JP3132531B2 - Paper thickness adjustment device for image forming equipment - 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 such as a printer provided with a paper thickness adjusting mechanism, and more particularly, to a paper of an image forming apparatus capable of performing a paper thickness adjusting operation only when a manual feed tray is opened. The present invention relates to a thickness adjusting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a wire dot printer or an ink jet printer is provided with a means for adjusting a distance between a printing member and a platen as in a general typewriter or the like. In the device such as the printer,
Generally, the distance between the printing member and the platen is adjusted according to the thickness of the paper used. In an apparatus such as the printer, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-80073, an adjusting unit using a paper thickness adjusting lever is used to change the interval between a printing member and a platen according to the paper thickness. The paper thickness adjusting lever is provided so as to protrude from one side of the front side of the apparatus main body.

As shown in FIG. 8, the conventional image forming apparatus has a front end 41 of a paper thickness adjusting lever 43 at a side of a front cover 41 of a printer 40 through a recess 42.
Is projected. Then, when feeding the paper set in the manual feed tray 45, the operator adjusts the interval between the platen and the printing member disposed inside the apparatus main body according to the thickness of the paper by using the paper thickness adjusting lever 43. Can be changed by swinging. Further, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 8, since the leading end portion 44 of the paper thickness adjusting lever 43 is exposed in the concave portion 42 provided in the apparatus main body, the operation of the paper thickness adjusting lever can be easily performed. There is an advantage that you can. Further, the paper thickness adjusting lever 43
Since the front end portion 44 does not protrude from the front cover 41, malfunction can be prevented.

[0004]

However, in the apparatus shown in the conventional example, since the paper thickness adjusting lever can be operated at any time, the paper thickness adjusting lever is set at a certain position, and after the recording paper is formed, the paper thickness adjusting lever is set at a certain position. Forgetting to return to the original position, there arises a problem that, when creating the next recording sheet, sheets of different thicknesses are fed with the previous setting state. For example, when a recording paper is made using thick paper, if the paper thickness adjustment lever is left in a thick paper state, and then the recording paper is made using thin paper, the image quality deteriorates. Problems arise. Also, when printing on thick paper with the paper thickness adjustment lever set in the thin paper state, problems such as the printing member rubbing the surface of the paper may occur.
Particularly, in an apparatus such as an ink jet printer, a problem such as soiling of paper occurs.

A general printer or the like often has an automatic paper feed mechanism. In an automatic paper feed mode in which paper is fed from a paper feed tray or the like, thick paper is not automatically fed. It is said that there is no need to adjust the paper thickness. However, even when the paper is fed in the automatic paper feed mode, if the paper thickness adjustment lever is operated,
Since the interval between the printing member and the platen is still set according to the set paper thickness, there arises a problem that the quality of the recording paper is deteriorated and the printing surface is stained.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional apparatus such as a printer and the like, and to make it possible to adjust the paper thickness only when using a manual feed tray. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device capable of preventing erroneous operation of a mechanism.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus provided with a manual sheet feeding means having a manual tray. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the manual feed tray is provided so as to be openable and closable directly with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and can be operated only when the manual feed tray is in an open state with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. Further, it is characterized by comprising a paper thickness adjusting means for adjusting the height of the paper transport path. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the paper thickness adjustment is performed in conjunction with the operation of opening and closing the manual feed tray from the image forming apparatus main body. The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the paper thickness can be adjusted only when the manual feed tray is opened from the image forming apparatus main body.

With the above-described configuration, in the apparatus of the present invention, the operation of adjusting the paper thickness can be performed only when the manual feed tray is opened, so that the thick paper or the like fed from the manual feed tray can be used. It can be easily dealt with. Also, by using a means for automatically returning the paper thickness adjustment lever to the reference position when closing the manual feed tray, even if the operator forgets to return the paper thickness adjustment lever,
The paper thickness adjusting mechanism can be returned to the reference position only by closing the manual feed tray, and malfunction of the paper thickness adjusting mechanism can be prevented. Then, by closing the manual feed tray, the paper thickness adjusting means can be automatically returned to correspond to the automatic paper feed mode, and problems such as deterioration of the image quality of the recording paper can be prevented.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A paper thickness adjusting device of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 shows a case where the image forming apparatus is configured as a printer 1. A sheet feeding tray provided in a main body 2 of the printer 1 is provided with a sheet feeding tray 7 to automatically feed the image. It is configured to be able to feed paper from the manual feed tray 10 while supporting paper. A tray accommodating recess 6 is provided in the front cover 5 of the main body of the printer 1 to provide a mechanism for accommodating the manual feed tray 10. Perform the operation. In addition, the handle of the paper thickness adjusting lever 30 is protruded from the tray storage concave portion 6,
The handle can be operated only when the manual feed tray 10 is opened, and the handle of the paper thickness adjusting lever can be accommodated in the concave portion 12 of the manual feed tray when the manual feed tray is closed.

In the printer 1 of the present invention, a printing mechanism as shown in FIG. 2 is provided inside the main body of the apparatus. Recording paper created by using the printing mechanism is stored in a discharge tray 4. I am trying to do it. Further, the printer 1 can be used by being connected to an arbitrary image information output device. For example, in addition to being used as an image output device of a computer, the printer 1 can be used similarly to a general copying machine or a printer. can do.

The printing mechanism arranged inside the printer can be configured as, for example, an inkjet system as shown in FIG. In the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the driving rollers 2
6 and a transport roller device including a pinch roller 27, and a discharge roller device including a drive roller 28 and a pinch roller 29 are disposed before and after the platen 25. Further, the print head 20 disposed above the platen 25
Is supported by the carriage 22 and movably provided along the guide rod 23 and the shaft 35. A mechanism is provided for adjusting the distance between the head end portion 21 of the print head 20 and the platen 25 by the cam member 24 provided on the shaft 35 supporting the carriage 22.

The cam member 24 is provided on a shaft 35. By rotating the shaft 35, the cam member 2 is provided.
4 is rotated to change the height at which the carriage 22 is supported, thereby changing the interval at which the paper passes. The example shown in FIG. 2 shows a case where the head tip 21 is positioned corresponding to the thick paper, and the gap X + α between the head tip and the platen is set according to the thick paper. Further, when the push-up by the cam member 24 is released, the head tip 21 is set at a position as shown in FIG. 3, and the gap X at that time is set to an interval corresponding to thin paper. Then, the state shown in FIG. 3 can correspond to a state in which paper is fed from the paper feed tray in the automatic paper feed mode.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, when an ink-jet type mechanism is used as the print head 20, the print head 20 slides on the platen 25 to discharge paper from the head end 21. The ink to be printed is attached, and a printing operation is performed. In the ink jet printer, when a theoretical gap required for printing is set, a clear image is recorded. However, depending on the properties of the paper, a state occurs in which the paper rises from the platen during printing, and a problem arises in that the surface of the paper comes into contact with the head end portion due to the floating of the paper. Then, when the paper is larger than the gap X and the paper comes into contact with the head end portion 21 provided with the nozzles, problems such as adhesion of the paper to the paper and damage to the paper occur. Therefore, the gap X set in FIG. 3 is set to have a margin of about 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm in addition to the thickness of paper used for automatic paper feeding such as plain paper.

In addition, high quality paper, postcards and envelopes made by government, and various kinds of cards are generally used as thick paper used in printers, and the thickness of these papers is not constant. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, a case is expected in which it is not possible to sufficiently cope with various types of thick paper simply by setting the gap X + α corresponding to thick paper. Therefore, in order to cope with various types of paper having different thicknesses, the cam member provided on the drive shaft can be configured as a mechanism capable of changing the height of the carriage in two or three steps. In addition to the above configuration, the mechanism for changing the height of the carriage of the present invention can be incorporated into the guide rod 23. In the printing apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carriage 2 guided by the guide rod 23 and the shaft 35 is used.
2 is reciprocated in the width direction of the paper by a drive mechanism (not shown), and at the time of the movement, performs an operation of printing image information one band at a time. Further, the paper is provided at an interval corresponding to the distance of one band of printing with the transport roller device,
It is conveyed by the discharge roller device. By repeating the reciprocating movement of the carriage and the intermittent feeding operation of the paper, the printing operation on the paper is performed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to rotate a cam member provided on the shaft 35, a pinion 34 is attached to the shaft 35 as shown in FIG. A mechanism for rotating using the rack 33 is constructed. In the example shown in FIG.
The pinion 34 attached to 5 is fixed to a portion where the end of the shaft is formed in a substantially D-cut shape. A rack 33 for driving the pinion 34 is provided at an end of a horizontal member 30a of the paper thickness adjusting lever 30. In order to guide the paper thickness adjusting lever 30, a slot 3 provided in the horizontal member is provided.
6 and 36a, a pin 37 protruding from the apparatus body,
37a is provided for insertion. Further, a handle 31 is integrally provided at the other end of the paper thickness adjusting lever 30 in a state where the handle 31 is located in the tray storage recess 6.
The handle 31 located in the portion of the tray storage recess 6 is
It is configured to be operable only when the manual feed tray 10 is opened.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the position of the manual feed tray 10 indicated by a solid line indicates an open state via a hinge 11, and the position indicated by a virtual line indicates that the manual feed tray is being closed. The state is shown. Further, the example shown in FIG. 5 shows a state in which the manual feed tray is completely closed. In this state, the handle 31 of the paper thickness adjusting lever 30 is stored in the concave portion 12 provided in the manual feed tray 10. It has become. The state shown in FIG. 4 shows a state in which the paper thickness adjusting lever 30 has been moved to the left side in the figure. In this state, as shown in FIG. Then, the support position with respect to the carriage is raised, so that printing on thick paper can be performed. On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows a state in which the cam member is positioned in the state shown in FIG. 3 to correspond to the thin paper, and in this state, automatic feeding from the paper feed tray is performed. Will be able to.

In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the handle 31 has a step 32 near the connecting portion with the horizontal member 30a, and the recess 31 of the manual feed tray 10 corresponds to the step 32. Is provided with a protruding member 13. After the manual feed tray 10 is opened and the manual feed mode is used, the paper thickness adjusting lever is not returned to the original position. The protruding member 13 presses the lower portion of the step portion 32 of the handle 31 so that the paper thickness adjusting lever is automatically pushed back to the reference position. Then, when the manual feed tray is completely closed, as shown in FIG.
The paper thickness adjusting lever 30 is positioned at the reference position, and a gap is set as shown in FIG. 3 so as to correspond to thin paper.

As described above, in addition to the mechanism for combining the handle of the paper thickness adjusting lever and the protruding member of the manual feed tray, the present invention may use a handle having a shape as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the handle 31 is attached to the tip of the horizontal member 30a of the paper thickness adjusting lever 30 at a substantially right angle. Also,
The projecting member 13 provided in the concave portion 12 of the manual feed tray 10
It is arranged at a lower position than in the case of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, when the user attempts to close the manual feed tray with the paper thickness adjusting lever pulled out, the projecting member 1
3 is engaged with the lower portion of the handle 31 so that the manual feed tray cannot be closed. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
In the case where both members are arranged at positions where 3 engages, the manual feed tray must be returned to the reference position after using the manual feed tray, and the manual feed tray cannot be closed. Can be.

When the paper thickness adjusting lever 30 is returned to the reference position from the state shown in FIG. 6 and the manual feed tray is closed,
As shown in FIG. 7, the handle 31 of the paper thickness adjustment lever 30 is fixed and held inside the recess 12 provided in the manual feed tray 10. And handle 31
Is held in a state where the protruding member 13 is pressed against the sheet, the paper thickness adjustment lever does not move due to impact or the like, and it is possible to cope with thin paper feeding or automatic paper feeding. . Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when a device having a mechanism that cannot automatically return the paper thickness adjusting lever to the reference position is configured, printing on thick paper is performed using the manual feed tray. If the operator does not return the paper thickness adjusting lever to the reference position later, the manual feed tray cannot be closed, so that an operator's erroneous operation can be prevented.

[0020]

Since the paper thickness adjusting device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is constructed as described above, the paper thickness adjusting operation can be performed only when the manual feed tray is opened. It is possible to easily deal with thick paper or the like fed from the manual feed tray. Further, by using a means for automatically returning the paper thickness adjustment lever to the reference position when closing the manual feed tray, even if the operator forgets to return the paper thickness adjustment lever, the paper thickness can be obtained only by closing the manual feed tray. The adjustment mechanism can be returned to the reference position, and malfunction of the paper thickness adjustment mechanism can be prevented. Then, by closing the manual feed tray, the paper thickness adjusting means can be automatically returned to correspond to the automatic paper feed mode, and problems such as deterioration of the image quality of the recording paper can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration in a state where the printing member of the present invention is set so as to correspond to thick paper.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a printing member is set so as to correspond to thin paper.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a paper thickness adjusting lever and a manual feed tray.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when the manual feed tray is closed from the state of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another mechanism of the paper thickness adjusting lever of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram when the manual feed tray is closed from the state of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a paper thickness adjusting lever provided in a conventional printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 printer, 5 front cover, 6 tray storage recess, 7 paper feed tray, 10 manual feed tray, 12 recess, 13 projecting member, 20
Print head, 21 head tip, 22 carriage, 23 guide rod, 24 cam member, 25 platen, 30 paper thickness adjustment lever,
31 handles, 32 steps, 33 racks,
34 pinion, 35 axis, 36 slot,
37 pins, 40 printer, 43 paper thickness adjustment lever, 45 manual feed tray.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus provided with a manual sheet feeder having a manual tray, wherein the manual tray is provided so as to be opened and closed directly with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the manual tray is provided with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. A paper thickness adjusting device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a paper thickness adjusting means that can be operated only when it is in an open state and that adjusts the height of a paper conveying path. 2. The paper thickness adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the paper thickness is adjusted in conjunction with an operation of opening and closing the manual feed tray from an image forming apparatus main body. 3. The paper thickness adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the paper thickness can be adjusted only when the manual feed tray is opened from the image forming device main body.