JP2931086B2 - Back fence device for large-volume paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a back fence device for a large-volume sheet feeding / conveying device provided in parallel with an image processing device such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a large-volume paper feeder is provided in order to supply a large amount of paper. In such a large-volume paper feeder, a tray unit having a vertically movable table on which a large amount of paper is loaded and side fences covering both sides of the table, an FRR for feeding the loaded paper sheet by sheet. A separation paper feeding unit of a system and an end fence located on the opposite side of the separation paper feeding unit with respect to the tray unit are provided.

Here, when a large number of sheets are fed out of the tray unit at the time of sheet feeding, only the top sheet is separated and fed by the takeoff roller in the separation sheet feeding unit, and the remaining sheets are separated by the separation roller. It is returned into the tray unit when it is turned over. At this time, the rear end side of the sheet returned into the tray unit comes into contact with the end fence, and the sheet is returned to the original stacked state.

The tray unit is provided slidably, and when replenishing paper, the tray unit is drawn out of the main body case of the large-volume paper feeder. When the tray unit is pulled out of the main unit case, the end fence is integrally pulled out.If the tray unit is pulled out, the operability of stacking paper on the table becomes worse, and the end fence is attached to the main unit case side. In addition, the end fence is provided movably between a back side of a center position in the main body case (a side opposite to a direction in which the tray unit is pulled out).

Therefore, when replenishing paper, the back fence located at the center position is moved to the back side, the table is lowered, and then the tray unit is pulled out of the main body case.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention When the tray unit is pulled out of the main body case, the sheet whose leading end is placed on the separation roller falls into the tray unit as the table descends.
At this time, since the end fence has moved to the far side in the main body case, the dropped paper cannot contact the end fence and return to the original stacked state, and the gap between the tray unit and the main body case is not sufficient. Etc., and the paper may cause a paper feeding trouble.

Means for Solving the Problems A large-volume feeder having a tray unit that can load a large amount of paper and can be pulled out of the main body case, and a separate paper feed unit that separates and feeds the paper in the tray unit into the image processing apparatus In the paper transport device, a guide rail is provided on the main body case along a pulling-out direction of the tray unit, and a back fence facing the rear end of the paper in the paper feeding direction is opened at the rear end of the paper in the paper feeding direction. The tray unit is provided to be rotatable by being urged in a rotating direction,
The back fence is integrally provided with a slide contact body that slides on the guide rail, and the back fence is opened at the rear end side of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction in conjunction with an operation of pulling the tray unit out of the main body case. An opening mechanism is provided so as to be moved to a desired position.

When the tray unit is pulled out of the main unit case, the back fence is pulled out integrally with the back fence positioned at the rear end in the paper feeding direction. When the sheet in the folded state is returned to the tray unit, the rear end side of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction contacts the back fence and is returned to the original stacked state.
When the tray unit is pulled out of the main body case, the back fence is automatically moved to a position where the rear end side in the sheet feeding direction is opened by an opening mechanism formed by the guide rail and the sliding contact body.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First,
As shown in FIG. 2, a copier 1 as an image processing device and a large-volume paper feeder 2 for supplying a large amount of sheets to the copier are provided side by side. In the copying machine 1, an electrophotographic process member is disposed around a belt-shaped photoconductor 3, and furthermore, a plurality of paper feed trays 4, 5, 6 and any one of the paper feed trays 4 to 6 are provided. A paper supply unit 7 for selectively supplying paper to the photoconductor 3 is provided.

The large-volume paper feeder 2 includes a main body case 9 to which a caster 8 is attached, a tray unit 10 slidably housed in the main body case 9, and sheets stacked on a table 11 which can be moved up and down in the tray unit 10. Are separated one by one and supplied to the copying machine 1 side.

Here, the tray unit 10 includes the table 11,
The table 11 includes a table driving motor 13 for raising and lowering the table 11, a pair of side fences 14 for covering the sides of the sheets stacked on the table 11 in the sheet feeding direction, and the like. The position is adjustable in the paper width direction.

Next, on one of the side fences 14, a back fence 15 facing the rear end in the paper feeding direction is rotatably mounted, and the back fence 15 is fed by a torsion spring 16 to feed the paper. Urged in the turning direction to open the rear end side in the direction. A guide rail 17 is fixed in the main body case 9 along a sliding direction of the tray unit 10, and the back fence 15 is brought into contact with the guide rail 17 so that the back fence 15 A guide roller 18 for maintaining a state facing the rear end side in the sheet feeding direction is attached. When the tray unit 10 is located inside the main body case 9, the back fence 15 is moved backward by the guide rail 17, the guide roller 18, and the torsion spring 16 as the sliding contact body in the paper feeding direction. An opening mechanism 19 is configured to be positioned at a position facing the end and to rotate the back fence 15 to a position to open the rear end side in the sheet feeding direction when the tray unit 10 is pulled out of the main body case 9. .

Further, a support shaft 20 is provided at the tip of the back fence 15.
A back fence lever 22 which is rotatable around and can be fixed at an arbitrary rotation position by tightening a thumb screw 21 is attached.

In such a configuration, the sheets stacked on the table 11 are separated by the separation sheet feeding unit 12 in order from the top one, and are conveyed to the copying machine 1 side.

Next, when the tray unit 10 is pulled out of the main body case 9 for replenishment of paper, the switch 23 provided on the outer side of the tray unit 10 is pressed, and the table drive motor 13 is driven in a downward direction. By table 11
Is lowered, and after the table 11 is lowered to a predetermined position and stopped, the tray unit 10 is pulled out (in the direction of arrow A).
Withdraw to Here, the tray unit 10 is
Before the guide roller is completely pulled out, the guide roller 18
Is in contact with the guide rail 17, and the back fence 15 is maintained at a position facing the rear end side in the sheet feeding direction. Therefore, when the sheet in the state where the leading end side in the sheet feeding direction is put on the sheet feeding roller of the separation sheet feeding unit 12 returns to the tray unit 10 side with the lowering of the table 11,
The rear end side of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction comes into contact with the back fence 15 to return to the original stacked state, thereby preventing the sheet from falling into the gap between the tray unit 10 and the main body case 9.

When the tray unit 10 is completely pulled out of the main body case 9, the contact state between the guide rollers 18 and the guide rails 17 is released, so that the back fence 15 rotates about 90 ° as shown in FIG. Then, the rear end side of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction is opened. Therefore, when the sheets are stacked on the table 11, the back fence 15 does not hinder the operation, and the operation of stacking the sheets on the table 11 can be performed smoothly. After the stacking of the sheets on the table 11 is completed, the guide roller 18 comes into contact with the guide rails 17 when the tray unit 10 is pushed into the main body case 9. Automatically turns to the position facing the. Then, after the tray unit 10 is pushed into the predetermined position, the table drive motor 13 is driven in the ascending direction, and the table 11 is raised until the topmost sheet reaches the sheet feeding position.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the rotation of the back fence lever 22 is adjusted. In the case where the paper size is different by rotating the back fence lever 22 according to the width in the paper feeding direction. However, the back fence 15 can hold the rear end of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction.

As described above, the present invention provides a tray unit that can load a large amount of paper and can be pulled out of the main body case, and a separation paper feed unit that separates and feeds the paper in the tray unit into the image processing apparatus. A guide rail is provided on the main body case along the direction in which the tray unit is pulled out, and a back fence facing the rear end side of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction is provided on the sheet after the sheet feeding direction. The tray unit is rotatably provided by urging in a rotating direction to open the end side, and a sliding contact body that slides on the guide rail is integrally provided on the back fence, and the back fence is provided outside the main body case of the tray unit. An opening mechanism is provided to move the back fence to a position to open the rear end of the sheet in the paper feeding direction in conjunction with the drawing operation of the paper. When pulling the lay unit out of the main unit case, the back fence is pulled out integrally with the back fence positioned after the rear end in the paper feeding direction. When the paper is returned to the tray unit, the rear end of the paper in the paper feeding direction can contact the back fence to return to the original stacking state, and the tray unit can be returned to the main unit case. When pulled out, the back fence can be automatically moved to a position where the rear end side in the sheet feeding direction is opened by an opening mechanism formed by a guide rail and a sliding contact member,
Extremely good workability can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a tray unit, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view showing the whole of a copying machine and a large-volume paper feeder, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional front view showing the whole of the large-volume sheet feeding apparatus. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the tray unit is housed in the main body case.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state where the tray unit is pulled out of the main body case, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state where the rotation of the back fence lever is adjusted. 1 ... image processing equipment, 2 ... large-volume paper feeder, 9 ...
Main unit case, 10 Tray unit, 12 Separation paper feed unit, 15 Back fence, 19 Opening mechanism

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A large-volume paper feeder having a tray unit on which a large amount of paper is loaded and which can be pulled out of a main body case, and a separation paper supply unit for separating and feeding paper in the tray unit into an image processing apparatus. In the apparatus, a guide rail is provided in the main body case along a pulling-out direction of the tray unit, and a back fence facing a rear end side of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction is rotated to open a rear end side of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction. The tray unit is urged in the movement direction and is rotatably provided on the tray unit. The back fence is integrally provided with a sliding contact body that is in sliding contact with the guide rail, and is linked with the drawing operation of the tray unit out of the main body case. Wherein the back fence is moved to a position where the rear end of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction is opened. Location of the back fence devices.