JP2009161338A - Paper feeding device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeding device eliminating defects such as skew of a set paper, damage to the paper and jam caused by the paper's climbing over an intermediate fence and to provide an image forming device equipped with the paper feeding device. <P>SOLUTION: The paper feeding device has a first paper storage part 4 loading a paper bundle, a sheet feeding means 8 feeding the papers 6 one by one from the first paper storage part 4, a second paper storage part 5 disposed horizontally and parallel with respect to the first paper storage part 4, and a paper transfer means 7 transferring the paper bundle 6 of the second paper storage part 5 to the first paper storage part 4 as a whole, wherein the intermediate fence 9 is provided for entering and leaving with respect to a paper transfer path 14 between the first paper storage part 4 and the second paper storage part 5 and a raised portion 15 of an almost triangular shape widening downward in a tapering manner is provided at an upper part of the intermediate fence 9 on a paper stacking side of the paper storage parts 4, 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet toward a transfer section via a registration roller, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet feeding device.

For example, when 500 sheets or more of paper are set in the paper storage unit and the paper storage unit is vigorously inserted into the paper feeder main body, a large member (fence) for holding and restricting the paper is used due to the inertia of the paper. It is a well-known fact that power is added.
Due to such a large force applied to the holding regulating member, there has been a phenomenon that the paper set in the paper storage unit is displaced. Conventionally, various techniques are known as countermeasures (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 8).
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for absorbing kinetic energy with a material having a large elastic coefficient in order to reduce the impact applied to the paper storage unit itself, and Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which a latch roller uses an arc guide unit. A technique for mitigating an impact by a moving resistance is disclosed.
Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for mitigating an impact by the repulsive force of an electromagnet, Patent Document 4 discloses a technique for attenuating the momentum of a tray by a rotational damping means, and Patent Document 5 discloses A technique is disclosed in which an impact absorbing member is attached to the rear side of the side fence and is brought into contact with the inner wall surface of the casing to absorb the impact.
In Patent Documents 6 and 7, as a solution with an inexpensive device that does not reflect the impact mitigation measures described in Patent Documents 1 to 5, there is a technique for holding the upper side portion of the side fence in order to prevent the side fence from falling down. Patent Document 8 discloses a technique in which fixing means for fixing the position of the sheet pressing member is provided so as not to cause positional deviation of the sheet rear end fence (intermediate fence) itself.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-79427 Japanese Patent No. 3835680 JP 2005-200160 A JP-A-2005-67892 Japanese Patent No. 3803006 Japanese Patent No. 3669316 Japanese Patent No. 3833105 Japanese Patent No. 3258491

However, in order to reduce the impact applied to the paper storage unit itself, the technique of Patent Document 1 that absorbs kinetic energy with a material having a large elastic coefficient requires a material with a large elastic coefficient separately. There are problems such as poor positioning and increased operating force when the paper storage unit is set in the paper feeding device.
The technology of Patent Document 2 in which the latch roller relieves the impact by the resistance of moving the guide portion on the arc requires a latch roller member for absorbing the impact force, and has a large number of parts and cost. There is a problem such as an increase in operating force when the printer is set in the paper feeder.
The technique of Patent Document 3 that relieves the impact by the repulsive force of the electromagnet has a problem that requires an electromagnet device for absorbing the impact force and becomes a large-scale one. Further, the technique of Patent Document 4 that attenuates the momentum of the tray by the rotation attenuation means requires parts of the rotation attenuation means, and the operation force when the paper storage unit is set in the paper feeding device tends to increase. There is a problem.
In the technique of Patent Document 5 in which an impact absorbing member is attached to the rear side of the side fence and abutted against the inner wall surface of the casing to absorb the impact, the side fence is abutted against the positioning portion. There is a problem that a separate member is required for absorbing the shock. According to the techniques of Patent Documents 6 and 7 for preventing the side fence from falling down, it is possible to cope with the regulation in the width direction of the paper (the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction).

However, in a device that detaches the paper storage unit (with respect to the paper supply device) in a direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction, the first paper storage unit and the second paper storage unit are arranged in parallel, and the first paper storage unit A sheet feeding device (hereinafter referred to as “sheet feeding device”) that feeds sheets one by one from the section and transports the sheets in the second sheet storage section collectively to the first sheet storage section when the first sheet storage section runs out of paper. , The tandem tray) has the following problems.
In the first paper storage unit, the right side of the paper (the leading end in the transport direction) is firmly regulated by the side wall (usually a sheet metal or plastic material) of the first paper storage unit, and the front-rear direction is also a side fence. Therefore, there is a problem that a sheet having inertial force is easily shifted to the left side where the restricting force is weak.

Similarly, in the second paper storage unit, the left side (back end side in the transport direction) of the paper is firmly regulated by a transfer fence (usually a sheet metal or plastic material), and the front and rear directions are also side fences. Since the paper is strongly regulated, there is a problem that the paper having inertial force easily shifts to the right side where the regulation power is weak. As a tendency, it is unlikely that both sheets of the first sheet storage unit and the second sheet storage unit will be simultaneously shifted, and at the time of shifting, it is usually one of them.
As a result of the sheet shifting as described above, the position of the intermediate fence located between the first sheet storage unit and the second sheet storage unit is shifted, and the sensor detects that the intermediate fence has shifted, There was a situation that prompted the operator to reload the paper. Or when the position of an intermediate fence is hold | maintained firmly like patent document 8 shown later, the malfunction which is mentioned later also generate | occur | produced.

The intermediate fence in the tandem tray is not suitable for the purpose of supporting and restricting the rear end of the paper set in the first paper storage unit, for example, in a state straddling between the first paper storage unit and the second paper storage unit If it is set to, this function is detected (a sensor detects that the intermediate fence is in contact with inappropriate paper and the position of the intermediate fence changes), and the operator is prompted to reset the paper. is doing.
On the other hand, the intermediate fence must be retracted from the transport path when transporting the paper, and as a method thereof, the paper is retracted by a solenoid, retracted by a motor, or in some cases, transported from the second paper storage unit. It was evacuated by prying it away.
In Patent Document 8, in which a fixing means for fixing the position of the paper pressing member provided with the protrusion is provided so that the position of the paper trailing edge fence (intermediate fence) itself does not shift, this protrusion accurately connects the paper to the second paper storage portion. Although the positional relationship is not specified, it is provided in the entire sheet stacking height direction when estimated from this effect.

Further, the purpose of providing the protrusion is to accurately and quickly accommodate the above-described sheet, and there is a restriction on the height of the sheet feeding device main body. The fence “can not be provided with a height sufficiently higher than the paper stacking height, and when the paper storage part is set (inserted) vigorously, several sheets at the top of the paper stack will get over the intermediate fence. The phenomenon may occur.
When the rigidity (positioning accuracy) of the intermediate fence is high, the kinetic energy of the sheet is directed upward without a binding force. For this reason, when the paper storage unit is set vigorously, the position of the intermediate fence changes because the paper with inertia force pushes and spreads the intermediate fence where it is not aimed (unintentionally). By doing so, it is possible to report a paper setting failure.
However, when the intermediate fence is overtaken, the misaligned paper does not change the position of the intermediate fence, so that it is not possible to detect the paper setting fault and report the fault.
Therefore, if paper feeding is started in this state, the start position during paper feeding is shifted from the beginning, and a paper delay or the like is detected by a sensor on the downstream side of the paper feeding unit. , Easy to jam.

Further, when the sheet is displaced on the second sheet storage unit side, when the intermediate fence is retracted when the sheet is transferred, the loaded sheet may be displaced, and the sheet is skewed.
Or, even if it is not necessary to skew when the intermediate fence is retracted, when the upper sheet is transferred in a shifted state and abuts against the downstream side wall of the first sheet storage portion, the shifted sheet tip is damaged. It is easy for problems to occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that eliminates problems such as skew of a set paper, damage to the paper, and jamming due to the paper passing over the intermediate fence, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the paper feeding device. Is to provide.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a first sheet storage unit that stacks a bundle of sheets, and a sheet feeding unit that feeds the sheets one by one from the first sheet storage unit. A second sheet storage unit disposed horizontally and parallel to the first sheet storage unit, and a sheet transfer means for collectively transferring a sheet bundle of the second sheet storage unit to the first sheet storage unit And an intermediate fence that can freely move in and out of a sheet transfer path between the first sheet storage unit and the second sheet storage unit, and the sheet of the sheet storage unit of the intermediate fence It is characterized by a paper feeding device in which a substantially triangular convex portion widening in a taper shape downward is formed on the upper part of the deposition side.
The invention according to claim 2 includes a side fence that regulates a sheet width direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction of the sheet, and the projection of the substantially triangular shape provided on the intermediate fence includes a side fence. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a distance from the inner surface is constant.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the sheet feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the substantially triangular convex portions are provided on the intermediate fence.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the paper feeding device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the substantially triangular convex portion is provided integrally with the intermediate fence.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the substantially triangular convex portion can be attached to and detached from the intermediate fence, and the substantially triangular convex portion having a different convex amount can be attached. The sheet feeding device according to any one of 1 to 3 is characterized.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the position of the lower portion of the substantially triangular convex portion is set in consideration of the state of the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked at the maximum, and the upper surface of the maximum stacked sheet. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sheet feeding device is disposed at a position having an interval of 8 mm or less from the position.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the lower portion of the substantially triangular convex portion, a high resistance member having a higher frictional force than the other portion of the convex portion is disposed. A sheet feeding device according to claim 1 is characterized.
The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the lower part of the substantially triangular convex portion has a tapered shape that faces downward in a direction away from the intermediate fence. The sheet feeding device described in item 1 is characterized.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the intermediate fence is formed between the first paper storage portion and the second paper storage portion in a horizontal direction around a fulcrum by one end in the width direction of the first paper storage portion. 9. A planar L-shaped plate member pivotally supported in between, wherein the substantially triangular convex portion is provided only on a side opposite to a direction in which the intermediate fence opens. The sheet feeding device described in item 1 is characterized.

The invention according to claim 10 is the paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the intermediate fence having the substantially triangular convex portion is provided on both of a pair of side fences. It is characterized by.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding device that feeds the sheet toward a transfer unit that transfers an image onto the sheet via a registration roller that matches a conveyance timing of the sheet fed. An image forming apparatus equipped with the paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

  According to the present invention, since the convex portion having a substantially triangular shape is provided on the upper side of the intermediate fence on the side of the paper storage unit, the impact force when the paper storage unit loaded with a large number of sheets is vigorously set. It is possible to eliminate the need for a mitigating mechanism and prevent the upper surface of the sheet from getting over the intermediate fence without providing an intermediate fence that is sufficiently higher than the sheet stacking height. As a result, it is possible to eliminate problems such as skew of set sheets, damage to sheets, and jamming due to the sheet passing over the intermediate fence.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus. In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, sheets of transfer paper stacked on the sheet feeding tray 2A of the sheet feeding device 2 are lifted up to the pickup roller 8 by the bottom plate 3, and the sheets are fed one by one by the pickup roller 8. Deliver and transport.
The conveyed sheet is fed by a registration roller 21 that feeds at a predetermined timing, and is then conveyed by a transfer belt 23 as a transfer sheet conveyance body of a transfer unit that conveys the sheet to a transfer position.
After the toner image on the photoconductor 22 is transferred at the transfer position, the toner image is conveyed to the fixing roller 24 by the transfer belt 23. The toner image is fixed by the fixing roller 24, and the fixed paper is discharged out of the image forming apparatus 1 through the paper discharge roller 25. Reference numeral 27 denotes an operation unit shown for convenience.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a paper feeding device according to the present invention disposed on the lower side of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the sheet feeding device of FIG. Below the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a sheet feeding apparatus 2 including a configuration in which a sheet, which is a transfer sheet stacked on the sheet feeding tray 2A, is raised to a pickup roller 8 by a bottom plate 3.
Hereinafter, the operation of the sheet feeding device 2 will be described. Each of the first paper storage unit 4 and the second paper storage unit 5 can stack about 1500 sheets of plain paper.
In this case, the first paper storage unit 4 and the second paper storage unit 5 are divided in the left-right direction in the figure, and the second paper storage unit 5 is disposed horizontally and in parallel to the first paper storage unit 4. Has been. The first paper storage unit 4 can be set alone.
After a sheet (sheet bundle) 6 that is a transfer sheet is set, the first sheet storage unit 4 and the second sheet storage unit 5 are set in the sheet feeder main body 2. In this case, the first paper storage unit 4 and the second paper storage unit 5 are attached and detached in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction of the paper 6.

The intermediate fence 9 is a planar L-shaped plate member whose one end (fulcrum 9A) is pivotally supported by one end in the width direction of the first sheet storage unit 4 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. It is pivotally supported so as to freely advance and retract between the retracted position shown and the protruding position shown by the solid line.
Immediately after the attachment / detachment, it is detected by a sensor (not shown) whether or not the intermediate fence 9 protrudes into the paper transport path 14. If the intermediate fence 9 protrudes into the paper transport path 14, the bottom plate 3 of the first paper storage unit 4 is raised.

The intermediate fence 9 is pressed and held by a spring (not shown) to the protruding position. Thereafter, the paper 6 is conveyed one by one by the upper pickup roller (paper feeding means) 8.
When the paper 6 in the first paper storage unit 4 runs out, the bottom plate 3 descends and waits for the paper 6 in the second paper storage unit 5 to be transferred from the left side. Before the transfer, the intermediate fence 9 is retracted from the sheet transfer path 14 by a solenoid (not shown).
After detecting that the intermediate fence 9 has been retracted from the paper transport path 14 by a sensor (not shown), the paper 6 loaded in the second paper storage unit 5 is transported by the transport fence 7 driven by a drive source (not shown). Transfer to the first paper storage unit 4.
After the paper is transferred, the transfer fence 7 returns to the original position, the bottom plate 3 of the first paper storage unit 4 is raised, and the paper can be fed. The intermediate fence 9 serves to support and regulate the rear end of the paper 6 set in the first paper storage unit 4, and the paper 6 is not in a state of straddling between the first paper storage unit 4 and the second paper storage unit 5. If the sheet is properly set, this is detected (a change in the position of the intermediate fence 9 is detected by a sensor not shown in the figure). It has a role of prompting resetting.

By the way, in most cases, the sheet feeding device 2 is provided at a height near a foot that is difficult for an operator to reach. Therefore, sometimes the first and second paper storage portions 4 and 5 are set with a very large force by kicking the paper feeding device 2 with a foot. In such a case, a very large impact is generated when the first and second paper storage units 4 and 5 come into contact with a positioning unit (not shown) of the paper feeding device 2.
In the first paper storage unit 4, the right side (the leading end side in the transport direction) of the paper 6 is firmly restricted by the side wall 4 </ b> A (plastic in the present embodiment) of the first paper storage unit 4. The width direction is also firmly regulated by the side fences 10 and 11 (in this embodiment, plastic). For this reason, the sheet 6 having the inertial force has kinetic energy in the left direction (the rear end side in the transport direction) where the regulation force is weak.
For this reason, the sheet 6 of the first sheet storage unit 4 having kinetic energy in the leftward direction then comes into contact with the intermediate fence 9. If the intermediate fence 9 has a holding force that does not shift to the left, the sheet 6 can only move upward.

However, in the present embodiment, the intermediate fence 9 has a substantially projecting amount in the upward and downward direction at the top of the first sheet storage portion 4 on the side having the pickup roller 8 that is a sheet feeding means. A triangular convex portion 15, that is, a substantially triangular convex portion that widens in a downward tapered manner is provided on the upper side of the intermediate fence 9 on the paper stacking side of the paper storage portions 4 and 5.
As a result, the sheet 6 is pressed by the lower surface (triangular base) 15B of the substantially triangular convex portion 15, so that the upward movement of the sheet 6 is prevented, and the sheet 6 as in the conventional apparatus can be obtained. The phenomenon of getting over the intermediate fence 9 does not occur.
Similarly, in the second paper storage unit 5, the left side (the rear end side in the transport direction) of the paper 6 is firmly restricted by the transfer fence 7 (plastic material in the present embodiment), and the width of the paper 6 Since the direction is also strongly regulated by the side fences 12 and 13 (in this embodiment, plastic material), the paper 6 having inertial force has kinetic energy in the rightward direction where the regulating force is weak. End up.
For this reason, the paper 6 in the second paper storage unit 5 comes into contact with the intermediate fence 9 next. If the intermediate fence 9 has a holding force that does not shift to the right, the sheet 6 can only move upward.

However, in the present embodiment, a substantially triangular convex portion 15 is provided on the upper portion of the intermediate fence 9 on the second paper storage portion 5 side so that the protruding amount increases downward in the longitudinal direction. For this reason, the upward movement is prevented, and the phenomenon that the paper 6 gets over the intermediate fence 9 as in the conventional apparatus does not occur.
In the present embodiment, since the distance a in the depth direction is shortened in the plan view of the substantially triangular convex portion 15 and the fulcrum portion 9A of the intermediate fence 9, a force acts on the substantially triangular convex portion 15. Even if it does, the force which pushes and opens the intermediate fence 9 does not generate | occur | produce.
That is, in the present embodiment, the provision of the substantially triangular convex portion 15 on the intermediate fence 9 can prevent the sheet 6 from climbing onto the intermediate fence 9, so that it is sufficiently higher than the sheet stacking height. It is not necessary to provide the intermediate fence 9, and it is not necessary to increase the height of the sheet feeding device 2 more than necessary.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent problems such as skew of the set sheet 6, damage to the sheet 6, and jamming due to the sheet 6 getting over the intermediate fence 9.
As described above, since the measures for reducing the impact force and the fixing means for fixing the intermediate fence 9 can be made unnecessary, it is possible to secure the positioning accuracy when the first and second paper storage units 4 and 5 are set, and the first and second 2 The operation force when setting the paper storage units 4 and 5 in the paper feeding device 2 does not increase.
Further, since no parts for reducing the impact force are used, the cost can be reduced, the assemblability and serviceability can be ensured, and the layout space for the fixing means is not required, so there is no need to increase the size of the apparatus.

In the present invention, as described above, the convex portion 15 having a substantially triangular shape is provided on the upper side of the intermediate fence 9 on the side of the paper storage portion so that the amount of protrusion downward increases. Since the upper portion of the convex portion 15 has a gentle taper portion 15A, there is no feeling of catching the paper 6 at the time of setting and no damage to the paper 6.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the intermediate fence 9 is attached to the fulcrum hole 11A of the side fence, the intermediate fence 9 can be moved together with the side fence 11.
That is, as a result, the distance from the end face of the sheet 6 to the substantially triangular convex portion 15 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction of the sheet 6 can be kept constant regardless of the sheet size. That is, even if the paper size is different, it is possible to reliably prevent the paper 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view partially showing a first embodiment of a substantially triangular convex portion. 4 shows the paper 6, the intermediate fence 9, and the side fence 11, and the intermediate fence 9 is provided with a plurality of (in this case, two) convex portions 15 having a substantially triangular shape in the vertical direction of FIG. ing. As a result, it is possible to more reliably prevent the sheet 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9.
Further, by providing the substantially triangular convex portion 15 integrally with the intermediate fence 9, it is possible to prevent the sheet 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9 without increasing the number of parts. The convex portion 15 has a shape having a tapered portion 15A and a flat lower portion (lower surface) 15B.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view partially showing a second embodiment of a substantially triangular convex portion. In the second embodiment, in contrast to the first embodiment in which the substantially triangular convex portion 15 is provided integrally with the intermediate fence 9, the substantially triangular convex portion 15 extends from the intermediate fence 9. Can be removed.
Therefore, when the convex portions 15 having different convex amounts can be attached, the optimum substantially triangular convex portion 15 can be attached even if there is a paper type, environment, and other noises. It is possible to reliably prevent the sheet 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9 without being affected by noise. In FIG. 5, the lower portion 15 </ b> B has a tapered shape 15 </ b> C, and the tapered shape 15 </ b> C shows an example that also serves as a handle when the substantially triangular convex portion 15 is detached from the intermediate fence 9.

In addition, the lower side (bottom side) position of the substantially triangular convex portion 15 is a position within 8 mm from the upper surface position of the maximum stacking amount of the sheets 6 in consideration of the state of the uppermost sheet of the sheets 6 stacked at maximum. When the uppermost sheet 6 is face-curled, it is expected that the face curl will be accommodated within an interval of 8 mm or less, and the sheet 6 is securely held by the substantially triangular convex portion 15. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the sheet 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9.
In this way, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower position of the convex portion 15 is disposed within a position within 8 mm from the upper surface position of the maximum stacking of the sheets 6, so that the uppermost sheet Even if the paper is face-curled, it is possible to reliably prevent the paper 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view partially showing a third embodiment of a substantially triangular convex portion. In the third embodiment of the substantially triangular convex portion, a high resistance member 16 such as felt is attached to the lower portion 15B of the convex portion 15. Since the lower shape portion of the convex portion 15 has a higher frictional force than the other portions, it is possible to more reliably prevent the sheet 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9.
Of course, the lower portion 15B can be shaped like the tapered portion 15C of FIG. The lower triangular portion 15B of the substantially triangular convex portion 15 has a higher frictional force than the other portions, and the paper 6 is reliably caught, thereby preventing the paper 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9 more reliably. You can also.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view partially showing a fourth embodiment of a substantially triangular convex portion. In this embodiment, since the shape of the lower portion 15B of the substantially triangular convex portion 15 is a downward tapered shape 15C according to the direction away from the intermediate fence 9, a function serving as an alternative to increasing the frictional force is provided. Can be achieved without increasing
Thus, since the lower shape of the convex portion 15 is a tapered portion 15C that faces downward in the direction away from the intermediate fence 9, it is more reliable that the intermediate fence 9 of the paper 6 can be overcome without increasing the number of parts. Can be prevented.
Again referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, two substantially triangular convex portions 15 are provided on the intermediate fence 9 so as to correspond to the left and right, ie, the first and second paper storage portions 4 and 5, respectively. Provided.

However, by providing the substantially triangular convex portion 15 only on the inner side opposite to the outer side in which the intermediate fence 9 opens, the paper 6 on the first paper storage unit 4 side is prevented from getting over the intermediate fence 9 and the paper 6 Can be ensured that the setability when the paper is supplied to the left and right paper storage units 4 and 5 is not further impaired and the paper 6 is not damaged.
That is, by providing the substantially triangular convex portion 15 only on the inner surface opposite to the outer direction in which the intermediate fence 9 opens, even if the paper 6 comes into contact with the substantially triangular convex portion 15 when the paper 6 is set. The intermediate fence 9 is rotated and retracted.
In this way, the intermediate fence 9 is rotated around the fulcrum 9A (FIG. 2), and the substantially triangular convex portion 15 is provided only on the inner side opposite to the outer direction in which the intermediate fence 9 opens. 6, the setability when the paper 6 is replenished to the first paper storage unit 4 can be prevented, and damage to the paper 6 can be reliably prevented.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a fifth embodiment of a substantially triangular convex portion. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a fifth embodiment of a substantially triangular convex portion arranged in the second paper storage portion. As a final example, the case where the intermediate fence 9 having the substantially triangular convex portion 15 is provided on both the pair of side fences 10 and 11 is shown. In this case, it is possible to more reliably prevent the sheet 6 from getting over the intermediate fence 9.
In the present embodiment of FIG. 8, an example is described in which the intermediate fence 9 is provided on the side fences 10 and 11 of the first paper storage unit 4, but as shown in FIG. 9, the second paper storage unit 5 side The side fences 12 and 13 can also be provided.
Thus, since the intermediate fence 9 having the convex portion 15 is provided on both of the pair of side fences 10 and 11, or 12 and 13, it is possible to more reliably cross over the intermediate fence 9 of the paper 6. Can be prevented.

According to the image forming apparatus to which the paper feeding device according to the present invention is applied, by eliminating the measures for reducing the impact force and the mechanism for fixing the intermediate fence, 1) the positioning accuracy when the paper storage unit is set can be secured. 2) Does not increase the operating force when setting the paper storage unit in the paper feeder, 3) By using no parts to reduce the impact force, the cost is reduced, and assembling and serviceability are ensured. 4) Since the layout space for the fixing means is not required, the apparatus does not need to be increased in size.
With regard to the paper feeding device according to the present invention, a first paper storage unit for stacking paper bundles, a second paper storage unit disposed horizontally and parallel to the first paper storage unit, and only two paper storages Although the above description has been made so as to have a portion, this description is shown as a configuration in which the paper is finally fed to the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the paper feeding device according to the present invention is not illustrated, but another paper storage unit is arranged in parallel to the left of the second paper storage unit, or the paper storage unit is arranged vertically above the second paper storage unit. It should be understood that a sheet feeding device in a large-sized image forming apparatus including a section is also included.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a paper feeding device according to the present invention disposed on the lower side of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the sheet feeding device of FIG. 2. It is the schematic which shows partially 1st Embodiment of a substantially triangular convex part. It is the schematic which shows partially 2nd Embodiment of the convex part of a substantially triangular shape. It is the schematic which shows partially 3rd Embodiment of a substantially triangular convex part. It is the schematic which shows partially 4th Embodiment of a substantially triangular convex part. It is a top view which shows 5th Embodiment of a substantially triangular convex part. It is a top view which shows 5th Embodiment of the substantially triangular convex part arrange | positioned at the 2nd paper accommodating part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus, 2 paper feeder, 2A paper feed tray, 3 bottom plate, 4 1st paper storage part, 4A side wall, 5 2nd paper storage part, 6 paper, 7 paper transfer means (transfer fence), 8 paper feed Means (pickup roller), 9 intermediate fence, 9A fulcrum (fulcrum), 10 side fence of the first paper storage unit, 11 side fence of the first paper storage unit, 11A fulcrum hole, 12 side fence of the second paper storage unit , 13 Side fence of second sheet storage unit, 14 sheet transfer path, 15 substantially triangular convex part, 15A taper part, 15B lower part, 15C taper shape, 16 high resistance member, 21 registration roller, 23 transfer part (transfer) Belt), a Distance in depth direction (in plan view)

Claims (11)

  A first paper storage unit for stacking a bundle of paper, a paper feed unit for feeding the paper one by one from the first paper storage unit, and a horizontal and parallel arrangement with respect to the first paper storage unit In the paper feeding device, comprising: a second paper storage unit; and a paper transport unit that collectively transports a sheet bundle of the second paper storage unit to the first paper storage unit. The first paper storage unit and the first paper storage unit A substantially triangular convex portion having an intermediate fence that can be moved in and out with respect to a paper transport path between the two paper storage portions, and that is widened in a tapered manner downward on an upper portion of the intermediate paper storage portion of the paper storage portion. A sheet feeding device.   A side fence that regulates a paper width direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction of the paper is provided, and the distance from the inner surface of the side fence of the substantially triangular convex portion provided on the intermediate fence is constant. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is configured.   The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the substantially triangular convex portions are provided on the intermediate fence.   The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the substantially triangular convex portion is provided integrally with the intermediate fence.   4. The substantially triangular convex portion can be attached to and detached from the intermediate fence, and the substantially triangular convex portion having a different convex amount can be attached. The sheet feeder according to item 1.   The position of the lower part of the substantially triangular convex portion is arranged at an interval within 8 mm from the upper surface position of the maximum stacked paper in consideration of the state of the uppermost paper of the maximum stacked paper. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding device is a paper feeding device.   7. The supply according to claim 1, wherein a high-resistance member having a frictional force higher than that of the other portion of the convex portion is disposed at a lower portion of the substantially triangular convex portion. Paper device.   8. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a lower portion of the substantially triangular convex portion has a taper shape that faces downward in a direction away from the intermediate fence. 9.   The intermediate fence is a plane that is pivotally supported between the first paper storage part and the second paper storage part in a horizontal direction around a fulcrum by one end in the width direction of the first paper storage part. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sheet is an L-shaped plate member, and the substantially triangular convex portion is provided only on a side opposite to a direction in which the intermediate fence opens. apparatus.   The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the intermediate fence having the substantially triangular convex portion is provided on both of a pair of side fences.   11. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device feeds the sheet toward a transfer unit that transfers an image onto the sheet via a registration roller that matches a conveyance timing of the fed sheet. An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet feeding device described above.

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