JP3293985B2 - 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 a paper feeder which is applied to a copying machine, a printer, and the like, and conveys recording paper supplied by a paper feed cassette into the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a structural view showing a main part of an image recording apparatus provided with a conventional paper feeding device, wherein 1 is a first paper feeding cassette, 2 is a second paper feeding cassette, and 3 and 4 are half moons. Reference numeral 5 denotes a conveying roller, 6 denotes a pressing roller that presses against the conveying roller 5, 7 denotes a photosensitive member, 8 denotes a transfer roller, and 9 denotes a guide plate.

The paper feed rollers 3 and 4 are provided in a main body A of the image recording apparatus.
When the paper cassettes 1 and 2 are mounted on the main body A, the recording papers P are conveyed one by one, facing the recording papers P stored in the cassettes. The paper feed roller 3 corresponds to the first paper feed cassette 1, the paper feed roller 4 corresponds to the second paper feed cassette 2, and the feeding direction of the recording paper P by the paper feed rollers 3 and 4 is opposite. is there.

The transport roller 5 and the pressure roller 6 are installed in the main body A in the same manner as the paper feed rollers 3 and 4, and the nip portion between the transport roller 5 and the pressure roller 6 is , 4
Is fed along the guide plate 9. The recording paper P is conveyed through the nip portion between the photoconductor 7 and the transfer roller 8 by the rotation of the conveyance roller 5 and the pressure roller 6, and is then transferred by the electrostatic recording method.
After the image is printed on the recording paper P, the recording paper P is discharged.

FIG. 6 shows a conveying roller 5 according to a conventional sheet feeding device.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of a pressure roller 6 and FIG.
Reference numerals 0 and 11 denote rotating shafts serving as rotating shafts of the conveying roller 5 and the pressure roller 6, reference numerals 12 and 13 denote bearings attached to both ends of the rotating shafts 10 and 11, and reference numeral 14 denotes a spring mounted on the bearings 12 and 13.

As shown in FIG. 6, the conveying roller 5 and the pressure roller 6 are provided with bearings 12 and 13 in elongated holes 15 formed in the main body A and support the rotating shafts 10 and 11 so that the main body A can be rotated. It is held at a predetermined position and is in a state of being constantly pressed by the bias of the spring 14.

[0007]

As shown in FIG. 6, in the conventional paper feeder, the conveying roller 5 and the pressing roller 6 are always in pressure contact with each other. When paper is jammed in the nip portion between the pressure roller 5 and the pressure roller 6 and the recording paper P is to be removed, the recording paper P is torn and a piece of paper clogged in the nip portion remains in the main body. There was a problem that the operation had to be interrupted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when a plurality of paper feed cassettes are mounted, a transport path is required for causing recording paper P from multiple directions to enter the transport roller 5 in the same direction. In order to secure this transport path, the apparatus main body A
Tended to increase in size.

According to the present invention, it is possible to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and to easily remove the recording paper even if a paper jam occurs.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding apparatus which simplifies a recording sheet conveyance path of an image recording apparatus of a type having a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes.

[0010]

To SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention includes a sheet feeding cassette detachably attached to a plurality of mounting portions which houses the recording paper, and is provided in the recording apparatus main body,
A paper feeder is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of mounting portions.
A paper feed roller for feeding the recording sheet in the set one by one, the sheet feeding apparatus having a pair of conveying rollers for conveying the recording unit in the recording apparatus the recording sheet conveyed by the feed roller, wherein The transport roller pair is composed of one drive roller and this drive roller.
And a plurality of driven rollers pressed against the roller
One of the paper cassettes installed in the main unit
Provide the paper feed cassette with the drive roller and install the plurality of
The driven roller is moved forward in the recording apparatus
Paper feeder provided near the paper feed roller and having the drive roller
When the cassette is mounted, the drive roller
Forming a plurality of nip portions in contact with a moving roller;
Apply recording paper to the nips corresponding to the mounting
Make it possible to convey the paper from the paper cassette,
The recording paper to be fed by the plurality of paper cassettes.
It is characterized in that it can be selected from inside .

[0011]

[0012]

According to the above construction, when the paper feed cassette is mounted on the apparatus main body, the transport roller on the paper feed cassette presses against the transport roller on the apparatus main body side, so that a predetermined nip pressure can be obtained. . Further, at the time when the sheet cassette is extracted from the apparatus main body, the nip pressure between the conveying roller on the apparatus main body side and the conveying roller on the sheet cassette can be released.

Further, since the number of transport rollers on the apparatus main body side is at least two, the paper feeding direction of the recording paper can be switched by switching the rotation direction of the transport rollers on the paper feed cassette side.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

The same members as those in the conventional example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a paper feed cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 20 denotes a cassette main body; 21, a storage section for recording paper P formed in the cassette main body 20; The side fence and the end fence installed in the storage unit 21 are shown. The side fence 22 and the end fence 23 are installed at positions corresponding to the sheet size. Reference numeral 24 denotes a separation claw attached to the side fence 22. When the recording paper P is stored in the storage section 21, both sides of the leading end of the recording paper P are locked by the separation claw 24.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a bottom plate installed on the bottom of the storage section 21. Below this bottom plate 25, a coil spring (not shown) for pushing up the bottom plate 25 is provided. Also, the bottom plate 25
The recording paper P stored in the storage portion 21 is pushed up by the bias of the coil spring.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a recording paper P formed on the cassette body 20.
27 is a hole formed on the guide surface of the guide 26, 28 is a long hole formed on both sides of the guide 26, 29 is a transport roller, 30 is a rotating shaft of the transport roller 29, and 31 is E
A ring, 32 is a bearing, 33 is a drive gear of the transport roller 29, and 34 is a leaf spring.

The guide 26 has a convex shape with a gentle curvature, and a hole 27 extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording paper P is formed at the top of the convex guide surface. A relatively large hole 27a is formed at the center of the hole 27. A transport roller 29 is provided in the guide section 26 thus formed, and the transport roller 29 supported by the rotating shaft 30 is exposed from the hole 27a.

Bearings 32 are provided at both ends of the rotating shaft 30, and the bearings 32, 32 are attached to the elongated holes 28, 28 by E-rings 31, 31, respectively. At this time, since the bearing 32 can move up and down along the long hole portion 28, the transport roller 29
Can also be moved up and down. Further, the cassette body 20 is provided with a leaf spring 34 for pressing the bearings 32, 32 extending from the long holes 28, 28 downward, and at one end of the rotating shaft 30 extending from the bearing 32. , A driving gear 33 is supported.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the internal structure when the paper feed cassette B is mounted. Reference numeral 35 denotes a bearing support for supporting the bearing 32 and positioning the transport roller 29; 1 shows first and second pressure rollers which are transport rollers on the apparatus main body side. The bearing support 35 and the first and second pressure rollers 3
6 and 37 are provided in the main body A.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the structure of the bearing support 35, and reference numeral 35a denotes a concave portion. The concave portion 35a includes an open portion 35c including a slope 35b on which the bearing 32 slides, and a holding portion 35d with which the bearing 32 is engaged.

When the paper cassette B is mounted on the main body A, as shown in FIG.
The first and second pressure rollers 36 and 37 are pressed against the transport roller 29 at the same time, and a nip portion is formed. When the transport roller 29 is rotated via the drive gear, the first and second pressure rollers 36 and 37 follow the rotation of the transport roller 29.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the sheet feeding device of the present embodiment, and C indicates a second sheet feeding cassette. The second sheet cassette C is installed in the mounting section D of the main body A so as to face the guide section 26 of the sheet cassette B. That is, the conveying direction of the recording paper P stored in the second paper cassette C is
The direction is opposite to the transport direction of the sheet cassette B. Also, 3
Reference numerals 8 and 39 denote paper feed rollers for conveying the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette B and the second paper feed cassette C.

When the recording paper P in the paper cassette B is transported, the drive gear 33 (see FIG. 1) is rotated and the transport rollers 29 are rotated.
Is rotated in the X direction in the figure. Then, the recording paper P fed by the paper feed roller 38 is guided to the nip portion between the transport roller 29 and the first pressure roller 36 through the guide surface 26a, and the guide plate 9 is driven by the transport roller 29. The toner is conveyed between the photoconductor 7 and the transfer roller 8 via the photoconductor 7.

When the recording paper P in the second paper cassette C is transported, the drive gear 33 (see FIG. 1) is rotated to rotate the transport roller 29 in the Y direction in the drawing. Then, the recording paper P fed by the paper feed roller 39 is guided to the nip portion between the transport roller 29 and the second pressure roller 37 through the guide surface 26b,
The photosensitive member 7 is driven through the guide plate 9 by driving the transport roller 29.
And the transfer roller 8.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above,
If a paper jam occurs in the nip portion between the transport roller 29 and the first and second pressure rollers 36 and 37, the nip pressure is released by removing the paper feed cassettes B and C from the main body A. Paper can be easily removed.

Further, since the positioning of the rotary shaft 30 and the positioning of the paper cassette B are performed simultaneously, the transport roller 29 and the driving gear 33 are positioned at predetermined positions when the paper cassette B is mounted on the main body A. To be able to
The number of parts related to positioning can be reduced, and cost can be reduced.

Further, by associating two pressure rollers 36 and 37 with one transport roller 29, it is possible to feed the recording paper P from two different directions of the transport path by switching the rotation of the transport roller 29. it can. Therefore, in particular, the size of the apparatus main body is reduced compared to an image recording apparatus of a type in which the leading ends of recording sheets P stored in two sheet cassettes B and C face each other as shown in FIG. can do. In addition, two storage sections for recording paper are provided in one paper feed cassette, and by switching between forward and reverse rotation of the transport roller,
The recording paper may be transported selectively from the two storage sections.

[0030]

According to the present invention configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0031]

According to the first aspect, wherein, by matching the driven roller of the plurality of the apparatus body side to the drive roller of the paper feed cassette side, the direction of rotation of the switching of the sheet feed cassette side of the drive roller, the recording Paper can be fed from forward and reverse directions. Therefore, in the type of record apparatus having a plurality of paper feeding cassettes, it is possible to simplify the conveying path, it is possible to deregulation of the layout of the record unit. Also, the nip between the driving roller and the driven roller
If a paper jam occurs in the paper cassette,
Nip pressure is released by removing the unit from the recorder
Paper can be easily removed.
Wear.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a paper feed cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of an internal configuration when a sheet cassette is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration of a bearing support.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the sheet feeding device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of an image recording apparatus provided with a conventional sheet feeding device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of a transport roller and a pressure roller according to a conventional sheet feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: first paper cassette, 2: second paper cassette,
3,4,38,39… Feed roller, 5,29… Convey roller,
6 ... Pressure roller 7 ... Photoconductor 8 ... Transfer roller
9 ... guide plate, 10, 11, 30 ... rotating shaft, 12, 1
3, 32 ... bearing, 14 ... spring, 15 ... long hole, 20 ...
The cassette body, 21 ... storage section, 22 ... side fence,
23… end fence, 24… separation claw, 25… bottom plate,
26: guide portion, 26a, 26b: guide surface, 27, 27a: hole, 28: long hole, 31: E-ring, 33: drive gear,
34: leaf spring, 35: bearing support, 35a: recess, 35b
... Slope, 35c ... Opening part, 35d ... Holding part, 36 ... First pressing roller, 37 ... Second pressing roller, A ... Main body, B ... Paper cassette, C ... Second paper cassette, P ... Recording paper.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI G03G 15/00 526 G03G 15/00 526 (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 3/00 B65H 1 / 26 B65H 3/06 B65H 3/44 B65H 5/06 G03G 15/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A housing a recording paper, and a paper feed cassette detachable from the plurality of mounting portions provided on the recording apparatus main body,
A paper feeder is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of mounting portions.
A paper feed roller for feeding the recording sheet in the set one by one, the sheet feeding apparatus having a pair of conveying rollers for conveying the recording unit in the recording apparatus the recording sheet conveyed by the feed roller, wherein A transport roller pair is composed of one drive roller and this drive roller
Recording apparatus comprising a plurality of driven rollers pressed against
One paper feed from multiple paper cassettes installed in the main unit
The drive roller is provided on the cassette, and the
Correspondingly, the driven roller is moved to the
A paper cassette provided near the paper roller and having the drive roller
When the slot is mounted, the drive roller causes the plurality of driven rollers to rotate.
A plurality of nip portions in contact with the
Feeds recording paper to the nip corresponding to the landing area
Enables transport from the cassette and allows the drive roller to rotate forward and backward.
The recording paper to be fed into the plurality of paper cassettes.
Paper feeder characterized by being selectable from the following .