JP2584803B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette attaching / detaching device for accommodating a sheet in a printer for performing printing on the sheet using thermal transfer, ink jet, electrophotographic process, or the like.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer that accommodates sheets in a cassette, feeds the sheets from the cassette, and performs printing on the sheets, an operation related to attachment and detachment of the cassette is performed by an operator.

In general, the mounting position of the cassette in the printer is classified into two types, one in which more than half of the cassette is exposed from the printer main body, and the other in which most of the cassette is incorporated. In the former case, the cassette can be easily attached and detached, but since the cassette protrudes from the printer main body, the installation area of the printer main body is large, and even if the printer main body is small, the exclusive space becomes large. In contrast, the latter printer with a built-in cassette has a small installation area and is compact. In particular, in a small printer installed on a desk, the cassette does not protrude, so that the desk space and office space can be used efficiently.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described conventional example, in the case where the cassette is built-in, since the moving distance of the cassette in attaching and detaching the cassette is long, especially when the cassette is full of sheets, the weight increases, so that the load on the operator is large. There was. Also, when a part of the cassette is exposed from the printer body, the insertion of the cassette is insufficient, and the cassette is not set at the set position, or the cassette or the paper feed section of the printer is damaged due to the strong insertion. Further, there is also a problem that the sheet in the cassette jumps out due to the insertion shock and a paper feeding jam occurs.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention provides a cassette capable of accommodating a plurality of sheets, a printer main body having a recording means for recording on sheets, and a sheet provided on one side of the printer main body, the sheets being recorded and discharged by the recording means. A tray to be swingably supported on a rotating shaft provided on an upper side of the printer main body on a side opposite to the side where the tray is disposed with respect to the printer main body. Between a first position for holding the cassette at a first position and a second position for holding the cassette at an angle above the first position for attaching and detaching the cassette. A cassette holding member movable to hold the sheet, and a feeder for feeding a sheet from the cassette held at the first position by the cassette holding member toward the recording means. Paper means; and driving means for moving the cassette holding member from the first position to the second position.

[Action]

According to the above configuration, when refilling the cassette with sheets, the driving means moves the cassette holding member from the first position for supporting the cassette substantially horizontally to the second position for supporting the cassette in an upwardly inclined state. . At this time, since the cassette holding member is swung by the rotation shaft on the side opposite to the tray on which the sheets to be recorded and discharged are stacked, the side of the cassette where the tray is disposed moves upward and holds the cassette. The cassette can be attached and detached. Therefore, attachment and detachment of the cassette and handling of the recorded sheet can be performed from the same side of the printer body.

Then, the cassette replenished with the sheet is mounted on the cassette holding member and moved from the second position to the first position, whereby the sheet can be supplied to the recording means.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a laser beam printer using an electrophotographic method. In the drawing, 1 is a machine box, 2 is a cassette for storing sheets, 3 is a sheet, 4 is a paper feed roller as paper feeding means for conveying the sheets one by one from the cassette,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a first transport roller, and reference numeral 6 denotes a registration roller. The paper feed roller 4 is supported by an arm 4 a that is rotatably supported on the rotation shaft of the first transport roller 6. 4c is a solenoid, 4b is a link having one end pivotally supported by an arm 4a and the other end by a plunger of the solenoid 4c. Reference numeral 7 denotes a process cartridge including a photosensitive drum 7a, a developing unit 7b, a charging unit 7c, and a cleaner 7d. A transfer charging unit 9 for transferring a developer on the photosensitive drum 7a. A transfer charging unit 9 transfers a sheet. Is a fixing device for fixing the developer to the paper surface, 11 is a second transport roller, 12 is a paper discharge roller, and 13 is a tray on which sheets are stacked. 14 is a scanner unit for emitting and scanning laser light, and 15 and 16 are first for guiding laser light onto a drum.
This is the second mirror.

The paper feed roller 4 is positioned at a point in time when paper is not fed or conveyed. When a print command is input from a connected computer (not shown), the solenoid 4c is excited to extend the plunger and extend the arm 4a. The paper feed roller 4 is rotated in the direction, the paper feed roller 4 is lowered to the position indicated by the solid line, and the paper is fed. Then, after printing is performed by a known electrophotographic process, the paper is stacked on the tray 13.

On the other hand, 17 is a basket as a cassette holding member for supporting the cassette 2, 18 is a fixing pin attached to the basket 17, 19 is a pivot shaft 20 of the basket 17 and a basket table 21 attached to the printer body is a pivot shaft. It is a coil spring as a driving means which is wound and has its ends attached to the basket stand 20 and the basket 17. Reference numeral 22 denotes a lever 23, which is a rotation shaft of the lever and is attached to the printer body. 24 is a lever spring. Usually, the lever 22 is pulled by a lever spring 24 so that a part of the lever 22 is hooked on the fixing pin 18, and the basket 17 is fixed at a position indicated by a solid line (first position). Reference numeral 25 denotes a cassette spring mounted inside the basket 17, and reference numeral 26 denotes a stay plate on the printer body side. Normally, the position of the cassette 2 is such that the rear portion of the cassette 2 is pushed in the direction of arrow B by the cassette spring 25, and the front portion thereof is pressed by the stay plate 26 with an appropriate force, and is held at the set position.

When the cassette 3 has run out of the sheet 3 or is to be replaced with another type of transfer paper, the operator pushes the upper part of the lever 22 in the direction of arrow A. Then, the lever 22 rotates about the rotation shaft 23, the fixing pin 18 is disengaged from the lever 22, and the basket 17 is rotated about the rotation shaft 19 in the direction of the arrow A by the coil spring 21 so that the cassette can be attached and detached. Stop at the position indicated by the dotted line at the second position. At this time, since the paper feed roller 4 is at the position indicated by the dotted line, it does not hinder the rotation of the cassette. The operator takes out the cassette 2, puts the transfer paper 3 in the cassette 2, and inserts it again into the basket 17.

Next, the operator pushes the tip of the basket 17 in the direction of arrow C. At this time, the sheet 3 is generally full in the cassette 2 and the position of the basket 17 pushed by the operator is far from the rotation shaft 19, so that the basket 17 is moved with a small force by the principle of leverage. It is possible to push down. When the basket 17 reaches the position shown by the solid line, the lever 22
Engages with the fixing pin 18 again, the basket 17 is held at the position indicated by the solid line, and the cassette 2 is also pressed by the cassette spring 25 to be held at the set position, thus completing the mounting of the cassette.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the cassette is taken out, the cassette 2 requiring the most force is lifted by the coil spring 21 built in the printer main body.
The operator can take out the cassette simply by pressing the lever 22. Also, when installing a cassette,
When the cassette 2 containing the sheet is inserted into the basket 17 and the basket 17 is pushed down to the set position, the cassette 2 is automatically set, and the pushing force is small as described above.

Even if the operator pushes down the basket too hard, the feeding direction is not orthogonal because the moving direction of the basket is orthogonal to the feeding direction because the sheet does not jump out in the feeding direction due to the shock at the time of setting. Is less likely to occur.

As described above, according to the present invention, the cassette can be attached and detached with a simple operation without requiring a large force, and the operability thereof can be greatly improved. In the printer shown in FIG. 1, the cassette 2 is arranged at the top of the printer, and the cassette is attached and detached at the top of the printer. Therefore, when the printer body is placed on the desk, it is not necessary to squeeze the desk space in the attaching / detaching operation. There is also an advantage.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the present invention, since the driving means for moving the cassette holding member to the position for attaching and detaching the cassette is provided, the load on the operator in attaching and detaching the cassette is reduced, and the operability is improved.

Further, a cassette holding member is provided on the upper portion of the printer main body, and when the cassette is to be attached / detached, the cassette is swung upward from the sheet feeding position so that the cassette can be attached / detached in an inclined state, and further recorded and ejected. The cassette can be attached and detached from the same side as the tray on which sheets to be stacked are stacked, so that the operability of the printer can be improved.

Further, a space in the lateral direction of the printer is not required for the operation of attaching and detaching the cassette, and the restriction on the installation of the printer is reduced. That is, if there is a space above, the printer can be installed if there is only a floor area where the printer body can be installed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a printer embodying the present invention. 2... Cassette 3... Transfer paper 4... Paper feed roller 7... Process cartridge 17. Coil spring 22 …… Lever

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-97140 (JP, A) JP-A-60-56744 (JP, A) JP-A-60-68355 (JP, A) 19833 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cassette capable of accommodating a plurality of sheets, a printer main body provided with recording means for recording on sheets, and a sheet provided on one side of the printer main body and recorded and discharged by the recording means. A loading tray, and an upper portion of the printer main body, which is swingably supported by a rotation shaft provided on the opposite side of the printer main body from a side where the tray is disposed, and the cassette is substantially horizontally moved to feed a sheet. A first position for holding in a state;
A cassette holding member which is movable above the second position for holding and moving the cassette between a second position for holding the cassette in an inclined state for attaching and detaching the cassette, and the cassette; Sheet feeding means for feeding a sheet from the cassette held at the first position by the holding member toward the recording means; and moving the cassette holding member from the first position to the second position. A printer comprising: a driving unit; 2. A sheet feeding means is disposed on the printer main body side, in which a sheet can be fed by contacting a sheet stored in the cassette, and the cassette holding member is separated from the sheet and swings. Claim (1) characterized in that it is movably supported between a position permitting the movement.
Printer according to paragraph. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said sheet feeding means is arranged on the same side as said tray with respect to said printer main body.