JP2006027741A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeding device capable of improving meshing accuracy between a power input gear of a paper feeding device body and a power output gear of the paper feeding device body disposed just above the paper feeding device body or a power output gear of an image forming device body, as well as improving reliability. <P>SOLUTION: In a paper feeding device frame 22 constituting the paper feeding device body 21, a male portion 22d of a second positioning member for positioning between the power input gear 41 and the power output gear 49 of the paper feeding device body 21 disposed just above the paper feeding device body 21 or the power output gear 19 of the image forming device body 10 is integrally formed adjacent to the power input gear 41. A female portion of the second positioning member to be engaged with the male portion 22d of the second positioning member of the paper feeding device body 21, if the paper feeding device body 21 is disposed just below the paper feeding device body 21, is integrally formed adjacent to the power output gear 49. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feeding device provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copiers, facsimile machines, and printers are configured so that a plurality of stages of paper feeders can be installed below the apparatus body, and different sizes of paper are placed in the paper cassettes of the paper feeders of each stage. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the paper feeding device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a positioning member that regulates a position with respect to a paper feeding roller that feeds paper from a paper feeding cassette, and positions of the image forming apparatus main body and the paper feeding apparatus main body, or between the paper feeding apparatus main bodies. The regulating positioning member is integrally formed with a paper feeding device frame constituting the paper feeding device main body, and the image forming device main body and the paper feeding device main body, or the paper feeding device stacked vertically with reference to the paper feeding device frame. The paper device main bodies are positioned with each other, and the positioning accuracy of the paper feed rollers provided on the paper feed device main body side is improved, so that the paper fed by the paper feed rollers is not skewed. Yes.
JP-A-8-188270

  The main body of the paper feeding device includes a paper feeding mechanism for feeding the paper set therein, and the main body of the image forming device includes a drive source for driving the paper feeding mechanism. The paper feed mechanism of the main body includes a power output gear for outputting power to the paper feed mechanism of the paper feeder main body immediately below, and a power output gear of the paper feed mechanism of the paper feeder main body installed immediately above Or a power input gear for inputting power from a power output gear from a drive source of the image forming apparatus main body.

  When the positioning member positions the sheet feeding device main body and the sheet feeding device main body or the image forming apparatus main body installed immediately above the positioning device, the power input gear of the sheet feeding device main body and the sheet feeding The power output gear of the paper feeding device main body installed directly above the apparatus main body or the power output gear of the image forming apparatus main body is configured to mesh with the power output gear.

By the way, most of the image forming apparatus frame constituting the image forming apparatus main body and the paper feeding apparatus frame constituting the paper feeding apparatus main body are made of resin, and the frame made of resin is particularly flexible. In addition, even if positioning is performed at the corner position when connecting the image forming apparatus main body and the paper feeding apparatus main body or between the paper feeding apparatus main bodies due to variations in the dimensions and assembly of the parts, In such a case, a dimensional error occurs, and the power input gear of the sheet feeding apparatus main body and the power output gear of the sheet feeding apparatus main body or the power output gear of the image forming apparatus main body installed immediately above the sheet feeding apparatus main body are horizontal. There is a problem that the power input gear and the power output gear are not well meshed with each other due to displacement inward or in the vertical direction.
The power input gear and the power output gear are made of resin, and if the engagement between the two gears is deep, an excessive load is applied to the rotation of both gears, which promotes wear of both gears and rubs both gears. A strange noise is generated, which causes discomfort to the user, and a problem such as tooth skipping occurs when both the gears are not engaged properly.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in view of such a point, the power input gear of the sheet feeding apparatus main body and the power output gear or image of the sheet feeding apparatus main body installed immediately above (or directly below) the sheet feeding apparatus main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device that is improved in meshing accuracy with a power output gear of a forming apparatus main body and improved in reliability.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are as described above. Next, means for solving the problems will be described.
First, as described in claim 1, an image forming apparatus main body having a paper feed mechanism for feeding paper is compared with an image forming apparatus main body having a drive source for driving the paper feed mechanism. In a configuration in which one or a plurality of stages are installed on one of the upper and lower sides, the sheet feeding device frame constituting the sheet feeding device body has a sheet feeding device body or an image forming apparatus installed on the other side. When the male and female of the first positioning member for positioning the main body is formed and the paper feeding device main body is installed on one side directly above and below the male and female of the first positioning member of the paper feeding device main body The first and second positioning members for engaging with the other are formed, and the paper feeding mechanism is configured to feed paper in the paper feeding device main body when the paper feeding device main body is installed on one of the upper and lower sides. Power output gear to output power to the mechanism A power input gear for inputting power from a power output gear of a paper feed mechanism of a paper feed device main body or a power output gear from a drive source of the image forming apparatus main body installed on the side of the male and female, The pair of first positioning members position the sheet feeding device main body and the sheet feeding device main body or the image forming apparatus main body installed on the other side directly above and below the power feeding gear of the sheet feeding device main body. And a power output gear of a paper feed device main body or a power output gear of an image forming device main body installed on the other side directly above and below the paper feed device main body, in the paper feed device frame, In the vicinity of the power input gear, between the power input gear and the power output gear of the paper feed device main body or the power output gear of the image forming device main body installed on the other side directly above and below the paper feed device main body. The first to do the positioning One of the positioning members is integrally formed, and the paper feeding device main body is installed in the vicinity of the power output gear on the one side directly above and below the paper feeding device main body. The male and female of the second positioning member for engaging with the male and female of the second positioning member are integrally formed, and the pair of male and female second positioning members are used to input power to the paper feeder main body. The power output gear of the paper feed device main body or the power output gear of the image forming device main body installed on the other side directly above and below the paper feed device main body is positioned with respect to the gear.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the power input gear of the main body of the sheet feeding device is configured to be displaced in the vertical direction, and is configured to be biased in the direction of displacement to the other side in the vertical direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the male and female ones of the first positioning members and the first male and female first positioning members are respectively formed integrally with the sheet feeding device frame.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
In the first aspect of the invention, since the second positioning member is formed integrally with the sheet feeding device frame, the assembly error is eliminated, the dimensional accuracy is improved, and the number of parts is reduced. With this second positioning member, the power output gear of the paper feeder main body installed on the other side directly above and below the paper feeder main body or the power input gear of the paper feeder main body or The power output gear of the main body of the image forming apparatus is accurately positioned in the horizontal plane and in the vertical direction, and tooth skipping that occurs due to the poor meshing of both gears, and noise that occurs due to the deep meshing of both gears, etc. Thus, the meshing accuracy of both gears is improved and the reliability is improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the power input gear of the sheet feeder main body is configured to be displaceable in the vertical direction and is configured to be biased in the direction of displacement to the other side in the vertical direction. The power input gear of the apparatus main body and the power output gear of the paper supply apparatus main body or the power output gear of the image forming apparatus main body installed on the other side directly above and below the paper supply apparatus main body are engaged with each other with an appropriate force. This eliminates problems such as tooth skipping caused by poor meshing of gears and abnormal noise caused by deep meshing of both gears, improving meshing accuracy of both gears and improving reliability. It is done.

  In the invention according to claim 3, since the first positioning member is formed integrally with the sheet feeding device frame, the assembling error is eliminated, the dimensional accuracy is improved, and the number of parts is reduced. Is planned.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed unit 2 of the image forming apparatus 1 such as a copier, a facsimile machine, or a printer includes one or a plurality of paper feed devices 20 and 20 (in this embodiment, two stages). An image forming apparatus main body 10 is placed on the paper feed unit 2. Recording papers of different sizes can be set in the paper feeding cassettes 25 and 25 of the paper feeding devices 20 and 20 stacked one above the other.

  The paper feeding device 20 includes a paper feeding cassette 25 in which paper is set and a paper feeding device main body 21 to which the paper feeding cassette 25 is detachably mounted. The mounting direction and the feeding direction of the paper set in the paper feed cassette 25 are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other.

  In the present embodiment, the paper feed roller 31 for feeding the paper set in the paper feed cassette 25 is provided on the paper feed cassette 25 side, and the paper feeding device main body 21 feeds the fed paper. The image forming apparatus main body 10 is provided with a drive motor as a drive source for driving the paper feed mechanism 3 (see FIG. 2).

  A pair of bearing portions 26b and 26b are erected on the upper surface of the side end portion in the sheet feeding direction in the sheet cassette frame 26 constituting the sheet cassette 25, and the pair of bearing portions 26b and 26b are supplied to the pair of bearing portions 26b and 26b. A rotation shaft 31a of the paper roller 31 is pivotally supported. The pair of bearing portions 26b and 26b are formed integrally with the paper feed cassette frame 26, thereby improving the dimensional accuracy and reducing the number of parts.

  With the configuration as described above, the paper feed roller 31 is provided on the paper feed cassette 25 side. In this configuration, the paper feed roller 31 and the paper set in the paper feed cassette 25 are positioned with high accuracy, and as a result. The paper fed by the paper feed roller 31 is not skewed, and the reliability is improved.

  The rotation shaft 31a of the paper feed roller 31 is arranged in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25, and the one end 31b on the back side of the rotation shaft 31a in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25 is the bearing portion 26b. -It is arranged so as to protrude from the rear side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25 from 26b. A power input unit is provided at one end 31b of the rotation shaft 31a of the paper feed roller 31. When the paper feed cassette 25 is completely attached to the paper feeder main body 21, the power input unit is fed. It is configured to be connected to the power output unit of the power transmission unit 4 of the paper apparatus main body 21 so that power can be transmitted to the paper feed roller 31.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed mechanism 3 is disposed at a side end portion in the paper feeding direction in the paper feed device frame 22 constituting the paper feed device main body 21. A transport roller 32 for transporting the paper fed from the paper feed cassette 25 by the paper feed roller 31 to the downstream side (upward); and a power transmission unit 4 for supplying power to the paper feed mechanism 3. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the power transmission unit 4 transmits power to the sheet feeding mechanism 3 of the sheet feeding device body 21 immediately below the sheet feeding device body 21 when the sheet feeding device body 21 is installed immediately below the power transmission unit 4. The power output gear 49 for outputting power to the unit 4 and the drive of the power output gear 49 of the power output unit 4 of the paper feeding mechanism 3 of the paper feeding device main body 21 installed immediately above or the driving of the image forming apparatus main body 10 A power input gear 41 for inputting power from the power output gear 19 from the motor, a power transmission gear 42 meshing with the power input gear 41, and the power transmission gear 42 and the power output gear 49 are arranged. A first gear group, and a second gear group disposed between the power transmission gear 42 and a power output unit connected to a power input unit at one end of the rotation shaft 31a of the paper feed roller 31; The sheet feeding mechanism 3 of the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 is an image forming apparatus. And it is configured to be driven by the power from the drive motor of the body 10.

Next, the sheet feeder main body 21 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the paper supply device frame 22 constituting the paper supply device main body 21 includes a central body 22M to which the paper supply cassette 25 is attached, and three lateral sides of the central body 22M (the paper supply cassette 25 is attached). The side frames 22L, 22R, and 22B that surround the three directions other than the direction in which they are formed are integrally formed. A large number of ribs 22r, 22r... Are formed vertically and horizontally on the upper surface of the central body 22M, and the central body 22M is reinforced. An opening is formed in the front and rear central portions of the central body 22M in the paper feeding direction with respect to the paper feeding cassette 25 mounting direction, and the presence or absence of paper in the paper feeding cassette 25 is detected from the opening. A feeler sensor 28 is suspended.

  Further, a conductive member 29 for releasing static electricity generated in the paper feed cassette 25 and the like is attached to the side end of the central body 22M on the back side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25. The conductive member 29 is a plate-shaped metal member bent in a “h” shape, and the upper end of the conductive member 29 protrudes slightly above the upper ends of the side frames 22L, 22R, and 22B surrounding the central body 22M. Are arranged as follows. The conductive member 29 is configured to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction. When another sheet feeding device body 21 or the image forming apparatus body 10 is placed directly above the sheet feeding device body 21, the conductive member 29 is electrically conductive. The upper end of the member 29 is electrically connected to the conductive member main body of the paper feeding device main body 21 or the conductive member main body of the image forming apparatus main body 10 immediately above it. A ground wire is connected to the conductive member main body of the image forming apparatus main body 10 so that static electricity generated in each part is grounded.

  An openable / closable jam access cover 23 is provided on the side frame 22R of the paper feed device frame 22 on the paper feed direction side. When a paper jam occurs in the paper feed mechanism 3, the jam access cover is provided. By opening 23, maintenance is possible.

  The paper feeding device frame 22 is formed with male portions 22a, 22b, and 22c of first positioning members for positioning the paper feeding device main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 installed immediately above. When the paper feeder main body 21 is installed directly below, the female portion of the first positioning member for engaging with the male portions 22a, 22b, 22c of the first positioning members of the paper feeder main body 21 is provided. Is formed.

  The configuration of the male part and the female part of the first positioning member may be reversed, that is, the paper feeding device main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 installed immediately above the paper feeding device frame 22 is positioned. And at least three sets of female portions of the first positioning member for engaging the female portions of the first positioning members of the paper feeding device main body 21 when the paper feeding device main body 21 is installed immediately below the female portion. You may form the male part of the 1st positioning member for doing.

Next, the configuration of the first positioning member will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the male portions 22a, 22b and 22c of the first positioning member and the female portions of the first positioning members corresponding to the male portions 22a, 22b and 22c of the first positioning members It is formed integrally with the apparatus frame 22 so that the dimensional accuracy can be improved and the number of parts can be reduced.
The male portions 22a, 22b, and 22c of the first positioning member may be formed separately from the sheet feeding device frame 22 and assembled.

  The male portions 22a, 22b, and 22c of the first positioning member are formed in a convex shape, and are disposed at three corner positions on the upper surface of the sheet feeding device frame 22, and the male portions 22a of the first positioning member. 22b is disposed at both side ends in the paper feeding direction at the side end on the front side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25, and the male portion 22c of the first positioning member is the side end on the back side in the mounting direction of the paper feeding cassette 25 Is disposed at a side end portion on the side opposite to the paper feeding direction.

  The female portion of one of the first positioning members is formed with a hole that engages with each of the male portions 22a, 22b, and 22c, and the female portion of each first positioning member corresponds to each male portion 22a, 22b, and 22c. Are disposed at three corner positions on the lower surface of the sheet feeding device frame 22 or the lower surface of the image forming apparatus main body 10, and the female portions corresponding to the male portions 22 a and 22 b of the first positioning member are disposed on the sheet feeding cassette 25. The female portion corresponding to the male portion 22c of the first positioning member at the side end portion on the front side in the mounting direction is opposite to the side portion on the back side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25. It is arranged at the side end on the paper feeding direction side.

  The female portions corresponding to the male portions 22a, 22b, and 22c of the first positioning member are also formed on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus main body 10, and the female portions corresponding to the male portions 22a, 22b of the first positioning member. Are disposed at both side ends in the sheet feeding direction at the side end on the near side in the mounting direction of the sheet feeding cassette 25 on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus main body 10, and the female portion corresponding to the male portion 22c of the first positioning member is On the lower surface of the image forming apparatus main body 10, the sheet cassette 25 is disposed at the side end on the side opposite to the paper feeding direction at the side end on the back side in the mounting direction of the paper cassette 25.

  As described above, three pairs of male and female first positioning members are arranged at the three vertex positions of the triangle. The positioning of the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 and the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 installed immediately above it is sufficient if there are at least three sets. Horizontal movement between the main body 21 and the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 installed immediately above the main body 21 and rotation in the horizontal plane are prevented, and positioning between the two is performed. It is configured.

  The three sets of first positioning members will be described in detail. The male portions 22a and 22b of the two sets of first positioning members on the front side in the mounting direction of the paper feeding cassette 25 are each formed with a tapered shape at the top. The male part 22a of the first positioning member corresponding to the male part 22a, 22b is configured to be easily inserted into the female part of the first positioning member. 25 is configured to be lower than the male portions 22a and 22b of the first positioning member on the front side in the mounting direction so that it can be easily inserted into the female portion of the first positioning member corresponding to the male portion 22c. Has been.

  When a new sheet feeder main body 21 (or image forming apparatus body 10) is installed on the sheet feeder main body 21, the operator is on the front side of the sheet cassette 25 in the mounting direction of the sheet cassette 25. First, the operator sets the male portions 22a and 22b of the two first positioning members on the near side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25 to the female portions of the first positioning members corresponding to the male portions 22a and 22b. While inserting, the male portions 22a and 22b of the two first positioning members on the front side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25 and the corresponding female portions are aligned, and the back side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25 is mounted. The male part 22c of the first positioning member is inserted so as to be placed on the female part of the first positioning member corresponding to the male part 22c.

  In this way, two sets of male and female first positioning members that are inserted deeply in the front side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25, which are on the front side with respect to the operator, are arranged, and in the rear side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25. Workability is improved by arranging a pair of male and female first positioning members inserted shallowly.

  As described above, the first positioning member of the three sets of males and females positions the paper feeding device main body 21 and the paper feeding device main body 21 (or the image forming apparatus main body 10) installed immediately above it. The power input gear 41 of the power transmission unit 4 of the paper feeding device main body 21 and the power output gear 49 of the power transmission unit 4 of the paper feeding device main body 21 installed directly above the paper feeding device main body 21 (or image formation). The power output gear 19) of the apparatus main body 10 is configured to mesh.

  Incidentally, most of the frame constituting the image forming apparatus main body 10 and the paper feeding apparatus frame 22 constituting the paper feeding apparatus main body 21 are made of resin. Particularly, the frame made of resin is easily bent. Further, when the image forming apparatus main body 10 and the paper supply apparatus main body 21 or the paper supply apparatus main bodies 21 and 21 are connected to each other due to the size of parts and variations in assembly, positioning is performed at the three corner positions. Even if it is performed, a dimensional error occurs in the meshing position of the gears 41 and 49 (or 19), and the power input gear 41 of the paper feeding device main body 21 and the paper feeding installed immediately above the paper feeding device main body 21. The power output gear 49 of the apparatus main body 21 (or the power output gear 19 of the image forming apparatus main body 10) is displaced in the horizontal plane or in the vertical direction, and the power input gear 41 and the power output gear 49 ( A problem that is not good is the engagement of the animal force output gear 19) had occurred.

  In view of this point, in the paper feeding device frame 22 of the paper feeding device main body 21, the power input gear 41 and the paper feeding device main body 21 are installed in the vicinity of the power input gear 41. A male portion 22d of a second positioning member for positioning with the power output gear 49 of the sheet feeding device main body 21 or the power output gear 19 of the image forming apparatus main body 10 is formed. In the vicinity of the second positioning member for engaging with the male portion 22d of the second positioning member of the paper feeding device main body 21 when the paper feeding device main body 21 is installed immediately below the paper feeding device main body 21. A female part is formed.

  The configuration of the male part and the female part of the second positioning member may be reversed, that is, the power input gear 41 and the power input gear 41 are located in the vicinity of the power input gear 41 in the paper feeder frame 22 of the paper feeder main body 21. The female of the second positioning member for positioning between the power output gear 49 of the paper feeder main body 21 or the power output gear 19 of the image forming apparatus main body 10 installed immediately above the paper feeder main body 21. And the female portion of the second positioning member of the paper feeder main body 21 when the paper feeder main body 21 is installed in the vicinity of the power output gear 49 and immediately below the paper feeder main body 21. You may form the male part of the 2nd positioning member for engaging with.

Next, the configuration of the second positioning member will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the male portion 22d and the female portion of the second positioning member are formed integrally with the paper feeding device frame 22, thereby improving the dimensional accuracy and reducing the number of parts. It has been.

  The male portion 22d of the second positioning member is formed in a columnar convex shape, and its upper end portion is formed in a tapered shape so that it can be easily inserted into the female portion of the second positioning member. The male position 22d of the second positioning member is the arrangement position of the second positioning member, and the male position 22d of the second positioning member is a sheet on the upper surface of the paper feeding device frame 22 at the side edge on the back side in the mounting direction of the paper feeding cassette 25. It is disposed at the side end on the feeding direction side and is disposed in the vicinity of the power input gear 41 of the power transmission unit 4.

  The female portion of one of the second positioning members is formed with a hole portion that engages with the male portion 22d, and the female portion corresponding to the male portion 22d of the second positioning member is formed on the lower surface of the sheet feeding device frame 22. The sheet feeding cassette 25 is disposed at the side end portion on the far side in the mounting direction of the sheet feeding cassette 25 and is disposed in the vicinity of the power output gear 49 of the power transmission unit 4.

  The female portion corresponding to the male portion 22 d of the second positioning member is also formed on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus main body 10, and the female portion of the second positioning member is supplied on the lower surface of the image forming apparatus main body 10. The paper cassette 25 is disposed at the side end on the opposite side to the paper feeding direction at the side end on the back side in the mounting direction, and is disposed in the vicinity of the power output gear 19 that outputs power from the drive motor.

  With the above-described configuration, the sheet feeding device installed right above the sheet feeding device main body 21 with respect to the power input gear 41 of the sheet feeding device main body 21 by the second positioning member of this male and female pair. Generated because the power output gear 49 of the main body 21 (or the power output gear 19 of the image forming apparatus main body 10) is accurately positioned in the horizontal plane and in the vertical direction, and the gears 41 and 49 (or 19) are not engaged properly. Such as tooth skipping and the generation of abnormal noise caused by the deep engagement of both gears 41 and 49 (or 19) are eliminated, and the engagement accuracy of both gears 41 and 49 (or 19) is improved. Reliability is improved.

  Further, the power input gear 41 of the power transmission unit 4 of the paper feeder main body 21 is configured to be displaced in the vertical direction and is urged in the direction of upward displacement. Next, the power input gear 41 is provided. The gear mechanism will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this gear mechanism is disposed on the back side in the mounting direction of the sheet feeding cassette 25 of the sheet feeding mechanism 3, and the gear mechanism forms the sheet feeding device frame 22. A rotating fulcrum shaft 45 projecting from the inner side surface of the side frame 10B on the back side in the mounting direction of the cassette 25, and power is transmitted to the power transmission unit 4 of the sheet feeding mechanism 3 attached to the rotating fulcrum shaft 45. The power transmission gear 42, the bracket 40 attached to the rotation fulcrum shaft 45 so as to be rotatable up and down, and the power supported by the bracket 40 so as to mesh with the power transmission gear 42. An input gear 41 and an urging means for urging the bracket 40 in a direction in which the power input gear 41 is displaced upward are provided. The urging means includes, for example, a spring 43, and the spring 43 One end of the bracket Attached to the corners of the recoil force input gear 41 side with respect to the rotation fulcrum shaft 45 in preparative 40, the other end of the spring 43 is mounted inside the sheet feeding device frame 22.

  The position (home position) of the power input gear 41 when the bracket 40 is urged by the spring 43 is different from that of the paper feeder main body 21 where the power input gear 41 is installed immediately above the paper feeder main body 21. The power output gear 49 of 21 or the power output gear 19 of the image forming apparatus main body 10 is positioned above the position (mesh position) when meshed.

  With the configuration as described above, the power input gear 41 of the paper feeding device main body 21 and the power output gear 49 of the paper feeding device main body 21 (or the power output gear 19 of the image forming apparatus main body 10) installed immediately above the power input gear 41. , The power input gear 41 rotates downward from the home position to the meshing position. At this time, the power input gear 41 is biased upward by a spring 43, and the power input gear 41 And the power output gear 49 (or the power output gear 19) are engaged with each other with an appropriate force. The spring constant of the spring 43, which is the biasing means, is such that the power transmission between the power input gear 41 and the power output gear 49 (or the power output gear 19) is excellent. As shown, the power input gear 41 and the power output gear 49 (or the power output gear 19) are set to mesh with each other with an appropriate force, and the tooth skipping and meshing that occur because the meshing is shallow. It is configured so that there is no inconvenience such as generation of abnormal noise caused by deepness.

Next, fixing of the position of the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 and the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 installed immediately above the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the male portions 22a and 22b of the two first positioning members on the front side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25 are respectively screwed on the side surfaces on the front side in the mounting direction of the paper feed cassette 25. Holes 22e and 22f are formed, and the lower end portion of the paper feeding device frame 22 of the paper feeding device main body 21 installed immediately above the paper feeding device main body 21 or the lower end portion of the image forming apparatus main body 10 has Screw holes are formed at positions corresponding to the screw holes 22e and 22f of the male portions 22a and 22b of the first positioning member.

  A mounting frame 22A extends upward from the upper end of the side frame 22B on the back side in the mounting direction of the paper feeding cassette 25 of the paper feeding device frame 22. The mounting frame 22A is integrated with the side frame 22B. Screw holes 22g and 22h are formed at both ends of the mounting frame 22A in the paper feeding direction. The screw holes 22g of the mounting frame 22A are formed in the lower end portion of the side frame 22B of the paper feed device body 21 installed immediately above the paper feed device body 21 or the lower end portion of the image forming apparatus body 10. Screw holes are formed at positions corresponding to 22h.

  With the above-described configuration, the sheet feeder main body 21 positioned by the first and second pairs of male and female first positioning members and the second positioning member of the male and female, and the sheet feeder main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 immediately above it. Are the first positioning members in the screw holes 22e and 22f of the male portions 22a and 22b of the first positioning member and the lower end portion of the sheet feeding device frame 22 of the sheet feeding device main body 21 or the lower end portion of the image forming apparatus main body 10. The screw holes at positions corresponding to the screw holes 22e and 22f of the male portions 22a and 22b of the members are formed from the outside of the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 (front side in the mounting direction of the sheet feeding cassette 25). The screw holes 22g and 22h of the attachment frame 22A and the attachments at the lower end of the side frame 22B of the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 or the lower end of the image forming apparatus main body 10 are fastened with screws. The screw holes 22g and 22h of the frame 22A and the screw holes corresponding to the positions are fastened with screws from the outside of the sheet feeding apparatus main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 (the back side in the mounting direction of the sheet feeding cassette 25). It is configured.

  In this way, the position of the sheet feeder main body 21 and the sheet feeder main body 21 or the image forming apparatus main body 10 installed immediately above the sheet feeder main body 21 are fixed.

  The above is the description of the image forming apparatus 1 having the configuration in which the image forming apparatus main body 10 is placed on the paper feeding unit 2. Note that one or more stages of paper feeding apparatuses are provided on the image forming apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus having the structure in which the provided sheet feeding unit is placed also includes a first positioning member for positioning the sheet feeding apparatus main body and the sheet feeding apparatus main body or the image forming apparatus main body installed immediately below the sheet feeding apparatus main body. A second positioning member for positioning the power output gear of the paper feed device main body installed immediately below the paper feed device main body or the power output gear of the image forming apparatus main body with respect to the power input gear of the paper device main body Is configured in the same manner as described above.

2 is a side view of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding device 2. The side view of the gear mechanism which comprises the power input gear 41 and the power transmission gear 42. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Paper feed part 3 Paper feed mechanism 4 Power transmission part 10 Image forming apparatus main body 19 Power output gear 20 Paper feed apparatus 21 Paper feed apparatus main body 22 Paper feed apparatus frame 22a Male part 22b of the first positioning member First Male part 22c of the positioning member Male part 22d of the first positioning member Male part 25 of the second positioning member 25 Paper feed cassette 31 Paper feed roller 32 Transport roller 40 Bracket 41 Power input gear 42 Power transmission gear 43 Spring 45 Rotating fulcrum shaft 49 Power output gear

Claims (3)

A sheet feeding apparatus body having a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding sheets is arranged on one side or a plurality of stages on one of the upper and lower sides with respect to an image forming apparatus body having a drive source for driving the sheet feeding mechanism. In the installed configuration,
The sheet feeding device frame constituting the sheet feeding device body is formed with either a male or female first positioning member for positioning the sheet feeding device body or the image forming apparatus body installed on the other side. In addition, when the paper feeder main body is installed on one side directly above and below, the male and female of the first positioning member for engaging with the male and female ones of the first positioning member of the paper feeder main body are formed. And
The paper feeding mechanism includes a power output gear for outputting power to the paper feeding mechanism of the paper feeding device main body when the paper feeding device main body is installed on one side directly above and below, and the other side directly above and below A power input gear for inputting power from a power output gear of a paper feed mechanism of a paper feed device main body installed in a power output gear from a drive source of the image forming apparatus main body, or
By positioning the pair of male and female first positioning members between the sheet feeding apparatus main body and the sheet feeding apparatus main body or the image forming apparatus main body installed on the other side directly above and below, In a paper feeding device that meshes a power input gear with a power output gear of a paper feeding device main body or a power output gear of an image forming device main body installed on the other side directly above and below the paper feeding device main body,
In the paper feeding device frame, in the vicinity of the power input gear, the power input gear and the power output gear of the paper feeding device main body installed on the other side directly above and below the paper feeding device main body or the image forming apparatus main body. A male or female second positioning member for positioning with the power output gear is integrally formed, and is fed in the vicinity of the power output gear to one side directly above and below the main body of the paper feeding device. When the paper device main body is installed, the male and female of the second positioning member for engaging with the male and female of the second positioning member of the paper feeding device main body are integrally formed,
The pair of male and female second positioning members allows the power output gear or image of the paper feeder main body installed on the other side directly above and below the paper feeder main body with respect to the power input gear of the paper feeder main body. A sheet feeding device configured to position a power output gear of a forming apparatus main body.   2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the power input gear of the sheet feeding device main body is configured to be displaceable in the vertical direction and is biased in the direction of displacement to the other side in the vertical direction.   3. The sheet feeding according to claim 1, wherein one of the first positioning member and the other of the first positioning member is formed integrally with the sheet feeding device frame. 4. apparatus.

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