JP2502398B2 - Feeder for multiple size sheets - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet of any size when a sheet such as a single-cut original document or recording paper is used in a plurality of sizes in a copying machine or the like. The present invention relates to a multi-size sheet feeder for separating and feeding the sheets one by one from a stacked state.

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of single-sheet originals are stacked, the originals are separated and fed one by one from the upper side or the lower side in the stacking direction, and the originals are returned to the stacked position after reading the originals from the lower side or the upper side. In a copier equipped with an automatic document feeder (RDH), a sheet feeder such as the above-described document feeder or a sheet feeder for feeding pre-stacked recording sheets separated one by one is used. I have. Further, in various printing devices and printing devices, similarly, a device that separates and feeds recording sheets that are stacked in advance is used.
In such a feeding apparatus, it is necessary to separate the stacked sheets one by one. Therefore, a separation method using an air flow, a separation method using a separation claw, and a reverse rotation in the sheet feeding direction. A method of separating sheets by using rollers is known.

Among these, as an example of a prior art of a method of separating sheets by using an air flow, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-78932 "Sheet feeding device"
, A similar configuration is described in U.S. Pat.
4 (Japanese Patent Publication Sho 55-19857). Its composition is the 48th
A side view is shown in the figure and a plan view is shown in FIG. This configuration is, for example, in the RDH type copying machine, the sheet feeding device 1 for separating and feeding the stacked recording sheets one by one. The paper feeding device 1 includes a support tray 3 on which recording papers 2 are stacked.

A cutout 4 is formed on the downstream side of the support tray 3 in the feeding direction A1 of the recording paper 2 and near the widthwise center of the support tray 3 that intersects the feeding direction A1 and is arranged below the support tray 3. The feeding belt 7 which is stretched around a pair of rotating rollers 5 and 6 and in which a large number of through holes are formed is exposed at the notch 4. An intake duct 8 is provided between the rotating rollers 5 and 6 so as to face the notch 4 via a feeding belt 7, and the recording paper 2 on the support tray 3 is vacuum-adsorbed to the feeding belt 7 to supply the recording paper 2. The sheet is fed in the feeding direction A1 by the traveling drive of the feeding belt 7.

On the other hand, a plurality of recording papers 2 on the support tray 3 may be adsorbed and fed by the feeding belt 7 at the same time, and therefore, the air injection duct 9 is located above the support tray 3 on the downstream side in the feeding direction A1. And the nozzles 10b to 10e parallel to the feeding direction A1.
And a plurality of nozzles 10a, 10f directed toward the center in the width direction.
Are provided in communication with each other. On the other hand, the support tray 3
As shown in FIG. 50, from the downstream side to the upstream side in the feeding direction A1, the base portion 14 having an expanded shape and the side wing portions formed obliquely upward from both widthwise side portions of the base portion 14 are formed.
It has 15, 16 and.

The air injection duct 9 and the support tray 3 of this conventional example are arranged as shown in FIG. 48, and the nozzles 10a to 10f concentrate the planar air flow near the center position of the support tray 3 in the width direction. The state of distribution of the air flow by the air injection duct 9 is shown by hatching in FIG.

This conventional example favorably separates the recording paper 2 when the recording paper 2 to be used has a relatively small size or a weighing amount is relatively large.

However, good separation may not be performed on a relatively large-sized recording paper or a recording paper whose weighing is small and thus the so-called paper stiffness is weak. That is, in this conventional example, by concentrating the air flow near the center position in the width direction of the support tray 3, the air flow expands vertically in the vicinity of the center position to realize the action of separating the recording paper. ing. On the other hand, in the case of a large-size recording paper or a recording paper having a small
Not only the lowermost recording paper but also a plurality of recording papers having a relatively large deflection amount in the concave portion 19 formed by 14 and the side wing portions 15 and 16 are deformed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the concave portion. And
It is difficult to form a gap for the air flow between the recording papers,
Therefore, there are cases where the separation of the recording paper cannot be performed well.

Also, the area of the separation area 17 in which the air from the air injection duct 9 enters between the recording papers and is separated from each other by hatching is the non-separation area where the recording papers are in close contact with each other. The so-called double feed occurs due to the frictional force in the non-separable area 18 when the lowermost recording sheet is conveyed while being vacuum-sucked to the conveyor belt 7 as compared with the area of the area 18. There are cases. At this time, in order to enlarge the separation region 17, the nozzles 10a and 10f in the air injection duct 9 are further outwardly directed in the width direction so that the nozzles 10g and 10h shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When provided, the spacing L11 shown in FIG. 49 of the nozzles 10g, 10h
With respect to the recording paper 2 having a width W1 smaller than that, the airflows from the nozzles 10g and 10h collide with the widthwise both ends 2a and 2b of the recording paper 2, and the end portions 2a and 2b spread. It will end up following you. In this case, the recording papers 2 stacked in the paper feeding device 1
In some cases, the stacking state of the above may be disturbed, and the above-mentioned double feeding and feeding failure may occur. Further, when the recording paper 2 used is of a relatively small size, the separating ability due to the air flow concentrated by the nozzles 10a to 10f becomes excessive, and the recording paper of the small size scatters in the paper feeding device 1. It may end up.

Therefore, in the above-described conventional example, when the recording paper to be used is a predetermined limited type, the recording paper has a relatively good separation ability, but has a size as large as possible. In terms of versatility for effectively separating recording paper, it is assumed that poor separation or paper feeding failure may occur, as described above. There is a demand for a versatile sheet feeding apparatus having a good separating ability corresponding to the recording paper of (1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above technical problems and to provide an improved multi-size sheet feeder having good separation and feeding capability for a wide variety of sheet sizes.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a placing plate on which a plurality of sheets are stacked and placed, and a lowermost or uppermost sheet among the stacked sheets arranged below or above the sheets. And a sheet that is arranged on the downstream side of the mounting plate in the feeding direction, and a plurality of air flows in the width direction of the mounting plate that are directed toward the feeding unit and are stacked. Of the air flow forming means for injecting toward the end portion of the air flow, and of the plurality of air flows arranged in the width direction of the mounting plate, controlling the flow rate of the air flow toward the outside And a means for feeding sheets of a plurality of sizes.

Further, in the present invention, the air flow forming means includes a nozzle member for injecting air from one or a plurality of nozzle holes provided for each air flow, and the air flow rate control means is a valve for opening and closing the nozzle hole. It is characterized by comprising a body and an opening / closing drive means for driving and displacing the valve body to open / close the nozzle hole.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the opening / closing drive means includes: a plunger connected to the valve body; and an electromagnetic solenoid for driving the plunger.

Further, according to the present invention, a means for detecting the size of the sheets to be stacked in the width direction, an electromagnetic solenoid is controlled in response to an output of the detecting means, and a nozzle hole is formed in the valve body depending on the size of the width of the sheet. And a control unit that opens and closes each of them.

Further, the present invention, in order to align the side edges of the sheets stacked on the mounting plate, a side edge regulating member is provided so as to be movable in the width direction, and the opening / closing drive means is interlocked with the side edge regulating member, It is characterized in that the nozzle hole is opened and closed by the valve body according to the size of the seat width.

Further, according to the present invention, a side end regulating member is provided so as to be movable in the width direction in order to align the side ends of the sheets stacked on the mounting plate, and the air flow forming means is provided for each of the air flows. Alternatively, a nozzle member for injecting air from a plurality of nozzle holes is provided, and the side end regulating member is provided with a blocking piece that faces the exit end of the nozzle hole when the width of the sheet is small.

Further, according to the present invention, the mounting plate is configured symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry passing through the center position in the width direction, and the air flow forming means injects an air flow from each position symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry. The flow rate control means of (1) simultaneously controls the flow rates of the airflows on both sides in the width direction of the airflow.

In the present invention, the mounting plate includes a substantially horizontal center mounting portion,
It has a side placement part extending from the central placement part to both sides in the width direction, and the end of the central placement part on the downstream side in the feeding direction is closer to the end of the side placement part on the downstream side in the feeding direction. Also on the upstream side in the feeding direction, a cutout is formed in the mounting plate, and the feed means for feeding the bottommost sheet of the stacked sheets faces the cutout, The flow forming means is arranged on both sides in the width direction and outside in the width direction of the first air flow, which is jetted toward the vicinity of the boundary between the center mounting portion and the side mounting portion of the mounting plate. And a second air flow injected toward the outside, and the air flow rate control means controls the flow rate of the second air flow.

Further, according to the present invention, the feeding means is provided above the stacked sheets, and means for injecting the sheet levitation air is provided toward the vicinity of the downstream end of the stacked sheets in the feeding direction. Characterize.

Effect According to the present invention, of the plurality of sheets stacked on the placing plate, the lowermost or uppermost sheet is vacuum-sucked and fed by the feeding means, and at this time, the plurality of sheets are simultaneously conveyed. In order to prevent the sheets from being stacked, the stacked sheets are separated into upper and lower parts and separated by air from the air flow forming means. The air flow forming means is arranged on the downstream side of the mounting plate in the feeding direction, that is, on the front side, and forms a plurality of respective air flows in the width direction of the mounting plate. When the width of the sheet is small, and therefore is generally light, it is possible to prevent the formation of an air flow that is outwardly in the width direction of the placing plate, which causes the stack state of sheets having a small width to be disturbed and scattered. When a sheet with a large width is to be fed, an air flow outward in the width direction is formed, and thus a generally large sheet having a large width is separated into upper and lower parts sufficiently. Allows you to feed one by one.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably feed the sheets having various sizes from the narrow sheet to the large sheet one by one.

In addition to forming or not forming the air flow outward in the width direction as described above, the flow rate of the air flow outward in the width direction may be changed to be large or small. For example, when feeding narrow sheets,
The flow rate control means controls the flow rate of the air flow outward in the width direction to a small non-zero value, and when feeding a sheet having a large width, the flow rate of the air flow outward in the width direction is increased. . In this way, according to the size of the width of the seat, that is, the size of the seat, the flow rate of the air flow that is outward, that is, outward in the width direction is controlled, so that the seat can be installed regardless of such a difference in size. It is possible to reliably feed the sheets one by one.

The air flow of which the flow rate is controlled is the air flow of the plurality of air flows arranged in the width direction of the mounting plate, which is on the outer side. Regardless of whether it is provided on the outer side in the width direction of the plate,
In order to separate the upper and lower sides of the seat, the airflow is an airflow out of the plurality of airflows in the lateral direction in which the airflows are arranged.

According to the present invention, the nozzle member has one or a plurality of nozzle holes for each air flow, and the air flow rate control means drives the valve body and the valve body that opens and closes the nozzle hole. An opening / closing drive means for opening / closing the hole is provided, and the opening / closing drive means includes, for example, a plunger for driving the valve body and an electromagnetic solenoid for driving the plunger. The air flow rate control means may be arranged to be operated manually or, according to the invention, detect the widthwise size of the sheets to be stacked to energize / demagnetize the electromagnetic solenoid. You may make it control automatically.

Further, according to the invention, the opening / closing drive means for driving the valve element in the air flow rate control means is interlocked with the side end regulating member for aligning the side ends of the sheets stacked on the mounting plate.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, instead of providing the valve body for opening and closing the nozzle hole, the air flow injected from the nozzle hole is blocked by the blocking piece attached to the side end regulating member, and in this way also, It is possible to prevent a large air flow rate from being unnecessarily supplied to a sheet having a small width.

Further, according to the present invention, the mounting plate is configured symmetrically, the air flow is formed by jetting from each symmetrical position, the air flow rate control means, among these air flows,
At the same time, the airflows on both sides in the width direction are formed at the same time to separate the large-width sheet into upper and lower parts, and the airflows on both sides in the width direction are not formed among the airflows. Prevents flapping of both sides of a small sheet.
Note that the present invention relates to a configuration in which one side portion of the sheet in the width direction is aligned and regulated and fed, and thus the central position of the sheet changes depending on the size in the width direction of the sheet. Can also be implemented.

Further, according to the invention, the mounting plate has a substantially horizontal central mounting portion and side mounting portions extending on both sides in the width direction thereof, and the central mounting portion is provided with a notch and is most formed. The feeding means for feeding the lower sheet faces, and therefore, the lowermost sheet is vacuum-adsorbed and fed by this feeding means, at this time, in the vicinity of the boundary between the central placing portion and the side placing portion. The first airflow is jetted, so that the first airflow is smoothly blown into the gap in the vicinity of the boundary between the lowermost sheet and the residual sheet to separate the lowermost sheet and the residual sheet from each other. The operation is performed smoothly, which makes it possible to reliably feed the lowermost sheet one by one. The second air flow is injected outwardly in the width direction with respect to the first air flow, and the second air flow is
When the width of the sheet is small, it is prevented from being formed by the air flow rate control means, so that both sides of the sheet having the small width are prevented from fluttering by the second air flow.
Moreover, when feeding a wide sheet, not only the first air flow but also the second air flow is formed to separate a wide sheet, and thus a generally heavy sheet, into upper and lower parts. Ensures that only the bottom sheet can be fed sheet by sheet. In this configuration, the second air stream may or may not be formed, instead of the second air stream.
The flow rate of the air flow may be adjusted to a small value other than zero when feeding a sheet having a small width, and may be adjusted to a large value when feeding a sheet having a large width.

When the feeding means has a structure above the sheet, the sheet floating air is jetted to the sheets stacked and placed on the placing plate to easily separate the upper and lower sheets. Since the air flow from the air flow forming means is jetted toward the feeding means, the uppermost sheet among the stacked sheets is vacuum-adsorbed by the feeding means, and The uppermost sheet and the remaining sheet can be separated by the air flow from the air flow forming means and the sheet floating air.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a side view showing a cross section of a feeding device 21 called an intermediate tray according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a plan view of the feeding device 21, FIG. 3 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a copying machine 22 using the feeding device 21. The copying machine 22 is a recirculating automatic document feeder (RDH
(Abbreviated as device) 23 and a main body 24. The RDH device 23 includes a so-called trade-in / return type document supply device 25. The taken-out document is exposed to an exposure area 28 by a light source 27 while being conveyed along a conveyance path 26, and is returned to the document supply device 25.
The document supply device 25 includes a document mounting plate 29, a feeding device 30, and an air injection device 31.

The main body 24 includes the light source 27 therein, and the RD
An exposure area 28 of the H device 23 and an exposure area 32 of the main body 24 are set. The original reflected light from each of the exposure areas 28 and 32 is
And form an image on the photosensitive drum. Around the photosensitive drum 34, a charging device 35, a developing device 36, a transfer device 37 and the like are arranged, and recording papers of various sizes are provided, for example, three kinds of paper feeding devices.
From 38, 39, and 40, the document is supplied to a transfer area 41 between the transfer device 37 and the photosensitive drum 34, and a document image is recorded by the document reflected light. The recording paper after the transfer is fixed by a fixing device 42, bound by a predetermined number of sheets by a fastening device 43, and stored in a paper discharge tray 44.

The copied recording paper is carried into the feeding device 21 along the arrow A1 direction and fed along the arrow A2 direction. Here, a mounting plate 45, which will be described later, of the feeding device 21 is provided, for example, at an angle of 10.4 ° with respect to the horizontal direction so that the upstream side in the feeding direction A2 is lower than the downstream side.

5 and 6 are exploded perspective views of the feeding device 21. FIG. The feeding device 21 will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS. Document feeder 25 feeder
30 has basically the same configuration as the feeding device 21 described later.
In the feeding device 21, the recording paper is carried in along the carrying-in direction A1,
A mounting plate 45 is provided to be stacked and mounted. A notch 47 is formed in the mounting plate 45, and the notch 47 is used to feed a recording sheet mounted on the mounting plate 45 as a feeding unit together with the mounting plate 45. The upper stretch portions of the belts 46a, 46b, 46c (collectively denoted by the reference numeral 46 when necessary) are exposed facing the recording paper upward.

The mounting plate 45 is formed of a central mounting portion 48 having a predetermined length W2 in the width direction orthogonal to the recording paper feeding direction A2, and integrally connected to the width direction both ends of the central mounting portion 48 to be centrally mounted. Part 48 and angle θ1
And side mounting portions 49 and 50 formed by bending by plastic working or the like so as to bend upward as they face outward in the width direction. The side mounting portions 49 and 50 extend longer than the central mounting portion 48 toward the downstream side in the feeding direction A2, and have stepped portions 51a and 51b which hang downward near the ends thereof. The mounting plate 45 has a pair of parallel long holes 52, 5 along the feeding direction A2.
3 are formed, and a pair of long holes 54a, 54b, 55a, 55b are formed in the side mounting portions 49, 50 in the above-described direction, respectively. Such a mounting plate 45 is formed symmetrically with respect to the center position CNT in the width direction. The mounting plate 45 is screwed to the side plates 56 and 57 at both ends in the width direction.

A rear end regulating member is provided upstream of the mounting plate 45 in the feeding direction A1.
58 is placed. The rear end regulating member 58 is a guide plate that supports and guides the recording paper carried in along the carrying-in direction A1 from below.
The guide pieces 59 are connected to the downstream side of the guide plate 59 in the loading direction A1. The guide pieces 60 and 61 are formed at the distal ends thereof so as to be fitted into the long holes 52 and 53 and to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the long holes 52 and 53. And a regulating plate 62 which comes into contact with the upstream end of the recording paper stacked on the mounting plate 45 in the feeding direction A2 to align the upstream end of each of the stacked recording papers.

As described above, the mounting plate 45 is configured such that the upstream side in the feeding direction A2 is lower than the downstream side in the horizontal direction.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper P carried on the mounting plate 45 by the rollers 67 and 69 in the arrow A1 direction slides on the mounting plate 45 toward the downstream side in the feeding direction A2, and will be described later, for example. The blower duct 93 collides against the collision plate 211 and stops, and due to the inclination described above, the upstream side in the feeding direction A2, that is, the rear end regulating member.
Returning to the 58 side, it comes into contact with the regulating plate 62 of the rear end regulating member 58 and stops. In this way, the recording papers stacked on the mounting plate 4 have their upstream ends in the feeding direction A2 aligned, and thus the recording papers having the same shape in the feeding direction A2 also have their downstream ends aligned. .

Further, side plates 63 and 64 are formed so as to hang down at both ends in the width direction of the guide plate 59, and mounting plates 65 and 66 are fixed to the side plates 63 and 64, respectively. Coaxial mounting holes 63a, 64a, 65a, 66a are formed in the side plates 63, 64 and the mounting plates 65, 66, respectively.
A rotary shaft 68 to which 7 is fixed is rotatably inserted. The mounting plates 65 and 66 have mounting holes 65b and 66 above the mounting holes 65a and 66a.
b is formed, and the rotating shaft 70 to which the plurality of rollers 69 are fixed is rotatably inserted.

The mounting plates 65 and 66 have a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction substantially C
D-shaped drive members 71 and 72 are fixed with their open ends facing outward in the width direction. Racks 73 and 74 are formed at the lower ends of the driving members 71 and 72 along the longitudinal direction. The side plates 56, 57
There are pinions 75 and 76 that engage with the racks 73 and 74 at both ends.
A rotary shaft 77, to which is fixed, is rotatably mounted, and is rotationally driven by a pulse motor 78.

Rotary rollers 79, 80 are rotatably mounted at the positions of the drive members 71, 72 on the side plates 56, 57, and the drive members 71, 72 are configured to house the rotary rollers 79, 80 respectively. Is done. Therefore, the driving members 71 and 72 are supported by the rotating rollers 79 and 80 so as not to fall downward, and can easily slide along the longitudinal direction. That is, when the rotation shaft 77 and therefore the pinions 75 and 76 are rotated by the pulse motor 78, the driving members 71 and 72 can reciprocate in the directions of arrows A3 and A4 along the longitudinal direction thereof, whereby the rear end regulating member 58 can reciprocate in the feeding direction A2 downstream and upstream.

Mounting holes 56a, 57a are formed in the side plates 56, 57, and rollers
A rotating shaft 83 to which 81 and 82 are fixed is rotatably inserted. The rotating shaft 83 is manually rotated and displaced by a knob 84 fixed coaxially. The opposite side of the rotary shaft 83 from the knob 84 is rotatably inserted through one end in the longitudinal direction of the elongated connecting plate 85 and is fixed to the gear 86. On the opposite side of the connecting plate 85, a pivot 87 is provided so as to project outward in the width direction, the connecting plate 88 having the same shape as the connecting plate 85 is rotatably inserted through one end in the longitudinal direction, and further on the gear 89. Fixed. One end of the rotary shaft 68 is rotatably inserted into the other end of the connecting plate 88 and fixed to the gear 90. A timing belt 91 is stretched between the gears 86 and 89, and a timing belt 92 is stretched between the gears 89 and 90.

That is, when the knob 84 is manually rotated, the rotating shafts 68, 83
Even if the rear end regulating member 58 to which the rotating shaft 68 is attached is at an arbitrary position along the carrying-in direction A1, the rear-end regulating member 58 can be rotated synchronously to perform the jam clearance.

Downstream of the mounting plate 45 in the feeding direction A2, a nozzle member 93 fixed to the side plates 56 and 57 is disposed so as to extend in the width direction. The nozzle member 93 includes a main body 94 having a bottomless box shape elongated in the width direction and a cover body 95, and an air passage 213 is formed inside. In the cover body 95, a plurality of pairs of nozzles 96a to 96h each having a nozzle hole 212 are formed at left and right symmetric positions with respect to the width direction center position CNT of the mounting plate 45,
By the angular displacement state of the damper 97 arranged in the nozzle member 93, the blowing / stopping to the mounting plate 45 side is realized.

Below the mounting plate 45, for example, three feeding stretching belts 98a, 98b, 98c are arranged facing the notch 47, and these are driving rollers 101 fixed to rotating shafts 99, 100, respectively.
It is stretched between a, 102a; 101b, 102b; 101c, 102c.

As shown in FIG. 3, between the upper stretch portion 214 forming the feeding surface, which is the upper end of the feeding stretch belts 98a to 98c, and the center mounting portion 48 of the mounting plate 45 described above. As shown, the height δ of the step is set so that the upper tension portion 214 of the feeding tension belts 98a to 98c is low. The height δ of this step is 1 to 5 mm,
Preferably, it is selected to be about 2 mm. The height δ of the step is determined by the recording paper P stacked on the mounting plate 45 as described later in detail.
When the lowermost recording paper is vacuum-sucked to the feeding stretching belts 98a to 98c, the lowermost recording paper bends downward by the height δ of the step from the center mounting portion 48 of the mounting plate 45, and thereby, from below. A gap is formed between the recording paper and the second recording paper so that the separation operation can be performed satisfactorily. For this reason, if the height δ of the step is too small, the separation capability is reduced, and if it is too large, the recording paper is insufficiently attracted to the feeding stretching belts 98a to 98c, resulting in poor conveyance.

Through holes 103, which are a number of air passage holes, are formed in the feeding stretch belt 98, and the inside of the feed stretch belt 98 is formed on the feed stretch belt 98 through the through holes 103. A vacuum suction box 104 for vacuum-sucking the recording paper by negative pressure is provided.
The vacuum suction box 104 includes a box-shaped main body 104a and a cover body 104b, and suction holes 106a to 106c are formed in the cover body 104b at positions corresponding to the feeding stretching belts 98a to 98c. Protrusions 107a, 107b extending along the feeding direction A2 direction are formed between the suction holes 106a to 106c, and these are provided between the feeding stretching belts 98a to 98c from the upper stretching portion 214. Is also selected to have a height that projects upward. The vacuum suction box 104 is connected to a vacuum source (not shown), and a damper 105 housed therein.
The suction operation of the recording paper is executed / stopped by the angular displacement operation.

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the nozzles 96b and 96g having the second nozzle holes that form the jet flow C1 of air parallel to the feeding direction A2 in the plan view are the feeding directions in the plan view. A
It is configured in parallel with 2. Further, the angle α2 formed with the feeding direction A2 in a plan view of the nozzles 96c and 96f having the first nozzle holes that form the jet flow C2 in the width direction outward collision with the jet flow C1 is 20 ° to 45 °. , Preferably about 30 °. Regarding the combined air flow C11 of these jet flows C1 and C2, the center line 1 of each air flow is assumed.

The feeding direction A in a plan view of the nozzles 96d, 96e that are located more inward in the width direction than the nozzles 96c, 96f and that form the jet flow and the air flow C3 that is directed outward in the width direction and parallel to the center line l2.
The angle α1 formed by 2 is selected from 0 ° to 45 °, preferably about 15 °. Further, the feeding direction A2 in a plan view of the nozzles 96a and 96h which are arranged outward in the width direction of the nozzles 96b to 96g and form an injection flow and an air flow C4 which are outward in the width direction and parallel to the center line l3. The angle .alpha.3 formed by is selected to be an angle of 0.degree.

On the other hand, an angle formed by the feeding direction A2 of each of the nozzles 96a, 96h in the side view shown in FIG. 1, that is, an angle β formed by the central mounting portion 48 is selected to be 3 ° to 10 °, preferably about 3.5 °.
It is determined as follows. First, the arrangement position of the nozzle member 93 is determined from the overall configuration of the copying machine 22 including the feeding device 21, and thus the positions of the base end portions of the nozzles 96a to 9h are also determined. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the air flow C of each nozzle 96 in a side view is on the feeding stretch belt 98, and the vacuum suction box 104 causes the feeding stretch belt 9 to move.
It is ejected at a position separated by a predetermined distance L1 downstream of the suction area 108 set in 8 in the feeding direction A2.

That is, in the present embodiment, the recording paper P stacked as shown in FIG. 22 on the mounting plate 45 including the area on the feeding stretch belt 98 is directly attached to the downstream end of the feeding direction A2. Air flow C
Rather than spraying the recording paper P, the stacked recording paper is once jetted to the feeding tension belt 98 on the downstream side in the feeding direction rather than the downstream end in the feeding direction, and the reflected air flow of the recording paper P is applied. It collides with the downstream side end of the feeding direction A2, whereby the lowest recording paper P1 and the second recording paper P2 are separated.
That is, when the airflow C directly collides with the downstream side end portion of the recording paper, such an airflow generates a force for pressing each recording paper P downward, which causes a disadvantage in separating the recording paper. Because it will occur. If the reflection flow is used, the recording paper P is blown upward away from the feeding tension belt 98, and the separation operation can be performed well. Further, an effect of preventing a situation in which the air flow from the nozzle 96 does not contribute to separation of the recording paper and is undesirably sucked into the vacuum suction box 104 is realized.

The arrangement position of the nozzles 96b and 96g is set so that the distance L1 between the nozzles 96b and 96g is shorter than the length L2 of the longest piece of recording paper that is assumed to be used, for example, the fifth row of Japanese Industrial Standard B row 5. The jet flow C1 from the nozzles 96b and 96g and the nozzle 96
The air flow C11 based on the jet flow C2 from c and 96f is directed to the inner side in the width direction rather than the both ends in the width direction of the recording paper having the minimum width. The arrangement position of the nozzles 96a and 96h is determined by the length of the long side of the recording paper whose distance L3 is assumed to be used, for example, the length of the long side of the recording paper of the Japanese Industrial Standard B row 4 or A row 3 or the English text. The so-called double letter size used
The nozzle 96a, which is selected to be shorter than the length of the long side of the WLT (= 11 inches long × 17 inches wide) by a predetermined amount.
The air flow C4 due to 96h is directed more inward in the width direction than both ends in the width direction of the largest recording paper.

Below the feeding stretch belt 98, a support plate 109 fixed to the side plate 56 and elongated in the width direction is disposed. A pivot 110 is erected at the center position in the width direction of the support plate 109,
Further, guide grooves 111 and 112 extending in the width direction are formed on both sides of the pivot 110 in the width direction. Guide pins 113 to 116 are erected on the support plate 109, and are mounted on the support plate 109, and the guide pins 113 are inserted into elongated holes 119, 120; 121, 122 extending in the width direction of the drive members 117, 118 elongated in the width direction. 116 are inserted, and the driving direction of each of the driving members 117 and 118 is regulated in the width direction by the guide pins 113 to 116.

Racks 123 and 124 are respectively formed at edges of the drive members 117 and 118 facing each other, and the racks 123 and 124 mesh with gears 125 rotatably mounted on the pivot 110 from opposite sides. A bevel gear 126 is coaxially fixed to the gear 125, and meshes with a bevel gear 129 fixed to the tip of a rotary shaft 128 driven to rotate by a pulse motor 127 fixed to the side plate 57. At the outer ends in the width direction of the driving members 117 and 118, side end restrictors that are fitted into the long holes 54a and 55a; 54b and 55b of the mounting plate 45 and that protrude upward from the mounting plate 45 are disposed. Boards130,131
Are fixed respectively.

That is, in the copying machine 22, when any one of the sheet feeding devices 38 to 40 in which recording sheets of various sizes are stored is selected, the pulse motor 127 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction by the operation of the control device described later, and this rotation amount is The driving members 117, 118 are displaced inward or outward along the width direction by the engagement of the bevel gears 129, 126, and the distance between the side end regulating plates 130, 131 is set to the size of the selected recording paper. The function of aligning the widthwise side edges of the recording paper carried in on the mounting plate 45 is realized.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the copying machine 22, and shows a main part for simplification of description. The copying machine 22 includes a central processing unit (abbreviated as CPU) 132 including a microprocessor, for example.
Various operations of the copying machine 22 are controlled based on an operation program stored in an M (read only memory) 133. Also CPU1
Reference numeral 32 denotes a RAM (random access memory) 134 for storing input data such as the number of copies and various operation modes, and the width dimension of the recording paper provided in each of the paper feeding devices 38 to 40 is detected. The paper width detecting device 135 is connected.

An example of the configuration of the paper width detecting device 135 is shown in FIG. 27 described later.
131 as a manual, for example, the size of Japanese Industrial Standard B4, B5 or A4, or the size of recording paper used in the United States, letter size LT (= 11 inches long x 8.5 inches wide) Inch), legal size RG (= vertical 14 inch x horizontal 8.5 inch), or double letter size WLT
A position sensor such as a limit switch is provided for each moving position of the side end regulating plate 131 corresponding to (= 17 inches in length × 11 inches in width).

The above-mentioned pulse motors 78 and 127 are connected to the CPU 132, and the rear end regulating member 58 is moved upstream or in the feeding direction A2 based on the width direction size of the recording paper to be used detected by the paper width detecting device 135. Move to the downstream side, side end regulating plates 130, 13
1 is moved inward or outward in the width direction. Further, electromagnetic solenoids 136 and 137 are connected to open and close the dampers 97 and 105. Further, a pulse motor 182 that moves up and down the recording paper mounting plate 45 of each of the paper feeding devices 38 to 40 in the paper feeding devices 38 to 40.
Control.

FIG. 8 is a simplified enlarged perspective view of the mounting plate 45 described above, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the section line IX-IX in FIG. With respect to the center mounting portion 48 of the mounting plate 45, the side mounting portions on both sides.
49, 50 are angles γ that are predetermined as going outward in the width direction.
It is bent upward by (3 ° to 10 °, preferably about 3.5 °), and bent portions 138 and 139 are formed at their boundaries in parallel with the feeding direction A2. In the feeding device 21 of the present embodiment, in order for the lowermost recording paper P1 of the stacked recording papers P to be able to be separated from the second lowermost recording paper P2,
A gap into which the air flow from the nozzle 96 is blown and injected is required to be formed between the recording papers P1 and P2. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the angle γ is set between the center mounting portion 48 of the mounting plate 45 and the side mounting portions 49, 50 to form the bent portions 138, 139. Further, the height δ of the above-described step is provided between the inner ends in the width direction of the side mounting portions 49, 50 and the feeding tension belt 98.

Therefore, when the recording paper P1 is attracted to the feeding tension belts 98a to 98c by the vacuum suction box 104 by the negative pressure as shown in FIG. 9, at least the bent portions 138 and 139 are located between the recording papers P1 and P2. Will result in a gap. The nozzles 96b, 96c; 96f, 96g described above are configured to blow an air flow C11 along the center line 1 into this gap near each bend 138, 139, as shown in FIGS. The airflow C11 expands vertically. Further, the vacuum suction box 104 is provided with projections 107a and 107b, and the recording paper P1 is curved in a shape along the projections 107a and 107b as shown in FIG. On the other hand, since the second recording paper P2 is not sucked by the vacuum suction box 104, the protrusions 107a, 107b
A gap is created between the recording paper P1 and the recording paper P1 on both sides of the.

The nozzles 96d and 96e blow and inject air flow into the gaps on the inner side in the width direction of the protrusions 107a and 107b, and inject this air flow.
By colliding with the side surface of 7a, 107b, it expands up and down. As a result, the areas 140c and 14d shown in FIG. 13 are generated, which can contribute to the separation of the recording sheets P1 and P2. At this time, as described above, the arrangement interval L1 between the nozzles 96b and 96g is
Is set to be shorter than the length L2 of the long side of the recording paper in the fifth row of Japanese Industrial Standard B, for example. Moreover, nozzles 96c to 96f
The jet flow indicated by the arrows C2, C3 from the inside to the outside in the width direction of the nozzles 96b, 96g is blocked by the jet flow parallel to the feeding direction A2 indicated by the arrow C1 of the nozzles 96b, 96g, and integrated as an air flow C11. And flows in the direction of the arrow C11 and expands in the vertical direction as described above, and realizes the separation region 141 shown in FIG. Therefore, such a situation that such an air flow C11 is ejected from the width direction end of the recording paper having the width L2 and the width direction end flaps, and a situation where the stacked state is disturbed or noise is avoided is avoided.

FIG. 13 is a front view for explaining the recording paper separating operation in this embodiment. Regions 140a to 140d indicated by hatching in FIG.
140f is the lowermost recording paper in the recording paper P stacked with the air flow injected by the nozzles 96a to 96h described above.
It shows the size and range of the airflow separating P1 from the second recording paper P2 and subsequent recording papers. In the regions 140b and 140e, the jet flows are concentrated along the width direction by the nozzles 96b, 96c; 96f and 96g as shown by arrows C1 and C2 in FIG. Therefore, the jet flow concentrated along the width direction as shown in FIG. 21 expands vertically as shown by arrows C20 and C21, and the recording paper P1 and P2 are separated by this pressure. Areas occupied by the air flow expanded in the vertical direction are shown as areas 140b and 140e in FIG.

As an example of the recording paper having a width L4 wider than the width L2, there is the above-mentioned double-letter size or recording paper of row B No. 4 and the like. When separating a recording paper having such a large width, as described above, the nozzle 96a is used. The interval L3 of 96 h is selected to be smaller than the width L4. In addition, as described above, the mounting plate 45 has the stepped portions 51a, 51a in the traveling direction of the airflow from the nozzles 96a, 96h.
1b is formed. That is, most of the air flow from the nozzles 96a and 96h collides with the step portions 51a and 51b and flows in a direction other than the mounting plate 45, and the flow rate and speed are suppressed.

Therefore, the airflow indicated by the arrow C4 from the nozzles 96a and 96h is relatively weakened and is injected between the recording sheets P1 and P2. As a result, the separation area 142 on the recording paper P having the width L4
Is the shaded area surrounded by the broken line in Fig. 12,
An area larger than the separation area 141 for the small-sized recording paper P can be realized. That is, in this embodiment, the width is large,
Even large-size recording paper can be effectively separated. In addition, near the both ends in the width direction of the large-sized recording paper P, the air flow from the nozzles 96a to 96h is injected with the flow rate suppressed as described above. Therefore, the air flow leaks out from both sides in the width direction of the large-sized recording paper P, and it is possible to avoid the disturbance of the lamination state and the generation of noise due to the flapping of the recording paper edge as described above.

According to the present embodiment, a relatively large separation capacity is realized by concentrating the airflow in the regions 140b and 140e shown in FIG.
140a, 140c, 140d, 140f inject a predetermined flow of air flow,
Further, the separation ability is improved. Therefore, the arrangement state of the nozzles 96a to 96h for realizing the characteristic action is the second state.
The arrangement is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIGS. nozzle
A first modification of the arrangement of 96a to 96h is shown in FIG. 14, in which the nozzles 96b and 96g in the above embodiment are inclined inward in the width direction by an angle α4 with respect to the feeding direction A2.

In this embodiment, the jets C1 and C2 from the nozzles 96b and 96c and the jets C2 and C1 from the nozzles 96f and 96g collide at the collision positions 143 and 144 in the width direction, respectively, and the air parallel to the feeding direction A2 It is formed as streams 145, 146, whereby the areas 140b, 140e described in FIG. 13 can be realized. The operation of the other nozzles 96a, 96d, 96e, 96h is the same as in the previous embodiment.

In the second modification, as shown in FIG.
96e is configured to be parallel to the feeding direction A2. Nozzles 96a to 96c and nozzle 96 in this embodiment
The functions of f to 96h are the same as in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the nozzles 96d to 96e are provided in the gap between the recording papers P1 and P2 formed by the protrusions 107a and 107b formed on the vacuum suction box 104 as described with reference to FIG. 107b
A stream of air is injected in parallel. As shown in FIG. 12, the stacked recording sheets P have both ends in the width direction and the upstream end in the feeding direction A2 in close contact with each other. Therefore, when an air flow is injected into the gap, the air flow generates a positive static pressure in the closed separation regions 141 and 142, thereby realizing separation of the recording paper P near the center in the width direction. Therefore, also with such an embodiment, the same effect as the effect described in the above embodiment can be realized.

A third modification is shown in FIG. The feature of this embodiment is that the nozzles 96b and 96g in the second modification are inclined inward in the width direction by an angle α4 as in the first modification. In this embodiment, the nozzles 96a, 96h
Is similar to that of the first embodiment, and the nozzles 96b, 96
c; The operations of 96f and 96g are the same as those in the first modification, and the operations of the nozzles 96d and 96e are the same as those in the second modification. According to such an embodiment, the same effect as the effect described in the above embodiment can be achieved.

A fourth modification is shown in FIG. The feature of this embodiment is that each of the nozzles 96a to 96h has the feeding direction A2 in plan view.
In parallel. As described with reference to FIG. 12, the upstream end of the stacked recording paper P in the feeding direction A2 and the both ends in the width direction are in close contact with each other. Therefore, the nozzles are all parallel to the feeding direction A2 in plan view.
Even when air is jetted onto the recording paper P using the 96a to 96h, a positive static pressure can be generated between the recording papers P,
This can also achieve the same effect as the effect described in the above embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a modified example of the nozzle member 93 in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the means for forming the jet flow and the air flow for separating the recording paper at the nozzle member 93 is the nozzle 96a in the above-described embodiment.
Not limited to ~ 96h, a plurality of nozzle holes 147 are formed in the nozzle member 93 along the longitudinal direction of the nozzle member 93, that is, in the width direction, as shown in FIG. The direction is the same as the axis of the nozzles 96a to 96h. According to such an embodiment, each air flow in each of the above-described embodiments is formed, and the same effect as that in each of the embodiments can be achieved.

The mounting plate 45 in the above-described embodiment has step portions 51a, 51b formed at the downstream end of the side mounting portions 49, 50 in the feeding direction A2. On the other hand, an important configuration of the present invention is that the regions 140a and 140f described with reference to FIG. 13 are to be formed at the bent portions 138 and 139 of the mounting plate 45, and therefore, the mounting that realizes this operation is performed. The configuration of the placing plate 45 is not limited to the above embodiment. The mounting plate 45a of the first modification has a configuration in which the step portions 51a and 51b are not provided as shown in FIG. It is apparent that such a configuration can achieve the same effect as the effect described in the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the operation of the steps 51a and 51b has been described.However, if it is assumed that the flow rate from the nozzles 96a and 96h is excessive compared to the remaining nozzles 96b to 96g, the nozzles 96a and 96h The above-mentioned problem is satisfactorily avoided in advance by a modification that falls within the scope of the present invention, such as reducing the diameter of.

A second modification is shown in FIG. The mounting plate 45b of this embodiment has a height H2 between the central mounting portion 48 and the side mounting portions 49 and 50.
Are provided so that the central mounting portion 48 is lower than the widthwise inner ends of the side mounting portions 49 and 50 by the height H2. In such an embodiment, the above-described operation due to the height δ of the step between the center mounting portion 48 and the upper stretching portion 214 of the feeding stretching belt 98 described in the above embodiment is further improved. . That is, the lowermost recording paper P1 of the recording papers P stacked on the mounting plate 45b is largely curved and fitted into the recess formed by the central mounting portion 48 and the step portions 204 and 205, and the second recording is performed. This is because the gap S with the paper P2 can be set to be larger than that in the above-described embodiment. In such an embodiment, not only the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be achieved, but also the separating ability on the recording paper P is further improved.

A third modification is shown in FIG. The mounting plate 45c of this embodiment is similar to the mounting plate 45b shown in FIG. 20, and the angle γ formed by the side mounting portions 49, 50 and the central mounting portion 48 is set to approximately 0 °. Is characterized by. That is, the steps 204, 205
And the side mounting portions 49, 50 are set to be substantially orthogonal to each other, and the both side mounting portions 49, 50 are set to be in a single plane. Even with such an embodiment, the separation ability described with reference to FIG. 20 can be achieved. Also in the case of this modification, the recording paper P stacked on the mounting plate 45c is based on the weight of the stacked recording papers as compared with the case where the side mounting portions 49 and 50 are inclined. It prevents the generation of force inward in the width direction. Therefore, even when the recording paper P has an extremely low friction coefficient, the recording paper P is prevented from sliding inward in the width direction.

A fourth modification is shown in FIG. The mounting plate 45d of this modified example is formed such that the central mounting portion 48 and the side mounting portions 49, 50 are formed in a single plane and flat. And at the width direction setting position of the bent portions 138, 139 of the mounting plates 45a to 45c in each of the above-described embodiments, the protrusions 206, 207 extending in parallel with the feeding direction A2 and protruding upward, for example, at the height H3. Is forming. This height H3 is the height H of the step portions 204 and 205.
May be chosen equal to 2.

In such an embodiment, the lowermost recording paper P1 of the recording paper P stacked on the mounting plate 45d is curved along the shape of the mounting plate 45d, but the second recording paper P2 is fed. The recording paper P is not affected by the vacuum suction action from the feeding tension belt 96.
A relatively large gap S1 can be formed between P1 and P2. That is, even with such a configuration example, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the effect described in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view showing a modified example of the feeding device 21. The feature of this embodiment is that one endless band having a width W6 longer than the width W5 of the suction region 108 in the vacuum suction box 104 in the width direction is used as the feeding tension belt 208 surrounding the vacuum suction box 104. It consists of The feeding tension belt 208 has a large number of through-holes 103 in the above embodiment, and is formed of a material having relatively high flexibility.

Accordingly, the upper stretch portion 214 stretched near the suction area 108 of the feeding stretch belt 208 is provided with the suction port 10.
It is sucked by 6a to 106c by a negative pressure and is greatly bent as shown in FIG. Therefore, the lowermost recording paper P1 of the stacked recording papers P is vacuum-sucked to the feeding tension belt 208, and is in close contact with the feeding tension belt 208 in the same bending state. On the other hand, the second recording paper P2 is not subjected to such a suction action from the feeding stretching belt 208, and therefore a gap S2 is formed between the second recording paper P2 and the first recording paper P1. That is, even with such a configuration, the same effects as those described in the above-described embodiments can be achieved.

24 is a side view showing a cross section of the paper feeding device 38 in the copying machine 22, FIG. 25 is a plan view of FIG. 24, FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the paper feeding device 38, and FIG. FIG. 27 is a simplified plan view of the sheet feeding device 38. The configuration of the paper feeding device 38 will be described with reference to these drawings. Remaining paper feeder 39,4
0 has almost the same configuration. Note that each component of the feeding device that expands to the configuration of the present embodiment is similar to each component of the feeding device 21 in the above-described embodiment, and
Is a so-called trade-in / return configuration, whereas the present embodiment is a trade-in / return configuration.

The paper feeder 38 is a frame in which recording papers are stacked and stored.
148, and a feeding device 220 that separates and feeds the recording paper stacked and stored in the frame 148 one by one,
A mounting plate 149 on which the recording papers P are placed in a stacked state and which is driven to move up and down by an elevating mechanism as described later is disposed inside the frame 148. A long hole 150 extending in the feeding direction A2 is formed in the mounting plate 149, and a guide rail 151 extending along the feeding direction A2 is provided below the mounting plate 149. The guide rail 151 has a mounting portion for the rear end regulating member 152.
153 is provided slidably in the longitudinal direction by passing through a plurality of insertion holes 154 in the mounting portion 153. Rear end regulating member
152, the long hole 150 of the mounting plate 149 which is erected on the mounting portion 153.
Is provided to extend above the mounting plate 149. An upper limit sensor 156 such as a limit switch is provided at a predetermined position of the regulating unit 155, for example, and detects when an excessive recording paper P is placed on the placing plate 149.

An upper limit sensor 185 realized by, for example, a limit switch is provided at a predetermined position with respect to the placing plate 149 of the body of the copying machine 22, and the uppermost recording sheet P of the recording paper P stacked on the placing plate 149 is provided. It is detected that the paper P1 has a predetermined interval H4 with respect to the feeding tension belt 157. That is, the uppermost recording paper P1 is the tension belt for feeding.
If the distance 157 exceeds the distance H4 and approaches abnormally, the upper limit sensor 185 is activated, and the rising of the recording paper is stopped.

The paper feeding device 36 includes, for example, four feeding stretch belts 157a to 157d at predetermined positions with respect to the frame 148. These feeding stretch belts 157a to 157d are
Rollers 160a-160d fixed to 8,159 respectively; 161a-16
Each is stretched during 1d. A vacuum suction box 162 is accommodated between each of the rollers 160 and 161.
Main body 1 having suction ports 163a to 163d facing 57d, respectively
64 and a cover body 165 covering the main body 164. A damper 166 is housed in the vacuum suction box 162, and the vacuum suction box 16
Vacuum source, vacuum suction, and vacuum suction box (not shown) connected to 2
Communicates / blocks with 62. The suction box 162 is supported by a support member 260 fixed to the frame 148. Further, between the suction ports 163a, 163b of the main body 164 and between the suction ports 163c, 163d, projections 167a, 167b extending in the feeding direction A2 and projecting downward are formed, and these are for feeding. It projects downward from between the tension belts 157a and 157b and from between the feeding tension belts 157c and 157d.

A nozzle member 168 is provided on the downstream side of the frame body 148 in the feeding direction A2 and below the feeding tension belt 157.
The nozzle member 168 includes a main body 169 and a cover body 170, and a damper 171 is attached to an internal air passage 216 to communicate / block a blower (not shown) with the nozzle member 168.

The mounting plate 149 in the frame body 148 has an elongated hole 209 along the width direction,
210 are provided, and the side end regulating plates 195 and 196 are
From the top surface to the back surface. Side end regulating plates 195, 19
In the vicinity of the rear side end of the mounting plate 149, one end in the longitudinal direction of each of the driving members 197 and 198 extending along the width direction is fixed. The feeding direction A of these driving members 197 and 198
Racks 199 and 200 are formed at ends facing each other along the two, and the racks 199 and 200 are engaged with pinion 201 rotatably attached to a support plate 149 disposed between drive members 197 and 198 from opposite sides.

Further, for example, three position sensors S1, S2, S3 for detecting a displacement position in the width direction with respect to the side end regulating plate 195 are arranged from the outside to the inside in the width direction. Side end regulating plate 195,196
Are linked to each other by the racks 199, 200 and the pinion 201, and the distance between the side end regulating plates 195, 196 is made equal to the width of the recording paper P to be stored, so as to be based on the outputs of the position sensors S1 to S3. It is possible to detect the width of the stored recording paper in the width direction.

FIG. 28 is a front view of the main body 169, FIG. 29 is a plan view of the main body 169, FIG. 30 is a rear view of the main body 169, and FIG.
FIG. 34 to FIG. 34 are sectional views taken along the section line AA, BB, CC, DD of FIG. The configuration of the nozzle member 168 will be described in detail with reference to these drawings. The main body 169 is connected to the flat plate portion 172 extending in the width direction and the vertical direction thereof,
The frame 148 includes inclined portions 173 and 174 inclined at an angle θ3 (20 ° as an example). A plurality of guide pieces 175 are formed on the downstream side of the inclined portions 173, 174 in the feeding direction A2, and the cover body 170 is attached to the main body 169, so that the jet flow by the nozzle 96 in the above embodiment is caused by the adjacent guide pieces 175. Nozzle holes 176a to 176f that form jet flows D1 to D3 similar to C1 to C3 are formed, and the nozzle holes 176a to 176f and the adjacent guide piece 175 form a nozzle.

The nozzle holes 176a and 176f form an injection flow indicated by an arrow D1 toward the feeding tension belt 157 in a vertical plane parallel to the feeding direction A2. The nozzle holes 176b, 176f form an angle α11 (30 ° as an example) with the feeding direction A2 in a plan view, and also form an injection flow indicated by an arrow D2 toward the feeding tension belt 157. The nozzle holes 176c and 176d are parallel to the arrow D2 and form the jet flow and the air flow indicated by the arrow D3. The jet flows D1 and D2 are focused on the center line 1 and combined to form an air flow D11. In the lower stretched portion 215 of the tension belt 157 for feeding, the suction area 108 defined by the vacuum suction box 162, and the feeding of the recording paper sucked so as to cover the area beyond the downstream side in the feeding direction A2. Injected at a position separated from the downstream end in the direction by a predetermined distance L5 to the downstream side. The reflected air flow from the feeding tension belt 157 is the uppermost recording paper P.
It is blown and injected between the first and second recording sheets P2. The injected air flow expands in the vertical direction, and the recording paper P1, P
Separate the two.

Further outside the nozzle holes 176a and 176f of the main body 169,
Nozzle holes 177a and 177 showing the cross-sectional shapes in FIGS. 32 and 33.
b is formed. As shown in FIG. 30, the nozzle holes 177a and 177b extend outward in the width direction and have an angle α with respect to the width direction.
12 (40 ° as an example) Feeding direction A2 It is configured to incline toward the outside in the width direction toward the upstream side, and as shown in Fig. 32, it is only an angle α13 (65.7 ° as an example) from the vertical direction. It is configured to incline toward the upstream side of the feeding direction A2 from the lower side toward the upper side.

That is, the jet flow and the air flow indicated by arrow D4 are jetted toward the upstream side in the feeding direction A2 with respect to the jet flow from the nozzle holes 176a to 176f. Further, the nozzle holes 177a, 17a of the main body 169 are
Outside the width direction 7b, concave grooves 178a, 178b parallel to the feeding direction A2 whose cross-sectional shape is shown in FIG. 34 are formed. As shown in FIG. 34, the concave grooves 178a and 178b are covered with the cover body 170 to form a jet flow and an air flow (indicated by an arrow D5) parallel to the feeding direction A2.

The cover body 170 shown in FIG. 35 is attached to the main body 169 having the above configuration. On both sides in the width direction of the cover body 170, fitting projections 251a and 251b having a pair of upper and lower nozzle holes 252a and 252b are formed. Each pair of each protrusion 2
51a and 251b are formed so as to protrude in the feeding direction A2, and are fitted with the concave grooves 178a and 178b of the main body 169, respectively, by the respective concave holes 250a and 178a;
Construct 252b. From these nozzle holes 252a and 252b, a jet flow can be formed in the direction of arrow D5 as described in FIG. On the end plate 253 of such a cover body 170,
A pair of upper and lower ribs 254 and 255 are integrally formed, and the nozzle holes 176a to 176e are defined by the ribs 254 and 255 so as to communicate with each other in the jet flows D1 to D3.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a configuration for driving the mounting plate 149 of the paper feeding device 38 up and down. Within the frame 148, a plurality of pulleys 180a to 180f are arranged at a predetermined height H5 from the bottom of the frame 148 as shown, and pulleys 180g to 180j are arranged at positions of a predetermined height H6 from the bottom. You. These pulleys
A wire 181 is stretched over 180a to 180j, and both ends of the wire 181 are wound around a drive roller 183 which is rotationally driven by a pulse motor 182. Of the wire 181, 4
The supporting pieces 184a to 184d on which the four corners of the placing plate 149 are mounted are fixed to the vertically extending portions at the corners.

That is, when the drive roller 183 is rotated in the direction of the arrow E1 by the pulse motor 182, the mounting plate 149 is raised, and the mounting plate 149 is lowered. In this way, as shown in FIG. 24, the uppermost recording sheet P1 in the vertical direction of the recording sheet P placed on the placing plate 149 is a predetermined distance from the feeding stretching belts 157a to 157d. Maintained at a position across H4. Thereby, a suitable vacuum suction operation of the uppermost recording sheet P by the feeding tension belts 157a to 157d can be realized.

FIG. 37 shows the nozzle holes 176a to 176f; 177a, 177b; 178a,
FIG. 178b is a perspective view illustrating a basic function of each airflow indicated by the above-mentioned arrows D1 to D5 and D11 by 178b. Each jet flow of the arrows D1 and D2 is concentrated in the width direction of the recording paper P as an air flow D11, and a gap is formed between the uppermost recording paper P1 and the second recording paper P2 as described later. It is blown into the inside and injected, and expands in the vertical direction to realize the function of separating the recording papers P1 and P2. The airflow indicated by the arrow D3 also performs the separating operation of the recording sheets P1 and P2 as described later.

The airflow D5 from the nozzle holes 178a and 178b is an airflow that is jetted parallel to the feeding direction A2 to a relatively upper portion of the stacked recording papers P, and a plurality of recording papers near the upper portion. Keep P floating at all times. Meanwhile, the nozzle hole 177
The air flow indicated by the arrow D4 from a, 177b is the uppermost recording paper P1 among the plurality of recording papers P levitated by the air flow indicated by the arrow D5.
Is pushed up toward the feeding stretch belt 157, and the negative pressure by the vacuum suction box 162 causes the recording paper P1 to be vacuum-sucked to the feeding stretch belt 157. At this time, the recording paper P is blown by the air flow indicated by the arrows D11 and D3 so that the plural recording papers P are not adsorbed at the same time.
Separate.

FIG. 38 is a sectional view for explaining the separating operation of the recording paper P in the paper feeding device 38. In FIG. 38, the configuration is simplified for simplification of the description. Hereinafter, the nozzle holes 176a to 176f and the guide pieces 175 that define the nozzle holes are referred to as “separating nozzles” and are denoted by the same reference numerals. The nozzle holes 177a, 177b; 179a, 179b and the guide pieces 175 that define them are respectively referred to as a lifting nozzle and a floating nozzle, and are also denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 37, when the airflow indicated by the arrow D5 is ejected from the floating nozzle 179 of the nozzle member 168 to the recording paper P stacked on the mounting plate 149, the stacked recording papers are discharged. The recording paper relatively above the paper P is levitated in the frame 148.

At this time, when a negative pressure is generated in the vacuum suction box 162, the floating recording paper P is vacuum-sucked to the lower tension portion 215 of the feeding tension belt 157. At this time, the topmost recording paper P1
Is formed on the vacuum suction box 162 and is lifted by the projections 167a and 167b protruding downward from between the feeding stretch belts 157, while the lower stretch portion 215 of the feed stretch belt 157 is Vacuum adsorbed. Since the second recording sheet P2 covers most of the lower tension portion 215 of the feeding tension belt 157 with the recording sheet P1, it is prevented from being attracted to the feeding tension belt 157. Even if it is adsorbed, it is only adsorbed relatively weakly. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 38, a gap 18 is formed between the recording sheets P1 and P2 near the protrusions 167a and 167b.
6 will occur.

As described above, the air flow D from the separation nozzles 176a to 176f is once transmitted to the suction port 1 in the feeding stretch belt 157.
Collision with a part that does not face 63
Injected between 1 and P2. Accordingly, the airflow injected downward into the gap 186 expands in the vertical direction, and the recording paper P1, P2 is separated by the positive pressure. In addition, the judgment nozzle 176c,
The air flow in the direction of the arrow D3 by 176d is also sucked into the gap 186, thereby realizing the separating operation. Push-up nozzle 177a, 177
b raises one or a plurality of recording papers P near the uppermost part of the floating recording papers P to the feeding stretch belt 157 side.

Thus, also in the present embodiment, the air flows C11 and C3 expanding in the vertical direction can be formed at positions symmetrical with respect to the center position CNT in the width direction of the recording paper, and the recording paper P used is relatively small. A good separation operation can be realized regardless of the size or the large size.
Moreover, since the air flow from the nozzle member 168 is concentrated at a plurality of positions in the width direction with respect to the recording paper P, even when a relatively small-sized or weighed recording paper is used, the recording paper P It is possible to avoid a situation in which the air is flown from the separation nozzles 176a to 176f and is scattered without being adsorbed to the feeding tension belt 157. Although the air flow from the sorting nozzle 176e is directed from the inner side to the outer side in the width direction, this air flow is blocked by the air flow of the sorting nozzles 176a and 176f and leaks from both ends of the recording paper P in the width direction. The situation can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent the recording paper P from fluttering at both ends in the width direction, thereby disturbing the lamination state and generating noise.

FIG. 39 is a sectional view showing another configuration example of the feeding device 220 of the paper feeding device 38. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment,
Corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the protrusion 167 formed on the vacuum suction box 162 is determined to be located at the center position CNT in the width direction between the feeding stretching belts 157b and 157c, and further, for feeding. Stretch belt 157a, 157
Suction ports 163e and 163f are provided in the vacuum suction box 162 between b and between the feeding tension belts 157c and 157d.

When such a configuration is used, as described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 37, the recording paper P on the mounting plate 149 is levitated by the levitating nozzles 179a and 179b, and the lifting nozzles 177a and 177b are lifted.
The recording paper P levitated above is pushed up to the feeding stretch belt 157 side. When the vacuum suction box 162 generates a negative pressure, the uppermost recording paper P1 is adsorbed by the feeding tension belt 157, but the range facing the suction ports 163e, 163f is the feeding tension belt 157. Therefore, the recording paper P1 is sucked and dents toward the vacuum suction box 162 side, as shown in FIG. 39. The same applies to the recording paper P1 facing the suction port 163f. Further, the recording paper P1 is lifted in a direction away from the vacuum suction box 162 by the protrusion 167 formed at the central position CNT.

Therefore, the suction ports 163e and 163f are provided between the recording sheets P1 and P2.
And the gap 186 is formed at the portion corresponding to the protrusion 167.
Therefore, the air flow C11 by the separation nozzles 176a to 176f,
C3 is injected into the gap 186 and separates the recording papers P1 and P2 by the vertical expansion as described above. According to such an embodiment, the same effect as the effect described in the above embodiment can be achieved.

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration example of the nozzle member 93 in the feeding device 21. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment, and corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The nozzle member 93 is provided with the nozzles 96a to 96h in the above-described configuration, and forms the jet flows C1, C2, C3, and C4 described in the above embodiment. In the nozzle member 93, a valve body 188 is arranged outward of the nozzle 96h in the width direction, and a valve body 189 is arranged inward of the nozzle 96a in the width direction. These valve bodies 188, 189 are provided so as to be capable of reciprocating displacement only in the width direction, and are connected to each other by a wire 190. This wire 190
The valve element 189 is connected to a plunger 193b of an electromagnetic solenoid 193a provided outside the nozzle member 93 via pulleys 191 and 192. The valve body 188 is provided with a spring 194, and the valve body 189
The spring is biased to the opposite side. The wire 190, pulley 19
1,192, the electromagnetic solenoid 193a and the plunger 193b constitute opening / closing driving means 221.

That is, the valve bodies 188 and 189 are set to the positions shown in FIG. 40 by the spring force of the spring 194 and the nozzles 96a and 96h are fully open when the electromagnetic solenoid 193a is not operating. On the other hand, the electromagnetic solenoid 193a operates and the plunger 19
When 3b retracts, the valve bodies 188, 189 are pulled by the wire 190 in the direction of arrow E3, move to the base end of the nozzles 96a, 96h, and block these nozzles 96a, 96h. At this time, the nozzle member 93
Are only the arrows C1 to C3.

FIG. 41 and FIG. 42 are plan views for explaining the operation of this embodiment. The type of the recording paper carried into the feeding device 21 is determined by selecting one of the paper feeding devices 38 to 40 in the above embodiment. That is, for example, the selected paper feeding device 38 is provided with the paper width detection mechanism 222 described with reference to FIG. 27, and, for example, depending on the displacement position of the side edge regulating members 195 and 196 set manually, The CPU 132 shown in FIG. 7 can detect the set paper width of the recording paper.

If the size of the selected recording paper is relatively small, for example, the width L5 shown in FIG.
If the air flow C4 from 96a, 96h is formed, the air flow C4 leaks from both ends in the width direction of the recording paper P outward in the width direction, and both ends in the width direction of the recording paper P are so-called fluttering states. Become. In this case, the stacking state of the recording paper P in the feeding device 21 is disturbed, and double feeding, feeding failure, and the like occur. In addition, noise is generated.

In this embodiment, in order to avoid such a situation, when the recording paper P is relatively small in size, the control of the CPU 132
Activate the electromagnetic solenoid 193a and move the valve bodies 188 and 189 to the nozzle 9
Move to the base end of 6a, 96h in the direction of arrow E3 so that airflow C4 is not formed. As a result, a separation area 141 indicated by hatching in FIG. 41 is realized for the stacked recording papers P, and a good separation operation is realized for the small-sized recording papers P.

On the other hand, if the selected recording paper P has a relatively large size,
For example, in the case of the width L6 and the like in FIG. 42, if the air flow C4 is not formed, only the separation region 141 by the nozzles 96b to 96g shown by hatching in FIG. 42 is formed. In the case of a large-sized recording paper P, separation failure will occur, and double feeding will occur. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the selected recording paper P is relatively large, the electromagnetic solenoid 193a is deenergized under the control of the CPU 132, and the valve bodies 188 and 189 move to the position shown in FIG. Return. As a result, the nozzles 96a and 96h are fully opened, and the air flow C4 is formed. This allows the separation area
A separation area 142 much larger than 141 can be formed, and a good separation operation can be realized even for a large-sized recording paper P.

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration example of the nozzle member 93 in the feeding device 21. The present embodiment is similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, and corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Also in this embodiment, the valve bodies 188, 189 are arranged in the nozzle member 93 in the same configuration as in the previous embodiment, and the wire 190 connects the valve bodies 188, 189 to each other and connects the side end regulating members 195, 196 via pulleys 191, 192. Connected to either one. In the present embodiment, it is connected to the side end regulating member 195.

As described with reference to FIG. 27, the side end regulating members 195 and 196 are fixed to driving members 197 and 198 having racks 199 and 200 formed on the sides facing each other, respectively.
99 and 200 mesh with the pinion 201 arranged between them from opposite sides. Therefore, the side end regulating members 195,196
Are interlocked with each other by the drive members 197 and 198 and the pinion 201. When one of the members is manually moved outward in the width direction, for example, the other is also moved outward in the width direction.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the side end regulating members 195 and 196 are separated by the distance L6 corresponding to the large-sized recording paper P as described above, the valve bodies 188 and 189 are located at positions where the nozzles 96a and 96g are not blocked. As described with reference to FIG. 39, a good separation operation is performed on a large-sized recording paper P.

On the other hand, when the recording paper P of a relatively small size is used and the side end regulating members 195 and 196 are close to each other so as to be separated from each other by the width L5, the wire 190 is driven by the arrow E3 against the spring force of the spring 194.
Pulled in the direction, the valve bodies 188 and 189 shield the nozzles 96a and 96h. As a result, the advantageous separating operation can be realized for the recording paper P having a relatively small size as described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 44 is a plan view showing a cross section of still another configuration example near the nozzle member 93, and FIG. 45 is a front view of FIG. This embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment, and corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the side end regulating plate
Blocking pieces 202, 203 extending inward in the width direction are formed at the downstream ends of the feeding directions A2 of 195, 196. Side edge regulation plate 1
When 95 and 196 are separated by the width L5 corresponding to the small-size recording paper, the nozzles 96a and 96h of the nozzle member 93 are shut off by the blocking pieces 202 and 2.
The air flow C4 directed toward the recording paper P is blocked by 03.

On the other hand, when the side edge regulating plates 195 and 196 are separated by the width L6 corresponding to the large-sized recording paper P, the nozzles 96a and 96h are not blocked by the blocking pieces 202 and 203 and are in a fully opened state.
Further, the width L7 of the blocking pieces 202, 203 in the width direction is based on the difference in the intervals of the side end regulating members 195, 196, and the nozzles 96a, 96h.
Is set to be freely openable and closable.

According to such an embodiment, the nozzles 96a and 96h can be opened and closed according to the size of the recording paper, and the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be achieved.

FIG. 46 is a plan view showing a cross section of still another configuration example near the nozzle member 93. The present embodiment is similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, and corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In the above-described embodiment, the valve bodies 188, 189 provided in the nozzle member 93 are provided.
Has realized the function of switching the nozzles 96a and 96c between the shielded state and the fully opened state. The feature of the present embodiment is that the valve members 217 and 218 are provided in the nozzle member 93, and the shape of the valve members 217 and 218 is the nozzle even when the electromagnetic plunger 193a is operated as described above.
96a and 96h are not completely cut off.
Thus, the air flow C4 generated from the nozzles 96a and 96h changes between the maximum flow rate and the intermediate flow rate determined by the half-open state. By setting the intermediate flow rate appropriately, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the effect in the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view showing still another configuration example of the nozzle member 93. The present embodiment is similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, and corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In each of the above-described embodiments, the widthwise center position CNT of the mounting plates 45 and 149 is matched with the widthwise center position of the recording paper, but in the present embodiment, the widthwise one end of the mounting plates 45 and 149 is recorded. One end of the paper in the width direction is matched. Therefore, a fixed-side end regulating plate 224 is provided at one end in the width direction of the mounting plates 45 and 149, and a movable-side end regulating plate 225 is provided at the other side. In response to this, the valve element 226 provided in the nozzle member 93 is selected to have a shape that opens and closes the nozzle 96h near the end of the nozzle member 93 on which the side end regulating plate 225 is arranged. Even in such an embodiment, the same effect as the effect described in the above embodiment can be achieved.

The nozzles 96a, 96d, 96e, 96h, the nozzle holes 175c, and the judgment nozzles 187a, 187d, 187e, 187h in each of the above embodiments.
May not be adopted from the point of view of the important points of the present invention, and such examples are also included in the spirit of the present invention. Further, the projections 107a, 107b; 167a, 167b; 206, 20 in the above embodiment.
7 is not limited to a shape that is continuous on a straight line, and may be, for example, a shape of a single protrusion having a circular head shape, or a configuration in which a plurality of such protrusions are formed along the feeding direction A2. Good. In the above embodiment, the recording paper is a feeding belt.
46a to 46c, 157a to 157d, and 208 are adsorbed over a range exceeding the suction area 108, and the air flow for separation is previously set in a direction from the downstream end of the recording paper in the feeding direction A2 to the downstream in the feeding direction. The recording paper is ejected once to the separated position, and the reflected flow separates the recording paper. As another example of the present invention, for example, when the recording paper has a relatively small size, the recording paper may be configured to be sucked so as to be exposed without covering the vicinity of the downstream end of the suction area 108. In such a case, the air flow for separation is sucked into the suction area 108, and the flow rate is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which small-sized recording paper is scattered by a large flow of air. In the case of a recording paper having a relatively large size or a large weighing amount, it may be adsorbed as in the above-described embodiment.

As another embodiment of the present invention, the sheet is stacked so that one end in the width direction of the sheet is aligned on the mounting plate, and the sheets are fed in a state where the one end is aligned. You may.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, the rear end regulating members 58, 152
May be configured to detect a sheet size (that is, width and length, etc.) or a stack amount thereof by a detection unit, and drive the sheet to be moved back and forth in the feeding direction.

The present invention can be widely applied not only for feeding the recording paper of the copying machine, but also for feeding the recording paper of the printer and for feeding the sheet other than the recording paper.

It is pointed out that the present invention can be easily modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims set forth above, and such modifications are also included in the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, among the sheets stacked on the mounting plate, the lowermost or uppermost sheet is vacuum-adsorbed and conveyed by the feeding means, and in this conveyance,
Of the plurality of air streams from the air stream forming means, the air stream outward in the width direction is formed or not formed by the air flow rate control means, and therefore, when a sheet having a small width is fed. , Prevents fluttering due to excessive flow on both sides of a small width sheet by not forming an air flow outward in the width direction, and reliably separates each small width sheet one by one. Can be delivered. Moreover, when a sheet having a large width is conveyed, an air flow adjusting means forms an air flow outward in the width direction, whereby a sheet having a large width and therefore generally large weight is
It is possible to feed the sheets one by one. Further, the flow rate of the air flow may be changed by the air flow rate control means.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably feed the sheets having various sizes from the narrow sheet to the large sheet one by one.

Further, according to the invention, the air flow forming means includes a nozzle member, and the nozzle member has one or a plurality of nozzle holes for each air flow, and the air flow rate control means opens and closes the nozzle holes. Equipped with a valve body for opening and closing by drive means,
The opening / closing drive means is configured to drive, for example, a plunger connected to the valve body by an electromagnetic solenoid, and such a configuration is relatively simple and excellent in productivity.

Further, according to the present invention, the size in the width direction of the sheets to be stacked is detected by the detection means, and the nozzle holes are controlled to be opened and closed by the valve bodies according to the size of the width of the sheets. It becomes possible to automatically obtain an optimum air flow according to the size of the width, which makes it possible to reliably separate and feed the sheets one by one.

Further, according to the present invention, according to the size of the width of the sheet, in order to form or not form the air flow outward in the width direction, the side edges of the sheet on the mounting plate are aligned. The side end regulating member may be interlocked with the valve body that opens and closes the nozzle hole. Also by this, depending on the size of the width direction of the sheets, the air flow is formed or not formed, or the flow rate of the air flow is changed to the large or small, and the stacked sheets are It is possible to feed the bottommost or topmost sheet one by one.

Further, according to the present invention, the mounting plate is configured symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry passing through the center position in the width direction, and the air flow is supplied from each position symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry, and thus the air is fed. Air can be blown between the top and bottom of the sheets to be fed, one sheet at a time.

Further, according to the present invention, the first air flow is supplied toward the vicinity of the boundary between the substantially horizontal center mounting portion of the mounting plate and the side mounting portions extending on both sides in the width direction, and the central mounting portion is supplied with the first air flow. By providing a feeding means for feeding the lowermost sheet facing the formed cutout, by this, an air flow can be easily blown between the lowermost sheet and the remaining sheet near the boundary, The top and bottom are easily separated, and when feeding small sheets in the width direction,
By not forming the second air flow disposed on both sides in the width direction outside of the first air flow, it is possible to prevent both sides of the sheet having the small width from fluttering and to feed the sheet having the large width. Therefore, it is possible to perform the upper and lower separation using the second air flow as well as the first air flow.

Further according to the invention, the feeding means is provided above the stacked sheets, and the sheet has a downstream end portion in the feeding direction,
That is, the sheet floating air is jetted toward the vicinity of the front end to facilitate the separation of the sheets, and the air flow forming unit jets the air flow toward the feeding unit, and only the uppermost sheet is It becomes possible to separate the remaining sheets and feed the sheets one by one from the top.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a feeding device 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the feeding device 21, FIG. 3 is a side view thereof, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a copying machine 22 in which the feeding device 21 is used, and FIGS. FIG. 7 is a perspective view, and FIG.
22 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of 22. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mounting plate 45. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting plate 45. FIG. 10 shows the air flow of the nozzles 96b and 96c in this embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the state, FIG. 11 is a plan view for explaining the state of the air flow by the nozzles 96b, 96c; 96f, 96g of this embodiment, and FIG. 12 is the nozzles 96a-9.
6h is a plan view for explaining the state of the air flow, FIG. 13 is a side view for explaining the operation of this embodiment, and FIGS. 14 to 17 are other examples of arrangement of the nozzles 96a to 96h of this embodiment. Plan view, FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration example of the nozzle member 93 and the nozzle 96, FIGS. 19 to 22 are perspective views showing another configuration example of the mounting plate 45, respectively. Is a cross-sectional view showing another configuration example of this embodiment, FIG. 24 is a side view showing the configuration of the paper feeding device 38, and FIG. 25 is a plan view of the feeding tension belt 157 of the paper feeding device 38. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the configuration shown in FIG. 25, FIG. 27 is a plan view illustrating the paper width detection mechanism 135 in the paper feeding device 38, and FIG. 28 is a front view of the main body 169 of the air duct 168. 29 is a plan view of the main body 169, FIG. 30 is a rear view of the main body 169, FIGS. 31 to 34 are cross-sectional views taken along the section lines AA, BB, CC, DD in FIG. The figure shows the front view of cover 170, No. 36 Is a system diagram for explaining a lifting mechanism of the mounting plate 149 in the paper feeding device 38, FIG. 37 is a perspective view for explaining the action of the air flow in this embodiment, and FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the action of this embodiment. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another configuration example of the present embodiment, FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of the present embodiment,
41 and 42 are plan views for explaining the operation of this embodiment, FIG. 43 is a plan view for showing another configuration example of this embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 45 is a sectional view showing still another configuration example of the present embodiment, FIG. 45 is a side view of the present embodiment, FIG. 46 is a sectional view showing another configuration example of the present embodiment, and FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the other structural example of an example, FIG. 48 is a side view of the feeder 1 of a typical prior art example,
FIG. 49 is a sectional view for explaining the arrangement of the air injection duct 9 and the nozzle 10 used in the feeding device 1, FIG. 50 is a perspective view of the support tray 3 used in the feeding device 1, and FIG. 51 is a conventional example. 6 is a plan view for explaining the state of the air flow in FIG. 21,30 …… Feeding device, 22 …… Copier, 25 …… Document feeder, 38-40 …… Feeding device, 45,149 …… Loading plate, 46a-46
c, 157a to 157d, 208… feeding tension belt, 48… central mounting section, 49, 50… side mounting section, 51a, 51b… step section, 58, 152
... rear end regulating member, 96a to 96h ... nozzle, 103 ... through hole, 104, 162 ... vacuum storage box, 106a to 106c ... suction port, 1
07a, 107b, 167a, 167b, 206, 207 ... Protrusion, 108 ... Suction area, 130, 131 ... Side edge regulation plate, 132 ... CPU, 135 ... Paper width detection mechanism, 138, 139 ... Bending portion, 140a-140f ... … Area, 141,142 …… Separation area, 176a to 176f …… Nozzle hole (saw nozzle), 177a, 177b …… Nozzle hole (push-up nozzle), 179a, 179b …… Nozzle hole (floating nozzle), 187a to 1
87h …… Saw nozzle, 188,189 …… Valve, 195,196 ……
Side end regulating member, 204,205 ...

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display area B65H 5/22 B65H 5/22 A 85/00 85/00 G03G 15/00 106 G03G 15/00 106 (56) References JP-A-60-36248 (JP, A) JP-A-3-73726 (JP, A) Actual development Sho-47-32 (JP, U)

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A placing plate on which a plurality of sheets are stacked and placed, and a lowermost or uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets arranged below or above the sheets, which is vacuum-adsorbed and supplied. A means for sending the air and a plurality of air streams arranged in the width direction of the placing plate, which are arranged on the downstream side in the feeding direction of the placing plate, toward the feeding means and near the ends of the stacked sheets. And a flow rate control means for controlling the flow rate of the air flow toward the outside of the plurality of air flows arranged in the width direction of the mounting plate. Characteristic multi-size sheet feeding device. 2. The air flow forming means comprises a nozzle member for injecting air from one or a plurality of nozzle holes provided for each of the air flows, and the air flow rate control means is a valve for opening and closing the nozzle holes. The multi-size sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a body and an opening / closing drive unit that drives and displaces the valve body to open and close the nozzle hole. 3. The multi-size sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the opening / closing drive means includes a plunger connected to the valve body, and an electromagnetic solenoid for driving the plunger. 4. A means for detecting the size of the sheets to be stacked in the width direction, an electromagnetic solenoid controlled in response to an output of the detection means, and a nozzle hole for a valve element depending on the size of the sheet width. The multi-size sheet feeding device according to claim 3, further comprising: a control unit that opens and closes each of the sheets. 5. A side end regulating member is provided movably in the width direction in order to align the side ends of the sheets stacked on the placing plate, and the opening / closing drive means is interlocked with the side end regulating member, The multi-size sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle holes are opened and closed by the valve bodies according to the width of the sheet. 6. A side end regulating member is provided so as to be movable in the width direction in order to align the side ends of the sheets stacked on the mounting plate, and the air flow forming means is provided for each of the air flows. Alternatively, a nozzle member for injecting air from a plurality of nozzle holes is provided, and the side end regulating member is provided with a blocking piece that faces the outlet end of the nozzle hole when the width of the sheet is small. The multi-size sheet feeding device according to claim 1. 7. The mounting plate is configured symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry passing through the center position in the width direction, and the air flow forming means injects an air flow from each position symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry. 2. The multi-size sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate control means simultaneously controls the flow rates of the air flows on both sides in the width direction of the air flow. 8. The mounting plate has a substantially horizontal center mounting portion and side mounting portions extending from the center mounting portion to both sides in the width direction, and the downstream side of the center mounting portion in the feeding direction. The end portion of the side mounting portion is located on the upstream side in the feeding direction with respect to the end portion on the downstream side in the feeding direction, and a cutout is formed in the mounting plate. The feeding means for feeding the lowermost sheet among them faces the air flow forming means, and the air flow forming means is configured to inject the first air flow toward the vicinity of the boundary between the central mounting portion and the side mounting portion of the mounting plate. And a second air flow which is disposed on both outer sides in the width direction than the first air flow and is jetted toward both outer sides in the width direction. The multi-size sheet feeding device according to claim 7, wherein the flow rate of the sheet is controlled. 9. The feeding means is provided above the stacked sheets, and means for injecting the sheet levitation air toward the vicinity of the downstream end of the stacked sheets in the feeding direction is provided. The multi-size sheet feeding device according to claim 1.