JP2651966B2 - Stacked paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating and feeding stacked paper sheets one by one toward a printer or copier of an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of devices have been put into practical use as devices for separating and feeding sheets stacked on a sheet feed table one by one. As shown in FIG. The structure in which the friction roller 2 is brought into contact with the upper surface and the paper 1 is fed by the rotation of the roller is widely used particularly as a printer of an information processing apparatus or an automatic paper feeder of a copying machine.

The automatic paper feeder has one side (reference side) irrespective of the width of the paper 1 to be used.
There is a structure in which the paper is supplied at a fixed position, and a structure in which the paper is supplied with the center of the paper fixed. The former structure is characterized in that the position in the paper width direction is easily set, and a reference guide 6 for guiding the reference side 8 of the paper is fixedly provided on the paper supply table 5, and the other side of the paper is provided. The side (opposite reference side) 9 is guided by a movable guide 7 capable of freely adjusting the distance from the reference guide 6.

On the other hand, a friction roller 2 which comes into contact with the upper surface of a sheet 1
Has a length corresponding to a sheet having the maximum width that can be processed, and usually has a structure in which a plurality of roller elements 3 are arranged at intervals along the roller shaft 20.

[0005]

In the apparatus having the above structure, when the width of the opposite side 9 of the paper 1 is just below the roller element 3, the width of the stacked paper 1 in the width direction is reduced. Paper skew (skew) may occur due to variations. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, when the opposite side of the second sheet 1b from the top projects beyond the opposite side 9 of the uppermost sheet 1a, the uppermost sheet 1a is sent out. At this time, the peripheral surface of the roller element 3 abuts on the protruding portion of the second sheet 1b, and a biased feeding force is applied to the second sheet 1b. It becomes oblique on the top.

Normally, the movable guide 7 holds the stacked sheets 1
However, in order to ensure smooth feeding of the paper 1, it is necessary to provide a certain amount of play between the sides 8 and 9 of the paper and the guides 6 and 7. Indispensable, and often accompanied by variations in the width dimension of the paper 1, paper skew occurs due to the above-described causes.

[0007]

In the apparatus of the present invention, the offset means 3a, 3b, 3 for positively moving the uppermost sheet 1a toward the movable guide 7 when the sheet 1 is sent out.
By providing c, 3d, 3e, and 6a, paper skew due to the above reason is prevented.

The offset means has a structure for applying a moving force in the sheet width direction to the sheet 1 when the friction roller 2 rotates, for example, a structure in which the roller element 3b is temporarily moved in the axial direction by the action of the cam 25 during rotation. A structure in which the peripheral surface of the roller element 3e is formed in a spiral shape or the like can be adopted.

As another specific structure of the offset means, a structure for applying a moving force in the sheet width direction to the sheet 1 when the sheet feeding table 5 is moved upward, for example, a flexible roller element 3a
, A structure in which the entirety of the flexible roller element 3d is formed in a conical shape, and a structure in which the roller frame 32 is oscillated when the sheet feeding table 5 is moved, thereby forming the friction roller 3c.
And a structure in which the reference guide 6a is slightly inclined toward the movable guide 7 can be adopted.

[0010]

According to the above structure, when the paper 1 is sent out,
The uppermost sheet 1a to be sent out is sent out after its opposite side 9 contacts the movable guide 7,
Since the phenomenon that the opposite side of the second and subsequent sheets protrudes outside the uppermost sheet 1a cannot occur, the second and subsequent sheets protrude from the opposite side 9 of the uppermost sheet 1a. Can be avoided.

Further, variations in the width of the paper on the paper feed table 5 are also corrected by the contact between the paper 1a and the movable guide 7, so that the paper can be fed with the position in the width of the paper accurately defined.

Further, in the apparatus having the above-described structure, the uppermost sheet 1a is flexed upward by positively applying a moving force in the sheet width direction to the reference side 8 side of the uppermost sheet 1a. Air layer 40 (FIG. 1,
6), whereby the uppermost sheet 1a can be sent out in a state of being separated from the second and subsequent sheets, and the separation and supply of the stacked sheets can be performed more reliably.

[0013]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a friction roller 2 abutting on the upper surface of a stack of sheets 1 is shown.
A partial conical projection 4 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is provided on the peripheral surface of the roller element 3a. The roller element 3a stands by with the partial conical protrusion 4 facing downward when the sheet feeding table 5 is lowered, and raises the sheet feeding table 5 so that the uppermost sheet 1a contacts the roller element 3a. When the sheet 1 is moved upward, the partial conical protrusion 4 is bent as shown in FIG. 1 and pushes the uppermost sheet 1 a toward the movable guide 7.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a friction roller 2a in which the roller element 3a having such a partial conical projection 4 is provided only on the reference side 8 side of the stacking paper 1,
The uppermost sheet 1a is strongly pressed against the movable guide 7 to deflect the sheet 1 upward between the movable guide 7 and the friction roller 2a, and then the friction roller 2a is rotated to rotate the uppermost sheet 1a.
This is a structure in which a is separated and fed to the feed roller 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the friction roller 2a and the feed roller 10 are driven and connected by gears 11, 12, and 13 so that they rotate simultaneously. The paper feed table 5 is driven up and down by reciprocating rotation of the pinion 14 by meshing a pinion 14 partially shown in the drawing with a rack (not shown) fixed to the paper feed table 5.
Note that the uppermost sheet 1a sent out is the feed roller 1
After reaching the position 0, the leading end of the sheet is detected by a sensor (not shown), the pinion 14 is rotated, and the sheet feeding table 5 is lowered. Then, after the first sheet 1a is completely fed, the friction roller 2a is positioned at a position where the partial conical projection 4 faces downward.
Then, the feed roller 10 is stopped, and in this state, the pinion 14 is driven to move the sheet feeding table 5 upward, and the above sheet feeding operation is repeated.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a roller element 3b of a friction roller 2b is fixed at an eccentric position to a shaft 20, and the shaft 20 is movable in the axial direction. Gears 22 and 23 rotatably supported by a frame 21 and driving the shaft 20 are provided. A cam roller 24 is fixed to an intermediate portion of the shaft 20, and a spring 27 for urging the cam 25 against a stationary member 26 provided on the reference guide 6 side is provided.

In the device of the second embodiment, the shaft 20
The roller element 3b moves toward the movable guide 7 when the cam 25 comes into contact with the immovable member 26 by rotation of the cam element 25. At this time, the long diameter portion of the roller element 3b comes into contact with the sheet 1. Therefore, when the shaft 20 moves toward the movable guide 7 due to the contact between the cam 25 and the stationary member 26, the roller element 3b comes into contact with the uppermost sheet 1a, and the uppermost sheet 1a After being moved upward and deflected upward to be separated from the second and subsequent sheets, the sheet is fed by the rotation of the roller element 3b.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the friction roller 2c is rotatably supported by a roller frame 32 connected to a stationary member 30 via a swing link 31.
Reference numeral 1 connects the immobile member 30 and the roller frame 32 by two pins 33 and 34 parallel to the paper 1 feeding direction. When the sheet supply table 5 is in a lowered state, the swing link 31 is in a state in which the roller frame 32 side is lowered as shown in FIG. Regulated by

From the state shown in FIG. 7, the paper feed table 5 is moved upward to bring the upper surface of the sheet 1 into contact with the friction roller 2c, and the paper feed table 5 is further raised by a predetermined amount. Occasionally, the swing link 31 rotates to the left in the drawing, thereby moving the friction roller 2c to the right in the drawing, that is, to the movable guide side. By the axial movement of the friction roller 2c, the uppermost sheet 1a is brought into contact with the movable guide 7, and then the uppermost sheet 1a is rotated by rotating the friction roller 2c.
a is sent out.

FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which one roller element 3d of a friction roller 2d is formed in a conical shape with a soft material, and a large diameter portion of the roller element 3d is formed of another roller element 3. The diameter is made larger than the peripheral surface, and the upper surface of the sheet 1 is brought into contact with the conical roller element 3d by moving the sheet supply table 5 upward, as in the first embodiment, thereby making the contact. Utilizing the deformation of the large diameter portion of the conical roller element 3d in the portion,
After the uppermost sheet 1a is moved until it comes into contact with the movable guide 7, the friction roller 2d is rotated and the uppermost sheet 1a is moved.
a is sent out.

FIG. 9 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which a spiral groove 3 is formed on a peripheral surface of a roller element 3e of a friction roller 2e.
8, the peripheral surface of the roller element 3e is formed into a spiral shape, and the roller element 3 when the friction roller 2e is rotated.
e, the uppermost sheet 1a is moved by the movable guide 7
Is to be brought into contact with.

FIG. 10 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which the reference guide 6a and the movable guide 7a are slightly inclined toward the movable guide 7 so that the sheet feeding table 5 can be moved upward. As a result, the uppermost sheet 1a is moved to the movable guide 7a side from the second sheet or less, whereby
This is to prevent the non-reference side of the first sheet or less from protruding from the non-reference side 9 of the uppermost sheet 1a.

[0023]

As described above, according to the apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to feed the uppermost sheet fed at the time of feeding the sheet while keeping the uppermost sheet in contact with the movable guide. Skew of the sheet and variations in the position of the fed sheet in the width direction caused by the opposite side of the sheet protruding from the opposite side of the uppermost sheet can be prevented.

Further, by pressing the uppermost sheet more positively against the movable guide, the uppermost sheet is deflected upward to form an air layer between the uppermost sheet and the second or lower sheet. Has the effect that the uppermost sheet can be more reliably separated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the operation of the apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the friction roller according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the friction roller according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view schematically showing the operation of the device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the reason for the occurrence of paper skew.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper 2a-e Friction roller 3a-e Roller element 5 Paper feed table 6a Reference guide 8 Reference side 9 Non-reference side

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A reference side (8) of a sheet to be fed is guided.
Reference guide (6) fixedly provided in fixed position as much as possible
And the opposite side of the sheet facing the reference guide (6).
Provided so that the position can be adjusted in the paper width direction to guide (9)
A movable guide (7) which is, paper feed table with a (5) stacking the paper feeding by the rotation of the friction rollers that contact the sheet (1) which is stacked on the upper surface of that (2) (1) In the feeding device, the paper (1) contacting the friction roller (2) is moved in the direction of the movable guide (7) by the upward movement of the paper feed table (5).
Offset means for applying a biasing force to (3a), (3
c), (3d) and (6d) are provided.
Stack paper feeder. 2. A guide for guiding a reference side (8) of a sheet to be sent out.
Reference guide (6) fixedly provided in fixed position as much as possible
And the opposite side of the sheet facing the reference guide (6).
Provided so that the position can be adjusted in the paper width direction to guide (9)
A movable guide (7) which is, paper feed table with a (5) stacking the paper feeding by the rotation of the friction rollers that contact the sheet (1) which is stacked on the upper surface of that (2) (1) In the feeding device, a movable guide (7) is applied to a sheet (1) that comes into contact with the roller (2) by the rotation of the friction roller (2 ).
Offset means for applying a biasing force in the direction (3b),
(3e) An apparatus for feeding stacked paper, characterized in that: (3e) is provided.