JP3350194B2 - 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 improvement of a non-cassette type paper feeder fixed to a main body of an image forming apparatus, and particularly to a bottom plate or the like being operated in conjunction with an opening / closing operation of a protective cover for covering a paper feed base. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a sheet feeding device which facilitates a recording sheet setting operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines, copiers and printers which use cut paper as recording paper usually use a paper cassette which is detachable from the main body of the apparatus. There is an advantage that missetting is unlikely to occur when paper is set, and even if missetting is performed, the cassette can be reset before setting the cassette in the main body. Further, in the cassette system, since the pushing force of the bottom plate in the cassette is released in most cases when the cassette is removed from the main body, the setting is easy. However, the cassette system is disadvantageous in terms of cost, and has a merit more than the above disadvantage in an apparatus of a type in which a large amount of recording paper is set, but in a small model in which only a small amount of recording paper is set. The disadvantages are larger.

[0003] By the way, most of small models that do not use a cassette are equipped with a mechanism for releasing the bottom plate at the time of setting and a mechanism for releasing the separating claw. It is necessary to manually operate the operation lever, which is not very convenient in terms of the set operability, and it is easy to forget to release or return to release, so that a paper feeding trouble due to this often occurs. Further, the paper feed rollers which are taken out one by one while being in contact with the upper surface of the recording paper set on a cassette or other setting table usually have a half-moon cross section so as not to hinder the setting of the recording paper. The reason for using a half-moon shaped paper feed roller is that, besides the convenience of setting, the paper is fed by bringing the arc-shaped outer peripheral surface into contact with the recording paper during paper feeding, while the flat part is printed when paper is not fed. This is because they can face each other in a state of non-contact with paper.

However, the diameter of the paper feed roller is usually set to be as small as possible unless there is room for space. In this case, the gap between the flat portion and the recording paper at the time of non-contact is small. Further, since the outer peripheral surface of the paper feed roller is usually made of rubber, the coefficient of friction is high, so that the roller can easily move in the rotation direction even when an external force is slightly applied to the rubber surface. In particular, when the recording sheet feed roller in the free state when the recording sheet set hits, is moving initial position of the semicircular roller, Ru can be permanently interfere with paper feeding operation after the recording sheet set.

[0005]

THE INVENTION An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above, in conjunction to the opening operation when opening the protection cover, by fixing the paper feed roller in the initial position, when the recording sheet set also it is possible to prevent the sheet feeding roller is moved as the recording paper or the like on the paper feed roller strikes, Ru near to provide a sheet feeding apparatus which eliminates that hinder the subsequent feeding operation.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention provides serial and <br/> recording paper bottom for placing a plate to support the push-up spring for pushing up the bottom plate, the bottom plate and the push-up spring A recording paper set table, a protective cover openably and closably supported by the recording paper set table to cover the recording paper on the bottom plate, and a half-moon shape for feeding one sheet at a time in contact with the upper surface of the recording paper on the bottom plate And a drive motor and a drive transmission system for driving the paper feed roller, wherein an engagement portion is provided at a base end of the protective cover, and the paper feed roller the axes provided engaged portion, characterized that you engaging portion when opened the protective cover is engaged to said engaging portion is configured so as to prohibit rotation of the paper feed roller And

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Prior to the description of the present invention, Sukoshiku be described with reference to FIG. 4 for a facsimile apparatus having the conventional structure as the original form of the improved paper feeding apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a substantially box-shaped recording paper set table assembled to the apparatus main body, 2 denotes a bottom plate which is vertically movably arranged to place recording paper in the recording paper set table,
Reference numeral 3 denotes a push-up spring for pushing up the bottom plate, and 4 denotes a half-moon-shaped feed roller which feeds the recording paper one by one on an arc-shaped outer peripheral surface by rotating in contact with the upper surface of the recording paper on the bottom plate.
Is a separation corner claw for separating recording paper fed by pressing the upper surface of a corner portion of the recording paper bundle on the bottom plate, and 8 is vertically moved at one end from a shaft 1a provided on a side wall of the recording paper setting table 1. A protection cover 9 pivotally supported in a direction, a plotter unit 9 arranged on the apparatus main body side for printing on recording paper,
Reference numeral 10 denotes a scanner unit for reading an image of an inserted document. The separation corner claw 5 is supported so as to be rotatable up and down around a shaft 5a, and is urged by a push-up spring (not shown) so that the claw portion 5b covers the recording paper. The paper feed roller 4 is rotated by a driving force from a drive unit (not shown), and the drive unit rotates the paper feed roller at a predetermined timing based on a control signal from a control unit (not shown).

In the above configuration, a set of recording paper is
The protective cover 8 is opened as indicated by a chain line and the upper surface of the recording paper setting table 1 is opened. However, the recording paper can be normally separated and fed unless the recording paper is securely set under the separation corner claw 5. Not done. In addition, since the drive motor is controlled so that the paper feed roller 4 rotates one rotation during paper feeding, the flat portion 4a faces the upper surface of the recording paper in a non-contact manner during normal standby, and does not contact the recording paper. It has become.

Next, FIG. 1 shows a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention.
This is the first reference example of the configuration, and the same parts as those in the conventional example of FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals and the repeated description is omitted. However, this is the base end of the protective cover 8 (position near the shaft 1a). Working piece 20 projecting a predetermined length to a position opposite to the axis 1a
When the protective cover 8 is opened, the action piece 20 comes into contact with a proper position on the upper surface of the bottom plate 2 and pushes it down, so that the bottom plate does not interfere with the setting of the recording paper. is there. When the protective cover 8 is closed after the recording paper has been set, the pressed bottom plate 2 returns upward by the force of the spring 3 to push up the recording paper, thereby enabling the recording paper to be fed. The action piece 20 is a pressed portion provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate other than the bottom plate surface occupied by the recording paper, for example, on the bottom plate portion at the end (width direction) orthogonal to the paper feeding direction. The shape and position are set so that only the bottom plate can be pressed without pressing or interfering with the recording paper on the bottom plate.

FIG. 2 shows a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention.
5 is a schematic view showing a second reference example of the configuration shown in FIG.
When the lever 8 is opened, the lever 8 pushes down the appropriate position of the separation corner claw 5 so that the claw portion is retracted from above the recording paper around the shaft 5a. According to this embodiment, when the protective cover 8 is opened, the separation corner claws 5 are retracted from the bottom plate or the recording paper on the bottom plate, so that the recording paper can be easily set. After the setting is completed, the protective cover 8 is closed. The sheet returns to the upper surface of the corner portion of the recording sheet on which the separation claw is set, so that the sheet can be fed without performing a special returning operation.

The lever 21 of the second embodiment is
It is possible to use (or share) the action piece 20 of the reference example of FIG. 1. With such a configuration, the pushing down of the bottom plate and the retraction of the separation corner claw are interlocked with the opening operation of the protective cover, so that the setting is performed. This is easy and the return is performed when the protective cover is closed, so that a special return operation is not required.

[0012] Next, FIG. 3 is a real施例of the present invention, organic to the proximal end position provided with an engaging portion (recess) 22 of the protective cover 8, the predetermined angle from the axis 4a of the sheet feed roller 4 When the protective cover 8 is opened to the position shown by a dashed line in the drawing, the engaging portion 22 is provided.
Is characterized by engaging with the engaged portion 23 to lock the rotation of the paper feed roller 4. When the protective cover 8 is closed, the engaging portion 22 is retracted from the engaged portion 23 or its movement path so as not to hinder the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 4. With this configuration, when the protective cover 8 is opened, the paper feed roller 4 is locked in the non-paper feed position, so that unnecessary rotation of the paper feed roller can be prevented, and the setting of recording paper can be facilitated. Further, when the setting of the recording paper is finished and the protective cover is closed, the engagement between the engaging portion 22 and the engaged portion 23 is released, so that the paper can be fed.

The structure of this embodiment and the structure of FIGS.
Configuration of Reference Example is capable of combination, reference example and FIG. 3 in FIG. 1
The combination of the combination of example, embodiments of the reference example and FIG. 3 in FIG. 2, further 1, 2, 3 combination <br/> the use of FIG. 3 are also possible. In this case, the action piece 2 of FIG.
0, the positions and shapes of the lever 21 in FIG. 2, the engaging portion 22 and the engaged portion 23 in FIG. 3 may be appropriately arranged so as not to interfere with each other. When the embodiment of FIG. 1 and the embodiment of FIG. 3 are combined, the bottom cover is pushed down by opening the protective cover 8 and at the same time the paper feed roller 4 is locked, so that the workability of setting the recording paper is improved. In addition, the rotation of the feed roller can be prohibited. When the reference example of FIG . 2 and the embodiment of FIG. 3 are combined, the separation corner claw 5 is retracted from the bottom plate by opening the protective cover 8 and the rotation of the paper feed roller can be prohibited, thereby improving the setability. In addition, the feeding operation can be prevented from being disordered. Further, when the three are combined, it is possible to realize a configuration having the respective effects at the same time.

[0014]

[0015]

【The invention's effect】

In the embodiment of the present invention, the sheet feeding roller is locked in the non-sheet feeding position when the protective cover is opened, so that the setting property when setting the recording paper is improved, and the setting of the recording sheet is improved. It is possible to prevent disturbance of the recording paper bundle due to a part of the recording paper being turned up. In addition, it is possible to prevent a fold or the like from being formed at the leading end of the recording paper at the time of setting, thereby causing a misfeed or a jam.

[0017]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a main configuration of a first reference example of a configuration used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a main configuration of a second reference example of the configuration used in the present invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion showing a main configuration of the real施例of the present invention.

4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus and a paper feed unit of the traditional.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Recording paper set base, 2 Bottom plate, 3 Push-up spring, 4
Paper feed roller, 5 separate corner claws, 8 protective cover, 9
Plotter unit, 10 scanner unit, 20
Working piece, 21 lever, 22 engaging portion (recess), 23
Engaged part,

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A bottom plate on which recording paper is placed; and a bottom plate.
And a support spring for pushing up the bottom plate and the push-up spring.
To cover the recording paper on the bottom plate.
Protective cover supported by the recording paper set base so that it can be opened and closed freely
And feed the sheets one by one in contact with the upper surface of the recording paper on the bottom plate.
A half-moon-shaped paper feed roller and a drive for driving the paper feed roller
Paper feeder equipped with a driving motor and a drive transmission system
Thus, while providing an engagement portion at the base end of the protective cover,
Provide the engaged part on the shaft of the paper feed roller, and open the protective cover.
When released, the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion, and
Characterized in that the rotation of the
Paper equipment.