JP2625057B2 - Automatic paper feeder and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic paper feeder provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as the above-mentioned copying machine, it is desired to reduce the size of the apparatus in order to reduce the installation space. On the other hand, in order to eliminate the trouble of replenishing sheets, it is desired to provide a feeding device capable of feeding a large amount of paper even in a downsized image forming apparatus.

In response to these demands, as a conventional example,
As shown in FIG. 7, a paper deck b capable of storing and feeding a large amount of sheets is arranged on a side surface of an apparatus main body a, and sheets are supplied from the paper deck b.

However, in this configuration, the space of the apparatus is increased by the amount that the paper deck b projects sideways from the side of the apparatus. Further, since sheets are replenished to the paper deck b from the side of the apparatus, a work space for the replenishment is required, and a substantial installation space is increased.

On the other hand, US Pat. No. 4,888,829 discloses an arrangement in which a pair of trays for storing sheets to be sent to a printer are arranged in a frame supporting the printer. In this apparatus, a pair of trays are arranged in an inverted V-shape, and sheets are discharged from an outlet provided near an upper portion of a frame, and fed to an inlet provided in the center of the lower surface of the printer. It is configured.

As described above, by arranging a plurality of sheet storage means in the frame supporting the printer, it is possible to increase the sheet feeding capacity.

[0007]

However, in the conventional apparatus in which a paper deck is arranged on the side of the apparatus main body,
Sheet replenishment and cassette loading must be performed from the side of the apparatus main body, and a work space for performing these operations is required on the side, and even if the image forming apparatus can be reduced in size, it is substantially required. It is impossible to reduce the installation space.

In the case where a pair of trays are arranged in a frame supporting the printer, the sheet supply position is limited to the center so that the sheet is supplied from the center of the frame. There is a problem that the degree of freedom of design such as the connection relationship with the device is low. Further, since sheets are replenished from the left and right sides of the frame, a work space is required on the left and right sides of the frame, and a substantial reduction in installation space cannot be achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic paper feeder capable of increasing the paper feed capacity and substantially reducing the installation space.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus main body having an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet. First and second sheet support means for stacking and supporting sheets, which are arranged side by side in an automatic sheet feeder on which the image forming apparatus main body is placed, First and second sheets are provided corresponding to the first and second sheet supporting means, and feed the sheets supported by each sheet supporting means in substantially the same direction.
Feeding means; guide means for supporting the first and second sheet support means so as to be able to be pulled out in the same direction intersecting the juxtaposed direction, respectively; A first conveying means for conveying the sheet sent by the feeding means, and a sheet fed by the second feeding means from the second sheet supporting means passing above the first sheet supporting means. To the first
And a second conveying means for joining the first and second sheet supporting means, the first and second feeding means, the guiding means, the first and second conveying means. Conveying means is disposed in the paper feeding device main body on which the image forming apparatus main body is mounted on the upper surface, and each sheet sent from the first and second sheet supporting means is transferred to the upper surface of the paper feeding device main body. Wherein the sheet is supplied to the image forming means from the same position through the lower surface of the image forming apparatus main body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic sheet feeding apparatus according to the first aspect, the first and second sheet supporting means have an intermediate plate on which sheets can be loaded and moved up and down. In the device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first and second feeding means press the sheets stacked on the first and second sheet supporting means so as to press the sheets. A feed roller that feeds, a feed roller that is arranged downstream of the feed roller and rotates in the sheet feed direction, and is provided in pressure contact with the feed roller, and is driven to rotate in a direction opposite to the sheet feed direction. And a retard roller to be transmitted, wherein the sheet fed by the feed roller is separated and fed one by one between the feed roller and the retard roller. The automatic paper feeder described above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic sheet feeder arranged below an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, for stacking and supporting the sheets arranged side by side in a horizontal direction. First and second sheet supporting means;
First and second feeding means provided to correspond to the first and second sheet supporting means, and for feeding out the sheets supported by the respective sheet supporting means in substantially the same direction; Guide means for removably supporting the second sheet supporting means in the same direction intersecting the juxtaposed direction, and a sheet conveyed by the first feeding means from the first sheet supporting means. A first conveying means, and a sheet fed from the second sheet supporting means by the second feeding means and conveyed over the first sheet supporting means to form the first conveying means. And a second transporting unit that merges with the first sheet supporting unit in the second transporting unit so as to be able to be pulled out in the same direction as the pulling out direction of the sheet supporting unit. Setting And, in the automatic sheet feeder, characterized in that.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an openable / closable door for removing a sheet jammed in the first conveying means from the paper feeding device main body is provided on a side surface of the paper feeding device main body. The automatic paper feeder according to claim 4, wherein:

[0015] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the transport section includes:
The automatic sheet feeding device according to claim 4, further comprising a pair of guides, wherein the guides are configured to open and close when the transport unit is pulled out.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the second feeding means and the second conveying means are integrally formed so that they can be pulled out in the same direction as the sheet supporting means. The automatic paper feeder according to claim 4, wherein: The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claims 1 to 7.
And an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet sent out by the automatic sheet feeding device. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the automatic sheet feeding device is disposed in a sheet feeding device main body for supporting the image forming unit. It is in. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the first and second sheet support means are supported so as to be able to be pulled out on the operation side of the image forming apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus.

[0017]

According to the above construction, the sheets stacked and supported by the first sheet supporting means are passed from the first feeding means to the first conveying means, and are stacked and supported by the second sheet supporting means. The fed sheet passes from the second feeding unit to the second conveying unit, and is conveyed to the image forming unit after the first and second conveying units join. Accordingly, since the sheet supporting means is arranged side by side below the image forming means, a large amount of sheets can be stored, the sheet feeding capacity can be increased, and each sheet supporting means can be pulled out in the same direction. Since it is possible, operations such as sheet replenishment can be performed from the same side, and a substantial installation space of the apparatus can be reduced.

Further, sheet supporting means are arranged side by side below the image forming means, and the sheet sent from the second sheet supporting means is conveyed through a conveying section above the first sheet supporting means. Therefore, it is possible to supply the sheet from the end of the image forming unit on the upper side.

Further, if the conveying section is provided so as to be able to be pulled out in the same direction as the sheet supporting means, the jam processing of the sheet can be performed from the same side as replenishment of the sheet, etc. Installation space can be reduced.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall configuration of an apparatus M according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a copying machine main body 50 is mounted on a pedestal 1. Are provided with decks (sheet supporting means) 10a and 10b which are sheet feeding means capable of feeding a large amount of paper.

The paper feeding means in the pedestal 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state where the decks 10a and 10b are mounted, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in the state where 10b was removed.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a caster for supporting the pedestal 1, and reference numeral 3 denotes an adjuster serving as a stopper for fixing the device. Reference numeral 5 denotes a bottom plate, 6 denotes a ceiling plate, and the bottom plate 5 and the ceiling plate 6 are fixed by columns 7, 9 disposed on the near side and the back side, respectively. One side of the pedestal 1 is a door 1a that can be opened and closed.

The decks 10a and 10b are provided so as to be easily pulled out from the front side of the apparatus main body (operation side of the copying machine 50) by rollers (guide means) 11 and 12. The decks 10a and 10b are provided with middle plates 13a and 13b for supporting the sheets P, respectively.
a and 13b are raised and lowered by a lifting means (not shown) such that the uppermost sheet _PT of the stacked sheets P is always at a fixed position.

Next, the feeding means 20a and 20b for feeding the sheets P from the respective decks 10a and 10b will be described.

2 and 3, reference numeral 35 denotes the feeding means 20.
Reference numeral a denotes a side plate, and reference numeral 36 denotes a side plate of the feeding means 20b.
Each side plate 35, 36 is front and rear (direction perpendicular to the paper surface)
Are provided in parallel with each other. The side plate 36 extends in the direction of the feeding means 20a, and has a distal end portion 36a.
A gap CL is formed between the side plate 35 and the side plate 35.

First, the feeding means 20a will be described.
A stay 40 is fixed to each of a pair of side plates 35 (only one is shown) arranged in front and rear.
A feed roller shaft to which the feed roller 16a is attached extends between the feed rollers. A support plate 41a is swingably attached to the feed roller shaft, and a feed roller 15a is provided at one end of the support plate 41a. The paper feed roller 15a is in contact with the uppermost sheet _PT at a predetermined pressure by appropriate means. Note that the feed roller 16a and the paper feed roller 15a are connected to a drive source (not shown) so as to rotate in a sheet feeding direction by a drive transmission unit (not shown).

A swinging shaft 19a extends between the distal ends 36a of the side plates 36, and a swinging plate 37a is swingably attached to the swinging shaft 19a. Rocking plate 37
A retard roller 17a is attached to a, and the retard roller 17a is in contact with the feed roller 16a at a predetermined pressure by a spring 39a connected to a swing plate 37a. The retard roller 17a is connected to a driving source (not shown) via a torque limiter (not shown) so as to rotate in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.

Next, the feeding means 20b will be described. A pair of side plates 36 arranged at the front and rear (only one is shown)
Each has a stay 42 fixed thereto.
A feed roller shaft to which the feed roller 16b is attached is stretched between them. A support plate 41b is swingably attached to the feed roller shaft, and a feed roller 15b is provided at one end of the support plate 41b. The paper feed roller 15b is in contact with the uppermost _PT at a predetermined pressure by an appropriate means. The feed roller 16b and the paper feed roller 1
Reference numeral 5b is connected to a drive source (not shown) so as to rotate in the sheet feeding direction by drive transmission means (not shown).

Further, a swing shaft 19b extends between the side plates 36, and a swing plate 37b is swingably attached. A retard roller 17b is attached to the oscillating plate 37b, and the retard roller 17b is
b by a spring 39b connected to the feed roller 16b.
At a predetermined pressure. Retard roller 17b
Is a drive source (not shown) via a torque limiter (not shown) so as to rotate in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.
Is connected to

Each of the retard rollers 17a, 17b provided on the feeding means 20a, 20b is connected to a feed roller 16a in accordance with the drawing of the decks 10a, 10b.
a, 16b. This structure is as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). The cam surface 80 is provided on the side surfaces of the decks 10a and 10b, the lever 81 is rotatably supported by a shaft 81a and has one end in contact with the cam surface 80, and the direction in which the lever 81 contacts the cam surface 80. And a link member 83 provided at the other end of the lever 81. The link member 83 is engaged with swing support plates 37a and 37b that support the retard rollers 17a and 17b.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the decks 10a, 1
0b is stored in the pedestal 1, the lever 81 is at the projecting position of the cam surface 80, and the retard rollers 17a, 17b are driven by the feed rollers 16a, 16a at a predetermined pressure.
It is located on the left side in the figure so as to be pressed against 16b.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the decks 10a, 10a
0b is pulled out, the contact portion of the lever 81 becomes the cam surface 8
The lever 81 rotates and moves by the urging force of the spring 80 from 0, and the link member 83 moves the swing support plates 37a and 37b against the urging force of the springs 39a and 39b, and the retard rollers 17a and 17b Feed rollers 16a, 16b
Move to the right in the figure to move away from

Here, the retard rollers 17a, 17b
In the case where two or more sheets P enter between the feed rollers 16a and 16b and the retard rollers 17a and 17b, the coefficient of friction between the sheets is smaller than that of the sheets. Feed roller 16
a, 16b and the friction coefficient between the retard rollers 17a, 17b, the retard rollers 17a, 17b, which are configured to reverse in principle, are retarded by a friction force slightly larger than the friction force between the sheets P. Roller 17
The sheet P on the side a, 17b is reversely fed, and the feed rollers 16a,
The sheet P on the 16b side is sent out.

However, when one sheet P enters between the feed rollers 16a and 16b and the retard rollers 17a and 17b, the friction between the sheet and the retard rollers 17a and 17b via one sheet. Since the torque generated by the coefficient is transmitted to the retard rollers 17a and 17b, the torque limiter slips with respect to this torque, and when one sheet is fed by the feed rollers 16a and 16b, the retard Roller 17
a and 17b rotate forward following the feed rollers 16a and 16b. In this way, reliable separation is achieved.

Next, the means for conveying a sheet will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the sheet P sent from the feeding means 20a is provided with guides 22 and 23, guides 25 and 26, and guides 29 and 29 constituting a second conveying means.
Guided by 30. The sheet P sent from the feeding means 20b is connected to a guide 30, which constitutes a first conveying means,
Guided to 31. Guides 29, 30 and Guide 30,
The sheet 31 joins the guides 32 on the main body side, and the sheet P guided by each guide is sent to the copying machine main body 50 by the guide 32. A registration roller pair 33 is disposed on the guide 32, and the timing of the feeding timing of the fed sheet P and the timing of the transfer timing of the image forming unit are set.

The transport section 2 provided in the second transport means
1a is composed of the guides 25 and 26 and a pair of rollers 27 and 28, which are one unit, and can be pulled out in the same direction as the decks in a state where the decks 10a and 10b are pulled out. Has become. Further, the guides 25 and 26 can be opened and closed by a hinge (not shown) in a state in which the transport unit 21a is pulled out.

A sensor S (jam detection sensor) for detecting the stop of the sheet is provided in the vicinity of the roller pair 27 of the transport section 21a. It should be noted that other jam detection sensors (not shown) are appropriately disposed at predetermined positions on the respective transport paths and the transport paths of the image forming unit.

Next, the overall configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Pedestal 1 containing decks 10a and 10b
Another automatic paper feeder 70 is provided between the printer and the copying machine main body 50. The automatic paper feeder 70 includes a first cassette 71 and a second cassette 72, and each of the cassettes 71, 72 is detachable from the front side (operating side of the copying machine).

The sheets P stored in the cassettes 71 and 72 are separated and sent out one by one by feeding means (not shown). This feeding direction is a direction that intersects with the drawing direction of the cassettes 71 and 72, and the fed sheet P
Joins with the path (common path) by the guide 32. The path provided by the guide 32 is connected to a sheet insertion port 50a formed at the bottom of the copying machine main body 50. The sheet insertion opening 50a is connected to one of the side walls 50.
It is provided at a position offset to the b side.

Accordingly, the sheets P fed from the decks 10a and 10b and the cassettes 71 and 72 are
Is sent to the copying machine main body 50.

The image forming section of the copying machine will be schematically described with reference to FIG.

The copier main body 50 is provided with a document table 51, a light source 52, and a lens system 53. In the center of the main body 50, a copying section including a cylindrical photosensitive member (image forming means) 55 is provided. It is arranged. Around the photoconductor 55, a developing device 56 containing a toner, a transfer charger 57, a separation charger 58, a cleaner 59, and a primary charger 60 are provided.

On the downstream side of the copying section, a transport device 61, a fixing roller 62, a discharge roller 63 and the like are provided.

Then, when a paper feed signal is output from a control device (not shown) provided on the main body 50 side, feeding is started from the automatic paper feeder.

On the other hand, the light reflected from the light source 52 on the original placed on the original placing table 51 is reflected by the lens system 5.
Irradiation is performed on the photoconductor 55 through the third photoconductor 3. The photoreceptor 55 is charged in advance by a primary charger 60, and is irradiated with light to form an electrostatic latent image, and then a developing device 56 forms a toner image.

The sheets fed from the cassettes 71 and 72 are corrected for skew by the registration rollers 64, and are sent to the copying section at a further adjusted timing. In the copying section, the toner image of the photoconductor 55 is transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer charger 57, and the transferred sheet is charged by the separation charger 58 to the opposite polarity to the transfer charger 57, and Separated.

Then, the separated copy paper is transferred to the transport device 6.
1 to the fixing roller 62, and the unfixed transferred image is permanently fixed by the fixing roller 62. The sheet on which the image has been fixed is discharged from the apparatus main body to the outside by the discharge roller 63.

In this way, an image is formed on the sheet fed from the sheet feeding apparatus by the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system for controlling the sheet feeding operation.

When the size of the sheet P is selected by the operator with the selection switch SW, the control means 100 causes the cassette 71 loading the sheet P of the selected size
72 or issue a paper feed command to the decks 10a and 10b,
The feeding means that has received the instruction starts feeding paper. Further, when jamming of the sheet P is detected by a jam detection sensor for detecting jamming of the sheet P, the control means C outputs a signal for stopping sheet feeding based on the detection signal and interrupts sheet feeding.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.

The sheet P sent from the deck 10a by the feeding means 20a is conveyed by the conveying section 21a, is sent to the copying machine main body 50 through the guide 32, and forms an image. Similarly, the deck 10b and the cassettes 71, 7
The sheet P sent out from the printer 2 is also sent to the copying machine main body 50 through the guide 32 to form an image.

When a sheet jam occurs while the sheet P can be sent out from the deck 10a (when the sensor S detects the stop of the sheet P), or when the sheet P is continuously fed, the guide 32 is stopped. When a sheet jam occurs in the copying machine main body 50 or the like, and the sheet P stops while being sandwiched between the feed roller 16a and the retard roller 17a, the sheet can be easily taken out by pulling out the deck 10a. .

Here, there are two ways to take out the stopped sheet P, and when the leading end side of the stopped sheet P is not pinched by the roller pair 27 of the transport section 21a, the deck 10a is pulled out. The retarded roller 17a separates from the feed roller 16a in conjunction with the pull-out operation, so that the stopped sheet P is moved to the side plates 35, 36a.
And is easily taken out together with the deck 10a through the gap CL. Further, when the leading end side of the stopped sheet P is sandwiched between the roller pair 27 of the conveyance unit 21a, the sheet P cannot be taken out even if the deck 10a is pulled out because the sheet P is sandwiched between the roller pair 27. Transport unit 21a
, The sheet P is pulled out through the gap between the side plates 35 and 36a. Then, the sheet P is removed by opening the guide 26.

When the sheet P sent from the deck 10b is jammed halfway, the door 1a on the side of the pedestal 1 may be opened and taken out. Also, the feeding means 20
b has the same configuration as the feeding means 20a, and the deck 10b
, The jammed sheet P may be taken out.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the side plate 36 is extended,
Instead of providing the retard roller 17a at the front end portion 36a, a short side plate 43 is provided, and the side plate 43
And the retard roller 17a of the sheet feeding unit 20a
It is provided at the upper end of a column 45 fixed to the bottom plate 5. The other configuration is the same as that of the embodiment.

According to this configuration, since the short side plate 43 is used instead of the long side plate 36, processing and mounting become easy. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the deck is formed integrally with the copying machine body regardless of the place where the decks are juxtaposed in the pedestal. It may be inside the frame, and depending on the size of the copying machine main body, three or more decks may be provided side by side. Regarding the separating means, regardless of the retard method, another separating method such as a nail separating method or a separating method using a friction pad may be used.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. FIG. 96 is deck 10
This is a sheet feeding and conveying unit that feeds and conveys the sheet P stored in the sheet feeding unit a. The sheet feeding unit 95 and the conveying unit 21a are integrally configured. The sheet feeding / conveying section 96 is installed on the pedestal 1 by guide rails 91 and 92.

FIG. 9 shows an operation diagram of each section. Deck 10
As shown in the figure, a and 10b can be pulled out to the front of the apparatus main body and can be freely inserted.
1, 92, it can be pulled out to the near side and inserted freely as shown.

Thus, the sheet feeding / conveying section 96 can be easily taken out from the inside of the main body, and maintenance such as removal of the sheet P at the time of a jam and replacement and inspection of a mechanism member such as a sheet feeding roller can be performed extremely easily. Can be made. Further, the paper feeding unit 93 disposed at the most downstream side is configured to be detachable from the paper feeding device as indicated by a two-dot chain line in the case of maintenance such as replacement and inspection of a mechanism member.

FIG. 10 shows that the paper feeding and conveying unit 96
5 shows a coupling mechanism that is pulled out integrally with the deck 10a. 1
Reference numeral 02 denotes a side plate of the sheet feeding / conveying unit 96, and a self-holding solenoid 103 is fixed to the side plate 102. 1
Reference numeral 06 denotes a connecting arm, which is swingably supported about a rotating shaft 107, and one end of which is connected to the iron core 10 of the solenoid 103.
5 and is always urged downward by a spring 108.

On the other hand, a lock plate 110 is supported on the side wall 109 of the deck 10 a so as to be swingable about a rotation shaft 111, constantly urged by a spring 112 in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing, and is stopped by a stopper 113. .

The above-described solenoid 103 and connecting arm 10
6, the lock plate 110 and the like constitute a connecting means for pulling out the sheet feeding / conveying section 96 in conjunction with the pulling-out operation of the deck 10a.

Next, the operation will be briefly described.

In a normal state, the solenoid 103 is not energized, and the connecting arm 106 is in a state shown by a chain line by the urging force of the spring 108. In this state, the lock plate 110 and the
The connecting arm 106 is separated, and the deck 10a can be freely taken in and out.

Next, when the sheet P stays in the sheet feeding / conveying section 96 due to a jam or the like, the solenoid 103 is energized and the connecting arm 106 is displaced to the state shown by the solid line. Here, since the solenoid 103 is a self-holding type, even after the energization is turned off, the state of the solid line position is maintained by the permanent magnet in the solenoid 013 until the next energization of the reverse magnetism.

In this state, since the connecting arm 106 is at the interference position with the stopper 113, the sheet feeder 96 is also pulled out at the same time as the deck 10a is pulled out.

Here, when the processing of the jammed sheet P is completed, reverse magnetism is supplied to the solenoid 103, and the connecting arm 106 returns to the initial state (dotted line state). In addition,
When the connecting arm 106 is in the solid line state, the deck 10
Even if a is inserted (direction D), since the lock plate 110 can swing, the connecting arm 106 can be retracted.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
It is shown in FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The paper feeding units 20a and 20b, which are the main components of the present embodiment, particularly the retard rollers 17a and 17b
The structure for supporting the shafts 19a and 19b of the torque limiter will be described.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 35 denotes a side plate of the sheet feeding unit 20a, and reference numeral 36 denotes a side plate of the sheet feeding unit 20b. And
The shaft 19a of the torque limiter of the paper feeding unit 20a is supported by the transport unit side plate 130. And retard roller 1
7a is supported via a retard roller supporting plate 37 supported by a torque limiter shaft 19a, and is urged by a spring 39 to the feed roller 16a at a predetermined pressure. Also,
The feed roller 16a includes an upper stay 40 fixed to the side plate 35.
The feed roller 15a is supported by a feed roller support plate 41 that is supported by the shaft of the feed roller 16a.
a.

The feed roller 16b is supported by the side plate 36 via the upper stay 42, and the shaft 19b of the torque limiter
Are also supported by the side plate 36. Note that the paper feed roller 15
b, the supporting method of the retard roller 17b is the same as that of the feed roller 15a and the retard roller 17a.

Next, the support structure of the transport unit will be described. Plastic support rails 133 and 135 are fastened to the guide 25 on the long transport section 21a. Further, the paper feed unit 20b is provided with transport rail tables 131 and 132, and the support rails 133 and 135 are fitted. The transport unit is provided with a handle (not shown), and by pulling the handle forward, the transport unit 21a can be moved forward by the action of the rail member.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

The sheet P fed from the cassette 10a by the feed roller 15a is reliably separated and fed one by one by the feed roller 16a and the retard roller 17a as described above. 26, and is conveyed by a pair of rollers 27 and 28,
After 9 and 30, the registration roller pair 33 of the apparatus main body 32
To reach.

If the sheet P is jammed during this process, or if a sheet jam occurs at a certain portion in the apparatus main body 32 during the continuous feeding of the sheet P, the sheet conveyance stops. When the sheet P is sandwiched between the feed roller 16a and the retard roller 17a and stopped, the sheet P is easily removed because the transporting unit and the sheet feeding unit are integrally supported.

The sheet P from the cassette 10b is fed by a feed roller 15b, further separated and conveyed one by one by a feed roller 16b and a retard roller 17b, and passed through guides 30 and 31 into the apparatus main body 32. At the registration roller pair 33.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the transport unit 21a
And the side plate 130 supporting the retard roller portion and the torque limiter portion of the sheet feeding portion 20a, but may be integrally performed by the guide 25 for cost reduction.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the first and second sheet supporting means are arranged side by side below the image forming means, a large amount of sheets can be accommodated without projecting sideways from the image forming means to accommodate the sheets. Since the sheet feeding capacity can be increased and each sheet support means can be pulled out in the same direction,
Work such as sheet replenishment can be performed from the same side,
Substantial installation space can be reduced and workability can be improved.

The first image is arranged horizontally below the image forming means.
And the second sheet supporting means are arranged, and the sheet sent from the second sheet supporting means is configured to be conveyed through a conveying section above the first sheet supporting means.
Since the sheet can be supplied from the end of the image forming unit at the upper portion, the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

Further, in a configuration in which the main body of the paper feeding device and the main body of the image forming apparatus are separated from each other, the conveying means is merged in the main body of the paper feeding device, and the first and second supporting members are provided from one outlet on the upper surface. Since any of the sheets stacked and supported by the means can be supplied to the image forming apparatus main body, it is possible to reduce the conveyance failure of the sheet at the sheet transfer portion, and further to reduce the path configuration in the image forming apparatus main body. It can be simplified. Further, since the sheet can be supplied from the upper surface of the paper feeding device main body through the lower surface of the image forming device main body, the outer shapes of the image forming device main body and the paper feeding device main body in the left-right direction can be made identical. The external appearance of the entire device can be clearly summarized, and the external appearance can be improved while improving the functions such as workability. In addition, a conveying means for conveying the sheet sent from the second sheet supporting means is provided above the first sheet supporting means, and a part of the conveying means can be pulled out, so that the jam processing and maintenance can be performed by the sheet supporting means. The operability can be improved by performing the operation in the same direction as the operation direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus including an automatic sheet feeder according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of a feeding unit provided in a pedestal of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a mounting structure of a feeding unit of the feeding unit.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing another embodiment of the mounting structure of the feeding unit.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a mechanism for separating a retard roller from a feed roller.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an image forming apparatus having a conventional automatic sheet feeder.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an image forming apparatus provided with an automatic sheet feeder according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the feeding unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a connection mechanism of the feeding unit.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view of an automatic sheet feeder according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional side view of the entire pedestal having the automatic sheet feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

M Image forming apparatus P sheet CL gap 1 pedestal (automatic paper feeder) 1a door 10a deck (second sheet support means) 10b deck (first sheet support means) 11, 12 rollers (guide means) 15a, 15b Paper feed rollers 16b, 17b First transport means 17a, 17b Retard roller 20a Paper feed section (second feed means) 20b Paper feed section (first feed means) 21a Transport sections 22, 23, 25, 26 , 29, 30 Guide (2nd
30, 31 Guides (first transport means) 32 Guides on the main body side 33 Registration rollers 35, 36 Side plates 50 Copier main body 55 Photoconductor 55 (image forming means) 70 Paper feed means 71 First cassette 72 Second cassette 91, 92 Guide rail 93, 95 Paper feed section (feeding means) 96 Paper feed / transport section (integrated transport section and feed means) 100 Control device 103 Solenoid 106 Connecting arm 110 Lock plate 103, 106, 110 Connecting means 117 Paper feeding section (feeding means) 119 Transport section 103 Transport section front side plate 131, 132 Transport rail base 133, 135 Support rail (rail member)

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic sheet feeder which is disposed below an image forming apparatus main body provided with an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and on which the image forming apparatus main body is placed, is arranged side by side in a horizontal direction. First and second sheet supporting means for supporting the stacked sheets, and the sheets supported by the respective sheet supporting means are provided in correspondence with the first and second sheet supporting means. First and second feeding means for feeding in the same direction, guide means for supporting the first and second sheet supporting means so as to be able to be respectively pulled out in the same direction intersecting the juxtaposed direction, and A first conveying means for conveying the sheet sent from the first sheet supporting means by the first feeding means; and a sheet fed by the second feeding means from the second sheet supporting means, Before A second conveying unit that conveys over the first sheet supporting unit and joins the first conveying unit, wherein the first and second sheet supporting units, and the first and second sheet supporting units. 2
And the first and second sheet support means are arranged in a paper feeder main body on which the image forming apparatus main body is mounted on an upper surface. Feeding the respective sheets sent from the printer from the same position on the upper surface of the sheet feeding device main body to the image forming means through the lower surface of the image forming device main body. 2. The first and second sheet support means,
The automatic sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate plate on which sheets can be loaded and moved up and down. 3. The sheet feeding roller according to claim 1, wherein the first and second feeding means presses the sheet stacked on the first and second sheet supporting means and feeds the sheet. A feed roller that is arranged downstream of the feed roller and rotates in the sheet feed direction, and a retard roller that is provided in pressure contact with the feed roller and that transmits rotational drive in a direction opposite to the sheet feed direction, The automatic sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: separating the sheet fed by the sheet feeding roller one by one between the feeding roller and the retard roller and feeding the separated sheet. 4. An automatic sheet feeder disposed below an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, wherein first and second first and second sheets for stacking and supporting the sheets are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction. Sheet supporting means, and first and second feeding means provided corresponding to the first and second sheet supporting means and for feeding out the sheets supported by the respective sheet supporting means in substantially the same direction. Guide means for supporting the first and second sheet support means so as to be able to be pulled out in the same direction intersecting the juxtaposed direction, respectively; and A first conveying unit that conveys the fed sheet, and a sheet that is sent out from the second sheet supporting unit by the second feeding unit and conveyed above the first sheet supporting unit. The first A second transporting unit that joins with the transporting unit, and pulls out a transporting unit of the second transporting unit located above the first sheet supporting unit in the same direction as a pulling-out direction of the sheet supporting unit. An automatic paper feeder, wherein the automatic paper feeder is provided as possible. 5. The paper feeding device main body according to claim 1, wherein an openable door for removing a sheet jammed in the first transporting means from the paper feeding device main body is provided on a side surface of the paper feeding device main body. 5. The automatic paper feeder according to 4. 6. The transport unit according to claim 4, wherein the transport unit has a pair of guides, and the guides are configured to open and close when the transport unit is pulled out. Automatic paper feeder. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second feeding means and said second conveying means are integrally formed so that the sheet supporting means can be pulled out in the same direction as the drawing direction. 5. The automatic paper feeder according to 4. 8. An automatic sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet fed by the automatic sheet feeding apparatus. Image forming apparatus. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the automatic sheet feeding device is disposed in a sheet feeding device main body for supporting the image forming unit. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first and second sheet supporting units are supported so as to be able to be pulled out on an operation side of the image forming apparatus main body.