JP5100258B2 - Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a configuration for fixing a regulating member that regulates a position in a width direction of a sheet supported by a sheet support portion.

  Conventional image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles and the like are provided with a sheet feeding device, and a sheet is fed from the sheet feeding device to an image forming unit to form an image. doing. In general, such a sheet feeding apparatus feeds a sheet supported by a sheet support unit to an image forming unit by a sheet feeding roller.

  Here, when supporting a sheet having a size smaller than the maximum size sheet that can be supported on the support unit body on which the sheet of the sheet support unit is supported, a direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction of the sheet (hereinafter referred to as a width direction). ) Side end regulating members for regulating the side end position are provided. In such a sheet support portion, the side edge of the sheet is regulated by the side edge regulating member, so that the sheet can be stably fed regardless of the size of the sheet.

  By the way, when the position of the sheet is regulated by the side edge regulating member as described above, for example, when the fed sheet is skewed, the side edge regulating member is displaced from the regulation position by losing the force of the skewed sheet. There is a case. In this case, the printing accuracy is deteriorated, the image is adversely affected, and the sheet may be jammed or double fed.

  Therefore, in order to prevent such a problem, it is necessary to firmly hold the side end regulating member after the sheet is set so that the side end regulating member does not move. For example, if the side end regulating member is completely fixed with a screw or the like, it takes time to reset the side end regulating member when supporting sheets of different sizes. Therefore, there is one in which the side end regulating member is elastically fixed so that the side end regulating member can be easily fixed (see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the sheet support portion of such a conventional sheet feeding apparatus. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 100 denotes a sheet support unit on which sheets are supported, and 102 denotes a tray on which sheets are stacked. A pair of sheets that regulate both ends of the sheet in the width direction are disposed at both ends in the width direction of the tray 102. The width regulating members 101 are provided so as to face each other.

  The sheet width regulating member 101 as the side edge regulating member includes rack portions 101a and 101b extending in the width direction along the tray 102. The rack portions 101a and 101b mesh with the pinion 104, respectively. Yes. Here, by engaging the rack portions 101 a and 101 b with the pinion 104 in this way, the pair of sheet width regulating members 101 move in the same amount along the slide holes 120 formed in the tray 102. The pinion 104 functions to prevent the racks 101a and 101b from moving in addition to preventing them from coming off.

  When supporting sheets of different sizes, after the sheets are placed on the tray 102, the sheet width regulating member 101 is slid in the direction indicated by the arrow 117. As a result, the sheet is stacked on the tray 102 in a state where the center in the width direction of the sheet and the center in the width direction of the tray 102 coincide with each other, and both ends are regulated so that the sheet does not skew during feeding.

  The sheet width regulating member 101 is elastically fixed to the sheet width regulating member 101 so that the sheet width regulating member 101 is not displaced from the regulation position. For example, an elastic body 116 such as a mold member integrated with the rack portion 101b. Is provided. Then, the elastic body 116 is pressed against the tray 102, and at this time, the movement of the sheet width regulating member 101 is regulated by the sliding resistance (braking force) due to the reaction force of the force that the elastic body 116 bends in the direction of the arrow 115. .

JP 2002-104665 A

  However, in the conventional sheet feeding device that uses such an elastic body to generate a braking force, deformation of parts due to environmental changes (high and low temperatures), dimensional variations during part processing, wear of sliding parts, etc. As a result, the brake force varies.

  When the variation in the braking force occurs in this way, the force that holds the sheet width regulating member 101 at the predetermined regulation position varies, and as a result, the position in the width direction of the sheet can be regulated stably. I can't. When the brake force varies, there may be a difference in operational feeling (hard, soft, etc.) when the seat width regulating member 101 is slid.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can easily and stably regulate the sheet position. To do.

The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet supported by a sheet support unit, wherein the sheet support unit is provided movably on the support unit main body that supports the sheet, and the support unit main body. a regulating member for regulating the position of the sheet at an end portion of the support sheets in section body abuts, before Symbol first position parallel to the direction of movement of the regulating member, a second position perpendicular to the moving direction of the restricting member And the first position is located on the opposite side to the second position, and is rotatably provided at a third position inclined with respect to the movement direction of the restricting member. A contact member that is in contact with the restriction member that restricts the position of the sheet at a position, and that restricts movement of the restriction member in a direction away from the sheet supported by the support body ; and , A regulation that comes into contact with the regulation member Cam profile provided on the end opposite to the end portion of the timber side, and the cam shape and abuts with the movement restricting member for restricting the rotation of the abutment member, the third of the abutment member And a holding portion that holds the cam member in an inclined position by bringing the cam shape into contact with the movement restricting member at a position.

  As in the present invention, the movement of the regulating member is regulated by the contact member, and the position of the sheet in the width direction of the sheet is easily and stably moved by moving the contact member to a position where the movement of the regulating member is regulated. Can be regulated.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus provided with a sheet feeding apparatus according to a first reference example of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 200 denotes an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 200 is provided on an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body) 202 having an image forming unit 201 and an upper portion of the apparatus main body 202. And an image reading unit 203. The image forming apparatus 200 is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body 202 and is provided at a main body side sheet feeding apparatus 204 for feeding the sheet S to the image forming unit 201 and at a side portion of the apparatus main body 202. A manual paper feeder 205 that feeds the image forming unit 201 is provided.

In this reference example , the image forming apparatus 200 discharges a sheet on which an image is formed in the image forming unit 201 into a discharge space 206 formed between the apparatus main body 202 and the image reading unit 203. This is a discharge type image forming apparatus.

  The image forming unit 201 includes a laser oscillator (not shown), an exposure unit 50A including a mirror 50 and a reflection mirror 51, a photosensitive drum 52, a developing device 53, and the like.

  The image reading unit 203 includes an automatic document feeder 63, and the document D as a sheet is stacked on a document tray 58 which is an example of a sheet stacking unit of the automatic document feeder 63. Both sides of the stacked document D are positioned by a pair of sheet width regulating members 65 provided on the document tray 58, thereby preventing skewing of the document D during document feeding. Yes.

  A document D having a size from the minimum size A5 to the maximum size A3 can be stacked on the document tray 58, and the sheet width regulating member 65 can be slid according to the length of the stacked document D in the width direction. Is provided.

  When the image reading unit 203 configured as described above reads a document image, first, the document D is fed from the document tray 58 by a feed roller (not shown), and the fed document D is sequentially fed one by one. Each sheet is conveyed to the reading position 59.

  Thereafter, the document D passes over the reading position. At this time, the document D is irradiated with light from a light source (not shown), the light hits the document D and is reflected, and the reflected light as document image information passes through the folding mirrors 60 to 62 and is imaged on a CCD or the like. It is guided to the reading element 64.

  Then, in the image reading element 64, the reflected light (document image information) is converted into an electric signal (image signal), and then the converted image signal is subjected to various image processing as required, The image is transferred to the image forming unit 201.

  In the image forming unit 201, the image signal transferred from the image reading unit 203 is sent to the laser oscillator of the exposure unit 50A by a controller (not shown), and a laser beam corresponding to the image signal is emitted from the laser oscillator. This laser light is reflected on the rotating mirror 50 and further reflected back by the reflecting mirror 51 to be irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 52.

  As a result, an image (latent image) corresponding to the document D read by the image reading unit 203 is formed on the photosensitive drum 52, and this latent image is developed by the developing device 53. As a result, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 52.

  On the other hand, in parallel with such a toner image forming operation, for example, in the main body side sheet feeding device 204, the sheets S stored in the sheet cassette 44 are fed one by one by the pickup roller 54, and below the photosensitive drum 52. Pass through. At this time, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 52 is transferred onto the sheet.

  Thereafter, the sheet S is conveyed while being pressurized by the pair of fixing rollers 55 and 56. At this time, the toner image is fixed to the sheet S by being heated by the heat of a heater provided inside the rollers.

  Then, the sheet S on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the upper discharge portion 42 provided on the lower surface of the discharge tray 57 or the discharge space 206 outside the apparatus main body. Here, when the sheet S is discharged to the discharge tray 57 outside the apparatus main body, the switching flappers 40 and 41 are switched to the discharge tray side, and when the sheet S is discharged to the upper surface discharge unit 42, the switching flappers 40 and 41 are switched. Switch to the top discharge part.

  When the sheets S are discharged to the upper surface discharge unit 42, the discharged sheets S are sequentially stacked with the image surface facing downward, unlike the case of being discharged onto the discharge tray 57. When all the processes are completed, the sheets are stacked in the output order. Therefore, this is the more general discharge method from a computer or the like.

  On the other hand, when an image is formed on a special sheet such as an OHP sheet, or when an image is formed on a sheet of a size that is not set in the sheet cassette 44, sheet feeding provided on the side of the apparatus main body 202 is performed. A sheet is fed by a manual sheet feeder 205 which is an apparatus.

  The manual sheet feeding device 205 includes a manual tray 43 that is a sheet support unit for placing (supporting) the sheet S, and a sheet feeding roller 49 that feeds the sheet S stacked on the manual tray 43. When the sheet S is fed to the image forming unit 201, the sheet feeding roller 49 is driven to feed the sheet S stacked on the manual feed tray 43.

  Here, the manual feed tray 43 is a pair of sheet width regulating members 1 (a regulating member that regulates the position of the sheet S by abutting against the width direction end (side end) of the sheet placed on the manual feed tray 43. 1A, 1B). Here, the sheet width regulating member 1 is provided on the manual feed tray 43 so as to be movable to a position corresponding to the length of the supported sheet S in the width direction. The sheet width regulating member 1 regulates the position in the width direction of the sheet S stacked on the manual feed tray 43 and positions both side edges of the sheet S, thereby correcting the skew of the sheet S during feeding. Prevention is achieved.

Note that sheets of a postcard size up to A3 side can be stacked on the manual feed tray 43 of this reference example , and the sheet width regulating member 1 slides according to the length in the width direction of the sheets S to be stacked. It is provided as possible.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of such a manual feed tray 43, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof. 2 and 3, reference numeral 2 denotes a tray main body that also serves as a joint portion of the manual feed tray 43 with the apparatus main body 202, and a sheet width is provided at both ends in the width direction of the tray main body 2 as a support main body that supports the sheet. The restricting member 1 is slidably provided. Note that the pair of sheet width regulating members 1 is positioned by contacting an end portion (side end) in the width direction of the sheet S, and also has a function of preventing the skew of the sheet S and preventing jamming.

  The sheet width regulating member 1 includes rack portions 1 a and 1 b extending in the width direction along the tray body 2, and the rack portions 1 a and 1 b mesh with the pinion 4, respectively. By engaging the rack portions 1 a and 1 b with the pinion 4 in this way, the pair of sheet width regulating members 1 move in the same amount along the slide holes 20 formed in the tray body 2. Note that the pinion 4 functions to prevent the racks 1a and 1b from moving evenly and from coming off.

  The pinion 4 includes a gear portion 4a that meshes with the rack portions 1a and 1b of the sheet width regulating member 1 and a support portion 4b that supports the rack portions 1a and 1b, and the rack portions 1a and 1b are connected to the tray body. It also has a guide function for holding close to 2. Here, the sheet width regulating member 1 and the pinion 4 constitute a sheet position regulating unit.

  Meanwhile, a side stopper 5 is provided on one side of the tray body 2. Further, the side stopper 5 is a side fixing member 6 that is a contact member that regulates movement of the sheet width regulating member 1 moved to a position regulating the side edge position of the sheet in a direction away from the sheet indicated by an arrow A. Is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction indicated by the arrow B around the rotation shaft 6a. The side fixing member 6 has a position where one sheet width regulating member 1B is held at a position for regulating the side end position of a postcard-size sheet indicated by a solid line, and a side A3 indicated by a broken line, with the rotation shaft 6a as a center. The side end position of the sheet can be rotated to a position where it is held at a position where it is restricted.

  For example, when supporting a postcard-size sheet on the tray body 2, the side fixing member 6 at the position indicated by the broken line is parallel to the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 1 indicated by the solid line around the rotation shaft 6 a. Rotate to the first position.

  The one sheet width regulating member 1B and the side fixing member 6 are connected by a pin (not shown). When the side fixing member 6 is thus rotated, the sheet width regulating member 1B operates as the side fixing member 6. To the position where the postcard size sheet is regulated. Further, a concave portion 5a for forming a gap for operating the side fixing member is formed on the inner wall surface of the side stopper 5 with the side fixing member 6 moved to the position indicated by the broken line.

  Here, when the side fixing member 6 is moved to the first position in this way, the side fixing member 6 comes into contact with (is in contact with) the sheet width regulating member 1A at a substantially right angle. Then, the side fixing member 6 whose one end is supported by the side stopper 5 abuts on the sheet width regulating member 1B in a substantially right angle as described above, thereby fixing the sheet width regulating member 1B to a position for regulating the postcard size sheet. It becomes possible. By fixing one sheet width regulating member 1B in this way, the other sheet width regulating member 1A can also be fixed.

  As a result, even when a force is applied from the regulated sheet to the sheet width regulating member 1 in a direction away from the sheet, the side fixing member 6 is in contact with the one sheet width regulating member 1B at a substantially right angle. The sheet width regulating member 1 does not move in the direction away from the sheet.

  Further, when supporting an A4 landscape sheet, the side fixing member 6 at the first position is rotated to a second position orthogonal to the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 1 indicated by a broken line around the rotation shaft 6a. Move it. When the side fixing member 6 is thus rotated, the one sheet width regulating member 1B follows the operation of the side fixing member 6 and moves to a position for regulating the A4 landscape sheet.

  Here, when the side fixing member 6 is moved to the second position in this way, the side surface of the side fixing member 6 comes into contact with one sheet width regulating member 1B. Then, the side surface of the side fixing member 6 abuts on the sheet width regulating member 1B in this way, so that the sheet width regulating member 1B can be fixed at a position for regulating an A4 landscape sheet.

  As a result, even when a force is applied from the regulated sheet to the sheet width regulating member 1 in a direction away from the sheet, the side surface of the side fixing member 6 is in contact with one sheet width regulating member 1B. The width regulating member 1 does not move in the direction away from the sheet.

  As described above, by restricting the movement of the sheet width regulating member 1 by the side fixing member 6, the position in the width direction of the sheet can be regulated stably, and the skew of the sheet during sheet feeding and The occurrence of jam can be prevented. Further, the movement of the sheet width regulating member 1 can be regulated with a simple configuration by manually moving the side fixing member 6 to a position for regulating the movement of the sheet width regulating member 1.

  As described above, the movement of the sheet width regulating member 1 is regulated by the side fixing member 6, and the side fixing member 6 is manually moved to a position where the movement of the sheet width regulating member 1 is regulated. Thus, the position in the width direction of the sheet can be regulated.

  By the way, in the description so far, the case where the sheet width regulating member 1 is regulated by the side fixing member 6 at positions corresponding to the two size sheets of the postcard size and the A4 horizontal size has been described. Not limited to this.

  For example, by providing a cam shape at the end of the side fixing member 6 opposite to the end of the sheet width regulating member, the sheet width regulating member 1 is regulated to a position corresponding to three or more size sheets. Is also possible.

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating such a manual sheet feeder according to the implementation of the embodiment of the present invention the manual feed tray provided in (sheet feeding device) configuration. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  In FIG. 4, 6 b is a cam shape provided at the end of the side fixing member 6 opposite to the end of the sheet width regulating member, and 7 is provided at the side stopper 5 to restrict the rotation of the side fixing member 6. It is a rotation restricting member. 4 shows that the side fixing member 6 is inclined to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the moving direction of the sheet width regulating member 1 by the cam shape 6b of the side fixing member 6 and the rotation regulating member 7. A holding unit for holding at the third position is configured.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the seat width regulating member 1 is provided by providing the side fixing member 6 with the cam shape 6b and providing the side stopper side with the rotation regulating member 7 that regulates the rotation of the side fixing member 6. Can be regulated at three width positions 6A, 6B, 6C.

  For example, if the position of the rotation restricting member 7 can be moved, the sheet width restricting member 1 can be restricted at three or more width positions. Further, by adjusting the position of the rotation restricting member 7, the side fixing member 6 can be held at a position inclined to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the moving direction of the sheet width restricting member 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a manual feed tray provided in a manual paper feeder (sheet feeder) according to a second reference example of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 8 denotes a slide member that is a contact member that regulates movement of the sheet width regulating member 1 in a direction away from the regulated sheet. The slide member 8 is placed on the tray body 2 in the sheet feeding direction. It is slidable (movable). In addition, a plurality of, for example, five step portions 9a to 9e that selectively come into contact with one sheet width regulating member 1B are formed along the sheet feeding direction at the side end of the slide member 8 on the sheet width regulating member side. ing.

  Here, when a sheet is supported on the tray body 2, the slide member 8 is moved in the sheet feeding direction according to the length in the width direction of the sheet to be supported. For example, when a sheet of A4 horizontal size is regulated, the sheet width regulating member 1 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 5 and the slide member 8 is moved to the position shown in FIG.

  When the slide member 8 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 5, the step 9a on the first sheet width restriction member side of the slide member 8 which is a predetermined step is provided on one sheet width restriction member 1B. It comes to contact selectively. Thereby, the movement of the sheet width regulating member 1 can be regulated, and the position in the width direction of the sheet can be regulated stably.

  In the above description, the example in which the present invention is applied to the sheet width regulating member of the manual sheet feeding device has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to a sheet cassette that stores sheets, or a sheet width. You may apply not only to a control member but to the back end control member which controls the back end of a sheet.

  Further, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to, for example, an ink jet type or thermal transfer type image forming apparatus. The apparatus configuration can also be applied to a desktop facsimile, printer, scanner, or the like that feeds a plurality of types of sheets having different sizes.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device according to a first reference example of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a manual tray provided in a manual paper feeder that is the sheet feeding device. The perspective view explaining the structure of the said manual feed tray. Plan view illustrating the structure of the manual feed tray provided on the manual sheet feeder according to the form of implementation (sheet feeding device) of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a manual tray provided in a manual paper feeder (sheet feeder) according to a second reference example of the invention. The figure explaining the structure of the sheet | seat support part of the conventional sheet feeding apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 (1A, 1B) Sheet width regulating member 2 Tray body 5 Side stopper 6 Side fixing member 6a Rotating shaft 6b Cam shape 7 Rotating regulating member 8 Slide members 9a to 9e Step portion 43 Manual feed tray 49 Paper feed roller 200 Image formation Apparatus 201 image forming unit 205 manual sheet feeder S sheet

Claims (2)

In the sheet feeding device that feeds the sheet supported by the sheet support unit,
The seat support part
A support body for supporting the sheet;
A regulating member that is movably provided on the support body, and abuts against an end of the sheet supported by the support body to regulate the position of the sheet ;
A first position parallel to the movement direction before Symbol regulating member positioned on the opposite side from said second position relative to the second position and the first position perpendicular to the moving direction of the restricting member, the regulating member The support member is provided at a third position inclined with respect to the moving direction so as to be rotatable , abuts on the restriction member in a state of restricting the position of the sheet at each of the first to third positions, and the support member supports the support member. A contact member for restricting movement in a direction away from the sheet supported by the main body ,
A cam shape provided at the end of the abutting member opposite to the end on the side of the regulating member that abuts on the regulating member, and a movement that abuts the cam shape and regulates the rotation of the abutting member. And a holding member that holds the cam member in an inclined position by bringing the cam shape into contact with the movement regulating member at the third position of the contact member. Sheet feeding device.   An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit; and a sheet feeding device according to claim 1 for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit.

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