JP2012082049A - Paper feeding device and image forming apparatus including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeding device whose paper feeding performance is stabilized by suppressing positional fluctuation of a separation roller relative to a paper feeding means, and to provide an image forming apparatus including the paper feeding device.SOLUTION: A separation roller holder 53 is supported to freely rock up and down centering around a first supporting shaft 55a. A coil spring 57 energizing the separation roller holder 53 toward a paper feeding roller 34 is arranged under a rocking end of the separation roller holder 53, and a separation roller cover 60 is arranged above the separation roller holder 53. A holder bearing part 53a (rocking fulcrum) of the separation roller holder 53 is provided on a downstream side of a nip part (separation part) between the paper feeding roller 34 and the separation roller 35 in a document conveying direction. An outer peripheral surface of the holder bearing part 53a is positioned nearly at the same height as the nip part between the paper feeding roller 34 and the separation roller 35.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that separates and feeds sheets one by one from a sheet bundle, such as a sheet feeding cassette or a document conveying device mounted in an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a laser printer. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image reading apparatus mounted on a copying machine using an electrophotographic process, a document is conveyed so that a sheet-like document is sequentially sent to a document placing table and discharged from the document placing table after reading. Some have a device (Automatic Document Feeder). In such an image reading apparatus, a sheet-through method in which a document is automatically conveyed and read by a document conveying device while the document press is closed, and the document press is opened and closed each time reading is performed on a document placement table (contact glass). Two types of reading methods are possible: a document fixing method that replaces each original document one by one. In the former sheet-through method, the optical system in the image reading apparatus is scanned and moved while being held at a predetermined image reading position. On the other hand, in the latter document fixing method, A reading operation is performed while the optical system scans and moves.

  In the sheet-through reading, the uppermost surface of a stacked document bundle is pressed against a pickup roller to send out a plurality of documents, and only the uppermost sheet is conveyed by a separation / conveying mechanism including a feeding roller and a separation roller. The configuration is common. The separation roller has a built-in torque limiter that is driven to rotate with the paper feed roller only when the rotational load exceeds a predetermined torque.

  In order to stably supply the original in such an original conveying apparatus, it is necessary to press the separation roller against the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressure. Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a configuration is used in which a separation member (retard roller or separation pad) is swingably supported by a support member and pressed against the paper feed roller by a spring.

  Further, since the separation roller rotates while sliding on the document, the surface is easily worn. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically exchange according to the number of transported sheets. In Patent Document 3, a guide member is attached to a space adjacent to the separation roller in the thrust direction by a snap fit to prevent the separation roller from moving in the thrust direction and to improve the workability of replacing the separation roller. A feeding device is disclosed.

JP 2001-348133 A JP 2007-31121 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-279098

  However, in the configurations of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the component of the force in the conveyance direction acting on the separation roller by the conveyance of the original is applied in the direction of swinging the support member. For this reason, there is a problem that the gap between the paper feed roller and the separation roller changes, and the separation performance becomes unstable particularly when originals having different paper quality and paper thickness are conveyed.

  In the configuration of Patent Document 3, although the guide member is not fixed with screws or the like, the detachability of the guide member is improved. However, the separation roller is moved to the replacement space adjacent in the thrust direction to perform the replacement operation. It was necessary to do this, and it was not sufficient in terms of workability.

  Although an example of a document conveying apparatus that automatically conveys a sheet document has been described here, the situation is the same in other sheet feeding apparatuses such as a sheet feeding cassette and a manual tray that feed sheets as a recording medium. there were.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device that stabilizes sheet feeding performance by suppressing the position fluctuation of the separation roller, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device with improved exchangeability of separation rollers and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a paper feeding unit that feeds stacked sheets in the transport direction, and a separation roller that is pressed against or separated from the lower part of the paper feed unit substantially perpendicularly to the transport direction. A separation and conveyance mechanism that separates and conveys only the uppermost sheet of the stacked paper, and a conveyance that is arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the separation and conveyance mechanism and supports the lower surface of the conveyed paper A separation roller holder that is rotatably supported by the conveyance guide member with the downstream side in the conveyance direction as a fulcrum. The outer peripheral surface of the swing fulcrum of the separation roller holder is provided at substantially the same height as the nip portion of the sheet feeding means and the separation roller.

  According to the present invention, in the sheet feeding device having the above-described configuration, the swing fulcrum of the separation roller holder is a holder bearing portion having an arcuate cross section extending in the sheet width direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the holder bearing portion is formed from the conveyance guide member. It protrudes and constitutes a bent portion of the paper transport path.

  According to the present invention, in the sheet feeding device having the above-described configuration, an urging means for urging the swing end of the separation roller holder in the direction of the nip portion, and disposed above the separation roller holder. A separation roller cover for disposing the separation roller holder at a predetermined position against a force is provided.

  According to the present invention, in the sheet feeding device configured as described above, the separation roller cover is rotatably supported on the upper surface of the conveyance guide member, and is formed on the conveyance guide member at a rotation end of the separation roller cover. A hook portion that engages with the engaging hole is provided.

  According to the present invention, in the sheet feeding device configured as described above, the rotation fulcrum of the separation roller cover is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the engaging claw formed at the tip of the hook portion is on the downstream side in the transport direction. It is characterized by protruding.

  According to the present invention, in the sheet feeding device having the above-described configuration, a recess is formed in the upper surface of the transport guide member along the transport direction, and the engagement hole is located at the downstream side in the transport direction within the recess. It is characterized by being formed on the upstream side.

  Further, the present invention is an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet feeding device having the above-described configuration.

  According to the first configuration of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the swing fulcrum of the separation roller holder is provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction from the nip portion of the sheet feeding means and the separation roller and at substantially the same height as the nip portion. As a result, the force in the conveyance direction acting on the separation roller by the conveyance of the paper is applied substantially horizontally toward the swing fulcrum of the separation roller holder, and almost no component force is generated in the swing direction (vertical direction) of the separation roller holder. do not do. Therefore, the relative position of the separation roller with respect to the sheet feeding means does not change, and a stable sheet feeding operation is possible. In addition, since the outer peripheral surface of the swing fulcrum is at substantially the same height as the nip portion, it does not hinder the conveyance of the paper even when the swing fulcrum is on the paper transport path.

  Further, according to the second configuration of the present invention, in the sheet feeding device of the first configuration, the outer peripheral surface of the holder bearing portion that is the swing fulcrum of the separation roller holder also serves as the bent portion of the sheet conveyance path. The position of the separation roller holder does not change even when a sheet is pulled between the sheet feeding means and the nip portion of the separation roller and the conveyance roller on the downstream side in the conveyance direction and pressure is applied to the bent portion. Accordingly, it is possible to stabilize the relative position of the separation roller with respect to the sheet feeding means regardless of the sheet conveyance state.

  According to the third configuration of the present invention, in the paper feeding device having the first or second configuration, the biasing means for biasing the swing end of the separation roller holder in the direction of the nip portion, and the separation roller holder By providing a separation roller cover that is disposed above and separates the separation roller holder at a predetermined position against the urging force of the urging means, the separation roller holder can be easily positioned using the separation roller cover. Further, when the separation roller cover is removed, the separation roller cover and the separation roller holder jump out upward from the conveyance guide member by the urging force of the urging means, so that the separation roller and the separation roller cover can be easily replaced.

  According to the fourth configuration of the present invention, in the paper feeding device of the third configuration, the separation roller cover is rotatably supported on the upper surface of the conveyance guide member, and the conveyance roller is conveyed at the rotation end of the separation roller cover. Since the hook portion that engages with the engagement hole of the guide member is provided, a screw or the like is not required for fixing the separation roller cover, so that the separation roller cover can be easily attached and detached without using a tool such as a screwdriver.

  According to the fifth configuration of the present invention, in the paper feeding device of the fourth configuration, the rotation fulcrum of the separation roller cover is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the engaging claw formed at the tip of the hook portion is provided. By projecting to the downstream side in the transport direction, there is no possibility that the hook portion will be disengaged from the engagement hole even if a force in the transport direction acts on the separation roller cover by transporting the paper.

  According to the sixth configuration of the present invention, in the paper feeding device of the fifth configuration, the upper surface of the transport guide member is formed with a recess along the transport direction, and the engagement hole is formed in the recess. By forming it closer to the upstream side than the downstream end portion in the transport direction, the hook is bent by inserting a finger into the recess and pressing the side surface of the hook portion from the downstream side in the transport direction, thereby engaging the hook with the engagement hole. The match can be easily released.

  Further, according to the seventh configuration of the present invention, when the sheet feeding device having any one of the first to sixth configurations is mounted, the sheet or document can be conveyed from the sheet feeding cassette or the document conveying device. It becomes an image forming apparatus capable of effectively preventing troubles such as double feeding due to a change in the position of the separation roller and performing a stable conveying operation.

1 is a side sectional view showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with a document conveying device of the present invention. Side surface sectional view showing the internal structure of the document feeder of the present invention Side sectional view around the separation and conveyance mechanism of the document conveyance device Perspective view of the periphery of the separation roller constituting the separation transport mechanism as seen from above Perspective view around the separation roller showing the state where the separation roller cover is opened External perspective view of separation roller holder External perspective view of separation roller cover

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus provided with a document conveying device of the present invention. In FIG. 1, in an image forming apparatus 100 (here, a digital multi-function peripheral is shown as an example), when performing a copying operation, an image reading apparatus 6 converts image data of a document into a read image signal. On the other hand, in the image forming unit 3 in the MFP main body 2, the photosensitive drum 5 rotating in the direction A in the figure is uniformly charged by the charging unit 4, and is based on the document image data read by the image reading device 6. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 5 by a laser beam from an exposure unit (laser scanning unit or the like) 7, and a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) is attached to the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit 8. An image is formed. The toner is supplied to the developing unit 8 from the toner container 9.

  The sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding mechanism 10 to the image forming unit 3 via the sheet conveying path 11 and the registration roller pair 12 toward the photosensitive drum 5 on which the toner image is formed as described above. 3, the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred to the sheet by the transfer roller 13 (image transfer unit). The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 5 and conveyed to a fixing unit 14 having a fixing roller pair 14a to fix the toner image. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 14 is sent to a sheet conveyance path 15 branched in a plurality of directions, and is conveyed in a conveyance direction by path switching mechanisms 21 and 22 having a plurality of path switching guides provided at branch points of the sheet conveyance path 15. Are distributed as they are (or sent to the double-sided conveyance path 16 and copied on both sides), and discharged to a paper discharge unit including the first discharge tray 17a and the second discharge tray 17b.

  Although not shown, a static elimination device that removes residual charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning device 18. Further, the paper feed mechanism 10 is detachably attached to the multifunction machine main body 2 and includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 10a and 10b for storing paper and a stack bypass (manual feed tray) 10c provided above the paper feed cassettes 10a and 10b. These are connected to the image forming unit 3 including the photosensitive drum 5 and the developing unit 8 by the paper transport path 11. A platen (original presser) 24 that presses and holds a document placed on the contact glass 25 (see FIG. 2) of the image reading device 6 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus body so as to be openable and closable. A document conveying device 27 is attached.

  Specifically, the sheet conveyance path 15 first branches into a left and right fork on the downstream side of the fixing roller pair 14a, and one path (a path branching rightward in FIG. 1) communicates with the first discharge tray 17a. It is configured as follows. The other path (the path that branches in the left direction in FIG. 1) branches into the upper and lower forks via the conveying roller pair 19, and the other path (the path that branches in the upper direction in FIG. 1) is the second discharge tray. It is comprised so that it may communicate with 17b. On the other hand, the other path (the path that branches downward in FIG. 1) is configured to communicate with the duplex conveyance path 16.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the internal structure of the document conveying device. The document transport device 27 includes a document feed tray 29 provided with a document guide 29 a for aligning and stacking a plurality of documents, and a reversing tray 30 provided below the document feed tray 29. Each member of the paper tray 29 and the reverse tray 30 is attached to the frame of the document conveying device 27. Further, a cover member 31 is supported so as to be openable and closable with one end (lower left in the figure) as a rotation fulcrum with respect to the frame of the document conveying device 27, and a document discharge tray 32 is placed on the platen 24 ( It is formed directly on a part of the upper surface of FIG. A document transport path d from the document feed tray 29 to the document discharge tray 32 is formed in the cover member 31. By opening the cover member 31, the document transport path d is opened, and jamming can be performed. ing.

  In the cover member 31, a pickup roller 33, a paper feed roller 34 and a separation roller 35, a registration roller pair 36, a conveyance roller pair 37, 38, 39, and 40, a CIS roller 41, a reverse roller along the document conveyance path d. Document conveying means including a pair 42, a discharge roller pair 43 and the like is provided. A separation roller 35 is in contact with the sheet feeding roller 34 from below at a predetermined pressure, and the sheet feeding roller 34 and the separation roller 35 constitute a separation conveyance mechanism that separates and conveys a document one by one. The separation roller 35 has a built-in torque limiter that stops when the rotational load is lower than the predetermined torque, and rotates with the paper feed roller 34 only when the rotational load exceeds the predetermined torque. Above the pickup roller 33, an upper surface detection sensor 50 for detecting the upper surface position of the document is disposed.

  The contact glass 25 includes a manually placed original glass 25a and an automatic reading glass 25b. A shading correction white reference plate disposed opposite to the automatic reading glass 25b (image reading position), and a white reference plate. There is provided a document pressing portion (none of which is shown) for pressing the white reference plate toward the manually placed document glass 25a. The document conveyance path d is curved so as to be reversed between the registration roller pair 36 and the automatic reading glass 25b. A plurality of paper detection sensors including a paper feed sensor S1 and a discharge sensor S2 for detecting the presence / absence or passage of a document are provided at appropriate positions on the document conveyance path d.

  Next, a sheet-through type document conveyance operation using the document conveyance unit 27 will be described. In the sheet-through method, when a plurality of documents are set on the document feed tray 29 and the copy start button on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, an elevating mechanism (not shown) ) Lifts the pickup roller 33 through the document, and the weight of a frame (not shown) including the pickup roller 33 is applied to the lift plate 45, so that the upper surface of the document has a predetermined pressure ( The paper is pressed against the pickup roller 33 with a paper feed pressure). Here, the pickup roller 33 and the paper feed roller 34 are rotationally driven by a motor (not shown).

  The document set on the document feed tray 29 is normally fed by the pickup roller 33 to the nip portion between the feed roller 34 and the separation roller 35. Then, only the uppermost one of the plurality of documents is separated by the separation roller 35 and conveyed toward the registration roller pair 36. At that time, after the leading edge of the document is detected by the sheet feeding sensor S1, the document is conveyed by a predetermined distance, and then the rotational driving of the pickup roller 33 and the sheet feeding roller 34 is stopped to complete the primary sheet feeding. The primary fed document is stopped in a state where the leading edge is pressed against the nip portion of the registration roller pair 36 and the leading edge is bent.

  Secondary feeding is started after a predetermined time has elapsed since the completion of primary feeding. That is, the registration roller pair 36 is rotationally driven by the operation of a secondary paper feed drive motor (not shown). The original is conveyed toward the discharge roller pair 43 through the automatic reading glass 25b by the registration roller pair 36, the conveyance roller pairs 37 to 39, and the CIS roller 41, and finally the original is discharged by the discharge roller pair 43. It is discharged onto the tray 32. At this time, the completion of image reading of one original is detected by detecting passage of the rear end of the original by the discharge sensor S2.

  Here, the discharge sensor S2 has a count function for counting the number of documents every time the document conveyance is completed. If the paper feed sensor S1 detects a subsequent document, the second and subsequent document conveyance is performed as described above. Will continue as well. The original is conveyed while being lightly pressed toward the automatic reading glass 25b when passing through the automatic reading glass 25b, and the image of the original is read through the automatic reading glass 25b (see FIG. 1). It can be read by.

  When reading a double-sided document, a contact image sensor 51 provided opposite to the CIS roller 41 reads an image on the back side of the document, and an automatic reading glass 25b reads an image on the surface of the document. After the image on the surface of the document is read by the reading glass 25b, the document is distributed to the reversing tray 30 by the branching claws 47a, 47b, and 47c, the reversing roller pair 42 is reversed, and the back surface of the document is turned up again. There is a two-stage reading method in which the image is conveyed to the upstream side of the registration roller pair 36 and the image on the back side of the document is read by the automatic reading glass 25b.

  Reading by the contact image sensor 51 can shorten the reading time, but is inferior in image quality as compared with reading by the automatic reading glass 25b. For this reason, a one-step reading method using the contact image sensor 51 is used for text originals, and a two-step reading method using the reverse tray 31 is used when high-quality and high-definition reading is required for photo originals. It is preferable.

  When the two-stage reading method is used, when the original after reading is sequentially discharged to the original discharge tray 32 as it is, the discharged original is stacked with the reverse side of the state set on the original feed tray 29. It will be. Therefore, after the image on the back side of the document is read by the automatic reading glass 25 b, the branching claws 47 a to 47 c are swung to introduce the document again onto the reversing tray 31, via the conveying roller pair 40 and the discharge roller pair 43. The document is discharged to the document discharge tray 32. As a result, the front and back of each document are reversed again before being discharged, so that they can be stacked on the document discharge tray 32 while maintaining the state of being set on the document feed tray 29.

  FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the periphery of the separation conveyance mechanism of the document conveyance device. The separation roller 35 is rotatably held by the separation roller holder 53. The separation roller holder 53 is supported so as to be swingable up and down around the first support shaft 55 a by engaging the holder bearing portion 53 a with the first support shaft 55 a provided on the conveyance guide member 55. A coil spring 57 that urges the separation roller holder 53 in the direction of the paper feed roller 34 is disposed below the swing end of the separation roller holder 53.

  A separation roller cover 60 is disposed above the separation roller holder 53. A cover bearing portion 60a that engages with a second support shaft 55b provided on the conveyance guide member 55 is provided on the upstream side of the separation roller cover 60 in the document conveyance direction (the right side in FIG. 3, hereinafter referred to as the upstream side). A hook portion 60 b that engages with the engagement hole 55 c of the conveyance guide member 55 is provided on the downstream side of the separation roller cover 60 in the document conveyance direction (left side in FIG. 3, hereinafter abbreviated as the downstream side). The engagement hole 55c and the hook portion 60b constitute a snap fit for detachably holding the separation roller cover 60 on the conveyance guide member 55.

  The separation roller cover 60 pushes down the separation roller holder 53 against the urging force of the coil spring 57, and places the separation roller 35 at a predetermined height. Thereby, the pressure contact force of the separation roller 35 against the paper feed roller 34 is kept constant. In addition, a front facing member 61 is attached upstream of the separation roller 35 on the upper surface of the separation roller cover 60. The front winding member 61 presses the leading ends of a plurality of documents sent out by the pickup roller 33 against the inclined surface of the front scanning member 61 and scoops it diagonally, so that a plurality of sheets are fed to the nip portion between the paper feed roller 34 and the separation roller 35. Prevent documents from entering at once.

  In the document conveying device of the present invention, the holder bearing portion 53a of the separation roller holder 53 is provided on the downstream side of the nip portion (separation portion) between the paper feed roller 34 and the separation roller 35 in the document conveyance direction. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the holder bearing portion 53a is located at substantially the same height (on the one-dot chain line B in FIG. 3) as the nip portion between the paper feed roller 34 and the separation roller 35.

  According to this configuration, the force in the conveyance direction acting on the separation roller 35 by the conveyance of the original presses the holder bearing portion 53a (swinging fulcrum) of the separation roller holder 53 substantially horizontally in the left direction. Almost no component force is generated in the direction of movement (vertical direction). Accordingly, the relative position of the separation roller 35 with respect to the paper feed roller 34 does not change, and stable paper feed performance can be ensured.

  Strictly speaking, the swing support point of the separation roller holder 53 is the first support shaft 55 a of the transport guide member 55. However, when the first support shaft 55a is made substantially the same height as the nip portion of the paper feed roller 34 and the separation roller 35, the outer peripheral surface of the holder bearing portion 53a is separated from the paper feed roller 34 and the separation roller by the thickness of the holder bearing portion 53a. It becomes higher than the nip part of 35. As a result, the holder bearing portion 53a hinders the conveyance of the document that has passed through the nip portion.

  In this embodiment, therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the holder bearing portion 53a and the nip portion of the paper feed roller 34 and the separation roller 35 are arranged at substantially the same height, so that the separation roller holder 53 swings (vertical direction). The holder bearing portion 53a is configured not to prevent the conveyance of the document while suppressing generation of the component force to the utmost.

  Further, since the holder bearing portion 53a of the separation roller holder 53 protrudes from the conveyance guide member 55 and forms a bent portion of the document conveyance path, for example, between the separation portion and the downstream conveyance portion (registration roller pair 36). Therefore, the position of the separation roller holder 53 does not change even when the original is pulled and pressure is applied to the bent portion (holder bearing portion 53a). Therefore, the relative position of the separation roller 35 with respect to the paper feed roller 34 does not change depending on the document transport state, so that more stable paper feed performance can be ensured.

  Furthermore, an engaging claw 67 (see FIG. 7) formed on the hook portion 60b of the separation roller cover 60 protrudes on the downstream side. Therefore, even if a force in the document conveyance direction is applied to the separation roller cover 60 by conveying the document, the engagement between the hook portion 60b and the engagement hole 55c is not released, and the separation roller cover 60 can be prevented from coming off. it can.

  4 is a perspective view of the periphery of the separation roller of FIG. 3 as viewed from above, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the separation roller cover of FIG. 4 is opened. 6 and 7 are external perspective views of the separation roller holder and the separation roller cover, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the separation roller holder 53 includes a holder bearing portion 53 a having a circular arc cross section and a semi-cylindrical holding portion 53 b that holds the separation roller 35. A D-shaped support hole 65 that supports the rotation shaft of the separation roller 35 is provided on the side surface in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 53b.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the separation roller cover 60 has a flat plate shape that is bent in accordance with the shape of the conveyance guide member 55 (see FIG. 4), and has a cover bearing portion 60a having a C-shaped cross section and an engaging claw 67 at the tip. A formed hook portion 60b is provided. Further, on the upper surface of the separation roller cover 60, a front roller member holding portion 70 that holds the front roller member 61 (see FIG. 4), a first opening 71 in which an upper portion of the separation roller 35 is exposed, and a holder bearing of the separation roller holder 53. A second opening 73 through which the portion 53a is exposed is formed in this order from the cover bearing portion 60a to the hook portion 60b.

  Next, a method for replacing the separation roller 35 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. When the separation roller 35 is replaced, first, the engagement between the hook portion 60b and the engagement hole 55c is released, and the separation roller cover 60 is removed. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, since the recess 63 is formed in the transport guide member 55 from the engagement hole 55c toward the downstream side, the operator puts his / her finger into the recess 63 and the side surface of the hook portion 60b. Can be easily released from the engagement between the hook portion 60b and the engagement hole 55c. When the engagement between the hook portion 60b and the engagement hole 55c is released, the separation roller holder 53 moves upward by the urging force of the coil spring 57, and the rotation end of the separation roller cover 60 jumps up.

  Then, by holding the rotating end of the separation roller cover 60 and opening the separation roller cover 60, the separation roller holder 53 is exposed as shown in FIG. The separation roller holder 53 is lifted upward together with the separation roller 35 and removed from the conveyance guide member 55, the rotation shaft of the separation roller 35 is removed from the support hole 65, and the separation roller 35 is removed from the separation roller holder 53. After setting a new separation roller 35 in the separation roller holder 53, the holder bearing portion 53 a is engaged with the first support shaft 55 a and the separation roller holder 53 is attached to the conveyance guide member 55.

  Finally, the cover bearing portion 60a of the separation roller cover 60 is engaged with the second support shaft 55b, the hook portion 60b is engaged with the engagement hole 55c, and the separation roller cover 60 is attached to the transport guide member 55, and the replacement work is performed. finish.

  According to the above configuration, the separation roller holder 53 is pressed against the urging force of the coil spring 57 by the separation roller cover 60 and positioned at a predetermined height, so that the hook portion 60b and the engagement hole 55c are engaged. When is released, the rotating end of the separation roller cover 60 jumps up by the urging force of the coil spring 57. Therefore, the operator can easily open or replace the separation roller cover.

  Further, since the separation roller cover 60 is detachably held on the conveyance guide member 55 by a snap fit formed by the engagement hole 55c and the hook portion 60b, the separation roller 35 and the separation roller cover 60 are used without using a tool such as a screwdriver. Can be easily exchanged. Further, since the separation roller 35 can be detached from the conveyance guide member 55 together with the separation roller holder 53, it is not necessary to provide a space for removing the separation roller 35 in the conveyance guide member 55.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the separation conveyance mechanism is configured by using the sheet feeding roller 34 and the separation roller 35, but instead of the sheet feeding roller 34, a sheet feeding belt wound around a driving roller and a driven roller is used. Arrangement is also possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the document conveying apparatus that sequentially conveys a plurality of sheet documents has been described as an example. However, the sheet feeding apparatus of the present invention is a sheet feeding cassette 10a illustrated in FIG. 1 used as a sheet supply source. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to an inserter 10b, a manual feed tray 10c, and an inserter device that is disposed between the image forming apparatus and the sheet post-processing apparatus as a reduced supply of slip sheets.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a sheet feeding device that separates and feeds sheets one by one from a bundle of sheets, such as a sheet feeding cassette and a document conveying apparatus, and holds the separation roller rotatably and is downstream in the conveying direction. A separation roller holder that is swingably supported by the conveyance guide member with the side as a fulcrum is provided, and the outer peripheral surface of the swing fulcrum of the separation roller holder is provided at substantially the same height as the nip portion of the sheet feeding means and separation roller. It is a paper device.

  By utilizing the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper feeding device capable of performing a stable paper feeding operation without changing the relative position of the separation roller with respect to the paper feeding means. In addition, when the paper feeding device of the present invention is installed, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that effectively suppresses poor transport such as double feeding when transporting paper or a document and performs a stable paper feeding operation or document transportation operation. It becomes.

27 Document feeder (paper feeder)
29 Document feed tray 30 Reverse tray 32 Document discharge tray 33 Pickup roller 34 Paper feed roller (paper feed means)
35 Separating roller 53 Separating roller holder 53a Holder bearing portion 55 Conveying guide member 55a First supporting shaft 55b Second supporting shaft 55c Engaging hole 57 Coil spring (biasing means)
60 Separating roller cover 61 Front facing member 60a Cover bearing portion 60b Hook portion 67 Engaging claw 100 Image forming apparatus

Claims (7)

A sheet feeding unit that feeds stacked sheets in the conveyance direction; and a separation roller that is pressed or separated from the lower part of the sheet feeding unit substantially perpendicularly to the conveyance direction, and only the uppermost one of the stacked sheets Separating and transporting mechanism for separating and transporting,
A transport guide member that is arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the separation transport mechanism and supports the lower surface of the transported paper;
In a paper feeder provided with
A separation roller holder that rotatably supports the separation roller and is supported by the conveyance guide member so as to be swingable with a downstream side in the conveyance direction as a fulcrum is provided, and an outer peripheral surface of the oscillating fulcrum of the separation roller holder is The paper feeding device is provided at substantially the same height as the nip portion of the paper feeding means and the separation roller.   The rocking fulcrum of the separation roller holder is a holder bearing portion having an arcuate cross section extending in the paper width direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the holder bearing portion protrudes from the conveyance guide member to constitute a bent portion of the paper conveyance path. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein   An urging means for urging the oscillating end of the separation roller holder in the direction of the nip portion, and disposed above the separation roller holder, and placing the separation roller holder at a predetermined position against the urging force of the urging means. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a separation roller cover to be disposed.   The separation roller cover is rotatably supported on the upper surface of the conveyance guide member, and a hook portion that engages with an engagement hole formed in the conveyance guide member is provided at a rotation end of the separation roller cover. The sheet feeding device according to claim 3.   The rotation fulcrum of the separation roller cover is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction, and the engaging claw formed at the tip of the hook portion protrudes on the downstream side in the transport direction. Paper feeder.   A recess is formed in the upper surface of the transport guide member along the transport direction, and the engagement hole is formed closer to the upstream side than the downstream end in the transport direction in the recess. Item 6. The sheet feeding device according to Item 5.   An image forming apparatus comprising the paper feeding device according to claim 1.

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