JP2016030688A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeding device 1 that mounts a paper P on a paper feeding tray 4 which can be freely taken into/out of a device main body, which prevents an edge of deformed paper from getting caught in an enclosure 2 when the paper feeding tray is taken out.SOLUTION: A paper feeding device 1 has: a paper feeding tray 4 that is mounted with paper and taken into/out of a device main body; a pressing roller 7 near the device which can be slid between a retreat position and a paper pressing position; and an operating mechanism 20 that fluctuates vertically the pressing roller in interlock with the paper feeding tray. The pressing roller escapes to the retreat position when the paper feeding tray is set on a paper feeding position, and when the paper feeding tray is set on a taking-out position, the pressing roller descends to the pressing position and then guides an edge of the paper downward, which prevents the paper from getting caught on an enclosure so as to prevent the paper from being slipped. This does not cause trouble to movement by which the paper feeding tray is taken out and does not damage the paper.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feeding device having a paper feeding tray that can be taken in and out of the apparatus main body in a state in which the paper is stacked in order to supply paper to an image forming apparatus or the like. The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that prevents the sheet from being caught by the apparatus body when the sheet feeding tray is pulled out even when the edge of the sheet is deformed so as to swell upward due to moisture absorption or the like.

  In general, an image forming apparatus or the like is provided with a paper feeding device as means for continuously supplying a plurality of sheets. Such a sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding tray that can be pulled out from the apparatus body, and a plurality of sheets can be stacked on the sheet feeding tray. By pulling out the paper feed tray out of the apparatus main body, stacking paper, and inserting the paper into the apparatus main body, the paper on the paper feed tray can be set as the paper feed position in the apparatus main body. Then, the sheet can be fed from the top sheet of the stacked sheets and fed to the image forming means by a sheet feeding roller provided in the apparatus main body.

  In the general paper feeder as described above, the paper stacked on the paper feed tray may absorb moisture due to a change in ambient temperature if left for a long period of time, and the edges of both ends may swell. . Of the four sides of a rectangular sheet, the two sides of the paper that swell due to moisture absorption are usually both edges parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fibers that make up the sheet. In some cases, both end edges that are easy to cross are perpendicular to the direction in which the paper feed tray is taken in and out of the apparatus main body. When the maximum number of sheets is stacked on the paper feed tray in such an arrangement, if the paper absorbs moisture, the deformations where both edges of the multiple sheets swell upward will overlap and expand. When the paper is pulled out, the edge of the swelled paper is easily caught on the main body of the apparatus. This causes a problem in pulling out the paper feed table, and the caught paper is damaged and is wasted.

Patent Document 1 below discloses an invention of a paper feeding device. According to this paper feeding device, when the paper feeding tray 4 is pulled out, the tray operation unit 21 operates the release lever 20 to release the urging of the urging member 16 by the urging lever 17, and The paper in between is released. Also, the drive mechanism of the swing lever 23 that lifts the bottom plate 22 and the motor on the apparatus side are removed, and the bottom plate falls to level the paper. For this reason, in a type of paper feeding device that feeds paper by tilting half of the paper diagonally in a pull-out paper feeding tray, the paper is caught by the main body when the paper feeding tray is pulled out. It can be prevented from waking up.
In addition, the code | symbol in description of this paragraph is used in patent document 1. FIG.

JP 2010-173751 A

  However, as described above, the invention of the paper feeding device described in Patent Document 1 is a type of paper feeding device that feeds paper in a state in which a half of the paper is lifted obliquely in a drawable paper feeding tray. It is an object of the present invention to lower the front end portion of a sheet in a lifted state so that the sheet is not caught on the apparatus side when the sheet feeding tray is pulled out. Therefore, if the edge on the near side of the paper drawer on the tray swells due to moisture absorption, it provides a means to avoid the problem that the edge of the paper is caught on the device side when the tray is pulled out, causing the paper to break. It wasn't something to do.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional technique and its problems. In a paper feeding apparatus in which sheets are stacked on a paper feeding base and can be freely taken in and out of the apparatus body, the paper feeding base is pulled out. The main purpose is to prevent the edge of the deformed sheet from being caught by the apparatus main body.

The paper feeding device according to claim 1 is:
A paper feed tray in which paper is stacked and movable between a paper feed position and a drawer position;
It is arranged near the edge of the paper placed on the paper feed tray set at the paper feeding position, and moves between the upper retracted position and the lower pressing position that presses the edge of the paper. A holding member made possible;
When the paper feed tray is set at the paper feed position, the pressing member is set at the upper position, and when the paper feed tray is set at the drawer position, the pressing member is set at the lower position. An operating mechanism to be set;
It is characterized by having.

The paper feeding device according to claim 2 is the paper feeding device according to claim 1,
The pressing member is provided on a frame that is swingably supported by a fulcrum shaft provided at a predetermined position, and is swingable.
The operation mechanism sets the pressing member to the retracted position by pressing the frame in conjunction with the sheet feeding tray set to the sheet feeding position, and the sheet feeding tray set to the drawer position It is characterized in that the pressing of the frame is released and the pressing member is set to the pressing position by moving away from the frame.

The paper feeding device according to claim 3 is the paper feeding device according to claim 2,
The operation mechanism includes a pinion, a first rack and a second rack that mesh with the pinion and interlock in opposite directions, and a biasing unit that biases the first rack in a predetermined direction.
When the paper feed tray is set at the paper feed position, the paper feed tray moves the first rack in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, so that the second rack presses the frame and moves the first rack. Set the holding member at the retracted position,
When the paper feed tray is set to the drawer position, the first rack is moved in the predetermined direction by the biasing means when the paper feed tray is separated from the first rack, and the second rack is The pressing member is configured to be set at the pressing position by moving away from the frame.

The paper feeding device according to claim 4 is the paper feeding device according to claim 2 or 3,
The pressing member is a pressing roller provided rotatably on a rotating shaft provided on the frame in parallel with the fulcrum shaft,
Drive means for rotating the pressing roller so as to apply a force in a direction from the paper feed position to the drawer position on the edge of the paper when the paper feed tray is moved from the paper feed position to the drawer position. It is characterized by having.

The paper feeding device according to claim 5 is the paper feeding device according to claim 4,
The circumferential surface of the pressing roller is characterized by being subjected to uneven processing.

The sheet feeding device described in claim 6 is:
A paper feed tray in which paper is stacked and movable between a paper feed position and a drawer position;
It is arranged in the vicinity of the edge of the paper feed tray set at the paper feed position, and when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the paper feed position to the drawer position, the paper placed on the paper feed tray A pressing member having an inclined guide surface that contacts the edge and guides the edge downward;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the paper feeding device described in claim 1, a large number of sheets, for example, a maximum number of sheets, for example, are stacked on the paper feeding tray, and the edge of the paper on the near side in the pulling direction, that is, the outside of the apparatus main body. This is particularly effective when the edge of the paper on the side close to the surface is swollen due to moisture absorption or the like. That is, when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the paper feed position inside the apparatus main body to the drawer position outside the apparatus main body, the operation mechanism that has set the pressing member to the upper retracted position sets the pressing member to the lower pressing position. Therefore, the edge of the swollen paper sheet is guided downward by the pressing member that has moved downward, so that it is not caught by the apparatus main body and the paper is prevented from shifting. Accordingly, there is no hindrance to the drawer operation of the paper feed tray, and the paper is not damaged. Further, when the paper feed tray is at the paper feed position in the apparatus main body, the holding member is set at the upper retracted position, so that the paper transport operation is not hindered.

  According to the paper feeding device described in claim 2, when the paper feeding tray is pulled out from the apparatus main body, the operation mechanism is released from the paper feeding tray, so that the pressing of the frame is released. The shaft swings downward about the shaft, and the pressing member provided on the frame also swings downward and is set at the lower pressing position. Further, when the paper feed tray is at the paper feed position in the apparatus main body, the paper feed tray presses the frame to swing the frame upward about the fulcrum shaft, and the pressing member provided on the frame also Since it swings upward and is set at the upper retracted position, the sheet conveying operation is not hindered.

  According to the paper feeding device of the third aspect, when the paper feeding tray is pulled out from the apparatus main body, the paper feeding tray is separated from the first rack, so that the first rack pushed by the paper feeding tray is attached. The biasing means moves in a predetermined direction that is the same as the pull-out direction of the paper feed tray. The second rack is interlocked with the first rack via the pinion, moves in the direction opposite to the drawing-out direction of the paper feed tray, and moves away from the frame. As a result, the frame becomes free and swings downward about the fulcrum shaft, and the pressing member provided on the frame is set at the lower pressing position. When the paper feed tray is at the paper feed position in the apparatus main body, the paper feed tray moves the first rack in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing means. The second rack is interlocked with the first rack via the pinion and moves in the direction opposite to the direction in which the paper feed tray is inserted to press the frame. For this reason, the frame swings upward about the fulcrum shaft, and the pressing member provided on the frame is set at the upper retracted position, so that the sheet conveying operation is not hindered.

  According to the sheet feeding device described in claim 4, when the sheet feeding tray is pulled out from the apparatus body, the pressing roller rotates around the rotation shaft by the driving means while moving to the lower pressing position. The edge of the sheet that is swollen is given a force in the direction from the paper feeding position to the drawing position while being pressed by the pressing roller from above. As a result, the action of the edge of the sheet swelled upward guided downward by the pressing member (pressing roller) becomes more reliable, and the inconvenience of being caught on the apparatus main body can be prevented more reliably.

  According to the paper feeding device of the fifth aspect, since the uneven surface is provided on the circumferential surface of the pressing roller, it works between the pressing roller and the paper as compared with the case where the uneven surface is not provided. The frictional force increases. For this reason, when pulling out the paper feed tray from the main body of the apparatus, the force exerted on the paper by the rotating pressure roller is more reliably transmitted to the paper, and the action of guiding the edge of the paper swollen upward while the pressure roller presses down As a result, the inconvenience that the edge of the paper is caught by the apparatus main body can be prevented more reliably.

  According to the paper feeding device described in claim 6, a large number of sheets, for example, a maximum number of sheets, for example, are stacked on the paper feeding tray, and the edge of the paper on the near side in the pulling direction, that is, the outside of the apparatus main body. This is particularly effective when the edge of the paper on the side close to the surface is swollen due to moisture absorption or the like. That is, when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the paper feed position in the main body to the drawer position outside the main body, the swollen edge of the paper placed on the paper tray comes into contact with the inclined guide surface of the pressing member. Since the sheet is guided downward along the guide surface in accordance with the drawer of the sheet feeding tray, the sheet is not caught by the apparatus main body and the sheet is prevented from being displaced. Accordingly, there is no hindrance to the drawer operation of the paper feed tray, and the paper is not damaged. Further, when the paper feed tray is at the paper feed position in the apparatus main body, the guide surface of the pressing member is located away from the paper, so that the paper transport operation is not hindered.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment in a plan view, illustrating a state where a sheet feeding tray is set to a sheet feeding position. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a relationship between a sheet and a pressing member (pressing roller) and a part of an operation mechanism in the sheet feeding device illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment in a plan view, illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding tray is set to a drawer position. FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a relationship between a sheet and a pressing member (pressing roller) and a part of an operation mechanism in the sheet feeding device illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a relationship between a pressing member (pressing roller) and a part of an operation mechanism in the sheet feeding device illustrated in FIG. 3 and a small-sized sheet. FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a state in which a paper feed tray is set at a paper feed position in the paper feeding device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a state in which a paper feed tray is set to a drawer position in the paper feed device according to the second embodiment.

1. First Embodiment A sheet feeding device 1 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the configuration of the sheet feeding device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.
The sheet feeding device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided in an apparatus that handles or processes a sheet P, such as an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the sheet P, and stacks a plurality of sheets P. It is an apparatus for continuously supplying paper P to the apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a rectangular opening 3 is formed in the front of a housing 2 that is a main body of the apparatus, and a paper feed tray 4 of the paper feeder 1 according to the present embodiment is formed in the opening 3. Is provided. The paper feed tray 4 is a flat rectangular box having an open top surface, and a pair of side fences 5 and 5 having guide surfaces parallel to the paper feed direction F are provided on the bottom surface thereof perpendicularly to the bottom surface. ing. The side fences 5 and 5 can move in opposite directions along the width direction of the paper P perpendicular to the paper feeding direction F while maintaining a state parallel to each other by an interlocking mechanism (not shown). The interval can be freely adjusted according to the width of the paper P to be tried. A plurality of sheets of paper P can be stacked between a pair of side fences 5 and 5 with an appropriate interval.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the user grips and operates the handle 6 provided on the front surface of the paper feed tray 4, the paper feed tray 4 is placed in the housing 2 according to a guide mechanism (not shown). It can move between the paper feed position and the drawer position outside the housing 2. The direction in which the paper feed tray 4 enters and exits the housing 2 is a drawing direction A (leftward direction in FIGS. 1 to 4, indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 3) or an insertion direction B (FIGS. 1 to 4). In the right direction, indicated by the arrow B in FIG. The drawer direction A and the insertion direction B of the paper feed tray 4 are orthogonal to the paper feed direction F described above.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the paper feed tray 4 is set to the paper feed position in the housing 2, a paper lifting mechanism (not shown) is operated to lift the front end portion of the stacked paper P, and the paper in the housing 2 A paper feed roller (not shown) provided above the front end of P contacts the upper surface of the uppermost paper P. If the paper feed roller is rotated here, the paper P can be sent out in the paper feed direction F.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, among the edges of the paper P on the paper feed tray 4 set at the paper feed position in the housing 2, the opening 3 of the housing 2 is parallel to the paper feeding direction F. A pressing roller 7 that is a pressing member for pressing the edge E of the swollen paper P is provided in the vicinity of the upper side of the edge E on the side close to. The pressing roller 7 can be moved between an upper retracted position and a lower pressing position for pressing the edge E of the paper P by a mechanism described below, and at least when the paper feeding tray 4 is pulled out. When the sheet P is moved to the lower pressing position, the sheet P is rotated in contact with the upper surface of the edge E of the paper P, and the edge P of the paper P is guided downward to the housing 2 or the opening 3 of the housing 2. Is prevented from being caught.

  In the present embodiment, since the peripheral surface of the pressing roller 7 is provided with a gear-like or knurled uneven surface, when the pressing roller 7 rotates in contact with the upper surface of the edge E of the paper P, the pressing roller 7 The frictional force acting between the roller 7 and the paper P becomes sufficiently large, the rotational force of the pressing roller 7 is sufficiently transmitted to the paper P, and the edge E of the paper P is reliably guided downward.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the housing 2, a fulcrum parallel to the paper feeding direction F is provided above the edge E near the opening 3 of the housing 2 through a support plate 8 a. A shaft 8 is provided, and a frame 9 is pivotally supported at one end of the fulcrum shaft 8 so as to be swingable. The frame 9 is a substantially box-shaped member and is pivotally supported by the fulcrum shaft 8 on the side far from the opening 3 of the housing 2. A rotation shaft 10 is provided on the side of the frame 9 close to the opening 3 in parallel with the fulcrum shaft 8, and the pressing roller 7 is rotatably provided on the rotation shaft 10. Therefore, when the end surface of the frame 9 on the side far from the opening 3 of the housing 2 is pressed by an operation mechanism described later, the frame 9 swings upward about the fulcrum shaft 8 and is set at the retracted position. Conversely, when the operating mechanism releases the pressing of the frame 9, the frame 9 swings downward with its own weight around the fulcrum shaft 8 and is set to the pressing position.

The operation mechanism 20 that operates the frame 9 in conjunction with the drawing and insertion of the paper feed tray 4 and swings the frame 9 and the pressing roller 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation mechanism 20 is attached to a member on the housing 2 side above the paper feed tray 4 inside the housing 2. First, the operation mechanism 20 includes a pinion 21 that rotates at a predetermined position, and a first rack 22 and a second rack 23 that mesh with the pinion 21 and interlock in opposite directions. The first rack 22 and the second rack 23 move in parallel with the drawing direction A or the insertion direction B of the paper feed tray 4. The first rack 22 is biased in the pull-out direction A by a spring 24 as a biasing means, but can also be moved in the same direction by being pushed by the paper feed tray 4 moving in the insertion direction B. When the second rack 23 moves in the pull-out direction A, the side far from the opening 3 of the frame 9 is pressed, and the pressing roller 7 is set at the retracted position by swinging the frame 9 upward. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, according to the operation mechanism 20, when the paper feed tray 4 is inserted into the housing 2 and set to the paper feed position as shown by the arrow B in the figure, A part of the back side of the paper feed tray 4 presses the first rack 22 and moves the first rack 22 in the insertion direction B opposite to the biasing direction by the spring 24 as indicated by an arrow R1 in the drawing. Accordingly, the spring 24 shown in FIG. 1 is in an extended state. The second rack 23 moves in the pulling-out direction A opposite to the first rack 22 via the pinion 21 as shown by an arrow R2 in the figure, and presses the frame 9 to swing upward about the fulcrum shaft 8. The pressing roller 7 provided on the frame 9 is set at the upper retracted position.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, according to the operation mechanism 20, when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out from the housing 2 and set to the drawer position as shown by an arrow A in the drawing, the paper feed is performed. Since a part of the back side of the tray 4 is separated from the first rack 22, the first rack 22 moves in the pull-out direction A by the urging force of the spring 24 as indicated by an arrow R 3 in the drawing. Therefore, the spring 24 shown in FIG. 3 is in a degenerated state. The second rack 23 moves in the insertion direction B opposite to the first rack 22 via the pinion 21 and moves away from the frame 9 as indicated by an arrow R4 in the figure. The free frame 9 swings downward with its own weight around the support shaft, and the pressing roller 7 provided on the frame 9 is set to the pressing position.

The driving means for rotating the pressing roller 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a driven roller 30 is attached to the other end of the fulcrum shaft 8 that supports the frame 9 as a driving means for rotating the pressing roller 7. Since the driven roller 30 is in contact with the upper end surface of one edge of the paper feed tray 4 parallel to the drawing direction A or the insertion direction B of the paper feed tray 4, the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out of the housing 2 or the housing When inserted in 2, the driven roller 30 rolls and the fulcrum shaft 8 rotates. Inside the frame 9, a driving gear 31 is attached to one end of the fulcrum shaft 8, and a driven gear 32 is attached to the rotating shaft 10 of the pressing roller 7. An interlocking gear 33 that meshes with both gears is provided between 32.

  Therefore, when the paper feed tray 4 is inserted into the housing 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out from the housing 2 as shown in FIGS. 4 rotates, the fulcrum shaft 8 and the drive gear 31 rotate, the driven gear 32 rotates by the interlocking gear 33, and the pressing roller 7 rotates.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when pulling out the paper feed tray 4 from the housing 2, the pressing roller 7 applies a force in the direction from the paper feed position to the drawer position on the edge E of the paper P. The pressing roller 7 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 4 so as to be applied to the surface. At this time, the frame 9 and the pressing roller 7 are set in the pressing position by swinging downward while rotating in the above direction. For this reason, the edge E of the paper P moving to the drawing position is subjected to an operation of being pressed from above by the pressing roller 7 and is also guided to the lower side by the rotation of the pressing roller 7.

Next, the operation of the sheet feeding device 1 of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out of the housing 2 (arrow A), a part of the back side of the paper feed tray 4 is pushed away from the first rack 22 and is pushed by the paper feed tray 4. The first rack 22 is moved in the pull-out direction A of the paper feed tray 4 by the spring 24 (arrow R3). The second rack 23 is linked to the first rack 22 via the pinion 21, moves in the insertion direction B opposite to the drawing direction A of the paper feed tray 4 (arrow R 4), and moves away from the frame 9.

  As shown in FIG. 4, this frees the frame 9 and swings downward by its own weight about the fulcrum shaft 8, and the pressing roller 7 provided on the frame 9 is set at the lower pressing position. At this time, while the pressing roller 7 moves to the lower pressing position, it rotates in the clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in the drawing around the rotation shaft 10 in conjunction with the rotation of the fulcrum shaft 8 driven by the driven roller 30. Rotate to. For this reason, the edge E of the sheet P swelled upward is pressed by the pressing roller 7 from above, and a force in the drawing direction A is applied to the surface thereof. As a result, the edge E of the sheet P swelled upward is reliably guided downward by the pressing roller 7, and the trouble of being caught on the apparatus main body side such as the housing 2 or the opening 3 is prevented beforehand. Deviation is prevented. Accordingly, there is no hindrance to the drawer operation of the paper feed tray 4, and the paper P is not damaged.

  Since the peripheral surface of the pressing roller 7 is processed to have unevenness, the frictional force acting between the pressing roller 7 and the paper P is compared to the case where the peripheral surface is not uneven with resin having a small friction coefficient. Will grow. For this reason, when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out from the apparatus main body, the force exerted on the paper P by the rotating pressure roller 7 is more reliably transmitted to the paper P, and the pressure roller 7 presses the edge E of the paper P swelled upward. However, since the action of guiding downward is more certain, it is possible to more reliably prevent the inconvenience that the edge E of the paper P is caught on the apparatus main body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the paper feed tray 4 is moved in the arrow B direction from the drawer position and set to the paper feed position in the apparatus main body, the paper feed tray 4 presses the first rack 22. The first rack 22 is moved in the insertion direction B opposite to the biasing direction of the biasing means (arrow R1). As a result, the second rack 23 is linked to the first rack 22 via the pinion 21, moves in the drawing direction A (arrow R 2) opposite to the insertion direction B of the paper feed tray 4, and presses the frame 9. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, for this reason, the frame 9 swings upward about the fulcrum shaft 8, and the pressing roller 7 provided on the frame 9 is set at the upper retracted position. Therefore, the pressing roller 7 does not hinder the sheet conveying operation.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram in the case where sheets P having a relatively small width are stacked on the sheet feeding tray 4 of the sheet feeding device 1 in the present embodiment, and are relative to the sheet feeding tray 4 of the sheet feeding device 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4, which is a diagram when a sheet P having a large width is stacked. As shown in FIG. 5, when the width of the paper P stacked on the paper feed tray 4 is small, the edge of the paper P is pulled out when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out and the pressing roller 7 moves to the lower pressing position. E has not yet reached the position of the pressing roller 7, and therefore, the pressing roller 7 may not be able to directly press the upper surface of the edge E. However, since the pressing roller 7 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5 and moves the peripheral surface in the same direction as the drawing direction A in which the paper P moves relative to the upper surface of the paper P, the pressing roller 7 Even if the edge E of the paper P is received after being set to the position, it can be guided downward by its own rotation. Therefore, even if the edge E of the sheet P having a relatively small width swells upward, the swelled edge E is reliably guided downward by the pressing roller 7, and the device such as the housing 2 or the opening 3 is provided. The inconvenience of being caught on the main body side is prevented in advance, and the shift of the paper P is prevented. Therefore, as in the case of the paper P having a relatively large width, there is no hindrance to the drawer operation of the paper feed tray 4, and the paper P is not damaged.

  In the present embodiment, the uneven surface of the pressing roller 7 is roughened, but other means for increasing the frictional force with the paper P may be used. For example, the pressing roller 7 may be made of a high friction material such as rubber.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the edge E of the paper P is pressed by the pressing roller 7, the edge E of the paper P is reliably guided downward, so that the pressing roller 7 is moved in a predetermined direction when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out. As a means for that purpose, a driven roller 30 interlocked with the drawer of the paper feed tray 4 is provided, and the pressing roller 7 is driven by this. However, the rotational force of the pressing roller 7 may not use the movement of the paper feed tray 4. For example, driving means such as a motor may be provided, and the pressing roller 7 may be rotated in a necessary direction when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out.

2. Second Embodiment A sheet feeding device 1a according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and the description of the first embodiment is incorporated.

  The sheet feeding device 1a of the present embodiment is used for the same application as that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a rectangular opening 3 is formed in the front surface of the casing 2 that is the apparatus main body, and the opening 3 is fed with the paper feeding device 1 a according to the present embodiment. A paper tray 4 is provided. The structure of the paper feed tray 4 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a pressing member 40 is provided at a position near the upper edge E of the sheet feeding tray 4 set at the sheet feeding position. The holding member 40 is fixed to the housing 2 side, and has a guide surface 41 inclined on the inner side of the opening 3 so that the height decreases in the drawing direction A shown in FIG. doing. The guide surface 41 contacts the edge E of the swollen paper P placed on the paper feed tray 4 when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out from the paper feed position shown in FIG. 6 to the drawer position shown in FIG. And has a function of guiding this downward.

According to the sheet feeding device 1a of the present embodiment, a large number of sheets, for example, a maximum number of sheets P, are stacked on the sheet feeding tray 4, and the edge E of the sheet P on the near side in the pull-out direction, that is, the casing. This is effective when the edge E of the paper P on the side close to the outer side of 2 is swollen due to moisture absorption or the like. That is, when the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out from the paper feed position in the housing 2 to the drawer position outside the housing 2, the swelled edge E of the paper P placed on the paper feed tray 4 is Since it contacts the inclined guide surface 41 and is guided downward along the guide surface 41 as the paper feed tray 4 is pulled out, it is not caught by the apparatus main body, and displacement of the paper P is prevented. Accordingly, there is no hindrance to the drawer operation of the paper feed tray 4, and the paper P is not damaged. When the paper feed tray 4 is at the paper feed position in the apparatus main body, the guide surface 41 of the pressing member 40 is located away from the paper P, so that the paper transport operation is not hindered.
Since the side fence 5 has a notch (not shown) at a position corresponding to the pressing member 40, the pressing member 40 and the side fence 5 do not interfere with the loading / unloading of the paper feed tray 4.

  In the embodiment described above, the pressing roller 7 as a pressing member is provided on the frame 9 that swings around the fulcrum shaft 8, and the fulcrum shaft 8 is moved by the operation of the operation mechanism 20 interlocked with the paper feed tray 4. It was supposed to swing to the center. Therefore, the movement path of the pressing roller 7 between the retracted position and the pressing position is a part of the rotation locus around the fulcrum shaft 8. However, in order to move the pressing roller 7 between the retracted position and the pressing position, it is not always necessary to make a circular motion around the axis. In other words, the movement mode of the presser roller 7 may be linear movement, a combination of a plurality of linear motions, or a curved movement other than circular motion. This is determined by the specific configuration of the operation mechanism that moves the presser roller 7 in conjunction with the paper tray 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a ... Paper feeding apparatus 2 ... Housing | casing 4 ... Paper feed tray 7 ... Pressing roller as a pressing member 8 ... Supporting shaft 9 ... Frame 10 ... Rotating shaft 20 ... Operation mechanism 21 ... Pinion 22 which comprises an operation mechanism First rack 23 that constitutes the operating mechanism 23 ... Second rack that constitutes the operating mechanism 24 ... Spring as biasing means that constitutes the operating mechanism 30 ... A driven roller that is a driving means for the pressing roller 40 ... A pressing member 41 ... A pressing member Guide surface P ... paper A ... drawing direction B ... insertion direction E ... paper edge F ... feed direction R1-R4 ... rack moving direction

Claims (6)

A paper feed tray in which paper is stacked and movable between a paper feed position and a drawer position;
It is arranged near the edge of the paper placed on the paper feed tray set at the paper feeding position, and moves between the upper retracted position and the lower pressing position that presses the edge of the paper. A holding member made possible;
When the paper feed tray is set at the paper feed position, the pressing member is set at the upper position, and when the paper feed tray is set at the drawer position, the pressing member is set at the lower position. An operating mechanism to be set;
A sheet feeding device comprising: The pressing member is provided on a frame that is swingably supported by a fulcrum shaft provided at a predetermined position, and is swingable.
The operation mechanism sets the pressing member to the retracted position by pressing the frame in conjunction with the sheet feeding tray set to the sheet feeding position, and the sheet feeding tray set to the drawer position 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is configured to release the pressing of the frame and to set the pressing member to the pressing position by moving away from the frame. The operation mechanism includes a pinion, a first rack and a second rack that mesh with the pinion and interlock in opposite directions, and a biasing unit that biases the first rack in a predetermined direction.
When the paper feed tray is set at the paper feed position, the paper feed tray moves the first rack in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, so that the second rack presses the frame and moves the first rack. Set the holding member at the retracted position,
When the paper feed tray is set to the drawer position, the first rack is moved in the predetermined direction by the biasing means when the paper feed tray is separated from the first rack, and the second rack is The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the pressing member is configured to be set at the pressing position by moving away from the frame. The pressing member is a pressing roller provided rotatably on a rotating shaft provided on the frame in parallel with the fulcrum shaft,
Drive means for rotating the pressing roller so as to apply a force in a direction from the paper feed position to the drawer position on the edge of the paper when the paper feed tray is moved from the paper feed position to the drawer position. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the sheet feeding device is provided. The paper feeding device according to claim 4, wherein the pressing roller has a concavo-convex surface. A paper feed tray in which paper is stacked and movable between a paper feed position and a drawer position;
It is arranged in the vicinity of the edge of the paper feed tray set at the paper feed position, and when the paper feed tray is pulled out from the paper feed position to the drawer position, the paper placed on the paper feed tray A pressing member having an inclined guide surface that contacts the edge and guides the edge downward;
A sheet feeding device comprising:

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