JP2017206353A - Sheet feeding device and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the rear side and upper side of a sheet feeding tray from being opened and prevent a user from accessing sheets in the sheet feeding tray.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding part 2 includes: a sheet feeding tray 60 which has a locking mechanism 80, is movable with respect to a device body 1M and is loaded with a bundle of sheets P; and an external cover 73 which is provided on the rear side of the sheet feeding tray 60 in an openable/closable manner with rotation via a hinge 74 with respect to the device body 1M. The external cover 73 includes a stopper component 65 for preventing opening/closing of the external cover 73 by bringing a tray contact part 67 into contact with a side wall 62 of the sheet feeding tray 60 when rotating with respect to the device body 1M.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device including a sheet feeding tray having a locking mechanism and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses have been installed in various places, and security has been regarded as important. In particular, the paper feed tray is required to have a locking mechanism so that the paper stacked on the paper feed tray in the image forming apparatus is accessed and not stolen. As such a paper feed tray locking mechanism, a locking mechanism using a cylinder lock, which is a general locking mechanism, is already known (for example, Patent Document 1).

  The paper feed tray 1 described in Patent Document 1 moves according to the rotation of the cylinder portion 7 and the key inserted in the key insertion surface 7a of the cylinder portion 7 so that the hook 4 on the paper feed tray side is moved to the image forming apparatus. And a cam 8 fixed in contact with the concave portion 5 on the main body side. By turning the key so that the hook 4 is fitted in the recess 5, the paper feed tray 1 can no longer slide, the paper feed tray 1 can be locked, and the user can easily feed the paper feed tray. Thus, it becomes impossible to access the paper loaded in 1.

  However, locking in the paper feed tray described in Patent Document 1 is limited to locking from the front of the paper feed tray, but a configuration in which an opening / closing cover or the like provided behind or above the paper feed tray is opened. There is also a paper feed tray. In such a case, there is a problem that the user can access the paper in the paper feed tray from behind or above the paper feed tray.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and a paper feeding device in which a user cannot access the paper in the paper feeding tray even when the rear or upper side of the paper feeding tray is opened, and the same An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus including the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, a sheet feeding device according to the present invention has a locking mechanism and is movable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. A sheet feeding tray on which a bundle of sheets is stacked; A sheet feeding apparatus including an exterior cover that can be opened and closed by being rotated with respect to the image forming apparatus main body; and when the outer cover is rotated with respect to the image forming apparatus main body And a stopper part that contacts the paper feed tray.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the user from accessing the paper in the paper feed tray by opening the rear and upper sides of the paper feed tray.

1 is a front sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the locking mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which closed the exterior cover in the step before attaching a stopper component to the paper feeder which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an exterior cover is opened in a stage before attaching a stopper component to the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a back cover is opened in a stage before attaching a stopper component to the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a stopper component is attached to the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a stopper part is attached to the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention and a back cover is opened.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 1M having a paper feed section 2, an image forming section 3, and an image reading apparatus 4, and an automatic document arranged on the apparatus main body 1M. This is a digital multi-function machine including a transport device (ADF) 5. The paper feeding unit 2 constitutes a paper feeding device according to the present invention. The apparatus main body 1M constitutes an image forming apparatus main body according to the present invention. In the figure, the x direction is the left and right direction, the positive direction side in the y direction is the front side, the negative direction side in the y direction is the rear side, and the positive direction side in the z direction is the upper side.

  The paper feed unit 2 includes a plurality of paper feed trays 60A, 60B, and 60C, each of which can store cut sheet-like paper P in a stacked state. In each of the paper feed trays 60A, 60B, 60C, for example, paper P (for example, white paper) having a sheet size selected in advance from a plurality of sheet sizes is accommodated in the vertical or horizontal paper feeding direction. Yes. Hereinafter, each of the paper feed trays 60A, 60B, and 60C is also collectively referred to as a paper feed tray 60.

  The paper feed unit 2 includes paper feed mechanisms 22A, 22B, and 22C that sequentially pick up and feed the paper P stored in the paper feed trays 60A, 60B, and 60C from the respective uppermost layers. The paper feeding unit 2 is further provided with a roller group 23 including a plurality of rollers. With these, the paper P fed from each of the paper feeding mechanisms 22A, 22B, and 22C is supplied to the predetermined unit of the image forming unit 3. A paper feed path 24 for transporting to the image forming position is formed.

  The image forming unit 3 includes an exposure device 31, photosensitive drums 32K, 32Y, 32M, and 32C, and a developing device filled with black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) toners. 33K, 33Y, 33M, and 33C. The image forming unit 3 includes a primary transfer unit 34, a secondary transfer unit 35, and a fixing unit 36.

  For example, the exposure device 31 generates the laser light L for exposure of each color based on the image read by the image reading device 4. Further, the exposure device 31 exposes the photosensitive drums 32K, 32Y, 32M, and 32C of the respective colors with laser light, and the static layers of the respective colors corresponding to the read images on the surface layer portions of the photosensitive drums 32K, 32Y, 32M, and 32C. An electrostatic latent image is formed.

  The developing devices 33K, 33Y, 33M, and 33C supply the thin-layer toner to the corresponding photosensitive drums 32K, 32Y, 32M, and 32C, respectively, and develop the electrostatic latent image with the toner. Is supposed to do.

  The image forming unit 3 primarily transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drums 32K, 32Y, 32M, and 32C to the primary transfer unit 34, and the toner image is transferred to the secondary transfer unit 35 adjacent to the primary transfer unit 34. Secondary transfer is performed on the paper P. The image forming unit 3 heats and pressurizes the toner image secondarily transferred onto the paper P by the fixing unit 36 to melt the toner image, and fixes and records the color image on the paper P.

  The image forming unit 3 includes a transport path 39A that transports the paper P carried from the paper feed unit 2 through the paper feed path 24 to the secondary transfer unit 35 side. In the transport path 39A, first, the transport timing and transport speed of the paper P are adjusted by the registration roller pair 37. The paper P passes through the secondary transfer unit 35 and the fixing unit 36 in synchronization with the belt speed at the primary transfer unit 34 and the secondary transfer unit 35, and is then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 38. It has become.

  The image forming section 3 feeds the paper P placed on the manual feed tray 25 provided on the outer side surface of the apparatus main body 1M to the transport path 39A on the upstream side of the registration roller pair 37. 39B is also included.

  Below the secondary transfer unit 35 and the fixing unit 36, a switchback conveyance path 39C and a reverse conveyance path 39D each including a plurality of conveyance rollers and conveyance guides are disposed.

  When forming an image on both sides of the paper P, the switchback conveyance path 39C causes the paper P, on which an image is fixed on one side, to enter from one end and then moves backward (moves in a direction opposite to that at the time of entry). Switchback conveyance is performed.

  The reverse conveyance path 39D reverses the front and back of the paper P that is switched back by the switchback conveyance path 39C, and feeds the paper P again to the registration roller pair 37.

  The sheet P that has been subjected to the image fixing process on one side by the switchback conveyance path 39C and the reverse conveyance path 39D is reversed in its forward and reverse directions, and enters the secondary transfer nip again. The paper P is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 38 after the secondary transfer processing and fixing processing of the image are performed on the other side.

  The automatic document feeder 5 is connected to the upper part of the apparatus main body 1M of the image forming apparatus 1 through a hinge mechanism so as to be opened and closed. The automatic document feeder 5 is rotated between an open position where the sheet document reading glass 43 and the contact glass 42 are exposed in the image reading device 4 and a closed position where the sheet document reading glass 43 and the contact glass 42 are covered. It is like that.

  The automatic document feeder 5 is configured as a sheet-through type automatic document feeder. The automatic document feeder 5 includes a document table 51 serving as a document placement table, a document transport unit 52 including various rollers, guide members, and the like, and a document discharge tray 53 on which sheets P after image reading are stacked. .

  The locking mechanism 80 includes a cylinder portion 81, a cam 82, and a recess 83 provided in the apparatus main body 1M. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder portion 81 is provided on the front side of the paper feed tray 60. The user can lock the paper feed tray 60 by inserting a key into the cylinder portion 81 and rotating the key.

  The locking mechanism 80 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3A, when a key is inserted into the cylinder portion 81 and rotated while the paper feed tray 60 is unlocked, the cam 82 rotates in conjunction with it. The cam 82 engages with a groove-like recess 83 provided in the apparatus main body 1M, whereby the paper feed tray 60 is locked as shown in FIG. 3B, and the paper feed tray 60 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 1M. I can't do that.

  In the present embodiment, the locking mechanism is a type in which the cam 82 is rotated by a cylinder lock. However, for example, a locking mechanism in which a rectangular parallelepiped latch is moved may be used. Further, a locking mechanism other than the cylinder lock may be used.

  4 and 5 show the paper feed tray 60 in a state before the stopper parts are attached to the exterior cover 73. FIG.

  The paper feed tray 60 includes a front wall 61, a side wall 62, and a bottom plate 63. An exterior cover 73 provided in the apparatus main body 1M is disposed behind the paper feed tray 60, and partitions the area where the paper P is stacked together with the front wall 61, the side wall 62, and the bottom plate 63.

  The front wall 61 is provided with the locking mechanism 80 and the handle 64 described above. An end fence guide rail 72 extending in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body 1M is provided in the center of the bottom plate 63 in the lateral direction. The end fence guide 71 is movable along the end fence guide rail 72. An end fence 70 is provided perpendicularly to the bottom plate 63 at the rear end of the end fence guide 71 so that the rear end position of the paper P is regulated.

  The exterior cover 73 is provided behind the paper feed tray 60 so as to be openable and closable by being rotated via a hinge 74 with respect to the apparatus main body 1M. When the paper P is, for example, A4 size (length 297 mm) and the paper P fits in the length of the paper feed tray 60, the exterior cover 73 attached to the apparatus main body 1M via the hinge 74 is freely rotatable. 4 is in a closed state as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the paper P is Legal (paper length 355 mm) and the paper P exceeds the length in the front-rear direction of the paper feed tray 60, the end fence guide 71 is extended rearward along the end fence guide rail 72. As a result, the end fence 70 rotates the exterior cover 73, pushes it up, and opens as shown in FIG. The size of the paper P on which the end fence guide 71 is extended is not limited to the above example, and varies depending on the size of the paper feed tray 60.

  Therefore, if the paper feed tray 60 is pulled forward in the state shown in FIG. 5, the end fence guide 71 returns to the original position, so that the exterior cover 73 is closed. If the paper feed tray 60 is stored in the apparatus main body 1M, the exterior cover is closed. 73 opens. With this configuration, it is possible to feed paper P that exceeds the length of the paper feed tray 60 in the front-rear direction.

  In the state shown in FIG. 5, by providing the paper feed tray 60 with the locking mechanism 80, it is possible to prevent the paper feed tray 60 from being pulled forward, but the exterior cover 73 is open and a malicious third party has opened. It is possible to access and steal the paper P stacked on the paper feed tray 60 from the gap between the exterior cover 73 and the paper feed tray 60.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the back cover 75 provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 1M is opened. The back cover 75 is provided directly above the exterior cover 73 and is rotatable downward with respect to the apparatus main body 1M via a hinge 76. The back cover 75 is provided so as to be openable and closable so that the paper P that has jammed in the middle of the paper feed path 24 during conveyance can be removed. In the present embodiment, the back cover 75 is provided on the back side of the apparatus main body 1M, but may be provided on the side surface side.

  From the viewpoint of reducing the size of the machine and reducing the number of parts, if no partition is provided between the paper feed tray 60 and the upper side of the paper feed tray 60, the user can open the back cover 75 as shown in FIG. It becomes possible to access and steal the paper P loaded on the paper feed tray 60.

  FIG. 7 shows the paper feed unit 2 according to the present embodiment, and shows the paper feed tray 60 with the stopper component 65 attached to the exterior cover 73. In order to further improve the locking function in the paper feed tray 60 provided with a locking mechanism like the paper feed unit 2 according to the present embodiment, the stopper component 65 is more specifically from the rear or the upper side of the paper feed tray 60. It is provided to prevent access to the paper P.

  The stopper component 65 is attached to the exterior cover 73 and has a stopper component main body 66 and a tray contact portion 67. The stopper part main body 66 is a rectangular parallelepiped part, and the upper part is formed as an eaves part 68. The tray contact portion 67 is a plate-like portion that protrudes perpendicularly to the front side of the apparatus main body 1M with respect to the stopper component main body 66.

  As shown in FIG. 7, even if the exterior cover 73 is intentionally opened, the exterior cover 73 cannot be opened by the tray contact portions 67 coming into contact with the upper surfaces of the side walls 62 at both ends of the sheet feed tray 60. The malicious user accesses the inside of the paper feed tray 60 from behind and the paper P is not stolen.

  When the paper feed tray 60 is housed in the apparatus main body 1M, the outer cover 73 is closed and the lower end of the tray contact portion 67 and the upper surface of the side wall 62 are closed so that the feed tray 60 can be smoothly slid without being caught by the tray contact portion 67. It is desirable to provide a gap of about several mm (for example, 1 to 10 mm) at the contact portion. As a result, the exterior cover 73 opens slightly, but there is no problem because there is no gap that allows the user to insert a hand from between the paper feed tray 60 and the exterior cover 73 to steal the paper P.

  Further, since the eaves portion 68 on the upper surface of the stopper component main body 66 functions as an eave, even if the back cover 75 for removing the jammed paper is opened, unlike the case shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. The eaves portion 68 covers the upper part on the rear side of the paper feed tray 60. Therefore, even when the back cover 75 is opened, when the user inserts his / her hand through the opening between the back cover 75 and the apparatus main body 1M, the upper portion of the paper feed tray 60 is covered. The paper P is not stolen from above.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the paper feeding unit 2 as a paper feeding device. The paper feed unit 2 includes a locking mechanism 80 and is movable with respect to the apparatus main body 1M. A paper feed tray 60 on which a bundle of sheets P is stacked, and behind the paper feed tray 60 with respect to the apparatus main body 1M. And an exterior cover 73 that can be opened and closed by being rotated via a hinge 74, and the exterior cover 73 is in contact with the side wall 62 of the paper feed tray 60 when contacting the apparatus main body 1M. A stopper part 65 that prevents the exterior cover 73 from being opened and closed by the contact of the portion 67 is provided.

  This configuration prevents the tray contact portion 67 of the stopper component 65 from coming into contact with the side wall 62 and opening the exterior cover 73 even when attempting to open the exterior cover 73 at the rear of the paper feed tray 60. Can not. Therefore, the rear side of the paper feed tray 60 is opened, and the user can be prevented from accessing the paper P in the paper feed tray 60.

  Further, with the exterior cover 73 closed, a gap having a predetermined interval may be provided between the lower end of the tray contact portion 67 of the stopper component 65 and the upper surface of the side wall 62 of the paper feed tray 60.

  With this configuration, the rear side of the paper feed tray 60 is opened, and the user can be prevented from accessing the paper P in the paper feed tray 60, and the paper feed tray 60 can be smoothly stored in the apparatus main body 1M.

  Further, an openable / closable back cover 75 for removing the paper P jammed in the apparatus main body 1M is provided immediately above the exterior cover 73, and the stopper part 65 is formed by providing a protuberance 68 on the top surface. The upper part on the rear side of the paper feed tray 60 may be covered.

  With this configuration, even if the back cover 75 is opened, the eaves 68 of the stopper component 65 covers the upper part on the rear side of the paper feed tray 60. Therefore, the eaves portion 68 interferes with the user trying to access the paper P from above the paper feed tray 60 through the opening between the back cover 75 and the apparatus main body 1M, and the user places the paper P in the paper feed tray 60. Can be prevented from accessing.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, the rear and upper sides of the paper feed tray are opened to prevent the user from accessing the paper in the paper feed tray, which is useful for the paper feed device and the image forming apparatus in general.

1 image forming apparatus 1M apparatus main body (image forming apparatus main body)
2 Paper feeder (paper feeder)
60, 60A, 60B, 60C Paper feed tray 62 Side wall 65 Stopper part 66 Stopper part body 67 Tray contact part (stopper part)
68 Cover portion 73 Exterior cover 75 Back cover 80 Locking mechanism P Paper

JP 2009-120399 A

Claims (4)

A paper feed tray having a locking mechanism, movable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and stacking a bundle of paper;
A sheet feeding device including an exterior cover provided at the rear of the sheet feeding tray so as to be openable and closable by rotating with respect to the image forming apparatus main body;
The sheet feeding apparatus, wherein the exterior cover includes a stopper component that contacts the sheet feeding tray when the exterior cover is rotated with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.   2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a gap having a predetermined interval is provided between a lower end of the stopper component and an upper surface of a side wall of the sheet feeding tray in a state where the exterior cover is closed. . An openable back cover for removing paper jammed in the image forming apparatus main body immediately above the exterior cover,
3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the stopper part is formed by providing an eaves portion on an upper surface to cover an upper part on a rear side of the sheet feeding tray. 4.   An image forming apparatus comprising the paper feeding device according to claim 1.

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