JP2726120B2 - Deck type transfer sheet feeding device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus for supplying a transfer sheet to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly, to a deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus. The present invention relates to a deck-type transfer sheet supply device capable of avoiding the danger of replenishing a transfer sheet and improving the work efficiency.

(Prior art)

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a deck-type transfer sheet feeding apparatus as a background of the present invention.

The deck-type transfer sheet supply device 51 supplies a transfer sheet such as copy paper to an image forming device 52 such as a copying machine.

The deck-type transfer sheet feeding apparatus 51, a plurality of trays deck 53 that can be drawn as shown in FIG. 6 _a, 53
_b, 53 have a _c, the respective tray deck 53 _a, 53 _b, 53 _c
As shown in FIG. 7, transfer sheets 54a and _54a of various sizes are provided.
Tray 55 _a for placing a _{54 b, 54 c, 55 b} , 55 c are mounted.

The trays 55 _a , 55 _b , and 55 _c are provided with a tray elevating switch 56 _a , provided on the upper surface of the deck-type transfer sheet supply device 51.
Following the procedure of 56 _b, 56 _c (FIG. 5), the motor 57 (9
Drive), and the motor 57 is controlled as shown in FIG.
The wire 58 is pulled by the rotational force of the above, and moves up and down as shown by the arrow X.

When supplying the transfer sheet during copy processing, etc.
55 _a, 55 _b, 55 respectively mounted on the _c transcription sheet 54 _a, 54 _b, 5
4 _c are supply rollers 59 _a ,
59 _b, the tray 59 _c while abutting 55 _a, 55 _b, 55 are held by _c, the image formed through the transfer sheet feeding path 60 (FIG. 5) with the rotation of the respective supply roller It is supplied to the device 52.

In the deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus 51, as shown in FIG. 7 and in the transfer sheet supply processing tray 55 _a, 55 _b, 55
etc. If _{the c} is in the intermediate position, the tray deck 53 _a, 53 _b, 53 _c
Lock claws 61 _a , 61 _b , 61 _c engaging with the supply device main body 51 so as not to be pulled out are attached to the back of each tray deck (FIG. 8).

Locking mechanism having the locking pawl 61 _a, 61 _b, 61 _c, etc.,
Tray elevating switch 56 _a, 56 _b, 56 each tray deck 53 by the _c-operation of _a, 53 _b, 53 _c of the tray 55 _a, 55 _b, 55 _c is released only when it came to a predetermined lower limit position, the The tray deck can be pulled out, and the paper feeding operation is performed. This is because if the tray can be pulled out while the tray deck is being lowered, there is a danger of fingers being pinched.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Normally, the consumption of the transfer sheets in each tray deck is different, so that the amount of the transfer sheets placed on each tray is different. Further, the capacity of each tray deck may not be the same depending on the model.

Therefore, the position of each tray on each tray deck is usually different.

Therefore, when a plurality of trays are lowered by operating a plurality of tray raising / lowering switches, these trays rarely reach the respective lower limit positions at the same time, and even if the lock mechanism of one tray deck is released. , The other trays are usually descending.

Therefore, at this time, if the one tray deck is pulled out and processing such as replenishment of transfer sheets or "paper jam" is performed,
There is a possibility that fingers or the like may be pinched by the other trays that are descending, which is dangerous.

As a conventional method of avoiding the above-described danger, for example, when one of the tray decks is pulled out, forcibly stopping the lowering of the trays of the other tray decks, and after completing the processing of one tray deck, There is a method to lower the trays of other tray decks further.
For example, since the tray deck cannot be pulled out at a time when performing "transfer sheet replacement work", the work is rather complicated and the work efficiency is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus capable of avoiding the danger of replenishing transfer sheets to the deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus and improving the work efficiency. It is a thing.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a plurality of tray decks each having a tray on which a transfer sheet is placed and driven to move up and down, and the tray of each tray deck comes to a predetermined lower limit position. In a deck-type transfer sheet feeding apparatus provided with a deck lock mechanism capable of pulling out each tray deck only when the tray is provided on each of the tray decks, the tray in each of the tray decks is located at the predetermined lower limit position. Position detecting means for detecting that the tray has come to a predetermined intermediate position close to, and, when lowering the two or more trays, temporarily stopping means for temporarily stopping a tray that has reached the predetermined intermediate position or less first. After all the trays to be lowered reach the position below the predetermined intermediate position, all the trays are lowered to the predetermined lower limit position. It is configured as a deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus characterized by comprising; and a tray drop means for.

[Action]

In this deck-type transfer sheet feeding apparatus, when lowering two or more trays, the trays that have arrived below a predetermined intermediate position near the lower limit position first are stopped by the temporary stop means. Then, after all the trays to be lowered reach the positions below the intermediate position, all the trays are lowered to a predetermined lower limit position by the tray lowering means.

Therefore, the deck lock mechanism that is released only when the tray reaches the lower limit position is released almost simultaneously, so that transfer sheets can be replenished or replaced at the same time, and work efficiency can be improved.

Further, at this time, since all the trays are not moved up and down, the danger of fingers or the like getting caught in the trays or the like is eliminated.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. The following embodiments are mere examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a deck-type transfer sheet supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the deck-type transfer sheet supply device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the sheet feeding device, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a tray moving process of the deck-type transfer sheet feeding device.

The deck-type transfer sheet supply device 1 shown in FIG.
A transfer sheet such as a copy sheet is supplied to an image forming apparatus 2 such as a copying machine.

The deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus 1 has a tray deck 3 _a, 3 _b, 3 _c that can be multiple draw, in the above respective tray deck 3 _a, 3 _b, 3 _c, transcription of various sizes sheet 4 tray 5 _a for placing a (FIG. 2), 5 _b, 5 _c is attached.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit of the deck-type transfer sheet feeding device 1 is mainly configured by a control unit 6 including a microcomputer CPU and the like, and the control unit 6 includes tray decks _3a , _3b , The upper limit detection sensors 8 _a , 8 _b , and 3 _c which detect the upper limit positions of the sheet detection sensors 7 _a , 7 _b , 7 _c and the trays 5 _a , 5 _b , 5 _c which respectively detect the presence or absence of the transfer sheet in 3 _c . 8
_c (FIG. 2), the tray 5 _a, 5 _b, 5 a lower limit detecting sensor 9 detects the respective predetermined lower limit position of the _{c a,} 9 _b, 9 _c (FIG. 2), the deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus 1 provided on the upper surface respectively of the tray 5 _a, 5 _b, 5 _c tray lift switch 10 _a for giving an instruction under lifting of, 10 _b, 10 _c (FIG. 1), the deck-type transfer sheet supply apparatus 1 deck set switch 11 for detecting whether not drawn each tray deck 3 _a, 3 _b, 3 _c from the body _a, 11 _b, 11 _c (FIG. 2), each tray 5 _a, 5 _b , the intermediate sensor detects that the 5 _c came to respective predetermined intermediate position _{12 a, 12 b, 12 c} ( FIG. 2),
And the tray 5 _a, 5 _b, 5 motor 13 for each lifting the _{c a,} 13 _b, driving the 13 _c driver 14 and the like are connected.

The lifting switches 10 _a , 10 _b , and 10 _c each include _a lowering switch and _a raising switch.

The respective intermediate sensor 12 _a, 12 _b, 12 _c are respectively the tray deck 3 _a, 3 _b, 3 each mounted in _c lower limit detection sensor 9 _a, 9 _b, predetermined near 9 _c Each is mounted at an intermediate position (FIG. 2).

When the tray raising / lowering switches _10a , _10b , _10c are operated, the controller 6 outputs a lifting / lowering command for each tray based on the operation command, and the respective motors _13a , _13b , _13c are _driven. The drive is controlled, and the respective trays _5a , _5b , _5c are raised and lowered.

The above trays _5a , _5b , _5c are the respective tray decks _3a , _3b ,
When comes to the lower limit position of the 3 _c, its position is respectively detected by the lower limit detection sensor _{9 a, 9 b, 9 c} . Also this time, the locking pawl of each lock mechanism described above (the eighth FIG 61 _a,
61 _b, 61 _c) is released, the tray deck allows the drawer.

Therefore, in order to prevent a tray deck that has been lowered from being pulled out during the lowering operation of another tray deck for safety, it is necessary that all the tray decks descending at the same time reach the lower limit position almost simultaneously.

Further, when the respective trays 5 _a, 5 _b, 5 _c comes to a predetermined intermediate position close to the predetermined lower limit position (the respective lower limit detection sensor 9 _a, 9 _b, 9 _c operating position), the above respective that position by the intermediate sensor 12 _a, 12 _b, 12 _c is detected, the tray moving process described later is performed.

The above-described intermediate detection sensors _12a , _12b , and _12c are examples of a position detection unit.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the tray moving processing procedure of the deck-type transfer sheet feeding device 1 will be described in steps S1, S2,
… Will be described in this order.

One of the tray lift switch, for example, 10 _a is operated, is detected by the tray or deck is not in a state drawn whether deck set switch _{11 a, 11 b, 11 c} (S1), drawn If not, a flag corresponding to the operation command is set (S2).

Then either descent command, it is determined whether increased command (S3), if the increase switch of the tray elevating switch 10 _a is pressed, it is a state in which the transfer sheet has already been placed on the tray 5 _a Is detected by the sheet detection sensor _7a (S
4), the tray 5 _a is increased motor 13 _a is driven (S
Five).

Thereafter, the upper surface of the upper the placing transcription sheet 4 is detected reaches the upper limit position of the tray deck 3 in _a by upper limit detection sensor 8 _a (S6), the motor 13 _a set of transfer sheets at rest is Complete (S7).

When the image forming apparatus 2 (FIG. 1) such as a copying machine is operated to perform an image forming process or the like, the set transfer sheet is consumed.

Here the transfer sheets the consumed trying operator replenishment, or the like "paper jam" to any of the tray deck occurs, as the operator tries to its treatment, for example for lowering the tray lifting switch 10 _a When the side of the switch is operated, the and makes a determination process similar to the S1, S2, S3, the tray 5 _a predetermined intermediate position or whether the intermediate sensor 12 _a of the output signal came it from below also is determined based on (S8), if the tray 5 _a is not reached the intermediate position, the tray motor 13 _a is driven 5
_a is lowered (S12).

Thereafter, the tray 5 _a intermediate position or comes below the the (S8), the other motor (13 _b, 13 _c) are determined whether they are driven (S9), because it is not driven, the motor
Driving state of 13 _a is continued (S10). And tray _5a
There When detected by the lower limit detecting sensor 9 _a (S11), the motor 13 _a is released is stopped (S7), the locking mechanism of the tray deck 3 _a.

Then, the above-described treatment such as replenishment of the transfer sheet is performed by the operator.

Next, a case where a plurality of tray raising / lowering switches are operated, for example, when a plurality of tray decks are used to replenish the consumed transfer sheets, or when transfer sheets are exchanged between tray decks, or the like.

For example, if the descending side switch of the tray lifting switch 10 _a, 10 _b is operated, the determination processing in each tray deck 3 _a, 3 above for _b as with S1, S2, S3 are done, as with the each tray 5 _a, 5 _b are respectively determined on the basis of whether the underlying output signal of the intermediate sensor 12 _a, 12 _b, etc. than the predetermined intermediate position (S8).

At this time, if both the trays _5a and _5b are not below the intermediate position, the respective motors _13a and _13b are driven and the respective trays _5a and _5b are lowered (S12). For example, when the tray 5 _a of the tray deck 3 _a is already coming below the intermediate position, or if then the tray 5 _a came below the intermediate position earlier (S8), other motors ( since 13 _b) is driven (S9), the motor 13 _a of the tray deck 3 _a is forcibly temporarily stopped (S13).

When the two or more trays (for example, the above _5a and _5b ) are lowered, the means for realizing the function of temporarily stopping the tray which has reached the predetermined intermediate position or less first is an example of the temporary stopping means. .

On the other hand, the tray 5 _b of the other tray deck 3 _b comes below Eventually an intermediate position (S8), since the other motors (13 _a, 13 _b) is in the stop state (S9), the tray deck 3 _b of the motor 13 _b of the driving is continued (S10). When the tray 5 _b is detected by the lower limit detection sensor 9 _b (S1), the motor 13
_b is stopped (S7), the tray deck 3 _b of the locking mechanism is released.

Then, the motor 13 _a of the tray deck 3 _a which has been stopped by the S13. Since the other motor (13 _a, 13 _c) is in the stopped state, driven (S9). When the tray 5 _a of the tray deck 3 _a is detected by the lower limit detection sensor 9 _a (S1
1), the motor 13 _a is stopped (S7), the locking mechanism of the tray deck 3 _a is also released.

Motor 13 _b mentioned above is stopped tray deck 3 _b of the locking mechanism from being the release, time to the motor 13 _a is stopped tray deck 3 _a of the lock mechanism is released,
As described above, the intermediate detection sensor _12a and the lower detection sensor _9a
It is a short time because the distance between is short.

Therefore, since the tray deck 3 _a and substantially simultaneously locking mechanism and 3 _b is released, the risk of such caught a finger or the like to the tray is avoided.

In the above embodiment, the tray that has reached the intermediate position first
The 5 _a is paused at the intermediate position, after the tray 5 _b has reached the intermediate position lowered to the position of the lower limit detection sensor 9 _b, lowering the tray 5 _a stopping at the one to the position of the lower limit detecting sensor 9 _a However, other similar methods, such as the preceding tray _5a
The pause in the intermediate position, the tray 5 _a, 5 _{when b} is aligned in an intermediate position both may be made to both lowering both tray. As another method described above, for example, in the flowchart shown in FIG.
An example is a method of adding a step of forcibly stopping msec.

In this way, the timing of the release of the tray deck 3 _a, 3 _b of the locking mechanism is quite consistent.

After all the trays is lowered to a predetermined intermediate position following the position described above (e.g., above 5 _a, 5 _b) has reached, the all trays (5 _a, 5 _b) the lower limit detecting sensor (9 _a, 9 Means for realizing the function of lowering to the position _b ) is an example of the tray lowering means.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, a plurality of tray decks each having a tray on which a transfer sheet is placed and driven up and down are provided so as to be able to be pulled out, and only when the trays of each tray deck come to a predetermined lower limit position, In a deck-type transfer sheet feeding device having a deck lock function that enables pull-out, a tray provided in each of the tray decks and a tray in each of the tray decks is located at a predetermined intermediate position near the predetermined lower limit position. Position detecting means for detecting that the tray has arrived, temporary stopping means for temporarily stopping a tray which has reached the predetermined intermediate position or less when lowering two or more of the trays, and a predetermined intermediate position or less; Tray lowering means for lowering all the trays to the predetermined lower limit position after all the trays to be lowered reach the position Deck type transfer sheet supply apparatus characterized by comprising comprises a are provided.

Therefore, when lowering two or more trays, the deck lock mechanism is released almost simultaneously, so that sheet replenishment work or the like can be performed in a state in which all the trays are not moved up and down, which is safe.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a deck-type transfer sheet supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the deck-type transfer sheet supply device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a tray moving process of the deck-type transfer sheet supply device, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a deck-type transfer sheet supply device as a background of the present invention. 6, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the tray deck of the deck-type transfer sheet supply device pulled out, FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the deck-type transfer sheet supply device, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where an outer cover of the apparatus is removed, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory schematic view showing an example of a tray elevating mechanism of the deck type transfer sheet feeding apparatus. [Description of Signs] 1... Deck type transfer sheet feeding device 3 _a , 3 _b , 3 _c … Tray deck 4… Transfer sheet 5 _a , 5 _b , 5 _c … Tray 6… Control unit 9 _a , 9 _b, 9 _c ...... lower limit detection sensor _{12 a, 12 b, 12 c} ...... intermediate sensor (position detection _{means) 61 a, 61 b, 61} c ...... locking pawl

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of tray decks each having a tray on which a transfer sheet is placed and driven to move up and down are provided so as to be able to be pulled out, and each tray deck is provided only when the tray of each tray deck comes to a predetermined lower limit position. In a deck-type transfer sheet feeding device including a deck lock mechanism that allows the deck to be pulled out, a tray provided on each of the tray decks, wherein a tray in each of the tray decks is close to the predetermined lower limit position at a predetermined intermediate position Position detecting means for detecting that the tray has arrived at the position; suspending means for temporarily stopping a tray which has reached the predetermined intermediate position or less when lowering the two or more trays; Tray lowering means for lowering all the trays to the predetermined lower limit position after all the trays to be lowered reach a position below the position. Deck type transfer sheet supply apparatus characterized by comprising comprises a and.