JP3849208B2 - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device applied to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to a structure for attaching and detaching a sheet feeding cassette on which a recording sheet is placed to a recording apparatus body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a paper feeding device configured to be detachable from a recording device main body, there is a paper feeding cassette that functions as a hopper on which cut recording paper is placed. Further, the paper feeding cassette includes the cassette. There is known a recording paper guide for assisting in placing a recording paper when a recording paper having a size that cannot be stored in the paper is placed. The attached paper guide is configured so as to be able to protrude and retract with respect to the paper feed cassette. When necessary, the paper guide is pulled out obliquely upward from the paper feed cassette, and the recording paper is placed on the paper guide in the drawn state. ing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the conventional paper feeding device as described above, when the attached paper guide is pulled out from the paper feeding cassette, a force is applied to the paper feeding cassette in an obliquely upward direction when the paper guide is pulled out. There is a problem that the cassette is pulled together with the attached paper guide and is detached from the recording apparatus main body, or is displaced from a predetermined position of the recording apparatus main body.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and when the attached paper guide is pulled out, the paper feed cassette does not come off or shift from the recording apparatus main body. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that can be easily attached to and detached from the recording apparatus main body.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a paper feeding device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a paper feeding cassette on which paper is placed and for feeding the paper to a recording mechanism in the recording device main body. A paper feeding device having an attachable and detachable attached paper guide which is drawn obliquely upward with respect to the paper feeding cassette in order to assist the paper placement by the paper cassette, and is configured to be detachable from the recording apparatus main body. When the paper feed cassette is attached to the recording apparatus main body, the hook portion that holds the paper feed cassette to the recording apparatus main body by being hooked with the hole or the recess on the recording apparatus main body has elasticity. provided, the upper wall surface of the hole or recess of the printer main body side is an upward tapered, said when releasing the locking between the hook portion and the printing apparatus main body, slightly above the paper feed cassette paper guides Direction perpendicular to the direction of pulling out It is rotated, in which the said hook with the hook is released is set to be slidable wall above the tapered shape.
[0006]
In the above configuration, since the hook portion provided in the paper feed cassette is hooked to the hole or recess on the recording apparatus main body side, the paper feed cassette is removed from the recording apparatus main body when the attached paper guide is pulled out from the paper feed cassette. Does not come off or shift. In addition, since the hook and the hole or recess on the recording apparatus main body side can be released by rotating the paper feeding cassette in a predetermined direction, it is easy to remove the paper feeding cassette from the recording apparatus main body. It can be carried out.
[0007]
[0008]
In the above configuration, the force applied to the paper cassette when the attached paper guide is pulled out is not in the direction of releasing the latch of the paper cassette with the recording apparatus body. , Can be prevented more reliably.
Further, in the above configuration, the hook portion and the hole or the recess are released from the hook by only slightly rotating the paper feed cassette, and thereafter the hook portion slides on the tapered wall surface by its elastic restoring force. The sheet feeding cassette is urged in a direction to move away from the recording apparatus body. As a result, the paper cassette can be easily removed.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the paper feeding device according to the first aspect, wherein the hook portion is hooked by a line contact with a hole or a recess on the recording device main body side. It is.
[0010]
In the above configuration, even if the hook portion and the hole or recess on the main body side of the recording device are slightly hooked, the hook portion is sufficiently hooked, and when the paper feeding cassette is removed, the hook portion is only slightly rotated. The stop can be released.
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a paper feeding device. This recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording mechanism 1, and feeds sheets S one by one from the sheet feeding apparatus 2, and further feeds the sheets to the front surface of the recording mechanism 1 by a sheet feeding apparatus 7 to perform predetermined recording on the sheets S. Then, discharge it outside the recording device. The sheet S is a so-called cut sheet cut into a rectangular shape having a certain size.
[0014]
The recording mechanism 1 includes a carriage 11 that reciprocates along a guide rail 10, an ink cartridge 12 that is supported by the carriage 11, and a recording head 13. The guide rail 10 is arranged in the width direction of the paper S supplied from the paper feeding device 2, that is, in the direction parallel to the surface of the paper S and perpendicular to the feeding direction of the paper S. At the time of recording, ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 13 toward the paper S passing below the carriage 11 while being reciprocated by a drive source (not shown), whereby an image made up of characters and figures is recorded on the paper S. Is done.
[0015]
The paper feeding device 2 includes a paper feeding cassette 3 that functions as a hopper that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body and accommodates the paper S in a stacked state, a feeding mechanism 4 that feeds the paper S from the paper feeding cassette 3, and paper feeding A wall portion 5 is provided so that the sheet S sent out from the cassette 3 may come into contact therewith. Inside the paper feed cassette 3, a push-up plate 31 that supports the stacking of the paper S is provided. The push-up plate 31 is rotatable about a rotation shaft 34 provided on the rear end side of the paper feed cassette 3, and the front end side of the paper S is pushed up and biased toward the feeding mechanism 4 by a spring 35.
[0016]
The delivery mechanism 4 is provided with a support shaft 40 parallel to the width direction of the paper S, a half-moon-shaped paper feed roller 41 mounted on the support shaft 40, and a disk-shaped collar 42. The paper feed roller 41 has a half-moon shape with a part of the circumference cut out, and a rubber material or the like is attached to the peripheral surface to increase the frictional force. The sheet S is set so as to be fed to the feeding roller 70 of the sheet feeding device 7. Further, the collar 42 is coaxial with the paper feed roller 41 and has a slightly smaller diameter than the collar 42, and is rotatable with respect to the rotation shaft 40. In the state where the notch arc portion of the paper feed roller 41 faces the paper S. In addition, the color 42 is prevented from coming into contact with the paper S and the paper S is double fed. A paper receiving surface 50 for receiving the paper S descending from the front end of the paper feed cassette 3 is formed on the wall 5. The sheet receiving surface 50 has an action of separating the sheets S sent out from the sheet feeding cassette 3 one by one, and known separating means such as a friction member may be provided as appropriate. In the paper feeding device 2, an insertion port 21 for manual paper is provided in a cover member 63 that constitutes the outline of the recording device. The manual insertion port 21 is opened downstream of the feeding mechanism 4 and upstream of the paper feeding device 7.
[0017]
The sheet feeding device 7 includes a feeding roller 70 and a pressing roller 71 provided on the upstream side of the recording mechanism 1, a lever member 75 that supports the pressing roller 71, and discharge roller pairs 72 and 73 provided on the downstream side. A passage wall 61 and the like for forming a paper passage are provided. The passage walls 61 and 62 are formed in a part of the frame 60 of the recording apparatus that supports the paper feed cassette 3, the delivery mechanism 4, and the recording mechanism 1, and continue to the position facing the recording head 13 from the sheet receiving surface 50. Extend. The feed roller 70 is rotatably provided around an axis parallel to the paper width direction, and most of the feed roller 70 is located below the passage wall 61, and a part of the upper surface is exposed from the opening between the passage walls 61 and 62. is doing. Although not particularly shown, a plurality of pressing rollers 71 are provided in the sheet width direction, and each contact the exposed portion of the feed roller 70.
[0018]
The passage wall 62 on the downstream side of both the rollers 70 and 71 forms a so-called platen surface facing the recording head 13, but is farthest from the recording head 13 at the end close to the roller 70 and gradually toward the downstream side. Inclined to approach. The contact portions of the discharge roller pairs 72 and 73 are located at substantially the same height as the upper end of the passage wall 62.
[0019]
Since the sheet path is configured in this way, the leading edge of the sheet fed from both rollers 70 and 71 advances while being in close contact with the path wall 62 and is sandwiched between the discharge roller pair 72 and 73. Since the paper between the rollers 70 and 71 and the discharge roller pair 72 and 73 is set so that the discharge roller pair 72 and 73 feed the paper slightly faster than the rollers 70 and 71, the above-mentioned The state is stretched along a line connecting the contact portions of the rollers 70 and 71 and the contact portions of the discharge roller pairs 72 and 73. In this state, recording is performed on the paper by the recording head 1. The recorded paper S is discharged to a paper discharge stacker 77. A feeding path of the paper S is indicated by a one-dot chain line.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing in detail a portion of the paper feeding cassette 3 of the paper feeding device 2, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the paper feeding cassette 3. The paper feed cassette 3 in the paper feed device 2 includes a cassette base plate 30, a push-up plate 31, a lid 32 that covers the upper surface of the paper feed cassette 3, and a side plate 33 that covers the side portions. Molded. A paper aligning plate 31 a for aligning the left and right edges of the paper is provided on the upper surface of the push-up plate 31, and a retractable paper guide (attached paper guide) 37 is provided on the back side of the cassette base plate 30. A protrusion 3b is formed at the lower end 3a of the cassette base plate 30, and the protrusion 3b is inserted into a recess 60a formed in the frame 60 of the recording apparatus main body so that the paper feed cassette 3 is coupled to the recording apparatus main body. And installed. After the paper feed cassette 3 is mounted, the hook portion 3c formed symmetrically on the back wall of the paper feed cassette 3 is brought into line contact with the hole (holding portion) 60b formed in the frame 60 of the recording apparatus main body. It is fixed to the recording apparatus main body by latching. As shown in FIG. 3, the hook portion 3c is provided with elasticity by providing cutouts 3f on three sides around the hook portion 3c. The upper end surface of the hole 60b is formed as an upward tapered surface 60c.
[0021]
Further, the lid 32 can be rotated to the side plate 33 about the shaft 32c by the arm 32b, and the lower end of the arm 32b resists the bias of the spring 35 against the lower end of both sides of the push-up plate 31 by this rotation. By pressing, the push-up plate 31 is pushed down, and a gap in which the paper S can be set is formed between the collar 42 of the feed mechanism 4 and the push-up plate 31. A cork 31b is provided as a friction member for separating and feeding paper on the push-up plate 31 with which the paper feed roller 41 and the collar 42 are in contact with the paper feed cassette 3 mounted on the apparatus main body.
[0022]
Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, in addition to FIG. 4A is a side cross-sectional view showing the paper feed cassette 3 with the paper guide 37 pulled out, and FIG. 4B is a side cross-sectional view showing the paper feed cassette 3 with the paper guide 37 stored therein, FIG. (A) is the side view which fractured | ruptured a part of paper guide 37, (b) is a front view. Both side portions of the paper guide 37 are supported by a pair of guide receivers 38 a and 38 a and auxiliary guide receivers 38 c and 38 c provided on the back surface of the paper feed cassette 3. It is configured to be able to appear and retract with respect to the cassette 3. Near the lower portion of the paper guide 37, a protrusion 37a for retaining and positioning is formed on the front side on which the recording paper is placed, and notches 37b are provided on three sides around the protrusion 37a. It has an elastic structure. On the back surface of the cassette base plate 30 facing the paper guide 37, when the paper guide 37 is pulled out, its projection 37a is engaged and a pair of engaging portions 3d and 3d for positioning are formed. A protrusion 37a is engaged when the paper guide 37 is moved downward and stored, and a stopper 39 is formed to prevent the paper guide 37 from moving upward. Further, a projection 37c is formed near the upper portion of the paper guide 37 to abut against the guide receivers 38a and 38a when the paper guide 37 is stored to prevent the paper guide 37 from moving downward. To change from the housed state of the paper guide 37 shown in FIG. 4B to the pulled-out state shown in FIG. 4A, the paper guide 37 is pulled out in an oblique direction. At the time of this drawing, it is necessary to give the paper guide 37 a pulling force for the protrusion 37a to get over the stopper 39 and to get over the lower side of the engaging portion 3d.
[0023]
Next, the hooking configuration of the hook portion 3c on the paper feed cassette 3 side and the hole 60b on the recording apparatus main body side and the operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 6A to 6C are side sectional views for explaining the operation when releasing the hook from the state where the hook portion 3c is hooked in the hole 60b. As described above, when the leading end 3a and the protruding portion 3b of the paper feed cassette 3 are inserted into the recess 60a formed in the frame 60 of the recording apparatus main body, and the paper feed cassette 3 is attached to the recording apparatus main body, FIG. As shown in (a), the hook portion 3c of the paper feed cassette 3 and the hole 60b formed in the frame 60 of the recording apparatus main body are hooked. In this latched state, the hook portion 3c is in line contact with the hole 60b and the tapered surface 60c, and the paper feed cassette 3 is in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Even if it is pulled, the hook portion 3c and the hole 60b are not released.
[0024]
When removing the paper feed cassette 3 from the recording apparatus main body, first, the paper feed cassette 3 is slightly moved until the tip of the hook portion 3c can slide on the tapered surface 60c of the hole 60b. The guide 37 is rotated in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the guide 37 is pulled out (the direction toward the front of the apparatus main body and in the direction of the arrow (1) shown in FIG. 6B) to release the hook portion 3c from the hole 60b. After that, it is pulled up in a substantially upward direction (direction of arrow (2) slightly different from the diagonally upward direction in which the paper guide 60 is pulled out). At this time, the hook portion 3c slides with the tapered surface 60c of the hole 60b in the direction of the arrow (3) while being bent, and moves upward on the tapered surface 60c as shown in FIG. The cassette 3 is removed from the frame 60 of the recording apparatus main body. Due to the bending of the hook portion 3c and the sliding with the tapered surface 60c at the time of removal, the amount of rotation of the paper feed cassette 3 required to release the hook portion 3c from the hole 60b can be reduced.
[0025]
As described above, according to the sheet feeding device 2 of the present embodiment, when the sheet feeding cassette 3 is mounted on the recording apparatus main body, the hook portion 3c and the hole 60b of the frame 60 of the recording apparatus main body are latched. Even when a force in the pulling direction is applied to the paper feed cassette 3 when the guide 37 is pulled out, the paper feed cassette 3 may be pulled together with the paper guide 37 and detached from the recording apparatus main body. There is no deviation from a predetermined position. Further, the hook portion 3c and the hole 60b are hooked by line contact, and when the paper feed cassette 3 is removed from the recording apparatus main body, the paper feed cassette 3 is slightly rotated in the front direction as described above. Since the hook portion 3c and the hole 60b can be simply released, the sheet feeding cassette 3 can be easily detached from the recording apparatus main body. Further, when the paper feed cassette 3 is removed, the hook portion 3c is bent and moves upward while sliding on the tapered surface 60c of the hole 60b, so that the paper feed cassette 3 is removed with a slight rotation amount of the paper feed cassette 3. be able to.
[0026]
In addition, this invention is not restricted to the structure of said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the hook portion 3c of the paper feed cassette 3 is hooked in the hole 60b of the frame 60 of the recording apparatus main body. You may comprise so that a recessed part may be latched. Moreover, these hook part 3c and the hole 60b are relative, and may be provided in the reverse relationship. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it is set as the structure which the hook part 3c and the hole 60b engage by line contact, you may be the structure which mutual surfaces contact.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the paper feeding device of the first aspect, the attached paper guide is pulled out from the paper feeding cassette by the hooking of the hook portion of the paper feeding cassette and the hole or the recess on the recording apparatus main body side. Even if this is done, the paper cassette does not come off or shift from the main body of the recording apparatus. Further, since the hook portion and the hole or recess on the recording apparatus main body side and the latch can be released by rotating the paper feeding cassette in a predetermined direction, the paper feeding cassette can be easily detached from the recording apparatus main body.
[0028]
Further, the rotational direction of the paper feed cassette when releasing the locking between the recording apparatus main body off click section, since the pull-out direction of the paper guide is adapted to substantially perpendicular, pull the accessory paper guide It is possible to more reliably prevent the paper feed cassette from being detached from or shifted from the recording apparatus main body.
Further, when the paper feed cassette is rotated in a predetermined release direction, the hook portion is released from the hole or the concave portion on the recording apparatus main body side, and the hook portion slides on the tapered wall surface. Therefore, the paper feed cassette can be easily detached from the recording apparatus main body with a small amount of rotation of the paper feed cassette.
[0029]
Further, according to the paper feeding device of the invention described in claim 2 , in addition to the above effect, the hook portion and the hole or the concave portion on the recording device main body side are hooked by line contact, With the amount of rotation, it is possible to obtain one that can release the hook between the hook portion and the hole or recess on the recording apparatus main body side.
[0030]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an ink jet recording apparatus including a paper feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing in detail a paper feed cassette portion of the paper feed device .
FIG. 3 is a front view of a paper feed cassette .
[Fig. 4] ( a ) is a side sectional view showing the paper feed cassette with the paper guide pulled out, and ( b ) is a side cross sectional view showing the paper feed cassette with the paper guide stored therein .
5 (a) is a side view of a partially cutaway of the paper guide, (b) is a front view.
[Fig. 6] ( a ) ( b ) ( c ) is a sectional side view for demonstrating the effect | action which cancels | releases latching from the state which the hook part and the hole latched .
[Explanation of symbols]
2 Paper feeder
3 Paper cassette
3c hook part
37 Paper Guide ( Attached Paper Guide )
60b hole
60c Tapered surface ( tapered wall surface )

Claims (2)

A paper feed cassette for feeding paper to the printing mechanism in the printing apparatus main body, and a diagonally upper side with respect to the paper feed cassette to assist the paper placement by the paper feed cassette In a paper feeding device that has a retractable accessory paper guide that is pulled out to the printer, and is configured to be detachable from the printing device main body.
The paper feed cassette is elastically provided with a hook portion that is hooked with a hole or a recess on the printing apparatus main body side to fix the paper feed cassette to the printing apparatus main body when attached to the printing apparatus main body.
The upper wall surface of the hole or recess on the printing apparatus main body side has an upward taper shape,
When releasing the hook between the hook portion and the printing apparatus main body, the hook is released and the hook portion is released by slightly rotating the paper feed cassette in a direction perpendicular to the paper guide pull-out direction. The sheet feeding device is configured to be slidable on the tapered wall surface .   The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion is hooked by a line contact with a hole or a recess on the printing apparatus main body side.

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