JP3262447B2 - Paper cassette and recording apparatus provided with paper cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet cassette for storing sheets for supplying originals and recording paper to a recording apparatus such as a facsimile, a copying machine, a printer, and the like, and a recording apparatus provided with the sheet cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, sheets used in facsimile machines, copiers, printers and the like have been diversified, and users have come to use sheets of various sizes. It is becoming necessary to prepare a paper cassette.

In order to satisfy the demands of the users, paper feed cassettes corresponding to each sheet size are prepared and the user selects and purchases the paper feed cassettes. However, there is a problem that the efficiency is low and the cost is high.

[0004] In addition, the user who selects and purchases must purchase many kinds of paper cassettes, which is expensive and requires a large space for a storage space. The users were not satisfied with each other.

[0005] In order to solve this problem, a universal cassette has been provided in which a single sheet cassette can accommodate sheets of a plurality of sizes. A conventional universal cassette is provided with a sheet end regulating member (a side regulating member for regulating the widthwise end of the sheet and a rear end regulating member for regulating the rear end of the sheet) so as to be movable in a paper cassette cassette. Each end regulating member is moved and used in accordance with the sheet to be used.

[0006]

However, the conventional universal cassette has the following problems.

In the conventional universal cassette, the paper cassette main body (container) is designed so as to accommodate the largest paper size, and various other members are moved by moving an end regulating member provided inside. It is designed to accommodate small size sheets. Therefore, even a user who does not use a sheet having the largest size must use a sheet cassette having a large outer shape, which is extremely inconvenient in terms of weight and dimensions.

[0008] On the manufacturing and sales side, large-sized universal cassettes are not preferable because of high manufacturing and transportation costs.

Furthermore, as image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers have been miniaturized today, for example, in a situation where A4 size or letter size sheets are generally used, the maximum The use of a large universal cassette designed for a certain legal size sheet increases the effective area occupied by the image forming apparatus main body, and is a major constraint in downsizing the image forming apparatus. Will have a significant effect on In particular, in a recording apparatus such as a small personal facsimile or a printer for use on a desk, mounting such a large paper feeding cassette cannot meet the demand of a user who wants downsizing.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to make it easy to use according to the user's request.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet cassette which is inexpensive and does not restrict downsizing of an image forming apparatus.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette for storing sheets to be supplied to a recording apparatus.
A main body container, and a plurality of types of sub-containers having different sizes for forming a paper feed cassette corresponding to a plurality of sheets of different sizes coupled to the main body container; A sub-container is selected and combined to form a paper cassette according to the size of the
The part for connecting the main body container and the sub-container is arranged so that the position of the center part and the positions of both parts are shifted back and forth with respect to the assembling direction.

The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of types of sub-containers having different lengths are provided for accommodating sheets having different lengths, and the sub-containers matching the length of the sheets to be accommodated are connected to the main container. I do.

According to the present invention, a plurality of sub-containers having different widths and lengths are provided for accommodating sheets having different widths and lengths. Characterized in that

According to the present invention, an engaging hole is provided in one of the portions where the main container or the sub-container is connected,
On the other hand, an engaging claw that engages with the engaging hole is provided, and the main container and the sub-container are coupled by engaging the engaging claw with the engaging hole.

[0015]

According to the present invention, a projection is provided on one of the main body container and the sub-container, and a fitting hole for fitting the projection is provided on the other, and the projection and the fitting hole are provided. The main container and the sub-container are fixed by elastically fitting.

According to the present invention, there is provided an urging device for oscillating an intermediate plate supporting a sheet on the main body container and urging the sheet supported on the intermediate plate toward a sheet feeding means provided on the main body of the recording apparatus. Means are provided.

[0018]

According to the above construction, a sub-container is selected according to the size of sheets to be accommodated and connected to the main container to provide a paper cassette having an optimum size desired by the user.

As the connecting means, an engaging hole is provided in one of the main body container and the sub-container, and an engaging claw provided on the other is engaged with the engaging hole. It can be connected to and removed from the container.

Further, when the connecting portion is disposed at a position shifted forward and backward with respect to the assembling direction, the rigidity in the bending direction can be increased in a state where the main container and the sub-container are connected, and the connecting portion is easily detached from the connecting portion. Can be prevented.

Further, as the fixing means, one having a convex portion provided on one of the main body container and the sub-container and having the convex portion elastically fitted into a fitting hole provided on the other side is used. When the main container and the sub-container are connected, the convex portion is deformed and fitted into the fitting hole of the container to be fixed, and when detached, the convex portion is elastically deformed and the convex portion is easily removed from the fitting hole. .

By providing the middle plate and the urging means on the main container side, these members can be commonly used,
Since only the sub-container having the frame structure is replaced and used, a significant increase in cost can be prevented.

[0023]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a central sectional view of the facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention.

First, the overall structure of the apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
Are inclined so as to become lower at one end (the left side in FIG. 2), and are formed compact as a whole. A document reading section 2 is provided at one end side (left side in FIG. 2) of the apparatus main body 1. The document reading section 2 has a document insertion slot 3 and can slide in the width direction of the document 4 in the document insertion slot 3. Document guide 5 is provided.

A document conveying path of the document reading section 2;
In other words, the upper cover 1 a
A separation roller 7a is provided between the document discharge port 6 provided at the left end and the document discharge port 6.
And a separating section 7 for separating the originals 4 sent from the original guide 5 one by one having a separation piece 7b pressed by the separation roller 7a. A feeding unit 8 including a feeding roller 8a for feeding and a backup ID 8b, a contact type image sensor 9 as reading means for reading image information of the document 4 conveyed from the feeding unit 8, and the contact type image A CS roller 10 serving as a contacting means for transporting the original 4 in close contact with the reading position 9a of the contact type image sensor 9 with a predetermined pressing force in opposition to the sensor 9; Roller 11a and backup ID1 for discharging paper from
A discharge section 11 composed of 1b is provided.

Next, the reading operation of the document reading section 2 will be described.

When the original 4 is set on the original guide 5 and a read start signal is inputted by an operation switch (not shown), a drive motor (not shown) is driven to drive the separation roller 7a, the feed roller 8a, the discharge roller 11a, the CS roller 10 Are rotated, and the document 4 is separated one by one by the separation unit 7 and conveyed to the feeding unit 8.

Next, a not-shown original leading edge detection sensor (D
When the leading end of the document 4 is detected by the ES sensor, the driving motor stops, and the rotation of the separation roller 7a, the feeding roller 8a, the discharge roller 11a, and the CS roller 10 temporarily stops.

Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the drive motor is driven again, and the separation roller 7a, the feed roller 8a, the discharge roller 11a, and the CS roller 10 rotate.
After the start of rotation of the rollers 7a, 8a, 11a, 10 and the like, until the leading end of the document 4 is conveyed to the reading position 9a of the contact image sensor 9, the contact image sensor 9
Thereby, the peripheral surface (white as a reference color) of the CS roller 10 is read.

Next, when the leading end of the document 4 is conveyed to the reading position 9a of the contact type image sensor 9, the image information of the document 4 is read. At this time, the original 4 is pressed from just above the reading position 9a of the contact type image sensor 9 by the CS roller 10, that is, since the reading line of the contact type image sensor 9 and the generatrix of the CS roller 10 match, the original 4 Can be read with high accuracy without floating from the reading position 9a.

When the reading of the document 4 is completed in this way, the document 4 is sent to the discharge unit 11 by the CS roller 10 which also serves as a document transporter, and the discharge rollers 11a, 1
The document is discharged from the document discharge port 6 to the outside of the apparatus by 1b. Thus, the reading operation of the image information of one document 4 is completed.

If the document to be read is jammed during the reading operation, the top cover 1a is opened with the vicinity of the document discharge portion as the center of rotation, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, the separation piece 7b, the backup roller 8b, and the CS roller 1 held by a member (not shown) attached to the top cover
0, the backup roller 11b moves as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 and the paper passing surface is released, so that the original can be easily removed.

Next, the configuration of the recording section will be described. Recording unit 21
Is provided on the other end side (right side in FIG. 2) of the document reading section 2 of the apparatus main body 1. The recording paper 22 is located below the center of the apparatus main body 1.
Cassette for loading paper (hereinafter referred to as cassette)
23 is held by the apparatus main body 1. Further, since the cassette cover 24 is made of a transparent member, the remaining amount of the recording paper 22 can be visually checked without pulling out the cassette 23 from the apparatus main body 1. At one end (right side in FIG. 2) of the recording paper 22, a recording roller composed of a pickup roller 25a serving as sheet feeding means and a separation piece (friction pad) 25b pressed against the roller 25a by a spring (not shown). Unit 25, a pair of feed rollers 26a for feeding the recording paper 22 separated by the recording separation unit 25,
A feeder 26 comprising a feeder 26b, an ink jet cartridge 27 as a recording means for printing on the recording paper 22 conveyed from the feeder 26, and a feeder for feeding the recording paper 22 to a position substantially opposed to the ink jet cartridge 27. A paper feed roller 28 and a recording paper discharge port 2 for recording paper after printing.
The paper discharge unit 30 including a pair of paper discharge rollers 30a and 30b that discharge paper from the printer 9 is provided.

Next, the printing operation of the recording unit 21 will be described.

When the original 4 is set on the original guide 5 and an operation switch (not shown) inputs a copy start signal or an image reception signal through a telephone line or the like, a drive motor (not shown) is driven to rotate the pickup roller 25a. The recording paper 22 in the cassette 23 is transported to the separation piece 25b, and the pickup roller 25a and the separation piece 25
The recording paper 22 is separated one by one by a recording separation unit 25 constituted by b, and is conveyed to a feeding unit 26.

Before the recording sheet 22 reaches the feeding section 26, another driving motor (not shown) is driven to rotate the feeding roller 26a, the sheet feeding roller 28, and the sheet discharging roller 30a, and the recording sheet 22 is rotated. 22 is conveyed.

Next, the feed roller 26a and the paper feed roller 28
The recording paper leading edge detection sensor (not shown)
After the leading edge of the recording paper 22 is detected by the (E sensor) and the leading edge is detected by the sensor, the recording paper 22 is conveyed by a predetermined length, and then printing is started by the ink jet cartridge 27.

When printing on the recording paper 22 is completed, the recording paper 22 is discharged from the recording discharge port 29 to the outside of the apparatus by discharge rollers 30a and 30b. Thus, the printing operation of the image information for one sheet of the recording paper 22 is completed.

The recording cover 31 has a structure that can be opened and closed with one end (upper right portion in FIG. 2) of the apparatus as a center of rotation, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, the ink cartridge 27 can be easily replaced.

Next, the configuration of the cassette 23 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette 23 includes a cassette container 32, an intermediate plate 33 which is swingably disposed in the cassette container 32, and the recording paper 22 loaded on the intermediate plate 33. A coil spring 34 for urging the pickup roller 25a with a predetermined pressure, and the above-described cassette cover 24 are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cassette container 32 includes a main container 35 and a sub-container 36 or a sub-container 36a connected to the main container 35. The sub-containers 36 and 36a A plurality of types are prepared according to the size of the recording paper 22 to be accommodated, and the cassette container 32 or the cassette container 32
a is formed.

In this embodiment, cassettes 23 and 23a for storing letter size (LTR) recording paper and legal size (LGL) recording paper will be described.

FIG. 4 shows a main container 35 and a sub-container 36 constituting the cassette container 32 of the cassette 23 for storing letter-size recording paper, and FIG. 5 shows a case for storing legal-size recording paper. A main container 35 and a sub-container 36a that constitute the cassette container 32 of the cassette 23a;
The main body container 35 is commonly used. Also, the main body container 35
The cassette 23 formed by combining the sub-container 36 with the sub-container 36 has a size corresponding to a letter-size recording sheet.
The cassette 23a formed by combining the sub-container 36a with the sub-container 36a has a size corresponding to a legal-size recording sheet.

The middle plate 33 is swingably provided in the main body container 35 and is urged upward by a coil spring 34 provided in the main body container 35.

A structure for connecting the main container 35 and the sub-containers 36 and 36a will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6 showing the letter-size cassette container 32. FIG. A plurality of engagement holes 37 are provided on the main container 35 side, and the sub-container 36 is provided with an engagement claw 38 which can be engaged with the engagement hole 37 of the main container 35. The main container 35 and the sub-container 36 are inserted into the engagement holes 37 and hooked.
Is assembled. Further, a convex portion 39 is formed at two places on the main body container 35, and the convex portion 39 is
The main body container 35 and the sub-container 36 are fixed by being fitted into the fitting holes 40 formed in 6.

The engagement position between the engagement hole 37 and the engagement claw 38 is such that the center engagement position is on the front side and the engagement positions on both sides are on the rear side in the assembling direction (the direction of arrow X in FIG. 4). With this configuration, it is possible to obtain a structure that is stronger in the bending direction (the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. 6) than that arranged at the same position in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the main container 35 and the sub container 36
Even when the cassette 23 with which is assembled is handled by holding only the main container 35 side or only the sub-container 36 side, it does not bend at the engaging portion and come off.

As shown in FIG. 7, the projection 39 is formed at the tip end of a plate-like projection 41 formed by cutting out both sides, and this projection 41 is made of synthetic resin. Since it is formed integrally with the molded main body container 35, it has a spring property due to the elastic force of the synthetic resin. for that reason,
The projection 39 can be elastically fitted into a fitting hole 40 formed in the sub-container 36. Then, the fitting of the main container 35 and the sub-container 36 in the assembling direction and the left and right direction (the direction orthogonal to the assembling direction) can be performed by fitting the convex portion 39 and the fitting hole 40.

The projecting portion 41 may not be formed integrally with the main body container 35, but a leaf spring or the like may be fixed to the main body container 35. In the case where the protrusion 41 is formed integrally, the cost is low. In the case where a separate member such as a leaf spring is fixed, the one having the optimum elasticity should be used regardless of the material of the main body container 35 side. For example, if a leaf spring having a strong elastic force is used, the convex portion formed on the leaf spring can be securely fitted into the fitting hole 40 to increase the fixing strength.

When assembling the sub-container 36 to the main container 35, the engaging claws 38 of the sub-container 36 are inserted into the engaging holes 37 of the main container 35, and the projections 39 are aligned with the fitting holes 40 and fitted. This is done by combining them. When the main container 35 and the sub-container 36 are to be removed, the protrusion 41 is elastically deformed, the protrusion 39 is pulled out from the fitting hole 40, and the engaging claw 38 is removed from the engaging hole 37. In this manner, the assembly and removal of the main container 35 and the sub-container 36 can be performed very easily, and the user can easily obtain the cassette 23 having a desired size.

Thus, the main container 35 and the sub-container 36
When a letter-size recording paper is loaded, the rear end of the recording paper is positioned against the rear side wall 42 (shown in FIG. 6) of the sub-container 36, and the side edge of the recording paper is set. Is positioned by being biased toward the transport reference surface side by a spring member (not shown). The recording paper is similarly positioned in the legal size cassette 23a.

FIG. 5 shows a legal-sized cassette container 32a. The connection structure between the main container 35 and the sub-container 36a in this case is the same as that in the case of the letter-sized cassette container 32, and a description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the legal size cassette 23a is mounted on the facsimile machine. Since the legal size cassette 23a is longer than the letter size cassette 23, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, when it is mounted on a facsimile machine, it projects forward from the letter size cassette 23.

In the above-described embodiment, the cassette 23 for recording paper for legal size and the cassette 23a for recording paper for letter size have been described. This is because the legal-size recording paper and the letter-size recording paper have the same width and different lengths, so that the sub-containers 36, 3 having different lengths.
Each cassette can be provided by changing only the length using 6a. However, in the case where recording papers having different widths and lengths are used, the configuration shown in the following embodiment may be adopted.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the configuration of a cassette whose width and length can be changed. FIG. 8A shows a cassette 43 capable of storing letter-size recording paper.
(B) is a cassette 44 capable of storing A4 size recording paper.
Is shown.

The sub-containers (hatched areas) 46, 46a connected to the main container 45 are each formed in an L-shape, and the dimensions of the sub-containers 46, 46a depend on the size of the recording paper to be stored. A cassette that accommodates a desired size is set by appropriately setting and assembling the main body container 45 as appropriate. In this embodiment, the letter size recording paper is wider and shorter than the A4 size recording paper.
The width Wa of the recording paper mounting surface of the cassette 43 storing letter size recording paper is wider than the width Wb of the recording paper mounting surface of the cassette 44 storing A4 size recording paper (Wa> Wb). The length La of the mounting surface of the cassette 43 is shorter than the length Lb of the mounting surface of the cassette 44 (La
<Lb).

The main container 45 and the auxiliary containers 46, 46a
It is preferable that the fixing structure of the first embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Further, as shown in the sectional view of FIG.
It is swingably attached to the bottom of the.

In this way, the sub-containers to be connected to the main body container 45 are formed in L-shape respectively 46 and 46a, and the recording papers having different widths and lengths can be formed by replacing the sub-containers with the main body container 45. Cassettes 43 and 44 for accommodating can be provided.

FIG. 10 shows a cassette in which only the width can be changed. FIG. 10A shows a cassette 47 capable of storing letter-size recording paper, and FIG. Indicates a cassette 48 capable of storing A4 size recording paper.

The sub-containers (areas indicated by hatching) 50 and 50a connected to the main container 49 are formed in a shape as shown in the figure, and the dimensions of the sub-containers 50 and 50a are determined according to the size of the recording paper to be stored. The cassette for accommodating a desired size is set by appropriately setting and appropriately assembling the main body container 49.

In this case, the width Wa of the recording paper mounting surface of the cassette 47 accommodating the letter-size recording paper is set to A4.
The width is set to be wider (Wa> Wb) than the width Wb of the mounting surface of the recording paper in the cassette 48 accommodating the recording paper of the size. In this case, since the length of the A4 size recording paper is longer than the length of the letter size recording paper,
A movable rear end regulating plate 51 is provided in the main body container 49 to regulate the rear end of the recording paper.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the main body container 35 is provided with the engaging holes 37 and the convex portions 39, and the sub-containers 36 and 36a are provided with the engaging claws 38 and the fitting holes 40. Are provided and combined, but they may be provided in opposite containers. Further, the coupling means is not limited as long as the main container and the sub-container do not come off when handling the cassette, and may be other coupling means such as screwing.

In the present embodiment, the cassette provided in the facsimile has been described.
Any cassette can be used as long as it is a cassette provided in a copying machine or the like and used for continuously feeding recording paper.

[0064]

As described in detail above, the present invention provides
By selecting the sub-container according to the size of the sheets to be accommodated and coupling the sub-container to the main container, it is possible to provide a paper feed cassette of an optimal size desired by the user. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of paper cassettes or use a universal cassette having a complicated structure as in the related art, and it is possible to reduce cost and improve ease of use. Furthermore, by arranging the connecting portion at a position shifted back and forth with respect to the assembling direction, the rigidity in the bending direction can be increased in a state where the main container and the sub-container are connected, and it is prevented that the connecting portion is easily detached from the connecting portion Because you can
Even when handling only the main container side or only the sub-container side, it can be handled in the same manner as a conventional paper feed cassette without being bent at the engaging portion and coming off.

As the connecting means, an engaging hole is provided in one of the main container and the sub-container, and an engaging claw provided on the other is engaged with the engaging hole. Since it can be connected to and removed from the container, the user can easily obtain a paper feed cassette as desired by the user.

[0066]

Further, as the fixing means, a structure in which a convex portion is provided on one of the main body container and the sub-container and the convex portion is elastically fitted into a fitting hole provided on the other side is used. When the main container and the sub-container are connected, the convex portion is deformed and fitted into the fitting hole of the container to be fixed. When detaching, the convex portion is easily deformed by removing the convex portion from the fitting hole. It is easy to use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a facsimile provided with a paper feed cassette of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 1 when a letter size paper cassette is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 1 when a legal size paper feed cassette is mounted.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a letter size cassette container.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a legal size cassette container.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between a main container and a sub container.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a structure of a convex portion for fixing the main container and the sub container.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 23 Cassette (paper feed cassette) 25a Pickup roller (sheet feeding means) 32 Cassette container 33 Middle plate 34 Coil spring (biasing means) 35 Main container 36, 36a Subcontainer 37 Engagement hole 38 Engagement claw 39 Projection 40 Mating hole 41 Projection

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet feeding cassette for storing sheets to be supplied to a recording apparatus, comprising: a main body container; and a size for connecting to the main body container to form a sheet feeding cassette corresponding to a plurality of sheets of different sizes. A plurality of types of sub-containers having different sizes, and the main container is configured to select and combine sub-containers in order to configure a paper feed cassette according to the size of sheets to be accommodated,
A sheet feeding cassette, wherein a portion for connecting the main container and the sub-container is disposed such that a position of a central portion and positions of both portions are shifted back and forth with respect to an assembling direction. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of sub-containers having different lengths are provided for accommodating sheets having different lengths, and the sub-containers corresponding to the length of the sheets to be accommodated are connected to the main container. The sheet cassette according to claim 1. 3. A plurality of types of sub-containers having different widths and lengths are provided for accommodating sheets having different widths and lengths, and the sub-containers corresponding to the width and length of the sheets to be accommodated are connected to the main container. The sheet cassette according to claim 1, wherein: 4. An engaging hole is provided in one of a portion where the main body container and the sub-container are connected, and an engaging claw is provided in the other in which the engaging hole is engaged. The paper cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the main container and the sub-container are connected by engaging the engaging claws. 5. A projection is provided on one of the main body container and the sub-container, and a fitting hole for fitting the projection is provided on the other, and the projection and the fitting hole are elastic. The sheet cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main container and the sub-container are fixed by being fitted into the cassette. 6. An urging means for oscillatingly providing an intermediate plate for supporting a sheet in the main body container, and urging the sheet supported by the intermediate plate toward a sheet feeding means provided in the recording apparatus main body. The sheet cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: 7. The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 1, a sheet feeding unit for feeding sheets stored in the sheet feeding cassette, and a sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit. Recording means for recording on a printed sheet.