JP3047514B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for continuously feeding cut sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, paper is used as an image medium in various image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile. Therefore, operators of those apparatuses need to pay attention to the remaining amount of paper and replenish the paper as soon as the paper runs out. However, unlike a copying machine or the like, a data output device such as a printer or a facsimile is often not accompanied by an operator during operation. Therefore, especially in printers and facsimile machines, when the remaining amount of paper becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, an operator is notified that "no paper" is approaching, in order to prevent inoperability due to lack of paper. Need to be replenished.

Conventionally, in printers and facsimile machines that use continuous paper such as roll paper as the paper, a mark indicating "no paper", such as a red line, is applied to the back surface over a predetermined range of the end of the continuous paper. In addition, a method is adopted in which the continuous paper is replaced with a new one before the continuous paper runs out completely.

In recent years, a so-called page printer using cut paper obtained by cutting plain paper into a predetermined size as a paper by applying electrophotography has been widely used because of its excellent operability and storability of images. It is getting. Also, in the facsimile, a so-called plain paper facsimile (FAX) using an electrophotographic technique for a printer portion has been put on the market. Further, in response to the personalization of 0A devices such as computers and word processors, small-sized personal printers are also required for page printers and plain paper faxes.

In the above-described page printer and plain paper FAX, a large number of cut sheets are stacked in a sheet feeding section of each apparatus, and are continuously fed to an image forming section by sheet feeding means such as a sheet feeding roll. In this case, as a method of notifying “out of paper”, the “paper out”
It is not possible to adopt the method of attaching the notice mark of. This is because, if a notice mark is added to a cut sheet, the sheets must be stacked so as to be fed in a backward order, and the versatility, which is an advantage of the cut sheet, is impaired.
Further, the paper with the notice mark as seen in the conventional continuous paper is unfavorable from the viewpoint of storability when the mark is used as an official document and the mark remains forever. Therefore, in a relatively large page printer or plain paper FAX, a method is adopted in which the remaining amount of paper is detected by an optical sensor or the like, and a "paper out" warning lamp is flashed in response to the detection signal. However, according to this method, the operator of the apparatus may overlook the notice display.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has a simple means for detecting the remaining amount of cut sheets and providing a notice mark in a desirable form to reduce the remaining amount. It is an object of the present invention to provide a small and inexpensive image forming apparatus capable of accurately notifying an operator of the situation and preventing occurrence of a "paper out" state.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the above-mentioned claim 1
The invention according to the present invention is characterized in that a paper storage means for storing paper, a paper supply means for feeding paper stored in the paper storage means toward an image forming position, and
Images based on image information are placed on paper fed by paper means.
An image forming apparatus comprising image forming means for forming an image, and a discharge means for discharging a sheet <br/> image has been formed by the image forming means to the outside of the machine, it is housed in the sheet housing means A paper detecting member that moves in conjunction with the amount of paper , and a paper detecting member that moves when the amount of stored paper is less than a predetermined amount .
Said image for marking the feed paper in response to movement
Marking means independent of the forming means is provided, and when the number of sheets remaining in the sheet storage means reaches a predetermined amount, the identification mark is provided on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding means and discharged by the sheet discharging means. The main point is to notify the user of the decrease in the number of sheets stored in the sheet storage unit by being attached . Further, in order to achieve the above object, the above-mentioned claim 2
According to the invention, a paper storage means for storing paper and the paper storage means are provided.
Feeding the paper stored in the delivery means toward the image forming position
Paper supply means, provided at the image forming position,
An image based on image information is placed on a sheet fed by a step.
Image forming means for forming, and an image formed by the image forming means
Discharge means for discharging the paper on which the paper is formed outside the machine
In the image forming apparatus,
The amount of paper stored has been detected and the amount of stored paper has fallen below a predetermined amount.
Paper reduction detection means for outputting a paper reduction detection signal from the
Independent of the image forming means for attaching an identification mark to the paper fed
Marking means and the paper reduction detecting means
The marking means is operated based on the paper reduction detection signal.
Control means for moving the paper,
From the point at which the paper reaches a predetermined amount.
The identification mark is attached to the sheet that is sent and discharged by the sheet discharging means.
The paper storage means for storing the paper storage means.
The main point is to signal that the paper is running low .

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view showing an entire configuration of a plain paper FAX using cut paper as one embodiment of the present invention. The photosensitive drum 1 is provided so as to be able to be driven and rotated in the direction of the arrow at substantially the center of the right part in the figure, which is the rear part of the body. Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charger 2 for uniformly charging the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1 to a predetermined potential (initial potential) along the rotation direction, and the photosensitive drum 1 is received through a communication line on the surface. An optical writing head 3 for projecting signal light corresponding to information to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing device 4 for applying toner to the electrostatic latent image and visualizing the toner image, and a toner image from the right side in the figure A transfer charger 5 for electrostatically transferring the sheet to the sheet to be fed and a cleaner 6 for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 are sequentially arranged.

A paper feed cassette 7 for stacking and storing cut paper P cut into a predetermined size is inserted in the lower part of the machine. The sheet cassette 7 is configured to be inserted and removed from a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction A (a direction perpendicular to the drawing). The configuration of the paper feed unit F including the paper feed cassette 7 will be described later in detail.

A pair of paper feed rolls 8 (only one is shown) serving as paper feed means are provided above both sides of the front end of the paper feed cassette 7 with respect to the paper feed direction A as paper feed means.
Is arranged. Each of the paper feed rolls 8 is formed in a half-moon shape and extrapolated and fixed to a common rotary shaft 8a.
a, the surface of each circumferential portion 8b on which the rubber material is adhered intermittently abuts on the upper surface of the front end portion of the uppermost sheet of the stacked paper P, and the uppermost sheet is moved in the sheet feeding direction. Send out along A.

In front of the paper feed roll 8, a turn guide 9 for guiding the fed paper upward while turning over the paper is provided. Then, from the end of the turn guide 9 to the transfer charger 5
, A standby roll pair 1 that transports the paper to the transfer unit in synchronization with the leading edge of the image on the photosensitive drum 1
0 is arranged.

A transfer guide 12 extending substantially horizontally with a separation guide plate 11 is disposed on the left side of the transfer charger 5 in the drawing, and after the transfer, the photosensitive drum 1 is separated by a separation claw (not shown).
The sheet separated from the front surface is guided to the fixing device 13 on the downstream side. The fixing device 13 includes a halogen lamp 13a as a heat source.
Is rolled into contact with the pressure roller 13c, and the paper carrying the unfixed toner image is nipped between the two rolls 13b and 13c and heated at the same time as the toner image is thermally fixed on the paper.

On the downstream side (left side) of the fixing device 13, a paper carrying path 14 is laid. This paper carrying-out path 14
After being once extended in the horizontal direction, it is curved upward, and a discharge roll pair 15 is disposed at the end thereof. On the right side of the paper discharge roll 15 in the drawing, a paper discharge tray section 16 of paper discharge stacking means is formed. The discharge tray section 16 of the present embodiment is formed by diagonally recessing the upper surface of the machine body.
Are stacked on the discharge tray surface 16a. In this case, the discharged paper is reversed in the paper discharge path 14 and is discharged and stacked in a so-called face-down state in which the surface on which the image is transferred at the transfer unit faces downward.

An original table 17 is provided above the paper discharge tray section 16.
Is mounted so as to be inclined substantially parallel to the paper discharge tray surface 16a.
A document transport path 18 is formed from the front of the front end with respect to the document insertion direction B of the document table 17 along the front surface of the body. A feed roll 19 and a discharge roll pair 20 are provided in the document conveying path 18, and an image scanner 21 as image reading means is provided between them. A document tray 22 for receiving a discharged document is suspended substantially vertically below the discharge roller pair 20.

When transmitting a document, the document is placed upside down on a document table 17 and the leading end of the document is fed to a feeding roll 19.
The document is inserted along the document table 17 to a position where it can be brought into engagement with the document table 17. Next, when a send button provided on an operation panel (not shown) on the front of the machine is pressed, the feed roll 19 and the discharge roll pair 20 rotate to start conveying the document, and
The reading of an image by the image scanner 21 starts at an appropriate timing, an optical signal obtained by scanning the image is converted into an electric signal, and transmitted to a destination through a communication line. The discharge roll pair 20 is also rotating at the same time as the image reading, and the read original is discharged into the document tray 22 with the rotation of the discharge roll pair 20.

Here, the configuration of the sheet feeding section F in the plain paper FAX of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the side sectional view of FIG. In FIG. 2, a box-shaped cassette case 7a without an upper cover is provided.
A sheet stacking plate 7b as sheet stacking means is rotatably mounted on the bottom 7a1 at the front end with respect to the sheet feeding direction A. The paper loading plate 7b is located at the bottom 7a1 of the cassette.
The rear end side is pivotally supported at the central portion, and the front end portion can swing up and down. The front end of the sheet P is stacked on the sheet stacking plate 7b.

A push-up member 24 for pushing up the sheet stacking plate 7b is rotatably mounted on a base 23 (see FIG. 1) of the body sheet feeding section F. The lifting member 24 includes the lifting lever 2.
A shaft 24b is fixed to one end of 4a, and the shaft 24b is rotatably supported by being rotatably inserted into the paper feeding unit base. A rotating force in a counterclockwise direction (ascending rotation direction) is applied to the shaft 24b by an urging member such as a spring (not shown). A manual lever (not shown) is connected to the shaft 24b.
To rotate the push-up lever 24a. When the paper feed cassette 7 is inserted or removed, the manual lever is operated to lower the push-up lever 24a clockwise to the illustrated lower position against the rotational biasing force of the biasing member. This allows
The push-up lever 24a is moved by a latch mechanism (not shown).
Is held in the lowered position.

One end of an interlocking link mechanism L is in contact with the push-up lever 24a. The interlocking link mechanism L is formed by connecting first, second, and third link bars 25, 26, and 27 in series.
It is provided for interlocking with a mark applying member 28 as a marking means provided above the rear end of the mark. The first link bar 25, which is in contact with the push-up lever 24a, is rotatably supported by a fixed shaft 25a fixed to the body sheet feeding portion F, and has one end formed with a projection 25b and pushes up the push-up lever 2a.
It is in contact with the lower surface of 4a. This first link bar 25
And the other end of the second link bar 26 are rotatably connected to each other by a movable shaft 29. The other end of the first link bar 25 is engaged with the other end of a tension spring 30 whose one end is engaged with the body. Thus, the first link bar 25 is urged to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. A stopper pin 31 is provided below the other end of the first link bar 25 to prevent the first link bar 25 from rotating counterclockwise.

The second link bar 26 is rotatably supported by a fixed shaft 26a fixed to the body. The other end of the second link bar 26 and one end of the third link bar 27 are rotatably connected to each other by a movable shaft 32. The other end of the third link bar 27 is provided with an elongated hole 27a.

The mark applying member 28 has a substantially Y-shape having one end branched into two branches, and is rotatably supported by a fixed shaft 28a having a branch base fixed to the body. At the tip of the upper branch 28b of the two branches 28b and 28c,
Ink roll 2 made of a flexible porous material such as sponge
8d is rotatably mounted. This ink roll 28
d is impregnated with a special ink that loses its color over time as described later. This mark application member 28
The ink can be supplied to the ink roll 28d manually by a dropper or the like, a method of replacing the ink roll 28d itself with a cartridge, or a method of connecting a flexible pipe to the shaft of the ink roll 28d and automatically supplying the ink continuously. What should be done is: The lower branch portion 28c serves as a support arm that abuts on the upper surface of the stacked paper P and prevents the ink roll 28d from contacting the paper P. At the other end of the mark applying member 28, an engaging pin 28e is provided upright. The engaging pin 28e is movably inserted into the elongated hole 27a of the third link bar 27, and the mark applying member 28 and the third link bar 27 are engaged and connected.

Here, the interlocking operation of the push-up lever 24 and the mark applying member 28 via the interlocking link mechanism L will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, when the push-up lever 24 is lowered to the illustrated position and latched against the urging force of the spring, the first link bar 25 in contact therewith opposes the rotational urging force of the tension spring 30. And rotate clockwise,
At the same time, the second link bar 26 also rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the third link bar 27 is pulled down, and the mark applying member 28 is held in a position in which the ink roll 28d and the support arm 28c are retracted upward from the insertion space of the paper feed cassette 7 as shown in the figure.

As described above, the paper feed cassette 7 loaded with the paper P is inserted into the insertion space in which the push-up lever 24a and the mark applying member 28 are retracted from the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. When the insertion of the sheet cassette 7 is completed, the operation lever (not shown) is operated to rotate the shaft 24b in the counterclockwise direction, and the push-up lever 24a is rotated upward in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, the paper stacking plate 7b is rotated upward in the same direction, and the front end of the stacked paper P is locked by a separation claw (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the front end corner of the cassette case 7a as shown in FIG. Lift until done.

In FIG. 3, when the push-up lever 24a is rotated upward, the first link bar 25 which comes into contact with the push-up lever 24a is moved by the elastic force of the tension spring 30 to generate the stopper pin 31.
Rotate counterclockwise until it abuts. At the same time, the second link bar 26 rotates clockwise to
The link bar 27 is pushed up. As a result, the force for holding the mark applying member 28 in the flipping up and retracting posture shown in FIG. 2 is released, the mark applying member 28 rotates clockwise by its own weight, and the tip of the support arm 28c is moved to the rear end of the stack of paper P. The posture comes into contact with the upper surface.

While the received print is repeated, the paper P
Used gradually goes down. As the stacking height of the stacking paper P decreases, the mark applying member 28 abutting on the support arm 28c gradually rotates clockwise. During this time, the ink roll 28d of the mark applying member 28
Does not come into contact with the upper surface of the stacking paper P. Mark application member 2
8 does not come into contact with the cassette case rear wall 7a3.
Since a relief slit (not shown) is formed in a3, the mark applying member 28 smoothly rotates under its own weight.

When the remaining number of the stacked sheets P becomes, for example, about 30, the tip of the support arm 28c comes off the upper surface of the stacked sheet P as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the mark applying member 28 rotates clockwise until the ink roll 28d comes into contact with the upper surface of the stacked paper P. When the paper feeding is started in a state where the ink roll 28d is in contact with the uppermost sheet of the stacked paper P, the ink roll 28d rotates and the ink roll 2 is moved to a predetermined position on the uppermost sheet.
The paper no notice mark of the color of the ink impregnated in 8d is clearly applied and formed. Then, the paper no notice mark is surely applied to all the fed sheets thereafter. In this example, a paper transport pattern is adopted in which the upper surface of the stacked paper P is the back surface of the image forming surface and the image forming surface is downward (face down) when the paper is discharged. Therefore, the paper no notice mark formed by coating does not contaminate the image, and the back side of the discharged paper faces upward, so that the operator can surely visually recognize the paper no notice mark.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the marking means for detecting the remaining amount of paper and providing the no-paper notice mark is provided by the support arm 28c serving as a paper detection member and the ink coating device provided with the ink roll 28d serving as a mark application member. The member 28 can be easily configured. Therefore, it is possible to promote simplification and cost reduction of the image forming apparatus capable of accurately applying the no-paper notice mark to the remaining paper. Note that the mark applying member 28 of the present embodiment can also be applied to a case in which a paper transport pattern for discharging paper in a state where the upper surface of the stacked paper is an image forming surface and the image forming surface is facing upward (face-up) is formed. . In this case, as described above, by using the ink whose color disappears with the passage of time as the ink of the paper no notice mark, the stain on the image surface due to the paper no notice mark can be made temporary.

Here, the configuration of the ink for forming a paper no notice mark used in this embodiment will be described. In this example, as described above, a decolorizable ink that loses its color over time is used. Such a decolorizable ink includes an electron-donating color-forming organic compound (a), a compound having a volatile or sublimable phenolic hydroxyl group (b), and coloring with the two compounds (a) and (b). The coloring agent is composed of three types of non-volatile compounds (C) which desensitize the reaction. In this case, the compound (b) having a volatile phenolic hydroxyl group acts on the colorless electron-donating color-forming organic compound (a) to cause a so-called electron-accepting reaction (color-forming reaction), which changes to a colored form. I do. The non-volatile compound (c) reduces the color-forming function in the color reaction and regulates the degree of coloring. The reason why the color is erased with time is that the compound (b) having a phenolic hydroxyl group volatilizes or sublimates after the ink is applied.

For the ink applying means such as the ink roll 28d shown in FIG. 2, a slow-drying decolorable ink having the following configuration is preferable from the viewpoint of management such as ink supply. Compound (a): PSD-O (a fluoran-based compound manufactured by Nisso Chemical Co., Ltd.) Compound (b): tertiary butyl catechol Compound (c): benzophenone A), (B) and (C) are mixed at a ratio of 1: 2: 5, and the mixture is heated to 80 ° C. and dissolved to obtain a coloring agent a. The coloring agent a is dropped into a 5% gelatin aqueous solution while being heated to 80 ° C., and stirred. Next, the solution in which the colorant a is microdroplets is encapsulated by a coacervation method, and the capsule is subjected to post-treatments such as filtration, centrifugal concentration, and drying to obtain microcapsules containing the colorant a. . 20 parts by weight of the microcapsules thus obtained, 70 parts by weight of a 5% aqueous solution of methylcellulose, and 10 parts by weight of a vinyl acetate emulsion are uniformly stirred and mixed to obtain a slow-drying ink a of this example. The resulting ink a exhibits a bright orange color.

The ink roll 28d shown in FIG. 2 is impregnated with the slow drying ink a. When the stacked paper P is reduced to the extent shown in FIG. 5, a paper no notice mark of the ink a is applied to the fed paper. In FIG. 1, the paper coated with the bright orange paper no notice mark reaches the transfer section where the transfer charger 5 is disposed via the turn guide 9 after being sent out from the paper supply cassette 7. In this transfer section,
Although the paper comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1, the no-paper notice mark is applied to the reverse surface of the paper opposite to the surface to be the surface of the paper (image forming surface), and thus adheres to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1. No inconvenience occurs.

The sheet on which the recording image has been transferred at the transfer section is conveyed to the fixing device 13 and subjected to a heat fixing action. At this time, since the heating roll 13b is heated to about 180 ° C.,
Water, which is the solvent of the ink a of the paper no notice mark on the back surface, evaporates, and the slow drying ink a also dries quickly.
At the same time, sublimation of tertiary butyl catechol as compound (b) in ink a is promoted, and decolorization starts. Also, at this time, the microcapsules are forcibly pressed and crushed between the fixing roll pair, which is more convenient.

On the back side of the paper discharged to the paper discharge tray 16, a clear no-paper notice mark is displayed in a clear orange color. Therefore, the operator (recipient) of the plain paper FAX is
By visually recognizing the orange paper no notice mark provided at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the paper to be discharged onto the paper discharge tray surface 16a, the user notices that the paper stacked in the paper feed cassette 7 is running low. The paper cassette 7 is refilled with paper. In this manner, in the plain paper FAX according to the present embodiment, it is possible to surely replenish the sheets before the loaded sheets in the sheet feeding cassette 7 are exhausted and the “paper-out” state occurs. Therefore, when the office where the plain paper FAX is installed is absent, such as in the middle of the night, early in the morning, or on holidays, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the inconvenience that the reception becomes impossible due to careless "no paper" state. . In addition, since the remaining amount of paper in the paper feed cassette 7 can be estimated by looking at the discharged paper, it is possible to save the trouble of detaching the paper feed cassette 7 each time to check the remaining amount. In addition, the ink a for displaying the paper no notice mark is erased to the point where it cannot be visually observed after about two weeks, so that it is possible to provide a received print paper which is excellent in storability without stain. Furthermore, since the residual heat of the fixing device can be used without using a dedicated drying means and a slow drying decoloring ink which is convenient in terms of management such as replenishment can be used, maintenance of plain paper FAX is improved, and downsizing and cost reduction are achieved. To contribute.

In the slow-drying decoloring ink used in this example, the colorant is microencapsulated to stabilize the color, but the colorant may be directly dispersed and mixed in a solvent. Further, the ratio of the above three compounds constituting the coloring agent,
By changing the configuration of the capsule membrane of the microcapsules containing the coloring agent, the decoloring time can be controlled to a desired time. Furthermore, although methylcellulose was used as a binder for the above-mentioned ink a, a 5% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol may be used in the same manner. Again,
The ink itself is slow-drying and can be suitably used as an ink impregnated in the ink roll of the present example.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this example, the cooperative operation of applying the no-paper notice mark based on the detection of the remaining amount of paper is performed by transmitting and receiving an electric signal without using a mechanical link mechanism. FIG.
As shown by a two-dot chain line, a sheet detection sensor S is provided above the cassette insertion space as means for detecting the remaining amount and presence or absence of the stacked sheets P in the sheet cassette 7. The paper detection sensor S is connected to a central control unit C for controlling the operation of the entire plain paper FAX by a signal line. Further, a mark applicator M as marking means for marking a paper no notice mark on the paper in the paper feed cassette 7 is provided between the fixing device 13 and the rear end of the paper feed cassette 7. The mark applicator M and the central control unit C are signal-connected. The central control unit C
When a detection signal indicating that the remaining amount of the paper has become equal to or less than the predetermined amount is received from the paper detection sensor S, the mark applicator M is operated to apply a paper no notice mark to the fed and conveyed paper. In this example, the sheet cassette 7 is inserted and removed along the sheet feeding direction A.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the sheet detection sensor S. As shown in the figure, a pair of actuators 34 and 35 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 33 fixed to the body.
In correspondence with these pair of actuators 34 and 35,
A light-blocking photosensor 36 having a pair of detection grooves 36a and 36b is fixed to the body. The photo sensor 36 includes a switch S connected to each of the detection grooves 36a and 36b.
W1 and SW2 are built in. Each actuator 34, 3
5 is a detection groove 36 corresponding to each of the detected ends 34b, 35b opposite to the detection ends 34a, 35a with chamfered corners.
a, 36b, built-in switches SW1, S
Turn W2 on and off respectively.

On the other hand, on the side surface of the paper stacking plate 37, a detection projection 37a is provided so as to project therefrom. The detection end 34a of the actuator 34 for turning on / off the switch SW1 is brought into contact with the detection protrusion 37a. Further, a detection slit 37b is formed in the paper loading plate 37, and the detection slit 37b
The detection end 35a of the actuator 35 for turning on / off the other switch SW2 enters and exits.

According to the sheet detection sensor S configured as described above, it is possible to detect the amount and presence or absence of the remaining amount of sheets and the presence or absence of a sheet cassette. The detection operation is summarized in "Table 1".

[0037]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, when the paper feed cassette is not inserted, both the actuators 34 and 35 are unconstrained and stand substantially vertically by their own weights. The ends 34b and 35b are retracted from the corresponding detection grooves 36a and 36b of the photo sensor 36. Accordingly, both switches SW1 and SW2 are turned on to notify the central control unit that the sheet cassette is not inserted.

As shown in the drawing, when a paper feed cassette on which a large amount of paper P is loaded is inserted, the detection end 34a of the actuator 34 comes into contact with the detection projection 37a of the paper loading plate 37. In this case, since the amount of loaded paper is large, the paper loading plate 3
Since the actuator 7 only slightly rotates upward (see FIG. 3), the actuator 34 also slightly rotates counterclockwise. Therefore, the detected end 34b does not enter the detection groove 36a, and the switch SW1 remains ON. At this time, the other actuator 35 has its detection end 35a
Abuts on the upper surface of the stacking paper P, and rotates counterclockwise by a considerable angle. Therefore, the detected end portion 35b
Enters the detection groove 36b to cut off the optical path, and the switch S
W2 turns off. In this manner, a detection signal indicating that the switch SW1 is on and the switch SW2 is off is sent to the central control unit C to notify that the sheet cassette is inserted and the remaining amount of the stacked sheets P is large.

As the received print is repeated and the paper is used, the loaded paper P gradually decreases and the paper loading plate 37 is rotated upward. When the remaining amount of the stacked sheets P reaches about 30 and the sheet stacking plate 37 is rotated upward as shown in FIG. 5, the actuator 34 in contact therewith is also rotated counterclockwise by a considerable angle, and The detection end 34b is in the detection groove 36a.
And the switch SW1 is turned off. Even when the number of stacked sheets P decreases, the height of the upper surface is substantially constant, so that the posture of the other actuator 35 does not change, and the switch SW2 remains off. Thus, both switches SW1,
SW2 sends an OFF detection signal to the central control unit C to notify that the remaining amount of paper is low.

When all of the loaded sheets P have been fed and run out,
The detection end 35 a of the actuator 35 is connected to the detection slit 37.
b. As a result, the actuator 35 rotates clockwise by a considerable angle, and the switch SW2 is turned on. The paper stacking plate 37 is rotated up to the maximum, and the switch SW1 remains off. Thus, the switch SW1
Is OFF and the switch SW2 is ON to send a detection signal to the central control unit C to notify that the paper has run out.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a solenoid type stamper Ms as an example of the mark applicator M. The stamper Ms of the present embodiment generally includes a push-pull solenoid 38, a lever 39 for transmitting operation, and a stamp member 40.
A shaft 42 erected on the body frame 41 is inserted into the center of the lever 39, and the lever 39 is rotatably supported. One end 39a of the lever 39 is rotatably connected to the plunger 38a of the push-pull solenoid 38.
The push-pull solenoid 38 is fixed to the body frame 41. The other end 39b of the lever 39 is formed to be wide and serves as a hitting portion of the stamp member 40.

The stamp member 40 includes a sliding shaft 40a which is vertically slidably inserted into and supported by a support frame 43 fixed to the body, an ink fountain 40b mounted on a lower end of the sliding shaft 40a, and The seal portion 40c is made of a porous rubber material or a sponge. A coil spring 44 is extrapolated to the sliding shaft 40a. The coil spring 44 is locked at both ends by a support frame 43 and a stopper pin 45 erected on the sliding shaft 40a, and pushes up the lowered stamp member 40 to return it to its original position.

As the ink used in the stamper Ms of this embodiment, the slow-drying decolorable ink used in the above-described ink roll system can be similarly suitably used. In addition, in this example, a so-called cold-set type decolorizable ink can also be suitably used. The cold set type ink is an ink using a paraffin wax or the like that solidifies at normal temperature without using a normal liquid as a solvent. Therefore, at the time of application, it is necessary to heat and melt the ink to about 80 to 100 ° C. The arrangement position of the stamper Ms in this example is approximately 180 ° C. as shown in FIG.
Since it is near the fixing device 13 having the heating roll 13b, the ink fountain 40b can be heated to 80 to 100 ° C. by using the residual heat without using a dedicated heat source. Next, an example of the cold set type decolorizable ink will be described.

As compounds (a), (b) and (c), which are three components constituting the colorant of the decolorizable ink, compound (a): crystal violet lactone compound (b): tertiary butyl catechol compound ( C): Using stearyl alcohol, these compounds (a), (b), and (c) were used in a ratio of 1: 2: 10.
And heated to 80 ° C. to dissolve the colorant b
Get. By dissolving 10 parts by weight of the coloring agent b and 90 parts by weight of paraffin wax while heating to 100 ° C., a cold-set type decolorizable ink can be obtained. In addition, as the wax used for the solvent, carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, or the like can also be used.

The cold-set type decolorizable ink obtained as described above is applied to the ink fountain 4 of the stamper Ms shown in FIG.
0b. Since the inside of the ink fountain 40b is heated to about 100 ° C. by the residual heat of the fixing device as described above, the ink melts and becomes a liquid, and oozes out to the marking portion 40c.

In FIG. 1, when a signal indicating that the remaining amount of paper has decreased to a predetermined amount or less (both switches SW1 and SW2 are both OFF) is sent from the paper detection sensor S to the central control unit C, the central control unit C sets a mark. An operation signal is output to the applicator M (stamper Ms). Thereby, the push-pull solenoid 38 shown in FIG. 7 is operated to extend the plunger 38a, rotate the lever 39 clockwise, and
The upper end of the sliding shaft 40a is hit with b, and the sliding shaft 40a is pushed down against the elastic force of the coil spring 44. The pushed-down end of the sliding shaft 40a enters into the paper feed cassette, and the seal portion 40c abuts on a predetermined position on the upper surface of the uppermost sheet of the stacked paper P, and in this example, a blue paper no notice mark is imprinted.

After the image is transferred, the paper on which the paper no notice mark is imprinted is heat-fixed by a fixing device, discharged outside the apparatus in a face-down state, and cooled. A clear blue paper no notice mark is displayed on the back (upper surface) of the discharged paper, and the ink is cooled naturally and solidified, and the paper no mark is stably provided. Thus, the decolorizable ink of this example is 3
Discolors after the passage of days. Therefore, three days after the printout, the paper no notice mark naturally disappears, and the received print paper becomes a good preserved material without being stained. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
0 'may be arranged above the lever 39, and the sliding shaft 40a' may be pushed upward. In this case, in FIG. 1, the leading end stamping portion 40c 'enters the horizontally extending transport path in the sheet discharge path 14 downstream of the fixing device 13, and a paper no notice mark is stamped on the back surface of the fixed sheet. I do. In the case of such a mark applicator M, the solvent does not easily evaporate because the paper does not pass through the fixing section after the mark is imprinted,
Therefore, the above-mentioned cold set type ink is more advantageous than the solvent evaporation type ink. Also in this example, the color erasing time of the ink can be appropriately set by appropriately adjusting the proportions of the three components of the colorant (i), (ii), and (iii).

Next, an example of a mark applicator M suitable for using quick-drying ink will be described. FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing the ink jet type marker Mj. The ink bottle 45 is filled with a quick-drying decolorizable ink i described later. The ink bottle 45 has a nozzle 45a extending therefrom. The leading end of the nozzle 45a faces the paper discharge path 14 after fixing. This nozzle 45a
A heater 46 is provided around the center. A power supply line 48 is connected to the heater 46 via a power supply contact 47 of a leaf spring type.

Upon receiving a signal from the central control unit to give a paper no notice mark, the power supply contact 47 is closed and the heater 46
Is supplied through a power supply line 48. As a result, the ink i in the nozzle 45a is instantaneously discharged from the heater 46 for 30 seconds.
Receives heat from 0 ° C to 400 ° C and evaporates at once, and bubbles Bu
Occurs and grows. Due to the pressure at the time of vaporization, the ink i is ejected from the tip of the nozzle 45a, and a paper no notice mark is provided on the back surface of the paper to be carried out. It should be noted that the ink-jet marker Mj of the present embodiment may be configured to give a no-paper notice mark to the stacked paper in the paper feed cassette.

Next, the above-mentioned ink jet type marker M
Here are some examples of fast drying decoloring inks used in j. <Quick-drying decoloring ink (1)> Compound (a): rhodamine B lactam compound (b): α-naphthol compound (c): butyl stearate is used as the three components constituting the colorant. ), (B) and (c) are mixed at a ratio of 1: 1: 5, and the mixture is heated to 80 ° C. and dissolved to obtain a coloring agent c. By dissolving 15% by weight of the coloring agent c, 50% by weight of a 20% acrylic ethanol solution and 35% by weight of propanol, a quick-drying decoloring ink (1) can be obtained. When this quick-drying decoloring ink (1) is sprayed with the above-mentioned ink jet type marker Mj, a clear red paper no notice mark is displayed, and this mark is decolored in about two weeks.

<Quick-drying decoloring ink (2)> Compound (a): rhodamine B lactam Compound (b): propyl P-oxybenzoate Compound (c): docosyl alcohol These compounds (a), (b) and (c) were used at a ratio of 1: 2: 10
And the mixture is heated to 80 ° C. and dissolved to obtain a colorant c ′. 15% by weight of the coloring agent c ', 50% by weight of a 20% acrylic ethanol solution, and 3% of propanol.
When 5% by weight is dissolved, a quick-drying decoloring ink (2) can be obtained. If this quick-drying decoloring ink (2) is sprayed with the above-mentioned ink jet type marker Mj, a clear red paper no notice mark is displayed, and this mark is decolored in about 10 days.

<Quick-drying decoloring ink (3)> Compound (a): rhodamine B lactam Compound (b): methyl P-oxybenzoate Compound (c): docosyl alcohol These compounds (a), (b) and (c) were used at a ratio of 1: 2: 10
And heated at 80 ° C. to dissolve the colorant d.
Get. By dissolving 20% by weight of this coloring agent d, 70% by weight of a 10% ethyl cellulose / xylene solution and 10% by weight of n-butyl acetate, a quick-drying decoloring ink (3) is obtained. If this quick-drying decoloring ink (3) is sprayed with the above-mentioned ink jet type marker Mj, a clear red paper no notice mark is displayed, and this mark disappears on the fourth day.

<Quick-drying decolorable ink (4)> Compound (a): crystal violet lactone compound (b): octylphenol compound (c): cetyl alcohol was used as the three components constituting the colorant. ), (B) and (c) are 1: 2: 10
And heated to 80 ° C. to dissolve the colorant e.
Get. This coloring agent e is similarly dissolved in an organic solvent,
When sprayed with the ink jet type marker Mj, a clear blue paper no notice mark is displayed, and this mark disappears in about one week.

As described above, by using the ink jet type marker Mj as the mark applicator M, a quick-drying decoloring ink having difficulty in management of replenishment and the like can be used without any trouble. As described above, quick-drying decolorable inks are rich in variety in terms of colors and decoloring days, and thus have the advantage that they can be used properly according to user needs.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the like, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made within the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, as the ink for forming the paper no notice mark, in addition to the above-mentioned three-component compound, an ink which is decolorized from chromatic to colorless by changing from alkaline to acidic as the solvent evaporates. Is also conceivable. Also, if a clear color such as yellow is selected as the color of the ink in this example, which has sensitivity to the photoreceptor, and if the obtained received print paper is to be used as a base paper immediately, no paper notice This is convenient because the mark does not appear on the image.

The present invention can be applied not only to a plain paper FAX apparatus using cut paper but also to a page printer or the like.

[0059]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the amount of cut paper loaded on the paper feed unit is detected, and when the remaining amount decreases to a predetermined amount or less, a paper no notice mark is printed on the paper. With this configuration, a small and inexpensive image forming apparatus that can accurately notify the operator of the decrease in the remaining amount of cut paper to the operator by simple means and prevent the occurrence of the “paper out” state can be prevented. Can be provided. In this case, if the ink that erases color with the passage of time is used as the ink that forms the notice mark, the resulting image forming output paper will be a good quality storage material in which the notice mark that is unnecessary for storage has disappeared.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plain paper FAX showing some embodiments of the present invention.
1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an ink roll type mark applying member applied to the plain paper FAX and an interlocking link mechanism thereof.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an interlocking operation between the mark applying member and a sheet stacking plate, and shows a state of a sheet feeding start stage.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an interlocking operation between the mark application member and the paper stacking plate, and shows a state immediately before application of a paper no notice mark.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an interlocking operation between the mark applying member and the sheet stacking plate, and shows a state in which a paper no notice mark is applied.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sheet detection sensor applied to the plain paper FAX.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a solenoid type stamper which is an example of a mark applicator applied to the plain paper FAX.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing an ink jet type marker which is another example of the mark applicator applied to the plain paper FAX.

[Description of Signs] 7 Paper feed cassette 7a Cassette case 7b, 37 Paper loading plate 8 Paper feed roll 16 Paper discharge tray unit 24 Push-up member 25 First link bar 26 Second link bar 27 Third link bar 28 Mark application member 28c Support arm 28d Ink roll 34, 35 Actuator 36 Photo sensor 38 Push-pull solenoid 39 Lever 40, 40 'Stamp member 45 Ink bottle 46 Heater C Central control unit M Mark applicator Ms Solenoid stamper Mj Inkjet marker S Paper detection sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Igarashi 2-229 Sakuragaoka, Higashiyamato-shi, Tokyo Inside Casio Electronics Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-U 4-75858 (JP, U) Practical New model registration 2512574 (JP, Y2) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H ^7/ 00-7/20

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper storage means for storing paper, a paper supply means for feeding paper stored in the paper storage means toward an image forming position, and a paper supply means provided at the image forming position, Feeding
To form an image based on image information on paper to be printed
And forming means, wherein the image forming apparatus having a sheet discharging means for discharging the sheet on which the image is formed on the outside by the image forming means, moves in conjunction with the paper weight that is housed in the sheet housing means
A moving paper detection member, and the paper detection member when the amount of stored paper is less than a predetermined amount.
The above-described image, in which an identification mark is added to the feeding paper in response to the movement of
Marking means independent of the image forming means is provided, and the identification mark is provided on the paper fed by the paper feeding means and discharged by the paper discharging means from the time when the number of sheets remaining in the paper storage means reaches a predetermined amount. The image forming apparatus notifies the user of the decrease in the number of sheets stored in the sheet storage unit by adding a symbol. 2. A paper storage means for storing paper, Orient the paper stored in the paper storage means to the image forming position
Paper feeding means for feeding Provided at the image forming position and fed by the paper feeding unit.
To form an image based on image information on paper to be printed
Forming means; The paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming means
An image forming apparatus having a paper discharging means for discharging The amount of paper stored in the paper storage means is detected and stored.
When the amount of supplied paper falls below the specified amount, a paper decrease detection signal is output.
Paper reduction detecting means for The image forming means for attaching an identification mark to the sheet is independent of the image forming means.
Standing marking means, Based on the paper reduction detection signal by the paper reduction detection means,
Based on the marking Control means to activate the means
Ke When the number of sheets remaining in the sheet storage means reaches a predetermined amount.
From the point and fed by the paper feeding means and
By attaching the identification mark to the discharged paper
To notify that the number of sheets stored in the sheet storage means is reduced.
An image forming apparatus comprising: