roll sheet 30), the shape is bent downward from the middle. Then, when the roller sheet 30 is completely inserted into the core hole 33 of the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30, the rotating shaft 27 of the roller 26a is held at the lowermost portion of the guide groove 28 as shown in FIG. It has become.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the first flange portion 10 is engaged with the first end portion 31 of the roll sheet 30, and the posture of the roll sheet 30 is changed between a substantially vertical posture and a substantially horizontal posture in this state. Therefore, if the roll sheet 30 is inserted from above with the first flange portion 10 in an upright state, the operator can relatively easily connect the first end portion 31 of the roll sheet 30 to the first flange portion 10. Can be engaged. Further, when the posture of the first flange portion 10 is changed so that the roll sheet 30 is tilted substantially horizontally from the standing state (that is, the first flange portion 10 is swung around the support shaft 12 to be in a substantially horizontal posture state). Therefore, the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30 can be engaged with the second flange portion 20, so that the operator can set the roll sheet 30 in the paper feeding device 100 relatively easily after that. It becomes possible to do. That is, the operator can set the roll sheet relatively easily and simply by sliding the second flange portion 20 in the axial direction of the roll sheet 30.

  In the present embodiment, the second flange portion 20 is engaged with the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30 in conjunction with the posture change of the roll sheet 30 from the substantially vertical posture to the substantially horizontal posture. It is also possible. As a specific configuration example, the second embodiment shown below can be cited. In addition, for example, a sensor that detects that the roll sheet 30 is in a substantially horizontal posture and an output of the sensor are used. This can be realized by a mechanism combined with a drive motor or the like that moves the second flange portion 20. With such a configuration, the step of changing the posture of the roll sheet 30 from the substantially vertical posture to the substantially horizontal posture (that is, the procedure shown in FIG. Since the two steps including the step of engaging with the two end portions 32 (that is, the procedure shown in FIG. 4C) can be performed at a time, the operator can feed the roll sheet 30 to the sheet feeding device 100. Can be set more efficiently.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of the second flange portion 50 in the paper feeding device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the sheet feeding device 200 of the present embodiment, the second flange portion 50 has a taper-shaped engagement portion 51 that is thinner toward the tip end side that engages with the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30, and the engagement portion 51 is a roll sheet. 30 is provided with a holding portion 52 that is operatively held in the axial direction in a substantially horizontal posture, and a biasing member 53 (see FIG. 7) that biases the engaging portion 51 toward the distal end side. The configuration is the same as that of the sheet feeder 100 according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the second flange portion 50 will be described in detail below.

  The engaging portion 51 of the second flange portion 50 in this embodiment includes an insertion member 54 that is directly inserted into the core hole 33 of the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30 and a base 55 on which the insertion member 54 is installed. It is out. Further, the insertion member 54 and the base 55 are coupled by a biasing member 53, and the biasing member 53 biases the insertion member 54 toward the roll sheet 30 with respect to the base member 55.

  Next, the setting operation of the roll sheet 30 by the paper feeding device 200 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIGS. 7A to 7C are schematic diagrams illustrating a procedure for setting the roll sheet 30 in the sheet feeding device 200 according to the present embodiment. In addition, about the operation | movement which attaches the roll sheet | seat 30 to the 1st flange part 10, it can perform by the procedure similar to the procedure demonstrated in 1st Embodiment. (A) The first flange portion 10 to which the roll sheet 30 is attached is tilted to the position where the roll sheet 30 contacts the engaging portion 51 by swinging around the support shaft 12. (B) When the roll sheet 30 continues to be lowered as it is after the contact, the engaging portion 51 becomes tapered, and the corner of the roll sheet 30 biases the insertion member 54 of the engaging portion 51. Push back in the direction of arrow P against the urging force of 53. (C) When the insertion member 54 reaches the position of the core hole 33 of the roll sheet 30, the insertion member 54 protrudes again toward the roll sheet 33 by the urging member 53 (moves in the arrow Q direction), and the 2 Engagement with the engaging part 50 is performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the taper-shaped engaging portion 51 can be obtained simply by bringing the first flange portion 10 engaged with the first end portion 31 of the roll sheet 30 into the substantially horizontal posture together with the roll sheet 30. Automatically fits into the second end portion 32 of the roll sheet 30, so that the operator can set the roll sheet relatively easily and easily.

  In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 51 and the mounting base 52 can be configured as separate structures, and the engaging portion 51 can be configured to be detachable from the mounting base 52. Of course, it can be configured.

1 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view of the 1st flange part in a 1st embodiment. The perspective view of the 2nd flange part in a 1st embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a roll sheet in the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment. Schematic diagram showing the retracting mechanism for retracting the roller from the roll sheet The perspective view which showed especially the part of the 2nd flange part among the paper feeder of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Schematic diagram illustrating a procedure for setting a roll sheet in the paper feeding device according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 10 1st flange part 11 Engagement part 12 Support shaft 13 Insertion member 14 Base 15 Mounting base 16 Hinge 20 2nd flange part 21 Engagement part 22 Slide support part 23 Insertion member 24 Base 25 Mounting base 26 Roll sheet support part 27 Slide rail 28 Guide groove 29 Long hole 30 Roll sheet 31 First end 32 Second end 33 Core hole

Claims (6)

A first flange portion that is engageable with a first end portion of the roll sheet, and that allows the posture of the roll sheet to be changed between a substantially vertical posture and a substantially horizontal posture in the engaged state;
A sheet feeding device including a second flange portion engageable with a second end portion of the roll sheet in a state where the roll sheet is in a substantially horizontal posture.   The first flange portion is an engaging portion that can be engaged with the first end portion of the roll sheet, and a support shaft that supports the engaging portion so as to be swingable between a substantially vertical posture and a substantially horizontal posture. A sheet feeding device according to claim 1.   The second flange portion is an engagement portion that can be engaged with the second end portion of the roll sheet, and a slide support portion that supports the engagement portion so as to be slidable in an axial direction in a substantially horizontal posture of the roll sheet. A sheet feeding device according to claim 1 or 2.   The second flange portion is capable of operating in an axial direction in a substantially horizontal posture of the roll sheet, and an engagement portion having a tapered shape that is thinner toward a tip end side that engages with the second end portion of the roll sheet. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a holding unit that holds the engagement unit and a biasing member that biases the engagement unit toward the distal end.   The slide support portion includes a roll sheet support portion that supports the roll sheet when the roll sheet is in a substantially horizontal posture, and the second flange portion of the roll sheet support portion is the second end of the roll sheet. The sheet feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the sheet feeding device is retracted from a supporting position of the roll sheet in accordance with an operation of engaging with the section.   The engagement of the said 2nd flange part to the said 2nd end part of the said roll sheet of the said 2nd flange part is performed in response to the attitude | position change from the substantially vertical attitude | position of the said roll sheet | seat to a substantially horizontal attitude | position. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1.

Images