JP3819892B2 - Paper feed mechanism and image forming apparatus having the paper feed mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feed mechanism provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine, and an image forming apparatus provided with the paper feed mechanism. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a paper feed mechanism in which a composite type paper feed unit configured by integrating a mechanism part that functions as a paper feed cassette and a mechanism part that functions as a manual feed tray is combined in a plurality of stages.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multi-function machine having a plurality of functions, paper is fed to an image forming unit (printing unit) including a photosensitive drum. A paper feed cassette and a manual feed tray are provided as recording paper storage units (loading units). For example, when several hundred sheets of recording paper are stored in the paper cassette and image formation is performed on the recording paper, the recording paper is sequentially taken out from the paper cassette and fed to the image forming unit. Done. On the other hand, when the user places a recording paper (for example, a postcard) on the manual feed tray and starts an image forming operation, the recording paper on the manual feed tray is fed to the image forming unit.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below disclose an image forming apparatus including the paper feed cassette and the manual feed tray. As disclosed in these patent documents, until now, generally, a paper feed cassette is provided at the bottom of the apparatus, and a paper feed path extends from the paper discharge side of the paper feed cassette to the image forming unit. Is provided. The manual feed tray is attached to the side wall of the image forming apparatus, and communicates with the middle portion of the paper feed path via a paper drawing mechanism for taking out the recording paper on the manual feed tray.

FIG. 10 shows an outline of the internal configuration of a conventional general copying machine. In FIG. 10, a is a paper feed cassette, b is a manual feed tray, c is an image forming unit including a photosensitive drum, d is a paper feed path extending from the paper feed cassette a, and e is a manual feed tray b. This is a paper drawing mechanism for taking out the recording paper.
JP 2001-138576 A JP 2001-333249 A

  As described above, as can be seen from FIG. 10, the layout of the paper feed system when the paper feed cassette a is provided at the bottom of the image forming apparatus and the manual feed tray b is provided at the side wall of the image forming apparatus. A paper feeding mechanism e corresponding to the manual feed tray b is arranged on the side (side wall side of the apparatus) of the paper feed path d extending from the cassette a toward the image forming section c, and the manual feed tray b is arranged on the side. Will be. In other words, the paper feeding mechanism e and the manual feed tray b are sequentially arranged on the side of the paper feed path d toward the outside in the horizontal direction, and because of their presence, the installation space of the image forming apparatus is compact. There was a limit to making it possible. In the case of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10, the installation space for the apparatus is only the dimension I in the drawing except for the manual feed tray b and the paper call-in mechanism e. Since the mechanism e exists, the installation space for the apparatus requires the dimension II.

  On the other hand, in recent years, a paper feed cassette is arranged at the lower part of the apparatus, and a document reading unit (scanner unit) is arranged at the upper part. In order to reduce the installation space of the apparatus, a tray is provided so that the discharge tray does not protrude to the side of the apparatus.

  FIG. 11 shows a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus laid out in this way. Also in FIG. 11, a is a paper feed cassette, b is a manual feed tray, c is an image forming unit, d is a paper feed path, and e is a paper feeding mechanism. Even in the image forming apparatus laid out in this way, the paper drawing mechanism e and the manual feed tray b are sequentially arranged in the peripheral part of the side wall of the apparatus in the horizontal direction. There was a limit to making the space compact.

  In particular, in such a layout, a reverse conveyance path (switchback conveyance path) f for reversing the recording paper when performing double-sided printing must be arranged on the side of the paper feed path d. When the paper drawing mechanism e and the manual feed tray b are arranged to be further to the side than the reversal conveyance path f, the installation space for the apparatus is correspondingly increased. The actual situation is that the merit of reducing the installation space cannot be fully utilized by (the layout in which the paper discharge tray does not protrude to the side of the apparatus). In FIG. 11 as well, the necessary installation space when the manual feed tray b and the paper call-in mechanism e are removed is indicated by I, and the apparatus installation space required because the manual feed tray b and the paper call-in mechanism e are present. This is indicated by II.

  Further, in the image forming apparatuses so far, as the paper feed path, the merging position between the transport path of the recording paper fed from the paper feed cassette and the transport path of the recording paper fed from the manual feed tray is provided. It is set immediately upstream of the image forming unit, and the length of the paper feed path as a whole of the image forming apparatus is long, and accordingly, the configuration inside the apparatus main body is complicated and there are many places where paper jams can occur, It was difficult to reduce the frequency of paper jams.

  In view of these points, the inventors of the present invention can improve the paper feed cassette to reduce the installation space of the image forming apparatus and reduce the occurrence frequency of paper jam. A unit has already been proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-312975).

  Specifically, the mechanism unit functioning as a paper feed cassette and the mechanism unit functioning as a manual feed tray are integrated into a unit, whereby the paper feed cassette mechanism unit and the manual paper feed mechanism unit are arranged on substantially the same plane. (For example, at the bottom of the image forming apparatus) and a common paper transport path is formed between the two. Accordingly, it is possible to dispose the manual sheet feeding mechanism unit below the conveyance path (sheet feeding path) extending from the sheet feeding cassette toward the image forming unit. In addition, a path for transporting the recording medium taken out from the paper feed cassette mechanism and a path for transporting the recording medium taken out from the manual paper feed mechanism exist in the same unit, and these paths are set inside the unit. It is possible to combine them (conveying paths in common) and to reduce the frequency of paper jams by shortening the length of each path.

  By the way, in a general image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 10, there are a plurality of paper feed cassettes that contain recording papers of various sizes so that a plurality of types of recording papers can be used. There are steps.

  When the paper feed mechanism is configured by combining a plurality of stages of the composite type paper feed unit in which the paper feed cassette mechanism unit and the manual paper feed mechanism unit are combined, the user can use the composite type paper feed used for manual paper feed. Units can be arbitrarily selected. However, in other words, this is a configuration in which the manual paper feed mechanism of all the composite type paper feed units can handle a plurality of types of paper, that is, the maximum size that may be applied. It is necessary to have a configuration that can be applied to the paper in advance.

  As described above, when a configuration that can be applied to the maximum size paper that can be applied is provided in the manual paper feed mechanism of all the composite paper feed units, the configuration of the apparatus is complicated. End up.

  Therefore, if the paper size applicable to the manual paper feed mechanism of each composite type paper feed unit is fixed as one type, the size of each manual paper feed mechanism can be minimized. It is possible to simplify the apparatus configuration.

  However, in this case, the user needs to recognize in advance which size of the manual paper feed mechanism unit of which composite type paper feed unit corresponds to which size of paper. This makes the selection operation complicated, and the usability of the apparatus is poor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a composite type paper feeding system in which a mechanism unit functioning as a paper feeding cassette and a mechanism unit functioning as a manual feed tray are integrated. A sheet feeding mechanism capable of improving the usability of the apparatus by simplifying the selection operation of the manual sheet feeding mechanism unit with respect to a sheet feeding mechanism formed by combining a plurality of units, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding mechanism It is to provide.

-Summary of invention-
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the solution of the present invention is to provide a multi-type sheet feeding unit composed of a sheet feeding cassette mechanism unit and a manual sheet feeding mechanism unit that are stacked in a plurality of stages. Depending on the image formation conditions at the time of image formation (the paper size on which image formation is to be performed), the manual feed tray on which paper of that size can be placed is unfolded from the stored state (unusable state) (used) In such a manner that the user can be notified of the manual sheet feeding mechanism to be used.

-Solution-
Specifically, the present invention relates to a paper feed cassette mechanism that can store a recording medium for forming an image in an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus, and a manual paper feed mechanism that allows a user to place the recording medium. Are premised on a paper feed mechanism provided with a plurality of composite type paper feed units configured as one unit. For this paper feed mechanism, a manual feed tray that is stored in the manual paper feed mechanism of each composite paper feed unit when not in use and unfolded during use so that a recording medium can be placed by the user is provided. In addition, an automatic unfolding means capable of automatically operating the manual feed tray from the retracted state to the unfolded state is provided. Further, the manual feed trays of the manual paper feed mechanisms are configured such that the sizes of the recording media that can be placed are different from each other and only one type of recording media can be placed. The image forming apparatus includes a manual feed tray on which a recording medium having a size selected by the user in the print condition input among the plurality of manual feed mechanism units can be placed during an image forming operation by feeding from the manual feed mechanism unit. A configuration in which a manual tray of one manual paper feed mechanism is automatically operated from a retracted state to an expanded state by an automatic unfolding means in order to inform a user of one manual paper feed mechanism as a manual paper feed mechanism to be used. It is said.

  In this case, the size of the recording medium that can be accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette mechanism section in each composite sheet feeding unit and the size of the recording medium that can be placed in the manual sheet feeding mechanism section are matched.

Due to these specific items, when an image forming operation is performed by manual sheet feeding, only the manual tray that can place a sheet having a size set in the image forming condition automatically operates from the stored state to the unfolded state. The user can easily recognize the manual paper feed mechanism unit to be used by recognizing the unfolding operation of the manual tray. Therefore, in order to simplify the configuration of the apparatus , the user can use any one of the composite paper feed types for one type of paper size applicable to the manual paper feed mechanism of each composite paper feed unit. There is no need to recognize in advance what size paper the manual paper feed mechanism of the unit is compatible with, and the recording medium may be placed on the manual tray that has been subjected to the unfolding operation. . For this reason, the selection operation of the manual sheet feeding mechanism can be simplified, and the usability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

  Further, as a specific configuration for matching the size of the recording medium that can be accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette mechanism section in each composite type sheet feeding unit with the size of the recording medium that can be placed in the manual sheet feeding mechanism section, The following are listed. That is, a guide member that regulates the placement position of the recording medium by attaching to the manual feed tray by contacting an edge extending along the transport direction of the recording medium to be placed is attached. Further, the mounting position of the guide member is set to a position that regulates the mounting position of the recording medium having the same size as the recording medium that can be accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette mechanism section in the same composite type sheet feeding unit.

  Further, each manual feed tray is provided with an auxiliary tray that allows the entire length of the tray to be extended in the unfolded state. The auxiliary tray provided in each manual feed tray can be loaded with a recording medium having the same size as the recording medium that can be accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette mechanism section in the same composite type sheet feeding unit. Is set.

  In addition, as a specific configuration of the automatic deployment means, in the energized state, it becomes an electromagnet and electromagnetically attracts the manual feed tray to the retracted state. The configuration includes an electromagnetic magnet. In other words, the electromagnetic magnet of only the manual feed tray that can place the paper of the size set in the image forming conditions is de-energized, the electromagnetic adsorption is released, and the manual feed tray automatically changes from the stored state to the expanded state. Will work.

  The following are listed as one form of a specific sheet feeding operation by the sheet feeding mechanism. That is, when the recording medium placed on the manual feed tray of the manual feed mechanism is supplied to the image forming unit and the image forming operation is being performed, the recording medium on the manual feed tray disappears during the image forming operation. In this case, the recording medium accommodated in the paper feed cassette mechanism section in the same composite type paper feed unit is supplied to the image forming section so that the image forming operation is performed.

  For this reason, even when less than the required number of recording media are loaded on the manual feed tray, image formation is performed using the recording media stored in the paper feed cassette mechanism section in the same composite type paper feed unit. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the image forming operation is stopped even though the image forming operation is not yet completed.

  Further, when the image forming operation in which the recording medium placed on the manual feed tray of the manual feed mechanism unit is supplied to the image forming unit is finished and the image forming apparatus is in a standby state, the manual feed mechanism unit A warning that prompts the user to remove the remaining recording medium and place the manual feed tray in the retracted state is performed.

  As a result, when starting the next image forming operation, there is no manual feed tray (unused manual feed tray) that has already been unfolded, and the image forming conditions for this image forming operation are the same. Only the corresponding manual feed tray can be brought into the unfolded state by the operation of the automatic unfolding means.

  Note that an image forming apparatus including any one of the above solutions is also within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. That is, an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium that is taken out from the sheet feeding cassette mechanism unit or the manual sheet feeding mechanism unit in any one of the composite sheet feeding units and supplied to the image forming unit. It is.

According to the present invention, a sheet feeding mechanism formed by uniting a sheet feeding cassette mechanism unit and a manual sheet feeding mechanism unit in a plurality of stages is used in accordance with image forming conditions at the time of image formation. Thus, the manual feed tray on which a recording medium of that size can be placed is automatically operated from the stored state to the expanded state, thereby notifying the user of the manual paper feed mechanism to be used. Therefore, in order to simplify the configuration of the apparatus , the user can use any one of the composite paper feed types for one type of paper size applicable to the manual paper feed mechanism of each composite paper feed unit. There is no need to recognize in advance what size paper the manual paper feed mechanism of the unit is compatible with, and the recording medium may be placed on the manual tray that has been subjected to the unfolding operation. . For this reason, the selection operation of the manual sheet feeding mechanism can be simplified, and the usability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a multifunction machine having a copy function, a print function, and a facsimile function.

-Description of overall configuration of MFP-
FIG. 1 schematically shows the internal configuration of a multifunction machine 1 as an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an outline of each internal configuration when the composite type paper feeding units 5, 5,... As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 includes a scanner unit 2, a printing unit 3 as an image forming unit, and an automatic document feeder 4. Hereinafter, each part will be described.

<Description of Scanner Unit 2>
The scanner unit 2 reads image of a document placed on a document table 41 made of transparent glass or the like, or a document image fed one by one by the document automatic sheet feeding unit 4 to generate image data. It is. The scanner unit 2 includes an exposure light source 21, a plurality of reflecting mirrors 22, 23, 24, an imaging lens 25, and a photoelectric conversion device (CCD: Charge Coupled Device) 26.

  The exposure light source 21 emits light to a document placed on the document table 41 of the automatic document feeder 4 or a document conveyed through the automatic document feeder 4. Each reflecting mirror 22, 23, 24 reflects the reflected light from the document once in the left direction in the drawing, as shown by an alternate long and short dash line A in FIG. Reflected in the right direction in the figure so as to go to 25.

  As a document image reading operation, when a document is placed on the document table 41 (when used as a “sheet fixing method”), the exposure light source 21 and the reflecting mirrors 22, 23, 24 are connected to the document table 41. The image of the entire document is read by scanning in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, when reading a document conveyed by the automatic document feeder 4 (when used as a “sheet moving method”), the exposure light source 21 and the reflecting mirrors 22, 23, 24 are fixed at the positions shown in FIG. Then, the image is read when the document passes through a document reading unit 42 of the automatic document feeder 4 described later.

  The light reflected by the reflecting mirrors 22, 23, 24 and passing through the imaging lens 25 is guided to the photoelectric conversion element 26, and the reflected light is converted into an electric signal (original image data) by the photoelectric conversion element 26. It is like that.

<Description of Print Unit 3>
The printing unit 3 includes an image forming system 31 and a paper transport system 32.

  The image forming system 31 includes a laser scanning unit 31a and a photosensitive drum 31b as a drum-type image carrier. The laser scanning unit 31a irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b with laser light based on the document image data converted by the photoelectric conversion element 26. The photosensitive drum 31b rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b by being irradiated with laser light from the laser scanning unit 31a.

  In addition to the laser scanning unit 31a, a developing device (developing mechanism) 31c, a transfer unit 31d constituting the transfer mechanism, a cleaning device (cleaning mechanism) 31e, and a static eliminator (not shown) are provided around the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 31b. The charging units 31f are sequentially arranged in the circumferential direction. The developing device 31c develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b into a visible image with toner (visualizing substance). The transfer unit 31d transfers a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b onto a recording paper P as a recording medium. The cleaning device 31e removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b after the toner transfer. The static eliminator removes residual charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b. The charging unit 31f charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b before the electrostatic latent image is formed to a predetermined potential.

  Therefore, when an image is formed on the recording paper P, the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b is charged to a predetermined potential by the charging unit 31f, and the laser scanning unit 31a emits laser light based on the document image data to the photosensitive drum. Irradiate the surface of 31b. Thereafter, the developing device 31c develops a visible image with toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b, and the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper P by the transfer unit 31d. Further, after that, the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b is removed by the cleaning device 31e, and the residual charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b is removed by the static eliminator. Thereby, one cycle of the image forming operation (printing operation) on the recording paper P is completed. By repeating this cycle, it is possible to continuously form images on a plurality of recording sheets P.

  On the other hand, the paper transport system 32 feeds the recording paper P from either the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 or the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 provided in a plurality of composite type paper feed units 5, 5,. Each sheet is conveyed to cause image formation by the image forming system 31 and the recording paper P on which the image has been formed is discharged to a paper discharge tray 35 as a paper discharge portion.

  The paper transport system 32 includes a main transport path 36 and a reverse transport path 37. The main conveyance path 36 has one end facing the discharge side of the uppermost composite sheet feeding unit 5 and the other end facing the sheet discharge tray 35. One end of the reverse conveyance path 37 is connected to the main conveyance path 36 on the upstream side (lower side in the drawing) of the transfer unit 31d, and the other end is downstream of the transfer unit 31d. (Upper side in the figure) is connected to the main transport path 36. In this embodiment, a part of the reverse conveyance path 37 passes through the uppermost composite sheet feeding unit 5. For this reason, a guide member 37 b for forming the reverse conveyance path 37 is provided inside the composite type paper feeding unit 5.

  As the paper feeding cassette mechanism 6 or the manual paper feeding mechanism 7 is driven, the recording paper P can be intermittently fed to the printing unit 3 one by one from any one of the mechanical units 6 and 7. It is like that.

  A registration roller 51 provided in the composite type paper feeding unit 5 is disposed upstream of the position where the transfer unit 31 d is disposed in the main conveyance path 36. The registration roller 51 conveys the recording paper P while aligning the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 31b with the recording paper P. A fixing device 39 including a pair of fixing rollers 39a and 39b for fixing the toner image transferred onto the recording paper P by heating is disposed downstream of the position where the transfer unit 31d is disposed in the main conveyance path 36. It is installed. Further, a discharge roller 36 e for discharging the recording paper P to the paper discharge tray 35 is disposed at the downstream end of the main transport path 36.

  A branching claw 38 is disposed at a connection position at the upstream end of the reverse conveyance path 37 with respect to the main conveyance path 36. The branch claw 38 is rotated about the horizontal axis between the first position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 and the second position that rotates counterclockwise from the first position to open the reverse conveyance path 37. It is free to rotate. When the branching claw 38 is at the first position, the recording paper P is conveyed toward the paper discharge tray 35, and when it is at the second position, the recording paper P can be supplied to the reverse conveyance path 37. A conveyance roller 37a is disposed in the reverse conveyance path 37, and when the recording paper P is supplied to the reverse conveyance path 37 (when the recording paper P is supplied to the reverse conveyance path 37 by so-called switchback conveyance). The recording paper P is transported by the transport roller 37a, and the recording paper P is reversed upstream of the registration roller 51 and transported again through the main transport path 36 toward the transfer unit 31d. That is, an image can be formed on the back surface of the recording paper P.

<Description of Automatic Document Feeder 4>
Next, the automatic document feeder 4 will be described. The automatic document feeder 4 is configured as a so-called automatic duplex document feeder. The automatic document feeder 4 can be used as a sheet moving type, and includes a document tray 43 as an original placement unit, an intermediate tray 44, a document discharge tray 45 as a document discharge unit, and trays 43, 44, A document transport system 46 is provided for transporting a document between 45.

  The document transport system 46 includes a main transport path 47 for transporting a document placed on the document tray 43 to the intermediate tray 44 or the document discharge tray 45 via the document reading unit 42, and the document on the intermediate tray 44. And a sub-transport path 48 for supplying the main transport path 47 to the main transport path 47.

  A document pickup roller 47a and a separating roller 47b are disposed at the upstream end of the main conveyance path 47 (a portion facing the discharge side of the document tray 43). A separation plate 47c is disposed below the separation roller 47b, and one of the documents on the document tray 43 is placed between the separation roller 47b and the separation plate 47c as the document pickup roller 47a rotates. Is fed to the main transport path 47. PS rollers 47e and 47e are disposed on the downstream side of the joining portion (B portion in the figure) of the main transport path 47 and the sub transport path 48. The PS rollers 47 e and 47 e adjust the leading edge of the document and the image reading timing of the scanner unit 2 and supply the document to the document reading unit 42. That is, the PS rollers 47e and 47e temporarily stop the conveyance of the document while the document is supplied, and adjust the timing to supply the document to the document reading unit 42.

  The document reading unit 42 includes a platen glass 42a and a document pressing plate 42b. When the document supplied from the PS rollers 47e and 47e passes between the platen glass 42a and the document pressing plate 42b, the exposure light source 21 is provided. Is irradiated to the original through the platen glass 42a. At this time, the document image data is acquired by the scanner unit 2. A biasing force by a coil spring (not shown) is applied to the back surface (upper surface) of the document pressing plate 42b. Thereby, the document pressing plate 42b is in contact with the platen glass 42a with a predetermined pressing force, and prevents the document from floating from the platen glass 42a when passing the document reading unit 42.

  On the downstream side of the platen glass 42a, a conveyance roller 47f and a document discharge roller 47g are provided. The document that has passed over the platen glass 42a is discharged to the intermediate tray 44 or the document discharge tray 45 through the transport roller 47f and the document discharge roller 47g.

  An intermediate tray swinging plate 44 a is disposed between the document discharge roller 47 g and the intermediate tray 44. The intermediate tray swinging plate 44a swings between a position 1 indicated by a solid line in the figure and a position 2 that is flipped upward from the position 1 with the end on the intermediate tray 44 side being the center of swinging. It is possible. When the intermediate tray swinging plate 44 a is at position 2, the document discharged from the document discharge roller 47 g is collected to the document discharge tray 45. On the other hand, when the intermediate tray swinging plate 44a is at the position 1, the document discharged from the document discharge roller 47g is discharged to the intermediate tray 44. When the sheet is discharged onto the intermediate tray 44, the edge of the document is sandwiched between the document discharge rollers 47g and 47g. It is supplied to the transport path 48 and is sent again to the main transport path 47 via the sub-transport path 48. The reverse rotation operation of the document discharge roller 47g is performed by adjusting the document delivery to the main conveyance path 47 and the image reading timing. Thus, the image on the back side of the document is read by the document reading unit 42.

-Basic operation of MFP-
As an operation of the MFP 1 configured as described above, first, when the MFP 1 functions as a printer, it receives print data (image data or text data) transmitted from a host device such as a personal computer. The received print data (print data) is temporarily stored in a buffer (memory) (not shown). Along with storing the print data in the buffer, the print data is sequentially read from the buffer, and based on the read print data, an image is formed on the recording paper P by the image forming operation of the print unit 3 described above.

  When the multifunction machine 1 functions as a scanner, scanned image data of a document read by the scanner unit 2 is temporarily stored in a buffer. Along with storing the scan image data in the buffer, the scan image data is sequentially transmitted from the buffer to the host device, and the image is displayed on the display or the like of the host device. When the multifunction machine 1 functions as a facsimile, the transmission destination of the scanned image data is a general public line.

  Further, when the multifunction machine 1 functions as a copying machine, an image is formed on the recording paper P by the image forming operation of the printing unit 3 based on the original image data read by the scanner function.

-Description of the composite paper feeding unit 5-
Next, the composite type paper feeding unit 5 which is a characteristic part of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multifunction machine 1 is provided with a paper feed mechanism in which a plurality of composite type paper feed units 5, 5,. Each of the composite type paper feeding units 5, 5,... Is substantially the same, and therefore, here, one composite type paper feeding unit 5 will be described as a representative. Each of the composite type paper feeding units 5, 5,... Has one type of applicable paper size. Therefore, only the configuration for positioning the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 and the configuration of the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 are different from each other. In the following description, the composite type paper feeding unit 5 located at the uppermost stage will be described as an example.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view in which a part of the sheet feeding cassette mechanism unit 6 and the manual sheet feeding mechanism unit 7 of the composite sheet feeding unit 5 are omitted. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration inside the composite type paper feeding unit 5.

  As shown in each of these drawings, the composite type paper feeding unit 5 is configured such that the paper feeding cassette mechanism unit 6 and the manual paper feeding mechanism unit 7 are accommodated in a unit casing 52A that forms the casing of the unit 5. ing. The paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 includes a paper feed cassette 61 that can accommodate a large number of sheets (for example, 500 sheets) of recording paper P. On the other hand, the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 is one sheet by manual operation by the user. Alternatively, a manual feed tray 71 on which several recording sheets can be placed is provided. That is, the sheet feeding cassette 61 and the manual feed tray 71 are accommodated in the unit casing 52A and unitized to constitute the composite sheet feeding unit 5. The unit casing 52A is formed in a box shape having a bottom plate 52c, a top plate 52d, and side plates 52e provided on three sides excluding the place where the manual feed mechanism 7 is disposed. Hereinafter, each mechanism part 6 and 7 is demonstrated.

<Description of Paper Feed Cassette Mechanism 6>
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the paper feed cassette mechanism section 6 includes the paper feed cassette 61 configured in a container shape with the upper side opened. A rotating plate 62 as a paper storage plate is rotatably supported. The paper feed cassette 61 can be pulled out to the front side (front side in FIG. 1) of the multi-function device 1 with respect to the unit casing 52A. When the paper feed cassette 61 is pulled out, The recording paper can be replenished to the paper feed cassette 61.

  The rotation plate 62 is supported so as to be rotatable up and down around a rotation axis extending in the width direction of the paper feed cassette 61 (direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 4), and the lower surface thereof is supported upward. A lift plate 63 to which rotational force is applied is in contact. That is, the rotating plate 62 always receives an upward biasing force by the biasing force from the lift plate 63. A coil spring may be provided instead of the lift plate 63, and an upward biasing force may be applied to the rotating plate 62 by the biasing force from the coil spring.

  Further, one end portion (the right end portion in FIG. 4) inside the paper feed cassette 61 is provided with a not-shown paper front end aligning claw for contacting the front end edge of the recording paper P and aligning the recording paper P. The leading edge of the recording paper P is pressed from above by the paper leading edge aligning claw. For this reason, when the recording paper P is loaded in the paper feed cassette 61, the rotating plate 62 is rotated upward by the urging force of the lift plate 63, and the rotational position is the front end corner of the recording paper P. Is regulated to a position where it is in contact with the paper leading edge aligning claw. In this state, the paper feed cassette 61 is inserted into the unit casing 52 </ b> A, whereby a large number of recording papers are set in the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6.

  A paper trailing edge guide member 64 for positioning the trailing edge position of the recording paper P in the paper feeding direction is fixed inside the paper feeding cassette 61. On the other hand, paper side end guide members 65 and 65 for positioning both end edge positions on the side orthogonal to the feeding direction of the recording paper P are also fixed. Note that the composite type paper feeding unit 5 according to this embodiment accommodates the recording paper P on the basis of the paper width direction center. For this reason, the respective sheet side end guide members 65 and 65 are respectively mounted at positions equal to each other with respect to the center of the sheet feeding cassette 61 in the width direction (depth direction in FIG. 4). This distance is determined by the size of the recording paper P accommodated.

  On the paper discharge side of the paper feed cassette mechanism section 6, a pickup roller 66 and a paper handling mechanism 67 that constitute a paper take-out mechanism are provided.

  The sheet winding mechanism 67 includes a winding roller 67a and a winding plate 67b. The separating plate 67b is set so that the frictional force with the recording paper P on the upper surface (contact surface with the recording paper P) is larger than the frictional force between the recording papers P and P. Further, in the roller 67a, the frictional force between the roller 67a and the recording paper P is larger than the frictional force between the upper surface of the winding plate 67b and the recording paper P and the frictional force between the recording papers P and P. It is set to be. Therefore, even if a plurality of recording papers P, P,... Are taken out from the paper feed cassette 61 and sent to the paper handling mechanism 67, the plurality of recording papers P, P,. In addition, only the uppermost recording sheet P can be sent out to a paper feed path described later.

  Pulleys 67c and 66a are provided on the rotation shafts of the roller 67a and the pickup roller 66, respectively, and a belt 68 is stretched between the pulleys 67c and 66a. A driving force of a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted to the roller 67a, and the motor driving force transmitted to the roller 67a is transmitted to the pickup roller 66 via the belt 68. ing. The rotating shafts of the roller 67a and the pickup roller 66 are supported by the same support plate (not shown in FIG. 4), and this support is provided as the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the roller 67a. The plate rotates about the rotation axis of the roller 67a (rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 4), and the pickup roller 66 comes into contact with the upper surface of the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette 61. (FIG. 4 shows the state after this rotation). That is, as the motor is driven, the pickup roller 66 comes into contact with the recording paper P in the paper feeding cassette 61, the recording paper P is taken out from the paper feeding cassette 61, and the recording paper P is fed by the paper handling mechanism 67. Accordingly, only one recording sheet P is sent out from the sheet feeding cassette 61 to the sheet feeding path.

<Description of Manual Feeding Mechanism 7>
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the manual sheet feed mechanism unit 7 includes the manual feed tray 71. As shown in FIG. 4, the manual feed tray 71 includes a tray base 72 supported by the unit casing 52 </ b> A and a manual feed tray main body rotatably supported by a rotation shaft extending in the horizontal direction with respect to the tray base 72. 73.

  Further, the manual feed tray body 73 includes a first tray 74 that is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft that extends in the horizontal direction with respect to the tray base 72, and a front end portion of the first tray 74 (the storage shown in FIG. 4). The second tray 75 is rotatably supported with respect to the upper end portion in the state, and the third tray 75A is housed inside the second tray 75 and can be pulled out from the second tray 75. That is, the manual feed tray 71 is folded so as to be shortened when not in use and stored in the side portion of the unit casing 52A, and is unfolded when used and is variable in length.

  As a result, when paper is fed from the manual feed mechanism 7, the first tray 74 is rotated to the side of the apparatus with respect to the tray base 72, and the second tray 75 is moved relative to the first tray 74. Further, the third tray 75A is pulled out from the second tray 75 (see arrows α, β, γ in FIG. 7). As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the recording paper P can be placed (manually fed) on the trays 74, 75, and 75A with the first tray 74 and the third tray 75A facing upward in a flush manner. Become.

  It should be noted that another manual paper feed mechanism 7 on which a relatively small size recording paper P (for example, A4 size paper) is placed does not include the third tray 75A, and the first tray 74 is the tray base 72. , And the second tray 75 is turned sideways with respect to the first tray 74 so that the inner surfaces of the first tray 74 and the second tray 75 are flush with each other. The recording paper P can be placed (manually fed) from the first tray 74 to the second tray 75.

  Further, in another manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 on which a small size recording paper P (for example, B5 size paper) is placed, the second tray 75 and the third tray 75A are not provided, and the first tray 74 is placed in the tray. By rotating the base 72 toward the side of the apparatus, the inner surface of the first tray 74 faces upward, and the recording paper P can be placed (manually fed) on the first tray 74.

  In addition, with each operation described above, a manual feed path 89, which will be described later, which is a recording medium conveyance path of the manual feed mechanism unit 7, is opened to the outside (a state in which the recording paper P can be introduced).

  The first tray 74 is provided with a deployment gripping portion 74a positioned on the outer surface side of the apparatus in the storage state shown in FIG. By depressing one tray 74, the first tray 74 is in an open (deployed) state.

  The gripping portion 74a is formed by a small protrusion formed at the center of the outer surface of the first tray 74, and the user hooks a finger on the gripping portion 74a to rotate the first tray 74 downward. As a result, only the first tray 74 is expanded (rotated) (see arrow α in FIG. 5).

  Further, the manual feed tray 71 comes into contact with each edge in the width direction of the recording paper P to be placed (an edge extending in the transport direction in the recording paper P to be placed), thereby causing the recording paper P to come into contact. A pair of guide members 79, 79 (see FIG. 1; not shown in FIG. 3) for restricting the mounting position are attached. The recording paper P is also placed on the manual feed tray 71 based on the center in the width direction. For this reason, the guide members 79 and 79 are respectively attached at positions equal to each other with respect to the center of the manual feed tray 71 in the width direction (depth direction in FIG. 4). This distance is determined by the size of the recording paper P to be placed.

  Further, the manual sheet feeding mechanism unit 7 in this embodiment is provided with an automatic unfolding means so that the opening operation of the first tray 74 can be automatically performed. Specifically, a small metal piece 74b is attached to the tip of the inner side surface (the upper surface in the open state shown in FIG. 5) of the first tray 74, while the unit casing 52A or the side surface on the multifunction device main body side. An electromagnetic magnet 52b is provided at a position facing the metal piece 74b when the first tray 74 is stored. The electromagnetic magnet 52b is connected to a DC power source and becomes an electromagnet when energized, and maintains the retracted state of the first tray 74 by electromagnetically attracting the metal piece 74b. On the other hand, when the user requests paper feed from the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 by operating the operation panel of the multifunction machine 1, the electromagnetic magnet 52b according to the request is turned off, and the metal The electromagnetic adsorption state of the piece 74b is released, and the first tray 74 is rotated from the retracted state to the open state by its own weight.

  On the paper discharge side of the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7, a paper draw roller 76 and a paper handling mechanism 77 constituting a paper take-out mechanism are provided.

  The sheet winding mechanism 77 includes a winding roller 77a and a winding plate 77b. Since these configurations are the same as those of the paper handling mechanism 67 provided in the paper feed cassette mechanism section 6 described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

  Pulleys 77c and 76a are provided on the rotation shafts of the roller 77a and the paper drawing roller 76, respectively, and a belt 78 is stretched between the pulleys 77c and 76a. A driving force of a driving motor (not shown) is transmitted to the separating roller 77a, and the motor driving force transmitted to the separating roller 77a is transmitted to the paper drawing roller 76 via the belt 78. It has become. The rotating shafts of the roller 77a and the paper drawing roller 76 are supported by the same support plate (not shown). As the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the roller 77a, the support plate The paper feeding roller 76 is rotated about the rotation axis of the separating roller 77a so as to contact the upper surface of the recording paper P on the manual feed tray 71. That is, as the motor is driven, the paper drawing roller 76 comes into contact with the recording paper P on the manual feed tray 71, the recording paper P is taken out from the manual feed tray 71, and the recording paper P is rolled by the paper handling mechanism 77. Thus, only one recording paper P is sent out from the manual feed tray 71 to the paper feed path.

<Paper path>
Next, a paper feed path (composite type paper feed unit 5) for feeding the recording paper P taken out by the paper feed cassette mechanism section 6 and the manual paper feed mechanism section 7 configured as described above toward the main transport path 36. The internal route) will be described.

  This sheet feeding path is constituted by first to sixth guide members 81 to 86. The first guide member 81 and the second guide member 82 are disposed so as to extend in the vertical direction with a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction between the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 and the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7. Yes. Specifically, the first guide member 81 is disposed on the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 side, the second guide member 82 is disposed on the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 side, and the vicinity of the lower ends of the guide members 81 and 82 is the unit. Attached to the bottom plate 52c of the casing 52A, the vicinity of the upper ends of the guide members 81 and 82 is attached to the top plate 52d of the unit casing 52A. As a result, a main path 87 extending in the vertical direction is formed between the both 81 and 82, and the lower end (upstream side end) of the main path 87 is opened to the outside from the bottom plate 52c of the unit casing 52A. An upper end (downstream end) of 87 is open to the outside from the top plate 52d of the unit casing 52A.

  Further, the first guide member 81 and the second guide member 82 have conveying rollers 81a and 82a supported so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis (around a horizontal axis extending in the width direction of the recording paper P accommodated). The outer peripheral surfaces of these conveying rollers 81a and 82a are in contact with each other. A driving force from a motor (not shown) is transmitted to one of the conveying rollers 81a and 82a (the direction of rotation is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4), thereby conveying the main path 87. The recording paper P to be conveyed can be nipped and conveyed by these conveying rollers 81a and 82a. Note that the upper and lower ends of the first guide member 81 and the second guide member 82 are locking stages for positioning each other when the same composite type paper feeding unit 5 is overlaid on the upper side and the lower side. Portions 81c, 82c, 81d, and 82d are provided.

  The third guide member 83 is formed continuously from the separating plate 67 b of the sheet feeding cassette mechanism section 6 and is configured by a plate that curves upward toward the main path 87. On the other hand, the fourth guide member 84 is formed of a plate that is disposed at a position spaced apart from the upper surface of the third guide member 83 and curves upward toward the main path 87. The ends of the third guide member 83 and the fourth guide member 84 are connected to the edge of the opening 81 b formed in the first guide member 81. As a result, a cassette side path 88 is formed between the third guide member 83 and the fourth guide member 84 for sending the recording paper P taken out from the paper feed cassette mechanism 6 to the main path 87.

  The fifth guide member 85 is formed continuously with the tear plate 77 b of the manual sheet feeding mechanism portion 7, and is configured by a plate that curves upward toward the main path 87. On the other hand, the sixth guide member 86 is formed of a plate that is disposed at a predetermined interval with respect to the upper surface of the fifth guide member 85 and curves upward toward the main path 87. The ends of the fifth guide member 85 and the sixth guide member 86 are connected to the edge of the opening 82 b formed in the second guide member 82. As a result, a manual-side path 89 is formed between the fifth guide member 85 and the sixth guide member 86 for sending the recording paper P taken out from the manual paper feed mechanism 7 to the main path 87.

  Since the paper feed path is formed as described above, the recording paper P taken out from the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 and the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 are both provided in the composite type paper feed unit 5. After passing through the main path 87, it is introduced into the main transport path 36 and reaches the printing unit 3, and a predetermined image forming operation is performed in this printing unit 3. Accordingly, there is only one path (main conveyance path 36) for discharging the recording paper P from the discharge side of the composite type paper feeding unit 5 to the print unit 3, and the main body side of the multifunction machine 1 has a paper feed. Two paths for the cassette and the manual feed tray are not necessary. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the length of the conveyance path of the multifunction device 1 as a whole, not only simplifying the internal configuration of the multifunction device 1, but also reducing the number of paper jams that can occur. Can be reduced in frequency.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of composite type paper feeding units 5, 5,. As described above, in a state where the composite type paper feeding units 5, 5,... Are overlaid, the main paths 87 provided in the respective composite type paper feeding units 5, 5,.

  Accordingly, when taking out the recording paper P from the composite paper feeding unit 51 located at the uppermost part (the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P), the paper feed cassette mechanism 6 of the composite paper feeding unit 51 or The recording paper P taken out from the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 is sent to the main transport path 36 through the main path 87 in the composite type paper feed unit 51 (see arrows shown by solid lines in FIGS. 4 to 7).

  On the other hand, when the recording paper P is taken out from the composite paper feeding unit 52 located second from the top (second from the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P), the feeding of the composite paper feeding unit 52 is performed. The recording paper P taken out from the paper cassette mechanism unit 6 or the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 passes through the main path 87 in the composite type paper feed unit 52 and the main path 87 in the composite type paper feed unit 51, and the main transport path. (The arrow indicated by a broken line in FIGS. 4 to 7 indicates the sheet conveyance direction in the composite type sheet feeding unit 51).

  Similarly, when taking out the recording paper P from the composite type paper feeding unit 53 located third from the top (third from the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P), the taken out recording paper P is The paper is sent to the main transport path 36 through the main path 87 in the composite type paper feed unit 53 and the main path 87 in the composite type paper feed units 52 and 51 in order.

  In this way, even when the recording paper P is taken out from any of the composite type paper feed units 51 to 54 by passing through the main path 87 in the composite type paper feed unit located on the downstream side in the transport direction. Thus, it is smoothly sent out to the main transport path 36.

  As described above, the paper rear end guide member 64 and the paper side end guide members 65 and 65 provided in the paper feed cassette mechanism 6 of each composite paper feed unit 5 are attached to the bottom of the paper feed cassette 61. (Fixed). Further, guide members 79, 79 provided in each manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 are also fixed to the manual tray 71. For this reason, the size of the recording paper P that can be accommodated or placed in each of the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 and the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 of each composite paper feed unit 5 is fixed to one type. That is, each of the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 and the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 is set as a dedicated one for the recording paper P having a specific size. As an example, the uppermost composite paper feed unit 51 in FIG. 2 is A4 size paper, the second composite paper feed unit 52 is A5 size paper, and the third composite paper feed unit 53 is B4 size. The composite sheet feeding unit 54 at the bottom of the sheet is assumed to accommodate B5 size sheets. The present invention is not limited to this.

  Also, the length of the manual feed tray 71 (vertical length in the stored state) of the composite type paper feed unit 51 located at the top of the composite type paper feed units 51 to 54 according to the present embodiment is different. Longer than the manual feed tray 71. The length of the manual feed tray 71 (the vertical length in the stored state) of the other composite type paper feeding units 52 to 54 substantially matches the height dimension of the unit casing 52A, and in the stored state, the side surface of the unit casing 52A. Configure. On the other hand, in the storage state of the manual feed tray 71 of the composite type paper feeding unit 51 located at the uppermost stage, the manual feed tray 71 constitutes the side surface of the unit casing 52A, and the upper end portion of the manual feed tray 71 is the unit casing. It extends upward from the upper end of 52A and is accommodated in a recess 11 formed on the side surface of the multi-function device casing.

<Paper feeding operation>
Next, the sheet feeding operation by the composite sheet feeding unit 5 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, in STEP 1, when a print request is made by the user operating the operation panel of the multifunction device 1 (or operating the connected host device) or the like, in STEP 2, all the manual paper feed mechanism units 7. It is determined whether or not the manual feed tray 71 is in the retracted state, that is, whether or not the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 is closed on the side wall of the composite paper feed unit 5. When the manual feed tray 71 is not in the storage state, that is, when any of the manual feed trays 71 is in the open state, the process proceeds to STEP 3 to place the manual feed tray 71 in the storage state on the display unit (display panel) of the apparatus. A notification to the effect that the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 is closed is made. If it is detected in STEP 4 that the manual feed tray 71 is stored (the manual feed mechanism unit 7 is closed), the process proceeds to STEP 5.

  When the user inputs the printing conditions (STEP 5) and the printing paper (the type of recording paper P used for image formation) is selected here, the determination is YES in STEP 6 and the process proceeds to STEP 7.

  In STEP 7, it is determined whether or not the type of the recording paper P selected in the printing conditions is A4 size. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to STEP11. If the determination in STEP 7 is NO, the process proceeds to STEP 8, where it is determined whether or not the type of the recording paper P selected in the printing conditions is A5 size. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to STEP12. If the determination in STEP 8 is NO, the process moves to STEP 9, where it is determined whether or not the type of the recording paper P selected in the printing conditions is B4 size. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to STEP13. If the determination in STEP 9 is NO, the process proceeds to STEP 10, where it is determined whether or not the type of the recording paper P selected in the printing conditions is B5 size. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to STEP14. If the determination in STEP 10 is NO, the process returns to STEP 7 and the determination operation is performed again.

  In the above STEPs 11 to 14, it is determined whether or not the paper feed source of the selected printing condition is the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7. If YES is determined in any STEP, the process proceeds to STEP 15 and the electromagnetic magnet 52b corresponding to the manual feed tray 71 corresponding to the paper size of the determination result is turned OFF to determine the specific (one) manual paper feed mechanism. The manual feed tray 71 of the section 7 is opened (tilt from the side wall of the composite type paper feeding unit 5: arrow α in FIG. 5). Then, after the rotation (opening) operation of the second tray 75 as an auxiliary plate (arrow β in FIG. 6) and the pulling-out operation of the third tray 75A (arrow γ in FIG. 7) are performed as necessary (STEP 16). ) The recording paper P is placed on the manual feed tray 71 (STEP 17), and the process proceeds to STEP 21.

  On the other hand, if NO is determined in any of the above STEPs 11 to 14, it is determined that the paper feed source of the selected printing condition is the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 (STEP 18), and in STEP 19, the paper feed cassette mechanism It is determined whether there is a paper cassette 61 of the unit 6 that accommodates a recording paper P of a necessary size (recording paper P that conforms to the above printing conditions). If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to STEP 21, while if this determination is NO, in STEP 20, the user performs an operation of storing the recording paper P that conforms to the printing conditions, and then proceeds to STEP 21. In order to determine whether or not the recording paper P suitable for the printing condition is stored, the paper feed cassette 61 is provided with a paper size sensor, and the type (size and orientation) of the stored recording paper P is determined by this sensor. Detected on the display panel and determined by the user confirming it, or the type of the recording paper P stored in the paper feed cassette 61 recognized by the multi-function device 1 and the above printing conditions For example, when the type of the recording paper P is different, a warning is given to the user to prompt the storing operation of the recording paper P that meets the printing conditions.

  Then, a printing process is executed in STEP 21, a paper is fed from a desired mechanism unit, and an image is formed on the recording paper P in the printing unit 3, and then a paper discharge operation to the paper discharge tray 35 is performed. It will be.

  After the printing operation on the one recording sheet P is performed, it is determined in STEP 22 whether or not there is next printing (next printing information), and the operations in STEP 21 and 22 are repeated until the next printing information is lost. . Further, when the image forming operation using the recording paper P placed on the manual feed tray 71 is being performed, if the recording paper P on the manual feed tray 71 runs out during the printing operation (image forming operation). The recording paper P (recording paper P having the same size as the recording paper P used in the previous printing operation) accommodated in the paper feeding cassette mechanism 6 in the same composite type paper feeding unit 5 enters the printing unit 3. Then, the image forming operation is performed.

  When there is no next print information, it is determined in STEP23 whether or not there is a next print JOB. If there is a next print JOB, the process returns to STEP2 and the above operation is repeated until there is no next print JOB.

-Effect of the embodiment-
As described above, in this embodiment, the electromagnetic magnet 52b is turned off in accordance with the image forming conditions, and the specific manual feed tray 71 is opened (deployed). For this reason, the user can easily recognize the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 to be used by recognizing the unfolding operation of the manual feed tray 71, and can simplify the selection operation of the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7. Can improve usability.

  Further, since the paper feed cassette mechanism unit 6 and the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 are integrated to form the composite type paper feed unit 5, the main conveyance path 36 extending toward the print unit 3 of the multi-function device 1 and the inversion are reversed. It is possible to arrange the manual paper feed mechanism unit 7 in the position overlapping the transport path 37 in the vertical direction. As a result, it is possible to shorten the dimensions of the multifunction machine 1 and to reduce the installation space. Can be planned.

  Further, according to the composite type paper feeding unit 5, a path for conveying the recording paper P taken out from the paper feeding cassette mechanism section 6, and a path for conveying the recording paper P taken out from the manual paper feeding mechanism section 7. Can be merged inside the unit 5, and the length of each path can be shortened. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the length of the sheet conveyance path of the entire apparatus, and it is possible to stably perform the image forming operation of the apparatus by reducing the number of possible sheet jams.

-Other examples-
In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the multifunctional image forming apparatus (multifunction machine) 1 having functions as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to an image forming apparatus having only one function and other image forming apparatuses.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline of each internal structure when a composite type paper feeding unit is piled up in multiple steps. FIG. 6 is a perspective view in which a part of a composite paper feeding unit is omitted. It is a figure which shows typically the schematic structure inside a composite-type paper feed unit. FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 illustrating a state in which the first tray is rotated to the side of the apparatus. FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a state in which the first tray and the second tray are rotated to the side of the apparatus. FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 illustrating a state in which the first tray and the second tray are rotated to the side of the apparatus and the third tray is pulled out from the second tray. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a part of a sheet feeding operation of the composite sheet feeding unit. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another part of the sheet feeding operation of the composite sheet feeding unit. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an internal configuration of a conventional general copying machine. It is a figure which shows the outline of the internal structure of the other conventional copying machine.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP (image forming device)
3 Print section (image forming section)
5 Combined type paper feeding unit 52b Electromagnetic magnet (automatic deployment means)
6 Paper feeding cassette mechanism section 7 Manual paper feeding mechanism section 71 Manual tray 75 Second tray (auxiliary tray)
75A 3rd tray (auxiliary tray)
79 Guide member P Recording paper (recording medium)

Claims (8)

The image forming unit of the image forming apparatus is configured as one unit including a sheet feeding cassette mechanism unit that can store a recording medium for image formation and a manual sheet feeding mechanism unit on which a recording medium can be placed by a user. In a paper feed mechanism equipped with a plurality of composite paper feed units,
The manual paper feed mechanism of each of the composite type paper feed units is provided with a manual tray that is stored when not in use and is unfolded when used so that a user can place a recording medium. , Each of the manual feed tray is provided with automatic expansion means capable of automatically operating from the retracted state to the expanded state,
The manual feed trays of the respective manual paper feed mechanisms have different sizes of recording media that can be placed, and only one type of recording media can be placed,
During an image forming operation by feeding from the manual paper feed mechanism, one manual feed having a manual tray on which a recording medium of a size selected by the user in the print condition input among the plurality of manual paper feed mechanisms can be placed. In order to inform the user of the paper feed mechanism unit as the manual paper feed mechanism unit to be used, the manual feed tray of the one manual paper feed mechanism unit is automatically operated from the storage state to the unfolded state by the automatic unfolding means. A paper feed mechanism characterized by that. The paper feed mechanism according to claim 1.
The size of the recording medium that can be accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette mechanism section in each composite sheet feeding unit is configured so that the size of the recording medium that can be placed on the manual sheet feeding mechanism section matches. Paper feed mechanism. The paper feed mechanism according to claim 2.
The manual feed tray is attached with a guide member that regulates the placement position of the recording medium by coming into contact with an edge extending in the transport direction of the placed recording medium. A paper feed mechanism, characterized in that the paper feed mechanism is set to a position that regulates the placement position of a recording medium of the same size as a recording medium that can be accommodated in a paper feed cassette mechanism section in the same composite type paper feed unit. In the paper feed mechanism according to claim 2 or 3,
Each manual feed tray has an auxiliary tray that allows the entire length of the tray to be extended in the unfolded state.
The auxiliary tray provided in each manual feed tray is set to a shape that allows a recording medium of the same size as the recording medium that can be accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette mechanism section in the same composite type sheet feeding unit to be placed in the extended state. A paper feed mechanism characterized by that. In the paper feed mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The automatic unfolding means is configured to include an electromagnetic magnet that becomes an electromagnet when energized and electromagnetically attracts the manual feed tray to the retracted state, while releasing the electromagnetic adsorption and unfolds the manual tray when deenergized. A paper feed mechanism. In the paper feed mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
When the recording medium placed on the manual feed tray of the manual feed mechanism is supplied to the image forming unit and the image forming operation is being performed, the recording medium on the manual feed tray runs out during the image forming operation. A sheet feeding mechanism configured to perform an image forming operation by supplying a recording medium accommodated in a sheet feeding cassette mechanism section in the same composite sheet feeding unit to an image forming section. In the paper feed mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
When the image forming operation in which the recording medium placed on the manual feed tray of the manual feed mechanism unit is supplied to the image forming unit is completed and the image forming apparatus enters a standby state, the recording medium remains on the manual feed tray of the manual feed mechanism unit. A paper feed mechanism configured to issue a warning prompting removal of the recording medium and putting the manual feed tray into a storage state. An image forming apparatus comprising the paper feed mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The image forming apparatus is configured to form an image on a recording medium taken out from a sheet feeding cassette mechanism unit or a manual sheet feeding mechanism unit in any one of the composite type sheet feeding units and supplied to the image forming unit. Image forming apparatus.

Images