JP2009062121A - Image forming device, and recording medium parting member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium parting member having simple construction for parting a proper number of recording media to prevent excessive stack of the recording media on an image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device 10 comprises a recording sheet cassette 12 on which a predetermined number N or smaller of sheet recording media can be stacked and mounted, wherein the recording medium parting member 20 is provided separately from a structural member of the recording paper cassette 12 for parting a predetermined number N or smaller of bunched recording sheets P1 from a predetermined number N or larger of bunched recording sheets P stacked thereon. The recording medium parting member 20 formed sectionally into an approximately U-shaped consists of two holding plate parts 21, 22 arranged in approximate parallel to each other for holding the bunched recording sheets P1 therebetween, and a connection part 23 for connecting the two holding plate parts 21, 22 a thickness L of the predetermined number N of recording media apart from each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an accommodating portion capable of stacking and mounting a predetermined number or less of sheet-like recording media, and a recording medium sorting member for separating the recording media accommodated in the accommodating portion. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a recording medium separating member that can prevent overloading.

  2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and facsimile machines are provided with a paper feeding device that conveys recording paper to an image forming unit when an image is formed on recording paper that is a recording medium. Further, the paper feeding device is provided with a paper feeding tray for storing the recording paper. As the paper feed tray, a system of a system fixed to the paper feeder and a cassette system configured to be detachable from the paper feeder are widely used.

  As such an image forming apparatus, when recording sheets are stored in a stacked state in a paper feed tray, the image forming apparatus is provided in the apparatus main body so as to be in contact with the uppermost recording sheet surface of the stored recording sheets. A sheet feeding unit having a pickup roller that applies a feeding force to the surface of the recording sheet in the direction of the image forming unit, and a control unit that controls the operation of the sheet feeding unit are provided. Various proposals have been made to feed one sheet at a time from the upper one.

  In addition, as a configuration of the paper feed tray, a paper feed tray having a bottom plate that urges and lifts the stacked recording paper so as to approach the pickup roller has been proposed.

  On the other hand, a specified amount that can be stored is set in advance in a paper feed tray that stores recording sheets in a stacked state, and is in an overloaded state in which recording sheets are stored exceeding the specified amount. As a result, the load generated in the paper feeding unit that feeds the uppermost recording paper one by one tends to be excessive. If an excessive load is applied to the paper feed unit, the part that drives the paper feed unit will be damaged, and the contact pressure against the recording paper will also increase, causing double feed, non-feed, and paper curl and tearing. Or a paper feed error.

  In order to prevent such overloading on the paper feed tray, the following techniques have been proposed. Patent Document 1 includes a cassette housing portion to which a recording paper cassette can be attached and detached. The recording paper cassette includes a roller that causes an outer peripheral surface to come into contact with excess recording paper and generates a frictional force, and a rotating shaft of the roller. A support shaft having a movable range set to a predetermined length in the recording paper loading direction and the paper feeding direction, and the support shaft on the outer peripheral surface of the roller when positioned at the end of the recording paper loading direction within the movable range. A stopper mechanism having a rotation stop portion that prevents rotation of the roller by contact with the stopper mechanism is described, and the stopper mechanism is described so as to prevent loading of excess recording paper and prevent paper feeding of recording paper. .

Further, in Patent Document 2, when the recording paper is replenished, it is attracted to the lower side of the sheet feeding cassette body so that the separation claw is not moved by a magnet, and the distance between the claw end of the separation claw and the bottom plate is constant. In this state, the leading end portion of the recording paper can be inserted between the claw end and the bottom plate in a state where the recording paper is held, to prevent overloading of the recording paper on the bottom plate, and to prevent malfunction of paper feeding due to overloading.
JP 2007-050954 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-087546

  However, when a conventional recording medium, for example, a recording sheet is replenished to the image forming apparatus, it is a general practice to separate the replenished sheet from the sheet bundle in an appropriate amount and replenish the image recording apparatus. It was often. Further, in the case of blocking overloaded recording sheets such as those in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the recording sheet blocked as being excessive is removed from the image forming apparatus among the recording sheets to be set once. There is an annoyance that the recording paper must be returned to the storage location. In addition, there is a possibility that the blocked recording paper may be damaged, and there is a problem that the number of parts such as a roller constituting the image forming apparatus and a member holding the roller increases, resulting in an increase in cost.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a recording medium sorting member that can arrange an appropriate number of recording media with a simple structure and can prevent overloading of recording media.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus provided with a storage unit capable of stacking and mounting a predetermined number or less of sheet-like recording media, a predetermined number or less of recording media can be stored in the storage unit. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a recording medium sorting member that separates from a plurality of recording media stacked in a number of sheets;

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the recording medium separating member includes two sandwiching plate portions that are arranged substantially in parallel and sandwich the recording medium, and the two sandwiching plate portions. Is formed as a member having a substantially U-shaped cross section composed of a connection portion that is connected to be separated by the thickness of the predetermined number of recording media.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the recording medium separating member is detachable from the image forming apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the recording medium separating member has a function of regulating a rear end position of the recording medium when the recording medium separating member is disposed in the accommodating portion. It is characterized by providing.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, at least one clamping plate portion of the two clamping plate portions of the recording medium separating member has a thickness of It is characterized by being formed so as to become thinner from the connecting portion toward the tip.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the two holding plate portions of the recording medium separating member have different lengths extending from the connecting portion. It is characterized by being.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, of the two sandwiching plate portions, the sandwiching plate portion having a short dimension is formed so that its thickness decreases toward the tip. It is characterized by.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second to seventh aspects, at least a part of the two sandwiching plate portions is elastic, and the recording medium is sandwiched between both sandwiching plate portions. It is possible to hold the handle.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium sorting member for separating a recording medium stacked in a storage unit of an image forming apparatus from a recording medium stacked by an amount larger than a predetermined number of sheets that can be stacked in the storage unit. A substantially U-shaped cross section consisting of two sandwiching plate portions arranged in parallel and sandwiching the recording medium, and a connecting portion connecting the two sandwiching plate portions separated by the thickness of the predetermined number of recording media A recording medium separating member.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium sorting member according to the ninth aspect, at least one of the two sandwiching plate portions has a thickness that decreases from the connecting portion toward the tip. It is formed so that it may become.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the ninth or tenth aspect, the two sandwiching plate portions have dimensions different from each other in extending length from the connecting portion.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, of the two sandwiching plate portions, the sandwiching plate portion having a short dimension is formed so that its thickness decreases toward the tip. It is characterized by.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium sorting member according to any one of the ninth to twelfth aspects, at least a part of the two sandwiching plate portions has elasticity, and the two sandwiching plate portions are sandwiched and separated. The recording medium can be gripped.

  According to the present invention, since a predetermined amount or less to be stacked on the image forming apparatus can be taken out from the bundle of recording media by the recording medium separating member, the specified amount is exceeded without being overloaded. The recording paper can be stacked without causing troublesomeness to return the recording paper to the storage location, the recording paper can be prevented from being damaged, and the cost can be reduced due to the simple configuration. Further, since only the recording medium separating member applied to the image forming apparatus needs to be arranged, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus provided with various types of paper feeding devices.

  Embodiments as the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.
The image forming apparatus according to this example is, for example, an ink jet printer apparatus 10. The printer device 10 includes an ink ejection head, a recording paper transport device, and the like, and can record a predetermined number of recording papers as a recording medium in an apparatus main body 11 having an operation button unit 15 disposed on the upper surface. A paper cassette 12 is arranged. Based on the command from the host device, the recording paper conveyed from the recording paper cassette 12 to the apparatus main body 11 by the recording paper conveying device is ejected with ink from the ink ejecting head, printed, and discharged to the paper discharge tray 13. Paper.

  In this example, two grooves 14 are formed in the adjacent shelf 16 of the recording paper cassette 12 of the apparatus main body 11. This groove portion 14 is for detachably fixing the recording medium separating member 20 to the apparatus main body 11. By disposing the groove portion 14, the recording medium sorting member 20 can be fixed to the apparatus main body 11 without using the recording medium sorting member 20, and the recording medium sorting member 20 can be prevented from being lost.

  Next, the recording medium separating member 20 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which recording sheets are separated using the recording medium sorting member according to the embodiment. The recording medium separating member 20 is a member made of synthetic resin, and is provided in parallel with two sandwiching plate portions 21 and 22 that sandwich a predetermined number N of recording sheets, and the two sandwiching plate portions 21 and 22. Is a member having a substantially U-shaped cross section comprising a connecting portion 23 that is connected by being separated by a thickness dimension L of the predetermined number N of recording sheets.

  When the recording medium sorting member 20 is not used, that is, when the printer apparatus 10 is used, the recording medium sorting member 20 is attached to the printer apparatus 10 by inserting the sandwiching plate portions 21 and 22 into the groove portion 14 of the apparatus main body 11. .

  When the recording paper in the recording paper cassette 12 runs out and the recording paper is replenished, the recording medium separating member 20 is removed from the apparatus main body 11 and the predetermined number N of recording paper bundles are stacked from the stacked recording paper bundle P. P1 is separated, and the separated recording paper bundle P1 is supplied to the recording paper cassette 12. Here, the recording paper is arranged in a storage place as a recording paper bundle P, and the recording paper bundle P is generally placed on a flat surface after being taken out from the bag in which the recording paper is packaged. However, it may be a box on which recording paper is printed on one side.

  In order to separate the predetermined number of recording paper bundles P1 from the recording paper bundle P, the recording medium separating member 20 is in contact with the end of the recording paper bundle P, and one clamping plate 21 is in contact with the upper end of the recording paper bundle P. In addition, the other sandwiching plate portion 22 is inserted between the recording paper bundles P, a predetermined number of recording paper bundles P1 are sandwiched, and the remaining recording paper bundles P2 are lifted. Then, the recording paper bundle P1 sandwiched between the recording medium collecting members 20 may be supplied to the recording paper cassette 12.

  If the recording medium separating member 20 is formed of an elastic member, the recording paper bundle P1 sandwiched between the both sandwiching plate portions 21 and 22 can be gripped by hand, and the separation operation of the recording paper bundle P1 is easy. Can be done.

  According to this example, since the number of recording paper bundles P1 taken out is equal to or less than the predetermined number N of paper feeding devices, overloading in the printer device 10 can be prevented, and the overloaded recording paper is returned to the storage location. There is no inconvenience, and there is no possibility of damaging the recording paper.

  In addition, the sheet feeding device of the image forming apparatus includes various types such as a sheet feeding tray type in which a recording sheet container is installed obliquely above the image forming apparatus main body, a sheet feeding cassette type configured to be detachable substantially horizontally. A configuration is proposed, but according to this example, a specified amount of recording paper can be sorted before loading the recording paper in the storage section, so it can be applied to various types of paper feeding methods. can do.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. In this example, the recording medium separating member 30 is also used as a positioning member for the trailing edge of the recording paper in the recording paper cassette 12. In the recording paper cassette 12, an image forming apparatus that stacks recording paper bundles P substantially horizontally generally includes a member that regulates the rear end position opposite to the recording paper transport direction. In this example, the recording medium sorting member 30 serves as a member for regulating the rear end position. For this reason, an elastic portion 35 having a projection 34 is installed below the recording medium separating member 30, while the recording paper cassette 12 is provided with a plurality of regular holes 12 a and 12 b at regular size positions. Reference numeral 18 denotes a cassette bottom plate of the recording paper cassette 12.

  Then, when the recording paper bundle P1 taken out by the recording medium sorting member 30 is stacked on the recording paper cassette 12, the elastic portion 35 enters the regular hole 12a and regulates the rear end position of the recording paper bundle P1. When the recording medium separating member 30 is pulled out from the recording paper cassette 12, the elastic portion 35 bends and the protrusion 34 is released, so that the recording medium separating member 30 is detachable from the recording paper cassette 12. . Thus, by using the recording medium sorting member 30 as the rear end position regulating member of the recording paper bundle P1, the cost of the image forming apparatus can be reduced and the loss of the recording medium sorting member 30 can be prevented. it can.

  Next, a modified example of the recording medium separating member will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the recording medium separating member. The recording medium separating member 40 according to this example is a member made of synthetic resin, two sandwiching plate portions 41 and 42 that are arranged substantially in parallel and sandwich a predetermined number N of recording sheets, and the two sandwiching plates. This is a member having a substantially U-shaped cross section comprising a connecting portion 43 that connects the portions 41 and 42 with a predetermined thickness N of recording papers separated by a thickness dimension L. In this example, the sandwiching plate portions 41 and 42 are provided with inclined portions 41 a and 42 a so that the thickness thereof decreases from the connection portion 43 toward the tip. According to the recording medium sorting member 40 according to this example, since the inclined portion 42a is inserted between the recording paper bundle P1 and the recording paper bundle P2 in the recording paper bundle P stacked in the storage place, recording can be easily performed. Paper can be separated.

  Next, a second modification of the recording medium collecting member will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a second modification of the recording medium collecting member. The recording medium separating member 50 according to this example is a member made of synthetic resin, two sandwiching plate portions 51 and 52 that are arranged substantially in parallel and sandwich a predetermined number N of recording sheets, and the two sandwiching plates. It is a member having a substantially U-shaped cross section comprising a connecting portion 53 that connects the portions 51 and 52 apart from each other by the thickness dimension L of the predetermined number N of recording sheets. In this example, the sandwiching plate portion 51 is configured to be longer than the sandwiching plate portion 52. According to the present example, the recording medium separating member 50 is positioned on the recording paper bundle P by bringing the clamping plate portion 51 into contact with the upper surface of the recording paper bundle P prior to the clamping plate portion 52, and then the clamping plate portion 52 is moved. It can be inserted into the recording paper bundle P. For this reason, the recording paper bundle P1 of the full amount can be easily separated.

  Next, a second modification of the recording medium collecting member will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a third modification of the recording medium collecting member. The recording medium separating member 60 according to the present example is a member made of synthetic resin, two sandwiching plate portions 61 and 62 that are arranged substantially in parallel and sandwich a predetermined number N of recording sheets, and the two sandwiching plates. This is a member having a substantially U-shaped cross section comprising a connecting portion 63 that connects the portions 61 and 62 apart from each other by the thickness dimension L of the predetermined number N of recording sheets. In this example, the sandwiching plate portion 61 is configured to be longer than the sandwiching plate portion 62, and the sandwiching plate portion 62 is inclined so that the thickness thereof decreases from the connection portion 63 toward the tip. 62a is provided. According to the present example, the recording medium separating member 50 is positioned on the recording paper bundle P by bringing the clamping plate portion 51 into contact with the upper surface of the recording paper bundle P prior to the clamping plate portion 52, and then the clamping plate portion 52 is moved. It can be inserted into the recording paper bundle P. Further, since the sandwiching plate portion 62 inserts the recording paper bundle P into the inclined portion 62a, the recording paper bundle P1 having the full amount can be more easily separated.

  In each of the above examples, a case has been described in which a predetermined number N of recording sheets are separated as the recording sheet bundle P1, but recording sheets having a predetermined number N or less can be separated.

  Next, a fourth modification of the recording medium collecting member will be described. 7A and 7B are schematic views showing a fourth modification of the recording medium separating member. The recording medium separating member 70 according to this example is a synthetic resin member, and a horizontal plate 71 is a hanging plate having a thickness L of the predetermined number N of recording sheets attached at right angles to the horizontal plate 71. 73 and a member having a substantially L-shaped cross section. According to this example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the horizontal plate 71 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the recording paper bundle P, and the hanging plate 73 of the recording medium separating member 70 is attached to the end of the recording paper bundle P. By pressing and sliding the recording paper bundle P1, a predetermined number of recording paper bundles P1 can be separated. Further, according to the present example, as shown in FIG. 7B, a predetermined number of recording paper bundles P1 are placed on the horizontal plate 71 of the recording medium sorting member 70, and the upper surface of the recording paper bundle P1 is a hanging plate. By confirming that the number of recording paper bundles P1 does not exceed 73, it is possible to confirm that the number of recording paper bundles P1 does not exceed the predetermined number N and to separate the recording paper bundle P1 from the recording paper bundle P.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which separates a recording paper using the recording-medium collection member which concerns on an Example. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on a 2nd Example. It is a schematic diagram which shows the modification of a recording medium collection member. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 2nd modification of a recording medium collection member. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 3rd modification of a recording medium collection member. (a), (b) is a schematic diagram which shows the 4th modification of a recording medium separation member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer apparatus 11 Apparatus main body 12 Recording paper cassette 12a, 12b Shaped hole 13 Paper discharge tray 14 Groove part 15 Operation button part 16 Adjacent shelf part 18 Cassette bottom plate 20 Recording medium collection member 21 Clamping plate part 22 Clamping plate part 23 Connection part 30 Recording medium sorting member 34 Protrusion 35 Elastic portion 40 Recording medium sorting members 41, 42 Holding plate portion 41a Inclined portion 42a Inclining portion 43 Connection portion 50 Recording medium sorting member 51 Holding plate portion 52 Holding plate portion 53 Connection portion 60 Recording Medium separating member 61 Nipping plate portion 62 Nipping plate portion 62a Inclined portion 63 Connection portion 70 Recording medium separating member 71 Horizontal plate 73 Hanging plate

Claims (13)

In an image forming apparatus provided with an accommodating portion capable of stacking and mounting a predetermined number or less of sheet-shaped recording media in advance,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a recording medium sorting member that separates a predetermined number or less of recording media that can be accommodated in the accommodating portion from a recording medium that is stacked more than the predetermined number as a member that is separate from the constituent members of the accommodating portion. .   The recording medium separating member is connected in parallel with two sandwiching plate portions that are arranged substantially in parallel and sandwich the recording medium, and the two sandwiching plate portions are separated from each other by the thickness of the predetermined number of recording media. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured as a member having a substantially U-shaped cross section.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium sorting member is detachable from the image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium sorting member has a function of restricting a rear end position of the recording medium when the recording medium sorting member is disposed in the housing portion. 5.   The at least one clamping plate portion of the two clamping plate portions of the recording medium separating member is formed so that the thickness thereof decreases from the connection portion toward the tip. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 2 to 4.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the two holding plate portions of the recording medium collecting member have different lengths extending from the connection portion.   7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, of the two sandwiching plate portions, the sandwiching plate portion having a short dimension is formed so that the thickness thereof decreases toward the tip.   The image according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein at least a part of the two sandwiching plate portions has elasticity, and a recording medium separated by being sandwiched between both sandwiching plate portions can be gripped. Forming equipment. A recording medium separating member that separates recording media stacked in a storage unit of an image forming apparatus from recording media stacked in an amount larger than a predetermined number of sheets that can be stacked in the storage unit;
A substantially U-shaped cross section comprising two sandwiching plate portions that are arranged substantially in parallel and sandwich the recording medium, and a connecting portion that connects the two sandwiching plate portions apart by the thickness of the predetermined number of recording media. A recording medium separating member having a shape.   10. The recording medium holder according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the two sandwiching plate portions is formed so that the thickness thereof decreases from the connection portion toward the tip. Minute member.   11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the two sandwiching plate portions have different lengths extending from the connection portion.   12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, of the two sandwiching plate portions, the sandwiching plate portion having a short dimension is formed so that the thickness thereof becomes thinner toward the tip. The recording according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein at least a part of the two sandwiching plate portions has elasticity, and a recording medium separated by being sandwiched between both sandwiching plate portions can be gripped. Medium separation member.