JP3291119B2 - Paper feed mechanism of recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feed mechanism for transporting sheets stored in a sheet storage section to a recording section in a recording apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile, and more particularly, to separating sheets one by one. And a sheet feeding mechanism for carrying the sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, a general paper feed mechanism used in a printer or the like will be described with reference to FIG.

[0005] The paper feed mechanism 1 shown in FIG. 15 is configured to separate and feed sheets one by one to a paper feed port 11 of the printer 10 when mounted on the printer 10.

A paper feed stacker 2 for storing the paper of the paper feed mechanism 1 is urged upward by a leaf spring 3 disposed on the lower surface of the paper feed stacker 2, and presses the stored uppermost paper against a paper feed roller 4. It is supposed to. And in this state,
The paper feed roller 4 is driven by a drive source (not shown), and the paper stacked on the paper feed stacker 2 is separated one by one by the action of the separation claw 8 by the rotation of the drive roller 4. 11 is supplied. The paper is further fed to a paper feed roller 13 of the printer 10 and a small roller 1 pressed against the paper feed roller 13.
The paper recorded by the recording unit 12 is sent to the recording unit 12 by the action of the paper ejection rollers 4 and 15 and passes between the paper ejection guide 6 pressed against the paper ejection roller 5 by the operation of the paper ejection roller 5. And is guided into the paper discharge tray 7.

[0005]

However, the above-described conventional paper feed mechanism 1 separates and transports the paper by mounting a separate body from the printer 10 on the printer 10, so that the entire apparatus is However, it has not been able to respond to the recent demand for miniaturization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding mechanism of a recording apparatus which overcomes the above-mentioned problems of the conventional apparatus and can achieve a reduction in the size of the entire apparatus.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding mechanism for a recording apparatus, comprising: a sheet storage unit for storing a plurality of sheets of paper; Unit, and a paper feed mechanism that transports the paper stored in the paper storage unit one by one to the recording unit, wherein the paper stored in the paper storage unit is transported to the recording unit. A main roller that is driven to rotate in both the forward and reverse directions, and presses against the main roller to rotate only a predetermined angle following the rotation of the main roller to feed and separate the paper stored in the paper storage unit. the sub roller and said a larger angles than in pressure contact with the main roller conveyance direction downstream side of the paper from the sub-roller driven to the sub-roller with the rotation of the main roller Sabouraud
The uppermost sheet that has passed through the roller is rotatable until the leading end thereof passes , and other sheets except the topmost sheet among the sheets continuously fed by the sub-roller are forcibly removed. And a stop roller for stopping the motor.

[0008]

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeding mechanism of the recording apparatus, the rotation angle of the sub-roller
It is characterized in that the leading edge of the sheet in the sheet storage unit is a so as to pass through a sub-roller.

Further, in the paper feeding mechanism of a recording apparatus according to a third aspect, in the second aspect, the sub-roller is configured by covering a roller body made of a friction material on an outer peripheral surface, and the stop roller is a roller. A notch is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body so that the leading end of the sheet can abut on the main body.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding mechanism for a recording apparatus.
3. The sub-roller according to claim 2 , wherein the sub-roller is provided with a separation pad made of a friction material on a side facing the main roller, and the stop roller is provided with a notch in which a leading end of a sheet can abut on an outer peripheral surface of the roller body. It is characterized by being formed and configured.

Further, in the paper feed mechanism of the recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect , the sub-roller includes:
A sheet separating section formed downstream of the sheet feeding section in the sheet conveying direction, and the stop roller is formed by forming a notch on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body so that the leading end of the sheet can abut. It is characterized by having done.

[0013]

[0014]

According to the paper feeding mechanism of the recording apparatus of the present invention, first,
The main roller is driven to rotate in the direction opposite to the sheet conveying direction to return all the sheets to the upstream side of the sub-roller. Next, the main roller is driven to rotate in the sheet transport direction. Then
The sub-roller pressed against the main roller rotates by an angle, and during the rotation of the sub-roller, the leading ends of a plurality of sheets pass through the sub-roller. Even after the rotation of the sub-roller is stopped, the main roller continues to rotate, so that the leading end of the uppermost sheet in direct contact with the main roller reaches the stop roller. At this time, since the stop roller having a larger rotation angle than the sub-roller is still rotating, the leading edge of the uppermost sheet passes through the stop roller. After that, the stop roller stops rotating, but the main roller keeps rotating further, so long as the main roller continues to rotate, the conveyance of the top sheet continues, and this sheet is sent to the printing unit. To reach. If the trailing edge of the uppermost sheet passes through the sub-roller, the next sheet that comes into contact with the main roller due to the continuation of the rotation of the main roller, even though the sub-roller is stopped, stops in the direction of the stop roller. However, in this state, the stop roller has already stopped rotating, so the next sheet comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the stop roller and stops. Not transported.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. Although the paper storage unit and the recording unit are not necessarily the same as the above-mentioned conventional ones, various known ones can be applied, and their illustration and description are omitted.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention. First, the structure of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a paper feeding mechanism of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a plurality of main roller assemblies 21 (3 in this embodiment) are spaced apart in the axial direction of a rotating shaft 22. ) Made of a friction material such as rubber are supported. Each main roller 23 has a cylindrical shape having the same outer diameter.

A gear 24 is fitted to one end of the rotary shaft 22. The gear 24 is connected to an output shaft of a motor (not shown) capable of rotating forward and reverse via a gear (not shown). . Accordingly, each of the main rollers 23 is driven to rotate in either the forward or reverse direction with the rotation of the motor in the forward or reverse direction.

Below the main roller assembly 21,
A long paper guide member 2 extending parallel to the rotation shaft 22
5 are provided. The upward guide surface 26 of the paper guide member 25 for actually guiding the paper is formed in a concave shape having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of each of the main rollers 23. Concave portions 27 are formed at opposing positions. Each of the recesses 27 has a sub-roller 30 serving as a paper separating member for separating paper fed from a paper storage unit (not shown), and a stop member for forcibly stopping continuously fed paper. Roller units 28 each supporting a stop roller 30 serving as a main roller and a small roller 50 that conveys the separately fed paper to the recording unit together with the main roller 23 are fitted. The sub roller 30, the stop roller 40, and the small roller 50 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the sheet P.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the sub-roller 30
Are the bearing recesses 3 formed in the roller unit 28.
2 a roller shaft 31 rotatably supported at both ends
And two cylindrical roller bodies 33, 33 made of a friction material that adheres to the roller shaft 31 so as not to coincide with the roller body 43 of the stop roller 40 at both axial ends of the roller shaft 31. have.
Further, a protrusion 34 protruding radially outward is provided at one end of the roller shaft 31. On the other hand, in the roller unit 28, the rotation angle of the roller shaft 31 in contact with the protrusion 34 is limited to a value until the leading end of the paper P in the paper storage unit (not shown) passes through the sub-roller 30.
A pair of stoppers 35, 35 are mounted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stop roller 40 has a roller shaft 41 extending in parallel with the rotation shaft 22 of the main roller assembly 21.
Both ends of the roller 1 are rotatably supported by a pair of bearing recesses 42 formed in the roller unit 28. A central portion of the roller shaft 41 in the axial direction is covered with a cylindrical roller body 43 made of a friction material so as not to coincide with the roller body 33 of the sub-roller 30. A notch 44 extending in parallel with the axis of the roller shaft 41 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body 43, and the leading end of the sheet P can come into contact with the notch 44. I have.

At one end of the roller shaft 41, a projection 45 projecting outward in the radial direction is provided. On the other hand, in the roller unit 28 near the bearing recess 32,
Stoppers 46, 46 with which the projection 45 can abut are provided in a protruding manner. The rotatable angle of the roller shaft 41 is such that only the leading end of the uppermost sheet that has passed through the sub-roller 30 is stopped by the stop roller 4 when the protrusion 45 contacts one of the stoppers 46 with the rotation of the roller shaft 41.
It is limited to passing through zero.

When the main roller 23 rotates in the direction in which the sheet P is transported in the normal transport direction, the projection 45 of the driven stop roller 40 contacts the stopper 46 and stops the stop roller 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the notch 44 of the roller body 43 is adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the main roller 23, and is directed backward so as to be able to receive the leading end of the succeeding sheet P.

The roller unit 28 supports a leaf spring 47 for pressing the sub roller 30, the stop roller 40, and the small roller 50 against the outer peripheral surface of the main roller 23, respectively.

The small roller 50 is, as shown in FIG.
The roller unit 28 has a roller shaft (not shown) extending parallel to the rotation shaft 22 of the main roller assembly 21. Both ends of the roller shaft are formed on the roller unit 28.
The pair of bearing recesses 52, 52 are rotatably supported. And both ends in the axial direction of the roller shaft,
The stop roller 40 is attached by a cylindrical roller body 53 made of a friction material so as not to match the roller body 43 of the stop roller 40. The small roller 50 always rotates following the rotation of the main roller 23.

The sub roller 30 of the roller unit 28
And the stop roller 40 and the small roller 50
Between them, as shown in FIG. 2, paper sensors 54 and 55 for detecting the presence of paper in these portions are provided.

The sub roller 30, the stop roller 4
The positional relationship between the main roller 23 and the roller unit 28 supporting the small roller 50 does not necessarily have to be opposed to each other, and may be offset from each other in the axial direction of the roller shaft.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

When the paper sensors 54 and 55 detect the paper P when the power is turned on, the main roller 23 is rotated clockwise to discharge the paper P, and when the discharge of the paper P is completed, as shown in FIG. As described above, the main roller 23 is driven to rotate counterclockwise, and the sub roller 30 and the stop roller 4 are rotated.
It is driven to return 0 to the initial position. FIG. 3 shows the sub roller 30 and the stop roller 40 that have been restored to the initial state in this manner.

In this state, the main roller 23 is
When the paper P is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 so as to be transported in the normal transport direction, the sub-roller 30 in which the roller body 33 is pressed against the main roller 23 is driven to rotate by a certain angle, and the rotation of the sub-roller 30 In the meantime, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Pass through. In this state, the rotation of the sub-roller 30 is stopped, but the main roller 23 continues to rotate even after the rotation of the sub-roller 30 is stopped.
The leading edge of the uppermost sheet P in direct contact with the sheet reaches the stop roller 40. At this time, the stop roller 40 having a larger rotation angle than the sub-roller 30 is still rotating.
Pass through.

Thereafter, the stop roller 40 stops rotating, but since the main roller 23 continues to rotate, as long as the main roller 23 continues to rotate,
The conveyance of the top sheet P is continued, and this sheet P is
As shown in (1), it reaches the printing section and is subjected to printing.

When the trailing end of the uppermost sheet P passes through the sub-roller 30, the sub-roller 30 comes into contact with the main roller 23 by continuing the rotation of the main roller 23, even though the sub-roller 30 is stopped. The next sheet P is conveyed in the direction of the stop roller 40. In this state, since the stop roller 40 has already stopped rotating, the next sheet P is, as shown in FIG. The leading end of the sheet P comes into contact with the notch 44 of the stop roller 40 and stops, so that the next sheet P is not conveyed toward the recording section.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when the main roller 23 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the sub-roller 30 and the stop roller 40 return to the initial state shown in FIG. The transported next sheet P is also transported in the reverse direction, and is completely stacked with other sheets P.

Therefore, in order to perform the next recording, FIG.
The above-described operation may be repeated from the initial state of FIG.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in the structure of the sub-roller, but the other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment.
This is the same as the embodiment. Therefore, the configuration of this embodiment is the first
Only the configuration different from the embodiment will be described, and the other configuration will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted.

The sub roller 30A has a roller shaft 3 extending in parallel with the rotation shaft 22 of the main roller assembly 21.
1A, and both end portions of the roller shaft 31A are rotatably supported by a pair of bearing recesses 32 formed in the roller unit 28. Further, the main rollers 2 at both ends in the axial direction of the roller shaft 31A are provided.
On the side facing 3, a separation pad 33 </ b> A is mounted. The separation pad 33A is formed of a block body made of a friction material having a columnar outer peripheral surface having an outer diameter close to the outer diameter of the main roller 23.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

When the power is turned on, first, both paper sensors 54, 5
5, the main roller 23 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 7 so as to convey the sheet in the normal conveying direction, as shown in FIG. 7, and completely discharges the remaining sheet. I do.

At this time, the sub-roller 30A and the stop roller 40 cannot be driven to rotate, but the main roller of a plurality of sheets (not shown) of which a leading end faces the vicinity of the sub-roller 30A from the sheet storage section. The uppermost sheet located on the 23 side is conveyed by rotation of the main roller 23 such that the leading end passes through the sub-roller 30A. However, at this time, the stop roller 40
The position of the notch 44 of the roller body 43 is located rearward so as to be adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the main roller 23 and to be able to receive the leading edge of the succeeding paper. Abuts in the notch 44 and stops.

Thereafter, the main roller 23 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 7, and the sub roller 30A and the stop roller 40 are driven to return to the initial positions. At this time, the tip is the notch 44 of the stop roller 40.
The topmost sheet that was located inside is also returned. FIG. 8 shows the sub-roller 30A and the stop roller 40 thus restored to the initial state.

In the initial state of FIG. 8, the leading ends of a plurality of sheets P located in a sheet storage unit (not shown) are located between the main roller 23 and the separation pad 33A of the sub roller 30A.

In this state, the main roller 23 is
When the paper is rotated clockwise in FIG. 8 so as to convey the paper in the normal conveyance direction, the sub-roller 30A against which the separation pad 33A is pressed against the main roller 23 rotates by a certain angle, and the rotation of the sub-roller 30A is controlled. Between,
The leading ends of the plurality of sheets P pass through the sub-roller 30A.
In this state, the rotation of the sub roller 30A is stopped,
Even after the rotation of the sub roller 30A is stopped, the main roller 23 continues to rotate.
To reach. At this time, since the stop roller 40 having a larger rotation angle than the sub-roller 30A is still rotating, the leading end of the uppermost sheet P passes through the stop roller 40 as shown in FIG.

After that, the stop roller 40 stops rotating, but the main roller 23 continues to rotate. Therefore, as long as the main roller 23 continues to rotate,
The transport of the top sheet P is continued, and the sheet P reaches the printing unit and is used for printing.

When the rear end of the uppermost sheet P passes through the sub-roller 30A, the sub-roller 30A comes into contact with the main roller 23 due to the continued rotation of the main roller 23, even though the sub-roller 30A is stopped. The next sheet P is conveyed in the direction of the stop roller 40. In this state, since the stop roller 40 has already stopped rotating, the next sheet P is, as shown in FIG. The stop roller 40 comes into contact with the notch 44 of the stop roller 40 and stops, so that the next sheet P is not conveyed toward the recording section.

Next, when the main roller 23 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the sub roller 30A and the stop roller 4 are rotated.
0 is restored to the initial state shown in FIG. 8, and the next sheet P slightly conveyed by the rotation of the main roller 23 is also conveyed in the reverse direction and completely stacked with the other sheets P. Become.

In order to perform the next recording, FIG.
The above-described operation may be repeated from the initial state.

According to the above-described embodiment, since the paper is conveyed from the paper storage section to the recording section by using the main roller 23 of the recording apparatus, the apparatus can be made compact, and the apparatus can be downsized. can do. By rotating the main roller 23 in both forward and reverse directions,
Only one sheet can be reliably separated from other sheets and conveyed to the recording unit.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, substantially the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a third embodiment of the present invention.
This embodiment shows an embodiment. This embodiment is different from the above-described second embodiment in the configuration of the sub-roller, particularly, the separation pad, and the other configurations are almost the same as the second embodiment. Therefore, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described only for a configuration different from that of the second embodiment, and the other configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, the sub-roller 30B has a roller shaft 31B extending in parallel with the rotation shaft 22 of the main roller assembly 21.
Both ends of the roller shaft 31B are connected to the roller unit 28.
Are rotatably supported by a pair of recesses 32, 32 for bearings formed in the bearing. A separation pad 33A is mounted on the roller shaft 31B at the center of the roller shaft 31B in the axial direction on the side facing the main roller 23.

The separation pad 33A is formed of a block body made of a friction material having a columnar outer surface having an outer diameter close to the outer diameter of the main roller 23, and is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P. Is formed with a protruding sheet feeding section 33B for feeding the accommodated sheet P by rotation of the main roller 23. Further, on the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P, a protruding separating portion 33C for separating the fed paper P is formed.
An inverted trapezoidal concave portion 33D is formed between B and the separation portion 33C.

In this embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the stop roller 40 has a roller shaft 41 extending in parallel with the rotation shaft 22 of the main roller assembly 21.
Both ends of the roller shaft 41 are rotatably supported by a pair of bearing recesses 42 formed in the roller unit 28. The central portion of the roller shaft 41 in the axial direction is covered by a cylindrical roller body 43 made of a friction material. A notch 44 extending in parallel with the axis of the roller shaft 41 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body 43, and the leading end of the sheet P can come into contact with the notch 44. I have.

The other structure is the same as that of the second embodiment. The shape and mounting position of the separation pad 33A, and the mounting position of the stop roller 40 can be changed between the second embodiment and the third embodiment.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

In the initial state shown in FIG. 12, the leading ends of the plural sheets of paper P located in the paper storage section are located between the main roller 23 and the separation pad 33A of the sub roller 30B.

In this state, the main roller 23 is
When the paper P is rotated clockwise in FIG. 12 so as to be transported in the normal transport direction, the sub-roller 30B against which the separation pad 33A is pressed against the main roller 23 is rotated by a certain angle, and the rotation of the sub-roller 30B During this time, the leading ends of the plurality of sheets P pass through the sheet feeding section 33B of the sub roller 30B. The leading ends of the plurality of sheets of paper P that have passed through the sheet feeding section 33B face the recess 33D formed immediately before the separation section 33C formed downstream of the separation pad 33A, so that the temporary clamping pressure is released. At the same time, when the main roller 23 further rotates, the plurality of sheets P are separated so that the topmost sheet P is the first sheet, and the next and subsequent sheets P are sequentially separated.
3C.

In this state, the rotation of the sub roller 30B is stopped. However, even after the rotation of the sub roller 30B is stopped, the main roller 23 continues to rotate.
The leading edge of the uppermost sheet P that is in direct contact with 3 reaches the stop roller 40. At this time, since the stop roller 40 having a larger rotation angle than the sub-roller 30B is still rotating, the leading end of the uppermost sheet P passes through the stop roller 40.

After that, the stop roller 40 stops rotating, but the main roller 23 continues to rotate. Therefore, as long as the main roller 23 continues to rotate,
The transport of the top sheet P is continued, and the sheet P reaches the printing unit and is used for printing.

The handling of the next sheet P after the trailing end of the top sheet P has passed through the sub-roller 30B is performed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the sub-roller 3 is driven by the rotation of the main roller 23 of the stored paper P.
The paper P fed by the paper feed unit 33B can be stably separated by the separation unit 33C, so that the paper P fed by the paper feed unit 33B can be stably separated by the separation unit 33C. It goes without saying that substantially the same operation and effect as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sheet feeding section 33
By changing the material, hardness or shape of B to have a lower coefficient of friction than the separating portion 33C, the load generated when the roller 23 and the sheet feeding portion 33B come into direct contact with each other at the time of paper supply is reduced, Paper feeding accuracy can be maintained.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the above-described second embodiment in the structure of the sheet separating member and the position of the stop roller. The other configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment. Therefore, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described only for a configuration different from that of the second embodiment, and the other configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a paper feed separation member for feeding and separating paper stored in a paper storage unit (not shown) is provided on a sub-roller 30C serving as a paper introduction unit and downstream of the sub-roller 30C. The paper separating plate 56 is formed.

The sub-roller 30C has a roller shaft 31C rotatably supported at both ends by bearing recesses 32 formed in the roller unit 28, and a roller shaft 3C.
It has two cylindrical roller bodies 33, 33 made of a friction material and covering the roller shaft 31C at both ends in the axial direction of 1C. Further, the roller shaft 3
A protrusion 34 protruding outward in the radial direction is provided at one end of 1C.

The sheet separating plate 56 is provided on the roller shaft 31.
C is a block body made of a friction material rotatably supported by C, and is urged toward the main roller 23 by a push-up spring 47 disposed below the sheet separating plate 56 on the downstream side of the sub roller 30C. Thus, the sheet separating plate 56 is disposed so as to contact the outer surface of the main roller 23 with the surface of the sheet separating plate 56.

In this embodiment, the stop roller 40 is provided at the position where the small roller 50 in the above embodiment is provided, instead of the small roller 50. The stop roller 40 has a roller shaft 57 extending in parallel with the rotation shaft 22 of the main roller assembly 21, and both end portions of the roller shaft 57 are formed on the roller unit 28. Are rotatably supported by the bearing recesses 52, 52. The stop roller 40 is attached to the roller shaft 57 by a cylindrical roller body 58 made of a friction material. A notch 59 extending in parallel with the axis of the roller shaft 57 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the roller main body 58, and the leading end of the sheet P can come into contact with the notch 59 in the notch 59. I have.

At one end of the roller shaft 57, a projection 60 projecting outward in the radial direction is provided. On the other hand, in the roller unit 28 in the vicinity of the bearing recess 52,
A stopper 61 with which the protrusion 60 can abut is protruded. The rotatable angle of the roller shaft 57 is
As the protrusion 60 comes into contact with the stopper 61 with the rotation of, only the leading end of the uppermost sheet that has passed through the sub-roller 30 </ b> C is limited to pass through the stop roller 40.

When the main roller 23 rotates in the direction in which the sheet P is transported in the normal transport direction, the protrusion 60 of the driven stop roller 40 abuts against the stopper 61 and the stop roller 40 is stopped. The position of the notch 44 of the roller body 43 is, as shown in FIG.
The following sheet P is adjacent to the outer peripheral surface of the main roller 23.
It is turned backward so that it can receive the tip.

The sub roller 30C and the sheet separation plate 5
6, and the stop rollers 40 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the paper P. Further, the positional relationship between the main roller 23 and the roller unit 28 supporting the sub roller 30C, the sheet separating plate 56, and the stop roller 40 need not necessarily be opposed to each other, as in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. In addition, even if they are displaced from each other in the roller axis direction, there is no particular difference in the effect of the present embodiment.

The other structure is the same as that of the second embodiment.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described.

In the initial state shown in FIG. 13, the leading ends of the plurality of sheets P located in the sheet storage portion are located between the main roller 23 and the roller body 33 of the sub roller 30C.

In this state, the main roller 23 is
When the paper P is rotated clockwise in FIG. 14 so as to be conveyed in the normal conveyance direction, the sub-roller 30C in which the roller main body 33 is pressed against the main roller 23 is driven to rotate by a certain angle, and the rotation of the sub-roller 30B In the meantime, the leading ends of the plurality of sheets P pass through the gap between the sub-roller 33 as the sheet introduction unit and the main roller 23. When the main roller 23 further rotates, the leading ends of the plurality of sheets P that have passed through the sheet introduction unit are moved to the surface of the sheet separation plate 56 serving as a sheet separation unit disposed downstream of the sub-roller 33 and the main sheet. It is transported in the gap with the outer peripheral surface of the roller 23. At this time, due to the frictional force generated in the paper feed separation section, the plurality of papers P have the topmost paper P first,
Then, the sheets P are separated so that the papers P after the next one are successively continued.

Then, by further rotation of the main roller 23, the leading end of the uppermost sheet P in direct contact with the main roller 23 reaches the stop roller 40. At this time, since the stop roller 40 having a larger rotation angle than the sub roller 30C is still rotating, the leading end of the uppermost sheet P passes through the stop roller 40. Thereafter, the stop roller 40 stops rotating, but the main roller 2
3 further continues to rotate, so the main roller 2
As long as 3 continues to rotate, the transport of the uppermost sheet P in the direction of the recording section is continued, and the sheet P reaches the recording section and is used for printing.

The next sheet P is also supplied to the stop roller 4.
Although it is conveyed in the 0 direction, in this state, since the stop roller 40 has already stopped rotating,
As shown in FIG. 14, the next sheet P comes into contact with the notch 59 of the stop roller 40 located rearward and stops, so that the next sheet P is conveyed toward the recording unit. Not done.

The handling of the next sheet P after the trailing end of the top sheet P has passed through the stop roller 40 is performed in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, in this embodiment, the sub-roller 33
The paper P fed by the paper introduction unit provided with the paper separation unit 56 can be stably separated by the paper separation unit provided with the paper separation plate 56, and the stop roller 40 is connected to the paper separation unit. By arranging it downstream, the W-feed can be completely prevented, and the present embodiment can also provide substantially the same operation and effect as the other embodiments described above.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made as necessary. For example, the number of rollers and separation pads to be attached to or mounted on each shaft in the first to fourth embodiments is not limited to the number described in the above embodiment, but may be necessary together with its length dimension in the axial direction. It can be changed accordingly.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the paper can be separated and conveyed by the main roller of the recording apparatus, the size of the entire apparatus can be reduced. Further, by providing the notch in the stop roller serving as the stop member, the sheet can be more reliably separated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a main part showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording apparatus to which a conventional paper feed mechanism is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Main Roller Assembly 23 Main Roller 28 Roller Unit 30, 30A, 30B, 30C Sub Roller 33, 43, 53, 58 Roller Main Body 33A Separation Pad 33B Feed Section 33C Separation Section 33D Depression 34, 45, 60 Projection 40 Stop Roller 44 , 59 Notch 35, 46, 61 Stopper 50 Small roller 54, 55 Paper sensor 56 Paper separation plate P Paper

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-31637 (JP, A) JP-A-60-36238 (JP, A) Full-fledged Sho-53-26076 (JP, U) (58) Investigation Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 3/00-3/68

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet storage unit for storing a plurality of sheets, a recording unit for recording on sheets, and a paper feed mechanism for conveying the sheets stored in the sheet storage unit to the recording unit one by one. A main roller that is driven to rotate in both forward and reverse directions to convey the paper stored in the paper storage unit to the recording unit, and presses against the main roller to rotate the main roller. A sub-roller that rotates by a predetermined angle following the rotation of the main roller and feeds and separates the paper stored in the paper storage unit; passing the sub-roller with a larger angles than the sub-roller and the driven
A stop for forcibly stopping other papers except the top paper among the papers continuously fed by the sub-roller, the paper being rotatable until the leading edge of the uppermost paper passing therethrough passes. A sheet feeding mechanism for a recording apparatus, comprising a roller and a roller. A rotation angle according to claim 2, wherein the sub-roller, the leading end of the sheet in the sheet storage portion and to pass through a sub-roller
The paper feed mechanism of the recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. The sub-roller is formed by covering a roller body made of a friction material on an outer peripheral surface, and the stop roller is formed by forming a notch on the outer peripheral surface of the roller body so that the leading end of a sheet can abut. 3. The sheet feeding mechanism of the recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 4. The sub-roller is configured by mounting a separation pad made of a friction material on a side facing the main roller, and the stop roller is provided with a notch with which a leading end of a sheet can abut on an outer peripheral surface of a roller body. The paper feed mechanism of the recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the paper feed mechanism is formed. 5. The sub-roller is provided with a paper feed unit and a paper separation unit formed downstream of the paper feed unit in the paper transport direction, and the stop roller is provided on an outer peripheral surface of a roller body. 3. The sheet feeding mechanism according to claim 2, wherein a notch is formed in the sheet so that the leading end of the sheet can abut.