JP3611013B2 - Recording medium on which control program for controlling driving of sheet feeding device and its return lever is recorded - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeding device suitable for a printer or the like, and in particular, cut sheets such as plain paper, coated paper, OHP (overhead projector) sheets, glossy paper, glossy film and the like laminated on a hopper in an inclined state. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a paper feeding device that feeds envelopes one by one from the uppermost one.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In this type of paper feeding device, the applicant of the present application has previously filed an application provided with a return lever for pushing the paper reaching the separation pad surface back to the hopper prior to the start of the paper feeding operation (Japanese Patent Application). No. 9-304857 and Japanese Patent Application No. 9-304858). In this type of paper feeding device, once the paper feeding operation is performed, the next paper is in a state where the leading edge reaches the separation pad surface (down state). Such a state is particularly remarkable in a film or an OHP sheet on which the paper is slippery. Therefore, if the sheet feeding operation is repeated in this state, a plurality of sheets may be sent together (multiple feeding), or the stacked state of sheets may be destroyed. Therefore, in order to reduce such a concern, the return lever is provided.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, depending on the type of paper, there is no risk of the double feed or collapse even if the push back operation by the return lever is not repeated for each paper. For example, A4 size plain paper or glossy paper is pushed back. It is not always necessary to repeat the operation for each sheet. Even if the above-described push-back operation is performed uniformly, there arises a problem that paper feeding time is wasted.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device capable of reducing useless sheet feeding time, a return lever drive control method in the sheet feed device, and a recording medium on which a control program for controlling the drive of the return lever is recorded. It is in.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a paper feed roller that rotates during paper feeding operation to feed paper and a paper to be fed by the paper feed roller are inclined. A hopper that presses the vicinity of the front end of the sheet toward the sheet feeding roller that is stacked and rotates during sheet feeding operation, and the sheet feeding roller that is urged toward the sheet feeding roller In this way, the sheet is clamped by a separation pad that separates the sheet to be fed by the sheet feeding roller from the next sheet, and reaches the separation pad surface prior to the sheet feeding operation by the sheet feeding roller. A sheet feeding device including a return lever for pushing the sheet being returned to the hopper and a drive unit for driving the return lever, wherein the drive unit of the return lever is set for each set number of sheets. The decimation mode Or a non-thinning mode in which the sheet is pushed back for each sheet, and either the thinning mode or the non-thinning mode is selected based on a command signal sent from the outside. It is characterized by that.
[0006]
According to the present invention, the push-back operation by the return lever is performed for each sheet only for the sheets that are likely to be double-fed or collapsed, and the sheets that are not likely to be thinned out without performing the sheet push-back operation every time. Therefore, unnecessary paper pushing back operation is eliminated, and the paper feeding time can be shortened accordingly. Then, after the set number of sheets has been thinned out, the push-back operation is performed by the return lever, that is, the push-back operation is performed for each set number of sheets, so the stability of the paper feeding operation does not deteriorate.
[0007]
Further, in the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, in the paper feeding device according to claim 1, the command signal specifies either the thinning mode or the non-thinning mode by designating a paper type. It is characterized by being formed so that it may be sent. According to the present invention, the determination as to the thinning mode or the non-thinning mode is automatically determined by the user specifying the paper type prior to printing, and thus the operation is simple.
[0008]
The invention described in claim 3 of the present application is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the thinning mode has a plurality of modes with different thinning levels. According to the present invention, the number of thinned sheets can be increased / decreased so that the optimum number of thinned sheets is obtained according to the type of paper, so that it is easy to optimize both the stability of the paper feeding operation and the shortening of the paper feeding time. It is done.
[0009]
Further, in the invention according to claim 4 of the present invention, a plurality of sheets are stacked in a tilted state with a sheet feeding roller that rotates and feeds a sheet during a sheet feeding operation, and a sheet to be fed by the sheet feeding roller, A hopper that presses the vicinity of the front end of the sheet toward the sheet feeding roller that rotates during sheet feeding operation and the sheet feeding roller urged toward the sheet feeding roller. The separation pad that separates the sheet to be fed by the sheet feeding roller from the next sheet, and the sheet that has reached the separation pad surface prior to the sheet feeding operation by the sheet feeding roller. A return lever drive control method in a paper feeding device having a return lever for pushing back to a hopper and a drive unit for driving the return lever, wherein the number of sheets set based on the type of paper Push back every time Is controlled to be driven in a thinning mode or a non-thinning mode in which a push-back operation is performed for each sheet, and when driven in the thinning mode, the number of sheets fed without a push-back operation is counted, When the counted number exceeds the set value, a push-back operation is performed, and at the same time, the count is reset and continued.
[0010]
According to the return lever drive control method of the present invention, the push-back operation by the return lever is performed for each sheet only for sheets that are likely to be double-fed or collapsed, as in the first aspect of the invention. For paper that does not have such a risk, the paper push-back operation is not performed every time, that is, the push-back operation is performed after thinning out the set number of sheets, so that waste of paper feeding time can be eliminated by simple control and stable The paper feeding operation can be continued.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is a recording medium on which a control program for controlling the drive of the return lever of the sheet feeding device according to claim 1 is recorded by a computer. And outputting a command signal for driving the return lever in a thinning mode in which the push-back operation is performed for each set number of sheets based on the type of paper, or in a non-thinning mode in which the push-back operation is performed for each sheet, A command signal that compares the count value of the number of sheets fed without pushing back when driving in the thinning mode with a set value and performs the push back operation when the set value is exceeded, and simultaneously resets the count Is output.
[0012]
According to the present invention, the recording medium can cause the sheet feeding device to perform the operation in the thinning mode or the non-thinning mode via the computer, so that waste of paper feeding time can be easily eliminated. In particular, it is possible to easily perform the operation in the thinning mode by using the recording medium for an existing paper feeding device that includes a paper return lever and its driving unit and is driven based on a command signal from a computer. it can.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a sheet feeding operation according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014]
In the paper feeding device according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of sheets P to be fed by the D-shaped paper feeding roller 1 in a side view are stacked on the hopper 2 in an inclined state. The hopper 2 is rotated by a hopper spring (not shown) at the top end side 11 located below with a hopper spring (not shown) as a fulcrum during a paper feeding operation. The vicinity of the front end of the paper P is pressed against the paper P. Further, a front end support surface 4 on which the paper P stacked in an inclined state on the hopper 2 is supported by contacting the front end 3 thereof is provided in the vicinity of the front of the hopper 2. A paper support (not shown) is detachably attached to the frame body behind the hopper 2, and the paper support supports the rear side of the paper P.
[0015]
Further, a separation pad 9 that is opposed to the paper feed roller 1 and is urged toward the paper feed roller 1 by a pad spring (not shown) is provided. The sheet P is conveyed between the separation pad 9 and the sheet feeding roller 1 by pressure, so that the sheet to be fed by the sheet feeding roller 1 is separated from the next sheet. . In the figure, reference numeral 14 denotes an idle roller.
[0016]
Further, in the present embodiment, the urging member that urges the vicinity of the front end 3 of the paper P toward the paper support surface 7 of the hopper 2 and causes the paper front end 3 to contact the front end support surface 4 in a downward state. 15 is provided. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the urging member 15 is made of a synthetic resin sheet, and its upper end is fixed to a guide 17 attached to the cover 16 of the paper feed roller 1.
[0017]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a return lever for pushing back the paper P2 reaching the surface of the separation pad 9 prior to the paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller 1 to the paper support surface 7 of the hopper 2. In this embodiment, 20 is provided in a state where the neutral position is determined by the pulling force of the pulling spring 21. The return lever 20 has a free end side 22 pivotally supported by a proximal end side 23, and a spring hooking first hook 24 provided on the proximal end portion 23 of the return lever 20 and a main body frame, this example Then, the neutral position (position in FIG. 1) of the return lever 20 is determined in a state where the distance from the second hook 26 for spring application provided on the subframe 25 is the shortest. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the tension spring 21 is disposed substantially parallel to the surface of the subframe 25 located below the hopper 2 and the separation pad 9.
[0018]
The sheet feeding device is provided with a drive unit 33 for driving the return lever 20, and the drive unit 33 is fixed near the sheet feed roller 1 of the sheet feed roller shaft 13. And a drive motor 34 for applying rotational force to the feed roller shaft 13 and a control unit 35 for outputting a signal for controlling the drive motor 34. The cam member 30 receives the power of the drive motor 34 prior to the paper feeding operation, and when the paper feeding roller shaft 13 rotates (reverses) in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. It is pushed in the state of entering, and rotates to the two-dot chain line position shown in FIG. The sheet P2 that has reached the surface of the separation pad 9 by this rotation is returned to the hopper 2. Thereafter, the feed roller shaft 13 is rotated clockwise by the power of the drive motor 34 (forward rotation) to return the return lever 20 to the neutral position side and to start a new paper feed operation. .
[0019]
The drive unit 33 drives the return lever in a “thinning mode” in which the return lever 20 performs a push-back operation for each set number of sheets P, or in a “non-thinning mode” in which a push-back operation is performed for each sheet. It is formed as follows. As shown in FIG. 2, either the thinning mode or the non-thinning mode is selected based on a command signal sent from the outside to the control unit 35.
[0020]
In the present embodiment, by first specifying the type of paper, it is determined which of the thinning mode and the non-thinning mode should be driven, and the command signal is sent to the control unit so as to be driven in this determined mode. 35 to be sent. The relationship between the paper type and the corresponding mode is defined in advance. Here, in the thinning mode, it is desirable to have a plurality of modes with different thinning levels in order to perform a more appropriate paper feeding operation than in the single mode. For example, it is desirable to thin out 6 sheets for a certain type of paper and 10 sheets for other types of paper. Further, if a corresponding mode is defined based on the type and size of paper, a more appropriate relationship can be easily created.
[0021]
When the thinning mode is selected by an external command signal and the return lever 20 is driven in the thinning mode, the number of sheets fed without counting back by a counter (not shown) is counted, and the counted number of sheets is counted. When the value exceeds the set value, the push-back operation is performed. At the same time, the counter is reset to continue the paper feeding operation.
[0022]
Next, a return lever control method in the paper feeder will be described with reference to FIG. When the process starts, first, in step 101, it is determined whether the sheet is to be subjected to the “thinning mode” or “non-thinning mode” for the rewinding operation. As described above, the mode is automatically determined by designating the paper type.
[0023]
If the sheet is the target of the thinning mode, the sheet feeding number counter is reset at step 102 (Ka = 0), and the sheet feeding roller 1 is rotated forward by the power of the drive motor 34 to perform the sheet feeding operation (step). 103). After the paper feeding operation is completed, printing is performed while the paper is being conveyed by a paper feed roller (not shown) (steps 104 and 105). In this embodiment, every time printing of one sheet is completed, the number of sheets is counted by a counter (step 106), and whether or not the number counted in step 107 has reached a set number, in this case six or more. Is determined. If six sheets are not reached, the process returns to step 103, and the procedure (step 103 → step 104 → step 105 → step 106 → step 107) is repeated. When the counted number is 6 or more, the paper return operation is performed by the return lever 20 in step 108. Thereafter, the process returns to step 102, the counter is reset, and the above procedure is repeated.
[0024]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 101 that the target is the non-thinning mode target, the process proceeds to step 103, the paper feeding operation is performed, the paper feeding is finished, and the printing operation is performed (step 104, step 105). Then, when printing is completed, the process proceeds to step 108, and a paper return operation is performed by the return lever 20. Thereafter, the process returns to step 103, and the procedure (step 103 → step 104 → step 105 → step 108) is repeated.
[0025]
Further, in this embodiment, the return lever 20 is provided with a projection cam 27, and when the return lever 20 is rotated, the projection cam 27 pushes the projection piece 28 of the other member and performs a certain operation on the other member. It is supposed to let you. This makes it possible to cause the other member to perform the certain operation with high reliability based on the fact that the neutral position of the return lever 20 can be set accurately. In this example, the other member is a separation lever (not shown) for separating the separation pad 9 from the idle roller 14, and is disposed on the lower surface of the separation pad 9.
[0026]
Next, the operation of the paper feeding device according to the above embodiment will be described. According to the present embodiment, the push-back operation by the return lever 20 is performed for each sheet only for sheets that are likely to be double-fed or collapsed, and the sheets that are not likely to be fed are supplied in the “thinning mode”. Since the paper is pushed and the push-back operation is not performed every time, unnecessary paper push-back operation is eliminated, and the paper feed time can be shortened accordingly. Then, after the set number of sheets has been thinned out, the push-back operation is performed by the return lever, that is, the push-back operation is performed for each set number of sheets, so the stability of the paper feeding operation does not deteriorate.
[0027]
In addition, when the paper type is specified, one of the thinning mode and the non-thinning mode is determined, and the determination is sent to the driving unit by a command signal. Since the “thinning mode” is automatically determined by the user specifying the paper type prior to printing, the operation is simple.
[0028]
In addition, the “thinning mode”, which has a plurality of modes with different levels of thinning, can increase or decrease the number of thinned sheets according to the type of paper, so that the stability of the paper feeding operation It is easy to optimize both the paper feed time and the paper feed time.
[0029]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the computer 36 controls the drive of the return lever 20 of the paper feeding device described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 by a control program recorded on the recording medium 37. The control program recorded on the recording medium 37 can be installed in the computer 36 to control the drive of the return lever 20 in the sheet feeding device according to the flow shown in FIG. That is, the control program performs a “thinning mode” in which a push-back operation is performed for each set number of sheets (in this example, every six sheets) or a push-back operation for each sheet based on the type of sheet. A command signal for driving the return lever 20 in the “non-thinning mode” is output to the control unit 35, and the count value of the number of sheets fed without pushing back when driving in the thinning mode is a set value. In comparison with “6”, a push-back operation is performed when the value exceeds the setting, and a command signal for resetting the count is output at the same time.
[0030]
According to the present embodiment, the recording medium 37 can cause the sheet feeding device to perform the operation of “thinning mode” or “non-thinning mode” via the computer 36, and waste of paper feeding time can be simplified. Can be eliminated. In particular, an existing sheet feeding device that includes the sheet return lever 20 and its drive unit 33 and is driven based on a command signal from the computer 36 can be easily operated in the “thinning mode” by the recording medium 37. Can be done.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the paper push-back operation by the return lever is performed for each sheet only on the paper that is likely to be double-fed or collapsed. Therefore, unnecessary paper pushing back operation is eliminated, and the paper feeding time can be shortened accordingly. Then, after the set number of sheets has been thinned out, the push-back operation is performed by the return lever, that is, the push-back operation is performed for each set number of sheets, so the stability of the paper feeding operation does not deteriorate.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a sheet feeding operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feed roller 2 Hopper 3 Paper front end 4 Front end support surface 9 Separation pad 20 Return lever 21 Pull spring 25 Subframe (main body frame)
30 cam member 33 drive unit 34 drive motor 35 control unit 36 computer 37 recording medium P paper P2 paper to be pushed back

Claims (5)

A paper feed roller that rotates to feed paper during paper feed operation;
A plurality of sheets to be fed by the sheet feeding roller are stacked in an inclined state, and a hopper that presses the vicinity of the front end of the sheet toward the sheet feeding roller that rotates during sheet feeding operation;
A separation pad that separates the paper to be fed by the paper feed roller from the next paper by being urged toward the paper feed roller and pinching the paper between the paper feed rollers;
A return lever for pushing back the paper that has reached the separation pad surface prior to the paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller to the hopper;
A sheet feeding device including a drive unit for driving the return lever,
The drive unit of the return lever is configured to be driven in a thinning mode in which a push-back operation is performed for each set number of sheets or in a non-thinning mode in which a push-back operation is performed for each sheet of paper, and is sent from the outside. One of the thinning mode and the non-thinning mode is selected based on a command signal. 2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the command signal is formed so that one of the thinning mode and the non-thinning mode is specified and sent by designating a paper type. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the thinning mode includes a plurality of modes having different thinning levels. A paper feed roller that rotates to feed paper during paper feed operation;
A plurality of sheets to be fed by the sheet feed roller are stacked in an inclined state, and a hopper that presses the vicinity of the front end of the sheet toward the sheet feed roller that rotates during a sheet feeding operation;
A separation pad that separates the paper to be fed by the paper feed roller from the next paper by being urged toward the paper feed roller and pinching the paper between the paper feed rollers;
A return lever for pushing back the paper that has reached the separation pad surface prior to the paper feeding operation by the paper feeding roller to the hopper;
A return lever drive control method in a sheet feeding device including a drive unit for driving the return lever,
Based on the type of paper, it is controlled to drive in a thinning mode in which a push-back operation is performed for each set number of papers or in a non-thinning mode in which a push-back operation is performed for each paper, and is driven in the thinning mode. When printing, the number of sheets fed without counting back is counted, and when the counted number exceeds the set value, the push-back operation is performed, and at the same time the count is reset and continued. A return lever control method in the sheet feeding device. A recording medium on which a control program for controlling driving of a return lever of a paper feeding device according to claim 1 is recorded by a computer, the control program being set based on the type of paper A command signal for driving the return lever is output in the thinning mode in which the push-back operation is performed for each number of sheets or in the non-thinning mode in which the push-back operation is performed for each sheet of paper, and the push-back operation is performed when driving in the thinning mode. Compared with a set value, a count value of the number of fed sheets is compared with a set value, a push-back operation is performed, and a command signal for resetting the count is output at the same time A recording medium on which a control program for controlling the drive of the return lever is recorded.

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