JP2017030876A - Sheet supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the generation of noise due to the deterioration of transmission efficiency of a gear and vibrations of the gear.SOLUTION: A sheet supply device is equipped with a first supply unit which has a first frame (a first left side frame 121) supporting a first supply tray and a first gear provided on the first frame; a second supply unit which is disposed under the first supply unit and has a second frame (a second left side frame 221) supporting a second supply tray and a second gear provided on the second frame; and a third frame which regulates a third gear engaged with the first gear and a fourth gear engaged with the third gear and the second gear at a predetermined inter-shaft distance. The first frame has a first shaft support hole H13 supporting a shaft portion of the third gear. The second frame has a second shaft support hole H24 supporting a shaft portion of the fourth gear. The first shaft hole H13 is a round hole, and the second shaft support hole H24 is a long hole extending from the first shaft support hole H13 side toward the second shaft support hole H24 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet supply apparatus that is added below a printer.

  Conventionally, a sheet supply device for supplying sheets to a printer is added below a printer (see Patent Document 1). The sheet supply apparatus includes a pickup roller and a drive mechanism for driving the pickup roller, and the drive mechanism is configured to be driven by a printer-side drive source by being connected to a printer-side gear. ing. The drive mechanism includes a center gear, a swing gear that can swing around the center gear, and a swing arm that connects the rotation shaft of the center gear and the rotation shaft of the swing gear. The swinging gear and the gear are connected by the biasing of the swinging gear with a spring.

JP 2013-10611 A

  However, in the conventional structure in which the swing gear is used for the connection, if the swing gear swings due to the vibration during the operation of the printer, the transmission efficiency of the gear may be reduced or noise may be generated. was there.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a sheet feeding apparatus capable of suppressing a reduction in transmission efficiency of a gear and generation of noise due to gear vibration.

In order to solve the above problems, a sheet supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a first supply tray that accommodates sheets, a first frame that movably supports the first supply tray, and a first frame that is provided in the first frame. A first supply unit having one gear and a drive source for driving the first gear; a second supply tray disposed below the first supply unit for storing sheets; and the second supply tray A second supply unit having a second frame that is movably supported, a second gear provided on the second frame, a third gear that meshes with the first gear, and the third gear directly or indirectly. And a third frame that defines a predetermined inter-axis distance with a fourth gear that is connected and meshes with the second gear.
The first frame has a first shaft support hole that supports the shaft portion of the third gear.
The second frame has a second shaft support hole that supports the shaft portion of the fourth gear.
One of the first shaft support hole and the second shaft support hole is a long hole extending in the direction from the first shaft support hole side to the second shaft support hole side, and the other is a round hole. .

  According to this, since the first gear on the first supply unit side and the second gear on the second supply unit side are connected by the third gear and the fourth gear supported by the third frame, the sheet supply device It is possible to suppress the transmission efficiency of the gear from being reduced due to the vibration applied to the gear and the generation of noise due to the vibration of the gear. In addition, since the first shaft support hole or the second shaft support hole is a long hole, an error in the distance between the first shaft support hole and the second shaft support hole, which is caused by being formed in different frames, is obtained. Can be absorbed by the long hole. Furthermore, since the distance between the axes of the third gear and the fourth gear is defined by the third frame, the distance between the axes of the third gear and the fourth gear can be made substantially constant.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the first shaft support hole is a round hole, the second shaft support hole is the elongated hole, and extends in an arc shape around the rotation axis of the second gear. May be.

  According to this, the distance between the axes of the second gear and the fourth gear can be made substantially constant.

  In the above configuration, when the second frame includes a main frame that supports the second supply tray and a sub-frame that is attached to the main frame, the second gear and the second shaft support are provided. The hole may be provided in the subframe.

  According to this, since the second gear and the fourth gear are supported by the same subframe, the distance between the axes of the second gear and the fourth gear can be made substantially constant.

  Further, in the configuration described above, a part of the sub-frame has an extending portion that extends to an upper side than a lower end of the first frame, and the second shaft support hole is disposed in the extending portion. It may be.

  In the configuration in which the second shaft support hole is disposed above the lower end of the first frame, for example, when the second shaft support hole is formed in the main frame, a part of the main frame protrudes from the lower end of the first frame. As a result, the first frame and the main frame have different shapes, making it impossible to share parts. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the second shaft support hole is disposed above the lower end of the first frame, the second frame support hole is formed in a subframe different from the main frame, so that the first frame and the main frame are formed. It is possible to share parts by making the frame the same shape.

  In the above-described configuration, the main frame has a fifth gear that meshes with the second gear, one of the subframe and the main frame has a positioning boss, and the other has the positioning boss. When the positioning hole to be engaged is provided, the central axis of the positioning boss may be arranged coaxially with the rotation axis of the second gear.

  According to this, the center distance between the second gear and the fifth gear can be made substantially constant.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the second gear intermittently connects the input side gear portion that meshes with the fourth gear, the output side gear portion that meshes with the fifth gear, the input side gear portion, and the output side gear portion. And an electromagnetic clutch to be provided.

  According to this, when it is desired to operate only the first supply unit, the first supply unit can be operated without applying an extra load by disengaging the electromagnetic clutch.

  In the above-described configuration, the apparatus further includes a control device that controls the electromagnetic clutch, and the first supply unit is connected to the first conveyance roller that conveys the sheet and the driving source, and drives the first conveyance roller. The second supply unit includes a second transport roller that transports the sheet, and a second drive mechanism that is coupled to the second gear and drives the second transport roller. The control device may be configured to disengage the electromagnetic clutch when conveying the sheet in the first supply tray.

  According to this, when the sheet in the first supply tray is conveyed, the electromagnetic clutch is disconnected by the control device, so that the second drive mechanism of the second supply unit can be prevented from being driven in vain. The load on the source can be reduced.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the sub-frame is disposed on the other side with a first screw disposed on one side with respect to an imaginary line connecting the rotation axis of the second gear and the rotation axis of the fourth gear. The second screw may be fixed to the main frame.

  According to this, since the one side and the other side of the fourth gear are fixed with the screws, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the fourth gear.

  In the above-described configuration, the sub-frame is disposed on the other side with a third screw disposed on one side with respect to a virtual line connecting the rotation axis of the second gear and the rotation axis of the fourth gear. The fourth screw may be fixed to the main frame.

  According to this, since the one side and the other side of the second gear are fixed with screws, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the second gear.

  In the above-described configuration, the third screw may be the first screw.

  Since the first screw for fixing one side of the fourth gear is also used as a screw for fixing one side of the second gear, the number of parts can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the reduction in gear transmission efficiency and the generation of noise due to gear vibration.

It is a figure which shows the laser printer and paper feeder for expansion which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the frame structure of the paper supply apparatus for expansion. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the frame structure of the paper supply apparatus for expansion. It is a perspective view which shows a 1st support body. It is a perspective view which shows a 2nd support body. It is a side view which shows the mechanism for driving each pick-up roller of the paper supply apparatus for expansion. It is a side view showing each gear and the left frame of the first drive mechanism. It is a side view which shows each gear and the left side frame of a 2nd drive mechanism. They are the perspective view (a) which shows the sheet metal plate which supports a 3rd gear and a 4th gear, and a side view (b). It is the perspective view (a) which looked at the sub-frame from the left-right direction outer side, and the perspective view (b) seen from the left-right direction inner side. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the relationship between a sub-frame and a main frame. It is a side view which shows the state which accumulated each support body to which the drive mechanism was attached. It is a side view which shows the state which assembled | attached each sheet-metal plate with respect to each support body piled up.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, first, the overall configuration of the laser printer will be described, and then the features of the present invention will be described in detail.

  In the following description, directions will be described in the directions shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 1, the right side toward the paper surface is “front side”, the left side toward the paper surface is “rear side”, the front side toward the paper surface is “left side”, and the rear side toward the paper surface is “right side”. . In addition, the vertical direction toward the page is defined as the “vertical direction”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes a housing 2, a paper feeding unit 3 and an image forming unit 4 provided in the housing 2, and a sheet supply unit is provided below the housing 2. An additional sheet feeder 10 as an example of the apparatus is added. A paper discharge tray 21 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 2.

  The paper feed unit 3 includes a paper feed tray 31 that stores paper P as an example of a sheet, and a paper feed mechanism 32 that transports the paper P in the paper feed tray 31 to the image forming unit 4. The paper feed tray 31 is provided at the lower part of the housing 2 and can be attached to and detached from the housing 2 from the front. The paper feed mechanism 32 is driven by a motor M provided in the housing 2.

  The image forming unit 4 is disposed on the paper feed tray 31. The image forming unit 4 includes a scanner unit 5, a process unit 6, and a fixing device 7.

  The scanner unit 5 is provided in an upper part of the housing 2 and includes a laser light emitting unit, a polygon mirror, a lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like (not shown). In the scanner unit 5, a laser beam is irradiated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 by high-speed scanning.

  The process unit 6 mainly includes a photosensitive drum 61, a transfer roller 62, a developing roller 63, and a toner storage unit 64.

  In the process unit 6, the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 61 is uniformly charged by a charger (not shown) and then exposed by high-speed scanning of a laser beam from the scanner unit 5. As a result, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61.

  Next, after the toner in the toner container 64 is carried by the developing roller 63, the toner on the developing roller 63 is supplied to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 61, and a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61. Is done. Thereafter, the paper P is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 62, whereby the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 is transferred onto the paper P.

  The fixing device 7 includes a heating roller 71 and a pressure roller 72 that is disposed to face the heating roller 71 and presses the heating roller 71. In the fixing device 7 configured as described above, the toner transferred onto the paper P is thermally fixed while the paper P passes between the heating roller 71 and the pressure roller 72.

  The paper P thermally fixed by the fixing device 7 is discharged out of the housing 2 by the paper discharge roller 81 and placed on the paper discharge tray 21.

  The extension paper feeder 10 includes a first paper feed unit 100 as an example of a first supply unit, a second paper feed unit 200, an example of a second supply unit, a third paper feed unit 300, and a fourth paper feed. A unit 400 and a control device 11 are provided. The first paper feed unit 100 is disposed at the top of the extension paper feeder 10, the second paper feed unit 200 is disposed second from the top, and the third paper feed unit 300 is third from the top. The fourth paper feed unit 400 is arranged at the lowest position. The first paper feed unit 100 includes a first paper feed tray 110 as an example of a first supply tray, a first support 120 that supports the first paper feed tray 110 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and an example of a drive source. , A first pickup roller 102 and a first downstream roller 103 as an example of a first conveying roller, and a pressure plate 104.

  The first paper feed tray 110 is a tray that accommodates the paper P and is detachable from the first support 120. The first pickup roller 102 and the first downstream roller 103 are rollers for transporting the paper P, and are rotated when the driving force from the motor 101 is transmitted. Further, a separation roller and a separation pad (not shown) are provided between the first pickup roller 102 and the first downstream roller 103, and a plurality of sheets P are overlapped by the first pickup roller 102. When conveyed, the sheet is separated one by one by a separation roller and a separation pad.

  The first pickup roller 102 is a roller that feeds the paper P in the first paper feed tray 110, and a pressure plate 104 whose front end is movable up and down is provided below the first pickup roller 102. The pressure plate 104 can swing between a contact position where the front end of the paper P is raised and brought into contact with the first pickup roller 102 and a separation position where the front end of the paper P is lowered and separated from the first pickup roller 102. Yes. Specifically, the pressure plate 104 is arranged in a separated position when the paper P in the first paper feed tray 110 is not fed, and is configured to swing to the contact position when feeding paper. Yes.

  The first downstream roller 103 is a roller that conveys the paper P toward the paper feed mechanism 32 of the laser printer 1, and conveys the paper P sent from the first pickup roller 102 side upward. It is configured.

  The second paper feed unit 200 is disposed below the first paper feed unit 100, and moves in the front-rear direction through a second paper feed tray 210 as an example of a second supply tray and the second paper feed tray 210. A second support body 220 that can be supported, an electromagnetic clutch 201, a second pickup roller 202 and a second downstream roller 203 as an example of a second transport roller, and a pressure plate 204 are provided.

  The second paper feed tray 210 is a tray that stores the paper P, and is detachable from the second support 220. The second support body 220 is disposed with a space above and below the first support body 120. Specifically, the entire upper surface 220 </ b> U of the second support body 220 is arranged with a space in the vertical direction with respect to the entire lower surface 120 </ b> L of the first support body 120.

  The second pickup roller 202 and the second downstream roller 203 are rollers for transporting the paper P, and rotate when the driving force from the motor 101 is transmitted via the electromagnetic clutch 201. Further, a separation roller and a separation pad (not shown) as described above are provided between the second pickup roller 202 and the second downstream roller 203.

  The pressure plate 204 and the second downstream roller 203 have substantially the same structure as the pressure plate 104 and the first downstream roller 103 described above. That is, the pressure plate 204 can be appropriately moved between the contact position and the separation position described above. The second downstream roller 203 is configured to convey the paper P toward the paper feeding mechanism 32 of the laser printer 1 via the first downstream roller 103 by conveying the paper P upward.

  The third paper feed unit 300 and the fourth paper feed unit 400 have substantially the same structure as the second paper feed unit 200. Specifically, the third paper feed unit 300 is disposed below the second paper feed unit 200, and the third paper feed tray 310 as an example of the second supply tray and the third paper feed tray 310 are arranged in the front-rear direction. A third support 320 that is movably supported, an electromagnetic clutch 301, a third pickup roller 302 and a third downstream roller 303 as an example of a second transport roller, and a pressure plate 304. The fourth paper feed unit 400 is disposed below the third paper feed unit 300, and the fourth paper feed tray 410 as an example of the second supply tray and the fourth paper feed tray 410 are arranged in the front-rear direction. A fourth support body 420 that is movably supported, an electromagnetic clutch 401, a fourth pickup roller 402 and a fourth downstream roller 403 as an example of a second transport roller, and a pressure plate 404 are provided.

  The third pickup roller 302 and the third downstream roller 303 are configured to rotate when the driving force from the motor 101 is transmitted through the two electromagnetic clutches 201 and 301. The fourth pickup roller 402 and the fourth downstream roller 403 are configured to rotate when the driving force from the motor 101 is transmitted through the three electromagnetic clutches 201, 301, 401.

  The entire upper surface 320U of the third support member 320 is disposed with a vertical spacing with respect to the entire lower surface 220L of the second support member 220. In addition, the entire upper surface 420U of the fourth support body 420 is disposed with a space therebetween in the vertical direction with respect to the entire lower surface 320L of the third support body 320.

  The control device 11 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an input / output circuit, and the like, and mainly controls the motor 101 and the electromagnetic clutches 201, 301, and 401. Specifically, when receiving a print command, the control device 11 determines whether or not to perform paper feeding using any of the paper feeding units 100 to 400.

  When the control device 11 determines that no paper is fed from any of the paper feeding units 100 to 400, the motor 101 is turned off and the electromagnetic clutches 201, 301, 401 are turned off, that is, disconnected. Leave the state. If the control device 11 determines that any one of the paper feeding units performs paper feeding, the control device 11 turns on the motor 101 and appropriately turns on / off each electromagnetic clutch 201, 301, 401, that is, connected. -Cut off.

  Specifically, the control device 11 turns on the motor 101 and feeds each of the paper feed units 200 to 200 disposed below the first paper feed unit 100 when the first paper feed unit 100 feeds paper. All 400 electromagnetic clutches 201, 301, 401 are turned OFF. When paper is fed by the second paper feed unit 200, the control device 11 turns on the motor 101 and turns on the electromagnetic clutch 201 of the second paper feed unit 200, so The electromagnetic clutches 301 and 401 arranged below are turned off.

  When feeding paper by the third paper feed unit 300, the control device 11 turns on the motor 101 and turns on the electromagnetic clutches 201 and 301 of the second paper feed unit 200 and the third paper feed unit 300. Then, the electromagnetic clutch 401 disposed below the third paper feeding unit 300 is turned off. When paper is fed by the fourth paper feed unit 400, the control device 11 turns on the motor 101 and turns on all the electromagnetic clutches 201, 301, 401.

  That is, the control device 11 turns on the motor 101 and places it below the predetermined paper feed unit when the paper P is fed by a predetermined paper feed unit among the paper feed units 100 to 400. Turn off the electromagnetic clutch to be turned on, and turn on the other electromagnetic clutches. Note that after the motor 101 and the electromagnetic clutches 201 to 401 are set to the above-described state, the control device 11 appropriately moves the pickup roller corresponding to the predetermined paper feeding unit to the contact position so that the feeding by the predetermined paper feeding unit is performed. Do paper.

  Next, the frame structure of the additional sheet feeder 10 and the mechanism for driving the pickup rollers 102 to 402 will be described in detail. In FIG. 2 to be referred to, a state in which the exterior panel, the control board having the control device 11 and the respective paper feed trays 110 to 410 are removed from the additional paper feeding device 10 is shown. In the following description, the third support member 320 and the fourth support member 420, which have substantially the same structure as the second support member 220, are attached to each component constituting the support member and each component provided on the support member. The maximum digits of the numerical part of the reference numeral are “3” and “4”, respectively, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first support 120, the second support 220, the third support 320, and the fourth support 420 are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The two first support frames 510 and 520 are connected to each other, and the rear portion is connected to the two second support frames 530 and 540.

  The left first support frame 510 and the left second support frame 530 are connected by three connection frames 610, 620, and 630. Further, the right first support frame 520 and the right second support frame 540 are also connected by three connection frames 640, 650, and 660. Further, the lower end portions of the respective support frames 510 to 540 are fixed to the base plate 550 via auxiliary frames 671, 672, 673, 674 (illustration of the auxiliary frame 674 disposed on the right rear is omitted). .

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first support 120 includes a first left frame 121 made of resin as an example of a first frame, a first right frame 122 made of resin, a first upper frame 123 made of metal, 124, first lower frames 125, 126 made of metal, and a first front frame 127 made of resin. The first left frame 121 and the first right frame 122 are connected at the front and rear of the upper surface thereof by first upper frames 123 and 124, respectively, and at the front and rear of the lower surface thereof by first lower frames 125 and 126, respectively. The upper part of the front surface is connected by a first front frame 127.

  The first left frame 121 and the first right frame 122 move on the inner side in the left-right direction on the lower guide rails RL1 and RR1 that movably support the lower surface of the first paper feed tray 110 and the upper surface of the paper feed tray 110. An upper guide rail RR2 (not shown for the first left frame 121) is supported. A first drive mechanism 150 for driving the first pickup roller 102 and the like is provided outside the first left frame 121 in the left-right direction. The first drive mechanism 150 will be described in detail later. In FIG. 4, the gears constituting the first drive mechanism 150 are omitted as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the second support 220 includes a resin-made second left frame 221, a resin-made second right frame 222, and a metal-made second upper frame 223 as examples of the second frame. 224, a metal second lower frame 225, 226, and a resin second front frame 227. The second left frame 221 and the second right frame 222 are connected at the front and rear of the upper surface by the second upper frames 223 and 224, and at the front and rear of the lower surface by the second lower frames 225 and 226. The upper part of the front surface is connected by the second front frame 227.

  The second left frame 221 and the second right frame 222 move on the inner side in the horizontal direction on the lower guide rails RL3 and RR3 that movably support the lower surface of the second paper feed tray 210 and the upper surface of the paper feed tray 110. It has an upper guide rail RR4 (not shown for the second left frame 221) that supports it. A second drive mechanism 250 for driving the second pickup roller 202 and the like is provided outside the second left frame 221 in the left-right direction. The second drive mechanism 250 will be described in detail later.

  The second left frame 221 includes a resin-made second main frame 230 having substantially the same structure as the first left-hand frame 121 of the first support 120, and a resin-made second main frame 230 attached to the second main frame 230. And a sub-frame 240. The second sub frame 240 is provided at an upper portion of the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the second main frame 230, and a part of the second sub frame 240 projects upward from the upper surface 231 of the second main frame 230.

  A part of the second sub-frame 240 protruding in this way is received in a first recess 121B formed on the lower surface 121L of the first left frame 121 of the first support 120 shown in FIG. Yes. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a part of the third subframe 340 (see FIG. 6) that constitutes the third support 320 arranged below the second main frame 230 is also accommodated in the lower surface 232 of the second main frame 230. A second recess 233 is formed.

Next, the structure around the first drive mechanism 150, the second drive mechanism 250, and the second subframe 240 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 6, the first left frame 121 of the first support 120 has a motor 101, a first drive mechanism 150, and an input gear for transmitting the drive force of the motor 101 to the first drive mechanism 150. Gi, a fourth gear G14, a third gear G13, and a first gear G11 are provided. Specifically, the fourth gear G14 has an inner end in the left-right direction provided on the second subframe 240 of the second support 220, but an outer end in the left-right direction has a sheet metal as an example of a third frame described later. The first left frame 121 is provided via a plate 160 (see FIG. 9). The motor 101 is provided below a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the first left frame 121, and the first drive mechanism 150 is provided over a predetermined range obliquely above the front of the first left frame 121.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first drive mechanism 150 includes a plurality of gears 151 to 159 that are appropriately arranged to transmit a drive force to the first pickup roller 102 and the like. Specifically, the first drive mechanism 150 includes a fifth gear 151 disposed substantially above the center of the first left frame 121 in the front-rear direction, a sixth gear 152 that meshes with the front portion of the fifth gear 151, A seventh gear 153 that intermittently meshes with the front portion of the gear 152 in accordance with the paper feed timing, an eighth gear 154 that meshes with the front lower portion of the sixth gear 152, and a ninth gear that meshes with the front portion of the eighth gear 154 155, a tenth gear 156 that meshes with the front portion of the ninth gear 155, an eleventh gear 157 that meshes with the front upper portion of the tenth gear 156, a twelfth gear 158 that meshes with the upper rear portion of the eleventh gear 157, And a thirteenth gear 159 that meshes with the lower portion of the gear 151. Most of the gears 151 to 159 configured in this way are covered with a resin cover C11 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the input gear Gi is provided on the front side of the motor 101 and meshes with a gear portion provided on the output shaft of the motor 101. The fourth gear G14 is provided obliquely below the input gear Gi and meshes with the input gear Gi.

  The third gear G13 is provided on the front side of the fourth gear G14 and meshes with the fourth gear G14. The first gear G11 is provided between the third gear G13 and the eighth gear 154 of the first drive mechanism 150 in the vertical direction, and meshes with the third gear G13 and the eighth gear 154.

  In the second left frame 221 of the second support 220, the second drive mechanism 250, the second gear G 22 for transmitting the driving force of the motor 101 to the second drive mechanism 250, and the second drive mechanism 250 are transmitted. A first gear G21, a third gear G23, and a fourth gear G24 for transmitting the generated driving force to the second gear G32 of the third paper feeding unit 300 are provided. Specifically, the fourth gear G24 has an inner end in the left-right direction provided on the third subframe 340 of the third support 320, and an outer end in the left-right direction has a sheet metal plate 260 (see FIG. 13) described later. Is provided on the second left frame 221.

  The second drive mechanism 250 has substantially the same structure as the first drive mechanism 150. Specifically, the second drive mechanism 250 includes a plurality of gears 251 to 259 (see FIG. 8) arranged as appropriate to transmit the driving force to the second pickup roller 202 and the like, and is inclined forward of the second left frame 221. It is provided over a predetermined range on the upper side.

  The second gear G22 is provided above a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the second left frame 221, more specifically below the fourth gear G14 disposed on the first support 120 side, and meshes with the fourth gear G14. . The second gear G22 is provided obliquely above the fifth gear 251 (see FIG. 8) of the second drive mechanism 250 and meshes with the fifth gear 251. Specifically, the second gear G22 includes an input side gear portion G221 that meshes with the fourth gear G14, an output side gear portion G222 that meshes with the fifth gear 251 and has a smaller diameter than the input side gear portion G221, and an input side gear portion G221. And an electromagnetic clutch 201 for intermittently connecting the output side gear portion G222.

  The first gear G21, the third gear G23, and the fourth gear G24 have substantially the same structure and arrangement as the first gear G11, the third gear G13, and the fourth gear G14, respectively. Specifically, the first gear G <b> 21 is provided below the eighth gear 254 of the second drive mechanism 250 and meshes with the eighth gear 254. The third gear G23 is provided below the first gear G21 and meshes with the first gear G21. The fourth gear G24 is provided after the third gear G23 and meshes with the third gear G23.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 13, the first drive mechanism 150 includes the gears 151 to 159 and the resin cover C11 described above, and a portion of the gears 151 to 159 that protrudes from the resin cover C11 and the first gear. A metal metal cover C12 covering G11 is provided. The second drive mechanism 250 includes the gears 251 to 259 described above, a resin cover C21 that covers most of the gears 251 to 259, and a portion of each gear 251 to 259 that protrudes from the resin cover C21. A metal metal cover C22 that covers the gear G21 and the second gear G22 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the third gear G13 and the fourth gear G14 described above are provided on the sheet metal plate 160 so as to mesh with each other. Specifically, the third gear G13 and the fourth gear G14 are assembled to the sheet metal plate 160 by being rotatably supported by columnar shaft portions G131 and G141 fixed to the sheet metal plate 160.

  The sheet metal plate 160 is disposed so as to cover the third gear G13 and the fourth gear G14 from the outside in the left-right direction, and is folded back from the upper end of the base portion 161 to the long plate-like base portion 161 extending in the front-rear direction. And a flange portion 163 that is bent inward in the left-right direction from the lower end of the base portion 161. The rear side portion of the upper end of the base portion 161 is formed along the front-rear direction, and the front side portion is formed so as to incline toward the front diagonally downward from the rear side portion. A hem portion 162 is formed extending in a substantially horizontal direction.

  The ends of the shaft portions G131 and G141 on the outer side in the left-right direction are fixed to the front portion of the base portion 161. C-shaped snap rings G132 and G142 that prevent the gears G13 and G14 from coming off are provided at the inner ends of the shafts G131 and G141 in the left-right direction.

  In the base portion 161, a shaft portion AP that rotatably supports the input gear Gi and the mounting holes 161 </ b> A to 161 </ b> D for mounting the motor 101 are provided obliquely above the fourth gear G <b> 14. That is, the input gear Gi and the motor 101 are assembled to the sheet metal plate 160 together with the third gear G13 and the fourth gear G14 (see FIG. 13). Similarly, the third gear G23 and the fourth gear G24 provided on the second support 220 are also attached to a sheet metal plate 260 (see FIG. 13) having the same structure as the above-described sheet metal plate 160.

  Further, four fixing holes 161 </ b> E to 161 </ b> H into which screws for fixing the sheet metal plate 160 to the first left frame 121 of the first support 120 are inserted are formed in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the base portion 161. . The shaft portions G131, G141, AP and the mounting holes 161A to 161D are arranged inside the fixing holes 161E to 161H, specifically, inside a quadrangle having the fixing holes 161E to 161H as apexes.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first left frame 121 of the first support body 120 has a first shaft support hole H13 that supports the shaft portion G131 of the third gear G13. The first shaft support hole H13 is a round hole that matches the cylindrical shaft portion G131.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second subframe 240 has a second shaft support hole H24 that supports the shaft portion G141 of the fourth gear G14, and a shaft portion that rotatably supports the second gear G22. And a third shaft support hole H22 that supports (not shown). The third shaft support hole H22 is a round hole that matches the cylindrical shaft portion.

  The second shaft support hole H24 is a long hole extending in the direction from the first shaft support hole H13 side toward the second shaft support hole H24 side. Specifically, the second shaft support hole H24 extends in an arc shape centered on the center of the third shaft support hole H22, that is, the rotation axis of the second gear G22.

  The second subframe 240 includes a front fixing screw S1 as an example of a first screw and a third screw, a first rear fixing screw S2 as an example of a second screw, and a second rear portion as an example of a fourth screw. It is fixed to the second main frame 230 by a fixing screw S4. The front fixing screw S1 is disposed in front of the second shaft support hole H24 and the third shaft support hole H22. In other words, the front fixing screw S1 is disposed on the front side with respect to a virtual line VL connecting the rotation axis of the fourth gear G14 and the rotation axis of the second gear G22. The front fixing screw S1 is disposed between the second shaft support hole H24 and the third shaft support hole H22 in the vertical direction.

  The first rear fixing screw S2 and the second rear fixing screw S4 are disposed on the rear side of the second shaft support hole H24 and the third shaft support hole H22. In other words, the first rear fixing screw S2 and the second rear fixing screw S4 are disposed on the rear side with respect to a virtual line VL connecting the rotation axis of the fourth gear G14 and the rotation axis of the second gear G22. The first rear fixing screw S2 is disposed between the second shaft support hole H24 and the third shaft support hole H22 in the vertical direction. The second rear fixing screw S4 is disposed at a position slightly shifted below the third shaft support hole H22 in the vertical direction.

  The second subframe 240 has a base portion 241 disposed so as to overlap the second main frame 230 when viewed from the left-right direction, and protrudes upward from the base portion 241 so as to protrude from the first left frame of the first support 120. And an extending portion 242 extending to the upper side of the lower surface 121L of 121. The extended portion 242 is formed from the rear end portion of the upper surface 243 of the base portion 241 to the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction, and the second shaft support hole H24 described above is formed at the front end portion. The second shaft support hole H <b> 24 is formed above the lower surface 121 </ b> L of the first left frame 121 by being formed in the extending portion 242.

  The base portion 241 has a shape in which a rectangular front lower portion that is long in the front-rear direction is cut out in an arc shape. A portion of the base portion 241 that is notched in an arc shape has a shape along the outer peripheral surface of the fifth gear 251 and the sixth gear 252 attached to the second main frame 230, and is spaced from the gears 251 and 252. The flank 244 is arranged with a gap.

  The above-described third shaft support hole H22 is formed on the lower front side of the base portion 241. A cylindrical engagement boss 245 that engages with components constituting the electromagnetic clutch 201 (see FIG. 6) is located in a position slightly above the third shaft support hole H22 in the rear portion of the base portion 241. It is formed so as to protrude outward.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, on the upper front side, the upper rear side, and the lower rear side of the base portion 241, the front fixing screw S1, the first rear fixing screw S2, and the second rear fixing described above. A first insertion hole 246A, a second insertion hole 246B, and a third insertion hole 246C through which the screw S4 is inserted are formed. The first insertion hole 246A and the third insertion hole 246C are round holes, whereas the second insertion hole 246B is a long hole extending obliquely downward in the front direction.

  The second insertion hole 246B has a shorter width than the diameter of the first insertion hole 246A. As shown in FIG. 11, a cylindrical stepped boss 234 formed in the second main frame 230 is formed. Is engaged with the front end 234A of the. The stepped boss 234 is formed so as to protrude outward in the left-right direction from the second main frame 230, and the tip end portion 234A has a smaller diameter than the base portion 234B. A mounting hole 234C into which the first rear fixing screw S2 is screwed is formed in the distal end portion 234A.

  The second main frame 230 is formed with a cylindrical mounting boss 235 for fastening the front fixing screw S1 and a cylindrical mounting boss 236 for fastening the second rear fixing screw S4. Yes. The mounting bosses 235 and 236 are formed so as to protrude outward in the left-right direction from the second main frame 230, and mounting holes 235A and 236A into which the screws S1 and S4 are screwed are formed on the front end surfaces thereof. Has been.

  A positioning hole 247 that engages with a cylindrical positioning boss 237 formed in the second main frame 230 is formed between the first insertion hole 246A and the third shaft support hole H22 in the front-rear direction of the base portion 241. Is formed. The positioning boss 237 is formed so as to protrude outward in the left-right direction from the second main frame 230, and engages with the positioning hole 247 while penetrating the positioning hole 247.

  Under the positioning boss 237 of the second main frame 230, a positioning hole 238 for positioning the second subframe 240 with respect to the second main frame 230 is formed together with the positioning boss 237. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a cylindrical positioning boss 248 that engages with the positioning hole 238 of the second main frame 230 is formed in the second subframe 240. The positioning hole 238 is a round hole and may be formed so as to penetrate the second main frame 230 or may be formed in a recessed shape that does not penetrate.

  The positioning boss 248 protrudes inward from the inner surface of the base portion 241 in the left-right direction, and its central axis is arranged coaxially with the center of the third shaft support hole H22, that is, the rotation axis of the second gear G22. Then, the second subframe 240 is moved to the second position by the engagement between the positioning hole 247 and the positioning boss 237, the engagement between the positioning boss 248 and the positioning hole 238, and the engagement between the second insertion hole 246B and the stepped boss 234. The main frame 230 is positioned in the front / rear / up / down direction.

Next, a method for assembling the additional sheet feeder 10 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, first, the first support body 120 is assembled by appropriately connecting the frames 121 to 127 constituting the first support body 120. Thereafter, the first drive mechanism 150 and the first gear G11 are assembled to the first left frame 121 (see also FIG. 12).

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the 2nd support body 220 is assembled by connecting suitably each flame | frame 221-227 which comprises the 2nd support body 220. As shown in FIG. At this time, the work of assembling the second left frame 221, that is, the work of assembling the second subframe 240 to the second main frame 230 may be performed before assembling the other frames 223 to 227 to the second main frame 230. , May be done after assembly. Thereafter, the second gear G22, the second drive mechanism 250, and the first gear G21 are assembled to the second left frame 221 (see also FIG. 12). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the second drive mechanism 250 and the like are assembled to the second main frame 230, and the second gear G22 is attached to the third shaft support hole H22 of the second subframe 240.

  In addition, the third support 320 and the fourth support 420 are assembled by the same method as the method of assembling the second support 220 and the method of assembling the second drive mechanism 250 and the like to the second support 220, and each support The second drive mechanisms 350 and 450 are assembled to the bodies 320 and 420 (see FIG. 12).

  After that, as shown in FIG. 12, the first support 120, the second support 220, the third support 320, and the fourth support 120 to 420 assembled with the components described above are used from the top in use. The support members 420 are stacked in a predetermined interval so that the support members 420 are arranged in this order. In addition, as a method of leaving a predetermined interval, for example, when stacking the supports 120 to 420 from below, a method of sandwiching a spacer that can be removed later between the supports 120 to 420, For example, a method of placing the support bodies 120 to 420 on a predetermined jig with the side surfaces of the support bodies 120 to 420 facing down, for example, the front surface facing down, and arranging the support bodies 120 to 420 side by side so as to have a predetermined distance from each other.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, each support body 120-420 is fixed to each support | pillar frame 510-540, positioning with respect to each support | pillar frame 510-540. Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the sheet metal plate 160 to which the motor 101, the input gear Gi, the third gear G <b> 13, and the fourth gear G <b> 14 are attached is attached to the first left frame 121 of the first support 120.

  At this time, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the shaft portion G131 of the third gear G13 is inserted into the first shaft support hole H13 of the first left frame 121, and the shaft portion G141 of the fourth gear G14 is inserted into the second shaft. It is inserted into the second shaft support hole H24 of the subframe 240. Similarly, the shaft portion AP of the input gear Gi is also inserted into the shaft support hole HA of the first left frame 121.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the sheet metal plate 260 to which the third gear G <b> 23 and the fourth gear G <b> 24 are attached is attached to the second left frame 221 of the second support body 220. At this time, in the same manner as described above, the shaft portions (not shown) of the third gear G23 and the fourth gear G24 assembled to the sheet metal plate 260 are used as the first shaft of the second left frame 221 of the second support 220. The support holes and the second shaft support holes of the third subframe 340 of the third support 320 are respectively inserted. Then, the mounting operation of the sheet metal plate 260 is similarly performed in the mounting operation of the sheet metal plate 360 with respect to the second left frame 221 of the third support 320.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 2, the support frames 510 to 540 are connected by the connection frames 610 to 660, the auxiliary frames 671 to 674, and the base plate 550. Subsequently, after attaching the control board, the exterior panel, and the like, the sheet feeding trays 110 to 410 are mounted on the supports 120 to 420, whereby the assembling work of the additional sheet feeding device 10 is completed.

According to the above, the following effects can be obtained in the present embodiment.
Since the first gear G11 on the first paper feed unit 100 side and the second gear G22 on the second paper feed unit 200 side are connected by the third gear G13 and the fourth gear G14 supported by the sheet metal plate 160, It is possible to suppress the transmission efficiency of each of the gears G11 to G14 from being reduced by the vibration applied from the laser printer 1 to the additional sheet feeding device 10 and the generation of noise due to the vibration of each of the gears G11 to G14.

  Since the second shaft support hole H24 is a long hole, an error in the distance between the first shaft support hole H13 and the second shaft support hole H24 generated by being formed in the different frames 121 and 240 is long. Can be absorbed by holes. Furthermore, since the inter-axis distance LA (see FIG. 13) between the third gear G13 and the fourth gear G14 is defined by the sheet metal plate 160, the inter-axis distance LA between the third gear G13 and the fourth gear G14 is made substantially constant. Can do.

  Since the second shaft support hole H24 is a long hole extending in an arc shape with the rotation axis of the second gear G22 as the center, the distance between the axes of the second gear G22 and the fourth gear G14 can be made substantially constant.

  Since the second gear G22 and the fourth gear G14 are supported by the second subframe 240, the distance between the axes of the second gear G22 and the fourth gear G14 can be made substantially constant.

  In the configuration in which the second shaft support hole H24 is disposed above the lower end of the first left frame 121 of the first support 120, the second shaft support hole H24 is a second subframe different from the second main frame 230. Since the first left frame 121 and the second main frame 230 of the first support 120 are formed in the same shape, the parts can be shared.

  Since the central axis of the positioning boss 248 of the second subframe 240 is arranged coaxially with the rotation axis of the second gear G22, the second gear G22 provided in the second subframe 240 and the second main frame 230 The inter-axis distance with the provided fifth gear 251 can be made substantially constant.

  When the paper P is fed by a predetermined paper feeding unit among the paper feeding units 100 to 400, the electromagnetic clutch disposed below the predetermined paper feeding unit is turned off. It can suppress that the drive mechanism arrange | positioned under is uselessly, and the load concerning the motor 101 can be reduced.

  The second subframe 240 is attached to the second main frame 230 by a front fixing screw S1 disposed on the front side with respect to the rotation axis of the fourth gear G14 and a first rear fixing screw S2 disposed on the rear side. Since it is fixed, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the fourth gear G14.

  The second subframe 240 is attached to the second main frame 230 by a front fixing screw S1 disposed on the front side with respect to the rotation axis of the second gear G22 and a second rear fixing screw S4 disposed on the rear side. Since it is fixed, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the second gear G22.

  Since the screw for fixing the front side of the fourth gear G14 and the screw for fixing the front side of the second gear G22 are the common front fixing screw S1, the number of parts can be reduced.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can utilize with various forms so that it may illustrate below.
In the above embodiment, the fourth gear G14 is directly connected to the third gear G13. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the third frame is provided with another gear other than the third gear and the fourth gear. Another gear may be arranged between the third gear and the fourth gear, and the fourth gear may be indirectly connected to the third gear via the other gear.

  In the above embodiment, the shaft portions G131 and G141 of the third gear G13 and the fourth gear G14 are fixed to the sheet metal plate 160, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only the shaft portion of the fourth gear whose one end is supported by the second shaft support hole which is a long hole is fixed to the sheet metal plate, and the third gear whose one end is supported by the first shaft support hole which is a round hole. It is good also as a structure which engages the other end of a shaft part with the hole formed in the sheet metal plate. Even in this case, the distance between the third gear and the fourth gear can be defined by the sheet metal plate.

  In the above-described embodiment, the second shaft support hole H24 is a long hole. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each shaft support hole on the first support 120 side (the first shaft support hole H13 and the input gear Gi) The corresponding shaft support hole) may be a long hole, and the second shaft support hole H24 on the second subframe 240 side may be a round hole. In this case, the first shaft support hole H13 may be a long hole extending in an arc shape around the rotation axis of the first gear G11.

  In the above embodiment, the second left frame 221 as the second frame is configured by the second main frame 230 and the second subframe 240, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the second frame is the above-mentioned embodiment. The second main frame 230 and the second sub frame 240 according to the embodiment may be integrally formed.

  In the embodiment, the positioning hole 238 is formed in the second main frame 230 and the positioning boss 248 is formed in the second subframe 240. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the positioning boss is formed in the main frame. A positioning hole may be formed in the subframe.

  In the embodiment, the paper P such as thick paper, postcard, and thin paper is exemplified as an example of the sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, an OHP sheet.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the additional paper feeding device 10 that is added to the laser printer 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be added to other image forming apparatuses, for example, printers using LEDs. The present invention may be applied to an additional sheet feeding device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Additional paper feeder 100 1st paper feed unit 101 Motor 110 1st paper feed tray 121 Left side frame 160 Sheet metal plate 200 2nd paper feed unit 210 2nd paper feed tray 221 Left side frame G11 1st gear G13 3rd gear G14 4th gear G22 2nd gear H13 1st shaft support hole H24 2nd shaft support hole P Paper

Claims (10)

A first supply tray for storing sheets; a first frame for movably supporting the first supply tray; a first gear provided in the first frame; and a drive source for driving the first gear. A first supply unit;
A second supply tray that is disposed below the first supply unit and that accommodates sheets; a second frame that movably supports the second supply tray; and a second gear that is provided on the second frame. A second supply unit comprising:
A third frame that meshes with the first gear, and a third frame that is connected directly or indirectly to the third gear and that meshes with the second gear and that defines a predetermined inter-axis distance; With
The first frame has a first shaft support hole that supports a shaft portion of the third gear,
The second frame has a second shaft support hole for supporting the shaft portion of the fourth gear,
One of the first shaft support hole and the second shaft support hole is a long hole extending in the direction from the first shaft support hole side to the second shaft support hole side, and the other is a round hole. A sheet feeding apparatus characterized by the above. The first shaft support hole is a round hole,
2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second shaft support hole is a long hole and extends in an arc shape centering on a rotation axis of the second gear. The second frame includes a main frame that supports the second supply tray, and a sub frame that is attached to the main frame.
The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second gear and the second shaft support hole are provided in the sub-frame. A part of the sub-frame has an extending portion that extends to an upper side than a lower end of the first frame,
The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second shaft support hole is disposed in the extending portion. The main frame has a fifth gear meshing with the second gear;
One of the subframe and the main frame has a positioning boss, and the other has a positioning hole with which the positioning boss is engaged,
5. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a central axis of the positioning boss is disposed coaxially with a rotation axis of the second gear.   The second gear includes an input side gear portion that meshes with the fourth gear, an output side gear portion that meshes with the fifth gear, and an electromagnetic clutch that intermittently connects the input side gear portion and the output side gear portion. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein A control device for controlling the electromagnetic clutch;
The first supply unit includes a first conveyance roller that conveys a sheet, and a first drive mechanism that is connected to the drive source and drives the first conveyance roller,
The second supply unit includes a second conveyance roller that conveys a sheet, and a second drive mechanism that is connected to the second gear and drives the second conveyance roller,
The sheet supply device according to claim 6, wherein the control device disengages the electromagnetic clutch when the sheet in the first supply tray is conveyed.   The sub-frame includes a first screw disposed on one side with respect to an imaginary line connecting the rotation axis of the second gear and the rotation axis of the fourth gear, and a second screw disposed on the other side. The sheet supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sheet supply apparatus is fixed to the main frame.   The sub-frame includes a third screw disposed on one side with respect to an imaginary line connecting the rotation axis of the second gear and the rotation axis of the fourth gear, and a fourth screw disposed on the other side. The sheet feeding device according to claim 8, wherein the sheet feeding device is fixed to the main frame.   The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the third screw is the first screw.

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