JP5381261B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer, a state in which a plurality of media are brought into close contact with each other and a so-called multi-feed state is prevented in a medium accommodating portion in which an image recording medium is accommodated. For this purpose, the techniques described in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3 are conventionally known as the technique for spreading the medium in the medium accommodating portion.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-327828 as Patent Document 1, in the paper feed tray (59), air blowing means (71) is arranged in the width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the paper (57), and the paper ( 57) describes a technique in which air is blown to several sheets (57) stacked on the top of the bundle (57) to spread the sheets (57). In the technique described in Patent Document 1, air blocking means (117, 125, etc.) is provided to prevent air diffusion, and the air flow and flow rate are adjusted so that air is blown at the optimal flow rate on the side of the paper (57). Attached.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-75541 as Patent Document 2 discloses a heater (6) from a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction toward a sheet (S) in a storage (402) in which the sheet (S) is stored. ) Is heated to blow a sheet (S) having high adhesion between papers such as coated paper by blowing hot air heated by a fan (5). In Patent Document 2, in a lifter that lifts and lowers a sheet bundle (S), the sheet bundle (S) is curved into a concave shape by stacking the sheet bundle (S) on a concave lifter base (403). A technique for facilitating the inflow of air is described.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-119117 as Patent Document 3 discloses that a bottom plate (13) on which a sheet bundle is stacked is connected to a front plate (14) and a central plate ( 15) and a rear plate body (16). A front plate body support lever (17), a central plate body support lever (18), and a rear plate body support lever (19) are provided on the back surfaces of the plate bodies (14 to 16), respectively. A supported image forming apparatus is described. In the technique described in Patent Document 3, in the sheet carry-out mode, the rising amount of each lever (17-19) is controlled so that each plate (14-16) is in a straight line. In the sheet rolling mode, the rising amount of each lever (17-19) is controlled so that the height of the central plate (15) is higher than that of the front plate (14) and the rear plate (16). The levers (17 to 17) are bent in a convex shape by the weight of the stacked sheet bundle, or the height of the central plate (15) is lower than the front plate (14) and the rear plate (16). In 19), the rising amount of the stacked sheet bundle is controlled to be concaved by its own weight, and the sheet bundle is rolled to reduce the adhesion between the sheets.

JP 2006-327828 A ("0037" to "0078", FIGS. 2 to 16) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-75541 (“0040”, “0053” to “0066”, FIGS. 2 to 8) JP 2007-119117 A ("0014" to "0019", FIG. 2)

  It is a technical object of the present invention to roll a medium above a bundle of media with a small configuration.

In order to solve the technical problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is provided.
A storage unit body in which a medium is stored;
A medium loading member that is movable between a delivery position at which the medium is loaded and a loaded medium is sent out and a lowered position that is lowered from the delivery position;
An end portion of the medium that is disposed at an end portion in the medium width direction that intersects the conveyance direction of the medium accommodated in the accommodating portion main body and that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis along the conveyance direction of the medium. An alignment member that contacts the edge of the medium in the width direction of the medium,
An aligning rotation member that rotates an upper end of the aligning member in a direction that rotates about the rotation axis toward the medium side in the medium width direction;
An alignment rotation control means for operating the alignment rotation member to rotate the alignment member when the medium stacking member moves to the delivery position;
Equipped with a,
The movement of the medium stacking member from the lowered position to the delivery position is performed in a state where the housing main body is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
It is characterized by that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
The medium stacking member is moved to the lowered position when the conveyance of the medium is completed.

  In order to solve the technical problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 3 is provided.
  A storage unit body in which a medium is stored;
  A medium loading member that is movable between a delivery position at which the medium is loaded and a loaded medium is sent out and a lowered position that is lowered from the delivery position;
  An end portion of the medium that is disposed at an end portion in the medium width direction that intersects the conveyance direction of the medium accommodated in the accommodating portion main body and that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis along the conveyance direction of the medium. An alignment member that contacts the edge of the medium in the width direction of the medium,
  An aligning rotation member that rotates an upper end of the aligning member in a direction that rotates about the rotation axis toward the medium side in the medium width direction;
  An alignment rotation control means for operating the alignment rotation member to rotate the alignment member when the medium stacking member moves to the delivery position;
  With
  The medium stacking member moves to the lowered position when the conveyance of the medium is completed, and also moves to the delivery position when the medium is sent out.
  It is characterized by that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second or third aspect ,
The medium stacking member is held at the lowered position when the medium transport operation is not performed.
It is characterized by that.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
A lifting control means for controlling the lifting and lowering of the medium stacking member, wherein when the aligning member is rotated by the aligning rotation control means, the medium stacking member is lowered from the delivery position by a preset amount.
And wherein a call.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect,
The elevation control means lowers the medium stacking member by a preset amount from the delivery position when the alignment member is rotated by the alignment rotation control means.
It is characterized by that.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects,
The alignment member supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis arranged at the lower end in the direction of gravity;
It is provided with.
The invention according to claim 8 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A pair of alignment members disposed at both ends of the medium in the medium width direction;
The alignment rotation control means for rotating the alignment members;
It is provided with.

The invention according to claim 9 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
A gas blowing device that blows gas onto the medium loaded on the medium loading member moved to the delivery position;
It is provided with.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the ninth aspect ,
A blowing control means for controlling the gas blowing device, wherein when the aligning member is rotated by the aligning rotation control member, the gas blowing device is operated for a preset time to blow gas. The spray control means for attaching,
It is provided with.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects,
An opening formed in the medium stacking member;
A push-up position penetrating through the opening of the medium stacking member, contacting the lower surface of the stacked medium and pushing up from below, and a medium separation position moving downward from the lower surface of the medium in the direction of gravity and separating from the medium A push-up member that moves between,
A push-up control means for controlling the push-up member to move the push-up member to the push-up position when the aligning member is rotated by the aligning rotation control member;
It is provided with.

According to the first and third aspects of the invention, the medium above the bundle of media can be spread with a small configuration compared to the configuration in which the aligning member does not rotate.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the conveyance of the medium is completed, the medium stacking member can be moved to the lowered position.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the medium stacking member can be held in the lowered position when the medium transport operation is not performed.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the upper medium stacked on the medium stacking member can be largely curved and the ability to crawl can be improved compared to the configuration in which the inclined portion is not provided.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is easier to separate the media and the ability to roll the media can be improved compared to the case where the medium stacking member is not lowered.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the upper medium stacked on the medium stacking member can be rolled, and it is necessary for rolling the medium as compared with the configuration in which the rotating shaft is not arranged at the lower end in the gravity direction. Energy can be reduced.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the disorder of the posture of the medium as compared with the case where only one alignment member in the medium width direction rotates.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the ability to spread the medium can be improved as compared with the case where no gas is blown.
According to the invention described in claim 10 , compared with the case where the gas is blown in a state where the aligning member is not rotating, the medium is bent and the gas is blown into the gap formed between the media to be separated. It is possible to improve the ability to roll a medium.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the medium can be bent and separated as compared with the case where no push-up member is provided, and the ability to spread the medium can be improved.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the sheet feeding device of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the paper feed tray according to the first embodiment. 4A and 4B are explanatory views of the aligning member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a main part in a state where the aligning member is moved to the aligning position, and FIG. It is. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a control portion of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram illustrating each function provided in the control portion. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of paper feed control as an example of medium delivery control according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the paper feed tray according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 3 according to the first embodiment. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 9A and 9B are explanatory views of the paper feed tray of the second embodiment. FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXA-IXA in FIG. 7, FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXB-IXB in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state which moved to the handing position from. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a control portion of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of paper feed control according to the second embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 6 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a control portion of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of paper feed control according to the third embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 11 according to the second embodiment. 14A and 14B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the third embodiment. FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 9A of the second embodiment in which the side guide is moved to the alignment position, and FIG. 14B is an embodiment in which the side guide is moved to the rolling position. 14C is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 9C, and FIG. 14C is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the bottom plate is lowered by a descending amount from the state shown in FIG. 14B. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a paper feed tray according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 7 according to the second embodiment. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15. FIG. 16A is an explanatory view showing a state where the push-up member has moved to the medium separation position, and FIG. 16B is an explanatory view showing a state where the push-up member has moved to the push-up position. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a control portion of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 12 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of paper feed control according to the fourth embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 13 according to the third embodiment.

Next, specific examples of embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as examples) will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
In order to facilitate understanding of the following description, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction, and arrows X, -X, Y, -Y, The direction indicated by Z and -Z or the indicated side is defined as the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, the lower side, or the front side, the rear side, the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, respectively.
In the figure, “•” in “○” means an arrow heading from the back of the page to the front, and “×” in “○” is the front of the page. It means an arrow pointing from the back to the back.
In the following description using the drawings, illustrations other than members necessary for the description are omitted as appropriate for easy understanding.

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a copying machine U as an example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming apparatus main body U1 and an automatic document feeder U2. The image forming apparatus main body U1 includes an image recording unit U1a and an image reading unit U1b.
The automatic document feeder U2 is supported on a platen glass PG as an example of a transparent document table on the upper surface of the image reading unit U1b.
A discharge tray TRh as an example of a medium discharge unit is provided on the upper surface of the image recording unit U1a between the upper image reading unit U1b.

In FIG. 1, the automatic document feeder U2 has a document feed tray TG1 as an example of a document storage unit in which a plurality of documents Gi to be copied are stored. Each of the plurality of documents Gi stored in the document feed tray TG1 sequentially passes through a copy position on the platen glass PG and is discharged to a document discharge tray TG2 as an example of a document discharge unit. Yes. The automatic document feeder U2 can be rotated with respect to the upper surface of the platen glass PG by a rotation shaft (not shown) provided at the rear end portion extending in the left-right direction, and the user places the document Gi on the platen glass PG by hand. If the case is rotated up.
The image forming apparatus main body U1 has a user interface UI as an example of an input operation unit for a user to input an operation command signal for starting image formation.

An exposure optical system A for reading a document image is disposed below the transparent platen glass PG.
Reflected light from a document transported to the upper surface of the platen glass PG by the automatic document transport device U2 or a document Gi manually placed on the platen glass PG is used as an example of an imaging member via the exposure optical system A. It is converted into an electric signal by the solid-state imaging device CCD.
The image processing unit IPS converts R: red, G: green, and B: blue electrical signals input from the solid-state imaging device CCD into image information and temporarily stores them, and the image information is used to form a latent image. The image information is output to a laser driving circuit DL as an example of a writing driving circuit.
The laser drive circuit DL outputs a laser drive signal to the latent image forming apparatus ROS according to the input image data. The operation of the user interface UI, the image processing unit IPS, the laser drive signal output device DL, and the power supply circuit E that supplies power to each member of the image forming apparatus main body U1 is performed by a controller C as an example of a control unit. Be controlled.

A photoconductor PR as an example of an image carrier is supported so as to be rotatable about its axis PRa, and its surface is uniformly charged by a charging roll CR as an example of a charger, and then a latent image document. The latent image forming apparatus ROS performs exposure scanning with a laser beam L as an example of latent image writing light at the inset position to form an electrostatic latent image.
The surface of the photoconductor PR on which the electrostatic latent image is formed rotates and sequentially passes through a developing area facing the developing device G and a transfer area Q1 facing a transfer roll Rt as an example of a transfer device.

The developing device G is a developing container V that rotatably supports a developing roll Ga and a developer agitating member Gb, Gc, Gd that are opposed to the photoconductor PR as an example of a developer holding member, and that stores the developer. The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor PR passing through the development area is developed into a toner image.
Below the developing device G, a plurality of paper feed trays TR <b> 1 to TR <b> 4 as an example of a medium storage unit are arranged. The plurality of paper feed trays TR1 to TR4, as an example of a medium, store a recording sheet S to be conveyed to the transfer region Q1, and a pair of guide portions arranged along the front-rear direction on the left and right sides thereof. It is supported so as to be movable along rails RL1, RL1 as an example.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of a main part of the sheet feeding device of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
1 and 2, a pickup roll Rp as an example of a medium delivery member is disposed on the upper left side that is the delivery side of each of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4. The pick-up roll Rp takes out the recording sheets S stacked on the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 in accordance with the delivery timing of sending the recording sheets S. When the recording sheet S passes through a separation area which is a contact area between a feed roll Rs1 as an example of a downstream conveying member and a retard roll Rs2 as an example of a medium speed reduction member, a plurality of recording sheets S overlap. When sent out, they are separated one by one. The separated recording sheet S is transported by the feed roll Rs1 and transported to a sheet transport path SH as an example of a downstream medium transport path. The feed roll Rs1 and the retard roll Rs2 constitute a separating roll Rs as an example of the separating member of the first embodiment.

The recording sheet S on the sheet conveyance path SH is conveyed to a registration roll Rr as an example of a timing adjusting member by conveyance rolls Ra as an example of a plurality of conveyance members arranged along the sheet conveyance path SH. In FIG. 1, the registration roll Rr conveys the recording sheet S in accordance with the time when the toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor PR reaches the transfer area Q1.
Further, the recording sheet S fed from the manual feed tray TR0 as an example of the manual paper feed unit is also transported along the manual transport path SH5, and transported as an example of a transport member disposed along the sheet transport path SH. It is transported to the transfer area Q1 by the roll Ra and the registration roll Rr.

In FIG. 1, a transfer roll Rt as an example of a transfer device to which a transfer voltage is applied is disposed in the transfer region Q1. The transfer roll Rt faces and contacts the photoconductor PR in the transfer area Q1, and transfers the toner image on the photoconductor PR to the recording sheet S that passes through the transfer area Q1.
After the toner image on the surface of the photoconductor PR is transferred to the recording sheet S in the transfer region Q1, the residual toner attached to the surface of the photoconductor PR is collected by a cleaner CL as an example of a cleaner. The photoreceptor PR from which the residual toner adhering to the surface by the cleaner CL is collected is charged by the charging roll CR.

  In the copying machine U according to the first exemplary embodiment, the photosensitive member PR, the charging roll CR, the developing device G, and the cleaner CL are detachably integrated with the image forming apparatus main body U1 as an example of a visible image forming apparatus. It is composed of process units PR + CR + G + CL.

The recording sheet S on which the unfixed toner image is transferred in the transfer area Q1 is conveyed to the fixing area Q2 with the toner image being unfixed, and is an example of a fixing member of the fixing device F disposed in the fixing area Q2. The toner image is fixed by the pair of fixing rolls Fh and Fp. The recording sheet S on which the fixing toner image is formed is conveyed to a paper discharge roll R1 as an example of a discharge member, and is discharged from a discharge port Ha to a discharge tray TRh.
The process unit PR + CR + G + CL, the transfer roll Rt, and the fixing device F constitute an image recording device PR + CR + G + CL + Rt + F that records an image on the medium S.

Inside the copying machine U, a main body reversing path SH3 connected to the discharge port Ha is provided on the left side of the discharge port Ha. A reversing unit U3 that is detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus main body U1 is mounted on the manual feed tray TR0 as an example of a medium reversing apparatus. An optional inversion path SH4 as an example of an additional inversion path connected to the main body inversion path SH3 is formed in the inversion unit U3. Therefore, during double-sided printing, the sheet S on which the toner image is fixed in the fixing region Q2 passes through the main body reverse path SH3 and the optional reverse path SH4 and is conveyed to the registration roll Rr, so that the front and back of the sheet S are reversed. In this state, the image is retransmitted to the transfer area Q1.
The main body inversion path SH3 and the option inversion path SH4 constitute an inversion path SH3 + SH4.
The pickup roll Rp, the separating roll Rs, the transport roll Ra, and the discharge roll R1 constitute a sheet transport member Rp + Rs + Ra + R1.

(Paper feeder)
In FIG. 2, on the upper left side of each of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 (upward on the −Y side), as an example of a paper feed lifting frame body, a paper feed frame that rotatably supports the pickup roll Rp and the feed roll Rs1. Kf is arranged. In the paper feed frame Kf, gear trains G2 to G6 for transmitting the rotational force of a paper feed drive motor as an example of a delivery drive source (not shown) to the pickup roll Rp and the feed roller Rs1 are arranged. On the right side of the paper feed frame Kf, an optical sensor SN1 for detecting the position of the paper feed frame Kf is supported as an example of a detection member.
Such an elevating mechanism for the paper feed frame Kf is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-229737, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-323966, and the like. Omitted.

The paper feed frame Kf is held at a paper feed standby position rotated upward when no paper feed is performed as shown in the upper paper feed tray TR1 in FIG. 2 by a spring as an example of a frame raising member (not shown). Has been. Further, a frame raising / lowering solenoid as an example of a frame lowering member (not shown) is connected to the paper feeding frame Kf. From the paper feeding standby position by energizing or de-energizing the frame raising / lowering solenoid, that is, on / off control. As shown in the lower sheet feed tray TR2 in FIG. 2, the pickup roll Rp is set in advance on the uppermost surface of the sheet bundle of the recording sheets S stacked on the sheet feed trays TR1 to TR4 when performing sheet feeding. It moves between the paper feed execution positions that come into contact with pressure.
The pickup roll Rp, the separation roll Rs, the gear trains G2 to G6, and the paper feed frame Kf constitute the paper feed device K of the first embodiment. Further, the sheet feeding device K and the respective sheet feeding trays TR1 to TR4 constitute the medium transport device K + TR1 to TR4 of the first embodiment.

(Paper tray)
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the paper feed tray according to the first embodiment.
2 and 3, each of the paper feed trays TR <b> 1 to TR <b> 4 detachably supported by the image forming apparatus main body U <b> 1 of the first embodiment includes a bottom wall 1, a front end wall 2, a rear end wall 3, and a left end wall 4. And a right end wall 5, and a space surrounded by the walls 1 to 5 constitutes a storage space 6 as an example of a storage body. A front cover 7 as an example of a front lid is supported on the front end wall 2, and a side cover 8 as an example of a horizontal lid is supported on the right end wall 5. In addition, a guided member RL2 as an example of a guided portion that is guided in contact with the rail RL1 is supported on the outer surfaces of the left end wall 4 and the right end wall 5.

  In FIG. 2, an ascending rotary shaft 12 is disposed outside the left end wall 4. In FIG. 3, a coupler 12 a as an example of a driven transmission portion is provided at the rear end portion of the ascending rotating shaft 12. The coupler 12a meshes with a coupler as an example of a drive transmission unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus main body U1 when the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 are attached to the image forming apparatus main body U1, and is an example of a lifting drive source (not shown). The rotation from the plate lift motor is transmitted.

2 and 3, one end of a plate-shaped ascending lever 13 having an L-shaped cross section is fixedly supported on the ascending rotary shaft 12 as an example of a lifting member. The other end of the raising lever 13 is in contact with the lower surface of the bottom plate 14 on which the bundle of recording sheets S is stacked on the upper surface as an example of a medium stacking member. In FIG. 3, the bottom plate 14 is supported on the front and rear end walls 2 and 3 so as to be rotatable about a plate rotation shaft 14a as an example of a rotation shaft for a stacking member.
At the rear end portion of the bottom plate 14, a cut portion 15 having a cut shape is formed corresponding to a rear side guide 27 described later.

When the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus U, that is, a so-called job is not started, the raising lever 13 and the bottom plate 14 are held at the lowered position shown in the upper sheet feeding tray TR1 in FIG. When the job of the image forming apparatus U is started, the ascending rotary shaft 12 is rotated by the plate elevating motor, and the ascending lever 13 raises the bottom plate 14. When the bottom plate 14 is raised and moved to the delivery position, as shown in the lower sheet feed tray TR2 in FIG. 2, the upper surface position of the front end portion of the recording sheet bundle in the sheet conveying direction is a height at which the recording sheet can be sent out. Is held.
The bottom plate raising / lowering motor, the raising rotary shaft 12, the raising lever 13, the bottom plate 14 and the like constitute a seat raising / lowering member 16.

  In FIG. 3, the bottom wall 1 is formed with a plate housing groove 1a extending in the left-right direction, which is the medium transport direction, as an example of a support housing portion. An end guide 21 as an example of a support guide member is accommodated in the plate accommodation groove 1a. As an example of a rear end support, an end plate 22 that supports the right end, which is the rear end in the sheet conveyance direction, of the stored recording sheet S is supported by the end guide 21 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Therefore, the user can manually slide and adjust the position of the end plate 22 according to the size of the recording sheet S.

4A and 4B are explanatory views of the aligning member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a main part in a state where the aligning member is moved to the aligning position, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a main part in a state where the aligning member is moved to the rolling position. It is.
3 and 4, the front end of the bottom plate 14 of the bottom wall 1 is in contact with the edge of the front end of the recording sheet S in the medium width direction as an example of a first aligning member, and the recording sheet S A front side guide 26 that aligns the edges of the front ends of the bottom wall 1 is detachably supported on the bottom wall 1. In FIG. 4, the front side guide 26 is manually removed by the user, and a protrusion 26 a on the lower surface of the front side guide 26 is inserted into the mounting hole 1 b formed in the bottom wall 1 according to the size of the recording sheet S. Thus, it can be mounted at a position corresponding to the size of the recording sheet S.

3 and 4, the rear end of the recording sheet S is in contact with the rear end edge of the recording sheet S in the medium width direction as an example of the second aligning member at the rear end of the bottom plate 14. A rear side guide 27 is arranged to align the edges.
3 and 4, the rear side guide 27 of the first embodiment is formed in a plate shape that extends through the rear opening 1c formed in the bottom wall 1 in the vertical direction. A rotating shaft 27a extending in the front-rear direction is supported at the lower portion of the rear side guide 27, and the rotating shaft 27a is rotatable by a pair of front and rear brackets 28 as an example of a shaft support member supported by the rear end wall 3. It is supported by.
The lower end of the rear side guide 27 extends below the rear opening 1c, and a solenoid connection hole 27b is formed as an example of a connected portion at the lower end below the rotating shaft 27a.

Behind the solenoid coupling hole 27b, a winding solenoid 31 supported at the rear end of the bottom surface of the bottom wall 1 is disposed as an example of an aligning rotation member and an example of an electromagnet. The winding solenoid 31 has a rod 31a as an example of an expansion / contraction part, and the tip of the rod 31a is connected to a solenoid connection hole 27b. In the first embodiment, the solenoid connection hole 27b is formed of a hole having a larger diameter than the connection portion at the tip of the rod 31a, that is, a so-called fool hole, and is connected in a freely rotating state and having play in the front-rear and vertical directions. Yes.
A circuit board 32 for controlling the firing solenoid 31 is supported at the rear end of the firing solenoid 31. Behind the circuit board 32, a terminal member 33 that can contact and separate from the circuit board 32 is supported by the image forming apparatus body U1 via a terminal spring 34 as an example of an urging member. Therefore, in a state where the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 are accommodated in the image forming apparatus main body U1, the terminal member 33 and the circuit board 32 come into contact with each other, and the power supply to the solenoid 31 and the control signal are transmitted via the terminal member 33. Input is possible.

In FIG. 4, a coil spring 36 that connects the rear side guide 27 and the rear end wall 3 is supported as an example of an alignment biasing member above the rotation shaft 27 a of the rear side guide 27. The coil spring 36 according to the first embodiment is configured by a tension spring that pulls the rear side guide 27 toward the rear end wall 3.
Above the coil spring 36, as an example of a stop member, a stopper 37 extending forward from the front surface of the rear end wall 3 is supported by the rear end wall 3, and is in contact with the rear surface of the upper end portion of the rear side guide 27. The rear side guide 27 is restricted from rotating rearward from the upper end.

  Therefore, when the winding solenoid 31 is in a non-energized state, that is, in an off state, the rear side guide 27 is pulled by the coil spring 36 and held at the alignment position shown in FIG. Further, when the winding solenoid 31 is energized, that is, turned on, the rear side guide 27 is pulled at the lower end by the winding solenoid 31 and resists the elastic force of the coil spring 36, as shown in FIG. The upper end of the is moved to the rolling position rotated forward.

In FIG. 3, on the left rear side of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4, as an example of a gas blowing device, a bottom that is supported by the image forming apparatus body U1 at a position corresponding to the height of the delivery position and moved to the delivery position. A blower 41 that blows air as an example of gas to the recording sheets S stacked on the plate 14 is supported.
In FIG. 2, a pair of right and left pressing members 42 are supported on the upper portion of the rear end wall 3 for suppressing the lifting of the recording sheet S blown by the blower 41 at the delivery position.

(Description of the control part of Example 1)
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a control portion of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram illustrating each function provided in the control portion.
In FIG. 5, the controller C of the image forming apparatus U includes an input / output unit that performs input / output of signals to / from the outside and adjustment of input / output signal levels, etc .: I / O, a program and information for performing necessary processing, and the like. Read-only memory as an example of stored memory member: ROM, hard disk, random access memory as an example of temporary storage member for temporarily storing necessary information: RAM, program stored in ROM, etc. Central processing unit that performs processing according to: a microcomputer as an example of a small computer having a CPU and the like, and various functions can be realized by executing programs stored in the ROM or the like. .

(Signal input element connected to controller C)
The controller C receives signals from signal input elements such as the user interface UI and the optical sensor SN1.
The user interface UI includes input units such as a numeric keypad UI1 as an example of a numerical value input unit, a display unit UI2, and a copy start key UI3 as an example of an operation start input unit, and detects that these are input. The detection signal is input to the controller C.
The optical sensor SN1 detects the position and height of the paper feed frame Kf by detecting the presence or absence of the paper feed frame Kf.

(Controlled element connected to the controller C)
The controller C also includes a main motor drive circuit D1, a winding solenoid drive circuit D2, a paper feed drive circuit D3, a frame lifting / lowering solenoid drive circuit D4, a bottom plate drive circuit D5, and a blower drive circuit D6 as an example of a main drive source drive circuit. Are connected to the power circuit E and other control elements, and output their operation control signals.
The main motor drive circuit D1 rotationally drives the photoconductor PR, the developing roll Ga of the developing device G, and the like via the main motor M0.
The firing solenoid drive circuit D2 as an example of the aligning rotation drive circuit turns the firing solenoid 31 on and off, and moves the rear side guide 22 between the firing position and the aligned position.
The paper feed drive circuit D3 drives the feed roll Rs1 and the pickup roll Rp via the paper feed drive motor M2.

The frame elevating solenoid drive circuit D4 moves the paper supply frame Kf between the paper supply standby position and the paper supply execution position by controlling on / off of the frame elevating solenoid SL.
The bottom plate driving circuit D5 is moved between a feeding position where the bottom plate 14 is raised upward and a lowered position where the bottom plate 14 is lowered via a plate lifting motor M3.
The blower drive circuit D6 drives the blower 41 to blow air onto the sheet bundle stacked on the sheet feed trays TR1 to TR4.

The power supply circuit E includes a development power supply circuit E1, a charging power supply circuit E2, a transfer power supply circuit E3, a fixing power supply circuit E4, and the like.
The developing power supply circuit E1 applies a developing voltage to the developing roll Ga of the developing device G.
The charging power supply circuit E2 applies a charging voltage for charging the surface of the photoconductor PR to the charging roll CR.
The transfer power supply circuit E3 applies a transfer voltage to the transfer roll Rt.
The fixing power supply circuit E4 supplies heating power to the fixing roll Fh of the fixing device F.

(Function of the controller C)
The controller C has a function of executing processing according to an input signal from the signal output element and outputting a control signal to each control element. That is, the controller C has the following functions.
C1: Job Control Unit The job control unit C1 as an example of the image formation control unit controls each member of the image forming apparatus U to control a job that is an image forming operation.
C2: Main motor control means The main motor control means C2 as an example of the main drive source control means controls the main motor M0 via the main motor drive circuit D1, and controls the rotational drive of the photoconductor PR and the developing roll Ga. .

C3: Power Supply Control Unit The power supply control unit C3 controls the power supply circuit E to control voltage application and power supply to each member such as the developing device G, the charging roll CR, and the transfer roll Rt.

C4: Paper Feed Control Unit The paper feed control unit C4 includes a lift solenoid control unit C4A, a plate lift control unit C4B, a delivery position movement determination unit C4C, a guide rotation control unit C4D, and a paper feed timing determination unit C4E. A sheet feeding motor driving unit C4F, a sheet feeding number counting unit C4G, and a plate rise determining unit C4H are provided to control the driving of the sheet feeding device K.
C4A: Lifting solenoid control means The lifting solenoid control means C4A as an example of the paper feed lifting control means controls on / off of the frame lifting solenoid SL via the frame lifting solenoid drive circuit D4. The frame raising / lowering solenoid control means C4A according to the first embodiment is turned on when the job is started and the amount of entry of the toothed roll 31 is adjusted, and the paper feeding frame Kf is lowered to move to the paper feeding execution position. It turns off when the job is finished. When the frame elevating solenoid SL is turned off, the paper feed frame Kf is raised to the paper feed standby position by a spring.

C4B: Plate Elevation Control Unit A plate elevation control unit C4B as an example of a stacking elevation control unit controls the elevation of the bottom plate 14 by controlling forward / reverse rotation of the plate elevation motor M3 via the bottom plate drive circuit D5. To do. In the state where the job is started and the paper feed frame Kf is moved to the paper feed execution position, the plate lift control means C4B according to the first embodiment rotates the plate lift motor M3 in the forward direction to raise the bottom plate 14 to the feed position. When the job is finished, the plate lift motor M3 is rotated in the reverse direction to lower the bottom plate 14 to the lowered position.
C4C: Delivery Position Movement Determination Unit The delivery position movement determination unit C4C determines whether or not the bottom plate 14 has been raised to the delivery position. The sending position movement determining means C4C according to the first embodiment is based on the detection signal of the optical sensor SN1, and when the optical sensor SN1 detects the paper feeding frame Kf with the frame lifting solenoid SL turned on, It is determined that it has moved to. In the first embodiment, when the frame elevating solenoid SL is turned on, the sheet feeding frame Kf is set to move below the position of the optical sensor SN1 so that it cannot be detected by the optical sensor SN1. When the pickup roll Rp comes into contact with the upper surface of the stack of stacked recording sheets S and is pushed and the sheet feeding frame Kf moves upward and rises to the height of the optical sensor SN1, it is detected by the optical sensor SN1. The In this state, the pickup roll Rp and the uppermost recording sheet S are set to contact with each other at a preset pressure.

C4D: Guide rotation control means The guide rotation control means C4D as an example of the alignment rotation control means includes a firing time storage means C4D1 that stores a firing time t1 that is a time for holding the rear side guide 27 in the firing position, and a firing time t1. And a firing time timer TM1 as an example of a firing time measuring means for measuring whether or not the passage of time has elapsed, and controls the turning solenoid 31 on and off via the firing solenoid drive circuit D2, thereby rear side guide The movement between the 27-spreading position and the alignment position is controlled. When the bottom plate 14 is moved to the delivery position, the guide rotation control means C4D is operated by turning on the firing solenoid 31 to rotate the rear side guide 27. Therefore, the guide rotation control means C4D according to the first embodiment turns on the firing solenoid 31 and turns the rear side guide 27 on when the bottom plate 14 has been moved to the delivery position by the delivery position movement judgment means C4C. It is moved from the alignment position shown in FIG. 4A to the separation position shown in FIG. 4B. In the guide rotation control means C4D according to the first embodiment, when the firing time t1 has elapsed since the turning solenoid 31 is turned on, the turning solenoid 31 is turned off and returned from the firing position to the alignment position.

C4E: Paper Feed Time Discriminating Unit A paper feed time discriminating means C4E as an example of a sending time discriminating means is a recording sheet from the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 in which the paper is fed by the job toward the transfer area Q1 by the pickup roll Rp. It is determined whether or not it is time to send S.
C4F: Paper Feed Motor Drive Means A paper feed motor drive means C4F as an example of a paper feed source drive means controls the drive of the paper feed drive motor M2 via the paper feed drive circuit D3, and picks up a roll Rp and a separation roll. Controls driving of Rs. The sheet feeding motor driving unit C4F according to the first exemplary embodiment drives the sheet feeding driving motor M2 for a preset period when the sheet feeding timing determining unit C4E determines that the sheet feeding timing is reached, and the pickup roll Rp and the like. The recording sheet S is sent out.

C4G: Feeding sheet counting means Feeding sheet counting means C4G, which is an example of the sending sheet counting means, counts a feeding sheet number N that is the number of fed recording sheets S.
C4H: Plate ascent determining means The plate ascent determining means C4H as an example of the loading ascent determining means has an ascent determining number storage means C4H1 for storing a rising determining number Na for determining whether or not to raise the bottom plate 14. Then, it is determined whether or not the bottom plate 14 is raised. The plate rise determination unit C4H according to the first embodiment determines whether or not the bottom plate 14 is to be lifted by determining whether or not the number of fed sheets N is equal to or greater than the rise determination number Na. That is, as the recording sheet S is fed, the bottom plate 14 is raised in response to the height of the top surface of the bundle of recording sheets S decreasing. In the first embodiment, as an example, the rising discrimination number Na is set to Na = 12 [sheets], and each time 12 recording sheets S are fed, the bottom plate 14 corresponds to 12 recording sheets S. A signal is transmitted to the plate lifting / lowering control means C4B so as to increase by a height corresponding to the thickness of the plate. Note that the rising discrimination number Na is not limited to 12, but can be changed to any numerical value according to the design, specifications, etc., and the bottom plate 14 can be raised every one. .

C5: Spray control means The spray control means C5 controls the blower 41 via the blower drive circuit D6 to control on / off of the air blowing. The spray control means C5 of the first embodiment activates the blower 41 to spray gas onto the recording sheet S when the rear side guide 27 moves to the rolling position. In addition, although the blowing control means C5 of Example 1 is set so that the blower 41 is operated only during the firing time t1 after the rear side guide 27 moves to the firing position and returns to the alignment position, It is also possible to adopt a configuration that does not coincide with the rolling period t1 of the rear side guide 27.

(Explanation of flow chart)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of paper feed control as an example of medium delivery control according to the first exemplary embodiment.
The processes in the flowchart of FIG. 6, so-called flowcharts, so-called step ST, are performed according to a program stored in the ROM of the controller C. This process is executed in a multitasking manner in parallel with other various processes of the printer.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is started when the image forming apparatus U is powered on.

In ST1 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not a job as an example of an image forming operation has been started. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST2. If no (N), ST1 is repeated.
In ST2, the number of fed sheets N is initialized to N = 0, so-called reset, and the process proceeds to ST3.
In ST3, the frame elevating solenoid SL is turned on, and the pickup roll Rp is moved to the paper feed execution position. Then, the process proceeds to ST4.
In ST4, the plate elevating motor M3 is driven to start the bottom plate 14 ascending. Then, the process proceeds to ST5.
In ST5, it is determined whether or not the optical sensor SN1 has detected the paper feed frame Kf. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST6, and if no (N), ST5 is repeated.
In ST6, the driving of the plate lifting / lowering motor M3 is stopped. Then, the process proceeds to ST7.

In ST7, the following processes (1) to (3) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST8.
(1) Turn the winding solenoid 31 on and move the rear side guide 27 to the winding position.
(2) The blower 41 is operated to start blowing.
(3) Set the soaking time t1 in the sowing time timer TM1, so-called set, and start timing.
In ST8, it is determined whether or not the firing time timer TM1 has expired, that is, whether or not the firing time t1 has elapsed. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST9, and if no (N), ST8 is repeated.
In ST9, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST10.
(1) The winding solenoid 31 is turned off, and the rear side guide 27 is moved to the aligned position.
(2) The operation of the blower 41 is stopped to stop the blowing.

In ST10, it is determined whether or not it is time to feed the recording sheet S. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST11, and if no (N), ST10 is repeated.
In ST11, the sheet feeding drive motor M2 is driven for a preset period, and the recording sheet S is sent out by the pickup roll Rp and the feed roll Rs1. Then, the process proceeds to ST12.
In ST12, it is determined whether or not the job is finished. If no (N), the process proceeds to ST13, and if yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST16.
In ST13, 1 is added to the number of fed sheets N. That is, N = N + 1. Then, the process proceeds to ST14.

In ST14, it is determined whether or not the number of fed sheets N is equal to or higher than the increase determination number Na. If yes (Y), the process proceeds to ST15. If no (N), the process returns to ST10.
In ST15, the number of fed sheets N is reset to zero. Then, the process returns to ST4.
In ST16, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process returns to ST1.
(1) The frame elevating solenoid SL is turned off, and the pickup roll Rp is moved to the paper feed standby position.
(2) The plate elevating motor M3 is reversely rotated to move the bottom plate 14 to the lowered position.

(Operation of Example 1)
In the copying machine U according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration, when a job is started, as shown in ST3 to ST9 in FIG. The bottom plates 14 of the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 in which paper feed is executed rise and move to the delivery position. When the bottom plate 14 moves to the delivery position, the winding solenoid 31 is turned on, and the rear side guide 27 moves from the alignment position shown in FIG. 4A to the winding position shown in FIG. 4B. Along with this, the rear side guide 27 is pushed, and the bundle of recording sheets S is pushed and bent upward in a convex shape. Therefore, the adhesion between the recording sheets S is loosened, and an air layer is formed between the recording sheets S, separated, and spread. Further, in the first embodiment, air is blown from the blower 41 between the recording sheets S while the recording sheet S is bent in a convex shape. Therefore, the recording sheet S is further separated and blown by the air sent between the recording sheets S. The printed recording sheet S is fed out by the pickup roll Rp and fed. Therefore, a plurality of closely attached recording sheets S are sent out, so-called double feeding is reduced.

  Further, in the copying machine U of the first embodiment, in the first embodiment, the rear side guide 27 rotates around the lower rotation shaft 27a, and among the bundles of recording sheets S stacked on the bottom plate 14, The recording sheet S stacked on the upper part receives a large bending force. Accordingly, even if a bending force is applied to the recording sheet S stacked on the lower part, the recording sheet S stacked on the upper part is not easily bent due to the gravity, and the efficiency of winding the recording sheet S is reduced. In the first embodiment, the recording sheets S stacked on the upper part are bent, and a bundle of recording sheets S is efficiently spread. That is, it is possible to sufficiently roll the recording sheet S with less energy than in the past.

  Then, when the number of recording sheets S stacked on the upper part decreases with the delivery by the pickup roll Rp, the bottom plate 14 rises in the processes of ST13 to ST15 and ST4 to ST9, and the rear side guide again. 27, the recording sheet S is rolled. That is, the recording sheet S is rolled by the rear side guide 27 and the blower 41 with respect to the recording sheet S sent out from the upper part. Therefore, in the first embodiment, compared to the conventional method in which excess energy is used to spread the lower recording sheet S which is not sent out for a while and is difficult to be rolled by the weight of the recording sheet S stacked on the upper side, in the first embodiment, Only the stacked recording sheets S are picked each time they are raised. Therefore, in Example 1, it is reduced compared with the conventional structure that winding becomes inadequate, and it becomes possible to prevent double feeding reliably.

In the first embodiment, the blower 41 blows gas against the recording sheet S curved by the rear side guide 27. Therefore, the embodiment is different from the conventional configuration in which a complicated control and mechanism for changing the blowing direction in order to roll the recording sheet S with only the fan or the conventional configuration in which the entire stacked recording sheets S are rolled. In the first copying machine U, the bottom plate 14 is moved up and down, and the upper several sheets to be sent out are wound by the rear side guide 27 and the blower 41, which is smaller and simpler than the conventional configuration. The recording sheet S can be rolled with a simple configuration.
Further, in the copying machine U according to the first embodiment, when the blower 41 is sprayed, the recording sheet S may be lifted, but is pressed by the pressing member 42, and the recording sheet S is stored in the accommodation space 6. Disturbance is reduced, and the occurrence of conveyance failure is reduced.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the paper feed tray according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 3 according to the first embodiment.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the second embodiment, components corresponding to the components of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. To do.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points, but is configured in the same manner as the first embodiment in other points.
7 and 8, in the copying machine U according to the second embodiment, the bottom plate 14 'is configured in a plate shape having substantially the same area as the bottom wall 1 unlike the bottom plate 14 according to the first embodiment. A pair of front and rear cut portions 14a 'is formed at the center in the left-right direction of the bottom plate 14'.

  In FIG. 7, in the copying machine U according to the second embodiment, a pair of left and right ascending rotation shafts 12 'extending in the front-rear direction are disposed instead of the ascending rotation shaft 12 and the ascent lever 13 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 8, each ascending rotary shaft 12 ′ has a thread 50 formed at the front and rear, and the front end and the rear end are rotatably supported by the front end wall 2 and the rear end wall 3. The rear end of each ascending rotary shaft 12 'extends rearward through the rear end wall 3, and a coupler 12a' is supported at the rear end. The coupler 12a 'meshes with the coupler 12b' supported by the image forming apparatus main body U1 in a state where the paper feed trays TR1 to TR4 are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body U1, and can transmit the drive from the plate lifting motor M3. It becomes a state.

Sliders 51 and 52 as an example of a moving member are supported by penetrating through the front and rear portions of each ascending rotary shaft 12 ′ while being engaged with the screw thread 50. The lower surfaces of the sliders 51 and 52 are in contact with the bottom wall 1 and are prevented from rotating by the bottom wall 1.
On the sliders 51 and 52, base end portions of a pair of ascending levers 13 'extending inward in the front-rear direction are supported rotatably. A contact portion 13 a ′ that is in contact with the bottom plate 14 ′ in a freely rotating state is supported at the tip of each raising lever 13 ′.
Therefore, in the bottom plate 14 'of the second embodiment, when the plate lifting motor M3 is rotated forward and backward, the ascending rotary shaft 12' rotates via the couplers 12a 'and 12b', and the sliders 51 and 52 approach and separate from each other. Move in the direction you want. When the sliders 51 and 52 approach and separate from each other, the contact portion 13a 'of the raising lever 13' rises and lowers, and the bottom plate 14 'moves up and down.

9A and 9B are explanatory views of the paper feed tray of the second embodiment. FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXA-IXA in FIG. 7, FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXB-IXB in FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the state which moved to the handing position from.
7 and 9, the bottom wall 1 of the second embodiment is formed with a pair of front and rear openings 1d corresponding to the cut portions 14a 'of the bottom plate 14' instead of the rear opening 1c of the first embodiment. . Each of the paper feed trays TR <b> 1 to TR <b> 4 according to the second embodiment has a double bottom wall 1 ′ disposed below the bottom wall 1. 9A and 9B, a pinion gear G1 as an example of a gear is rotatably supported by the double bottom wall 1 'at the center in the front-rear direction. On left and right sides of the pinion gear G1, a pair of left and right racks 53 extending in the front-rear direction are disposed as an example of a movable member.

Each rack 53 is formed with a pair of front and rear guide elongated holes 53a extending in the front-rear direction as an example of a guided portion. The guide elongated holes 53a are examples of guide members supported by the double bottom wall 1 '. As a guide pin 54 passes therethrough. Therefore, the rack 53 is supported by the guide pins 54 and the guide long holes 53a so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.
As an example of the alignment support portion, a guide support plate 56 extending in the left-right direction is integrally formed at the rear end portion of the rear rack 53. A pair of left and right brackets 57 extending upward are supported at both left and right ends of the guide support plate 56 as an example of a rotation support portion. On the bracket 57, a rotating shaft 27a 'below the rear side guide 27' extending in the vertical direction through the opening 1d is rotatably supported. The right bracket 57 supports, as an example of a stop member, a stopper 37 ′ that protrudes to the right below the rotating shaft 27 a ′ and that can contact the rear side guide 27 ′.

A winding solenoid 31 supported by a guide support plate 56 is connected to the solenoid connection hole 27b at the lower end of the rear side guide 27 ′, and a circuit board 32 is supported at the rear end of the winding solenoid 31. In the circuit board 32 of the second embodiment, a cable 32 a as an example of a connection line extends rearward and is connected to a terminal member 32 b supported by the rear end wall 3.
A bracket 58 as an example of a spring support portion extending upward is supported on the upper surface of the winding solenoid 31, and a rear side guide is provided between the bracket 58 and the upper side of the rotation shaft 27a 'of the rear side guide 27'. A coil spring 36 for pulling 27 'backward is supported.
At the upper end portion of the rear side guide 27 ′, an inclined portion 27 c ′ that is inclined forward, that is, toward the recording sheet S side in the width direction of the recording sheet S is formed.

  The front rack 53 includes a front side guide 26 ', a rotating shaft 26a', a solenoid coupling hole 26b ', an inclined portion 26c', a winding solenoid 31 ', and a circuit board 32' that are symmetrical with the rear rack 53. A coil spring 36 ', a stopper 37', a front guide support plate 56 ', and a bracket 57' are provided. The cable 32a ′ of the front circuit board 32 ′ is connected to the terminal member 32b.

(Description of Control Unit of Example 2)
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a control portion of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 10, in the second embodiment, unlike the firing solenoid drive circuit D2 of the first embodiment, the firing solenoid drive circuit D2 ′ controls the firing solenoids 31 and 31 ′ to thereby control the front side guide 26 ′ and the rear side guide 27. Move ′.
In the controller C of the second embodiment, instead of the guide rotation control means C4D of the first embodiment, the guide rotation control means C4D ′ turns on the turning solenoids 31, 31 ′ via the turning solenoid drive circuit D2 ′. By controlling the turning-off, the side guides 26 'and 27' are moved between the separation position shown in FIG. 9C where the front and rear side guides 26 'and 27' approach each other and the alignment position shown in FIG. 9A apart from each other. Control.

(Explanation of flowchart of embodiment 2)
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of paper feed control according to the second embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 6 according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 11, in the flowchart of the second embodiment, ST4 ′, ST7 ′, ST9 ′, and ST16 ′ are executed instead of ST4, ST7, ST9, and ST16 of the first embodiment.
In ST4 ′, the plate elevating motor M3 is driven to start raising the bottom plate 14 ′. Then, the process proceeds to ST5.

In ST7 ′, the following processes (1) to (3) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST8.
(1) Turn the firing solenoids 31 and 31 'to move the front side guide 26' and the rear side guide 27 'to the firing position.
(2) The blower 41 is operated to start blowing.
(3) Set the soaking time t1 in the sowing time timer TM1, so-called set, and start timing.
In ST9 ′, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST10.
(1) Turn off the firing solenoids 31, 31 'and move the front side guide 26' and the rear side guide 27 'to the aligned position.
(2) The operation of the blower 41 is stopped to stop the blowing.

In ST16 ′, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process returns to ST1.
(1) The frame elevating solenoid SL is turned off, and the pickup roll Rp is moved to the paper feed standby position.
(2) The plate elevating motor M3 is reversely rotated to move the bottom plate 14 'to the lowered position.

(Operation of Example 2)
In the copying machine U of the second embodiment having the above-described configuration, unlike the bottom plate 14 of the first embodiment in which the front end in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet S is inclined upward, the bottom plate 14 ′ is in a state parallel to the horizontal. Go up and down. Therefore, the bundle of recording sheets S is also lifted and lowered in a horizontal parallel state. When the recording sheet S rises to the delivery position, the winding solenoids 31 and 31 'are turned on, and the front and rear side guides 26' and 27 'are moved to the winding position where they approach each other, so that the recording sheet S is bent. I will be asked. Further, the side guides 26 'and 27' according to the second embodiment are formed with inclined portions 26c 'and 27c' at the upper end portions, and the upper side of the side guides 26 'and 27' is lower than the lower side of the side guides 26 'and 27'. The interval is narrowed. Accordingly, the upper recording sheet S of the stacked recording sheets S is more flexed, and the recording sheet S to be sent out is more easily rolled.

  In the second embodiment, the bottom plate 14 'is moved up and down horizontally and sandwiched between the side guides 26' and 27 'from both sides of the recording sheet S. As in the first embodiment, the bottom plate 14 is inclined and Compared with the case where the rear side guide 27 is pushed from one side, the disorder of the posture of the recording sheet S is reduced.

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the components corresponding to the components of the first and second embodiments, and a detailed description thereof will be given. Is omitted.
This embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in the following points, but is configured similarly to the first and second embodiments in other points.

(Description of Control Unit of Example 3)
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a control portion of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 5 according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 12, the controller C of the third embodiment has a plate lift control means C4B ′ instead of the plate lift control means C4B of the second embodiment.
C4B ′: Plate Elevation Control Unit The plate elevation control unit C4B ′ of the second embodiment has a rolling lowering amount storage unit C4B1 and a rolling elevation control unit C4B2, and controls forward / reverse rotation of the plate lifting motor M3. The raising and lowering of the bottom plate 14 'is controlled.

C4B1: Rolling descent amount storage means The rolling descent amount storage means C4B1 stores a preset descent amount that is an amount by which the bottom plate 14 'is lowered when the side guides 26', 27 'are moved to the alignment position. . In Example 3, as an example of the amount of lowering, the amount of lowering corresponding to the thickness of five recording sheets S is set.
C4B2: Rolling up / down control means The rolling up / down control means C4B2 controls the forward / reverse rotation of the plate lifting / lowering motor M3 and moves the side guides 26 ', 27' to the rolling position by the guide rotation control means C4D '. The bottom plate 14 'is lowered by the amount of descent stored in the descent amount storage means C4B1. Further, the rolling up / down control means C4B2 of the third embodiment raises the bottom plate 14 'by the amount of lowering when the side guides 26', 27 'are moved to the alignment position.

(Description of Flowchart of Example 3)
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of paper feed control according to the third embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 11 according to the second embodiment.
In FIG. 13, in the flowchart of the third embodiment, ST21 is executed between ST7 ′ and ST8 of the second embodiment, and ST9 ″ is executed instead of ST9 ′.
In ST21, the plate lifting / lowering motor M3 is rotated in the reverse direction to lower the bottom plate 14 'by the amount of lowering, and the process proceeds to ST8.
In ST9 ″, the following processes (1) to (3) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST10.
(1) Turn off the firing solenoids 31, 31 'and move the front side guide 26' and the rear side guide 27 'to the aligned position.
(2) The operation of the blower 41 is stopped to stop the blowing.
(3) The plate elevating motor M3 is rotated forward to raise the bottom plate 14 'by the amount of descent.

(Operation of Example 3)
14A and 14B are diagrams for explaining the operation of the third embodiment. FIG. 14A is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 9A of the second embodiment in which the side guide is moved to the alignment position, and FIG. 14B is an embodiment in which the side guide is moved to the rolling position. 14C is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. 9C, and FIG. 14C is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the bottom plate is lowered by a descending amount from the state shown in FIG. 14B.
In the copying machine U according to the third embodiment having the above-described configuration, when the side guides 26 'and 27' are moved from the alignment position shown in FIG. 14A to the winding position shown in FIG. 14B in the process of ST7 ', the side guides 26' and 27 are moved. The recording sheet S sandwiched between ′ is bent.

When the bottom plate 14 'is lowered in the process of ST21 from the state shown in FIG. 14B, the state shown in FIG. 14C is obtained. Accordingly, the bottom plate 14 ′ supporting the bundle of recording sheets S from below is lowered, and the recording sheet S receives a force to descend by gravity. Therefore, the recording sheet S falls along with the lowered bottom plate 14 ′, and the close contact between the recording sheets S is loosened.
At this time, the upper recording sheet S that is sandwiched from both sides by the inclined portions 26c ′ and 27c ′ of the side guides 26 ′ and 27 ′ and is bent upward is also dropped downward. At this time, since the recording sheet S that has been bent tends to return to its original unbent state due to the rigidity of the recording sheet S, that is, the stiffness of the sheet, the convex shape of the recording sheet S is lowered when the recording sheet S descends. The curvature of changes. Therefore, the change in curvature becomes an operation in which the recording sheets S are relatively rubbed with each other, so that the separation of the recording sheets S is further promoted, and the recording sheets S are easily scratched.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a paper feed tray according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 7 according to the second embodiment.
16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15. FIG. 16A is an explanatory view showing a state where the push-up member has moved to the medium separation position, and FIG. 16B is an explanatory view showing a state where the push-up member has moved to the push-up position.
Next, the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the components corresponding to the components of the first to third embodiments, and the detailed description thereof will be given. Is omitted.
This embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in the following points, but is configured similarly to the first to third embodiments in other points.
15 and 16, in the copying machine U according to the fourth embodiment, a pair of left and right push-up passage openings 14b are formed on the left side portion of the bottom plate 14 'as an example of an opening.

  15 and 16, a push-up support port 1e is formed in the bottom wall 1 as an example of an opening below each push-up passage port 14b. On the lower surface of the bottom wall 1, as an example of a push-up support, a bracket 61 extending downward corresponding to each push-up support port 1 e is supported. A push-up rotating shaft 62 extending in the left-right direction is rotatably supported by the bracket 61. The push-up rotating shaft 62 supports a paddle 63 disposed as an example of a push-up member corresponding to the push-up passage port 14b and the push-up support port 1e.

  In FIG. 15, a first bevel gear 62 a as an example of a gear is supported at the left end of the push-up rotating shaft 62. A second bevel gear 64 meshes with the first bevel gear 62a, and the second bevel gear 64 supports a rearward transmission shaft 66 as an example of a drive transmission shaft. At the rear end of the transmission shaft 66, as an example of a member to be transmitted, a coupler 66a configured similarly to the coupler 12a 'is supported. The coupler 66a is driven by a push-up motor M4 as an example of a push-up drive source that meshes with the coupler 66b supported by the image forming apparatus main body U1 and transmits the drive to the coupler 66b.

  Therefore, when the push-up motor M4 rotates forward, the paddle 63 moves from the medium separation position separated from the recording sheet S as shown in FIG. 16A to the push-up position where the lower surface of the recording sheet S is pushed up as shown in FIG. 16B. When the push-up motor M4 rotates in the reverse direction, the paddle 63 moves from the push-up position shown in FIG. 16B to the medium separation position shown in FIG. 16A.

(Description of Control Unit of Example 4)
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a control portion of the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 12 according to the third embodiment.
In FIG. 17, in the fourth embodiment, a push-up drive circuit D7 is connected to the controller C, and the push-up drive circuit D7 rotates the push-up motor M4 forward and backward to move the paddle 63 between the medium separation position and the push-up position. Move between.
Further, the controller C of the fourth embodiment has a push-up control means C4J in addition to the respective means of the third embodiment.
C4J: Push-up control means The push-up control means C4J controls the forward / reverse rotation of the push-up motor M4 via the push-up drive circuit D7, and controls the movement of the paddle 63 between the medium separation position and the push-up position. The push-up control means C4J of the fourth embodiment moves the paddle 63 to the push-up position when the side guides 26 'and 27' are moved to the rolling position by the guide rotation control means C4D '.

(Description of Flowchart of Embodiment 4)
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of paper feed control according to the fourth embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 13 according to the third embodiment.
In FIG. 18, in the flowchart of the fourth embodiment, ST31 and ST32 are executed instead of ST21 and ST9 ″ of the third embodiment.
In ST31, the following processes (1) and (2) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST8.
(1) The plate elevating motor M3 is rotated in the reverse direction to lower the bottom plate 14 'by the amount of lowering.
(2) The push-up motor M4 is rotated forward to move the paddle 63 to the push-up position.

In ST32, the following processes (1) to (4) are executed, and the process proceeds to ST10.
(1) Turn off the firing solenoids 31, 31 'and move the front side guide 26' and the rear side guide 27 'to the aligned position.
(2) The operation of the blower 41 is stopped to stop the blowing.
(3) The plate elevating motor M3 is rotated forward to raise the bottom plate 14 'by the amount of descent.
(4) The push-up motor M4 is reversely rotated to move the paddle 63 to the medium separation position.

(Operation of Example 4)
In the copying machine U of Example 4 having the above-described configuration, when the recording sheet S is rolled by the side guides 26 'and 27', the bottom plate 14 'is lowered and the paddle 63 is moved to the pushed-up position. As shown in FIG. 16b, the paddle 63 moved to the pushed-up position passes through the pushed-up passage opening 14b of the bottom plate 14 'and protrudes upward, and is located at the center of the bottom surface of the bundle of recording sheets S in the front-rear direction. , The central portion in the front-rear direction of the recording sheet S is pushed upward. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the recording sheet S is bent even when the paddle 63 is pushed up as compared with the configuration in which the recording sheet S is bent by being sandwiched between the side guides 26 ′ and 27 ′. In addition, it is possible to reduce the energy required for the side guides 26 ′ and 27 ′ to bend the recording sheet S while improving the rolling performance.

(Example of change)
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is performed within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. It is possible. Modification examples (H01) to (H011) of the present invention are exemplified below.
(H01) In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus U is configured by a so-called copying machine, but is not limited thereto. For example, the image forming apparatus U is configured by a printer, a FAX, or a multifunction machine having a plurality or all of these functions. It is also possible to do.
(H02) In the embodiment, the copying machine U is exemplified by a single color image forming apparatus, but is not limited to a single color image forming apparatus, and is a multicolor image forming apparatus in which a plurality of color developers are used. It is also applicable to.

(H03) In the above-described embodiment, the solenoid 31 and the coil spring 36 are used as the configuration for rotating the side guides 27, 26 ', 27'. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. It can be a rotating mechanism.
(H04) In the embodiment described above, the inclined portion 27c 'provided in the side guides 26' and 27 'of the embodiments 2 to 4 can be provided in the rear side guide 27 of the embodiment 1, and conversely, In Examples 2 to 4, the inclined portion 27c 'can be omitted.

(H05) In the above-described embodiment, the side guides 27, 26 'and 27' are moved once to the separating position and then returned to the aligned position only once. It is also possible to execute an operation of moving between the position and the alignment position.
(H06) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the movement of the side guides 27, 26 ', and 27' between the rolling position and the alignment position is performed every time the image forming operation is performed is illustrated. However, the configuration is limited to this configuration. For example, the recording sheet S may be configured to perform the operation only when it is a glossy paper or an OHP sheet having high adhesion, or, for example, in a low humidity environment in which temperature and humidity are likely to increase adhesion. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which an operation that runs only in some cases is executed. Further, for example, in a low humidity environment, a rolling operation is performed, and when the recording sheet S is of a type having high adhesion, blowing of the blower 41, lowering of the bottom plate 14 ', rotation of the paddle 63, etc. are added. It is also possible to adopt an operation configuration to be executed according to preset conditions. In addition to this, for example, when the recording sheet S fails to be sent, a so-called misfeed operation can be performed only when a so-called misfeed occurs.

(H07) In the above embodiment, the arrangement position and number of the blowers 41 can be arbitrarily changed according to the design and specifications. Also, the blower 41 can be omitted.
(H08) In the above-described embodiment, it is desirable to provide the pressing member 42, but it may be omitted.
(H09) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the paddle 63 as an example of the push-up member rotates is illustrated. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration, and any configuration that moves up and down like the bottom plate 14 'can be adopted. It is.

(H010) In the above-described embodiments, the exemplified material names and numerical values are not limited to those illustrated in the embodiments, and can be arbitrarily changed according to the design, specifications, and the like.
(H011) In the above embodiment, the configuration for raising and lowering the bottom plates 14, 14 'is not limited to the configuration illustrated in the embodiment, and any configuration can be adopted. For example, it is possible to adopt an arbitrary configuration such as a configuration in which the bottom plate 14 'is lifted or lowered by winding or feeding the wire in a state where the bottom plate 14' is suspended by a wire as an example of a hanging member.

6..
14, 14 '... medium loading member,
14b ... opening,
26c ', 27c' ... inclined part,
27, 26 ', 27' ... alignment members,
27a, 26a ', 27a' ... rotating shaft,
31, 31 '... Alignment rotating member,
41 ... Gas spraying device,
63 ... push-up member,
C4B, C4B '... Lift control means C4D, C4D' ... Alignment rotation control means,
C4J: Push-up control means,
C5 ... spraying control means,
S ... medium,
U: Image forming apparatus.

Claims (11)

A storage unit body in which a medium is stored;
A medium loading member that is movable between a delivery position at which the medium is loaded and a loaded medium is sent out and a lowered position that is lowered from the delivery position;
An end portion of the medium that is disposed at an end portion in the medium width direction that intersects the conveyance direction of the medium accommodated in the accommodating portion main body and that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis along the conveyance direction of the medium. An alignment member that contacts the edge of the medium in the width direction of the medium,
An aligning rotation member that rotates an upper end of the aligning member in a direction that rotates about the rotation axis toward the medium side in the medium width direction;
An alignment rotation control means for operating the alignment rotation member to rotate the alignment member when the medium stacking member moves to the delivery position;
Equipped with a,
The movement of the medium stacking member from the lowered position to the delivery position is performed in a state where the housing main body is mounted on the image forming apparatus.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium stacking member is moved to the lowered position when the conveyance of the medium is completed. A storage unit body in which a medium is stored;
A medium loading member that is movable between a delivery position at which the medium is loaded and a loaded medium is sent out and a lowered position that is lowered from the delivery position;
An end portion of the medium that is disposed at an end portion in the medium width direction that intersects the conveyance direction of the medium accommodated in the accommodating portion main body and that is rotatably supported around a rotation axis along the conveyance direction of the medium. An alignment member that contacts the edge of the medium in the width direction of the medium,
An aligning rotation member that rotates an upper end of the aligning member in a direction that rotates about the rotation axis toward the medium side in the medium width direction;
An alignment rotation control means for operating the alignment rotation member to rotate the alignment member when the medium stacking member moves to the delivery position;
Equipped with a,
The medium stacking member moves to the lowered position when the conveyance of the medium is completed, and also moves to the delivery position when the medium is sent out.
An image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the medium stacking member is held at the lowered position when the medium is not transported. 5.   A lifting control means for controlling the lifting and lowering of the medium stacking member, wherein when the aligning member is rotated by the aligning rotation control means, the medium stacking member is lowered from the delivery position by a preset amount. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The elevation control means lowers the medium stacking member by a preset amount from the delivery position when the alignment member is rotated by the alignment rotation control means.
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The alignment member supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis arranged at the lower end in the direction of gravity;
Claims 1, characterized in that with a to the image forming apparatus according to any one sixth. A pair of alignment members disposed at both ends of the medium in the medium width direction;
The alignment rotation control means for rotating the alignment members;
Claims 1, characterized in that with a to the image forming apparatus according to 7 or a. A gas blowing device that blows gas onto the medium loaded on the medium loading member moved to the delivery position;
Claims 1, characterized in that with a to the image forming apparatus according to any one of 8. A blowing control means for controlling the gas blowing device, wherein when the aligning member is rotated by the aligning rotation control member, the gas blowing device is operated for a preset time to blow gas. The spray control means for attaching,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising: An opening formed in the medium stacking member;
A push-up position penetrating through the opening of the medium stacking member, contacting the lower surface of the stacked medium and pushing up from below, and a medium separation position moving downward from the lower surface of the medium in the direction of gravity and separating from the medium A push-up member that moves between,
A push-up control means for controlling the push-up member to move the push-up member to the push-up position when the aligning member is rotated by the aligning rotation control member;
Claims 1, characterized in that with a to the image forming apparatus according to any one 10 of the.

Images