JP2010018391A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus having a useful feeding device, while preventing a problem caused by collapse of paper sheets, by suppressing increase in weight. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus comprises: a first paper storage part 2 loading a plurality of paper sheets P2 therein; a second paper storage part 1 which can load a plurality of paper sheets P1 therein, moves up and down to occupy a feeding position or a non-feeding position, and is positioned in parallel with the first paper housing part at the non-feeding position; a paper transferring means 70 which can transfer the paper sheets of the first paper housing part to the second paper housing part all at once; and a setting means 62 setting a lock mode moving the second paper housing part to the non-feeding position after the printing is completed. When the lock mode is set by the setting means, the operation of the second paper housing part 1 is controlled to occupy the non-feeding position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device in which a plurality of sheet storage units are arranged in parallel and a sheet bundle is collectively transferred from one sheet storage unit to the other sheet storage unit by a sheet transfer unit. About.

  In order to obtain a large amount of printed matter with a single print command, a tandem type paper feeding device capable of storing a large amount of paper is known. For example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a first sheet storage unit and a second sheet storage unit that can stack a plurality of sheets on one sheet feeding unit are arranged in parallel to form a first sheet storage unit. The unit is raised and placed at the paper feed position, and the paper is fed by the paper feed means. Then, when there is no more paper in the first paper storage unit, the paper stacked in the second paper storage unit is collectively transferred to the first paper storage unit by the paper transfer unit, and the first paper storage unit Paper is being replenished. The tandem sheet feeding device can also use the first sheet storage unit and the second sheet storage unit as one sheet storage unit. For example, each sheet storage unit has a size of A4 size. Assuming a stackable size, it is possible to stack A3 size sheets by connecting and using two sheet storage units.

  In such a paper feeding device, each paper storage section can be moved up and down in the vertical direction. When feeding paper, one paper storage section is raised so that the paper feeding means contacts the topmost paper. The other paper storage unit is placed in a non-paper supply position below the paper supply position. When setting paper, the paper storage unit is lowered from the paper supply position. It is set.

JP-A-11-240630 JP 2001-39561 A

  In such a tandem type paper feeding device, the height of each paper storage unit and the height of the paper are not always the same. If vibration or shaking occurs due to the above, the loaded paper may be destroyed. In particular, when one paper storage unit is at the paper feed position and the other paper storage unit occupies a non-paper feed position lower than the paper feed position, If the paper in the paper storage unit is collapsed, the collapsed paper will enter the space formed below the rising paper storage unit. In the lower space of the paper storage unit, sensors for detecting the non-feed position and lifting / lowering means are arranged, so if a broken paper enters such a space, malfunctions or false detections will occur. It becomes a factor.

  If the end fence extended in the paper stacking direction is provided as in the paper feeding device described in Patent Document 2, it is possible to prevent such paper collapse, but two paper storage units can be combined into one paper. When used as a storage unit, the end fence gets in the way. For this reason, in Patent Document 2, the end fence is configured to be movable in the paper width direction that intersects the paper feeding direction in plan view and is moved by the driving means. It becomes a factor of a new problem that causes an increase in

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to propose an image forming apparatus provided with a user-friendly paper feeding device while suppressing an increase in weight and preventing problems caused by sheet collapse.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first sheet storage unit capable of stacking a plurality of sheets, the plurality of sheets can be stacked, and the sheet feeding position is not moved by moving up and down. A second paper storage unit that occupies the paper supply position and is located in parallel with the first paper storage unit at the non-paper supply position, and the sheets of the first paper storage unit are collectively transferred to the second paper storage unit In an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device including a sheet transporting unit capable of setting, a setting unit that sets a lock mode for moving the second sheet storage unit to a non-sheet feeding position after printing is completed, and a lock by the setting unit And a control unit that controls the operation of the second sheet storage unit to occupy the non-sheet feeding position when the mode is set.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided display means for displaying information, and the control means operates the second paper storage portion so as to occupy the non-feeding position after printing is completed. It is characterized in that the content for prompting whether or not to do so is displayed on the display means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided a display means for displaying information, and an energy saving mode in which the apparatus is put into a standby state when a predetermined time has elapsed after completion of printing. When setting the mode, the display means displays a message prompting whether or not to operate the second paper printing unit so as to occupy the non-paper feeding position.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there are provided first and second sheet storage units capable of stacking a plurality of sheets, and sheet transfer capable of collectively transferring sheets in the first sheet storage unit to the second sheet storage unit. In the image forming apparatus in which at least one of the first and second paper storage portions can be raised and lowered, a space that extends as the paper storage portion that can be raised and lowered is formed and is formed below the paper storage portion And a partition member that separates the other sheet storage portion that is not raised.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the partition member expands as the sheet storage unit that can be raised and lowered is raised, and contracts as the sheet storage unit is lowered.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the first and second sheet storage unit capable of stacking a plurality of sheets, and the sheet transfer capable of collectively transferring the sheets of the first sheet storage unit to the second sheet storage unit. In the image forming apparatus in which the first and second paper storage units can be moved up and down, the sheets placed above the first paper feed unit and stacked on the first paper feed unit A pressing member that can contact the upper surface of the paper, a paper position detection unit that detects whether or not the paper of the first paper feeding unit is in pressure contact with the pressing member, and an output from the paper position detection unit that outputs the first paper. And control means for moving the first paper feeding section up until it is determined that the paper in the paper section is in pressure contact with the pressing member.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the first and second paper sheet feeding portions are opened and closed with a lid member, and the lock that locks the lid member in a closed state. And the control means operates the locking means so as to hold the lid member closed when the paper of the first paper feeding unit is in pressure contact with the pressing member. It is characterized by controlling.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes a release unit that releases the holding state of the lid member by the lock unit, and the control unit receives the release command from the release unit. The operation of the locking means is controlled so as to bring the printer into the released state, and the ascending sheet feeding unit is moved down to the lowest position.

  According to the present invention, when the lock mode for moving the second sheet storage unit to the non-feeding position after printing is set, the second sheet storage unit can be moved up and down to the feeding position and the non-feeding position. Since the second paper storage unit positioned in parallel with the first paper storage unit is positioned so as to occupy the non-feeding position after printing is completed, it is only necessary to control the operation of the driving means conventionally used for lifting and lowering. The collapsed paper does not enter under the storage unit, and a drive source for preventing the paper collapse is unnecessary, and an increase in the number of parts and weight can be suppressed to prevent problems due to the paper collapse. Further, since there is no need to install a conventional openable end fence between the first paper storage unit and the second paper storage unit, the first paper storage unit and the second paper storage unit are connected to each other. When used as one sheet storage unit, the end fence does not get in the way and the usability is improved.

  According to the present invention, when the sheet storage unit that can be moved up and down rises, the partition member expands as the sheet storage unit rises, and the space part formed below the raised sheet storage part and the other sheet storage part that does not rise Therefore, it is possible to prevent the paper from collapsing only by controlling the operation of the driving means conventionally used for raising and lowering, and even if it collapses, the paper does not enter under the storage section. As a result, a drive source for preventing paper collapse is not required, and an increase in weight can be suppressed to prevent problems due to paper collapse. In addition, since the partition member partitions the space formed below the raised paper storage portion and the paper storage portion that does not rise, there is no need to install a conventional openable end fence between the paper storage portions. Even when both the paper storage units are used as one paper storage unit, the end fence does not get in the way and the usability is improved.

  According to the present invention, the partition member extends as the sheet storage unit that can be raised and lowered, and contracts as the sheet storage unit descends. Therefore, the sheet stacking direction (up-and-down direction of the sheet storage unit) is conventionally used. It is not necessary to dispose the paper storage unit in a state where the paper storage unit extends to the right side, and the usability when using a plurality of paper storage units as one paper storage unit is improved.

  According to the present invention, the first paper feeding unit moves up until the first paper feeding unit detects that the paper is pressed against the pressing member by the output from the paper position detecting means. Since the paper in the paper feeding section is in pressure contact with the pressing member, it can be prevented by simply adding the pressing member and controlling the operation of the drive means that have been used for raising and lowering. A drive source for prevention is not necessary, and an increase in weight can be suppressed to prevent problems caused by sheet collapse.

  According to the present invention, when the paper of the second paper feeding unit is in pressure contact with the pressing member, the lid member is held in the closed state by the locking means, so that the paper collapses due to the opening / closing operation of the lid member. Can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, when a release command is issued from the release means, the lock means is operated so as to put the lid member in the released state, and the ascending sheet feeding unit is lowered to the lowest position. When opening and closing the paper, the paper feeding sections are arranged next to each other, so that the paper collapse can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in order with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a stencil printing apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus provided with a paper feeding device 200 to which the present invention is applied. In both figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a stencil printing apparatus, and reference numeral 2 denotes a printing apparatus main body of the stencil printing apparatus 100. A paper feeding device 200 is disposed below the stencil printing apparatus 1. The paper feeding device 200 is detachably disposed at the lower portion of the printing apparatus main body 2. The stencil printing apparatus 1 is a known configuration including a printing unit, a plate making unit, and a plate discharging unit having a plate cylinder and the like, for example, similar to the configuration described in JP-A-5-229243. Since there is no particular feature, detailed description is omitted. In this embodiment, the stencil printing apparatus is used as the image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to such a printing apparatus, and may be a printing apparatus of another form other than stencil printing. An adopted image forming apparatus may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feeding device 200 includes a paper feeding unit 202 inside the device main body 201. The apparatus main body 201 has an opening 203 for accessing the paper supply unit 202, and the paper supply unit 202 is accommodated in the apparatus main body 201 through the opening 203. The apparatus body 201 is provided with a lid member 204 that can be opened and closed to open and close the opening 203. The apparatus main body 201 is provided with a lock unit 205 that locks the lid member in the closed state. In this embodiment, the stencil printing apparatus includes a control unit 100. The control unit 100 also functions as a control unit for the paper feeding device 200 by connecting the stencil printing device 1 and the paper feeding device 200. .

  The sheet feeding unit 201 includes a right tray 2 serving as a second sheet storage unit on which a plurality of sheets P1 can be stacked and freely moved up and down, and a horizontal lifting unit 21A that moves up and down while maintaining the right tray 2 in a horizontal state. Two right tray units 4, a sheet feeding means 50 for separating the sheets P1 on the right tray 2 one by one and feeding them in the sheet transport direction X, and a plurality of right tray units 4 arranged substantially horizontally with respect to the right tray 2. The left tray 3 serving as a first paper storage unit for stacking sheets of paper P2 and the left tray unit 5 provided with the horizontal elevating means 21B for raising the left tray 3 while maintaining the substantially horizontal state, and the left tray 3 loaded on the left tray 3 A transfer means 70 is provided for transferring the plurality of sheets of paper P2 collectively to the right tray 2.

  The sheet feeding unit 201 stacks sheets P1 and P2 of the same size independently on each of the trays 1 and 2, and when the sheet P1 in the right tray 2 runs out, operates the transfer means 70 to move the sheet P2 in the left tray 3. Is used in a tandem system for transferring the paper to the right tray 2 and in a non-tandem system in which the paper P3 is set so as to straddle the right tray 2 and the left tray 3 and used as one paper feed tray. Whether tandem or non-tandem is used is determined by whether or not the paper P3 is detected by the optical detection means S1 disposed between the right tray 2 and the left tray 3. In other words, when the detection unit S1 detects the presence of a sheet, it is determined that the sheet is disposed across the right tray 2 and the left tray 3 and is determined as non-tandem, and in other cases, it is determined as tandem. . Such a determination is made by the control means 100.

  Horizontal elevating means 21A and 21B are arranged below the right tray 2 and the left tray 3 and between the apparatus main body 201. The horizontal elevating means 21A and 21B have the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 3 of JP-A-11-240630. Briefly describing its configuration, the horizontal elevating means 21A and 21B are arm members that are supported in the trays and the apparatus main body 201 at both ends, and that are pivotally supported around the center and arranged in an X-shape. Drive motors 40A and 40B are provided as drive means for applying an upward force and a downward downward force to the arm member. The drive motors 40A and 40B are stepping motors.

  Each tray is supported by an arm member so as to be movable up and down. When the drive motors 40A and 40B are driven and a force in the upward direction acts on the arm members, the arm members are opened to raise the respective trays, and the drive motors 40A and 40B. Is configured to descend when driven in the opposite direction to that during ascent. Above and below each tray 2, 3, detection means S2, S3 and detection means S4, S5 for detecting the lowermost position and the uppermost position of each tray 2, 3 are arranged, respectively. In this embodiment, the lowermost position of the tray is a non-feeding position, and the uppermost position of the tray is a feeding position. In particular, when the right tray 2 occupies the uppermost position, the right tray 2 comes into pressure contact with a sheet feeding roller 51 and a separation roller 52 serving as sheet feeding means. The right tray 2 controls the drive of the drive motor 40A so that the uppermost sheet P1 always occupies the uppermost position where the sheet P1 is pressed against the sheet feeding roller 51 and the separation roller 52 even when the sheet P1 is used and its height is lowered. As a result, the height is kept constant. Such tray height control is well known by the control means 100. The paper feed roller 51 and the separation roller 52 are rotated by a paper feed drive motor 53 to feed the uppermost paper P1 toward the stencil printing apparatus A. The paper feed drive motor 53 is controlled by the control means 100.

  The horizontal lifting / lowering means 21B does not function in the case of tandem, and in the case of non-tandem, it operates in conjunction with the lifting / lowering operation of the horizontal lifting / lowering means 21A so that the left tray 3 is level with the right tray 2. The The operation of the horizontal elevating means 21B (drive motor 40B) is controlled by the control means 100.

  The stencil printing apparatus includes an operation unit 60 as shown in FIG. The operation unit 60 includes an operation switch (not shown) for giving instructions related to plate making and printing of the stencil printing apparatus 1, an LCD 61 serving as a display means for displaying information, and a lock for moving the right tray 2 to a non-feeding position after printing is completed. A lock mode setting key 62 serving as setting means for setting the mode is provided. The lock mode setting key 62 may be a switch that is physically provided in the operation unit 62 and turned on / off when pressed, but the LCD 61 has a touch switch function, and the lock mode setting key 62 is The form to display may be sufficient.

  The control means 100 according to the present embodiment is constituted by a known computer, and as shown in FIG. 4, the drive motors 40A and 40B, the paper feed drive motor 53 that rotationally drives the paper feed roller 51, the operation unit 60, and the LCD 61. The lock mode setting key 62, the transfer means 70, the detection means S1 to S5, and the main drive units such as the plate making unit and the plate discharge unit of the stencil printing apparatus 1 (not shown) are connected via signal lines. The control unit 100 stores a series of operation programs from plate making to printing in the storage unit, and also stores an operation control program for the sheet feeding device 200.

  The control means 100 is activated when the main switch of the stencil printing apparatus 1 is turned on. When the tandem is used, the control means 100 operates the drive motor 40A to move the right tray 2 to the uppermost position. Then, the paper feed drive motor 53 is operated as appropriate to feed the paper P1. The control means 100 is activated when the main switch of the stencil printing apparatus 1 is turned on, and in the case of non-tandem use, both the drive motor 40A and the drive motor 40B are operated to bring the right tray 2 and the left tray 3 into a horizontal state. Both are moved to the uppermost position, and the paper feed drive motor 53 is actuated as appropriate in accordance with a plate making command or a print command to feed the paper P3. The control functions up to here are the contents that have been performed conventionally.

  Here, the operation of the conventional tray and its problems will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5A, each tray occupies the lowest position when the lid member 204 is opened and the sheets P1 and P2 are stacked. In this state, the lowest position is detected by the detection means S3 and S5. When the sheets P1 and P2 are stacked and the lid member 204 is closed, the control unit 100 performs an initialization operation. This operation is performed so that paper feeding can be performed directly when a plate making command or a pudding command is issued. The drive motor 40A is operated to feed the right tray 2 as shown in FIG. Move to paper position. When printing is completed, for example, when the main switch of the apparatus is turned off in this state, the tray remains in the state shown in FIG. If the stencil printing apparatus A is moved in this state or if the apparatus is shaken or vibrated due to the occurrence of an earthquake or the like, as shown in FIG. 5C, the paper P2 in the left tray 3 occupying the non-feeding position. Shifts to the side and collapses, and the collapsed paper P2 enters the space 10 formed below the rising right tray 2. Since the detection means S3, the horizontal elevating means 21A, and the like are disposed in the lower space of the right tray 2, if the collapsed paper P2 enters the space 10, it becomes a cause of malfunction or erroneous detection. End up.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the following control contents are added to the conventional control. That is, when the lock mode is set by the lock mode setting key 62 when the sheet feeding device 200 is in tandem use, the control unit 100 sets the right tray 2 to the lowest position where the right tray 2 becomes the non-sheet feeding position after the printing operation ends. A lock mode function for controlling the operation of the drive motor 40A so as to occupy and a function for displaying on the LCD 61 a content prompting whether or not to operate the right tray 2 to occupy the non-feeding position after the printing operation is completed. .
(First embodiment)
A control mode of the sheet feeding device 200 of the stencil printing apparatus A having such a configuration will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  6 (a) and 6 (b) have the same contents as those shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), and the difference is the state of FIG. 6 (c). That is, the control means 100 determines in step SP1 shown in FIG. 7 whether or not the printing operation has been completed. Here, the number of printed sheets input by the user of the apparatus is compared with the actual number of printed sheets, and if both values are the same, it is determined that the printing is finished. In step SP2, the control means 100 displays on the LCD 61 a content prompting whether or not to operate the right tray 2 so as to occupy the non-feeding position after the printing operation as shown in FIG. In step SP3, it is determined whether or not the lock mode is set. If the lock mode setting key 62 is operated and the lock mode is set, the process proceeds to step SP4 to operate the drive motor 40A and to the right. The tray 2 is moved to the lowest position that is the non-feeding position. On the other hand, if the lock mode is not set, the right tray 2 remains at the paper feeding position.

  As described above, when the lock mode for moving the right tray 2 to the non-feeding position after the printing is finished is set, the drive motor 40A is operated after the printing is finished and the right tray 2 at the feeding position is aligned with the left tray 3. Move to the non-feed position. Even if the sheet P2 in the left tray 3 collapses due to this movement, the path from the left tray 3 to the space below the right tray 2 is closed by the right tray 2. For this reason, only by controlling the operation of the drive motor 40A conventionally used for raising and lowering the tray, the collapsed sheet P2 does not enter the lower space of the right tray 2, and the drive for preventing sheet collapse as in the prior art. A source is no longer required, and an increase in the number of parts and weight can be suppressed to prevent problems caused by sheet collapse. In addition, since this embodiment does not use a new component for preventing paper collapse, even when used in non-tandem, it is necessary to have a conventional open / close type end fence configuration and its open / close operation. Since the end fence does not get in the way, the usability is improved.

According to the present embodiment, since the content prompting whether or not to operate the right tray 2 to occupy the non-feeding position after printing is displayed on the LCD 61, the lock mode is set according to the usage mode of the apparatus user. Can be done. For this reason, when there is a desire to continuously perform different types of printing, the lock mode is not set, so that the right tray 2 does not move to the non-feeding position, thereby reducing the waiting time.
(Second Embodiment)
This embodiment corresponds to a case where the stencil printing apparatus 1 has an energy saving mode. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a timer 65 is added to the configuration of the first embodiment. The control unit 100A according to the present embodiment has the same function as the control unit 100 of the first embodiment, and an energy saving mode for setting the apparatus in a standby state when a predetermined time has elapsed after the end of printing is set in advance. When setting the mode, the LCD 61 is provided with a function for displaying on the LCD 61 prompting whether or not to operate the right tray 2 to occupy the non-paper feeding position. For this reason, a timer 65 is connected to the control means 100A, and a predetermined time T from the end of printing to switching to the energy saving mode is set in advance.

  Next, the control form by the control means 100A will be described along the flowchart shown in FIG. The control unit 100A determines in step SP11 whether or not the printing operation has been completed. Here, the number of printed sheets input by the user of the apparatus is compared with the actual number of printed sheets, and if both values are the same, it is determined that the printing is finished. Next, the control means 100A starts measurement by the timer 65 in step SP12, and determines whether or not the predetermined time T has elapsed since the end of printing in step SP13 by comparing the measured value of the timer 65 with the predetermined time T. To do. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S14, and the LCD 61 displays a message prompting whether or not to operate the right tray 2 to occupy the non-feeding position after the printing operation as shown in FIG. To display. Next, in step SP15, it is determined whether or not the lock mode is set. If the lock mode setting key 62 is operated and the lock mode is set, the process proceeds to step SP16 to operate the drive motor 40A. The right tray 2 is moved to the lowest position that is the non-feeding position. On the other hand, if the lock mode is not set, the right tray 2 remains at the paper feeding position.

  As described above, when the printing is finished and the energy saving mode is set, the content prompting whether or not to operate the right tray 2 so as to occupy the non-feeding position is displayed on the LCD 61. You can also set the lock mode. For this reason, even when there is a print request during the energy saving mode, the waiting time can be reduced because the right tray 2 does not move to the non-feeding position by not setting the lock mode.

When the lock mode is set, the drive motor 40A is activated after printing and the right tray 2 at the paper feed position moves to the non-paper feed position aligned with the left tray 3 at the non-paper feed position. Even when the paper P2 in the left tray 3 collapses, the path from the left tray 3 to the space below the right tray 2 is closed by the right tray 2. For this reason, only by controlling the operation of the drive motor 40A conventionally used for raising and lowering the tray, the collapsed paper P2 does not enter the lower space of the right tray 2, and the drive for preventing the paper collapse as in the prior art. A source is no longer required, and an increase in the number of parts and weight can be suppressed to prevent problems caused by sheet collapse. In addition, in this embodiment, since no structural member for preventing paper collapse is used, even when used in non-tandem, it is not necessary to have a conventional open / close type end fence configuration and its open / close operation. The end fence does not get in the way, improving usability.
(Third embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), partition members 81 and 82 whose lengths are expanded and contracted as each tray is moved up and down are provided below the right tray 2 and the left tray 3. It is provided. Each of the partition members 81 and 82 has a bellows shape in which one end 81a and 82a is fixed to the apparatus main body 201 and the other end 81b and 82b is fixed to the lower portion of the right tray 2 and the left tray 3, and the right tray 2 and the left tray 3 are extended and arranged so as to separate the space portions 83 and 84 formed below each tray from the other tray that is not elevated. The partition member 81 is formed so as to separate the space portion 11 formed below the right tray 2 and the left tray 3 that has not risen when the right tray 2 is raised. The partition member 82 is formed so as to separate the space portion 12 formed below the left tray 3 from the right tray 2 that has not risen when the left tray 3 is lifted.

  In such a configuration, when the drive motor 40A is actuated by the control means 100 and the right tray 2 rises toward the paper feeding position, the partition member 81 is extended along with this rise, and the space portion 11 and the left tray 3 are moved. Separated. Further, when the drive motor 40B is operated by the control means 100 and the left tray 3 is raised toward the paper feeding position, the partition member 82 is extended along with this rise, and the space portion 12 and the right tray 2 are separated.

  Thus, by adding the partition members 81 and 82 and connecting them to the respective trays, the lower and lower trays can be separated from the lower and upper trays and the partition members 81 and 82 in accordance with the raising and lowering operations of the respective trays. Therefore, the sheet collapse can be prevented, and even if the sheet P1 collapses, the sheet P1 or the sheet P2 does not enter the space portion 11 or the space portion 12. For this reason, a new drive source for preventing paper collapse and the operation control of the new drive source are not required, and an increase in weight can be suppressed to prevent problems due to paper collapse. Further, since the partition members 81 and 82 are disposed below the respective trays and extend and contract in the lower space portions 11 and 12, a conventional open / close type end fence is installed between the right tray 2 and the left tray 3. In the case of non-tandem used as one sheet storage section for both the right tray 2 and the left tray 3, the partition members 81 and 82 do not get in the way and the usability is improved.

  As shown in FIG. 10C, the length L in the depth direction of the partition members 81 and 82 is preferably equal to the length L1 in the depth direction of the sheets P1 and P2, but the horizontal elevating mechanism 21A, Considering interference with 21B, the length of the paper P1, P2 is not necessarily the same as the length in the depth direction, and when the paper P1, P2 collapses, the paper P1, P2 rotates around this side. However, what is necessary is just to have the length which does not penetrate | invade space part 11,12.

The configuration of the partition members 81 and 82 is not limited to the bellows shape, and for example, a thin elastic rubber sheet or a sheet member that is wound / sent out from a roll that is given rotational behavior in the winding direction. May be used. In the case of a rubber sheet, the same function as that of the bellows-shaped cutting members 81 and 82 can be achieved by fixing one end to the apparatus main body 201 and the other end to the lower portions of the right tray 2 and the left tray 3, respectively. it can. In the case of a roll-winding sheet member, one end of the sheet member is fixed to a roll that is rotatably supported by a pedestal, and the other end is fixed to the lower part of the right tray 2 and the left tray 3, respectively. By fixing to 201, the same function as the bellows-shaped cutting members 81 and 82 can be achieved.
(Fourth embodiment)
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a roller 90 serving as a pressing member that can come into contact with the upper surface of the paper P2 stacked on the tray is disposed above the left tray 3. In addition, a sheet position detecting unit 91 that detects whether or not the sheet P2 of the left tray 3 is pressed against the roller 90 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the roller 90 is rotatably supported on one end side of the shaft 92. The other end of the shaft 92 is fixed to a bracket 93 fixed to the apparatus main body 201. The roller 90 is disposed at a position where it comes into pressure contact with the upper surface of the paper P2 when the left tray 3 is raised to a predetermined height.

  The paper position detection unit 91 includes an arm member 910 supported by the bracket 93 and a detection switch 911 that is turned on / off when the arm member 910 moves. The arm member 910 is moved when the leading end 910a is pushed up on the upper surface of the rising paper P2, and the detection switch 911 is turned on at the other end 910b by this movement. The detection switch 911 is mounted on the bracket 93 and is configured to be turned on when pressed by the other end 910b of the arm member and turned off when the arm member 910 is lowered.

  The detection switch 911 is connected to the control means 100B via a signal line as shown in FIG. The control unit 100B is configured by a known computer, and a storage unit stores a series of operation programs from plate making to printing, and also stores an operation control program for the sheet feeding device 200. That is, like the control unit 100, the control unit 100B has a function of determining whether it is tandem or non-tandem based on the presence / absence of an output from the tandem sensor S1, and a sheet P1 of the same size independently for each of the trays 2 and 3. , P2 is loaded and used in tandem form, the drive motor 40A is operated to raise and lower the right tray 2, and when the paper P1 in the right tray 2 runs out, the transfer means 70 is operated to operate the left tray 3 When the paper P3 is set so as to straddle the right tray 2 and the left tray 3 and used in a non-tandem form, the drive motors 40A and 40B are both operated to operate the right tray. 2 and the left tray 3 are provided with a function of moving in a horizontal state. These functions are the same as before.

In addition to these functions, the control means 100B moves the left tray 3 up until it determines that the paper P2 in the left tray 3 is in pressure contact with the roller 90 based on the output from the detection switch 911 in the tandem mode. A function of stopping the operation of the drive motor 40B when the roller is in pressure contact with the roller 90;
When the sheet P of the left tray 3 is in pressure contact with the roller 90, the lock unit 205 operates so as to hold the lid member 204 in the closed state, and the release unit releases the holding state of the lid member 204 by the lock unit 205. When a release command is issued from 95, the function of controlling the operation of the lock means 205 is provided so that the lid member 204 is released. That is, a switch serving as the release means 95 is connected to the control means 100B via the signal line.

  The state in which the sheet P2 is in pressure contact with the roller 90 indicates a state in which the position of the sheet P2 in the left tray 3 occupies a predetermined position and the detection switch 911 is turned on. That is, the detection switch 911 has a function of detecting the paper position and a function of detecting the pressure contact state between the paper P2 and the roller 90. In this embodiment, a mechanical configuration using the arm member 910 and the detection switch 911 as the paper position detecting unit 91 is used. However, for example, the positional relationship between the paper P2 and the roller 90 may be detected by an optical sensor. .

Next, control modes of the locking operation and the unlocking operation to the paper P2 by the control unit 100B will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
The control unit 100B determines whether or not the lid member 204 is locked in the closed state by the lock unit 205 in step SP21 in FIG. This determination is made based on whether or not the lock unit 205 is on. Here, if the locking means 205 is in the ON state, it is determined that the lid member 204 closes the opening 203, and the process proceeds to step SP22 where the drive motor 40A is activated as part of the paper feeding operation to raise the right tray 2. Let When the detection sensor S2 detects that the right tray 2 has occupied the paper feed position in step SP23, the operation of the drive motor 40A is stopped in step SP24 to stop the rising of the right tray 2 and the process proceeds to step SP25. move on. In step SP25, the drive motor 40B is operated as a locking operation to raise the left tray 3. In step SP26, when the detection switch 911 detects that the left tray 3 occupies a predetermined position where it presses against the roller 90, the operation of the drive motor 40B is stopped in step SP27 to stop the rise of the left tray 3. To do. In this state, the left tray 3 stops in a state where it is arranged in parallel with the right tray 2 occupying the paper feeding position, and the paper P2 is in a state where the tray and the roller 90 are sandwiched by the pressure contact with the roller 90. Retained.

  The control means 100B proceeds to step SP32 when the release means 95 is operated in step SP31 of FIG. 15 to determine the presence or absence of a release command, and when the release means 95 is pressed to be turned on and a release command is issued. In step SP32, the drive motor 40A is operated to lower the right tray 2. In step SP33, when the detection sensor S3 detects that the right tray 2 has occupied the non-feeding position, the operation of the drive motor 40A is stopped in step SP34 to stop the lowering of the right tray 2, and the process proceeds to step SP35. . In step SP35, the drive motor 40B is operated to lower the left tray 3, and when the detection sensor S5 detects that the left tray 3 has occupied the lowest position in step SP36, the left tray 3 is lowered in step SP37. To stop the operation of the drive motor 40B, the process proceeds to step SP38. In this state, the pressure contact between the paper P2 and the roller 90 is released, and the left tray 3 stops at the lowest position arranged in parallel with the right tray 2 occupying the non-paper feeding position. In step SP38, the lock unit 205 is unlocked to unlock the lid member 204.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the drive motor 40B is operated and the left tray 3 moves up until it is detected by the output from the detection switch 911 that the paper P2 in the left tray 3 is in pressure contact with the roller 90. The paper P2 on the tray 3 is brought into pressure contact with the roller 90. For this reason, it is possible to prevent paper collapse by simply adding a roller 90 and controlling the operation of the drive motor 40B that has been used for raising and lowering, so a drive source for preventing paper collapse is not required, and an increase in weight is suppressed. Thus, it is possible to prevent malfunctions caused by sheet collapse. In addition, when the paper P2 of the left tray 3 is in pressure contact with the roller 90, the lid member 204 is held in the closed state by the lock unit 205, so that the paper P2 is prevented from collapsing due to the opening / closing operation of the lid member 204. Can do. Further, when a release command is issued from the release means 95, the lock means 205 is operated so as to bring the lid member 204 into a released state, and the rising left tray 3 and right tray 2 are lowered to the lowest position. When the lid member 204 is opened and closed, the trays are arranged adjacent to each other, so that the sheet collapse can be prevented.

  Note that the right tray 2 rises and occupies the sheet feeding position for feeding, but when the sheet feeding position is occupied, the sheet feeding roller 51 and the separation roller 52 are loaded on the tray 1 as is well known. Since the sheet P1 is pressed against the uppermost sheet P1, the collapse of the sheet P1 is prevented.

  As an arrangement form of the rollers 90, it can be assumed that the left tray 3 is in press contact with the uppermost sheet P2 when the left tray 3 occupies the lowermost position. When the left tray 3 is used continuously with the right tray 2 in the form, the roller 90 interferes with the stacking of sheets as in the prior art, so the roller 90 is in a position where it presses against the sheet P2 when the left tray 3 is raised. It is preferable to arrange in the above.

1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a stencil printing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an open state of a lid member of a paper feeding device of the stencil printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is an enlarged view which shows schematic structure of the operation part of a stencil printing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the operation | movement of the 1st and 2nd paper storage part for demonstrating the conventional problem, (a) is the state which occupied the lowest position of the 1st and 2nd paper storage part, ( b) shows a state in which the second paper storage unit occupies the paper feed position, and (c) shows a state in which the paper has collapsed. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams illustrating the operation of the paper storage unit of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a state in which the lowest position of the first and second paper storage units is occupied, and FIG. A state in which the position is occupied, (c) shows a state in which the position of the first paper storage unit is controlled. It is a flowchart explaining the control content by the control means concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the control content by the control means concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The structure of the paper supply part concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is the partition member used as a principal part, and its contracted state, (b) is the expansion | extension state of a partition member, (c) is each It is the schematic which shows the relationship of the magnitude | size of a tray and a partition member, respectively. 4A and 4B show a configuration of a paper feeding unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A shows the unlocked state of the first and second paper storage units, and FIG. 5B shows the first paper storage unit. It is the schematic which shows each the locked state to the paper. It is an enlarged view which shows the structure of the pressing member which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the control content of the locking operation to the paper by the control means concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the control content of the lock release operation | movement to the paper by the control means concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 2nd paper storage part 3 1st paper storage part 10,11 Space part 61 Display means 62 Setting means 70 Paper transfer means 81,82 Partition member 90 Holding member 91 Paper position detection hand 95 Release means 100 (A, B) Control means 200 Paper feeder 201 Apparatus body 203 Opening 204 Lid member 205 Lock means P1, P2 Plural sheets of paper

Claims (8)

A first sheet storage unit capable of stacking a plurality of sheets, and a plurality of sheets can be stacked, occupying a sheet feeding position and a non-sheet feeding position by moving up and down, A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a second sheet storage unit positioned in parallel with the sheet storage unit; and a sheet transfer unit capable of collectively transferring the sheets in the first sheet storage unit to the second sheet storage unit. In an image forming apparatus comprising:
Setting means for setting a lock mode for moving the second paper storage unit to a non-paper feeding position after printing is completed;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls an operation of the second sheet storage unit so as to occupy a non-feeding position when the lock mode is set by the setting unit. Having display means for displaying information;
2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays on the display unit a content prompting whether or not to operate the second sheet storage unit so as to occupy a non-feeding position after printing. Forming equipment. Display means for displaying information;
It has an energy-saving mode that puts the device in a standby state when a predetermined time has elapsed since the end of printing,
When the energy saving mode is set, the control means displays on the display means a content prompting whether or not to operate the second paper printing unit so as to occupy a non-paper feeding position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. First and second paper storage units capable of stacking a plurality of sheets, and paper transfer means capable of collectively transferring the papers of the first paper storage unit to the second paper storage unit, In the image forming apparatus in which at least one of the first and second paper storage portions can be moved up and down,
An image forming system comprising: a partition member that extends as the sheet storage unit that can be raised and lowered extends and separates a space formed below the sheet storage unit and the other sheet storage unit that is not elevated. apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the partition member expands as the sheet storage unit that can be moved up and down rises and contracts as the sheet storage unit descends. First and second paper storage units capable of stacking a plurality of sheets, and paper transfer means capable of collectively transferring the papers of the first paper storage unit to the second paper storage unit, In the image forming apparatus in which the first and second paper storage portions are movable up and down,
A pressing member disposed above the first paper feed unit and capable of contacting an upper surface of the paper stacked on the first paper feed unit;
Paper position detecting means for detecting whether or not the paper of the first paper feeding section is in pressure contact with the pressing member;
Control means for moving the first paper feed section upward until it is determined by the output from the paper position detection means that the paper in the first paper feed section is in pressure contact with the pressing member. Image forming apparatus. The first and second paper feeding sections are arranged in an apparatus main body provided with locking means for locking the lid member in a closed state while the opening is opened and closed by a lid member.
The control means controls the operation of the lock means so as to hold the lid member in a closed state when the paper of the first paper feeding section is in pressure contact with the pressing member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. A release means for releasing the holding state of the lid member by the lock means;
When the release command is issued from the release means, the control means controls the operation of the lock means so as to release the lid member, and lowers the rising sheet feeding unit to the lowest position. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is moved.

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