JP2786939B2 - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly, to a sheet feeding device having a drawer type sheet feeding deck.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, there has been known a paper feeder 200 provided with a copier main body 100 and having a multi-stage drawer-lower paper feed deck 201. In each paper feed deck 201, a large number of recording papers are stacked and placed on a lifting tray 202. Each paper feed deck is provided with a width adjusting guide 203 that slides in the front-rear direction for positioning the recording paper.

To store the recording paper in the paper feed deck 201, first, pull out the paper feed deck 201, and then adjust the position of the width adjusting guide 203 according to the size of the recording paper. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the recording paper is placed on the elevating tray 202. Then, the user feeds the paper feeding deck 201 back to the original position.

However, when the paper feed deck 201 is returned,
By the impact and the weight of the recording paper, as shown in FIG.
In some cases, the width adjustment guide 203 may bend, and the recording paper may not be accurately positioned at the paper feed position.

Therefore, conventionally, a reinforcing member corresponding to the size of the recording paper has been fitted between the width adjusting guide 203 and the rear plate 204 provided thereafter.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional method in which a reinforcing member corresponding to the size of the recording paper is fitted between the width adjusting guide 203 and the rear plate 204 located behind the guide, the reinforcement is performed every time the size of the recording paper is changed. There is a problem that the member has to be replaced, which is troublesome. In addition, it is necessary to prepare reinforcing members of a plurality of sizes according to the size of the recording paper, and there is a problem that storage of the reinforcing members is not easy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device capable of stably supporting a width adjustment guide at a predetermined position by a simple operation and accurately positioning a recording sheet at a sheet feeding position.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A paper feeder according to the present invention is provided in a paper feed deck so as to be movable back and forth, and has a width alignment guide for positioning a recording sheet. The extended width guide support rod is pivotally attached to the width adjustment guide at one end, and is rotatably attached to the width adjustment guide. The width adjustment guide support rod has a plurality of required positions corresponding to the recording paper size. A small diameter portion having a small diameter is formed at a predetermined position behind the width adjustment guide, and the small diameter portion corresponding to the size when the width adjustment guide is positioned at a position corresponding to the size of the predetermined recording paper. Is provided with an engaging member having a notch with which the engaging member engages.

[Effect of the Invention] The small-diameter portion engaged with the notch of the support rod is removed from the notch by rotating the width adjusting guide support rod. Next, the width adjustment guide is moved together with the support rod to a position corresponding to the recording size. Thereafter, the support rod is turned to engage the small diameter portion corresponding to the recording paper size with the notch.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

In the following description, the front is the lower side of FIG. 2, the rear is the upper side of the figure, the left is the left side of the figure, and the right is the right side of the figure.

FIG. 1 shows a sheet feeding deck of the sheet feeding device. First
4 to 4, a sheet feeding deck 50 includes a bottom plate 1, a front plate 2 fixed to a front end of the bottom plate 1, a rear plate 3 fixed to a rear end of the bottom plate 1, and a left side of the bottom plate 1. Left side plate 4 fixed to the front portion, a recording paper front end guide plate (not shown) fixed to the rear surface of the front plate 2, a recording paper width alignment guide 6 guided freely by the bottom plate 1 in the front and rear direction, and a recording paper front end guide. An elevating tray 7 and the like are supported by the plate and the rear plate 3 so as to be able to move up and down.

The lifting tray 7 is raised and lowered by an electric motor (not shown).

The width adjusting guide 6 includes a base (not shown) supported on the bottom plate 1 via a rail member (not shown) so as to be movable back and forth, and a pair of left and right cylindrical vertical members 12 and 13 having lower ends fixed to the base.
And a grip 14 supported on the upper ends of the vertical members 12 and 13 and having a U-shaped open cross section. The elevating tray 7 is formed with longitudinally extending guide holes 15 and 16 through which the vertical members 12 and 13 respectively penetrate.

A width adjustment guide support rod 17 extending rearward from inside the grip 14 is supported by the grip 14 so as to be pivotable about a support shaft 18.

In the grip 14, a spring is provided between the rear end of the support rod 17 and a position on the front wall of the grip 14 to the left of the support shaft 18.
The support rod 17 is always urged in the opening direction (the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2) with respect to the grip 14 by the urging force of the spring 19.

The support rod 17 has small diameter portions 20 having a small diameter at a plurality of required positions corresponding to the recording paper size.

A rectangular cutout 8 is formed in the rear plate 3 when viewed from the front. At the right edge of the cutout 8 in the rear plate 3, a horizontally long notch 9 that can engage with the small diameter portion 20 of the support rod 17 is formed. The width of the notch 9 in the vertical direction is equal to that of the support rod 17.
Is formed slightly larger than the outer shape of the small diameter portion 20 of FIG. The opening of the notch 9 widens toward the opening so that the small-diameter portion 20 of the support rod 17 can be easily fitted.

In the above configuration, in order to position the width adjustment guide 6 in accordance with the size of the recording paper, first, the support rod 17 is turned in the opening direction against the urging force of the spring 19, and the diameter of the support rod 17 is reduced. Remove the part 20 from the notch 9.

Next, the support rod 17 and the grip 14 are gripped, and the width adjustment guide 6 is moved to a predetermined position according to the size of the recording paper. Thereafter, the support rod 17 is turned in the closing direction, and the small-diameter portion 20 of the support rod 17 corresponding to the size of the recording paper is engaged with the notch 9. Therefore, the width alignment guide 6 is firmly supported at that position.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the width adjustment guide can be stably supported at a predetermined position by a simple operation, so that the recording paper can be accurately positioned at the paper feeding position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sheet feeding deck, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway enlarged plan view showing a grip and a width adjustment guide support rod, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a rear view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a cutout formed in the rear plate, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are views for explaining a conventional example. The figure is a perspective view showing the paper feeder,
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which recording paper is stored in a paper feeding deck, and FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a state in which the paper feeding deck is pushed into a paper feeding apparatus main body. 6 ... Recording paper width adjustment guide, 3 ... Rear plate, 9 ... Notch, 14 ... Grip, 17 ... Width adjustment guide support rod, 18 ... Support shaft, 19 ... Spring, 20 ... Small diameter part , 50 ... Paper feed deck.

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65H 1/00-1/30 B65H 3/00-3/68

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet feeding device provided on a sheet feeding deck so as to be movable back and forth and having a width adjusting guide for positioning a recording sheet, wherein a width adjusting guide support rod extending rearward from the width adjusting guide has a width at one end. It is pivotally attached to the width adjustment guide by being pivotally attached to the alignment guide, and the width adjustment guide support rod is formed with small diameter portions having a small diameter at a plurality of required positions corresponding to the recording paper size, At a predetermined position behind the width adjusting guide, an engaging member having a notch with which a small diameter portion corresponding to the size is engaged when the width adjusting guide is positioned at a position corresponding to the size of the predetermined recording paper. A sheet feeding device, which is provided.