JP4066452B2 - Paper feeding device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention conveys a sheetPaper feederAnd an image forming apparatus having the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an image forming device,Paper feederIn addition to manual feedPaper feederAre known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-2282 A
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  However, in the above conventional example,Paper feederAnd manual feedPaper feederAre attached to the dedicated parts, for example, manual feedPaper feederHowever, there is a problem in that an image forming apparatus cannot be downsized as a result.
[0005]
BypassPaper feederThere is a single sheet feeder that is set and conveyed one by one. The object of the present invention is toPaper feeder,In particularPaper cassette orMiniaturized by effectively using the space where the single-sheet feeder is installedThen, the cost of the entire sheet feeder and sheet feeder is reduced by simplifying the drive transmission system.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the first feature of the present invention is:Paper feederBody and thisPaper feederA paper cassette that is detachably attached to the main body, and the paper cassettePaper feederSingle-cut feeder that is detachably attached to the main unitThe sheet feeder main body has a main body side transport roll, the sheet cassette has a sheeting member, and the sheet feeder has a transmission roll. When the paper feeding cassette is mounted on the paper feeding device main body, the main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with a separating member provided in the sheet feeding cassette, and cooperates with the separating member to cooperate with the uppermost sheet of the paper feeding cassette. When the sheet feeder is mounted on the sheet feeder main body, the main body-side transport roll can be pressed against the transmission roll and can receive a driving force from the sheet feeder main body side. .
[0007]
The second feature of the present invention is thatPaper feederBody and thisPaper feederA single-sheet feeder that is detachably attached to the main body, and in place of this single-sheet feederPaper feederPaper cassette that is detachably attached to the main unitThe sheet feeder main body has a main body side transport roll, the sheet cassette has a sheeting member, and the sheet feeder has a transmission roll. When the paper feeding cassette is mounted on the paper feeding device main body, the main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with a separating member provided in the sheet feeding cassette, and cooperates with the separating member to cooperate with the uppermost sheet of the paper feeding cassette. When the sheet feeder is mounted on the sheet feeder main body, the main body-side transport roll can be pressed against the transmission roll and can receive a driving force from the sheet feeder main body side. .
[0008]
The third feature of the present invention is thatPaper feeding device having main body side transport rollThis has a bodyPaper feederFor the main body,Has a whiskerWith paper cassetteWith transmission rollReplaceable with single-sheet feederPaper feederIt is in.When the paper feeding cassette is mounted on the paper feeding device main body, the main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with a separating member provided in the sheet feeding cassette, and cooperates with the separating member to cooperate with the uppermost sheet of the paper feeding cassette. When the sheet feeder is mounted on the sheet feeder main body, the main body-side transport roll can be pressed against the transmission roll and can receive a driving force from the sheet feeder main body side. .
[0009]
Therefore, if you need a single-sheet feeder, install a single-sheet feeder instead of a paper-feed cassette, and if you do not need a single-sheet feeder, install a paper-feed cassette instead of a single-sheet feeder. A wasteful space is not required, and as a result, the image forming apparatus can be downsized.
[0010]
Also, the aboveThe main body side transport roll can be shared for drive transmission in the case of a single-sheet feeder, and can be used for paper handling in the case of a paper feed cassette. Can be prevented from increasing. In addition, since it can be driven from the drive source on the sheet feeder main body side, the single sheet feeder does not require a dedicated drive source, the drive transmission system can be simplified, and the cost of the single sheet feeder and the entire sheet feeder is reduced. Can be reduced.
[0011]
The cut sheet feederPaper feederAs abovePaper feederIt is preferable that the main body can be pulled out. As a result, when installing a single-sheet feeder,Paper feederIt can be performed by the same method as that described above, and the mounting work can be facilitated.
[0012]
Further, it is preferable that the single sheet feeder has a pair of guide portions at least one of which is supported so as to be openable, and the pair of guide portions constitute a sheet conveyance path. Further, the single-sheet feeder has at least a pair of feeder-side transport rolls, one of the feeder-side transport rolls as one of the guide portions, and the other of the feeder-side transport roll pairs as the other of the guide portions, respectively. It is preferable to be supported rotatably. As a result, if a paper jam occurs in the single-sheet feeder,Feeder bodyThe jammed paper can be easily removed by removing the paper and removing the guide. Further, it is preferable that at least one of the feeder-side transport rolls is connected to a drive transmission system that receives a driving force from the sheet feeding apparatus main body side.
[0013]
It is preferable that at least the surface of the transmission roll is made of a material having a high friction coefficient. Thus, by making the surface of a transmission roll into a high friction material, the friction transmission loss from a main body side conveyance roll to a transmission roll can be reduced.
[0014]
It is preferable that each of the sheet feeding cassette and the single sheet feeder has an identifier, and it is determined by this identifier whether the sheet feeding cassette is mounted or the single sheet feeder is mounted. The identifier is composed of, for example, a plurality of protrusions, and can be identified by changing the formation position and number of protrusions of the sheet feeding cassette and the single sheet feeder. Such an identifier can be detected by, for example, a detection unit including a microswitch. As the identifier of the paper feed cassette, the formation position and number of projections can be made different so that the size of the paper to be loaded in the paper feed cassette can be identified.
[0015]
Although it is necessary to detect whether or not a sheet is set in the sheet feeder, a sheet detection member is provided that moves when the sheet is set in the sheet feeder. It is preferable to detect by a paper sensor that detects the presence or absence of the paper. This eliminates the need to provide a detection sensor in the single-sheet feeder, eliminates the need to provide electrical wiring or connectors for paper detection, reduces costs, and eliminates the need for connector connection. Can be easily.
[0016]
The present invention has been described above.Paper feederIncluding an image forming apparatus.
  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the sheet feeding cassette and the sheet feeder can be replaced with respect to the sheet feeding apparatus body.The sheet feeder main body has a main body side transport roll, the sheet cassette has a sheeting member, the sheet feeder has a transmission roll, and the sheet cassette is mounted on the sheet feeder body. In this case, the main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with a sheet-feeding member provided in the sheet-feed cassette, and cooperates with the sheet-rolling member to send out only the uppermost sheet of the sheet-feed cassette. When a sheet feeder is mounted on the main body, the main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with the transmission roll, and receives a driving force from the paper feeder main body.A first detection unit that detects whether the sheet feeding cassette or the sheet feeder is mounted; and a control unit that controls an image forming operation based on a detection result of the first detection unit. It is in the point to have. Furthermore, a second detection unit for detecting whether or not a sheet is set in the single-sheet feeder is provided, the first detection unit detects that the single-sheet feeder is mounted, and the second detection unit. When it is detected that the sheet has been set in the single-sheet feeder, the control unit preferably performs control so as to start conveyance of the sheet set in the single-sheet feeder.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
  FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12, an image forming unit 14 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 12, and a discharge unit 16 described later is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 12. At the same time, for example, two steps are provided below the image forming apparatus main body 12.Is a paper feederPaper feeding units 18, 18 are arranged. Further, a plurality of paper feeding units can be optionally arranged below the image forming apparatus main body 12.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.The main body of the paper feederIt has a paper feed unit main body 20 and a paper feed cassette 22 in which paper is stored. The paper feed cassette 22 is detachably attached to the paper feed unit main body 20 and pulled out in the front direction (left direction in FIG. 1). In addition, a pressure roll 24 is arranged in the upper part near the rear end of the paper feed cassette 22, and in front of the pressure roll 24.It is a whispering memberA retard roll 26 and a main body side transport roll 28 are arranged. The pressure roll 24 and the main body side transport roll 28 are supported by the paper feed unit main body 20, respectively, and the retard roll 26 is supported by the paper feed cassette 22.
[0019]
The main conveyance path 32 is a sheet path from the main body side conveyance roll 28 to the discharge port 34, and this main conveyance path 32 is in the vicinity of the back surface (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12 and has the lowest end. And a fixing device 36 described later. A transfer device 42 and an image carrier 44, which will be described later, are disposed on the upstream side of the fixing device 36 in the main transport path 32, and a registration roll 38 is disposed on the upstream side of the transfer device 42 and the image carrier 44. Further, a discharge roll 40 is disposed in the vicinity of the discharge port 34 of the main conveyance path 32.
[0020]
Therefore, the sheet fed from the paper feed cassette 22 of the paper feed unit 18 by the pressure roll 24 is turned by the cooperation of the retard roll 26 and the main body side transport roll 28, and only the uppermost sheet is guided to the transport path 32. The developer image is temporarily stopped by the resist roll 38, the developer image is transferred between a transfer device 42 and an image carrier 44, which will be described later, and the transferred developer image is fixed by the fixing device 36. The paper is discharged from the discharge port 34 to the discharge unit 16 by the discharge roll 40.
[0021]
However, in the case of duplex printing, it is returned to the reverse path. That is, the front of the discharge roll 40 in the main conveyance path 30 is divided into two forks, and a first switching device 46 is provided at the divided portion, and a reverse path 48 is formed to return from the divided portion to the resist roll 38. Has been. The reversing path 48 is provided with transport rolls 50a to 50c. In the case of double-sided printing, the first switching device 46 is switched to the side that opens the reversing path 48, and the trailing end of the recording medium is transferred to the discharge roll 40. The discharge roll 40 is reversed when the front side is applied, and the recording medium is guided to the reverse path 48, and is discharged from the discharge port 34 to the discharge unit 16 through the registration roll 38, the transfer device 42, the image carrier 44 and the fixing device 36. It is what is done.
[0022]
The discharge unit 16 includes an inclined part 52 that is rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. The inclined portion 52 has a low discharge port portion and is inclined so as to gradually increase in the front direction (left direction in FIG. 1), with the discharge port portion as a lower end and a higher tip as an upper end. The inclined portion 52 is supported by the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be rotatable around the lower end. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, when the inclined portion 52 is rotated upward and opened, an opening portion 54 is formed, and a process cartridge 64 described later can be attached and detached through the opening portion 54. .
[0023]
The image forming unit 14 is of, for example, an electrophotographic system, and is charged by the image carrier 44 made of a photosensitive member, a charging device 56 made of, for example, a charging roll that uniformly charges the image carrier 44, and the charging device 56. An optical writing device 58 that writes a latent image on the image carrier 44 with light, a developing device 60 that visualizes the latent image of the image carrier 44 formed by the optical writing device 58 with a developer, and the developing device 60. A transfer device 42 composed of, for example, a transfer roll for transferring the developer image produced by the toner onto the paper, a cleaning device 62 composed of, for example, a blade for cleaning the developer remaining on the image carrier 44, and the paper transferred by the transfer device 42 For example, the image forming apparatus includes a fixing device 36 including a pressure roll and a heating roll for fixing the developer image on the sheet. The optical writing device 58 is composed of, for example, a scanning type laser exposure device, and is arranged in the vicinity of the front surface of the image forming apparatus main body 12 in parallel with the paper feeding unit 18 described above, and exposes the image carrier 44 across the developing device 60. . The exposure position of the image carrier 44 is the latent image writing position P.
  In this embodiment, a scanning laser exposure apparatus is used as the optical writing device 58. However, an LED, a surface emitting laser, or the like can be used as another embodiment.
[0024]
The process cartridge 64 is obtained by integrating the image carrier 44, the charging device 56, the developing device 60, and the cleaning device 62. The process cartridge 64 is disposed immediately below the inclined portion 52 of the discharge portion 16 and is attached and detached through the opening portion 54 formed when the inclined portion 52 is opened as described above.
[0025]
In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, for example, the sheet feeding unit 18 arranged in the upper stage can be attached with a sheet feeder 74 instead of the sheet feeding cassette 22. The single sheet feeder 74 inserts sheets one by one and conveys the sheets one by one. This single-sheet feeder 74 has an insertion portion having the same width and height as the paper feed cassette 22 provided in the upper stage, and can be pulled out to the paper feed unit body 20 like the paper feed cassette 22. is there.
  In this embodiment, the single sheet feeder 74 is interchangeable with the upper sheet cassette 22, but may be interchangeable with the lower sheet cassette 22 or provided below the image forming apparatus main body 12. It may be replaceable with an optional paper cassette.
[0026]
6 to 9, details of the single-sheet feeder 74 are shown. 10 shows a state in which the sheet feeder 74 is attached to the paper feed unit main body 18, and FIG. 11 shows the paper feed unit main body 20. Note that the main parts of the cut sheet feeder 74 are also numbered in FIGS.
[0027]
The single-sheet feeder 74 has a feeder main body 76, and a rail 78 provided on a side surface of the feeder main body 76 is provided. On the other hand, the sheet feeding unit main body 20 has two cassette support portions 80 on the side surface side and a roll support portion 82 on the front surface side, and a rail guide 84 is provided on the cassette support portion 80. A rail is similarly provided on the side portion of the paper feed cassette 22 described above, and the rail 78 of the sheet feeder 74 slides on the rail guide 84 of the paper feed unit main body in the same manner as the paper feed cassette 22. And the sheet feeder 74 are supported so as to be interchangeable. The above-described resist roll 38 is supported on the roll support portion 82 of the paper feed cassette main body 20, and the pressure roll 24 and the main body side transport roll 28 are supported via a support plate 86.
[0028]
The feeder main body 76 includes a first guide portion 88 that partially protrudes from the image forming apparatus main body 12. A portion of the first guide portion 88 protruding from the image forming apparatus main body 12 constitutes a gripping portion, and the sheet feeder 78 can be taken in and out of the image forming apparatus main body 12 with the gripping portion. A second guide portion 90 is provided to face the first guide portion 88, and the first guide portion 88 and the second guide portion 90 constitute a pair of guide portions. The second guide portion 90 is supported so as to be openable with respect to the first guide portion 88, and rotates, for example, with the tip of the second guide portion 90 as a fulcrum as shown in FIG. In a state where the second guide portion 90 is closed, the second guide portion 90 is positioned by contacting the first guide portion 88, and there is a gap between the first guide portion 88 and the first guide portion 88. And a feeder-side transport path 92 is formed.
[0029]
In the first guide portion 88, the upper surface of the first guide portion 88 is a paper placement surface, and this paper placement surface is inclined, for example, in the direction of 3 ° to facilitate feeding of the placed paper. It is. A pair of paper guides 94 a and 94 b is provided on the upper surface of the first guide portion 88. The pair of sheet guides 94 a and 94 b have rack portions 96 a and 96 b extending in the width direction of the first guide portion 88, and slides formed on the upper surfaces of the respective rack portions 96 a and 96 b first guide portion 88. The moving grooves 98a and 98b are engaged. A pinion gear 100 is rotatably supported by the first guide portion 88, and rack portions 96 a and 96 b are engaged with the pinion gear 100. Accordingly, the paper guides 94a and 94b move in the width direction of the first guide portion 88 in conjunction with each other, and can be adjusted to the paper size.
[0030]
The feeder-side transport rolls 102a and 102b are provided in the first guide portion 88 and the second guide portion 90, and are in pressure contact with each other when the second guide portion 90 is closed. A single sheet of paper sandwiched between 102a and 102b is conveyed. Since one feeder-side transport roll 102a is supported by the first guide portion 88 and the other feeder-side transport roll 102b is supported by the second guide portion 90, the second guide portion 90 is rotated and opened. Then, together with the second guide portion 90, the other feeder-side transport roll 102b is separated from the one feeder-side transport roll 102a, so that the paper jammed in the feeder transport path 92 can be easily removed.
[0031]
Also, one feeder-side transport roll 102a is configured to receive a driving force from the sheet feeding unit main body side via a drive transmission system. That is, it is connected via a transmission member 106 to a transmission roll 104 that is rotatably supported at the front end of the first guide portion 88, and this transmission roll 104 is pressed against the main body-side conveyance roll 28 described above. When the main body side transport roll 28 rotates, the transmission roll 104 rotates, and further, the feeder side transport rolls 102 a and 102 b rotate via the transmission member 106. The transmission roll 104 is made of a material having a high friction coefficient, such as soft rubber, at least on the surface of the transmission roll 104, and efficiently transmits the driving force from the main body side conveyance roll 28. Moreover, although the transmission member 106 is comprised from the belt, for example, you may use a gear train etc. Further, the first guide portion 88 is provided with a pinch roll 108 that contacts the pressure roll 24 described above. Therefore, the paper inserted up to the feeder side transport rolls 102a and 102b passes through the feeder transport path 92 by the rotation of the feeder side transport rolls 102a and 102b, and moves to the main body side by the rotation of the pressure roll 24 and the main body side transport roll 28. It is conveyed.
[0032]
The image forming apparatus is provided with first detection means for detecting whether the paper feed cassette 22 is attached or the cut sheet feeder 74 is attached. As shown in FIG. 15, for example, in the cut sheet feeder 74, an identifier 110 indicating that it is a cut sheet feeder is provided on the side surface of the feeder main body 76. This identifier 110 is composed of, for example, three protrusions 112. On the other hand, the paper feed cassette 22 is also provided with protrusions, and the protrusions of the paper feed cassette 22 are different from the protrusions 112 of the sheet feeder 74 in number or formation position. In the case where papers of various sizes can be set in the paper feed cassette 22, the number of projections 112 or the formation position can be made different depending on the paper feed cassette. On the other hand, the cassette support unit 80 of the paper feed unit main body 20 is provided with a cassette detection unit 114 configured by, for example, a microswitch, and the cassette detection unit 114 identifies the paper feed cassette 22 and the sheet feeder 74. Then, a signal is sent to the control unit 134 provided on the image forming apparatus main body side.
[0033]
Further, the image forming apparatus is provided with a second detection unit that detects whether or not a sheet is set in the sheet feeder 74. The second detection means includes a paper detection member 116 provided in the feeder main body 76. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the paper detection member 116 includes a paper receiving portion 118 disposed in front of the feeder-side transport rolls 102 a and 102 b of the feeder main body 76, and a paper receiving support portion that supports the paper receiving portion 118. 120, a sensor actuating part 122 that actuates a sheet sensor 128 described later, an actuating support part 124 that supports the sensor actuating part 122, and a connecting part 126 that couples the sheet receiving support part 120 and the actuating support part 124. The sheet receiving support part 120 and the operation support part 124 are rotatably supported by the feeder main body 76. The sheet receiving portion 118 protrudes into the feeder conveyance path 92 when there is no sheet, and rotates in the sheet conveyance direction against an elastic body (not shown) when there is a sheet. The connecting portion 126 is connected to the paper receiving support portion 120 and the operation support portion 124 with their fulcrums shifted to constitute a crank mechanism. The paper sensor 128 includes an actuator 130 with which the sensor operation unit 122 abuts and a paper detection unit 132 that is turned on and off by the actuator 130. The paper detection unit 132 is composed of, for example, a photo interrupter. Therefore, when there is no paper, as shown in FIG. 13A, since the paper receiving portion 118 is in a position where it interrupts the feeder conveyance path 92, the actuator 130 of the paper sensor 128 is away from the paper detection portion 132. It is in. On the other hand, when a sheet is set, the sheet receiving unit 118 is tilted by insertion of the sheet, and the sensor actuating unit 122 pushes up the actuator 130 of the sheet sensor 128, and the actuator 130 blocks light transmission and reception at the sheet detecting unit 132. It is detected that the paper has been set. As shown in FIG. 15, the detection signal from the paper sensor 128 is sent to the control unit 134.
[0034]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, when the paper feed cassette 22 is mounted, the paper sensor 128 detects whether or not there is paper in the paper feed cassette 22. That is, the paper sensor 128 is configured such that the actuator 130 comes into contact with the paper in the paper feed cassette 22, and when the paper is present, the actuator 130 blocks light transmission and reception at the paper detection unit 132, and the paper runs out. The actuator 130 is separated from the paper detection unit 132 so that the presence or absence of paper can be detected.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described.
  When the image forming signal is sent, the image carrier 44 is uniformly charged by the charging device 56, and the charged image carrier 44 is irradiated with light emitted from the optical writing device 58 based on the image signal. A latent image is formed at the latent image writing position P. Light from the optical writing device 58 passes through the process cartridge 64. The latent image of the image carrier 44 formed by the optical writing device 58 is visualized by the developer of the developing device 60.
[0036]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the paper feed cassette 22 is attached to the paper feed unit 18, one of the paper feed units 18 is selected by a size signal or the like and stored in one of the paper feed cassettes 22. The sheet thus fed is sent out by the pressure roll 24, is turned by the retard roll 26 and the main body side transport roll 28, is guided to the main transport path 32, is temporarily stopped by the registration roll 38, and takes timing with the transfer device 42 and the image carrier. It is guided between the body 44.
[0037]
When the sheet is guided between the transfer device 42 and the image carrier 44 in this way, the developer on the image carrier 44 is transferred to the recording medium by the transfer device 42. The sheet onto which the developer has been transferred passes through the fixing device 36 and is discharged from the discharge port 34 to the discharge unit 16.
[0038]
When manual paper feeding is required, the upper paper feeding cassette 22 is pulled out from the paper feeding unit 18, and instead, the sheet feeder 74 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 12. This attachment is performed by holding the grip portion of the feeder main body 76 and inserting the feeder main body 76 into the paper feeding unit main body 20. As a result, the transmission roll 104 comes into contact with the main body-side transport roll 28. Further, the protrusion 112 of the identifier 110 comes into contact with the cassette detection unit 114 and notifies the control unit 134 that the cut sheet feeder 74 is attached.
[0039]
Next, when the sheet is inserted along the sheet guides 92a and 92b of the first guide unit 88 until the leading end contacts the feeder-side transport rolls 102a and 102b, the sheet receiving unit 118 of the sheet detection member 116 is tilted by the sheet, The paper sensor 128 detects that the paper has been set. When the sheet is detected in this way, the control unit 134 immediately shifts to the image forming mode, operates the image forming unit 14 and controls the main body side transport roll 28 to operate. When the main body-side transport roll 28 is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the transmission roll 104, and the feeder-side transport rolls 102a and 102b are rotated via the transmission member 106, and the sheets are inserted up to the feeder-side transport rolls 102a and 102b. Is transported to the main body side by rotation of the pressure roll 24 and the main body side transport roll 28 through the feeder transport path 92 by rotation of the feeder side transport rolls 102a and 102b. Thereafter, an image is formed on the sheet by the image forming unit 14, and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to the discharge unit 16.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the paper feed cassette and the cut sheet feeder can be replaced,The main body side transport roll can be shared for drive transmission in the case of a single-sheet feeder, and in the case of paper-feeding cassettes, so that it can be shared. The sheet feeder does not require a dedicated drive source, the drive transmission system can be simplified, and the costs of the sheet feeder and the sheet feeder can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state after a paper feed cassette is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state before the paper feed cassette is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state after the cut sheet feeder is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state before the cut sheet feeder is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a single sheet feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the cut sheet feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 7, showing the cut sheet feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 8, showing a single-sheet feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is attached with a cut sheet feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention.Paper feederFIG.
FIG. 11 excludes a single sheet feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention.Paper feederFIG.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a sheet detection member used in the cut sheet feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 13A and 13B show the periphery of a paper detection member used in the single sheet feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13A is a side view showing a state where no paper is present, and FIG. FIG.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a paper sensor when a paper feed cassette is mounted in a paper feed unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram showing a control portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Image forming apparatus
12 Image forming device body
14 Image forming means
16 Discharge section
18 Paper feed unit
20 Paper feed unit
22 Paper cassette
24 pressure rolls
26 retard roll
28 Body side transport roll
74 Single sheet feeder
76 Feeder body
102a, 102b Feeder side transport roll
104 Transmission roll
106 Transmission member
110 identifier
112 protrusion
114 Cassette detector
116 Paper detection member
128 Paper sensor
134 Control unit

Claims (12)

A paper feeder body;
A paper feeding cassette that is detachably attached to the paper feeding device body;
And a cut sheet feeder is detachably attached to the sheet feeding apparatus main body in place of the paper feed cassette,
The paper feeder main body has a main body side transport roll,
The paper feed cassette has a separating member,
The cut sheet feeder has a transmission roll,
If a paper cassette is installed in the paper feeder body,
The main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with a separating member provided in the paper feed cassette;
In cooperation with the separating member, only the uppermost sheet of the sheet cassette is sent out,
If a sheet feeder is installed in the paper feeder body,
Sheet feeding apparatus in which the main conveyance roll is pressed against the transfer roll, wherein a is formed by <br/> that receive driving force from the sheet feeding apparatus main body. A paper feeder body;
A sheet feeder detachably attached to the paper feeder body;
A sheet feeding cassette that is detachably attached to the sheet feeding device main body instead of the sheet feeder;
The paper feeder main body has a main body side transport roll,
The paper feed cassette has a separating member,
The cut sheet feeder has a transmission roll,
If a paper cassette is installed in the paper feeder body,
The main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with a separating member provided in the paper feed cassette;
In cooperation with the separating member, only the uppermost sheet of the sheet cassette is sent out,
If a sheet feeder is installed in the paper feeder body,
Sheet feeding apparatus in which the main conveyance roll is pressed against the transfer roll, wherein a is formed by <br/> that receive driving force from the sheet feeding apparatus main body. Having a paper feeder body,
This paper feeder itself can be replaced with a paper cassette and single-sheet feeder,
The paper feeder main body has a main body side transport roll,
The paper feed cassette has a separating member,
The cut sheet feeder has a transmission roll,
If a paper cassette is installed in the paper feeder body,
The main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with a separating member provided in the paper feed cassette;
In cooperation with the separating member, only the uppermost sheet of the sheet cassette is sent out,
If a sheet feeder is installed in the paper feeder body,
Sheet feeding apparatus in which the main conveyance roll is pressed against the transfer roll, wherein a is formed by <br/> that receive driving force from the sheet feeding apparatus main body. The cut sheet feeder includes a sheet feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is drawable to the sheet feeding apparatus main body. 5. The sheet feeder according to claim 1, wherein the cut sheet feeder has a pair of guide portions at least one of which is supported so as to be openable, and a sheet conveyance path is configured by the pair of guide portions. Paper feeder . The cut sheet feeder has at least a pair of feeder-side transport rolls, one of the feeder-side transport rolls being rotatable to one of the guide portions, and the other of the feeder-side transport roll pairs being rotatable to the other of the guide portions. The sheet feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the sheet feeding device is supported by the sheet feeding device . The transmission roll paper feeding apparatus of claims 1 to 6, wherein a made of a material having a surface high coefficient of friction of at least the transfer roll. Have each of the paper feed cassette and noncontinuous feeder identifier claims 1 to 7 paper feed of any one cut sheet feeder or sheet cassette is attached is to determine whether worn by the identifier Equipment . The cut sheet feeder has a sheet detection member that moves when a sheet is set, and the movement of the sheet detection member is detected by a sheet sensor that detects the presence or absence of sheets in the sheet cassette. The paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 . Image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The paper cassette and the sheet feeder can be replaced with the main body of the paper feeder.
The paper feeder main body has a main body side transport roll,
The paper feed cassette has a separating member,
The cut sheet feeder has a transmission roll,
If a paper cassette is installed in the paper feeder body,
The main body-side transport roll is in pressure contact with a separating member provided in the paper feed cassette;
In cooperation with the separating member, only the uppermost sheet of the sheet cassette is sent out,
If a sheet feeder is installed in the paper feeder body,
A paper feeding device in which the main body side transport roll is in pressure contact with the transmission roll and receives a driving force from the paper feeding device main body side ;
First detection means for detecting whether the paper feed cassette or the sheet feeder is installed;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls an image forming operation based on a detection result of the first detection unit. A second detection unit configured to detect whether or not a sheet is set in the single-sheet feeder; the first detection unit detects that the single-sheet feeder is mounted; and the second detection unit. 12. The image according to claim 11 , wherein when it is detected that a sheet has been set in the single-sheet feeder, the control unit performs control so as to start conveyance of the sheet set in the single-sheet feeder. Forming equipment.

Images