JP3403238B2 - 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 feeding device suitable for use in a printing apparatus such as a facsimile machine, a printer, and a copying machine, and more specifically, a plurality of paper feed units detachably mounted in the main body of the printing apparatus. The present invention relates to a paper feeding device including a paper cassette.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows a schematic configuration of a sheet feeding apparatus 1 and a facsimile apparatus 2 using the sheet feeding apparatus 1 according to a first conventional example. The sheet feeding device 1 includes sheet feeding cassettes 43, 43.
It has a two-stage structure in which the sheet feeding cassettes 43 and 43a are arranged one above the other. Paper cassette 4
Recording papers of different sizes are stored in 3, 43a. A grip 45 is provided at an end portion on the downstream side of the paper feed direction P1 of the upper paper feed cassette 43, and the grip 45 has a paper feed direction P1.
1 An opening 4 is provided on the upstream side. The lower sheet feeding cassette 43a has the same structure as the upper sheet feeding cassette 43, and the corresponding portion is shown with a subscript a, and the description thereof is omitted.

When an original is fed onto the optical reading device 22 by a pair of upper and lower original feeding rollers 21, the optical reading device 22 reads the original image. In conjunction with this, the paper feeding operation of the paper feeding device 1 is performed. In the paper feeding device 1,
When the recording paper stored in the lower paper feed cassette 43a is selected, it is pushed to the downstream side in the paper feed direction P1 by the paper feed roller 19a. The extruded recording paper is in the guide 2
The sheet is fed to the entrance of the conveyance path 25 through the sheet 3, the opening 4, and the guide 24.

A transport roller 28 including a driving roller 26 and a driven roller 27 is provided at the entrance of the transport path 25, and the recording paper is transported by the transport roller 28 and advances in the transport path 25. When the recording paper advances in the conveying path 25 to the exit portion, the conveying timing is controlled by the pair of upper and lower registration rollers 29.

On the other hand, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image read by the optical reading device 22 is formed on the surface of the drum 30 by the exposure head 31. Along with this drum 30
Rotates in the direction of arrow B, and the toner developing means 32 forms a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. The toner image is
The image is transferred by the transfer unit 33 onto the recording paper conveyed by the registration rollers 29 at the same timing. The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is guided to a fixing unit 35 via a conveying path 34 and thermally fixed, and then discharged to the outside of the facsimile apparatus 2 by a pair of upper and lower paper discharge rollers 36.

In the first prior art shown in FIG. 10, the grips 45 and 45a are provided at the downstream end of the sheet feeding cassettes 43 and 43a in the sheet feeding direction P1. The paper feed cassettes 43 and 43a are drawn out to the downstream side in the paper feed direction P1. Therefore, the paper feed cassette 4
When pulling out the openings 3,43a, a force is concentrated on both side walls in the longitudinal direction of the openings 4,4a, which may damage the openings 4,4a. Further, in the facsimile apparatus 2, both the original and the recording paper are discharged upstream of the recording paper in the paper feed direction P1. Therefore, the discharge direction of the original and the recording paper is opposite to the drawing direction of the paper feed cassettes 43 and 43a,
When the facsimile device 2 is installed in a narrow space, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to pull out the paper feed cassettes 43 and 43a.

The construction of a sheet feeding device 41 which is a second conventional example is shown in FIGS. FIG. 13 shows a schematic configuration of a facsimile device 42 using the paper feeding device 41. The sheet feeding device 41 and the facsimile device 42 are similar to the sheet feeding device 1 and the facsimile device 2, and the parts corresponding to each other are designated by the same reference numerals. Paper feeder 4
1 is different from the sheet feeding device 1 in that the grips 5 and 5a provided in the sheet feeding cassettes 3 and 3a are provided on the end walls of the sheet feeding cassettes 3 and 3a on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P1. This is a configuration in which 3, 3a are pulled out to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P1, and the problem with the first conventional example described above is improved.

The structure of the sheet feeding device 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In the main body 6 of the paper feeding cassette 3, a rotating plate 9 is provided which is rotatably supported in the vertical direction by the protrusions 7 and 8. The recording paper 10 is placed on the upper surface of the rotary plate 9, and a pair of compression springs 11 and 12 are arranged between the lower surface of the rotary plate 9 and the bottom plate of the main body 6, so that the recording paper 10 is rotated. 9 and compression springs 11, 12.

Paper feeding direction P1 of opening 4 of paper feeding cassette 3
The upstream and downstream inner walls 13, 14 are provided with a plurality of vertically extending guide ridges 15, 16. Also, a plurality of guide ridges 18 are provided on the inner wall 17 on the downstream side of the sheet feeding direction P1 of the body 6.
Is provided.

A pair of paper feed rollers 19 and 19a are provided above the paper feed cassettes 3 and 3a, respectively.

In the paper feeding device 41, when the recording paper 10a stored in the lower paper feeding cassette 3a is selected, the paper feeding roller 19a rotates once in the direction of arrow A, and the recording paper 10a is fed. It is supplied to the downstream side in the direction P1. The supplied recording paper 10a is guided obliquely upward by the guide ridge 18a, guided by the guide 23 provided in the main body of the facsimile apparatus 42, and advances into the opening 4 of the upper supply cassette 3. Further, the recording paper 10a is guided by the guide ridges 15 and 16 in the opening 4, and the facsimile machine 42
It is guided to the entrance of the transport path 25 by the guide 24 provided in the main body.

Since the recording operation of the facsimile device 42 shown in FIG. 13 is the same as that of the facsimile device 2, the description thereof will be omitted.

[0013]

11 to 13 described above.
In the second conventional technique shown in FIG.
When the recording sheet 10a supplied from the sheet a causes a paper jam, the lower sheet feeding cassette 3a is normally set in the sheet feeding direction P1.
It is pulled out to the upstream side, and is pulled out together with the jammed recording paper 10a. As described above, in the case of a slight paper jam when the leading edge of the recording paper 10a does not reach the opening 4 of the upper paper feed cassette 3, the paper jam is dealt with by pulling out the lower paper feed cassette 3a. .

However, as shown in FIG.
If the leading edge of 0a enters the opening 4 of the upper sheet feeding cassette 3 or passes through the opening 4, the sheet jams even if the lower sheet feeding cassette 3a is pulled out. The paper feed cassette 3a may not be pulled out due to the large resistance of the paper feed cassette. In this case, if the paper cassette 3a is forcibly pulled out, the jammed recording paper 1
0a may be damaged or the sheet feeding device 41 may be destroyed.

When it becomes difficult to take out the lower sheet feeding cassette 3a in this way, as shown in FIG. 14, the upper sheet feeding cassette 3 is pulled out to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P1 to clear the paper jam. However, it is often difficult to pull out the paper feed cassette 3 because the recording paper 10a jammed in the opening 4 interferes with the recording paper 10a. In such a case, if the paper feed cassette 3 is forcibly pulled out, the jammed recording paper 10a may be damaged or the paper feed device 41 may be destroyed.

As described above, the second unit shown in FIGS.
In the related art, when the recording paper 10a supplied from the lower paper feed cassette 3a has a serious paper jam as described above, it becomes difficult to take out the upper and lower paper feed cassettes 3 and 3a, and the paper jam occurs. There is a problem that it becomes impossible to deal with. If the paper cassettes 3 and 3a are forcibly taken out, the recording paper 3a may be damaged or the paper feeding device 41
May be destroyed.

Also in the first prior art shown in FIG. 10, when the recording paper fed from the lower paper feed cassette 43a is severely jammed, the upper and lower paper feed cassettes 4 are fed.
Both 3, 43a cannot be pulled out to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P1 and the same problem occurs.

Further, in the prior art shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 to 13, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the upper end portions 37, 38 of the guide protrusions 15, 16 of the sheet feeding cassette 3 are shown.
In, the guide ridges 15 and 16 project from the inner walls 13 and 14. Therefore, the recording paper 10a stored in the lower stage
When the recording paper 10a passes through the upper ends 37 and 38 of the guide ridges 15 and 16, the recording paper 10a, which is particularly softened by containing moisture, sinks between the guide ridges 15 and 16, as shown in FIG. It becomes wavy and is conveyed to the upper guide 24. Therefore, when the recording paper 10a is conveyed to the guide 24 and the conveyance path 25, there is a problem that the recording paper 10a is caught in the guide ridges (not shown) of the guide 24 and the conveyance path 25, and a paper jam occurs.

Further, the guide ridges 1 of the sheet feeding cassettes 3 and 3a
Guide ridges 18 and 18a project from inner walls 17 and 17a at end portions 39 and 39a on the downstream side of the sheet feeding direction P1 of 8 and 18a. Therefore, when the recording paper 10, 10a passes through the end portions 39, 39a of the guide ridges 18, 18a, the recording paper 10, 10a becomes corrugated and the upper guides 23, 24 are formed.
Go to. As a result, the recording paper 10, 10a is guided by the guides 23, 2
There is a problem that the guide ridges provided on the sheet No. 4 and the like are easily caught and the paper jam easily occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a paper feeding device which can easily deal with paper jam and can perform stable paper feeding.

According to the present invention, a plurality of paper feed cassettes for stacking and storing recording papers are arranged vertically, and each of the paper feed cassettes is detachably attached to the recording apparatus main body, and recording from each of the paper feed cassettes is performed. 2. Description of the Related Art In a paper feeding device that selectively takes out paper and guides it to a common conveyance path to feed the paper, in a paper feeding cassette of at least the second stage from the bottom, the paper feeding is performed on an end wall on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. A plurality of vertically extending first guide ridges for guiding the recording paper from the paper feed cassette below the cassette,
Formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction, a plurality of second guides are formed on the recording apparatus main body so as to face the first guide ridges.
Guide ridges are formed with a space for conveying the recording paper from the first guide ridges, and the first ridge is formed on the side wall of the paper feed cassette.
The paper feeding device is characterized in that a protective convex portion is formed on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction with respect to the guide ridge and projects at the same position or further downstream in the paper feeding direction. Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of paper feed cassettes for accumulating and stacking recording papers are arranged vertically, and each of the paper feed cassettes is detachably attached to the main body of the recording apparatus, and the recording papers from the respective paper feed cassettes are attached. In a paper feeding device that selectively takes out and guides the paper to a common feeding path to feed the paper, at least the second or more stages of paper feeding cassettes from the bottom have an end wall on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction from the paper feeding cassette. A plurality of vertically extending first guide ridges for guiding the recording paper from the lower paper feeding cassette are formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction. A plurality of second guide ridges are formed facing the guide ridges with an interval for conveying the recording paper from the first guide ridge, and the paper feed cassette is laminated on the paper feed cassette. The recording paper is more downstream than the end of the recording paper in the paper feed direction. A plurality of third guide ridges each having an upper end surface for guiding the recording paper which is inclined so as to be upwards are formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction. The downstream end of the upper end surface of the strip in the sheet feeding direction is smoothly connected to the end wall.

The present invention is also characterized in that the upper end portion of the first guide ridge is smoothly connected to the upper end portion of the end wall. Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of paper feed cassettes for accumulating and stacking recording papers are arranged vertically, and each of the paper feed cassettes is attached to the main body of the recording apparatus so as to be able to be pulled out, and the recording papers from the paper feed cassettes In a paper feeding device that selectively feeds paper and guides it to a common conveyance path, at least the second or more sheet feeding cassettes from the bottom feed the paper fed from the paper feeding cassette to the common conveyance path. A plurality of vertically extending first guide ridges for guiding the recording paper from the lower paper feed cassette are provided at intervals on the end wall on the downstream side in the paper feed direction for guiding, and the first guide ridges are provided. Is formed so that each end on the downstream side in the paper feed direction is smoothly connected to the end wall surface, and the end wall of the paper feed cassette is fed from the paper feed cassette with respect to the first guide ridge. A plurality of recording papers to be guided to the common conveyance path. Third guide projection strip is paper feeding apparatus characterized by is formed at intervals.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the third guide ridge is formed such that the downstream end portion in the sheet feeding direction is smoothly connected to the end wall surface. Further, the present invention is characterized in that each of the third guide ridges is formed such that each end on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction has a height of zero from the end wall surface.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of paper feed cassettes for accumulating and stacking recording papers are arranged vertically, and each of the paper feed cassettes is attached to the main body of the recording apparatus so that it can be pulled out, In a paper feeding device that selectively feeds recording paper and guides it to a common conveyance path, at least the second or more paper feeding cassettes from the bottom, the paper fed from the paper feeding cassette is commonly conveyed. On the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction for guiding to the path, a plurality of vertically extending first guide ridges for guiding the recording sheet from the lower sheet feeding cassette are provided at intervals, respectively. The guide ridge is formed so that each end on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is smoothly connected to the end wall surface, and the first guide ridge has each end on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction from the end wall surface. Paper feeding device characterized by being formed so that the height of the paper is zero. It is.

[0025]

According to the present invention, a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes are vertically arranged in the recording apparatus main body of the recording apparatus provided with the sheet feeding apparatus and are detachably provided. The recording paper from each paper feed cassette is selectively taken out, guided to a common conveyance path in the main body of the recording apparatus, and fed.

A plurality of first guide ridges extending vertically are provided on the outer surface of the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction in the sheet feeding cassette of at least the second stage from the bottom. The first guide ridges are formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. Correspondingly, a plurality of vertically extending second guide ridges are provided on the recording apparatus main body side so as to face the first guide ridges. The first guide ridge and the second guide ridge are formed with a gap for guiding the recording paper.

The recording papers stored in the paper feed cassettes in the second and subsequent stages from the top are in the first and second guide ridges provided in the paper feed cassettes and the recording paper apparatus main body above the paper feed cassettes, respectively. It is guided and guided to the upper transport path. Therefore, if a paper jam occurs when the recording paper is guided by the first and second guide ridges, the paper feed cassette at the location where the paper jam occurs can be easily taken out,
You can clear a paper jam.

The side wall of each paper feed cassette is provided with a protective projection protruding downstream in the paper feed direction. The protection protrusion is the first
It is formed on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the guide ridge, and is formed so as to project at the same position or further on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction. Therefore, when the paper feed cassette is taken out to the outside and the paper feed cassette accidentally collides with some obstacle, the first guide ridge can be protected. According to the invention,
A plurality of sheet feeding cassettes are vertically arranged in a recording apparatus main body of a recording apparatus including a sheet feeding apparatus and are detachably provided. The recording paper from each paper feed cassette is selectively taken out, guided to a common conveyance path in the main body of the recording apparatus, and fed. A plurality of first guide ridges extending vertically is provided on the outer surface of the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction in the sheet feeding cassette of at least the second stage or more from the bottom. The first guide ridges are formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. Corresponding to this, on the recording apparatus main body side, facing the first guide ridge,
A plurality of second guide ridges extending vertically are provided. The first guide ridge and the second guide ridge are formed with a gap for guiding the recording paper. The recording paper stored in the second or lower paper feed cassette from the top is guided by the first and second guide ridges provided in the paper feed cassette and the recording paper apparatus main body above the paper feed cassette, respectively. , To the upper transport path. Therefore, if a paper jam occurs when the recording paper is guided by the first and second guide ridges,
The paper feed cassette at the location where the paper jam has occurred can be easily taken out, and the paper jam can be cleared. Each sheet feeding cassette is provided with a plurality of third guide ridges on the inner surface of the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction. The third guide ridges are formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. The upper end surface of each of the third guide ridges is inclined so as to become higher toward the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction than the end portion on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction of the stacked recording sheets. Further, the end of the upper end surface of the third guide ridge on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is smoothly connected to the end wall. When the recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette is pushed out by the paper feed roller or the like toward the downstream side in the paper feed direction, the recording paper is guided by the third guide ridges to the first guide ridges and the second guide ridges located diagonally above. It is guided to the gap between the ridge and the conveyance path. Therefore, when the recording paper passes the downstream end of the upper end surface of the third guide ridge in the sheet feeding direction, the recording paper passes in a straight state without being wavy, so that the upper first and second guides It is possible to prevent paper jams in the ridges and the transport path.

Further, according to the invention, the upper end portion of the first guide ridge is smoothly connected to the upper end portion of the end wall. Therefore, when the recording paper is guided by the first guide ridge and passes through the upper end portion of the first guide ridge, the recording paper passes in a straight state without being wavy, and the paper in the upper conveyance path is passed. It is possible to prevent clogging.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of paper feed cassettes are vertically arranged in the recording device main body of the recording device provided with the paper feed device, and the plurality of paper feed cassettes are detachably mounted. The recording paper from each paper feed cassette is selectively fed and guided to a common conveyance path inside the recording apparatus main body. At least the second or more sheet feeding cassettes from the bottom extend vertically on the outer surface of the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction for guiding the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette to the common conveyance path. A plurality of first guide ridges are provided. The first guide ridges are formed at intervals and guide the recording paper from the lower paper feed cassette. The recording paper stored in the second or lower paper feed cassette from the top is guided by the first guide ridges provided in the paper feed cassette above the paper feed cassette and guided to the upper transport path.
Therefore, if a paper jam occurs when the recording paper is guided by the first guide ridge, the paper feed cassette at the location where the paper jam occurs can be easily taken out, and the paper jam can be released. Each sheet feeding cassette is provided with a plurality of third guide ridges on the inner surface of the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction.
The third guide ridges are formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. The upper end surface of each of the third guide ridges is inclined so as to become higher toward the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction than the end portion on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction of the stacked recording sheets.
When the recording paper stored in the paper supply cassette is pushed out to the downstream side in the paper feed direction by a paper feed roller or the like, the recording paper is guided by the third guide ridges to the conveying path located diagonally above.
Therefore, when the recording paper passes through the upper end surface of the third guide ridge on the downstream side end in the sheet feeding direction, the recording paper passes straight without being wavy, thus preventing paper jams in the transport path or the like. can do. According to the invention, the third
An end portion of the upper end surface of the guide ridge on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is smoothly connected to the end wall. Therefore, the recording sheet is smoothly guided by the third guide ridge to the conveying path located diagonally above.

Further, according to the present invention, the recording paper is smoothly guided to the conveying path located diagonally above by the third guide ridge. Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of paper feed cassettes are vertically arranged in the recording device main body of the recording device provided with the paper feed device, and the plurality of paper feed cassettes are detachably mounted. The recording paper from each paper feed cassette is selectively fed and guided to a common conveyance path inside the recording apparatus main body. At least the second or more sheet feeding cassettes from the bottom extend vertically on the outer surface of the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction for guiding the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette to the common conveyance path. A plurality of first guide ridges are provided. The first guide ridges are formed at intervals and guide the recording paper from the lower paper feed cassette. The recording paper stored in the second or lower paper feed cassette from the top is guided by the first guide ridges provided in the paper feed cassette above the paper feed cassette and guided to the upper transport path. Therefore, if a paper jam occurs when the recording paper is guided by the first guide ridge, the paper feed cassette at the location where the paper jam occurs can be easily taken out, and the paper jam can be released. Moreover, the recording paper is smoothly guided by the first guide ridge.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a sheet feeding device 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the configuration of FIG. 1, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows the whole structure of 1. FIG. 3 is a view of the attached paper feed cassettes 52 and 52a as viewed from the downstream side in the paper feed direction. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the paper feeding device 51.

The paper feeding device 51 generally includes the first and second paper feeding devices.
Paper feed cassettes 52 and 52a and paper feed cassette 5
2, 52a, a pair of paper feed rollers 53, 53a, a base plate 54, and a storage case 55.
And a transport unit 56. Recording papers 57 and 57a of different sizes are stacked and accommodated in the first and second paper feed cassettes 52 and 52a arranged vertically.

The first paper cassette 52 has a recording paper 57.
A main body 60 made of a synthetic resin for housing the recording paper 57, a metal rotary plate 61 for supporting the recording paper 57, a pair of metal separating claws 62 for separating the recording paper 57 one by one, and the like are provided. The rotary plate 61 is rotatably supported in the vertical direction by a pair of protrusions 64 provided on the side wall 63 of the main body 60, and is stopped by a stopper (not shown) so as not to rotate upward beyond a predetermined position. Each separation claw 62 is
It has a key-shaped free end portion that is supported by protrusions 65 provided on the side walls 63 on both sides and that is vertically rotatable about the protrusions 65. The free end portion is stopped by a stopper (not shown) so that it does not rotate beyond a predetermined range in the vertical direction.

Between the rotary plate 61 and the bottom plate 66 of the main body 60, a pair of pressing means 6 realized by a compression spring or the like is provided.
7, the pressing means 67 presses the rotating plate 61 and the recording paper 57 upward. As a result, the recording paper 57 is nipped by the free end of the separation claw 62 and the rotary plate 61.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the end portion of the first paper feed cassette 52 on the downstream side in the paper feed direction P. The main body 60 of the paper feeding cassette 52 has an end wall 68 on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction P.
A plurality of guide ridges 69 and a plurality of guide ridges 70 are provided in the. The guide ridges 69 and 70 are formed at a predetermined interval in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction P. Guide ridge 69
Is formed so as to project from the end wall 68 toward the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P, and has a vertically elongated guide surface 71. Guide surface 71
Is formed by smoothly connecting two inclined surfaces 151 and 152 inclined in the front direction when viewed from the downstream side of the sheet feeding direction P by a curved surface 153. The upper inclined surface 151 is inclined more toward the front than the lower inclined surface 152.

The guide ridge 70 is formed so as to project from the end wall 68 to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P and has an elongated guide surface 72. The guide surface 72 is inclined with respect to the sheet feeding direction P, and becomes higher as it goes downstream of the sheet feeding direction P downstream end of the recording paper 57. There is. The upper end surface 154 of the end wall 68 is a horizontal surface, and the guide surfaces 71, 72 of the guide ridges 69, 70 are smooth.
The height from the respective wall surfaces of the end wall 68 at the upper ends of the guide surfaces 71, 72 of the guide ridges 69, 70 connected to the upper end surface 154 of No. 8 is zero.

At both ends of the both side walls 63 of the paper feed cassette 52 on the downstream side in the paper feed direction P, a protective convex portion 77 protruding toward the downstream side in the paper feed direction P is provided. The protective convex portion 77 is formed on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P with respect to the guide convex line 69 and at the same position as or protruding further downstream in the sheet feeding direction P. In the present embodiment, the protection convex portion 77 is located in the sheet feeding direction P rather than the guide convex strip 69.
It is provided so as to project downstream.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end wall 68 of the sheet feeding cassette 52 has a rising portion rising upward from the bottom plate 66, a horizontal portion connected to the rising portion, and an inclined portion connected to the horizontal portion. Is formed. Guide ridge 6
9 is formed from the upper end to the lower end of the end wall 68, and the guide ridge 70 is formed from the horizontal portion to the inclined portion.

On both side walls 63 of the paper feed cassette 52, a pair of outward edges 73 are provided so as to be separated from the upper end portion. Protrusions 74 are provided on the lower surface of each outward edge 73. Further, the main body 60 of the paper feeding cassette 52 has a paper feeding direction P.
A grip portion 76 is formed on the upstream end wall 75 so as to project to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P.

The second sheet feeding cassette 52a has the same structure as the first sheet feeding cassette 52, and the portion corresponding to the first sheet feeding cassette 52 is shown by adding a subscript a to the second sheet feeding cassette 52a. The description of the paper feed cassette 52a is omitted.

FIG. 6 shows a base plate 5 provided in the paper feeding device 51.
4 is a perspective view showing the shapes of 4 and a storage case 55. FIG. The base plate 54 is formed by providing a frame 80 having a substantially key-shaped cross section with a plurality of guide ridges 81 extending in the vertical direction. The guide ridges 81 are formed at a predetermined interval in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction P, and each guide ridge 81 is an elongated guide surface for guiding the recording paper 57a provided in the second paper feed cassette 52. 82. The guide surface 82 includes two inclined surfaces 155 and 156 which are inclined toward the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P, and part 2 thereof.
Curved surface 157 that smoothly connects two inclined surfaces 155 and 156
With. The upper inclined surface 155 is the lower inclined surface 15
The slope is slightly gentler than 6.

The storage case 55 has a frame 83 having a key-shaped cross section, and a plurality of guide ridges 84 extending in the vertical direction.
The guide protrusions 81 are formed in the same number as the guide protrusions 81. Each guide ridge 84 has an elongated guide surface 85 continuous with the guide surface 82 of the corresponding guide ridge 81. The guide surface 85 includes two inclined surfaces 158 and 159 inclined toward the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P and two inclined surfaces 158 and 1 thereof.
And a curved surface 160 that smoothly connects 59. The upper inclined surface 158 has a slightly gentler inclination than the lower inclined surface 159. The curved surface 160 has one inflection point.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a holding member 91 for holding the first paper feeding cassette 52 is roughly a top plate 92.
And both side walls 93 extending downward from the top plate 92.
On the inner surface of each side wall 93, each outward edge 7 of the paper feed cassette 52 is
A plurality of protrusions 94, 95, 96 that engage with the pair 3 are provided along the sheet feeding direction P in pairs. Each protrusion 94, 9
Reference numerals 5 and 96 each include an inclined surface inclined toward the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P and a horizontal plane extending from the inclined surface toward the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P, and the positions of the respective horizontal planes in the vertical direction are aligned. In addition to the horizontal plane and the inclined surface described above, the first projection 94 from the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P has an inclined surface 97 that is further inclined toward the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P from the horizontal plane to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P. It is provided so as to be continuous. On the lower surface of the top plate 92, a support piece 98 for supporting a sheet feeding roller 53 described later is provided near one of the side walls 93. A pair of holes 99 is provided in the support piece 98 and the side wall 93 that is farther from the support piece 98.

The holding member 91 configured as described above is provided with a pair of paper feed rollers 53. Each paper feeding roller 53 has a half-moon shape in a cross section perpendicular to the axis, and is fixed to a common shaft 100. One end of the shaft 100 is supported by the hole 99 of the support piece 98, and the other end thereof projects to the outside of the holding member 91 through the hole 99 of the side wall 93 and is connected to the spring clutch portion 101. A bearing 102 is interposed between each hole 99 and the shaft 100, and the shaft 100 is provided outside each bearing 102 of the shaft 100.
The stop ring 103 is attached so that the ring does not shift in the axial direction.

The spring clutch portion 101 has a sprocket wheel 104 loosely fitted to the shaft 100, a one-way clutch 105 mounted to the shaft 100, a coil spring 106, and a ratchet wheel, as shown in the cross section of FIG. And 107. Sprocket wheel 1
A boss and an input end having the same outer diameter are formed at the opposing portions of 04 and the one-way clutch 105.
The coil spring 106 is wound in a direction in which the boss and the input end are tightened, and one end is connected to the ratchet wheel 107 and the other end is connected to the input end. In this way, the coil spring 106 and the ratchet wheel 107 form a so-called lap spring clutch.

The sprocket wheel 104 is connected to a drive system (not shown) and is constantly driven to rotate in the paper feed rotation direction E shown in FIG. On the other hand, the teeth of the ratchet wheel 107 are provided so as to prevent rotation of the shaft 100 in the paper feed rotation direction E. As a result, the paper feed roller 53 is held only while the teeth of the ratchet wheel 107 are disengaged from the claws of the claw member (not shown).
Rotates in the paper feed rotation direction E. In this embodiment, the ratchet wheel 10
7, the outer peripheral surface of the sheet feeding roller 5 has one tooth.
3 is designed to rotate one revolution at a time.

The holding member 91a for holding the second paper feeding cassette 52a and the paper feeding roller 53a provided for the holding member 91a are the holding member 91 and the paper feeding roller 5 described above.
3 is similar in configuration to the holding member 91 and the sheet feeding roller 53, and the subscript a is attached to the portion.
The description is omitted. The paper feed roller 53a is rotated in the paper feed rotation direction F shown in FIG. 2 by a drive unit (not shown) via a spring clutch unit 101a having the same configuration as the spring clutch unit 101 described above.

The structure of the transport section 56 will be described with reference to FIGS. The transport unit 56 includes two guide members 110 and 111 facing each other and two pairs of drive rollers 1 that form a pair.
12 and the driven roller 113. Each of the guide members 110 and 111 has a plurality of guide ridges 1.
14 and 115 are provided, and their guide ridges 114 and 115 are provided.
The transport path 116 is formed by. The transport path 116 is
As it goes upward from the opening that opens like a trumpet, it curves toward the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P. Here, the lower end of the guide ridge 114 is inserted between the guide ridges 81 of the base plate 54,
For example, the guide ridges 114 and the guide ridges 81 are arranged alternately.

The guide member 110 on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P has
The drive roller 112 is provided, and the guide member 111 on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P is provided with a driven roller 113 having an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the drive roller 112. The outer peripheral surface of the driving roller 112 and the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 113 are in contact with each other, and the driving roller 1 is driven by a driving unit (not shown).
When 12 rotates in the direction of arrow G, the driven roller 113 accordingly rotates in the direction of arrow H. The contact portion between the drive roller 112 and the driven roller 113 is located at the upper end of the opening of the transport path 116.

The base plate 54, the storage case 55, the holding members 91 and 91a, and the carrying section 56 configured as described above are
It is arranged in the main body of the recording apparatus such as a facsimile machine, and these may be a part of the main body of the recording apparatus. Also the base plate 5
4 and the holding member 91 may be integrally formed, and the storage case 55 and the holding member 91a may be integrally formed. Also the base plate 5
4 and the storage case 55 may be integrally formed.

The mounting of the paper feed cassette 52 on the holding member 91 is performed as follows. The sheet feeding cassette 52 is inserted into the holding member 91 from the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P with the side provided with the guide ridges 69 and 70 as the front side. At this time, in the paper feed cassette 52, the lower surface of the outward edge 73 of the main body 60 is slid on the horizontal surfaces of the projections 94, 95, and 96 of the holding member 91, and the protective projection 77 is the frame of the base plate 54. It is inserted until it contacts 80. At this time, the protrusions 94, 9
5 and 96 are provided with inclined surfaces that extend from the horizontal surface to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P, so that the tip of the outward edge 73 is the projection 9
It is possible to smoothly insert the paper feed cassette 52 without being caught by the front end portions of 4, 95 and 96 on the upstream side in the paper feed direction P.

The protrusion 9 on the most upstream side with respect to the sheet feeding direction P
The inclined surface 97 of No. 4 and the protrusion 74 of the outward edge 73 are provided at positions corresponding to each other, and when the protective convex portion 77 of the paper feeding cassette 52 comes into contact with the base plate 54 as described above, At the same time, the inclined surface 97 and the inclined surface of the protrusion 74 are engaged with each other. As a result, the position of the paper feed cassette 52 in the paper feed direction P is determined.

To take out the paper feed cassette 52, the grip portion 76 is used.
The paper feeding cassette 52 is pulled out to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction P. When the paper feed cassette 52 is pulled out, the projection 74 of the outward edge 73 smoothly reaches the horizontal surface of the projection 94 along the inclined surface 97 of the projection 94, and the paper feed cassette 52 is taken out. I can't prevent it.

The attachment / detachment of the paper feed cassette 52a to / from the holding member 91a is the same as the attachment / detachment of the paper feed cassette 52 to / from the holding member 91, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the sheet feeding cassettes 52, 52
When a is provided in the holding members 91, 91a, the guide ridges 69, 69a of the sheet feeding cassettes 52, 52a and the guide ridges 81, 84 of the base plate 54 and the storage case 55 form the guide paths 120, 120a. It Paper cassette 52,
The base plate 54 and the frames 80 and 83 of the storage case 55, which come into contact with the protective convex portions 77 and 77a of the reference numeral 52a, have their upstream end portions in the sheet feeding direction P.
It is retracted to the downstream side of the sheet feeding direction P to some extent from 85, and the spacing between the guide paths 120 and 120a with respect to the sheet feeding direction P is an appropriate spacing.

The guide paths 120 and 120a are gradually tapered toward the downstream side of the sheet feeding direction P from the lower entrance to the upper exit. The exit of the guide path 120 is formed by the upper end of the guide surface 71 of the guide ridge 69 and the middle part of the upper inclined surface 156 of the guide surface 82 of the guide ridge 81. Ridge 69
a, the upper end of the guide surface 71a and the guide surface 8 of the guide ridge 84.
5 and the inflection point portion of the curved surface 160 in FIG.

Next, the paper feeding operation of the paper feeding device 51 will be described. In the recording device including the paper feeding device 51, the second
When the recording paper 57a provided in the paper feeding cassette 52a of the above is selected, the power from the drive unit is applied to the spring clutch unit 1.
The paper feed roller 53a is transmitted to the shaft 100a via 01a, and starts to rotate in the paper feed rotation direction F from the state shown by the two-dot chain line. When the arc surface of the rotating paper feeding roller 53a comes into contact with the uppermost recording paper 57a, the paper feeding roller 53a continues to rotate while pressing the recording paper 57a downward, and the uppermost recording paper 57a is fed downstream in the paper feeding direction P. Extruded to the side.

The recording paper 57a pushed out is fed to the paper feed roller 5
With the rotation of 3a, it advances to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P, reaches the guide surface 72a of the guide ridge 70a provided on the end wall 68a on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P, and is guided by the guide surface 72a so that the path is diagonally upward Is changed to. The recording paper 57a guided by the guide surface 72a is further extruded to form the guide ridges 84.
It reaches the curved surface 160 of the guide surface 85, is guided upward along the guide surface 85, and then proceeds into the guide path 120. Here, since the guide surface 85 is provided with the curved surface 160 that smoothly connects to the upper inclined surface 158, the recording paper 57a can be smoothly guided upward. In addition, the recording paper 57
When a is guided by the guide surface 85 and proceeds to the guide path 120, the lower end of the guide surface 82 is located somewhat retracted to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P from the upper end of the guide surface 85.
The recording paper 57a can be smoothly guided from the guide surface 85 to the guide path 120.

The recording paper 57a that has advanced into the guide path 120 is
When it is guided upward by the guide surface 82 and passes through the curved surface 157 of the guide surface 82, it separates upward from the guide surface 82, reaches the upper inclined surface 151 of the guide surface 71 of the guide projection 69, and follows the guide surface 71. And is guided out of the guide path 120 to be in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this state, the recording paper 57a has the guide surface 82 in the guide path 120.
Is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the guide surface 71, and is separated from the guide surface 82 at the exit of the guide path 120 due to the elasticity of the recording paper 57a.

When the recording paper 57a is further pushed out by the paper feed roller 53a, the recording paper 57a leaves the guide path 120 and is then guided upward to rotate at the opening of the conveying path 116, which is the driven roller 113. Reach the outer peripheral surface of. When the recording paper 57a reaches the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller 113, the recording paper 57a is moved by the driven roller 113 and the driving roller 1
The recording paper 57a is guided to the abutting portion with 12 and is pulled up.
3 and is guided along the conveyance path 116 into the main body of the recording apparatus. While the recording paper 57a advances from the exit of the guide path 120 to the opening of the transport path 116, the paper feed roller 53
The arc surface of a is separated from the recording paper 57a, and the recording paper 57a
Is driven by the inertia of the driving roller 112 and the driven roller 11.
The contact portion 3 is reached.

The paper feed roller 53a stops rotating when it makes one rotation and reaches the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS.

When the recording paper 57 provided in the first paper feeding cassette 52 is selected, the uppermost recording paper 57 is fed to the paper feeding roller 5 as in the paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller 53a.
3 is pushed to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction P. The ejected recording paper 57 reaches the guide surface 72 of the guide ridge 70, and is guided obliquely upward by the guide surface 72 to reach the upper inclined surface 156 of the guide surface 82 of the guide ridge 81. The recording paper 57 that has reached the guide surface 82 advances upward along the guide surface 82 and reaches the guide surface at the lower end of the guide ridge 114, and the guide ridge 1
It is guided by 14 and advances to the transport path 116. here,
The lower end of the guide ridge 114 is inserted between the guide ridges 81, and the guide surface 82 continuously connects to the transport path 116, so that the recording paper 57 smoothly advances from the guide surface 82 to the transport path 116. You can

The recording paper 57 that has proceeded to the transport path 116 advances through the opening of the transport path 116 along the guide ridge 114, to the contact portion between the drive roller 112 and the driven roller 113, and the above-described recording paper 57a. Similarly, the sheet is conveyed by the driving roller 112 and the driven roller 113, and advances into the main body of the recording apparatus along the conveying path 116.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a facsimile device 130 to which the paper feeding device 51 is applied.
In the facsimile machine 130, the document is taken in by the intake 131.
When the document is inserted into
It is supplied onto the optical reading device 133 by 2 and is transported on the optical reading device 133, and then discharged from the document discharge port 134. The optical reading device 133 generally includes an illuminating unit and a reading unit, and the document image illuminated by the illuminating unit is converted into an electrical read signal by the reading unit.

In response to this, the above-described paper feeding operation by the paper feeding device 51 is performed. When the recording paper 57a provided in the second paper feed cassette 52a is selected, the recording paper 57a
Is extruded by the paper feed roller 53a, and the guide surface 71
a, the guide surface 85, and the guide path 120, and then the driving roller 112 and the driven roller 113 convey the inside of the conveying path 116, and proceed to the exit of the conveying path 116. A pair of upper and lower registration rollers 135 for controlling the conveyance timing are provided at the exit of the conveyance path 116.
When the recording sheet 57a comes into contact with the recording sheet 57a, the recording sheet 57a is stopped from being conveyed until a predetermined conveying timing comes.

In response to this, the drum 136 starts rotating in the direction of arrow I. On the outer peripheral surface of the right cylindrical drum 136, the charging means 137 and the exposing means 1 are arranged along the circumferential direction.
38, a toner developing unit 139, a transfer unit 140, and a cleaning unit 141. The charging means 137 is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum 136 and charges the photosensitive layer of the drum 136 to a positive potential. The exposure unit 138 irradiates a laser beam in response to the read signal output from the optical reading device 133. As a result, the portion of the photosensitive layer irradiated with the laser beam has a zero potential and an electrostatic latent image is formed. On the outer peripheral surface of the drum 136 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, the toner negatively charged by the toner developing unit 139 is attached to the positive potential portion to form a toner image corresponding to the original image.

The toner image formed on the drum 136 by the toner developing means 139 is transferred onto the recording paper 57a which is conveyed by the registration rollers 135 at the same timing, and the transfer means 140 is realized by a charging transfer corona discharger or the like. Transcribed by The recording paper 57 a to which the toner image is transferred passes through the conveyance path 142 and the fixing unit 143.
To be heat-fixed, and then a pair of upper and lower discharge rollers 1
It is discharged to the outside by 44.

The toner remaining on the drum 136 after the transfer is removed by the cleaning means 141.

In the fixing means 143, the recording paper 57a is thermally pressed between the heat roller 146 in which the elongated heating member 145 realized by a halogen lamp or the like is inserted and the backup roller 147 driven by the heat roller 146. The toner is permanently fused on the recording paper 57a.

The facsimile device 130 has a function of transmitting image information using a telephone line in addition to the above-mentioned copying function. When transmission is instructed by the operator, the original image is read by the optical reading device 133, converted into a read signal, and then transmitted to a predetermined destination through a telephone line. When the image information is transmitted through the telephone line, the facsimile machine 130 performs a recording operation based on the image information.

As described above, according to the paper feeding device 51 of this embodiment, the recording paper 5 provided in the second paper feeding cassette 52a is provided.
7a is a guide path 120 formed by the guide ridges 69 of the first paper feed cassette 52 and the guide ridges 81 of the base plate 54.
The sheet is fed to the upper conveyance path 56 via the. Therefore, when a paper jam occurs in the guide path 120 when the recording paper 57a is fed, the paper jam is a serious paper jam, and the second paper feeding cassette 52a moves in the paper feeding direction P.
Even when the sheet cannot be pulled out to the upstream side, the first sheet feeding cassette 52 can be pulled out to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction P as shown in FIG.

By pulling out the first paper feed cassette 52, the distance between the guide surface 71 and the guide surface 81 is widened, the paper jam in the guide path 120 is alleviated, and the second paper feed cassette 52a is jammed. It is possible to take out the recording paper 57a to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction P together with the recording paper 57a and minimize the damage of the recording paper 57a to deal with the paper jam. As a result, it is possible to easily deal with a paper jam without forcibly taking out the jammed recording paper 57a and damaging the recording paper 57a or breaking the paper feeding device 51 and straddling it. it can.

Further, according to the paper feeding device 51, both end portions of the side walls 63, 63a of the paper feeding cassettes 52, 52a on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction P project to the downstream side in the paper feeding direction P from the guide ridge 69. The protective convex portions 77 and 77a are provided. Therefore, the paper feed cassettes 52 and 52a should be installed in the facsimile device 13
0, the paper cassettes 52, 5
Even if the downstream end of the sheet feeding direction P of 2a collides with an obstacle, the protection protrusions 77, 77a collide with the obstacle before the guide protrusions 69, 69a.
The guide surfaces 71, 71a of the 9,69a can be protected. This prevents the guide surfaces 71, 71a from being damaged by the collision, the recording papers 57, 57a being caught in the damaged parts, and preventing paper jams, and the quality of the paper feeding device 51 can be maintained.

Further, according to the paper feeding device 51, the guide surfaces 71, 71a and 72, 7 of the guide ridges 69, 69a and 70, 70a provided in the paper feeding cassettes 52 and 52a are provided.
The upper ends of 2a are smoothly connected to the upper ends of the end walls 68 and 68a. Therefore, when the recording paper 57a passes through the upper end portion of the guide ridge 69, even if the recording paper 57a becomes soft due to the presence of moisture, the recording paper 57a will not move to the guide ridge 69 as shown in FIG. The paper is fed into the upper conveyance path 56 in a straight state as shown in FIG. Similarly, when the recording paper 57, 57a passes the upper end of the guide ridges 70, 70a, the recording paper 57, 57a is straightened to the guide surfaces 82, 85 of the guide ridges 81, 84. Can be advanced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the recording papers 57 and 57a from being caught by the guide ridges 114 and 116 of the transport unit 56 and causing a paper jam, and a stable paper feeding operation can be performed.

In this embodiment, the first paper feeding cassette 52 is provided in the upper stage of the second paper feeding cassette 52a in the paper feeding device 51, but the paper feeding cassettes 52 and 52a can be interchanged vertically. And the second paper feed cassette 52a
Is attached to the upper holding member 91, and the first paper feed cassette 5
2 may be attached to the lower holding member 91a.

Further, in this embodiment, two sheet feeding cassettes 5 are used.
Although the configuration in which 2, 52a are provided above and below is provided, three or more sheet feeding cassettes may be provided above and below.

In this embodiment, the paper feeding device 51 is applied to the facsimile device 130, but the paper feeding device 51 is used.
May be applied to other recording devices such as copying devices and printers.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a sheet feeding device provided with a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes arranged vertically, at least the second or more tiers from the bottom in the sheet feeding direction downstream side. A plurality of first guide ridges for guiding the recording papers stored below the paper feed cassette are provided on the end wall of the. Correspondingly, a plurality of second guide ridges are provided in the recording device provided with the paper feeding device so as to face the first guide ridges, and the second guide ridges are provided between the first and second guide ridges. Is provided with a gap for conveying the recording paper.

Therefore, when the recording papers provided in the second or lower sheet feeding cassette are guided by the first and second guide ridges and guided to the upper conveying path, the first and second guide ridges are provided. When a paper jam occurs between the strips, the paper cassette at the location where the paper jam occurs can be pulled out, for example, to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction to alleviate the paper jam. After alleviating the paper jam, the jammed recording paper can be taken out to the outside by pulling out the recording paper together with the paper feed cassette equipped with the recording paper to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, and the paper jam can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to deal with the paper jam by minimizing the damage of the recording paper due to the paper jam, and prevent the damage of the recording paper and the destruction of the paper feeding device which are caused by the forced cancellation of the paper jam. it can.

Protective projections for protecting the first guide projections are provided on the both side walls of each paper feed cassette on the downstream side in the paper feed direction.
Therefore, even if the paper feed cassette is taken out of the recording apparatus and the paper feed cassette is accidentally collided with an obstacle, the first guide ridge is protected by the protection protrusion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the first guide ridge from being damaged, and prevent the recording paper from being caught on the damaged portion, so that stable paper feeding can be performed. Further, according to the present invention, in a paper feeding device provided with a plurality of paper feeding cassettes arranged vertically,
A plurality of first guide ridges for guiding the recording papers stored below the paper feed cassette are provided on at least the end wall on the downstream side in the paper feed direction of the second or more paper feed cassettes from the bottom. Correspondingly, a plurality of second guide ridges are provided in the recording device provided with the paper feeding device so as to face the first guide ridges, and the second guide ridges are provided between the first and second guide ridges. Is provided with a gap for conveying the recording paper. Therefore, when the recording paper provided in the second or lower sheet feeding cassette from the top is guided by the first and second guide ridges and guided to the upper conveyance path, the space between the first and second guide ridges is increased. If a paper jam occurs in the paper jam, the paper jam at the place where the paper jam occurs can be pulled out, for example, to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction to alleviate the paper jam. After alleviating the paper jam, the jammed recording paper can be taken out to the outside by pulling out the recording paper together with the paper feed cassette equipped with the recording paper to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, and the paper jam can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to deal with the paper jam by minimizing the damage of the recording paper due to the paper jam, and prevent the damage of the recording paper and the destruction of the paper feeding device which are caused by the forced cancellation of the paper jam. it can. Each paper cassette has
A plurality of third guide ridges are provided on the inner surface of the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, and the downstream end of the third guide ridge in the sheet feeding direction smoothly connects to the inner surface of the end wall. Therefore, when the recording paper is guided by the third guide ridge and passes the downstream end of the third guide ridge in the sheet feeding direction, the recording paper can be passed in a straight state, and the paper in the transport path can be passed. It is possible to prevent clogging. Further, since the upper end surface of the third guide ridge is inclined so as to be upward as it goes downstream in the paper feeding direction, it is possible to smoothly change the traveling direction of the recording paper obliquely upward.

Further, according to the present invention, the upper end of the first guide ridge smoothly connects to the upper end of the end wall, and when the recording paper passes the upper end of the first guide ridge, it passes straightly. Can be made. By allowing the recording paper to pass straight through the first guide ridges, it is possible to prevent a paper jam caused by the recording paper being caught by the guide ridges provided in the transport path and to perform a stable paper feeding operation. You can

Further, according to the present invention, in a sheet feeding device provided with a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes arranged vertically, at least the second end or more of the sheet feeding cassettes from the bottom end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction. A plurality of first guide ridges for guiding the recording papers stored below the paper feed cassette are provided. Therefore, when the recording paper provided in the second or lower sheet feeding cassette from the top is guided by the first guide ridges and guided to the upper conveyance path, a paper jam occurs at the portion guided by the first guide ridges. If the paper jam occurs, the paper feed cassette at the location where the paper jam has occurred can be pulled out to alleviate the paper jam. After alleviating the paper jam, the jammed recording paper can be taken out to the outside by pulling out the recording paper together with the paper feed cassette equipped with the recording paper to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, and the paper jam can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to deal with the paper jam by minimizing the damage of the recording paper due to the paper jam, and prevent the damage of the recording paper and the destruction of the paper feeding device which are caused by the forced cancellation of the paper jam. it can. Each sheet feeding cassette is provided with a plurality of third guide protrusions on the inner surface of the end wall on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction. Therefore, when the recording paper is guided by the third guide ridge and passes the downstream end of the third guide ridge in the sheet feeding direction, the recording paper can be passed in a straight state, and the paper jams in the conveyance path. Can be prevented. Further, according to the present invention, the downstream end of the third guide ridge in the sheet feeding direction smoothly continues to the inner surface of the end wall. Therefore, the recording sheet is smoothly guided by the third guide ridge to the conveying path located diagonally above. Further, according to the present invention, the recording paper is smoothly guided to the conveying path located obliquely above by the third guide ridge. Further, according to the present invention, in a sheet feeding device provided with a plurality of sheet feeding cassettes arranged vertically, at least the second or more sheet feeding cassettes from the bottom are provided at the end walls on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction. A plurality of first guide ridges for guiding the recording paper stored below the paper cassette are provided. Therefore, when the recording paper provided in the second or lower sheet feeding cassette from the top is guided by the first guide ridges and guided to the upper conveyance path, a paper jam occurs at the portion guided by the first guide ridges. If the paper jam occurs, the paper feed cassette at the location where the paper jam has occurred can be pulled out to alleviate the paper jam. After alleviating the paper jam, the jammed recording paper can be taken out to the outside by pulling out the recording paper together with the paper feed cassette equipped with the recording paper to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, and the paper jam can be eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to deal with the paper jam by minimizing the damage of the recording paper due to the paper jam, and prevent the damage of the recording paper and the destruction of the paper feeding device which are caused by the forced cancellation of the paper jam. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a part of the configuration of a paper feeding device 51 which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a paper feeding device 51.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the attached paper feed cassettes 52 and 52a as viewed from the downstream side in the paper feed direction.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sheet feeding device 51.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a shape of a downstream side end portion of the first paper feeding cassette 52 in the paper feeding direction.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the shapes of a base plate 54 and a storage case 55 with which the paper feeding device 51 is provided.

FIG. 7 is a facsimile device 1 to which a paper feeding device 51 is applied.
It is sectional drawing which shows the schematic structure of 30.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the paper feed cassette 52 is pulled out to the downstream side in the paper feed direction in order to relieve the paper jam in the state where the paper jam occurs in the guide path 120.

9 is a diagram showing a state in which the recording paper 57a passes through the upper end portion of the guide ridge 69 of the paper feeding cassette 52. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sheet feeding device 1 and a facsimile device 2 using the sheet feeding device 1 according to a first conventional technique.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a sheet feeding device 41 which is a second conventional technique.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the paper feeding device 41.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which the paper feeding device 41 is provided in the facsimile device 42.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state when a paper jam occurs in the opening portion 4 of the paper feeding device 41.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which the recording paper passes through the upper end portion of the guide ridge 15 of the paper feeding cassette 3 provided in the paper feeding device 41.

[Explanation of symbols]

51 paper feeder 52, 52a Paper feed cassette 53,53a Paper feed roller 54 base plate 55 storage case 56 Transport section 57,57a Recording paper 68, 68a End wall 69, 69a Guide ridge 70, 70a Guide ridge 71, 71a, 72, 72a Guide surface 77, 77a Protective protrusion 81,84 Guide ridge 82,85 guideway 91, 91a holding member 100,100a shaft 101, 101a Spring clutch part 112 drive roller 113 Driven roller 116 transport path 120 guideway 130 fax machine 133 Optical reader 136 drums 137 charging means 138 exposure means 139 toner developing means 140 transfer means 141 cleaning means 143 fixing means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 3/44 B65H 1/26 310 G03G 15/00 516 G03G 15/00 526

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of paper feed cassettes for stacking and storing recording papers are arranged one above the other, and each of the paper feed cassettes is detachably attached to a recording apparatus main body, and the recording papers from the respective paper feed cassettes are attached. In a paper feeding device that selectively takes out and guides the paper to a common conveyance path and feeds the paper, at least in the second or more stages from the bottom, the end wall on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction has a lower end than the paper feeding cassette. A plurality of vertically extending first guide ridges for guiding the recording paper from the lower paper feed cassette are formed at intervals in the vertical direction with respect to the paper feeding direction. A plurality of second guide ridges are formed to face the guide ridges with a space for conveying the recording paper from the first guide ridge, and the first guide ridge is formed on the side wall of the paper feed cassette. At the same position or more downstream in the sheet feeding direction than in the sheet feeding direction A sheet feeding device, characterized in that a protective convex portion protruding to the inside is formed. 2. A plurality of paper feed cassettes for stacking and storing recording papers are arranged one above the other, and each of the paper feed cassettes is detachably attached to a recording apparatus main body, and the recording papers from the respective paper feed cassettes are attached. In a paper feeding device that selectively takes out and guides the paper to a common conveyance path and feeds the paper, at least in the second or more stages from the bottom, the end wall on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction has a lower end than the paper feeding cassette. A plurality of vertically extending first guide ridges for guiding the recording paper from the lower paper feed cassette are formed at intervals in the vertical direction with respect to the paper feeding direction. A plurality of second guide ridges are formed facing the guide ridges with an interval for conveying the recording paper from the first guide ridge, and the paper feed cassette is laminated on the paper feed cassette. The recording paper is more downstream than the end of the recording paper in the paper feed direction. A plurality of third guide ridges each having an upper end surface for guiding the recording paper which is inclined so as to be inclined upward are formed at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction. The sheet feeding device, wherein an end portion of the upper end surface of the strip on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is smoothly connected to the end wall. 3. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein an upper end portion of the first guide ridge smoothly connects to an upper end portion of the end wall. 4. A plurality of paper feed cassettes for stacking and storing recording papers are arranged one above the other, and each of the paper feed cassettes is attached to the main body of the recording apparatus so that it can be pulled out, and the recording papers from the respective paper feed cassettes are inserted. In a paper feeding device that selectively feeds paper and guides it to a common conveyance path, at least the second or more sheet feeding cassettes from the bottom feed the paper fed from the paper feeding cassette to the common conveyance path. A plurality of vertically extending first guide ridges for guiding the recording paper from the lower paper feed cassette are provided at intervals on an end wall on the downstream side in the paper feed direction for guiding the first guide ridges. Is formed so that each end on the downstream side in the paper feed direction is smoothly connected to the end wall surface, and the end wall of the paper feed cassette is provided with a first guide ridge,
A sheet feeding device, characterized in that a plurality of third guide ridges for guiding the recording sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette and for guiding to the common conveying path are formed at intervals. . 5. The sheet feeding device according to claim 4, wherein the third guide ridge is formed so that an end portion on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is smoothly connected to the end wall surface. 6. The third guide ridge is formed so that each end on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction has a height of zero from the end wall surface. 5. The sheet feeding device according to item 5. 7. A plurality of paper feed cassettes for accommodating recording papers in a stacked manner are arranged one above the other, and each of the paper feed cassettes is attached to the main body of the recording apparatus so that it can be pulled out, and the recording papers from the respective paper feed cassettes are inserted. In a paper feeding device that selectively feeds paper and guides it to a common conveyance path, at least the second or more sheet feeding cassettes from the bottom feed the paper fed from the paper feeding cassette to the common conveyance path. A plurality of vertically extending first guide ridges for guiding the recording paper from the lower paper feed cassette are provided at intervals on an end wall on the downstream side in the paper feed direction for guiding the first guide ridges. Is formed so that each end on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is smoothly connected to the end wall surface, and the first guide ridge is such that each end on the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is higher than the end wall surface. A sheet feeding device, which is formed so as to be zero.