JP2726313B2 - Transfer paper supply device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus which is connected to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer which uses transfer paper and feeds the transfer paper into the image forming apparatus main body. The present invention relates to a paper supply device.

[Conventional technology]

For example, when a copying machine uses a large number of transfer papers of different sizes and the like, it is troublesome to insert and remove the tray from the copying machine main body every time the transfer paper to be used is changed. Separately, there is a case where a transfer paper supply device in which trays are arranged in multiple stages is connected in the supply device main body, and the transfer paper is fed into the copier main body therefrom.

Such a transfer paper supply device is, for example, one shown in FIG.

This transfer paper supply device is provided with a tray 4 which can be moved between a home position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 16 and a set position indicated by a virtual line for feeding paper, and the tray 4 is moved. Tray moving device 11 for detecting the home position and set position of the tray 4 and a home sensor 12 which is both a transmission type photo sensor.
And a set sensor 13 are provided for each paper feed stage.

Further, the pick-up roller 14 is pressed against the uppermost sheet surface of the transfer sheet P on the tray 4 moved to the set position indicated by the imaginary line to the right of the tray 4 in FIG. The paper supply unit 15 that can be moved in the vertical direction is provided.

In order to move the tray 4 to the home position, which is the retreat position, the transfer paper supply device drives the tray moving device 11 to move it to the left in FIG. As shown in FIG. 17, when the light-shielding plate 16 fixed integrally is configured to shield the set sensor 13 and the detection unit of the home sensor 12 from light and both of them are turned off, the drive of the tray moving device 11 is stopped. ing.

In order to move the tray 4 to the set position which is the sheet feeding position, the tray moving device 11 is driven to move the tray 4 in the opposite direction (to the right in FIG. 16). And the light blocking plate
As shown in FIG. 18, the drive of the tray moving device 11 is stopped when the light passes through the detection portion of the set sensor 13 and the light is released together with the home position 12 as shown in FIG. .

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, if a home sensor and a set sensor are provided for each paper feed stage in this manner, in the case of a transfer paper supply device having multiple paper feed stages, the number of sensors is increased and the cost is reduced. There is a problem that the burden on the user increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to reduce the number of sensors used for detecting the home position and the set position of a tray as much as possible to reduce the cost.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tray that can be moved to a home position in a supply device main body and a set position for feeding paper, and moves the tray to a home position and a set position. A transfer unit for feeding the transfer paper on the tray moved to the set position, a transfer unit for feeding the transfer paper on the tray, and a sensor for detecting the home position and the set position of the tray. In the apparatus, a detection signal is different between the tray and the apparatus fixing portion when the tray is at the home position or set position and when the tray is at an intermediate position.
Prior to the transfer of the transfer paper by the paper feeding unit, the tray moving device is driven for a predetermined time to move the tray once in the set position direction, and the detection signal from the sensor during that time is provided. Tray position discriminating means for discriminating the position of the tray in accordance with the combination of the above means, and in accordance with the discrimination result of the means, the tray moving device is reversely driven to return the tray to the home position. Tray movement control means for controlling by referring to the detection signal of the sensor so as to move to the sill.

(Operation)

According to the transfer paper supply device configured as described above, even if the insertion position varies when the tray is inserted into the main body of the supply device, the tray position can be adjusted before the paper is fed by the paper supply unit. The discriminating means drives the tray moving device for a predetermined time to move the tray once in the set position direction,
1 provided between the tray and the device fixing section within the predetermined time.
Detection signals are input from the plurality of sensors, the position of the tray is determined based on the combination of the input detection signals, and the tray movement control means drives the tray movement device in the reverse direction according to the determination result, After the tray is returned to the home position, control is performed with reference to the detection signal of the above sensor so that the tray is moved to the set position again. It can be reliably moved to the position.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a transfer paper supply device according to the present invention together with a control system, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal mechanism of the transfer paper supply device, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which a copying machine is mounted, as viewed from the left side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer paper supply device 1 has a copying machine main body 2 mounted on an upper portion thereof, and includes trays 4A to 4E in which transfer papers P of different sizes can be stacked. A copying machine system capable of feeding paper from the tray 4 to the copying machine body 2 is constructed.

A tray selection button 6 for selecting a tray to be used is provided on the upper surface of the front portion (right side in FIG. 3) of the copying machine main body 2, and an automatic document feeder 20 is mounted on the upper portion. ing.

The transfer paper supply device 1 is provided with trays 4A to 4E (hereinafter simply referred to as tray 4 when not specified) arranged in five stages (which can be appropriately increased or decreased) that can be pulled out from a supply device main body 5 also serving as a stand. And a paper feed unit 3 for moving to a predetermined paper feed position corresponding to the tray 4 of each stage and feeding the transfer paper P, and a set position where the tray 4 can be fed by the paper feed unit 3. A tray moving device 7 (not shown for the second stage and below) arranged for each stage to be moved to the sillon, and is attached to the front of the supply device main body 5 so as to be openable and closable, and opened when the tray 4 is pulled out. The door 8 is constructed as follows.

As shown in FIG. 2, each paper feed stage has a lock for elastically locking the tray 4 when the tray 4 is inserted into the supply device main body 5 to give a sense of moderation when the insertion is completed. Each of the mechanisms (detailed description will be described later) 10 is provided.

The paper feeding unit 3 is raised and lowered by a mechanism described later,
It is possible to ascend to the paper feeding unit home position shown in FIG. 2, which is the upper limit, and when the tray selection button 6 (FIG. 3) is operated, the paper feeding position corresponding to the tray 4 in the selected stage To feed the transfer paper P.

The tray moving device 7 includes a drive gear 32, an idle gear 33, and a pinion 34, which mesh with each other, respectively, on a motor bracket 38, which is fixed to the bracket support shaft 31 and is rotatable in the direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. The motor 35 is rotatably supported and the motor 35 is fixed.The worm gear 36 fixed to the rotation shaft of the motor 35 is engaged with the drive gear 32 so that when the motor 35 is rotated, the pinion 34 is reduced and rotated. ing.

When the motor bracket 38 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow A, the pinion 34 meshes with a rack 51 fixed to the side surface of the tray 4 along the pull-out direction.

The door 8 can be opened and closed about a hinge 8a as a center of rotation, and a rod pressing plate 40 is fixed to an inner surface thereof. The rod 41 can be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2 and in the opposite direction so that the end 41a abuts on the rod pressing plate 40 when the door 8 is closed, corresponding to the rod pressing plate 40. Is provided.

A locking pin 42 is fitted into the rod 41 slightly inward from the middle in the radial direction, and is integrally fixed.
A notch groove of an arm 44, which is integrally supported by a shaft 43 and is urged to rotate in the direction of arrow C by a spring (not shown), is fitted into the rear side of the arm 42. 42
To always push the rod 41 in the direction of arrow B.

Then, the back end of the rod 41 is indicated by an arrow D in FIG.
A pin fixed to the elevating plate 46 is engaged with a notch groove formed at the other end of the swing arm 45 so that the swing arm 45 can swing in the direction.

The elevating plate 46 is one in which each stepped screw 47 is fitted into a plurality of guide holes formed along the up and down direction and fixed to the fixing portion of the device, and supported so as to be movable in the up and down direction.
An engaging portion 46a that engages with the roller shaft 21 of the locking mechanism 10 projects therefrom toward the front of the device.

In addition, below the shaft 43 integrated with the arm 44, the arm
A rocking lever 48 is fixed at a slight distance from 44, and the tip of the rocking lever 48 abuts on a pin fixed to one end of a rockable intermediate lever 49 whose intermediate portion is supported by a shaft. The other end of the intermediate lever 49 is engaged with an engaging pin 52 fixed to a portion protruding rearward of the motor bracket 38.

In addition, each of these pins and each of the levers that engage with them,
The bracket support shaft 31 is always in contact with the bracket 31 by an urging force which is urged to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2 by a spring (not shown).

In addition, the rod pressing plate 40 and the rods
Reference numeral 41 is provided for each sheet feeding stage together with the tray moving device 7.

Next, the lock mechanism 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 4, a light-shielding plate 55 also serving as an engagement member formed of, for example, a plate-shaped member is integrally formed on the back surface 4a of the tray 4 and has a mountain-shaped upper edge. Protrusion
55a and a horizontal portion 55b are formed, and the tray 4 is
When inserted into (FIG. 2), the roller 22 is provided so as to be in contact with the upper edge of the light shielding plate 55, and the roller 22 is rotatably attached to one end of the roller shaft 21.

The roller shaft 21 is fixed to one end of a bracket 56. The bracket 56 has a shaft 57 supported by the supply device main body 5 penetrating the other end along the horizontal direction.
In the normal direction, and is normally urged downward by the urging force of a spring 58 having a winding portion fitted on the shaft 57,
The lower portion of the bracket 56 is in contact with a stopper (not shown) to keep it at a predetermined position.

Then, when the tray 4 is inserted into the supply device main body, the lower portion of the roller 22 rolls into contact with the upper edge portion of the light-shielding plate 55, and the roller 22 moves over the protrusion 55a to reach the horizontal portion 55b. ing.

Further, the light-shielding plate 55 forms a first light-shielding portion 55c and a second light-shielding portion 55d at a lower portion at intervals along the moving direction of the tray,
The light shielding plate 55 integrated with the tray 4 and the supply device main body 5 (second
(See the figure), the detecting unit detects the first or second light-shielding unit 55c or 55d when the tray 4 is in the home position or set position and when the tray 4 is at an intermediate position.
A single sensor 61, for example, a transmission type photo sensor, is provided in which the detection signal differs depending on whether or not the light is blocked by the sensor.

When the tray is in the home position, the sensor 61 is connected to the first light shielding unit as shown in FIG.
The light is blocked by 55c, and when it is in the set position, it is arranged at a position where it is shielded by the second light-blocking portion 55d, and it is fixed to the device fixing portion of the supply device main body 5 (see FIG. 2). .

Next, the paper feeding unit 3 and the door 8 to which it is attached will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG.

The paper feeding unit 3 is provided inside the door 8,
The door 8 is separated from the tray 4 in the supply device main body 5 with the opening operation of the door 8 in the direction of arrow G shown in FIG.

The door 8 includes left and right side plates 72, 73, an intermediate side plate 77 disposed therebetween, upper and lower base plates 85, 86, and a front plate 87.
The door hinge portion 90 is provided on the side plate 73 side.
Are fixed together.

And, on the side plate 73 and the intermediate side plate 77, a winding shaft 78 in which pulleys 79 and 80 for winding the wire are fixed is provided rotatably, and a gear 81 is fixed to the left end of the winding shaft 78,
The gear 81 meshes with a worm 91 fixed to a rotation shaft of a drive motor (stepping motor) 83 via an idle gear 92 and a worm wheel 93.

Wires 74 and 75 are wound around the pulleys 79 and 80 in a loop shape, and the portions where the wires 74 and 75 are stretched vertically are spaced horizontally from both sides of the sheet feeding unit 3. Each projecting wire fixing rod 94 is fixed.

Then, a guide portion 3a formed on the right side of the sheet feeding unit 3
The slide shaft 76 is movably fitted in the vertical direction, and when the drive motor 83 is driven in both forward and reverse directions, the entire sheet feeding unit 3 moves up and down along the slide shaft 76.

The opposite side of the sheet feeding unit 3 from the guide portion 3a is
Each wire fixing rod 94 of the book is guided by a guide hole 77a formed in the intermediate side plate 77 along the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feeding unit 3 has a light-shielding piece 96 fixed to the upper surface of the paper feeding home position at the upper limit. It is designed to shield light.

As shown in FIG. 7, the paper feeding unit 3 supports a support plate 101 in the unit so as to be swingable about a roller shaft 106, and the pick-up roller 102 and the feed roller 103 are rotatable on the support plate 101. Attachment, the pickup roller 102 and the feed roller 103 are meshed with an intermediate gear 107 between gears integrally fixed to shafts supporting them, and they rotate in conjunction with the arrow direction in FIG. Like that.

A reverse roller 104 is rotatably mounted on a fixed portion of the paper feeding unit 3, and a rotational force is applied to the reverse roller 104 via a known torque limiter (not shown) in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the feed roller 103. Transfer paper P
When the paper is over-fed by the pick-up roller 102, it is returned from the lower transfer paper to the tray 4 side.

Further, a pair of transport rollers 105 are rotatably attached to a fixed portion of the paper feeding unit 3 on the right side in FIG.

A protrusion 101a is formed at the end of the support plate 101 on the pick-up roller 102 side, and a pickup sensor 108 is attached to a fixed portion of the sheet feeding unit 3 so as to correspond to the protrusion 101a.

Then, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 7, the entire sheet feeding unit 3 descends with the support plate 101 slightly pivoting downward and the pickup roller 102 being lowered, and the pickup roller 102 feeds the sheet. The support plate 101 is rotated to the position shown by the solid line and the projection 101a is picked up. The detection unit of the sensor 108 is shielded from light.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 110 denotes a belt conveying device, which conveys the transfer paper P conveyed by the conveying rollers 105 upward and conveys it into the copying machine main body 2 (FIG. 3).

Next, a control system for controlling the transfer paper supply device will be described with reference to FIG. 8 in addition to FIG.

The control of the transfer paper supply device is entirely performed by the control device 120 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.

The control device 120 includes a central processing unit (CPU) having various judgment and processing functions, a ROM which is a program memory storing various programs and fixed data necessary for controlling the transfer paper supply device, and processing data. Is a micro computer comprising a RAM, which is a data memory for storing data, and an input / output circuit (I / O).

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the control device 120 outputs a tray selection signal output every time a tray is selected from the tray selection button 6, and the pick-up sensor 108 outputs the tray of the stage in which the sheet feeding unit 3 is selected. When the sheet feeding unit 3 moves up to the sheet feeding home position, which is the upper limit, the sheet feeding unit movement completion signal output when the sheet feeding unit moves to the sheet feeding position corresponding to An upper limit detection signal output upon detection (upper limit detection) is input.

Sensor signals (on / off) output or stopped according to the tray movement position are input from the sensors 61 provided for each of the plurality (five) of paper feed stages. I do.

The drive motor (stepping motor) 83
A drive signal for raising and lowering the sheet supply unit 3 is output via a driver 121, and a pulse signal output according to the rotation is input from an encoder 122 mounted on a rotation shaft of the drive motor 83.

Further, each motor 35 of the tray moving device 7 (FIG. 2) provided for each paper feed stage has a tray 4 of each stage as a home position and a set position for feeding paper. Each of the tray movement signals to be moved is output via the driver 123.

The control device 120 drives the tray moving device 7 for a predetermined time to move the tray 4 once in the set position direction before the transfer paper is fed by the paper feeding unit 3, and the sensor 61 from the sensor 61 during that time. It also has a function of determining the position of the tray based on the combination of the detection signals. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control device 120 corresponds to a tray position determining unit.

In this embodiment, the control device 120 reversely drives the tray moving device 7 in accordance with the discrimination result of the tray position discriminating means, returns the tray 4 to the home position, and then returns the tray 4 to the set position. Sensor to move
It also functions as tray movement control means for controlling with reference to the 61 detection signals.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described in ninth embodiment.
The description will be made with reference to the figures and subsequent figures.

The transfer paper supply device is moved from the state shown in FIG.
Is opened in the direction of the arrow E around the hinge 8a, the rod 41 whose end 41a has been pressed in the direction opposite to the arrow B by the rod pressing plate 40 fixed to the inside of the door 8 until then.
Protrudes to the position regulated by a stopper (not shown) in the direction of arrow B via the arm 44 by the biasing force of a spring (not shown) which is rotated and biased in the direction of arrow C on the shaft 43. .

Accordingly, the swing arm 45 pivots clockwise to lower the lift plate 46, and the roller shaft 21 pressed by the spring 58 against the upper edge of the engaging portion 46a swings downward. , Roller 22
5 is engaged with the horizontal portion 55b of the light shielding plate 55 integrated with the tray 4 as shown in FIG. 5, and the tray 4 is locked.

In conjunction with the opening operation of the door 8, the tray moving device 7 also moves in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, and the rack 51 of the tray 4 and the pinion 34 are disengaged.

That is, when the rod 41 projects in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 2 and the arm 44 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow C, the swing lever 48 also rotates in the same direction via the shaft 43, whereby the motor bracket is rotated. 38 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by the urging force of a spring (not shown) that is rotationally urged to the bracket support shaft 31 and stops at the position where the pin attached to the intermediate lever 49 abuts the swing lever 48. I do.

Accordingly, the pinion 34 is separated from the rack 51 and disengaged.

In this state, when the tray 4 is pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 5 to replenish the transfer paper on the tray 4, the rollers 22 extend from the horizontal portion 55b of the light-shielding plate 55 until they pass over the protruding protrusion 55a. Has some resistance, but if you get over it,
The tray 4 can be smoothly pulled out from the supply device main body 5 shown in FIG. 2 along a slide rail (not shown).

Then, when the tray 4 is inserted into the supply device main body 5 after the copy paper is stacked, the tray 4 is moved downward by the operation reverse to that at the time of pulling out as shown in FIG. This locking mechanism 1 is used to roll over the mountain-shaped projection 55a and engage the horizontal portion 55b as shown in FIG. 5 while rolling the 22 into contact with the upper edge of the light-shielding plate 55 also serving as an engagement member.
By setting 0, a sense of moderation is obtained when the tray is inserted, and the tray 4 is inserted at a predetermined insertion position (the position where the roller 22 has passed over the projecting portion 55a).

Next, when the door 8 is closed, the rod pressing plate 40 comes into contact with the end 41a of the rod 41 projecting in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 and pushes it back in the direction opposite to arrow B. , The arm 44 and the swing lever 48 are both rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow C, whereby the intermediate lever 49 is swung via a pin and the intermediate lever 49 is engaged with the intermediate lever 49 via an engaging pin 52. The engaging motor bracket 38 rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow A, and the pinion 34 meshes with the rack 51 on the side surface of the tray 4.

When the rod 41 is pushed back by closing the door 8, the swing arm 45 is pressed and swings in the counterclockwise direction, and the elevating plate 46 is raised accordingly.

Accordingly, the roller 22 (the state shown in FIG. 4) which has been pressed by the spring 58 and urged to swing downward is moved by the engaging portion 46a of the ascending / descending plate 46. The roller 22 is pushed upward through the shaft 21 and the lower part of the roller 22 is
Lifts above the projection 55a.

Therefore, a gap is formed between the lower portion of the roller 22 and the upper edge of the protrusion 55a of the light shielding plate 55, and the locking mechanism 10 is in the unlocked state. In this state, the tray 4 is rack
Locked state by 51 and pinion 34.

After that, the trays 4 of all the stages are set to the second
The paper feed unit 3 is moved to the home position (retreat position) shown in the figure and the paper feed home position which is the uppermost limit, and the tray selection button 6 of the copying machine main body 2 shown in FIG.
Is operated to select the tray for the paper source to be used.
Accordingly, the tray 4 of the selected stage is moved to the set position, and the paper feeding unit 3 is moved to the paper feeding position corresponding to the tray. A series of controls are all performed by the control device 120 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 according to a flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, when the subroutine shown in FIG. 9 starts, the control unit 120 firstly performs the sheet feeding unit 3 in step 1.
Prior to the transfer of the transfer paper, the motor 35 of the tray moving device 7 is driven for a predetermined time to move the tray 4 to the right in the direction of the set position (SP) in FIG.

Then, in step 2, it is determined whether or not the signal input from the sensor 61 at the predetermined time is a detection signal of a combination that changes from “off → on”. If not, the process proceeds to step 3, but if so, If the light shielding plate 55 integrated with the tray 4 is the tenth
Since this is the case where the position has been moved from the position shown in FIG.

In step 4, the motor 35 of the tray moving device 7 is again
Is driven in the direction opposite to the above-described case to move the tray 4 from the position shown in FIG. 10 (b) in the home position (HP) direction indicated by the arrow K, and the input signal from the sensor 61 changes from “on → off”. "
It is stopped at the position shown in FIG. 10 (c).

After the tray is moved to the home position (initial setting operation) for the previous tray, the tray selection button 6 is operated (turned on) in step 5, and the tray 4 to be used is moved to one of the paper feeding trays. It is determined whether or not it has been selected from the above. If it is turned on and operated, the operation proceeds to step 6 to drive the motor 35 of the tray moving device 7 and to select the state shown in FIG.
Move the tray 4 of the selected stage in the home position of the direction of arrow J in the direction of the set position (SP) indicated by arrow J, and
When the detection unit 61 is shielded by the second light shielding unit 55d of the light shielding plate 55 (the detection signal from the sensor 61 is changed from “off → on → off”) to the position shown in FIG. To stop.

Next, in step 7, the driver 121 is connected to the drive motor 83.
A drive signal for moving the paper feed unit 3 is output via (FIG. 8), and the drive signal is moved to the paper feed position corresponding to the tray which is selected and moved to the set position.

That is, the paper feeding unit 3 descends with the pick-up roller 102 pivoted slightly downward together with the support plate 101 as indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. 7, and moves on the tray 4B (if it is the selected tray). When pressed against the uppermost sheet of the transfer sheet P, the support plate 101 is rotated upward about the roller shaft 106 together with the pick-up roller 102, and is rotated to the position shown by the solid line, and the protruding piece 101a is rotated. Pickup sensor 108
When the detecting unit is shielded (turned off), the drive motor 83 is stopped to stop the lowering of the sheet feeding unit 3, and thereafter, the process returns to the main routine.

In addition, the result of the determination in step 2 is NO, and
If the detection signal from the sensor 61 is turned off at a predetermined time when the tray 4 has moved in the set position direction,
It is determined whether or not "off". If not, the process proceeds to step 8, but if so, the light shielding plate 55 integrated with the tray 4 is moved from the position of FIG. 11 (a) to the position of FIG. 11 (b). Since this is the case, the process proceeds to step 9.

In step 9, the motor of the tray moving device 7 is again
By driving the tray 35 in the opposite direction to that described above, the tray 4 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 11 (b) in the direction of the home position (HP) indicated by the arrow K, and the input signal from the sensor 61 changes from “OFF → ON →
It is stopped at the position shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 5 to determine whether the tray selection button 6 has been operated (turned on). If the button has been turned on, the tray 4 of the stage selected in step 6 is moved to the set position. Then, in step 7, the paper feeding unit 3 is moved to the paper feeding position, and thereafter, the process returns to the main routine.

Further, if the result of the determination in step 3 is NO and the process proceeds to step 8, it is determined whether or not the detection signal from the sensor 61 is "ON → ON" at a predetermined time when the tray 4 has moved in the set position direction. And if so, tray 4
12 (a) has been moved from the position shown in FIG. 12 (a) to the position shown in FIG. 12 (b), the process proceeds to step 4 described above, and the judgment and processing after step 4 are executed to execute tray 4 Is moved to the home position shown in FIG. 12 (c), and other processing is executed. When all the processing is completed, the process returns to the main routine.

If the result of the determination in step 8 is NO,
When the light shielding plate 55 integrated with the tray 4 has moved from the position of FIG. 13 (a) to the position of FIG. 13 (b) (the detection signal is “on → off”), the process proceeds to step 9 described above, and the tray 4
Is moved from the position of FIG. 13 (b) in the direction of the home position (HP) indicated by arrow K, and the position of FIG. 13 (c) at which the input signal from the sensor 61 becomes “off → on → off” Then, the determination and processing after the above-mentioned step 5 are executed, and when the processing is completed, the process returns to the main routine.

As described above, the transfer paper supply device controls the movement of the tray 4 to the home position and the set position by moving the tray 4 for a predetermined time prior to the feeding of the transfer paper. The insertion position of the tray 4 into the supply device body 5 is determined based on the combination of the detection signals, and the tray 4 is moved to the home position according to the result of the determination, and then moved to the set position. So
Even with one sensor, the control can be performed reliably.

When the tray 4 is moved to the set position and the sheet feeding is started (see the tray 4C in FIG. 1), the feed roller 103 and the pick-up roller 102 shown in FIG. The transfer paper P on the tray 4 is fed rightward from the uppermost one,
It is conveyed by the conveying rollers 105 and the belt conveying device 110, and conveyed into the copying machine main body 2 shown in FIG.

In the movement of the paper feeding unit 3 in step 7 in FIG. 9, the paper feeding unit 3 is first moved slightly above the paper feeding position of the tray of the selected stage, and then lowered. When the pick-up roller 102 shown in FIG. 7 comes into contact with the uppermost sheet surface on the tray 4 and the support plate 101 rotates upward and the protruding piece 101a shields the detecting portion of the pick-up sensor 108, the lowering is performed. I try to stop it.

The control to move the paper supply unit 3 slightly above the paper supply position of the tray of the initially selected stage is performed by transferring the transfer paper P onto the trays 4A to 4E of each stage shown in FIG. In the state where the maximum loading capacity is loaded, the position where the lower part of the pick-up roller 102 of the paper feeding unit 3 is slightly separated from the upper surface of the uppermost paper and a gap is formed therebetween is determined in advance for each stage, and the position is determined by the drive motor. (Stepping motor) The number of pulses of 83 is replaced with the R of control device 120 in FIG.
Each time the tray selection button 6 is operated and a tray is selected, the corresponding number of pulses is selected from among those stored in the ROM, and the corresponding pulse number is stored in the ROM. This is achieved by driving the drive motor 83 until the number of pulses input from 125 coincides.

In this embodiment, when the tray 4 is inserted into the supply device main body 5, the roller 22 of the locking mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 4 rides over the mountain-like projection 55a of the light-shielding plate 55 also serving as an engagement member. Since the tray 4 is locked with a sense of moderation, the tray 4 is normally inserted shallowly as shown in FIG.
It is unlikely that 22 is positioned beyond the protrusion 55a).

However, in the case where the light-shielding plate is formed as a light-shielding plate 55 'as shown in FIG. 15 without providing the locking mechanism 10, the tray 4 is moved as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 as described above. May be inserted into the supply device body 5 at various positions. According to the present invention, even in such a case, the position of the tray is determined by a combination of the detection signals from the sensor 61, and the tray 4 is moved to the home position according to the determination result. Can be reliably moved to the set position.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, when the tray is inserted into the main body of the feeding device, the tray is temporarily moved in the direction of the set position for a predetermined time before the paper is fed by the paper feeding unit. In the meantime, the position where the tray is inserted is determined based on the combination of the detection signals detected by the sensors, and the tray is returned to the home position and then moved to the set position according to the determination result. Since only one sensor is required for each paper feed stage to be used for moving to and stopping at the home position and the set position, the cost is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a transfer paper supply device according to the present invention together with a control system, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal mechanism of the transfer paper supply device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the lock mechanism 10 and its vicinity, and FIG. 5 is a light shielding plate when the tray is moved to the home position. FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the positional relationship of the sensors, FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the paper feeding unit 3 and a mechanism for raising and lowering the paper feeding unit 3, and a configuration diagram showing the internal configuration of the paper feeding unit 3, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a control device 120 for controlling the paper supply device 1 and its related configuration. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of tray and paper supply unit movement processing executed by the control device 120 in FIG. (A) to (c) to FIG. 13 (a) to ( FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b) are step-by-step diagrams illustrating a state in which the trays inserted at different positions are once moved in the set position direction and then moved to the home position. FIGS. FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing step by step the state of moving the initially set tray to the set position, FIG. 15 is a front view showing an example of a light shield plate having a different shape without a locking mechanism, and FIG. FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are schematic views showing only one paper feed stage by simplifying the example of the conventional transfer paper supply device. FIGS. 17 and 18 show that the transfer paper supply device tray shown in FIG. 16 has a home position and a set position. It is a perspective view which shows the different positional relationship of a light shielding plate and a sensor at a certain time, respectively. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Transfer paper supply apparatus 2, 2 ... Copy machine main body 3 ... Paper supply unit, 4A-4E ... Tray 5 ... Supply apparatus main body, 6 ... Tray selection button 7 ... Tray moving apparatus, 8 ... Door 10: Lock mechanism, 34: Pinion 35: Motor, 40: Rod pressing plate 41: Rod, 51: Rack 55, 55 ': Light shielding plate, 61: Sensor 83: Drive motor, 97 Paper feed unit sensor 108 Pickup sensor 120 Control device P Transfer paper

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A tray movable to a home position in a supply device main body and a set position for feeding paper, a tray moving device for moving the tray to the home position and a set position, A transfer paper supply device, comprising: a paper feed unit for feeding the transfer paper on the tray moved to the set position; and a sensor for detecting the home position and the set position of the tray. A sensor is provided between the fixing unit and the fixing unit so that a detection signal is different between when the tray is at the home position or the set position and when the tray is at an intermediate position between the tray and the tray. Prior to the feeding of the transfer paper by the unit, the tray moving device is driven for a predetermined time to move the tray once in the direction of the set position, and the tray during the time is moved. Tray position discriminating means for discriminating the position of the tray based on a combination of the detection signals from the tray, and returning the tray to the home position by reversely driving the tray moving device according to the discrimination result of the means. And a tray movement control means for controlling the tray by referring to the detection signal of the sensor so as to move the tray to the set position again.