JP3460975B2 - 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 for OA equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Paper feeders are used in office automation equipment such as copiers, fax machines, printers, etc., and have the function of feeding paper. This main paper feeding device is composed of a paper feeding member and its support. The paper feed member is in the shape of a roller, is made of a rubber material having a low hardness, etc., and is often used by covering a support. The paper feed member is brought into contact with the paper to be fed and rotated, and the paper is fed by the frictional force between the paper feed member and the paper.

By the way, in the conventional paper feeding device, various paper feeding problems are likely to occur such that the papers are fed out while being overlapped, or the papers cannot be fed out because they cannot keep up with the variations in the thickness of the papers.

The main cause of the paper feeding failure is often the improper elasticity of the paper feeding member. That is, the paper feed member is mainly a rubber material filled up to the inside, and even if the hardness is low, it is said that the degree of expansion and contraction of the portion in contact with the paper sufficiently follows the variety of paper thickness. I can not say. Therefore, the contact pressure with the paper and the contact cross-sectional area become insufficient, causing various paper feeding problems.

When the contact pressure with the paper is increased in order to ensure the delivery, and when the elasticity of the paper feed member is insufficient, a strong frictional force acts on the paper contact surface to cause the paper surface to move. There was a problem that shavings generated paper dust and scattered around.

As a prior art to cope with the above problems, a paper feeding member disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2887041 is known.

Although this conventional paper feed member has considerably solved the above-mentioned problems, the paper feed member is
Since it was simply held, there was a problem with the stability of the support piece. In particular, when the paper is manually pulled out at the time of the paper feeding interruption trouble, there is a problem that the paper feeding member is displaced from the support, and further falls off. As a means for solving this problem, it is conceivable to join the paper feed member support piece and the support body with an adhesive, but the bending elasticity of the support piece is sacrificed. Further, if only the tip portion of the support piece is adhered to the support, peeling is likely to occur, resulting in a problem of durability.

On the other hand, when a mechanical screw part or the like is used, the elasticity of that part is different from that of the other parts, and the frictional force with the paper contact surface becomes uneven, causing a problem in paper feeding.
Further, the presence of a metal corner or the like near the paper contact surface also causes damage to the paper during the paper feeding operation.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device capable of reliably feeding paper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device in which there is no risk that the paper feeding member will be misaligned or fall out.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adhesive,
An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that can be assembled without using auxiliary parts such as screws.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, a paper feeding device according to the present invention includes a paper feeding member and a support. The paper feed member is a tubular body having a paper contact portion, a support piece, and an outward protruding piece, made of an elastic material, and having a hollow inside. The paper contact portion has a cylindrical shape, and an outer peripheral surface thereof constitutes a paper contact surface.

The number of the support pieces is two, and each of the support pieces is formed in a ring shape continuous in the radial direction on both side surfaces of the paper contact portion in the axial direction, and is opposed to each other with a space therebetween.

There are two outward projecting pieces, each of which is formed in a ring shape on the outer surface of the supporting piece.

The support is tubular as a whole, and has a flange portion, a holding groove, and an inwardly projecting piece at both ends in the axial direction. There are two holding grooves, each of which is
It is formed in a ring shape on the inner surface of the collar portion. The inward projecting piece is provided so as to project on the inner surface of the collar portion on the outer diameter side of the holding groove.

The paper feed member is provided with respect to the support.
The support piece is inserted into the holding groove, and the outward projecting piece and the inward projecting piece are attached in a state of being fitted to each other.

According to the above-described paper feeding apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily assemble without using auxiliary parts such as adhesives and screws.

Further, no screws or the like are used to connect the support and the paper feed member, and the outer peripheral surface of the paper contact portion is connected over its entire length with uniform elasticity. Therefore, there is no unevenness in the paper feeding operation, and stable paper feeding can be performed. Furthermore, since there is no metal corner or the like near the paper contact surface, the paper is not damaged.

Further, the support piece is inserted into the holding groove,
Since the outward projecting piece and the inward projecting piece are fitted to each other, when the paper is pulled out due to a paper feeding trouble or the like, even if an axial force acts on the outer circumference of the paper feeding member, the paper feeding member is There is no risk of falling off the support.

If the paper-feeding member is simply held by the support, the paper-feeding member will be displaced from the support when the paper is manually pulled out when the paper-feeding is interrupted. As mentioned above, there is a risk of raising and dropping.

The paper-feeding member is made of a material having elasticity, and the paper-feeding member constitutes a tubular body having a hollow inside. Therefore, when feeding paper,
The paper contact portion can be easily crushed deeply and the contact area with the paper is increased, so that the paper is reliably fed.

Further, since the paper feed member has elasticity and has a cavity, the contact pressure with the paper does not increase even if the paper contact portion is deeply crushed. On the other hand, the deeply crushed area increases the contact area with the paper, so that the paper can be reliably fed even if the frictional force per unit area on the contact surface is small.

Further, the frictional force does not fluctuate significantly,
Since the paper contact part collapses according to the thickness of the paper used,
It is possible to reliably feed the paper regardless of the thickness of the paper.

[0024]

1 is a front sectional view showing a paper feeding device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the paper feeding device shown in FIG. The illustrated paper feeding device includes a paper feeding member 1 and a support 3. The paper feed member 1 includes a paper contact portion 21, support pieces 23 and 25, and outward protruding pieces 27 and 2.
9 and are made of a rubbery material having elasticity. The paper feed member 1 has a cavity 33 inside.
The outer peripheral surface of the paper contact portion 21 constitutes a paper contact surface.

The support pieces 23 and 25 are provided on both side surfaces of the paper contact portion 21 in the axial direction at intervals so as to face each other. The outward projecting pieces 27 and 29 are provided on the outer surfaces of the support pieces 23 and 25. It is formed in a ring shape on the same axis C. The through hole 31 penetrates on the same axis C of the support pieces 23 and 25. A groove 5 is provided on the outer periphery of the paper feed member 1.

The support 3 has holding grooves 11 and 13 and inward projecting pieces 15 and 17. The holding grooves 11 and 13 are in the circumferential direction of the support body 3 and are outward and parallel to each other. The inward projecting pieces 15 and 17 are continuously provided on the respective facing flange portions of the holding grooves 11 and 13, and are inwardly opposed to each other. Further, the support 3 has a shaft portion 7, a shaft hole 9 and an air pressure release hole 19.

The support pieces 23 and 25 of the paper feed member 1 are inserted into the holding grooves 11 and 13 of the corresponding support body 3. Also, the inward projecting pieces 15, 1 corresponding to the outward projecting pieces 27, 29.
7 and 7 are engaged with each other.

As described above, the support 3 has the holding grooves 11 and 13 in parallel positional relationship and the inward projecting pieces 15 and 17 facing each other, and the paper feeding member 1 has elasticity. Having a paper contact portion 21 and supporting pieces 23, 25 and outward projecting pieces 27, 29, which are made of a rubbery material having, and the paper contact portion 21 constitutes a cylindrical outer peripheral surface serving as a paper contact surface, Supporting pieces 23 and 25 are provided on both side surfaces of the paper contact portion 21 in the axial direction at intervals so as to face each other, and the paper feeding member 1
With respect to the support 3, the support pieces 23 and 25 are inserted into the corresponding holding grooves 11 and 13, and the outward protruding pieces 27 and 29 are combined with the corresponding inward protruding pieces 15 and 17 in a fitted state. Therefore, it can be assembled without using auxiliary parts such as adhesives and screws.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the shape of the support and the sheet feeding member shown in FIG. 1 before the combination. The same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Before assembling the paper feed member 1 to the support 3, the support pieces 23 and 25 are formed in a ring shape on both axial side surfaces of the paper contact portion 21 and face each other at the same intervals. is doing. Distance D2 between support pieces 23-25
Is set to be larger than the interval D1 between the inward projecting pieces 15-17 provided on the support 3. That is, the relationship of D1 <D2 is satisfied.

At the time when the paper feed member 1 is assembled with the support 3 in a fitted state, the distance D2 between the support pieces 23 and 25 is increased.
Is inevitably the same as the distance D1 between the inward projecting pieces 15 and 17, so that it is narrowed. By narrowing the distance D2, the paper contact portion 21 rises to the outside.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a usage state of the paper feeding device shown in FIGS. A support rod 39 is attached to the shaft hole 9 of the support body 3, and the paper feeding device rotates in the arrow B direction. The paper contact portion 21 contacts the paper 35 at the contact surface 37. In the figure, the portion below the support rod 39 shows a state in which the paper contact portion 21 is pressed during paper feeding and is deeply crushed at the position of the contact surface 37.

The paper feeding work may be interrupted due to some trouble, and it may be necessary to take out the paper 35 manually. The support pieces 23, 25 are inserted into the corresponding holding grooves 11, 13, and the inward projecting pieces 1 corresponding to the outward projecting pieces 27, 29.
Since 5 and 17 are fitted and combined with each other, when the paper 35 is pulled out in the A direction, even if an axial force acts on the outer peripheral portion of the paper contact portion 21, the outward projecting piece 27 projects inward. There is no risk that the paper feed member 1 is caught on the piece 15 and falls off the support material 3. Assuming that this is the paper feed member 1
However, if the paper is simply held by the support body 3, an axial force acts on the outer peripheral portion of the paper contact portion 21 when the paper is pulled out in the A direction, and the paper feeding member 1 is It falls off from the support material 3.

The paper feed member 1 is made of a rubber material having elasticity and forms a tubular body having a cavity 33 therein. Therefore, when the paper is fed, the paper contact portion 21 is easily crushed deeply and the contact area with the paper is increased, so that the paper is reliably fed. The air pressure release hole 19 shown in the figure makes it easier to operate without air resistance when the paper contact portion 21 is crushed or returned by communicating the air accumulated in the cavity 33 with the outside air. ing.

Further, when the distance between the inward projecting pieces 15-17 facing each other at a distance before being assembled is D1 and the distance between the supporting pieces 27-29 facing each other is D2, D1 is given. Since <D2 is satisfied, the distance D2 between the support pieces 23-25 of the paper feed member 1 is narrowed by the inward projecting pieces 15 and 17, and the paper contact portion 21 rises to the outside. Therefore, the paper is fed more reliably. In this case, the dimensional ratio of D1 to the distance D2 is preferably set to 80% to 90%. Further, the groove 5 provided on the outer periphery of the paper feed member 1 improves the bite on the paper by forming a corner on the surface that contacts the paper.

As described above, since the paper feed member 1 has elasticity and has the cavity 33, the contact pressure with the paper 35 does not become excessively large even if the paper contact portion 21 is deeply crushed. On the other hand, since the contact area with the paper is large, the contact surface 3
Even if the frictional force per unit area in 7 is small, the paper is reliably fed. Therefore, the wear of the paper feed member 1 is reduced. Therefore, the paper feeding function does not deteriorate even after long-term use.

Even if the material of the paper feed member 1 is deteriorated and hardened due to ultraviolet rays or ozone during long-term use, the paper contact portion 21 is deeply crushed as described above, so that friction due to deterioration of the material of the paper contact surface is caused. The decrease in power can be mitigated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the paper feed failure.

As described above, the paper feed member 1 needs only a small frictional force per unit area on the contact surface, so that the surface of the paper 35 is scraped and paper dust is generated and scattered around.
The use of paper powder for a long period of time does not reduce the frictional force.

The paper feeding member 1 has elasticity and has a cavity 3
3, the frictional force does not fluctuate significantly, and the paper contact portion 21 is crushed corresponding to the thickness of the paper used. Therefore, the paper can be fed regardless of the thickness of the paper.

Further, as is clear from the figure, the paper contact portion 2
1 and the support pieces 23 and 25 have a cavity 33 inside and constitute a ring-shaped continuous body having a diameter larger than the axial length. According to this structure, during the paper feeding operation, the paper contact portion 2
In No. 1, it is possible to prevent the outer peripheral surface serving as the paper contact surface from being deformed in a wavy manner in the middle of the axial length. If the axial length of the paper contact portion 21 is larger than the diameter, the outer peripheral surface is deformed during the paper feeding operation so as to undulate in the middle of the axial length, resulting in the paper feeding operation. It will cause trouble.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the paper feeding device according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the shape of the support shown in FIG. 5 before combination. The same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The support 3 includes a base 51, a pressing member 53,
55 and. The base 51 has a central portion 57 on the outer peripheral surface.
And cylindrical stepped portions 59 and 61 which are parallel to each other are formed at both axial ends. The pressing members 53 and 55 are
Inward projection pieces 15 and 17, inward grooves 65 and 67, and hollow portion 6
3 and 3. The inward grooves 65 and 67 are continuously provided inside the corresponding inward projecting pieces 15 and 17, respectively. The hollow portion 63 penetrates the shaft centers of the pressing members 53 and 55 and has a shape suitable for the stepped portions 59 and 61.

By holding the base 51 and the pressing members 53 and 55 in a state where the inward projecting pieces 15 and 17 face each other, the cylindrical stepped portions 59 and 61 are press-fitted into and combined with the hollow portion 63, whereby the holding groove is formed. 11, 13 are formed.

According to the above-mentioned structure, when the paper feed member 1 is assembled to the support 3, first, the base body 51 and the paper feed member 1 are assembled, and then the pressing members 53 and 55 are fitted from the side surfaces. Therefore, it can be easily assembled. Assembling can be performed by using press fitting without using auxiliary members such as screws and adhesives.

Further, the combination of the outward projecting piece 27 and the inward projecting piece 15 and the combination of the outward projecting piece 29 and the inward projecting piece 17 can be carried out separately and only by axial movement. The paper feed member 1 can be made of a material having low flexibility. Further, since the base body 51 and the pressing members 53 and 55 have no undercut portion, the molding process is relatively easy.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (A) It is possible to provide a paper feeding device that can reliably perform paper feeding. (B) It is possible to provide a paper feeding device that does not have a risk of the paper feeding member being displaced or falling off. (C) It is possible to provide a paper feeding device that can be assembled without using auxiliary parts such as an adhesive and screws.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a paper feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the paper feeding device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of the support and the paper feed member described in FIG. 1 before being combined.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a usage state of the paper feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the paper feeding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a shape before combination of the paper feeding device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 Paper feed member 3 support 11, 13 holding groove 15,17 Inward projection piece 21 Paper contact part 23, 25 support pieces 27, 29 outward protrusion 33 hollow 51 base 53, 55 Presser member 59, 61 Stepped part 63 hollow 65, 67 Inward groove

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper feeding device including a paper feeding member and a support, wherein the paper feeding member has a paper contact portion, a support piece, and an outward projecting piece, and has elasticity. It is a tubular body having a cavity inside, made of a material having, the paper contact portion is cylindrical, the outer peripheral surface constitutes a paper contact surface, the support piece is two, Respectively, on both side surfaces in the axial direction of the paper contact portion, they are formed in a ring shape that is continuous in the radial direction, and are opposed to each other with an interval, and there are two outward projecting pieces, each of which is The support body is formed in a ring shape on each of the outer surfaces of the support pieces, and the support body has a tubular shape as a whole, and has a holding groove and an inward projecting piece at both ends in the axial direction. A plurality of holding grooves, each of which has a ring shape on the inner surface of the collar portion provided on both sides in the axial direction. The inward projection piece is provided so as to project on the inner surface of the collar portion on the outer diameter side of the holding groove, and the paper feed member supports the support member with respect to the support member. A sheet feeding device in which a piece is inserted into the holding groove, and the outward projecting piece and the inward projecting piece are attached in a state of being fitted to each other. 2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein before the paper feeding member and the supporting body are combined, a distance between the inward projecting pieces is set to D1, and the space between the supporting pieces is set to D1. A paper feeding device that satisfies D1 <D2, where the interval is D2. 3. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the support body has a base body and a pressing member, and the base body has both axial end sides. A stepped portion is formed, and the number of the pressing members is two, each of which has the inward projection piece and the inward groove, and the inward projection piece faces each other. A paper feeding device attached to the stepped portion of the substrate. 4. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising an air vent hole, wherein the air vent hole communicates with the outside from the cavity.