JP2705678B2 - 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 a paper feeder, and more particularly to a paper feeder having a separating mechanism for feeding cut sheets in printing equipment such as a printer and a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A friction separation method is known as one of the separation methods for cut sheets in printing equipment such as a printer and a copying machine. In this method, a friction member is provided in a paper passage. In this method, sheets are separated one by one according to the relationship between the friction coefficient between the sheet feeding roller and the sheet and the friction coefficient between the sheet and the friction member.

However, in the case of using this method, when the apparatus is stopped, the paper is jammed between the roller and the friction plate. I had to put in a new sheet of paper after setting it.

[0004] Further, the conventional automatic lifting mechanism of the transfer table is a reverse rotation mechanism using a one-way clutch, so that the rollers do not reversely rotate, so that there is no ability to return the sheet.

[0005] For manual paper feeding, a separate roller has been installed to cope with the problem.

[0006]

However, in a friction separation mechanism (including one having a function of automatically raising and lowering a transfer table), paper is jammed between a roller and a friction plate when the apparatus is stopped. However, if paper is to be replenished as it is, not only the sheet cannot be set properly, but also double feeding may occur.

Therefore, conventionally, before adding paper,
It was necessary to pull the paper that had already been inserted, pull it out from between the roller and the friction plate, and then insert new paper.

[0008] In addition, since manual paper feeding is provided by providing a dedicated roller separately, the number of components increases (the number of parts increases) and the cost increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel paper feeder capable of solving the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent in the prior art. Is to do.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a paper feeder according to the present invention comprises a paper feed roller and a paper feed roller comprising a friction plate, a spring and the like provided at a certain interval. A paper return arm that automatically operates in a paper feed roller, a friction plate, and an automatic paper feed mechanism that separates paper based on the frictional force of the paper Thereby, the operability is simplified, double feeding is prevented, and the roller can be rotated in reverse with the automatic lifting and lowering function of the paper transport table, and the paper can be returned even if the paper is bitten by the roller to some extent. .

The present invention also has a function of automatically raising and lowering the manual paper feed tray by means of a cam, so that there is no need to separately install rollers, so that the cost can be reduced.

More specifically, the present invention provides a motor drive for normal rotation of a normal sheet feeding operation, a first idler gear, first and second reduction gears, and a roller driving system including the sheet feeding roller. The motor for reversing the automatic raising and lowering of the paper transport table, the returning function of the hopper section paper, and the automatic raising and lowering operation of the manual paper feed table, the paper feed roller, a second idler gear, a pendulum gear, and a cam drive gear. And is performed by a cam drive system including:

Further, a cam is fixed to a shaft of the cam driving gear, and the sheet transport table is lowered by a pin formed on the cam.

In the present invention, a cam is fixed to a shaft of the cam drive gear, and an arm claw of the manual paper feed table is engaged with a concave portion formed in the cam, whereby the manual paper feed table is moved. It is characterized in that it is kept in the operating state.

Further, a shaft is provided in front of the sheet abutting portion of the base, and is operated by a projection formed on the sheet conveying table when the sheet conveying table is lowered, and is rotated about the axis. And a sheet return arm for scraping the sheet remaining around the sheet feed roller to the outside.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an essential part showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are a front view and a side view of a main part when FIG. 1 is rotated by 90 ° in a counterclockwise direction and the front side is viewed from the back side of the paper.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a paper feed roller rotatably supported on a shaft 1a mounted on a base 8;
Indicates a sheet transport table on which sheets are stacked.

The paper transport table 9 is, for example, a spring 14 (FIG. 6).
(See (a) and (b)).

The paper return arm 2 has a shaft 2a serving as a fulcrum in front of the paper abutting portion 8a of the base 8, and a leading end 2d extends below the paper feed roller 1. The lower portion of the sheet return arm 2, that is, the other end 2c is bent at an angle close to a right angle with respect to the upper arm portion, that is, the arm main body (upper) 2b, and enters the lower portion of the sheet transport table 9. When the paper transport table 9 is rotated clockwise against the spring 14 about the shaft 9a as a fulcrum and descends, the paper transport table 9 comes into contact with the projection 9b of the paper transport table 9 and moves the paper return arm 2 about the axis 2a. To rotate in the counterclockwise direction to the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, two paper return arms 2 are arranged in the axial direction of the roller 1 with the rubber portion of the roller 1 interposed therebetween.

FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) correspond to FIGS.
3B is a main part front view and a main part side view illustrating only a roller drive system in which a motor rotates forward to drive a roller during normal paper feeding of the paper 13 from FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a gear 4b is fixed to a motor shaft 4a of the motor 4.
Is meshed with an idler gear 51 that is supported by a shaft 51a.
2 is connected to the paper feed roller 1.

That is, the motor 4 drives the paper feed roller 1 via the idler gear 51 and the reduction gears 121 and 122. At the time of normal rotation of the motor 4, only the above-described series shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B operates to convey and feed the sheet.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively.
FIG. 4 is a main part front view and a main part side view that only show a cam drive system in which a motor rotates in reverse and rollers drive a cam.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the motor 4 also branches on the way and drives the reverse rotation pendulum gear 3 via the cam drive gear 7 and the idler gear 52.

The gear for driving the roller 1 is divided into two gears which are driven after a certain amount of idling and then driven. Has become.

Further, a manual paper feed table 11 is provided above the paper transport table 9 and is supported by a cam 6 as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b).

After the paper feeding operation is completed, all the operations according to the present invention are performed by rotating the motor 4 in the reverse direction.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an operation flow in a cam rotation cycle for explaining a rotation operation of a cam driven by a cam drive gear. In FIG. 8, the cam 6 rotates clockwise as shown, but for convenience, the rotation position of the cam is shown only when the pin 6a is at the point h indicated by oblique lines.
Other rotational positions are indicated only by the pins 6a. The pin 6a has a function of lowering the paper transport table 9. The concave portion 6b has a function of engaging with the arm pawl 11a of the manual paper feed tray 11 to hold the manual paper feed tray 11 in an operating state. Reference numeral 6c denotes a projection which is not directly related to the present invention, but activates a sensor (not shown) for detecting a cam position.

Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 8, first, at a point b in FIG. 8, the motor 4 is rotated in reverse.
As a result, the cam drive gear 7 is operated by connecting the pendulum gear 3, and the pin 6 a formed on the cam 6 fixed to the shaft 7 a of the cam drive gear 7 via the base 8 is connected to the paper transport table 9. By pressing, the paper transport table 9 starts a lowering operation. When one sheet of paper 13 is placed on the sheet transport table 9, for example, at a point c in FIG.
When zero sheets are placed, the pin 6a comes into contact with the sheet conveyance table 9 at a point d in FIG.

After the gear driving the roller 1 idles for a while (points c to e or points d to e in FIG. 8), the roller 1 starts to reversely rotate at the point e in FIG. Return the paper and remove it from Roller 1. The reason why the roller 1 is idled for a while is that if the roller 1 is rotated in the reverse direction in a state where the sheet conveying table 9 is raised, the sheet conveying force of the roller 1 is too strong and the sheet is returned too much.

Thereafter, before the paper transport table 9 reaches the lowermost point, the lower portion 2c of the paper return arm 2 is moved to the projection provided on the lower portion of the paper transport table 9 as shown in FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c). 9
When the button b is pressed, the sheet return arm 2 rotates counterclockwise about the shaft 2a at a point f in FIG. 8, and scrapes the sheet remaining under the roller 1. After the scraping operation is completed,
The paper return arm 2 is disengaged from the paper conveyance table 9 and is moved to the position shown in FIG.
At this point, the sheet returns to the original position by the force of the spring attached to the sheet return arm 2 or by its own weight, and is stored outside the travel range of the sheet.

As shown in FIG. 6C or FIG. 7B, the paper transport table 9 reaches the lowest point (h in FIG. 8).
Point), and the arm of the manual paper feed tray 11 has the cam 6 and its own weight.
Is lowered by engaging with, and is set to the operating position.

Then, when a print command for hopper feed comes,
Further, the motor 1 starts to rotate in reverse, and the cam 6 starts to rotate by being driven through the cam drive gear 7. After a short time, the pin 6 a of the cam 6 that has pushed down the paper transport table 9 comes off the paper transport table 9, and the spring 14 The paper transport table 9 is lifted by the force, and at a point a in FIG. 8, the paper transport table 9 is in a free state.

Further, the manual paper feed table 11 is
And is pushed up by the cam 6 and is stored in a range that does not come into contact with the paper on the paper transport table 9.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With one motor, it is possible to have an automatic elevating function of the paper transport table, an automatic elevating function of the manual paper feed table, and a paper return mechanism.
Cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a main part showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) rotates FIG. 1 counterclockwise by 90 °,
FIG. 1 is a front view of the front surface of the paper illustrated in FIG.
(B) is a right side view of (a).

FIG. 3A is a front view of a main part of FIG. 2A, which shows only a roller driving system that drives a roller by rotating a motor forward for normal paper feeding, and FIG. FIG.

FIG. 4 (a) is a front view of a main part of FIG. 2 (a) showing only a cam drive system in which a motor rotates in reverse and rollers drive a cam, and FIG. 4 (b) is a right side view of FIG. It is.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a basic configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention by removing a cover, a roller driving system, a cam driving system, and the like.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, and FIG. 6A illustrates a state in which, for example, one sheet is placed on a sheet conveying table; b) is that the paper is, for example, 20
(C) shows a state in which the sheet carrier is lowered to the lowest position.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views illustrating a manual paper feed tray according to the present invention, wherein FIG.
(B) shows the state at the time of descent.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an operation flow in a rotation cycle of the cam to show the operation of the cam according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper feed roller 1a ... Shaft 2 ... Paper return arm 2a ... Shaft 3 ... Reverse rotation pendulum gear 4 ... Motor 4a ... Motor shaft 4b ... Gear 5 (51, 52) ... Idler gear 51a ... Shaft 52a ... Shaft 6 ... Cam 6a ... Pin 6b ... Recess 6c ... Protrusion 7 ... Cam drive gear 7a ... Shaft 8 ... Base 9 ... Paper transport stand 9a ... Shaft 9b ... Protrusion 10 ... Cover 11 ... Manual feed tray 12 (121,122) ... Reduction gear 13 ... Paper 14 ... Spring 15 ... Roller drive gear

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/00 516 G03G 15/00 516 (56) References JP-A-3-272923 (JP, A) JP JP-A-7-17652 (JP, A) JP-A-61-101347 (JP, A) JP-A-3-166133 (JP, A) JP-A-4-140256 (JP, A) JP-A-3-243545 (JP) , A) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 4-135528 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 6-14158 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 2-66533 (JP, U)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper feed roller, and a transport table for feeding paper pressed against the paper feed roller by a friction plate, a spring, or the like provided at a certain interval, and the paper feed roller and In an automatic paper feed mechanism that separates the paper based on the frictional force between the friction plate and the paper, a single motor and one paper feed roller can be used to automatically raise and lower the paper transport table and to add paper or feed paper manually. A sheet feeding device that performs a function of returning a set of sheets and automatically raising and lowering a manual sheet feeding table. 2. A normal paper feed operation is performed by a roller drive system including a forward rotation motor, a first idler gear, first and second reduction gears, and the paper feed roller.
Automatic raising and lowering of the paper transport table, return function of hopper section paper,
The motor for reversing the automatic elevating operation of the manual feed tray,
The paper feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a cam drive system including the paper feed roller, a second idler gear, a pendulum gear, and a cam drive gear. 3. A cam is fixed to a shaft of the cam drive gear,
3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising lowering the sheet transport table by a pin formed on the cam. 4. A cam is fixed to a shaft of the cam drive gear,
3. The paper feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising: holding the manual paper feed tray in an operating state by engaging an arm claw of the manual paper feed tray with a concave portion formed in the cam. 5. A base having a shaft in front of a sheet abutting portion, which is actuated by a projection formed on the sheet conveying table when the sheet conveying table is lowered, and is rotated about the axis. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising a sheet return arm for scraping the sheet remaining around the sheet feeding roller to the outside.