JP4880530B2 - Recording medium feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus including the recording medium feeding device. Specifically, a recording medium feeding device that feeds the recording medium on the uppermost surface to be stacked in the transport direction, and a copying machine that includes the recording medium feeding device and forms a recorded image on the recording medium, a facsimile machine The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as an apparatus, a printer, a printing apparatus, or a complex machine of these.

In a conventional recording medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided with the recording medium feeding device, for example, a paper feeding device such as a copying machine or a printing device feeds recording paper loaded on a paper feeding table. It is configured to be fed one by one from the top by paper rollers.
These sheet feeding apparatuses are provided as large capacity type sheet feeding apparatuses so that a large number of recording sheets can be fed so that the entire sheet feeding table can be moved in the vertical direction while maintaining the level. . During the sheet feeding operation, the uppermost surface of the recording sheet on the sheet feeding table is configured to drive the sheet feeding table up to a position where it can be fed by a sheet feeding roller disposed above the sheet feeding table. Things are known.
In any type of paper feeding device, the uppermost surface on which the recording paper is placed on the paper feeding table is substantially flat, and the recording paper is placed horizontally on this flat surface. It has become.
In image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printing apparatuses, various types of recording paper and the like have been used as recording media. Particularly in recent years, with the diversification of printed materials, there are cases where special transfer paper with pre-perforated transfer paper, postcard paper, cards, slips, etc. is used as recording paper for recording media. It is getting more.
When these recording papers are placed on the paper feed table, the height of the topmost recording paper of the stacked recording media is set to be horizontal due to the difference in the thickness of the recording paper in one sheet. There are cases where this is not possible. In such a sheet feeding device, when recording sheets having different thicknesses are stacked in one sheet, the height of the uppermost surface of the stacked recording sheets is not horizontal. For this reason, there is a case where a sheet feeding roller having a feeding function does not come into close contact with the uppermost surface of the stacked recording sheets, and there is a problem that the sheet feeding guide plate is caught and a paper jam occurs.
In addition, due to such restrictions, it is necessary to change the stacking direction of the recording sheets of the recording medium, or it is necessary to limit the stacking amount of the recording sheets. These restrictions become more conspicuous as the number of recording sheets of the recording medium loaded on the sheet feeding table is larger and the difference in thickness among the sheets is larger.

When the upper surface of the recording sheet of the recording medium loaded in this way is not horizontal and is fed and conveyed by the sheet feeding roller from the sheet feeding table, the sheet feeding guide plate which is the recording sheet conveying path, The recording paper comes into contact with the conveyance guide plate. Then, the increase in contact resistance causes the recording paper of the recording medium to be jammed in the middle of the conveyance path and cause skew.
As means for solving such problems, for example, the following configurations are known. The height of each upper surface area of the uppermost sheet of the loaded sheet is detected and the lifting device disposed on the bottom plate is controlled to level the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets. A method and apparatus have been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
In addition, a paper feeding device or the like that maintains the level of the uppermost stacked paper by dividing the tray bottom plate and moving up and down has been proposed (see Patent Documents 5 and 7).
However, in such a device, when the amount of recording paper increases, the recording paper near the bottom plate is affected by the weight of the recording paper, and the flatness of the recording paper is impaired due to the lifting device, so that wrinkles and creases May remain.
Further, when recording paper of a recording medium having a perforation is stacked, the perforation may be cut off.
Thus, when the recording paper of the recording medium has perforation breakage, wrinkles or creases, for example, when used in a copying machine, when forming a recorded image on the recording paper in the subsequent process, The conveyance of the recording paper is impaired by wrinkles and folds. Furthermore, there is a problem that a recorded image to be formed is disturbed. There was a similar problem that the perforation was broken.

In addition, a paper feeding device for a copying machine has been proposed in which the angle of the bottom plate can be changed between the center and the end so as to stabilize the feeding of the recording paper (see Patent Document 2).
However, although such a paper feeding device is effective against curling and deformation of the recording paper, there is a problem that it cannot cope with stacking of recording papers having different thicknesses among a wide variety of sheets.
Furthermore, when the amount of recording paper loaded on the recording medium increases, the recording paper near the bottom plate is affected by the weight of the recording paper, and the flatness of the recording paper is impaired due to the lifting device, and wrinkles and folds remain. There is a case. The same applies to the case where the perforation is cut when a recording sheet with a perforation is stacked.
In addition, a sheet feeding device and a paper feeding device that change the angle of the bottom plate of the recording paper stacking device of the recording medium have been proposed (see Patent Documents 4 and 6).
In addition, a plurality of detectors are installed on the top surface of the recording paper of the recording medium, and the amount of curl or wrinkle on the top recording paper is determined based on the difference in position where the detection signal on the recording paper surface changes. A paper feeding device has also been proposed that issues a warning when the difference exceeds a predetermined amount and issues a command for prohibiting the raising / lowering operation of the tray (see Patent Document 3).
However, even these apparatuses have a problem that they cannot cope with the stacking of recording sheets of recording media having different thicknesses among a wide variety of sheets. There is also a problem that the recording paper stacking direction of the recording medium needs to be changed to limit the stacking amount of the recording paper, which is the above-described problem.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the recording medium P in a non-uniform stacking state with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium P in the conventional paper feeder 200.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the recording medium P in the conventional sheet feeding device 200 in a non-uniform stacking state with respect to the width direction of the recording medium P.
10 and 11, the cause of the non-uniform stacking state of the recording medium P is the release paper or label often seen on so-called special paper p that is affixed to the back surface or a part of the front surface of the recording medium P. This is caused by sticking postcard paper.
When the recording medium P starts to be fed in a non-uniform stacking state, when the recording medium P is fed to the feeding port 212 between the upper guide plate 213 and the lower guide plate 214 of the recording medium feeding unit 201, There arises a problem that the leading end of the recording medium P cannot be fed because it collides with the upper guide plate 213 and the lower guide plate 214.
Therefore, in the conventional sheet feeding device 200, a plurality of drive sources capable of moving up and down separately for each of the divided tables 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, and 226 obtained by dividing the recording medium stacking table 202 into six. 204 is provided. And it has the structure which can be raised / lowered individually or plurally in the direction of the arrow (C) shown.

Above the divided tables 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226 of the recording medium stacking table 202, a distance having a means for detecting the recording sheet of the recording medium P stacked on the recording medium mounting surface 220 A sensor 203 is arranged. The controller 230 moves the divided tables 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226 up and down until the distance between each distance sensor 203 and the upper surface of the recording medium P reaches a certain distance. Is monitoring.
The conventional paper feeder 200 monitors the ascending / descending distance of each of the divided tables 221 to 226 of the recording medium stacking table 202. As a result, even when a large number of recording media P having different thicknesses are stacked or stacked in a curled state, the recording medium feeding roller 211 feeds the recording medium P in the direction indicated by the arrow (A). It is possible to correct uneven loading with respect to the direction. Then, the posture of the stacking upper surface can be made horizontal as shown in the figure.
However, when the recording medium P having a different thickness among a wide variety of sheets is loaded, the recording medium P near the bottom is lifted by the weight of the recording medium P. As a result, the flatness of the recording medium P is impaired. And in the "fold generation" part shown in figure, a wrinkle and a fold mark remain. Further, when the recording medium P with perforations is stacked, the perforations are cut and damaged. Further, when a recorded image is formed on the recording medium P in the subsequent steps, the transportability of the recording medium P is impaired by wrinkles or creases. Furthermore, the recorded image to be formed is disturbed and the image quality is lowered.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 63-65581 JP 63-235221 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-106027 JP-A-7-89620 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-247029 JP 2005-89025 A JP 2005-289559 A

A conventional recording medium feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided with the recording medium feeding device have a large number of various recording media having different thicknesses in one sheet. It is necessary to change the loading direction or limit the loading capacity. Even if the top surface area of the recording medium is kept horizontal, the recording medium near the bottom surface is affected by the weight of the recording medium, and the flatness of the recording medium is impaired due to the lifted portion, so that wrinkles and creases are observed. Remains. Further, when a recording medium with perforations is loaded, the perforations are cut and damaged. Further, when a recorded image is formed on the recording medium in the subsequent process, the transportability of the recording medium is impaired due to wrinkles and creases. Furthermore, there has been a problem that the recorded image to be formed is disturbed and the image quality is lowered.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such problems. That is, even when a large number of various types of recording media having different thicknesses are stacked in one sheet, there is no need to change the stacking direction of the recording media or limit the stacking amount. The flatness of the part close to the horizontal and bottom surface is also maintained. In addition, deformation and breakage such as wrinkles, creases, perforations, etc. due to the weight of the recording medium to be loaded is prevented, and paper jams and skews are avoided to ensure stable and reliable feeding. Is called. It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording medium feeding apparatus capable of forming a high-quality recorded image and an image forming apparatus including the recording medium feeding apparatus.

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a recording medium feeding means for feeding a recording medium on the uppermost surface to be stacked in a feeding direction, and the recording medium feeding means. The recording medium stacking table divided into a plurality of recording media stacked in the direction of the recording medium and the height of the uppermost surface corresponding to the position of each of the plurality of divided tables of the recording medium stacked on the recording medium stacking table Detection means for detecting the height, vertical movement means for selectively moving the plurality of divided tables in the vertical direction according to the height detection signal of the detection means, and vertical movement by the vertical movement means. A recording medium feeding apparatus comprising: a rotation support unit that rotatably supports the divided table to be moved so as to follow the bottom surface of the recording medium loaded thereon; Record the partition table A feed direction tilt support means that pivotably supports the body feed direction so as to be capable of tilting, and the feed direction tilt support means includes an intermediate support member that supports a back side intermediate portion of the split table. The intermediate support member includes a movable roller that rotatably supports the intermediate portion on the rear surface side of the division table .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording medium feeding device according to the first aspect, wherein the recording medium feeding means is loaded on a recording medium mounting surface of the recording medium loading table. The recording medium feeding device includes a recording medium feeding roller that feeds the recording medium on the uppermost surface in the transport direction.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the recording medium feeding means is a recording medium mounting surface of the recording medium stacking table. The recording medium feeding device includes a recording medium guide member that guides the recording medium loaded on the recording medium in the transport direction.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding device according to the first, second, or third aspect, the recording medium stacking table includes a plurality of rows parallel to the feeding direction of the recording medium. It is a recording medium feeding device provided with a plurality of the division tables arranged in the recording medium.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the recording medium stacking table is parallel to the width direction of the recording medium. It is a recording medium feeding device including a plurality of the division tables arranged in a plurality of rows.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the recording medium placement surface of the divided table has a curvature formed at a corner. It is a recording medium feeding device having a shape surface.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the detection means corresponds to the positions of the divided tables corresponding to the positions of the plurality of division tables. The recording medium feeding apparatus includes a plurality of divided table corresponding sensors that detect the height of the uppermost surface of the recording medium loaded on the recording medium mounting surface.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the detection means is an inner surface side of an opening / closing lid that opens and closes an upper portion of the housing. The recording medium feeding device is provided with a plurality of the divided table correspondence sensors arranged on the recording medium.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the vertical direction moving means includes a rotational driving pulley and the rotational driving. A recording medium feeding apparatus comprising: a driven pulley driven by a pulley; and a timing belt that is stretched around the rotation driving pulley and the driven pulley and moves the divided table individually or in a plurality of directions. Features.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the vertical movement means individually moves the division table in the vertical direction. And a recording medium feeding device provided with individual moving means in the vertical direction.
Further, according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding device according to the tenth aspect, the vertical direction individual moving means includes a cylinder mechanism that individually moves the plurality of divided tables in the vertical direction. It is a recording medium feeding device provided .
Further, the present invention according to claim 12, in the recording medium feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the feeding direction inclined support means comprises a bearing for supporting the both ends of the split table rotatably It is a recording medium feeding device .

Further, according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium feeding apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the rotation support means is configured to be able to incline in the entire circumferential direction by rotating the division table. It is a recording medium feeding device provided with an all-around tilt support means for supporting.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium feeding device according to the thirteenth aspect , wherein the all-direction tilt support means is a recording medium feeding device including a ball joint. And
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for forming a recorded image on a recording medium, an image forming unit for forming the recorded image on the recording medium, and forming a recorded image on the image forming unit. characterized in that an image forming apparatus including the feed recording medium supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 to feed from the top surface for stacking the recording medium.
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect , the image forming unit is an image forming apparatus that forms a recorded image by an electrophotographic image forming process. And

  According to the present invention, even when a large number of various recording media having different thicknesses are stacked in one sheet, there is no need to change the stacking direction of the recording medium or limit the stacking amount. The flatness of the portions near the bottom and the horizontal surface of each upper surface area is also maintained. In addition, deformation and breakage such as wrinkles, creases, perforations, etc. due to the weight of the recording medium to be loaded is prevented, and paper jams and skews are avoided to ensure stable and reliable feeding. Is called. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a recording medium feeding apparatus capable of forming a high-quality recorded image and an image forming apparatus including the recording medium feeding apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a basic configuration of a recording medium feeding apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front sectional view of the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention in a non-uniform stacking state in the feeding direction of the recording medium P.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the right side surface of the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention in a non-uniform stacking state in the feeding direction of the recording medium P.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the front side of the recording medium P loaded by the feeding direction inclined support means 50 in the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the basic configuration of the feeding direction inclined support means 50 provided on the back side of the recording medium stacking table 2 in the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, a recording medium feeding device 10 that feeds a recording medium on the uppermost surface to be stacked in the transport direction feeds a recording sheet of the recording medium P on the uppermost surface to be stacked in the transport direction. A recording medium feeding means 1 for feeding is provided. Then, a recording medium stacking table 2 divided into a plurality of parts for stacking the recording medium P in the direction of the recording medium feeding roller 11 of the recording medium feeding means 1 is provided. Further, a distance sensor detection means 3 for monitoring the elevation distance by detecting the height of the uppermost surface corresponding to the position of each of the plurality of divided tables 21 to 26 of the recording medium P loaded on the recording medium loading table 2. It has. Furthermore, the control part 30 of the detection means 3 is provided with the up-down direction moving means 4 which selectively moves the several division tables 21-26 to an up-down direction according to the height detection signal, and stops. Furthermore, the feeding direction inclination of the rotation support means 5 that rotatably supports the divided tables 21 to 26 that are moved in the up-down direction by the up-down direction moving means 4 so as to be inclined and follow the bottom surface of the recording medium P loaded thereon. Support means 50 is provided.
The recording medium feeding means 1 feeds the recording paper of the uppermost recording medium P stacked on the recording medium mounting surface 20 of the recording medium stacking table 2 in the feeding direction indicated by the arrow (A) in the figure. A recording medium feeding roller 11 for feeding is provided. Then, the recording medium P stacked on the recording medium mounting surface 20 of the recording medium stacking table 2 and fed in the feeding direction indicated by the arrow (A) in the figure is conveyed by the recording medium feeding roller 11. A recording medium guide member 12 is provided for guiding in the direction.

The recording medium guide member 12 has a function of smoothly feeding the recording medium P fed in the feeding direction indicated by the arrow (A) in the drawing to the next process. Then, an upper guide plate that guides the recording medium P fed by the recording medium feeding roller 11 in the feeding direction shown by the arrow (A) in the drawing direction from the feeding port 63 to the image forming apparatus 100. 13 and a lower guide plate 14.
The recording medium stacking table 2 includes a plurality of division tables 21 to 26 arranged in a plurality of rows in parallel with the feeding direction indicated by the arrow (A) in the figure of the recording medium P. The recording medium stacking table 2 includes a plurality of rows in which a plurality of division tables 21 to 26 are arranged in parallel also in the width direction of the recording medium P in the direction indicated by the arrow (B).
The recording medium mounting surface 20 of the division tables 21 to 26 includes a curvature-shaped surface 27 formed at the corners of the entire upper ridge line.
Therefore, the recording medium P at the time of loading is reduced in the flatness deformation, wrinkles, folds and the like due to the edge portions of the division tables 21 to 26, and prevents the occurrence of conveyance abnormality such as paper jam caused by the damage. Thus, stable and reliable feeding is performed. Further, it is possible to provide the recording medium feeding device 10 that can prevent the occurrence of image abnormality and can form a high-quality recorded image.

The detection means 3 includes a plurality of division table corresponding sensors 31 to 36 that detect the height of the uppermost surface of the recording medium P stacked on the recording medium placement surface 20 corresponding to the positions of the plurality of division tables 21 to 26. It has. The detection means 3 is provided with a plurality of divided table corresponding sensors 31 to 36 on the inner surface 61 side of the opening / closing lid 60 that opens and closes the upper portion of the housing 6 when the recording medium P to be loaded is replenished. .
The split table corresponding sensors 31 to 36 of the detection means 3 are split through the control unit 30 until the distance between the split table corresponding sensors 31 to 36 and the uppermost surface of the recording medium P reaches a certain distance. Monitoring the up and down movement.
By monitoring, non-uniformity in the feeding direction in the direction of the arrow (A) shown in the figure occurs when a large number of recording media P having a different thickness is stacked on special paper p or the like or when curled paper is stacked. Correct loading condition (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is corrected. Then, the posture of the uppermost surface of the recording medium P to be stacked can be made horizontal (see FIG. 4).

The cause of the non-uniform stacking state as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is that the release paper, label, or postcard paper is often found on the so-called special paper p that is affixed to the back surface or a part of the front surface of the recording medium P. The cause is pasting. When feeding is started in a non-uniform stacking state, the leading edge of the recording medium P collides with the lower guide plate 14 and the like before feeding to the feeding port 63 between the upper guide plate 13 and the lower guide plate 14. The trouble that cannot be fed occurs.
For this purpose, by arranging the division table corresponding sensors 31 to 36 of the detection means 3 for detecting the recording medium P on the upper surfaces of the respective division tables 21 to 26 and making the elevation distance variable (see FIG. 4), Special paper p can be handled.
Accordingly, the detection means 3 also has a low-cost configuration without using any new support means by using the opening / closing lid 60, and the height of the uppermost surface of each recording medium P loaded on each of the division tables 21 to 26. Can be reliably detected.
The vertical movement means 4 is a timing belt that is stretched around a rotation driving pulley 40 that is rotationally driven by a drive motor 43 as three sets of actuators and a driven pulley 41 that is driven by the rotation driving pulley 40 and moves in the vertical direction. 42 is provided.

Three sets of timing belts 42 in the front and rear pairs, each divided table 21 and divided table 24 divided into six, divided table 22 and divided table 25, divided table 23 and divided table 26 are separately held integrally. Then, the divided tables 21 and 24, the divided tables 22 and 25, and the divided tables 23 and 26 divided into six by the rotational drive of the rotational drive pulley 40 are individually driven up and down in the direction of the arrow (C) shown in the figure. It is supposed to move.
The feed direction inclination support means 50 of the rotation support means 5 is a bearing that supports the holding shaft 28 at both ends of the divided tables 21 to 26 so as to be rotatable in the rotation direction of the arrow (D) shown in the figure. 51 is provided.
The feeding direction inclined support means 50 is configured to be press-fitted into the holding shaft 28 and turnable or fixedly held, and is configured to support the intermediate support member 52 that supports the back side intermediate portion of the divided tables 21 to 26. A movable roller 53 is provided.
That is, the divided tables 21 to 26 are inclined at an angle following the recording medium P having a complicated thickness shape that cannot be handled only by the vertical movement of the divided tables 21 to 26 divided into six. .
Therefore, even when a large number of recording media P are stacked, the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 causes the recording media P in the vicinity of the recording medium mounting surface 20 to have a defect such as deformation or breakage due to its weight. Can be prevented. Further, the level of the uppermost surface when the recording mediums P are stacked can be maintained, and it is possible to supply more types of recording media P and to stably supply the recording media P.

In the following, the embodiment of the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 will be described with reference to the case of feeding the recording medium P to which the special paper p such as a label is attached, corresponding to the division table 23 and the division table 26, as shown in FIGS. 4 will be described.
First, the recording medium P is stacked on the recording medium mounting surface 20 in the end state of the recording medium P, and a total of six division tables 21 to 26 are raised at the same height all at once.
First, only the division table correspondence sensor 33 and the division table correspondence sensor 36 detect the height of the uppermost surface of the recording medium P below the division table 23 and the division table 23 corresponding to when the control unit 30 determines that the height is appropriate. The ascending drive of the dividing table 26 is stopped.
Next, the other division tables 21 and 24 and the division tables 22 and 25 continue to rise further. At this time, in order to approach the state following the bottom surface of the recording medium P, the holding shaft 28 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow (D) shown in the figure with the supporting shaft 28 as a fulcrum, and is lifted while being inclined in the feeding direction shown in the direction of the arrow (A). To do.
When the control unit 30 determines that the division table correspondence sensor 32 and the division table correspondence sensor 35 are appropriate, the ascending drive of the division tables 22 and 25 corresponding thereto is stopped. Next, the dividing tables 21 and 24 continue to rise further in a tilted state following the bottom surface of the recording medium P. When the control unit 30 determines that the split table correspondence sensor 31 and the split table correspondence sensor 34 are appropriate, the ascending drive of the split tables 21 and 24 corresponding thereto is stopped. When the recording medium P is moved up and down and loaded with the recording medium P in a state following the bottom surface of the recording medium P, damage to the recording medium P can be reduced.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the front side of the recording medium feeding device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention in a non-uniform stacking state in the feeding direction and the width direction of the recording medium P.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the right side surface of the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention in a non-uniform stacking state in the feeding direction and the width direction of the recording medium P.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the front side of the recording medium P loaded by the circumferentially inclined support means 54 in the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The vertical movement means 4 includes a cylinder mechanism 45 of the vertical direction individual movement means 44 that individually moves the divided tables 21 to 26 in the vertical direction. The cylinder mechanism 45 pushes each of the divided tables 21 to 26 through an arrow (shown in the figure) via an all-circumferential inclination support means 54 of the rotation support means 5 that is fixed to the rod 46 that protrudes and retracts by hydraulic pressure by operating a switching valve (not shown). C) Move individually in the vertical direction.

The all-round direction tilting support means 54 rotates each of the divided tables 21 to 26 in the feeding direction in the direction indicated by the arrow (A) and the width direction in the direction indicated by the arrow (B). A ball joint 55 is provided to be tiltable in the direction. Each of the divided tables 21 to 26 is supported so as to be rotatable in a rotating direction in the illustrated arrow (E) direction in addition to the illustrated arrow (D) direction with the ball joint 55 as a fulcrum.
Each of the divided tables 21 to 26 is provided with a ball joint 55 or the like that rotates 360 degrees on the back surface side, thereby expanding the movable range and the feeding direction of the recording medium P in the direction of the arrow (A) and the arrow of the drawing. It can also be rotated in the width direction (B). At this time, as the lifting / lowering actuators of the respective divided tables 21 to 26, the cylinder mechanisms 45 for individually driving the respective six divided tables 21 to 26 are provided and controlled.
Accordingly, in addition to the non-uniform stacking state of the recording medium P shown in FIG. 6 in the direction indicated by the arrow (A), the recording medium P is non-uniform in the width direction indicated by the arrow (B) shown in FIG. Even in the stacked state, the upper surface of the recording medium P to be stacked can be made flat. Then, it is possible to prevent the recording medium P loaded at the bottom from being bent, deformed or damaged.
That is, the divided tables 21 to 26 are inclined at an angle that also follows the recording medium P having a complicated thickness shape that cannot be handled only by the vertical movement of the divided tables 21 to 26 divided into a plurality. .

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 8 by taking as an example the case of feeding a recording medium P to which a special sheet p such as a label is attached, corresponding to the division table 26. To do.
First, the recording medium P is loaded on the recording medium mounting surface 20 in the end state of the recording medium P, and a total of six division tables 21 to 26 are simultaneously raised to the same height by each cylinder mechanism 45. come.
First, only the split table correspondence sensor 36 detects the height of the uppermost surface of the recording medium P underneath, and when the control unit 30 determines that it is appropriate, the corresponding cylinder mechanism 45 drives the split table 26 up. stop.
Next, the other division tables 21 to 25 continue to rise further. At that time, in order to approach the state of following the bottom surface of the recording medium P, the ball joint 55 is pivoted in the illustrated arrow (E) direction in addition to the illustrated arrow (D) direction with the ball joint 55 as a fulcrum. Then, the recording medium P rises while being inclined in the feeding direction in the direction of the arrow (A) shown in the figure and the width direction in the direction of the arrow (B) shown in the figure.

When the control unit 30 determines that the divided table correspondence sensor 32 and the divided table correspondence sensor 35 are appropriate, the ascending drive is stopped by the corresponding cylinder mechanism 45 of the divided tables 22 and 25 corresponding thereto. Next, the dividing tables 21 and 24 continue to rise further in a tilted state following the bottom surface of the recording medium P. When the control unit 30 determines that the split table correspondence sensor 31 and the split table correspondence sensor 34 are appropriate, the ascending drive is stopped by the corresponding cylinder mechanism 45 of the split tables 21 and 24 corresponding thereto. In this way, damage to the recording medium P can be mitigated by moving up and down and stacking the recording medium P while following the bottom surface of the recording medium P.
Therefore, even when a large number of recording media P are stacked, the recording media P in the vicinity of the recording media mounting surface 20 can be prevented from being deformed or damaged due to the weight of the recording media P. Further, the level of the uppermost surface when the recording mediums P are stacked can be maintained, so that it is possible to supply various types of recording media P and to stably supply the recording media P. .

FIG. 9 is a basic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 including the recording medium feeding device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 9, an image forming apparatus 100 that forms a recorded image on a recording medium includes an image forming unit 101 that forms a recorded image on the recording medium P, and a recording medium P that forms a recorded image on the image forming unit 101. A recording medium feeding device 10 according to the present embodiment for feeding from the uppermost surface to be loaded is provided.
A document image reading unit 102 is placed on the image forming unit 101. The image forming unit 101 is held above the recording medium feeding unit 103 that feeds the recording medium P.
The image forming unit 101 is formed by transferring a high-quality, high-quality toner recording image onto a recording paper of a recording medium P, etc., which is excellent in convenience and versatility in an electrophotographic image forming process. .

In the document image reading unit 102, the document O placed on the document table 120 is transported in the transport direction indicated by the arrow (F) in the drawing by the transport roller of the document transport unit 121 and passes over the document reading unit 122. To do. At this time, the document reading unit 122 optically reads the document image information of the document O passing above.
The optical document image information read by the document reading unit 122 is converted into an electrical signal and then subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 123.
Exposure light such as laser light based on the original image information of the electrical signal subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 123 is written on the drum-shaped photosensitive drum of the image carrier 110 by the writing device 112 of the image forming unit 101.
The photosensitive drum of the image carrier 110 rotates clockwise in the direction of the arrow (G) shown in the figure. At this time, the charging device 111 uniformly charges the surface. Written. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the image carrier 110. This latent image is visualized as a toner image by the developing device 113.
On the other hand, the recording medium P is conveyed from the recording medium feeding unit 103 toward the image carrier 110, and the recorded image of the toner on the image carrier 110 is transferred to the recording medium P by the transfer device 114.

The recording medium P conveyed to the transfer device 114 operates in the following manner.
First, the recording medium feeding unit 103 is provided with two feeding cassettes 130 and 131 each capable of accommodating a small capacity recording medium P. A recording medium feeding device 10 is provided that feeds the recording medium P on the uppermost surface on which a large capacity of the recording medium P can be stored at a time in a transport direction. Furthermore, a feeding cassette 132 that can be freely inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body is provided at the upper part thereof.
Corresponding to the recording medium feeding device 10, the conveyance roller pair 133 is rotatably provided in the vicinity of the feeding outlet of the recording medium P of the recording medium guide member 12 on the upper guide plate 13 and the lower guide plate 14. It has been.
One feeding section is automatically or manually selected from among the feeding cassettes 130, 131, 132 and the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 of the feeding sections of the recording media P having different sizes. For example, it is assumed that the recording medium feeding device 10 is selected.

Then, the uppermost sheet of the recording medium P stacked and stored in the recording medium feeding apparatus 10 is fed by the recording medium feeding roller 11 and transported toward the transport path 134. Transported in pairs 133.
Thereafter, the recording medium P passes through the conveyance path 134 and reaches the position of the registration roller 115. Then, the recording medium P that has reached the position of the registration roller 115 is conveyed toward the transfer device 114 at the same timing in order to align with the toner image formed on the image carrier 110.
The recording medium P after the transfer process in the transfer device 114 passes through the position of the transfer device 114 and then reaches the fixing device 116 via the transport path.
The recording medium P that has reached the fixing device 116 enters the nip portion N between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, and the recorded image of the toner is fixed by the heat received from the fixing roller and the pressure received from the pressure roller. . The recording medium P on which the recorded image of the toner is fixed is sent out from the nip portion N between the fixing roller and the pressure roller, and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 117 and stored.

The toner remaining on the image carrier 110 is removed by the cleaning device 118 and prepared for the next process.
Therefore, even when a large number of various types of recording media P having different thicknesses are stacked in one sheet, there is no need to change the stacking direction of the recording media P or limit the stacking amount. The flatness of the portions close to the horizontal and bottom surfaces of each upper surface region is also maintained. In addition, deformation and breakage such as wrinkles, creases, perforations, and breakage due to the weight of the recording medium P to be loaded can be prevented, and occurrence of paper jams and skewing can be avoided to ensure stable and reliable feeding. Done. Further, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus 100 including the recording medium feeding 10 capable of forming a high-quality recorded image.

1 is an external perspective view of a basic configuration of a recording medium feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of a recording medium feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a non-uniform stacking state in a recording medium feeding direction. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the right side surface of the recording medium feeding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention in a non-uniform stacking state in the feeding direction of the recording medium. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the front side of the recording medium stacked by the feeding direction inclined support means in the recording medium feeding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the basic composition of the feed direction inclination support means with which the back side of the recording medium loading table is provided in the recording medium feeding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the front side of the recording medium feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention in a non-uniform stacking state in the feeding direction and the width direction of the recording medium. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the right side surface of the recording medium feeding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention in a non-uniform stacking state in the feeding direction and the width direction of the recording medium. It is sectional drawing of the front side of the loading state of the recording medium by the perimeter direction inclination support means in the recording medium feeding apparatus concerning the embodiment of this invention. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a recording medium feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a recording medium in a non-uniform stacking state with respect to a recording medium feeding direction in a conventional paper feeding device. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a recording medium in a non-uniform stacking state with respect to the width direction of the recording medium in a conventional paper feeding device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording medium feeding means, 2 Recording medium loading table, 3 Detection means, 4 Vertical movement means, 5 Rotation support means, 6 Case, 10 Recording medium feeding apparatus, 11 Recording medium feeding roller , 12 Recording medium guide member, 13 Upper guide plate, 14 Lower guide plate, 20 Recording medium mounting surface, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Dividing table, 27 Curvature surface, 28 Holding shaft, 30 Control unit 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Split table compatible sensor, 40 Rotating drive pulley, 41 Driven pulley, 42 Timing belt, 43 Drive motor, 44 Vertical direction individual moving means, 45 Cylinder mechanism, 46 Rod , 50 Feed direction tilt support means, 51 Bearing, 52 Intermediate support member, 53 Movable roller, 54 Whole circumference tilt support means, 55 Ball joint 60 Opening / Closing Lid, 61 Inner Surface, 62 Opening / Closing Support Member, 63 Feed Port, 100 Image Forming Apparatus, 101 Image Forming Unit, 102 Document Image Reading Unit, 103 Recording Medium Feeding Unit, 110 Image Carrier, 111 Charging Device, 112 Writing device, 113 Developing device, 114 Transfer device, 115 Registration roller, 116 Fixing device, 117 Paper discharge tray, 118 Cleaning device, 120 Document table, 121 Document conveying unit, 122 Document reading unit, 123 Image processing unit, 130, 131, 132 Feed cassette, 133 Transport roller pair, 134 Transport path

Claims (16)

Recording medium feeding means for feeding the recording medium on the uppermost surface to be loaded in the feeding direction;
A recording medium stacking table divided into a plurality of recording media stacked in the direction of the recording medium feeding means;
Detecting means for detecting the height of the uppermost surface corresponding to the position of each of the plurality of divided tables of the recording medium loaded on the recording medium loading table;
Vertical movement means for selectively moving the plurality of divided tables in the vertical direction according to a height detection signal of the detection means;
Rotation support means for rotatably supporting the division table that moves in the vertical direction by the vertical movement means so as to be inclined and follow the bottom surface of the recording medium on which the division table is loaded;
A recording medium feeding device comprising :
The rotation support unit includes a feeding direction tilt support unit that supports the division table so as to be tiltable by rotating with respect to the feeding direction of the recording medium.
The feeding direction inclined support means includes an intermediate support member that supports a back side intermediate portion of the split table,
The recording medium feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate support member includes a movable roller that rotatably supports an intermediate portion on a rear surface side of the division table. The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1,
The recording medium feeding means includes a recording medium feeding roller for feeding in the transport direction the recording medium on the uppermost surface stacked on the recording medium mounting surface of the recording medium stacking table. A recording medium feeding device. The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1 or 2,
The recording medium feeding means includes a recording medium guide member for guiding a recording medium stacked on a recording medium mounting surface of the recording medium stacking table in a transport direction. Feeding device. In the recording medium feeding device according to claim 1, 2, or 3,
The recording medium feeding table is provided with a plurality of division tables arranged in a plurality of rows in parallel with a feeding direction of the recording medium. The recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The recording medium feeding device, wherein the recording medium stacking table includes a plurality of the division tables arranged in a plurality of rows in parallel with the width direction of the recording medium. In the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium mounting surface of the division table includes a curved surface formed at a corner. In the recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The detection means includes a plurality of division table correspondence sensors for detecting the height of the uppermost surface of the recording medium loaded on the recording medium mounting surface corresponding to the positions of the plurality of division tables. Recording medium feeding device for recording. The recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The recording medium feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes a plurality of the divided table sensors arranged on an inner surface side of an opening / closing lid that opens and closes an upper portion of the housing. The recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The vertical movement means includes a rotation driving pulley, a driven pulley driven by the rotation driving pulley, and the rotation table and the driven pulley. A recording medium feeding device comprising a timing belt that moves to the recording medium. The recording medium feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the vertical movement means includes vertical movement means for individually moving the division table in the vertical direction. The recording medium feeding device according to claim 10,
The recording medium feeding apparatus, wherein the vertical direction individual moving means includes a cylinder mechanism that individually moves the plurality of division tables in the vertical direction. The recording medium feeding device according to claim 1,
The recording medium feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding direction inclined support means includes a bearing that rotatably supports both ends of the dividing table. The recording medium feeding device according to claim 10 or 11,
The recording medium feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation support means includes an all-around tilt support means that supports the tilting table so as to be tiltable in the entire circumference direction. The recording medium feeding device according to claim 13,
The recording medium feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circumferentially inclined support means includes a ball joint. In an image forming apparatus for forming a recorded image on a recording medium,
The image forming unit that forms a recorded image on a recording medium, and the recording medium that forms the recording image on the image forming unit is fed from the uppermost surface on which the recording medium is stacked. An image forming apparatus comprising the recording medium feeding device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15.
The image forming apparatus forms a recorded image by an electrophotographic image forming process.

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