JP4143427B2 - Sheet separating and supplying apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sheet separation and supply apparatus that separates and supplies overlapping sheets into one sheet, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet separation and supply apparatus in an apparatus main body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional sheet handling apparatuses that handle sheets include an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus as OA equipment.
[0003]
The image forming apparatus forms an image on each cut sheet, and includes a copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (laser beam printer, LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine of these, a word processor, and a video. There are printers. In addition, the image reading apparatus reads an image formed on a sheet one sheet at a time, and is often provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus.
[0004]
In many cases, these image forming apparatuses and image reading apparatuses are equipped with a sheet separating and supplying apparatus in the apparatus main body, which separates and supplies sheets one by one.
[0005]
FIG. 13 is a front cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) which is an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with a conventional sheet separating and supplying apparatus in the apparatus main body.
[0006]
The printer will be described.
[0007]
In the printer 100, the sheet P before image formation is stacked on the intermediate plate 103 urged toward the paper feed roller 102 by the intermediate plate spring 101. The middle leaf spring 101 is provided on a paper feed frame 118 that forms a part of the apparatus main body 122. A paper feed shaft 104 rotatably supported on both walls (not shown) of the main body 122 of the printer 100 is rotated by a drive source (not shown). The paper feed roller 102 fixedly supported on the paper feed shaft 104 also rotates. Further, a cam (not shown) coaxial with the paper feed shaft 104 also rotates. The middle plate 103 is raised by a cam (not shown) to press the sheet P against the paper feed roller 102. The sheet feeding roller 102 conveys the uppermost sheet of the sheets P stacked on the intermediate plate 103 to the conveying roller 112 using frictional force. The conveyance roller 112 feeds the sheet of the photosensitive drum 107 and the transfer roller 114 between them. A toner image is formed in advance on the photosensitive drum 107 by the optical means 108 and the developing roller 120. The transfer roller 114 transfers the toner image from the photosensitive drum 107 to the sheet. Thereafter, the fixing device 121 heats and presses the sheet to fix the toner image on the sheet. Finally, the paper discharge roller 116 discharges the sheet to the paper discharge tray 111.
[0008]
The main body 122 is mainly formed by an outer wall 123 including left and right side walls and a bottom plate, and the paper feed frame 118 is covered by the outer wall 123.
[0009]
The sheet separating and supplying apparatus 130 will be described.
[0010]
In the above operation of the printer 100, when the sheet feeding roller 102 sends out a plurality of sheets P at a time from the sheet feeding tray 109, the sheet is separated by the separation member 105 pressed against the sheet feeding roller 102 by the separation spring 106. Separated one by one. That is, the separation member 105 includes a separation pad 105a having a sheet separation portion having a high coefficient of friction, such as a friction rubber formed of natural or synthetic rubber, and is supplied by the frictional force of the separation pad 105a. In cooperation with the paper roller 102, only the uppermost sheet can be conveyed to the conveying roller 112.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional sheet separation and supply apparatus, when the printing speed of the printer is fast and the product life of the printer is long, the separation pad 105a is a performance that separates the sheet by the frictional force being deteriorated due to wear or the like. May cause a decrease in For this reason, it was necessary to periodically replace the separating member in a short period of time.
[0012]
However, when replacing the separation member 105, in the conventional printer 100, after removing an unillustrated exterior member from the apparatus main body 122, the paper feed shaft 104 is removed from the apparatus main body 122, and then the fixing member for the separation member 105 is used. And the separation member 105 is removed and replaced.
[0013]
For this reason, the maintenance of a conventional printer by a user or a service person has required labor and labor. In addition, the printer has to be stopped for a long time because it takes time to replace the separating member 105, and the operating rate has decreased accordingly.
[0014]
Such a problem has also occurred in a copying machine and a facsimile equipped with a conventional sheet separating and supplying apparatus.
[0015]
Further, even when such a sheet separation and supply apparatus is installed in the apparatus body of the image reading apparatus, labor and labor are required for replacing the separating member, and the operation rate of the image reading apparatus is reduced.
[0016]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet separating and supplying apparatus that can easily replace a friction member having reduced sheet separating performance.
[0017]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a sheet separating and supplying apparatus capable of easily exchanging a friction member is provided in an apparatus main body and the operating rate is increased.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the sheet separating and supplying apparatus according to the present invention provides a sheet between a sheet feeding rotating body that feeds a sheet and a friction member that is pressed against the sheet feeding rotating body by an urging means. When passing in an overlapping manner, the sheets are supplied separately.In the sheet separation and supply device,The apparatus main body equipped with the sheet separating and supplying apparatus is detachably provided and has the friction member, and the pressure contact state of the friction member against the sheet feeding rotating body is determined.PedestalA separation member that is held with the biasing means interposed therebetween,The separation member is configured to be linearly guided by a positioning portion sliding on a guide portion provided in the apparatus main body and to be pressed against the sheet feeding rotating body by the urging means. Has beenThe separation member is exposed to the outside of the equipped device body,By pulling down the exposed part and rotating after removing the positioning part from the open part at the lower end of the guide part, by removing the urging means from the pedestal of the equipment main body,The separating memberAnd the biasing meansThe equipped equipment bodyFrom belowTaking outIt is characterized by making it possible.
[0021]
In the sheet separating and supplying apparatus of the present invention, the separating member is exposed in a recessed portion of the outer wall of the mounted apparatus main body.
[0022]
In the sheet separating and supplying apparatus of the present invention, the friction member is exchanged together with the separating member.
[0024]
In the sheet separating and supplying apparatus of the present invention, the separating member exposes a take-out piece for taking out the separating member mounted on the mounted apparatus main body from the mounted apparatus to the outside of the mounted apparatus main body. Have.
[0025]
  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a sheet stacking unit on which sheets are stacked, a sheet separation supply unit that separates and supplies the sheets of the sheet stacking unit, and the sheet separation supply unit. And an image forming unit that forms an image on the supplied sheet.4The sheet separating and supplying apparatus according to any one of the above.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, the present inventionReference examples andImplementationofFormInA sheet separation supply apparatus and a laser beam printer as an example of an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet separation supply apparatus in the apparatus main body will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
The sheet separation and supply apparatus according to the present invention is provided in the main body of a sheet handling apparatus that handles sheets. Examples of the sheet handling apparatus include an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus.
[0028]
The sheet separation and supply device, when equipped in the image forming apparatus, separates sheets one by one and supplies them to the image forming unit. When equipped in the image reading device, the sheet separating and feeding device supplies a document to the image reading unit. They are supplied separately one by one.
[0029]
An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet on which image information is formed by an image forming process such as an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system. The image forming apparatus includes a copying machine, an electrophotographic printer ( Laser beam printers, LED printers, etc.), facsimiles, and their combined machines, word processors, video printers, and the like. An image reading apparatus reads an image formed on a sheet one sheet at a time, and is often provided at the top of the image forming apparatus.
[0030]
  Of the present inventionReference examples andImplementationofFormInThe sheet separating and supplying apparatus is provided in the printer main body of the image forming apparatus, but is not limited to this.
[0031]
(Laser beam printer)
An overall configuration of a laser beam printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”), which is an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a process cartridge, will be described.
[0032]
In FIG. 1, the right side is “front” of the apparatus main body 22 of the printer 91 and the left side is also “rear”. According to this, with respect to the upstream and downstream in the conveyance direction of the sheet (recording material) P, the front is upstream and the rear is downstream. Further, the lower side in FIG. 1 is the upstream side, and the upper side is the downstream side.
[0033]
The printer 91 forms an image by an electrophotographic image forming process.
[0034]
  A sheet feeding tray 9 as a sheet stacking unit is configured to stack sheets P before image formation. For example, the process cartridge 26 which is an image forming unit is configured such that a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 7, a charging roller 23, a developing roller 20, and a cleaning device 24 are integrally incorporated in a cartridge container 25. It is formed as a cartridge. The cleaning device 24 is not always necessary. The opening / closing cover 10 is a process cartridge.26The apparatus main body 22 is opened and closed when the apparatus is detached from the apparatus main body 22 which is the apparatus main body. The paper discharge tray 11 is configured to stack sheets on which images have been formed.
[0035]
The printer 91 charges the photosensitive drum 7 with the charging roller 23, and then irradiates the photosensitive drum 7 with laser light corresponding to image information from the optical unit 8 to form a latent image. The latent image is developed by the developing roller 20 to form a toner image.
[0036]
On the other hand, the sheet P before image formation is stacked on the intermediate plate 3 urged toward the paper supply roller 2 by the intermediate plate spring 1 on the paper supply frame 18 constituting a part of the apparatus main body 22. The paper feed shaft 4 rotatably supported on both walls (not shown) of the main body 22 of the printer 91 is rotated by a drive source (not shown). The paper feed roller 2 fixedly supported on the paper feed shaft 4 also rotates. Further, a cam (not shown) that rotates coaxially with the paper feed shaft 4 also rotates. The intermediate plate 3 is raised by a cam (not shown) and presses the sheet P against the paper feed roller 2. The sheet feeding roller 2 conveys the uppermost sheet of the sheets P stacked on the intermediate plate 3 to the conveying roller 12 using a frictional force.
[0037]
  At this time, when a plurality of sheets P are fed at a time,Reference exampleA plurality of sheets are separated by the separating member 5 pressed toward the sheet feeding roller 2 by the separating spring 6 of the sheet separating and supplying apparatus 30, and only the uppermost sheet is supplied to the conveying roller 12. .
[0038]
Thereafter, the sheet is guided by the pre-transfer guide 13 and fed between the photosensitive drum 7 and the transfer roller 14, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred by the transfer roller 14. Next, the sheet P on which the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 7 is guided by the guide plate 15 and conveyed to the fixing device 21. The fixing device 21 heats and presses the sheet to fix the toner image on the sheet. Finally, the sheet is discharged onto the discharge tray 11 by the discharge roller 16.
[0039]
  (Reference exampleSheet separation and supply device)
  Based on FIGS. 1 to 6Reference exampleThe sheet separating and supplying apparatus 30 will be described.
[0040]
  Reference exampleThe configuration of the sheet separating and supplying apparatus 30 will be described. The sheet separation and supply device 30 includes, for example, a sheet feeding roller 2 that is a sheet feeding rotating body, a separation member 5, a separation spring 6 that is an urging unit, and a guide lid 17 that is a detachable member. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the separation member 5, the separation spring 6, and the guide lid 17. The separation portion 5 is provided with a separation pad 5a which is a friction member made of a friction rubber formed of a material having a high friction coefficient, that is, natural or synthetic rubber, for example. The separation pad 5a is provided in the groove 5c. Positioning convex portions 5b and 5b for moving up and down following the paper feed roller 2 are formed on both side surfaces of the separating member 5. Also,Guide lid 17For example, hooks 17d and 17d, which are engaging and disengaging pieces that the user picks when the separating member 5 is pulled out from the sheet feeding frame 18, are provided.There is one pair.
[0041]
The guide lid 17 is a member for attaching the separation member 5 to the paper feed frame 18. The guide lid 17 includes guide portions 17 a and 17 a (one of which is not shown) that linearly guides the convex portion 5 b of the separation member 5, a guide boss 17 b that holds the separation spring 6, and an engaged portion 18 a of the paper feed frame 18. Positioning holes 17c and 17c to be inserted into (see FIG. 1) and hooks 17d and 17d to be engaged with the paper feed frame 18 are formed. The guide portion 17a is formed by a pair of protrusions 17e and 17f.
[0042]
The operation of the sheet separating and supplying apparatus 30 will be described. The sheet separating / supplying device 30 is biased by the middle plate spring 1 so that the uppermost sheet on the middle plate 3 pressed against the sheet feeding roller 2 is rotated with the sheet feeding roller 2 and the separation pad. It is drawn in between 5a and sent out to the conveying roller 12.
[0043]
At this time, a plurality of lower sheets may overlap each other following the uppermost sheet and may be pulled between the sheet feeding roller 2 and the separation pad 5a. In this case, the lower sheet cannot follow the uppermost sheet due to the frictional resistance of the separation pad 5a, is prevented from being conveyed, stops at the separation pad 5a, and passes through the uppermost sheet. After that, the next sheet is conveyed and supplied.
[0044]
  However, since the separation pad 5a is rubbed against the sheet each time the uppermost sheet is sequentially fed out from the sheet feeding tray 9, the friction coefficient of the separation pad 5a is reduced, and the sheet when the sheets are multi-fed. The performance of separating the sheet (sheet separation performance) decreases. In such a case,Reference exampleThe sheet separating and feeding apparatus 30 of the present embodiment easily separates the separating member 5 from the sheet feeding frame 18 and separates it together with the separating member 5 according to the procedure described below.PaThe lid 5a can be easily replaced. Only the separation pad 5a may be replaced.
[0045]
  FIG.Reference exampleIt is the perspective view which looked at the appearance of printer 91 of this from the bottom. The apparatus main body 22 of the printer 91 is mainly formed by an outer wall 31 including front and rear side walls, a bottom plate, and a paper feed frame 18. A portion of the paper feed frame 18 forms a recessed portion 31 a of the outer wall 31.
[0046]
  As shown in FIG. 3, the guide lid 17 is detachably provided so as to be exposed to the paper feed frame 18 partially exposed to the outside. For this reason,Reference exampleThe guide lid 17 of the sheet separating and feeding apparatus can be easily removed from the outside.
[0047]
A procedure for replacing the separating member 5 will be described. 4 to 6 are diagrams for explaining the procedure for replacing the separating member. As shown in FIG. 4, the hook 17d engaged with the paper feed frame 18 is pushed down in the direction of the arrow to remove the claw 17da of the hook 17d from the paper feed frame 18 as shown in FIG. Pull the lid 17 in the direction of the arrow. Then, the positioning hole 17c of the guide lid 17 shown in FIG. 2 rotates around the engaged portion 18a shown in FIG. 1, and the guide lid 17 is pulled outward as shown in FIG. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, when the guide lid 17 is pulled outward, the opening 17 ca of the positioning hole 17 c comes out of the engaged portion 18 a (see FIG. 1), and the guide lid 17 is removed from the paper feed frame 18. Can be removed.
[0048]
At this time, the separation member 5 is engaged with the guide lid 17 via the protrusion 5b to the guide portion 17a (see FIG. 2), and the separation spring 6 is interposed between the guide lid 17 and the separation member 5. It has become. For this reason, the guide lid 17, the separation spring 6, and the separation member 5 are integrally removed from the paper feed frame 18.
[0049]
Then, by separating the separation member 5 from the guide portion 17a, the new separation pad 5a can be replaced with the separation member 5, or the separation pad 5a can be removed from the groove 5c (see FIG. 2) and separated. Only 5a can be exchanged. Furthermore, when the elasticity of the separation spring 6 is reduced and the separation member 5 cannot be pressed against the paper feed roller 2 with a predetermined pressing force, the separation spring 6 can also be replaced.
[0050]
  As aboveReference exampleIn the sheet separating and supplying apparatus 30, the guide lid 17 supporting the separating member 5 is exposed to the outside of the sheet feeding frame 18, so that the separation pad 5 a in which the sheet separating performance is deteriorated by directly removing the guide lid from the outside. The separation member 5 or only the separation pad 5a can be easily and easily replaced in a short time. In addition, the guide lid can be easily detached from the paper feed frame 18 by pulling the hook 17d.
[0051]
Further, the paper feed frame 18 is a portion where the outer wall 31 is dented, and the guide lid 17 is detachably provided on the dented paper feed frame 18, so that the guide lid 17 is protected by the outer wall 31, The user rarely touches or is struck by an object, and does not accidentally come off the main body 22 of the printer 91.
[0052]
Furthermore, in this way, the printer 91 including the sheet separating and supplying device 30 that can replace the separating member 5 or the separating pad 5a in a short time needs to be stopped for a long time in order to replace the separating member 5 or the separating pad 5a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operating rate from being lowered and to increase the productivity of the image forming sheet.
[0053]
In addition, the printer 91 can reduce the product weight and the parts cost by simplifying the exterior member by indenting the paper feeding frame 18 more than other outer walls and partially exposing it.
[0054]
  (EmbodimentSheet separation and supply device)
  Based on FIG. 7 to FIG.EmbodimentThe sheet separating and supplying apparatus 80 will be described.
[0055]
  EmbodimentThe configuration of the sheet separation and supply apparatus will be described. In addition,EmbodimentSince the configuration of the printer provided with the sheet separation and supply apparatus is the same as that of the printer shown in FIG. 1, the illustration and description corresponding to FIG. 1 are omitted. FIG.EmbodimentIt is the perspective view which looked at the external appearance of the printer 92 provided with this sheet separation supply apparatus from the bottom part. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus main body of the printer 92, for example, the paper feed frame 68, the separation spring 56, and the separation member 55 of the apparatus main body 52.
[0056]
  The sheet separating and supplying device 80 includes, for example, a sheet feeding roller 2 (see FIG. 1) that is a sheet feeding rotating body, a separating member 55, and a separating spring 56 that is an urging unit.Reference exampleSimilar to the separating member 5 of the sheet separating and supplying apparatus 30, the sheet separating portion of the separating member 55 of the present embodiment also has a friction member made of friction rubber made of a material having a high friction coefficient, that is, natural or synthetic rubber. For example, a separation pad 55a is provided. The separation pad 55a is provided in the groove 55c. Further, the separation member 55 is formed with, for example, a knob 55 d that is a take-out piece that is picked up when the separation member 55 is pulled out from the paper feed frame 68. Positioning convex portions 55b and 55b (one of which is not shown) for moving up and down following the paper feed roller 2 (see FIG. 1) are formed on both side surfaces of the separating member 55.
[0057]
The paper feed frame 68 is formed with a pair of guide portions 68 a and 68 a (one of which is not shown) that linearly guides the convex portion 55 b of the separation member 55, a pedestal 68 b that receives the separation spring 56, and the like. The lower end of the guide portion 68a is opened so that the separation member 55 can be removed downward from the paper feed frame 68. The guide portion 68a is formed by a pair of protrusions 68c and 68d.
[0058]
As shown in FIG. 7, the separating member 55 is detachably provided so as to be exposed to the paper feed frame 68 exposed to the outside. The apparatus main body 52 of the printer 92 is mainly formed by an outer wall 61 including front and rear side walls, a bottom plate 69, and a paper feed frame 68. The portion of the paper feed frame 68 forms a recessed portion 61 a of the outer wall 61. An opening 69 a for taking out the separation member 55 is formed in the bottom plate 69 that covers the bottom surface of the printer 92.
[0059]
A procedure for replacing the separating member 55 will be described. 9 to 12 are views for explaining the separation member replacing means.
[0060]
As shown in FIG. 9, the separation member 55 is held in contact with the paper feed roller 2 by the separation spring 56 and held by the paper feed frame 68. The separation member 55 is engaged with the separation spring 56 at the portion of the protrusion 55e. Further, the separating member 55 is configured not to be separated from the paper feeding frame 68 because the paper feeding roller 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow.
[0061]
As shown in FIG. 10, the knob 55d of the separation member 55 is grasped and the separation member 55 is pulled down in the direction of the arrow against the elasticity of the separation spring 56. Next, as shown in FIG. 11, when the separation member 55 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the convex portion 55 b of the separation member 55 is detached from the guide portion 68 a of the paper feed frame 68. Finally, as shown in FIG. 12, the separating member 55 and the separating spring 56 can be taken out downward from the opening 69a of the bottom plate 69 (see FIG. 7).
[0062]
Therefore, the new separation pad 55a and the separation member 55 can be replaced together, or the separation pad 55a can be removed from the groove 55c (see FIG. 8) and only the separation pad 55a can be replaced. Further, when the elasticity of the separation spring 56 is reduced and the separation member 55 cannot be pressed against the paper feed roller 2 with a predetermined pressing force, the separation spring 56 can also be replaced.
[0063]
  As aboveThis embodimentIn the sheet separating and supplying apparatus 80, the separating member 55 is exposed to the outside. Therefore, the separating member 55 is directly removed from the outside of the sheet feeding frame 68, and the separating pad 55a whose sheet separating performance is deteriorated is separated together with the separating member 55 or Only the separation pad 55a can be exchanged easily and easily in a short time. Moreover, when the knob 55d is pulled and rotated, the separation member 55 can be easily detached from the paper feed frame 68.
[0064]
Further, the paper feed frame 68 is a portion where the outer wall 61 is dented, and since the separation member 55 is detachably provided on the dented paper feed frame 68, the separation member 55 is protected by the outer wall 61, The user is rarely touched by mistake or hit by an object, and the printer 92 is not inadvertently detached from the apparatus main body 52.
[0065]
In addition, in this way, the printer 92 including the sheet separation and supply device 80 that can replace the separation member 55 or the separation pad 55a in a short time needs to be stopped for a long time in order to replace the separation member 55 or the separation pad 55a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operating rate from being lowered and to increase the productivity of the image forming sheet.
[0066]
In addition, the printer 92 can reduce the product weight and the parts cost by simplifying the exterior member by indenting the paper feed frame 68 from the other outer wall and partially exposing it.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
The sheet separating and supplying apparatus according to the present invention can remove the separating member from the outside of the equipped apparatus main body without removing the exterior member and the paper feeding shaft, unlike the conventional case, when replacing the separating member having deteriorated sheet separating performance. Therefore, the friction member can be easily and easily exchanged in a short time for each separating member or only the friction member.
[0068]
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a sheet separating and supplying device that can easily and easily replace the friction member for each separation member or only the friction member in a short time. Therefore, it is not necessary to stop for a long time, so that the operating rate can be prevented from being lowered and the productivity of the image forming sheet can be increased. In addition, since the separation member can be removed from the outside, it is possible to provide an apparatus that is very convenient for users and service personnel.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 of the present inventionReference exampleFIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a sheet conveying direction of a printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet separating and supplying apparatus in the apparatus main body.
FIG. 2 of FIG.Reference exampleFIG. 6 is a perspective view of a separation member, a separation spring, and a guide lid in the sheet separation and supply apparatus of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the appearance of the printer of FIG. 1 as viewed from the bottom.
FIG. 4 of the present inventionReference exampleFIG. 6 is a view for explaining a procedure for replacing a separating member in the sheet separating and supplying apparatus, and is a view in a state in which a hook of the guide lid is pulled downward in order to remove the guide lid from the paper feed tray.
5 is a view showing a state where the guide lid is removed from the paper feed tray by pulling a hook from the state shown in FIG.
6 is a view of a state when the guide lid is removed from the state shown in FIG. 5 and the separating member is removed. FIG.
[Fig. 7] of the present invention.In the embodimentIt is the perspective view which looked at the appearance of a printer provided with a sheet separation supply device from the bottom.
[Fig. 8] of the present inventionIn the embodimentFIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding frame, a separation spring, and a separation member in the sheet separation and supply apparatus.
FIG. 9 shows the present invention.In the embodimentIt is a figure for demonstrating the replacement | exchange procedure of the separation member in a sheet | seat separation supply apparatus, and is a figure of a state when the separation member is provided in the predetermined position.
10 is a view showing a state in which the separating member is pulled outward from the state shown in FIG. 9;
11 is a view showing a state in which the separating member is rotated from the state shown in FIG.
12 is a view showing a state where the separation member in the state shown in FIG. 11 is removed from the paper feed frame.
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the sheet conveying direction of a printer including a conventional sheet separating and supplying apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
    P sheet
    2 Paper feed roller (sheet feed rotating body)
    5 Separation member
    5a Separation pad (friction member)
    6 Separation spring (biasing means)
    7 Photosensitive drum
    9 Paper feed tray (sheet stacking means)
  17 Guide lid (detachable member)
  17d hook
  18 Paper feed frame
  22 Printer body (equipment body)
  26 Process cartridge (image forming means)
  30 Sheet separation and supply device
  31 outer wall
  31a Dented part
  52 Printer body (equipment body)
  55 Separation member
  55a Separation pad (friction member)
  55d Knob (Removal piece)
  56 Separation spring (biasing means)
  61 outer wall
  61a Dented part
  68 Paper feed frame
  69 Bottom plate
  69a opening
  80 Sheet separation and supply device
  91 Printer (image forming device)
  92 Printer (image forming device)

Claims (5)

When a sheet passes between a sheet feeding rotating body that feeds the sheet and a friction member that is pressed against the sheet feeding rotating body by an urging means, the sheet is separated and supplied. In the sheet separating and feeding apparatus
The apparatus includes a friction member that is detachably provided on a mounted apparatus main body equipped with the sheet separating and supplying apparatus, and the pressure contact state of the friction member with respect to the sheet feeding rotating body is changed with a pedestal of the mounted apparatus main body. Comprising a separating member held with the biasing means interposed therebetween,
The separation member is configured to be linearly guided by a positioning portion sliding on a guide portion provided in the apparatus main body and to be pressed against the sheet feeding rotating body by the urging means. Has been
The separating member is exposed to the outside of the equipment body, and the biasing means is rotated by pulling down the exposed portion and removing the positioning portion from the open portion at the lower end of the guide portion. wherein by removing from the pedestal of the equipment device main body, the separating member and the sheet separating feeding apparatus being characterized in that it possible to take out the biasing means from the lower side of the object to be equipped apparatus body. The sheet separating and supplying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the separating member is exposed in a recessed portion of an outer wall of the mounted apparatus main body.   The sheet separating and supplying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the friction member is replaced with the separating member. The separation member has an extraction piece for taking out the separation member in a state of being mounted on the equipment main body from the equipment to be exposed to the outside of the equipment main body. The sheet separating and supplying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . Sheet stacking means for stacking sheets;
A sheet separation and supply device for separating and supplying the sheets of the sheet stacking means;
Image forming means for forming an image on the sheet supplied by the sheet separating and supplying apparatus,
The sheet separating feeding apparatus, an image forming apparatus, characterized in that a sheet separator feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images