JP3197921B2 - Optional paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optional paper feeder, and more particularly, to an optional paper feeder for conveying and feeding a sheet with an image recording unit for recording an image on the sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional optional paper feeder includes an image recording unit main body such as a copying machine as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-91645 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-181535. A plurality of paper sheets having different sizes are stored in the mounting table to be mounted. When the paper is supplied to the image recording unit, the paper is selectively fed out and transported by a transport unit provided in the mounting table.

Further, the image recording section and the mounting table are accurately installed by using positioning projections and engagement holes provided on the joint surface thereof, and a shift of a paper transport path connecting between the two is provided. Had been prevented .

[0004]

[0005]

However, in such a conventional optional paper feeder, since the transport unit for transporting the paper is directly mounted in the mounting table, parts replacement and repair of the transport system are performed. For such maintenance, extremely difficult work such as removing the image recording unit main body and performing a work by putting a hand from a joint portion has been forced.

Further, when the individual transport systems are unitized, they are assembled in a stacked state, so that it is not easy to attach and detach the transport unit, resulting in poor maintenance workability .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has a unit of a transport system of an optional sheet feeder, which can be attached and detached even in a stacked state. a simple, and to provide the option sheet feeding apparatus capable of high maintenance workability Ru obtained.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
The two side plates are vertically arranged on the base substrate in parallel with a space between them, and a top plate is passed over and fixed to a part of the both side plates, and paper for paper feeding is stored inside the top plate. An image recording unit for recording an image on a supplied sheet on a top plate, or a housing unit on which another paper feeding device is mounted; and a conveyance unit that conveys the sheet to the image recording unit near the housing unit. is stepped portion formed as a positioning reference in the side plates of the unit section is housed, as well as placed on the both said stepped portion, the protruding portion for positioning abutting thereto are provided at both ends, the conveyance unit section A detachable transfer unit cover for covering the projections, and a positioning recess for abutting and positioning the projections from below, and a vertically movable boss receiving hole fixed to the both side plates is formed. And a positioning boss receiving member. The positioning boss provided on the bottom surface of the image recording portion is fitted into the boss receiving hole with respect to the positioning boss receiving member, and the image recording portion is fixed while being positioned. I do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the positioning boss receiving member is formed of a polycarbonate resin .

[0010]

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a transport unit unit having a unitized transport system for the paper is provided near the housing unit in which the paper to be supplied to the image recording unit is stored, and a transport unit cover that covers the unit is detachable. And a positioning boss receiving member is abutted against a projection provided on the transport unit cover to determine the position, and fixed to the side plate with screws. Then, the positioning boss provided on the bottom surface of the image recording unit is engaged with the positioning boss receiving member, and the image recording unit is positioned and mounted at a predetermined position on the housing. For this reason, at the time of maintenance, the fixing screw of the positioning boss receiving member of the desired transport unit is loosened and lowered, the engagement between the boss and the boss receiver is released, and the transport unit cover is removed. It can be easily attached and detached.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the positioning boss receiving member is formed of a polycarbonate resin, so that it has high rigidity and is compatible with the positioning boss formed of the resin member formed on the bottom surface of the image recording portion. It is possible to do .

[0013]

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment First, the configuration will be described. FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing the configuration of an optional sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment, and FIG.
Is a schematic diagram of the image recording unit main body placed on the paper feeding device,
(B) is an assembly configuration diagram of the optional sheet feeding device.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the image recording unit 1 placed on the optional paper feeder includes, for example, a facsimile machine, a copier or a printer, and other optional paper feeders. May be stacked and placed. The bottom surface of the image recording unit 1 has A
A positioning boss 2 made of BS resin is projected and fixed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1B, the optional sheet feeder of the first embodiment comprises an L-shaped left side plate 4 and a right side plate 5 which are vertically arranged on a base substrate 3. Are arranged in parallel at an interval, and are fixed with screws 6a, 6b and the like within a predetermined accuracy. The projections 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d formed on the top plate 7 are engaged with the recesses 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b formed on the left side plate 4 and the right side plate 5, respectively, and then screwed. The top plate 7 is fixed by 8a, 8b and the like. Cradles 9 are mounted on the top plate 7 on all sides in order to increase the accuracy in the height direction with respect to the image recording unit 1 placed thereon. In this way, the housing section 10 for storing the paper to be supplied is formed.

In front of the housing 10, there is provided a transport unit housing section 11 for accommodating a transport unit (not shown) that feeds out sheets one by one and transports them to the image recording section 1. The transport unit according to the first embodiment includes a pickup roller that feeds out a sheet, a feed roller, a pressure roller, an electromagnetic clutch that controls the driving of these rollers, and the like.

A stepped portion 12 serving as a positioning reference is formed on both side plates 4 and 5 of the transport unit housing portion 11. The projections 13a and 13b provided on the transport unit cover 13 that covers the transport unit housing 11 are placed on the stepped portion 12, and are pushed in the direction of arrow X to be pressed against the wall of the stepped portion 12 so as to be pressed. 1
3 can be accurately positioned. The transport unit cover 13 is fixed to the side plates 4 and 5 by fixing screws (not shown) by aligning the screw holes 13c and 13d and the screw holes 4c, 4d, 5c and 5d on both side plates.

Further, the projections 13a and 13b of the transport unit cover 13 have positioning boss receiving members 14, 1
5 is abutted for positioning. That is, the positioning boss receiving members 14 and 15 have holes 14 a and 1, which engage with the positioning boss 2 formed on the bottom surface of the image recording unit 1.
5a, protrusions 13a, 13b of the transport unit cover 13
Recesses 14b, 15b which abut against the guide holes 4g, which engage with guide pins 4e provided on both side plates 4, 5, etc.
c, 15c and screw holes 14d, 15d for fixing are formed. In the first embodiment, since the positioning boss receiving members 14 and 15 are molded using a polycarbonate resin, high rigidity is obtained, and the boss receiving members 14 and 15 are hardly deformed even when a physical external pressure is applied. With the positioning boss 2 formed of ABS resin or the like.

Therefore, for example, the positioning boss receiving member 1
4 is attached to the left side plate 4, the guide oval hole 14c
, The positioning boss receiving member 14 is lifted upward, and the concave portion 14b is abutted against the projection 13a for accurate positioning.
Combine with f and fix with screws. The positioning boss receiving member 15 on the opposite side is similarly fixed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the image recording unit 1 is mounted on the optional sheet feeding device in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, in the optional sheet feeding device configured as described above, first, the image recording unit 1 that is the main body is placed on the receiving table 9 on the top plate 7 and provided on the bottom surface of the image recording unit 1. The positioning boss 2 is installed while adjusting the position so as to engage with the holes 14a and 15a of the positioning boss receiving members 14 and 15 on the optional sheet feeding device side.

Next, the operation will be described. Since the optional sheet feeding device of the first embodiment is configured as described above, it is easy to take out the transport unit when performing maintenance work such as parts replacement or repair of the transport unit as follows. It can be carried out. That is, the screws fixed in the fixing screw holes 14d and 15d shown in FIG. 1B are loosened, the positioning boss receiving members 14 and 15 can be moved up and down, and the guide oval holes 14c ( Fifteen
c) is guided while positioning boss receiving member 14,
Pull 15 down. As a result, the positioning boss 2 of the image recording unit 1 is moved to the positioning boss receiving members 14 and 15.
And the positioning boss receiving members 14 and 15 can be removed.

Next, by removing the screws fixing the transport unit cover 13, the transport unit cover 13 can be pulled out and removed in the direction opposite to the arrow X direction. For this reason, in the optional sheet feeding device of the first embodiment, the transport unit cover 13 can be easily removed while the main body such as the image recording unit 1 is placed on the top plate 7, and the transport unit can be easily taken out. Can be maintained.

Conversely, when the transport unit cover 13 is mounted, the transport unit cover 13 is placed on the step 12 by a predetermined operation and positioned, and then fixed with screws. Then, the positioning boss receiving member 14,
A hole 14a is formed in the positioning boss 2 of the image recording unit
After being lifted up and inserted while aligning 15a, the recesses 14b, 15b are abutted against the protrusions 13a, 13b and positioned, and then fixed to the side plates 4, 5 with screws.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the transport unit cover 13 is attached and detached while the main body such as the image recording unit 1 is mounted on the optional paper feeder, and maintenance of the transport unit is easily performed. be able to. Next, book 1
The positional accuracy between the image recording unit 1 and the optional sheet feeding device in the embodiment will be described. The accuracy in the height direction is
It is determined by the cradle 9 provided above. The accuracy of the front, rear, left and right is determined by pressing the projections 13a, 13b of the transport unit cover 13 against the step 12 of the side plates 4, 5, and pressing the positioning boss receiving members 14, 1 on the projections 13a, 13b.
Since the five concave portions 14b and 15b are inserted, only one assembly standard can be used. Therefore, both side plates 4,
5. The transport unit cover 13 and the positioning boss receiving members 14 and 15 can be assembled with predetermined accuracy. Since the recesses 14b, 15b of the positioning boss receiving members 14, 15 and the holes 14a, 15a are the same parts, they can be manufactured without any problem in accuracy.
As described above, since the positioning boss 2 of the image recording unit 1 is inserted into the holes 14a and 15a of the positioning boss receiving members 14 and 15 assembled with predetermined accuracy, the image recording unit 1
And the optional paper feeder can be coupled with high accuracy.

In the first embodiment, an example in which the image recording unit 1 is mounted on the optional paper feeder has been described. However, when a plurality of unitized optional paper feeders are stacked, the configuration is different. Will be placed. Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is a side view showing an internal structure of an optional sheet feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment. As shown in FIG.
The optional sheet feeding device in the embodiment relates to an internal structure of a sheet feeding cassette in which sheets for sheet feeding are stored.

First, the configuration will be described. Paper 20
Is mounted on a bottom plate member 21, and the bottom plate member 21 is rotatable up and down around a rotation shaft 21 a. next,
In the second embodiment, the paper raising lever 22 is formed in the shape of a letter "", and includes a push-up portion 22a and an instruction portion 22b.
The rotating shaft 22c is arranged at the bent portion so as to be rotatable. A spring 23 is connected between the pointing portion 22b of the paper raising lever 22 and the frame by a spring 23, and is always urged downward. Therefore, the push-up portion 22a always pushes the bottom plate member 21 upward.

A paper remaining amount display window 24 made of a transparent material such as plastic is provided near the indication portion 22b of the paper raising lever 22 so that the paper raising lever 22 can be viewed. Further, in the paper remaining amount display window 24, a number scale 25 is printed or engraved so that the remaining number of sheets can be read in accordance with the instruction position of the instruction portion 22b of the paper raising lever 22.

A transport roller 26 for feeding the sheet is fixedly disposed above the sheet 20. 27 is a paper cassette. FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. In order to rotatably support the rotating shafts 21a and 22c, ball bearings 28 and 29 are used here. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, an illuminating lamp 30 is arranged near the remaining paper amount display window 24, so that the position indicated by the paper raising lever can be accurately visually checked even in a dark place. can do.

Next, the operation will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the paper 20 placed on the bottom plate member 21.
Is pushed up by a paper raising lever 22 rotatably fixed by a rotation shaft 22c. The push-up force in this case is generated by a spring 23 attached to the pointing portion 22b of the paper lifting lever 22. The pushed up bottom plate member 21 transfers the uppermost sheet through the sheet 20 to the transport roller 26.
Press against. The paper 20 is sent out one by one by the rotation of the transport roller 26. As described above, as the paper 20 is transported, the thickness of the bundle of the papers 20 changes,
Bottom plate member 21 and paper lifting lever 22 for pushing it up
Changes with the thickness of the paper 20.

In the second embodiment, a sheet remaining amount display window 24 made of transparent plastic is provided on the exterior of the sheet feeding cassette 27 near the indication section 22b, and a number scale 25 is printed thereon. For this reason, by collating the indication portion 22b of the paper raising lever 22 with the number scale 25, it is possible to easily and accurately know the current number of remaining sheets of paper 20 only by visual observation.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the second embodiment, since the illumination lamp 30 is disposed in the remaining paper amount display window 24, the number of remaining paper sheets can be read even in a dark place. it can.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image recording unit is placed, and a transport unit cover for covering the transport unit is removably disposed near the housing for storing the paper, and the transport is performed. The positioning boss receiving member is abutted against the projection of the unit cover from below to fix the position, and the positioning boss of the image recording unit is engaged with the positioning boss receiving member so that it is installed. Then, the screw of the positioning boss receiving member is loosened and lowered, the engagement between the boss and the boss receiver is released, the transport unit cover can be easily removed, and the transport unit can be easily attached and detached.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the positioning boss receiving member is formed of polycarbonate resin,
High rigidity is obtained, and it is possible to engage with the positioning boss with good compatibility .

[0034]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a configuration of an optional sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment, where FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an image recording unit main body mounted on the sheet feeding device, and FIG. FIG. 2 is an assembly configuration diagram of the device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a state where an image recording unit is mounted on an optional sheet feeding device according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an internal structure of an optional sheet feeding device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording part (body part) 2 Positioning boss 3 Base board 4 Left side plate 5 Right side plate 7 Top plate 9 Receiving stand 10 Housing section 13 Transport unit cover 14, 15 Positioning boss receiving member 20 Paper 21 Bottom plate member 22 Paper raising Lever 23 Spring 24 Paper remaining amount display window 25 Number scale 26 Conveyance roller 30 Illumination lamp

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Two side plates are vertically arranged on a base substrate in parallel with a space therebetween, and a top plate is passed over and fixed to a part of the both side plates, and a paper feeder is provided inside the top plate. An image recording unit for storing an image on a supplied sheet and a housing unit on which another paper feeding device is mounted, and a housing unit for storing an image on the supplied sheet, and an image recording unit near the housing unit. is stepped portion serving as a positioning reference in the side plates of the transport unit section for conveying the sheet is accommodated form, as well as placed on the both said stepped portion, provided in the protrusions at both ends for positioning abutment thereto And
A detachable transport unit cover that covers the transport unit, and a positioning recessed portion that abuts and positions the projection unit from below and that is fixed to the both side plates, and is a vertically movable boss receiving hole. A positioning boss receiving member formed with a portion, and a positioning boss provided on a bottom surface of the image recording unit is fitted to the boss receiving hole with respect to the positioning boss receiving member. An optional sheet feeding device wherein the image recording section is fixed while being positioned. 2. The optional sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein said positioning boss receiving member is formed of polycarbonate resin.