JP3174376B2 - Sheet detection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can be applied to a sheet processing apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, a printing machine, etc., for performing processing such as printing, transferring, copying and printing on a sheet. . More specifically, in such a sheet processing apparatus, the detection lever is composed of a lever shaft, a filler, and a detected part, and the filler is inserted into a sheet transport path. The lever shaft portion is rotatably supported by a support member, and the filler is formed by a sheet passing through the sheet transport path.
The present invention relates to a sheet detecting device for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet by detecting the movement by detecting the movement of the detected portion by rotating the lever shaft portion through the portion, and detecting the movement with a detector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of sheet detecting apparatus has a lever shaft 2 of a detecting lever 1 as shown in FIG.
Is rotatably supported on a cover or the like of the sheet processing apparatus main body. In some cases, a filler section 3 provided in the detection lever 1 is inserted into the sheet transport path 4, and a microswitch 5 is provided near the filler section 3. When the sheet 7 is sent into the sheet transport path 4, the sheet 7 is filled.
The micro switch 5 is actuated by pushing up the section 3 for detection.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a sensor 6 is provided near the filler portion 3 so that a sheet 7 is provided.
When the sheet 7 is sent into the transport path 4, the sheet 7 is
, The optical path in the sensor 6 is interrupted to perform detection.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The grate detection device must extend a lead wire 8 of a detector such as a microswitch 5 or a sensor 6 to a PCB (not shown), and requires a clamp for fixing the lead wire 8. Become. Further, a bracket for fixing the PCB connector, the microswitch 5, the sensor 6, and the like is required, which increases the cost. On the other hand, when the cover is opened and closed due to a jam or the like, the lead wire 8 needs to be slackened so as to be easily opened and closed. Therefore, when the cover is opened and closed, the processing of the lead wire 8 is troublesome. There were problems such as.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts of a sheet detecting device, to prevent the cost from increasing, and to prevent the lead wire from hindering in the case of jam clearance. The purpose is to facilitate the operation.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a detection lever 15 is provided with a lever shaft 15a and a filler portion 15c extending at a right angle from the lever shaft 15a. And a to-be-detected portion 15b which also extends at a right angle from one end of the lever shaft portion 15a. The filler portion 15c is inserted into the sheet transport path 13 so that the lever shaft portion 15a is supported by a support member 16. The lever 12 is rotated by the sheet 12 passing through the sheet transport path 13 via the filler portion 15c to move the detected portion 15b. The movement of the sheet 12 is detected by a detector 19 to detect the presence or absence of the sheet 12. In the sheet detecting device 14 of the sheet processing device, for example, the printer 10 is used. When the detector 19 is provided on the side, Moni, wherein until the detector 19 located lever - to be extended to one end of the shaft portion 15a, the lever - shank 15
a, an enlarged diameter portion 22 and a radially extending flange portion 23 are provided.
On the other hand, the support member 1 for supporting the lever shaft portion 15a
6, a downward groove 20 into which the flange 23 fits;
In a state where the flange portion 23 is fitted into the groove portion 20,
When the lever shaft 15a is moved in the axial direction, the expansion is performed.
The diameter part 22 is rotatably mounted and the lever shaft part 15a is
A step 21 for supporting is provided, and the flange 23 is
When fitted in the groove 20, the enlarged diameter portion 22
In order not to collide with the support member 16,
22 is placed on the step 21 and the lever shaft
15a, when the support member 16 is interposed,
In order to restrict the axial movement of the lever shaft 15a,
The distance between the enlarged diameter portion 22 and the flange portion 23 is set .

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

The detected portion 15b is moved by rotating the lever shaft portion 15a by the sheet 12 via the filler portion 15c, and the movement is provided on the side of the sheet processing apparatus main body. Detected by the detector 19.

The groove 20 provided in the support member 16 is
The collar 23 is fitted, and the lever is
The shaft portion 15 a is moved in the axial direction, and the enlarged diameter portion 22 is moved to the step portion 2.
1 to be rotatably mounted thereon to support the lever shaft 15a.
You.

Then, the enlarged diameter portion 22 is placed on the step portion 21.
In this state, the lever shaft 15a is rotated, and the enlarged diameter portion 22 and the flange
23 and the axis of the lever shaft 15a with the support member 16 interposed therebetween.
The movement in the direction.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a laser printer as an example of a sheet processing apparatus. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a printer main body. Printer body 1
At 0, the sheet cassette 11 is detachably attached. A sheet detecting device 14 is provided on a sheet transport path 13 on which the sheet 12 is fed and transported from the sheet cassette.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sheet detecting device 14 includes a lever 15a and a to-be-detected portion extending at a right angle from one end of the lever 15a. 15b and a filler portion 15c extending at a right angle from the other end of the lever shaft portion 15a. On the other hand, the printer body 1
In each of a pair of support members 16 provided on a cover (not shown), a downward groove 17a slightly narrower than the diameter of the lever shaft 15a as shown in FIG. Round hole portion 17 slightly larger than the diameter of lever shaft portion 15a
The bearing part 17 formed with b is provided. And the detection lever
The filler 15 is inserted into the transport path 13 and the lever shaft 15a is elastically deformed from the groove 17a of the support member 16 and is pushed into the round hole 17b. Support freely. The printer body 10
A detector 19, such as a photo sensor, is attached to a PCB 18 provided on the side of the
The bent distal end 15d of the detected part 15b is interposed in a.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the sheet 12 passes through the sheet transport path 13, the filler portion 15c is lifted by the sheet 12, and the lever shaft portion 15a rotates. As a result, the detected part 15b intervening in the optical path 19a of the detector 19 moves out of the optical path 19a. The movement is detected by a detector 19 to detect that the sheet 12 is present in the sheet transport path 13.

[0015] In prior clean, the detection lever -15 lever - the bearing portion 17 having a shaft portion 15a in each of the pair of support members 16, a configuration that supports push by the elastic deformation of the supporting member 16 In the embodiment of the present invention,
It is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the lever shaft 1 is attached to the support member 16a of the pair of support members 16 on the PCB 18 side.
A downward groove 20 into which 5a is fitted is provided. An upward step 21 is provided on both sides of the groove 20 at a lower portion of a surface of the support member 16 a opposite to the PCB 18. On the other hand, the lever shaft portion 15a is provided with an enlarged-diameter portion 22, and a position on the detected-diameter portion 15b side of the enlarged-diameter portion 22 is spaced from the enlarged-diameter portion 22 by the thickness of the support member 16a. , Lever shaft 1
A flange 23 having the same width as the diameter of 5a and having a diameter longer than the diameter is provided in the diameter direction.

Then, the lever shaft 15a of the detection lever 15 is fitted into the bearing 17 of the support member 16 on the opposite side of the PCB 18 in the same manner as in the above embodiment. PCB1
The other supporting member 16a on the 8 side, as shown in FIG. 7, the lever in the groove 20 - write fitted with a flange portion 23 of the shaft portion 15a
The lever shaft portion 15a is moved in the axial direction in the fitted state, and the enlarged diameter portion 22 is rotatably mounted on the step portion 21.
To support the lever shaft 15a. Then put this
8 and 9 when the lever shaft portion 15a is rotated in the
As shown in the support, the enlarged diameter portion 22 and the flange portion 23 member 16
a, the movement of the lever shaft 15a in the axial direction is restricted.

In the sheet detecting device shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, when the filler portion 15c is lifted by the passage of the sheet 12, the detected portion 15b at the other end of the lever shaft portion 15a is provided.
A downward force acts on the support member 16 with the support member 16 as a fulcrum, but the step 21 of the other support member 16a engages with the enlarged diameter portion 22 to prevent it. Therefore, the lever shaft 15a
Is smoothly rotated while being supported in a normal state, and the presence or absence of the sheet 12 in the sheet transport path 13 is accurately detected. Also, even if the lever shaft 15a attempts to move in the axial direction,
Since the enlarged diameter portion 22 and the flange portion 23 restrict the movement of the support member 16 a with the support member 16 a interposed therebetween, the detected portion 15 b is prevented from hitting the detector 19. Furthermore, since the lever shaft 15a does not need to be pushed into the support member 16a, it is very easy to fit it.

[0018]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the movement of the detected portion of the lever shaft is detected by the detector provided on the side of the sheet processing apparatus main body, so that a lead wire is not required. This eliminates the need for clamps for fixing lead wires, PCB connectors, and brackets for fixing detectors, etc., thereby preventing the cost of the sheet detection device from increasing and reducing jams. It is not necessary to perform a process such as shifting the lead line so as not to disturb it, and the operation can be facilitated.

Further, a flange of a lever shaft portion of the detection lever is supported.
Fit into the groove provided in the holding member, and
The lever shaft is moved in the axial direction in the
Since the lever shaft is supported by being rotatably mounted on the stepped portion , for example, the filler portion of the detection lever is lifted by a sheet passing through the sheet transport path, and the cover of the lever shaft portion is lifted. Even if a force for pushing down the support member with the support member as a fulcrum acts on the detection portion side, the force is received and the inclination of the lever shaft is prevented, so that the detection lever can be operated smoothly.

Further, the enlarged diameter portion is placed on the step portion.
The lever shaft is rotated in this state, and the support member is
Since the movement of the lever shaft portion in the axial direction is restricted, the detected portion of the detection lever is prevented from hitting the detector or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a sheet detecting device provided in a laser printer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet detecting device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship with a sheet transport path.

FIG. 4 is a support state diagram of a lever shaft portion in a bearing portion of the support member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the operation of the detection lever during sheet conveyance.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a shaft support in the embodiment of the present invention .

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing fitting of the detection lever to the support member.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a state where a detection lever is attached to the support member from an axial direction.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional sheet detection device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of another example of a conventional sheet detection device.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the detector and a detected part.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer main body (sheet processing apparatus main body) 12 sheet 13 sheet conveyance path 14 sheet detection device 15 detection lever 15a lever shaft part 15b detected part 15c filler part 16 support member 19 detector Reference Signs List 20 groove part 21 step part 22 enlarged diameter part 23 flange part

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A detection lever is connected to a lever shaft portion and directly from the lever shaft portion.
The same from the one end of the lever part and the filler part extending at the corner
And a detected portion extending at a right angle, and the filler portion is
The lever shaft is inserted into the sheet transport path with a support member.
A sheet that is rotatably supported and passes through the sheet transport path.
The lever shaft is rotated through the filler by the
Move the part to be detected, and detect the movement with a detector.
Sheet detection of a sheet processing device for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet
In the intelligent device, the detector is provided on a side portion of the sheet processing device main body.
And one end of the lever shaft is extended to the detector position.
And The lever shaft is provided with an enlarged diameter portion and a radially extending flange portion.
While The support member supporting the lever shaft portion includes the flange portion.
A downward groove to be fitted, and the flange is fitted into the groove.
The lever shaft was moved in the axial direction while being stuck
When the enlarged diameter portion is rotatably mounted on the lever shaft portion,
And a step to support the When the flange is fitted into the groove, the enlarged diameter portion
So that it does not collide with the support member, and
The lever shaft was turned while being placed on the step
When the support member is interposed, the lever shaft portion extends in the axial direction.
Between the enlarged diameter portion and the flange portion so that movement can be restricted.
Set interval A sheet detection device.