JP2667010B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copier, a printer, and the like, and more particularly, to a transfer apparatus for automatically loading and unloading a cassette containing a transfer material. And an image forming apparatus having the same.

(B) Conventional Technology Conventionally, a cassette used for a sheet feeding device such as a copying machine or a printer is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a main body of the apparatus for supplying a transfer material, changing a size, and the like. Further, as the attachment / detachment direction of the cassette, there are a side loading type in which the cassette is pulled out in the side direction of the apparatus body, and a front loading type in which the cassette is pulled out in the lower direction of the apparatus body.

For the front loading type cassette, an auto loading system in which the cassette mounting / removing operation is automatically performed on the same horizontal plane to improve operability has been considered.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the case of a front-loading type cassette, the cassette is carried in at a position separated from the paper feeding means of the apparatus main body, and when the cassette is mounted on the apparatus main body, it comes into contact with or close to the paper feeding means. Unless the state is maintained, there is a disadvantage that the attaching / detaching operation is not performed smoothly.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having a cassette lifting mechanism in which a simple member is added to the conventional auto-loading device and the member can be incorporated without adjusting the member.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An automatic transport device is provided for automatically attaching and detaching a cassette for accommodating a transfer material to and from a paper supply position for paper supply in the apparatus main body, and the transfer material in the cassette mounted at the paper supply position is attached to and detached from the cassette. In an image forming apparatus that conveys in a direction perpendicular to the direction, an endless rotating member rotatable in a direction in which the cassette is attached and detached, driving means for rotating the rotating member, An engaging member that engages with the cassette and moves the cassette along with the rotation of the rotating member; a push-up member that can push up the cassette mounted on the paper feeding position; And an operating member that engages with the push-up member and performs a cassette push-up operation as the rotating member turns.

(E) Operation Based on the above configuration, when the endless rotating member is caused to revolve by the driving means, the engaging member protruding from the rotating member becomes
Orbits in the cassette insertion / removal direction. At this time, since the engaging member engages with the cassette, the cassette is moved in the circumferential direction by the rotation of the engaging member. Further, an operating member that engages with the pushing-up member is provided on the rotating member so that the operating means engages with the pushing-up member as the rotating member goes around. Thereby, the cassette is pushed up by the push-up member.

(F) Example Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows an electronic copying machine (image forming apparatus) 1 embodying the present invention.

A cassette 3 for accommodating a large number of transfer materials for recording latent images formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 2 is attached and detached by an automatic transport device 5.

A paper feed roller 4 formed integrally with the shaft 4a is disposed above the mounting position of the cassette 3, and a motor (not shown) is connected to the shaft 4a.

When a start key (not shown) is pressed, the motor starts rotating, and the motor presses the transfer material stored in the cassette 3 while the paper feed roller 4 is rotating, so that the uppermost transfer material in the cassette 3 is pressed. Is to be fed.

The automatic transfer device 5 is configured as shown in FIG.

Frames 6 and 7 are provided in the lower part of the copying machine 1 parallel to the left and right,
On the side opposite to the frame bodies 6 and 7, a shaft 8 is supported at right angles to the frame bodies 6 and 7, and gears 9 and 10 of the same shape are attached to both ends of the shaft 8, and the gears 9 and 10 Gears 11 and 12 of the same shape
The shafts 14 and 14 support the frame bodies 6 and 7, and at the inner ends of the shafts 13 and 14,
And sprockets 15, 16 of the same shape are attached to the inside of the frames 6, 7, and the sprockets 15, 16 are located at positions facing the sprockets 15, 16 inside the front sides of the frames 6, 7. Sprockets 17 and 18 are supported by shafts 19 and 20. Then, chains (endless rotating members) 21 and 22 are wound around the sprockets 15 and 17 and the sprockets 16 and 18 in the attaching / detaching direction of the cassette 3, and a motor (driving means) 23 is connected to the right end of the shaft 8. Have been.

Then, close to the middle part of the upper side of the chain 21, the sensor
24 is attached, and a plate 25 is attached to the chain 21 facing outward. Further, flange-shaped cassette guide portions 6a, 7a are provided inside the lower portions of the frames 6, 7, and a guide roller 26 is provided on the guide portions 6a, 7a, and a sensor 27 is provided in front of the guide portion 6a. Is installed.

Next, the locking / elevating pin will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 1 (a) is a side view of the cassette 3 seen from the frame body 7 side in FIG. 4, FIG. 1 (b) is a plan view, and FIG. 2 is A in FIG. 1 (a). FIG.

FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which a lock pin (engagement member) 29 locks a lock hole 28 of the cassette 3 and moves the cassette 3 to a mounting position. As shown in FIG. 2, the locking pin 29 is attached to the chain 22 so as to face inward. On the back side (outside) of the locking pin 29, an elevating pin (operating member) 30 is attached.

At the symmetrical position of the chain 22 to which the locking pin 29 and the elevating pin 30 are attached, an elevating pin (operation member) 31 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B) is attached to the outside of the chain 22. Have been.

Then, in the vicinity of the sprockets 16 and 18 of the shafts 14 and 20, lift levers (push-up members) 32 and 33 are pivotally supported.
Are shown by solid lines, and other states are shown by broken lines.

Further, the flange portion 3a engaged with the lift levers 32, 33
Are provided on the cassette 3.

In addition, the locking pin 29 and the elevating pins 30 and 31 are mounted symmetrically on the center plane of the frame bodies 6 and 7 with respect to the chain 21, and the shafts 13 and 19 are mounted.
The lifting levers 32 and 33 are pivotally supported by the controller.

When the elevating pin 30 moves in the direction of arrow C,
It can be bent so as to be able to return to the original state in the direction of arrow B.

Further, in FIG. 4, when the cassette 3 is removed from the guide portions 6a, 7a of the frame bodies 6, 7 by the operator and the sensor 27 is turned off, the motor 23 is stopped and the locking pin 29 causes the sprocket.
It stops at the approximate center position on the front side of 17, 18 and stands by for the next loading of the cassette 3.

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

When the operator inserts the cassette 3 into the guide portions 6a, 7a of the frames 6, 7, the locking pin 29 is moved to the horizontal portion 28 of the locking hole 28 of the cassette 3.
When it is inserted into a and further pushed in, the sensor 27 is turned on by the cassette 3. Then, the motor 23 starts rotating, the pin 29 first descends, and thereafter, the wall 28b of the locking hole 28 is pressed to convey the cassette 3 to the inner side.

In this case, in FIG. 1A, the locking pin 29 and the lifting pin 30 on the left side move in the direction of arrow B from the position where the lifting pin 31 is shown. Then, the elevating pin 30 comes into contact with the elevating lever 33 indicated by the broken line, and slightly lifts up and passes. On the other hand, the lifting pin 31 located at the position of the lifting pin 30 passes through the upper side of the chain.

Next, the locking pin 29 and the elevating pin 30 move to the back side, and the pin 31 moves to the front side.

Next, the lifting pin 30 presses the lifting lever 32 indicated by the broken line.

At the same time, the locking pin 29 brings the cassette 3 close to the predetermined set position, and the lifting lever pushed up by the lifting pin 30
32 pushes up the flange 3a of the cassette 3.

On the other hand, after moving the upper side of the chain 22, the lifting lever 33, which is indicated by a broken line, is rotated clockwise to bring it closer to the position indicated by a solid line.

Then, as shown in FIG.
And turn it on. At this time, the motor 23 is stopped by the signal of the sensor 24, and the cassette 3 is set at a predetermined sheet feeding position.

The cassette 3 may be set at a more accurate sheet feeding position by a vertical guide (not shown) while the cassette 3 is being lifted.

Next, when the operator operates a cassette carry-out button (not shown), the motor 23 starts reverse rotation. Then, lift pins 30,3
1 moves in the opposite direction to the above, so that the lifting lever 32,
33 is rotated counterclockwise, the cassette 3 descends, and the wall 28C of the locking hole 28 shown in FIG. 4 is pressed by the locking pin 29 to move in the carry-out direction.

Next, the lifting pin 30 moves on the lower side of the chain 22.
On the other hand, the elevating pin 31 moves the upper side of the chain 22 to the back side.

Next, the elevating pin 30 contacts the elevating lever 33 indicated by a broken line, but when it bends in the direction of arrow B and passes through at this time, it immediately returns to a straight line.

Next, the lifting pin 31 is moved to the lifting pin 30 shown in FIG.
When the locking pin 29 and the elevating pin 30 return to the position of the elevating pin 31 shown in FIG. 1A, the cassette 3 turns off the sensor 27 and the motor 23 stops.
Then, the locking pin 29 is in a posture of waiting for the next loading of the cassette 3.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the cassette is loaded at a position separated from the paper feeding means by the drive member provided in the automatic transport device, and provided in the device at the end of loading,
Since the cassette is lifted to a predetermined height by an elevating member linked to the driving member and held at a position in contact with or close to the sheet feeding means, the work of attaching and detaching the cassette can be performed smoothly. Further, since the elevating member is a member that interlocks with the driving member, the structure is simple, and since adjustment work is not required, handling can be simplified and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 show a locking pin, an elevating pin and an elevating lever according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a side view, and FIG.
FIG. 2 (b) is a plan view, FIG. 2 is a view as viewed from A in FIG. 1 (b), FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of the electronic copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cassette automatic transfer device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus (electronic copying machine), 3 ... Cassette, 5 ... Automatic conveyance apparatus, 21,22 ... Rotating member (chain), 23 ... Driving means (motor), 29 ... Engaging member (Locking pin), 30, 31 ... Actuating member (elevating pin), 32, 33 ... Push-up member (elevating lever).

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transfer device for automatically transferring a cassette containing a transfer material to a paper feed position for feeding paper in an apparatus main body, the transfer being performed in the cassette mounted at the paper feed position. An image forming apparatus that conveys a material in a direction perpendicular to the cassette attaching / detaching direction; an endless rotating member capable of rotating in the cassette attaching / detaching direction; a driving unit for rotating the rotating member; An engaging member projecting and engaging the cassette with the rotation of the rotating member to move the cassette; a push-up member capable of pushing up the cassette mounted on the sheet feeding position; An operating member projecting from the rotating member and engaging with the pushing member as the rotating member rotates to perform a cassette pushing operation.