JP5423569B2 - Sheet transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional sheet conveying apparatus. The sheet conveying apparatus includes an opening formed in the apparatus main body, an open state in which the opening is opened, and a supply tray supported on the apparatus main body so as to be displaceable in a closed state in which the opening is closed. In the open state, the supply tray supports the sheet by contacting the back surface of the sheet supplied to the inside of the apparatus main body through the opening.

  In addition, the sheet conveying apparatus rotatably supports the first roller (see reference numeral 28a in FIG. 2 and the like), the second roller (see reference numeral 28b in FIG. 2 and the like), the first roller, and the second roller. A holder member (see reference numeral 28c in FIG. 2). When the supply tray is in an open state, the first roller is at a paper feed position that contacts the surface of the sheet supported by the supply tray, and feeds the sheet toward the inside of the apparatus main body. When the supply tray is in an open state, the second roller is positioned on the inner side of the apparatus main body with respect to the sheet feeding direction, and separates the sheets fed by the first roller one by one.

  The holder member is connected to the supply tray via a link. When the supply tray is shifted to the open state, the holder member is pulled by the link and swings around the rotation axis of the second roller to be substantially horizontal, while the supply tray is shifted to the closed state. It is configured to be inclined by being swung in the opposite direction around the rotation axis of the second roller when pushed by the link.

  In the conventional sheet conveying apparatus having the above configuration, when the supply tray is opened, the first roller swings around the rotation axis of the second roller together with the holder member that is in a substantially horizontal state, and is displaced to the paper feeding position. On the other hand, when the supply tray is closed, the first roller, together with the holder member that is inclined, swings in the opposite direction around the rotation axis of the second roller, so that the inside of the apparatus body is closer to the opening than the paper feeding position. It is displaced to the retracted position that is the side position. Thereby, interference with the supply tray closed, a holder member, and the 1st roller is avoided.

JP-A-11-171360

  Incidentally, the sheet conveying apparatus is required to be downsized. In this respect, the conventional sheet conveying apparatus is configured to displace the first roller to the retracted position by swinging the holder member from the substantially horizontal state to the inclined state. The shape of the holder member itself is the same as that of the supply tray. It does not change between opening and closing. For this reason, it is necessary to secure a wide empty space for retraction inside the apparatus main body for the holder member that is inclined. As a result, the conventional sheet conveying apparatus has a problem that it is difficult to use the peripheral space of the holder member for arrangement of another member or mechanism, and it is difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus that can realize downsizing of the apparatus.

The sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention includes an opening formed in the apparatus main body,
A back surface of a sheet that is supported by the apparatus main body so as to be displaceable between an open state in which the opening is opened and a closed state in which the opening is closed, and is supplied to the inside of the apparatus main body through the opening in the open state. A supply tray that contacts the sheet and supports the sheet;
When the supply tray is in the open state, a first roller that is in a paper feed position that contacts the surface of the sheet supported by the supply tray and that feeds the sheet toward the inside of the apparatus body;
When the supply tray is in the open state, a second sheet that is positioned on the inner side of the apparatus main body with respect to the first roller in the sheet feeding direction and separates the sheets fed by the first roller one by one. Laura,
A holder member provided in the apparatus main body and rotatably supporting the first roller and the second roller;
The holder member is divided into a first holder part that supports the first roller and a second holder part that supports the second roller, and the first holder part can be displaced with respect to the second holder part. And a displacement mechanism
When the supply tray is shifted to the open state, the displacement mechanism is configured such that the first holder part is in a parallel position where the first holder part is parallel to the second holder part in the sheet feeding direction. Displacing the first roller to the paper feeding position, and when the supply tray shifts to the closed state, the first holder part intersects the second holder part. When the first holder portion is displaced to a certain crossing position, the first roller is displaced to a retracted position that is a position on the inner side of the apparatus main body with respect to the opening with respect to the opening. (Claim 1).

  In the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention, when the supply tray shifts to the open state, the displacement mechanism displaces the first roller at the sheet feeding position by displacing the first holder portion to the parallel position with respect to the second holder portion. Displace. On the other hand, when the supply tray shifts to the closed state, the displacement mechanism displaces the first roller to the retracted position by displacing the first holder portion at the intersecting position with respect to the second holder portion. Thereby, interference with the supply tray closed, a holder member, and the 1st roller can be avoided.

  Further, in this sheet conveying apparatus, the holder member is divided into the first holder part and the second holder part, and the first holder part is displaced from the parallel position to the intersecting position with respect to the second holder part when the supply tray is closed. It is configured as follows. The shape (occupied space) of the entire holder member changes between when the supply tray is opened and when it is closed, and particularly when the supply tray is opened, it is smaller when closed. For this reason, compared to the above-described conventional technique in which the entire holder member swings and retreats without changing the shape of the holder member itself, there is a retreat empty space to be secured around the holder member inside the apparatus main body. Can be small. As a result, the sheet conveying apparatus can use the space around the holder member for disposing another member or mechanism.

  Therefore, the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention can realize downsizing of the apparatus. In addition, due to the effective use of the space around the holder member, the degree of freedom in designing the device layout is also improved.

  In the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention, the displacement mechanism increases the distance between the first roller and the second roller by displacing the first holder portion at the parallel position, while the first holder portion is displaced at the intersection position. It is desirable that the distance between the first roller and the second roller be narrowed (Claim 2). According to this configuration, the shape of the entire holder member when the supply tray is closed can be reliably made smaller than the shape (occupied space) of the entire holder member when the supply tray is opened. For this reason, the empty space for evacuation for a holder member can be made still smaller, and as a result, size reduction of an apparatus can be implement | achieved reliably.

  In the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention, it is desirable that the displacement mechanism has a hinge portion that couples the angle between the first holder portion and the second holder portion so that the angle can be changed. According to this configuration, the simplified displacement mechanism can easily displace the first roller to the paper feeding position and the retracted position, and can suppress an increase in product cost.

  The sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention is interposed between a driving means for applying a rotational driving force to the second roller and the first roller and the second roller, and transmits the rotation of the second roller to the first roller. It is desirable that the driving force transmitting portion is provided, and the hinge portion shares the rotating shaft with the driving force transmitting portion. According to this configuration, by sharing the rotating shaft between the driving force transmitting portion and the hinge portion, the number of parts and the occupied space can be reduced as compared with the case where a dedicated shaft for the hinge portion is separately provided. In addition, since the driving force transmission unit itself originally exists between the first roller and the second roller, the rotating shaft is shared between the hinge unit and the driving force transmission unit, and the second holder unit It is easy to realize a configuration that intersects the first holder part.

  In the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention, it is desirable that the supply tray also serves as a part of the exterior cover of the apparatus main body. According to this configuration, when the supply tray is not used, the appearance quality of the apparatus can be refreshed by closing the supply tray. Further, since the supply tray also serves as a part of the exterior cover of the apparatus main body, the apparatus can be reduced in size as compared with the case where a dedicated exterior cover is provided separately from the supply tray.

  In the sheet conveying apparatus of the present invention, it is desirable that the displacement mechanism includes a locking unit that locks the first holder portion in the parallel position when the supply tray is in an open state. When the first roller sends out the sheet supported by the supply tray, a reaction force acts on the first roller. In that case, there is a possibility that the first roller is displaced from the paper feeding position and the paper feeding operation cannot be normally performed. In this regard, according to the above configuration, the first holder portion can be locked in the parallel position by the locking means, so that the sheet feeding operation can be reliably performed even if a reaction force acts on the first roller.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which the sheet conveying apparatus of the embodiment is applied (a state where the supply tray closes the opening, the first holder portion is in the intersecting position, and the first roller is in the retracted position). 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus to which a sheet conveying apparatus of an embodiment is applied (a state where a supply tray is opened, a first holder is in a parallel position, and a first roller is in a paper feeding position). FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the sheet conveying apparatus according to the embodiment (a state in which the first holder is in the parallel position and the first roller is in the paper feeding position). It is a principal part perspective view of the sheet conveying apparatus of an Example (The state which looked up the holder member of FIG. 3 etc. from the bottom). It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the sheet conveying apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the sheet conveying apparatus according to the embodiment (a state where the first holder portion is in the intersecting position and the first roller is in the retracted position). FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relative positional relationship among the first and second holder units, the driving force transmission unit, and the first and second rollers in the sheet conveying apparatus according to the embodiment (a state viewed from the direction of arrow VII in FIG. 3). FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relative positional relationship between the first and second holder units, the driving force transmission unit, and the first and second rollers according to the sheet conveying apparatus of the embodiment (a state viewed from the direction of arrow VIII in FIG. 6). It is explanatory drawing explaining the space-saving effect of the sheet conveying apparatus of an Example.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Example)
As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is applied to a printer 9. In FIG. 1, the right side of the paper is defined as the front side of the apparatus, and the left side of the paper is defined as the rear side of the apparatus. When the device is viewed from the front side, the left side (the front side of the page) is defined as the left side, and the opposite side (the back side of the page) is defined as the right side. To do. The directions shown in FIGS. 2 to 9 are all displayed in correspondence with the directions shown in FIG.

<Overall configuration of printer>
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 9 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 8 (an example of the “apparatus main body” of the present invention), an image forming unit 7 disposed above the casing 8, and a casing. 8, a sheet feeding cassette 6 disposed below the image forming unit 7, and a sheet feeding mechanism disposed inside the housing 8 below the front side of the image forming unit 7 and above the front side of the sheet feeding cassette 6. 5 and a sheet conveying apparatus 1 disposed in front of the image forming unit 7 and above the sheet feeding mechanism 5 in the housing 8.

  A discharge tray 8 </ b> B is provided on the upper surface side of the housing 8, and a paper feed cassette storage portion 8 </ b> A that is recessed rearward is provided below the front surface side of the housing 8. The housing 8 has a frame member (not shown) inside, and supports the image forming unit 7, the paper feeding mechanism 5, and the sheet conveying apparatus 1 by the frame member. Furthermore, an opening 8 </ b> C that opens in a substantially rectangular shape and communicates the inside and the outside of the housing 8 is formed above the front side of the housing 8.

  A substantially rectangular plate-shaped supply tray 2 is provided on the front side of the housing 8. The supply tray 2 is supported so as to be swingable around a swing shaft 8D provided on the lower end side of the opening 8C. As shown in FIG. 1, the supply tray 2 is in a closed state in which the opening 8 </ b> C is closed when the supply tray 2 stands vertically. In this closed state, the outer surface 2 </ b> A of the supply tray 2 also serves as a part of the exterior cover that covers the housing 8. On the other hand, the supply tray 2 swings forward around the swing shaft 8D and, as shown in FIG. 2, is in an open state in which the opening 8C is opened in a substantially horizontal state. In this open state, the inner surface 2 </ b> B of the supply tray 2 is in contact with the back surface 99 </ b> B of the sheet 99 supplied to the image forming unit 7 by manual feed and supports the sheet 99.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 7 forms an image on a sheet (a recording medium such as paper or an OHP sheet) by an electrophotographic method, a thermal method, an ink jet method, or other general image forming methods. It is. Therefore, detailed description of the image forming unit 7 is omitted.

  The paper feed cassette 6 can be mounted or pulled out by sliding in the front-rear direction with respect to the paper feed cassette storage portion 8A. The paper feed cassette 6 has a substantially box shape with the top opened, and a plurality of sheets 98 are stored in a stacked state therein.

  The paper feed mechanism 5 has a well-known configuration including a paper feed roller, a separation roller, a separation pad, and the like, and a description of a specific configuration is omitted. When an image is formed on the sheet 98 stored in the paper feed cassette 6, the paper feed mechanism 5 and the image forming unit 7 operate cooperatively under the control of a control unit (not shown). Then, the sheet feeding mechanism 5 feeds the sheets 98 in the sheet feeding cassette 6 forward one by one, and conveys them to the image forming unit 7 along a conveying path P1 that curves in a U-shape and moves backward. The image forming unit 7 forms an image on one surface of the sheet transported along the transport path P1 by the paper feed mechanism 5 while transporting the sheet substantially rearward along the transport path P2 toward the rear. The conveyance path P <b> 2 is curved upward in a U shape behind the housing 8 and extends toward the discharge tray 8 </ b> B outside the housing 8. The sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 7 is conveyed upward along the conveyance path P2, and is discharged to the discharge tray 8B.

<Configuration of sheet conveying device>
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 separates the sheet 99 to be manually fed, that is, one sheet or a plurality of sheets 99 placed on the supply tray 2 one by one, and conveys the path P3. (See FIG. 2) and supplied to the image forming unit 7.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 includes the above-described opening 8 </ b> C and the supply tray 2, a driving source 90 and a driving shaft 91 (an example of “driving means” of the present invention), a holder member 30, and a paper feed A roller 60 (an example of the “first roller” of the present invention), a separation roller 70 (an example of the “second roller” of the present invention), a separation pad 79 (see FIG. 2), and a pressing mechanism 80 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an inclined surface 8 </ b> E is formed at the lower end edge of the opening 8 </ b> C so as to incline upward and extend backward. The inclined surface 8E and the upper surface 2B of the open supply tray 2 are smoothly continuous, and form a guide surface that guides the sheet 99 along the transport path P3 and guides the sheet 99 to the transport path P2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the drive shaft 91 is a cylindrical shaft body extending in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive shaft 91 is located in front of the image forming unit 7 and behind the lower edge of the opening 8C. Yes. As shown in FIG. 3, the drive source 90 is disposed on the right side of the opening 8 </ b> C in the housing 8. Since the drive source 90 has a well-known configuration in which an electric motor, a clutch, various gears, and the like are combined, description of a specific configuration is omitted. The drive source 90 is connected to the right end side of the drive shaft 91, and the drive source 90 rotates the drive shaft 91 when the sheet 99 placed on the supply tray 2 is sent out.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a separation roller 70 is provided in a portion of the drive shaft 91 located above the center of the supply tray 2 and the inclined surface 8 </ b> E in the left-right direction, and on the left end side of the separation roller 70, A separation roller side gear 70A is provided. The separation roller 70 and the separation roller side gear 70A are fixed to the drive shaft 91 so as to be integrally rotatable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a separation pad 79 made of a friction material in the form of a rectangular plate is disposed below the separation roller 70 on the inclined surface 8 </ b> E and is pressed against the separation roller 70.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left end side of the drive shaft 91 is interrupted while protruding from the separation roller 70 in the left direction. A portion of the drive shaft 91 located between the drive source 90 and the separation roller 70 is rotatably supported by a frame member (not shown) in the housing 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the holder member 30 is indirectly supported by a frame member (not shown) in the housing 8 via a drive shaft 91. The holder member 30 is divided into a first holder part 10 that rotatably supports the paper feed roller 60 and a second holder part 20 that rotatably supports the separation roller 70. The holder member 30 includes a displacement mechanism 40 that allows the first holder part 10 to be displaced with respect to the second holder part 20.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the second holder portion 20 has a left side wall 20A and a right side wall 20B that sandwich the separation roller 70 and the separation roller side gear 70A from both sides in the left-right direction (width direction). A pair of swing shaft holes 30B (only the right swing shaft hole 30B is shown and the left swing shaft hole is not shown) through which the drive shaft 91 is inserted is formed in the left side wall 20A and the right side wall 20B. Has been. The second holder portion 20 can swing around the drive shaft 91 by the pair of swing shaft holes 30B.

  In addition, shaft holes 29A and 29B are provided in the front portion of the left side wall 20A and the right side wall 20B of the second holder part 20 so as to penetrate on the same axis line facing the left-right direction. Furthermore, lock holes 28A and 28B having substantially square holes are provided above the shaft holes 29A and 29B on the same axis line facing the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first holder part 10 is provided adjacent to the front of the second holder part 20. As shown in FIG. 5, a support shaft 35 is held between the left side wall 10 </ b> A and the right side wall 10 </ b> B of the first holder unit 10 in a state parallel to the drive shaft 91. On the support shaft 35, a paper feed roller 60 and a paper feed roller side gear 60A provided on the left end side of the paper feed roller 60 are supported so as to be integrally rotatable. Further, shaft holes 19A and 19B are provided in the rear part of the left side wall 10A and the right side wall 10B of the first holder part 10 so as to penetrate on the same axis line facing the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first holder so that the rear portions of the left side wall 10A and the right side wall 10B of the first holder unit 10 are sandwiched between the left side wall 20A and the front side of the right side wall 20B of the second holder unit 20. The portion 10 is assembled to the second holder portion 20, and the transmission gear 32 is engaged with the separation roller side gear 70A and the paper feed roller side gear 60A. In this state, the rotating shaft 33 is inserted from the left side wall 20A side in the order of the shaft hole 29A, the shaft hole 19A, the transmission gear 32, the shaft hole 19B, and the shaft hole 29B. Then, a retaining ring 33A is attached to the tip of the rotating shaft 33 protruding from the right side wall 20B. Thus, the first holder part 10 is connected to the second holder part 20 and can swing with respect to the second holder part 20 around the rotation shaft 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 7, when the first holder portion 10 swings forward with respect to the second holder portion 20 around the rotation shaft 33, the first holder portion 20 moves toward the second holder portion 20. 1 holder part 10 will be in the state juxtaposed in the sheet sending-out direction (direction along the conveyance path P3 shown in FIG. 2, ie, the front-rear direction). The position where the first holder part 10 is parallel to the second holder part 20 is the “parallel position” of the present invention. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 8, when the first holder part 10 swings upward with respect to the second holder part 20 around the rotation axis 33, the first holder part 20 moves toward the second holder part 20. The 1 holder part 10 will be in the state which cross | intersects. The position where the first holder part 10 intersects the second holder part 20 is the “intersection position” of the present invention.

  The shaft holes 19A, 19B, 29A, 29B and the rotating shaft 33 constitute a hinge part 39 that connects the first holder part 10 and the second holder part 20 so that the angle between them can be changed. The displacement mechanism 40 includes the hinge portion 39 so that the first holder portion 10 can be displaced with respect to the second holder portion 20.

  The driving force transmission unit 31 is configured by the rotation shaft 33, the transmission gear 32, the paper feed roller side gear 60A, and the separation roller side gear 70A. When the drive shaft 91 and the separation roller 70 are rotated by the drive source 90, the rotation is transmitted to the paper feed roller 60 via the separation roller side gear 70A, the transmission gear 32, and the paper feed roller side gear 60A. It has become so. Since the driving force transmission part 31 and the hinge part 39 share the rotation shaft 33, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the first holder part 10 is displaced to the intersecting position, the transmission gear 32, the paper feed roller The state where the side gear 60A and the separation roller side gear 70A are engaged with each other is maintained.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of elastic deformation portions 11 </ b> A and 11 </ b> B are formed on the left side wall 10 </ b> A and the right side wall 10 </ b> B of the first holder portion 10 so as to protrude upward in a plate shape. When the user sandwiches the upper ends of the elastic deformation portions 11A and 11B from the left and right directions with the thumb and index finger (see arrows A and B in FIG. 3), the elastic deformation portions 11A and 11B are elastically deformed and approach each other. On the other hand, when the user releases the elastic deformation portions 11A and 11B, the elastic deformation portions 11A and 11B return to a state of protruding upward. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of lock claws 18A projecting outward in the left-right direction are shown on the side surfaces of the elastic deformation portions 11A and 11B (only the left lock claw 18A is shown, and the right lock claw is not shown). Is formed).

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, when the first holder part 10 is in the parallel position, the left and right lock claws 18A protrude into the lock holes 28A and 28B and stop against the lock holes 28A and 28B. The 1st holder part 10 is locked in a parallel position. For this reason, even if the force which moves the 1st holder part 10 to an intersection position acts, the 1st holder part 10 is hold | maintained in a parallel position by each lock nail | claw 18A and lock hole 28A, 28B. Each lock claw 18A and lock holes 28A and 28B are examples of the “lock means” of the present invention. In this state, the paper feed roller 60 is pushed forward, and can come into contact with the surface 99A of the sheet 99 placed on the open paper feed tray 2 as shown in FIG. The position of the paper feed roller 60 is the “paper feed position” in the present invention.

  On the other hand, when the user flexes with the thumb and index finger sandwiching the upper ends of the elastic deformation portions 11A and 11B from the left and right directions (see arrows A and B in FIG. 3), the lock claws 18A are moved from the lock holes 28A and 28B. Then, the first holder unit 10 is unlocked. In this state, when the user pushes the first holder part 10 upward while pushing it upward, the first holder part 10 can be displaced to the crossing position as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. In this state, the paper feed roller 60 moves backward from the paper feed position to the inside of the housing 8 and is housed inside the opening 8C as shown in FIG. The position of the paper feed roller 60 is the “retraction position” in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing mechanism 80 has a known configuration that presses the sheet feeding roller 60 against the sheet 99 placed on the supply tray 2 by swinging the holder member 30 around the drive shaft 91. The description of the specific configuration is simplified. The pressing mechanism 80 includes a swing member 81 that extends in the left-right direction from the drive source 90 side to the upper surface side of the second holder unit 20 above the drive shaft 91. An intermediate portion in the left-right direction of the swing member 81 is supported by a frame member (not shown) in the housing 8 so as to be swingable about the swing axis S1 that faces in the vertical direction.

  The right end portion of the swing member 81 is connected to the drive source 90. On the other hand, an engagement hole 81 </ b> A is formed in the left end portion of the swing member 81. The engaging hole 81 </ b> A engages with the cylindrical convex portion 22 that protrudes from the upper surface side of the second holder portion 20.

  When the sheet 99 is sent out, the right end portion of the swing member 81 is pushed backward by the drive source 90. In this case, the left end portion of the swing member 81 swings forward around the swing axis S1, and the cylindrical convex portion 22 is displaced forward via the engagement hole 81A. As a result, the second holder part 20, the first holder part 10 locked to the second holder part 20, and the paper feed roller 60 supported by the first holder part 10 swing downward around the drive shaft 91. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed roller 60 is pressed against the surface 99 </ b> A of the sheet 99 placed on the supply tray 2.

<Operation of sheet conveying apparatus>
When the printer 9 performs an image forming process, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 having the above configuration operates as follows.

  First, the supply tray 2 is changed from the closed state shown in FIG. 1 to the open state shown in FIG. Then, as the user pulls the first holder part 10 in the intersecting position toward the front and pushes it downward, the first holder part 10 is displaced to the parallel position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. Then, when viewed from the left and right, each lock claw 18A moves to a position where it overlaps with the lock holes 28A, 28B, and each lock claw 18A enters the lock holes 28A, 28B by the restoring force of the elastically deforming portions 11A, 11B. And the 1st holder part 10 is locked in a parallel position. Due to the displacement of the first holder portion 10, the paper feed roller 60 is also displaced to the paper feed position.

  When one or more sheets 99 are placed on the open supply tray 2 and image forming processing is started, the drive source 90 is controlled based on a command from a control unit (not shown) in the printer 9. By driving, the left end portion of the swing member 81 swings forward around the swing axis S1, and the surface of the sheet 99 on which the paper feed roller 60 is placed on the supply tray 2 via the cylindrical convex portion 22 and the like. Pressed against 99A.

  At the same time, the drive shaft 91 is driven to rotate by driving the drive source 90 based on a command from the control unit, thereby rotating the separation roller 70 and the separation roller side gear 70A. As a result, the feed roller 60 also rotates in the same direction as the separation roller 70 via the transmission gear 32 and the feed roller side gear 60A. At this time, the separation roller 70 is disposed so as to be positioned higher than the uppermost surface of the sheet 99 when the maximum number of sheets 99 are placed on the supply tray 2.

  Based on a command from the control unit, the sheet feeding roller 60 rotates following the rotation of the drive shaft 91 (separation roller 70), so that the uppermost sheet faces the front separation roller 70 and the separation pad 79. Sent out. The separation roller 70 cooperates with the separation pad 79 to separate the sheets fed by the paper feed roller 60 one by one, and conveys the sheets to the image forming unit 7 along the conveyance path P3.

  At this time, the sheet feeding roller 60 is controlled by the control unit so that the sheet reaches the separation roller 70 and is conveyed by a predetermined amount that can be conveyed by the separation roller 70 and then lifted from the surface 99A of the sheet 99. Is done. More specifically, the left end portion of the swing member 81 swings backward about the swing axis S1 by driving the drive source 90 based on a command from the control unit. As a result, the paper feed roller 60 swings upward around the drive shaft 91 via the cylindrical convex portion 22 and the like, and is not pressed against the surface 99A of the sheet 99 placed on the supply tray 2.

  After the sheet feeding roller 60 is raised, the sheet conveyance is continued by the separation roller 70. The separation roller 70 is controlled by the control unit so as to stop the driving of the sheet feeding roller 60 and the separation roller 70 when the sheet is conveyed so that the sheet reaches a conveyance roller (not shown) in the image forming unit 7. Thereafter, the sheet feeding roller 60 and the separation roller 70 rotate as the sheet is conveyed by the image forming unit 7. Thereby, feeding of one sheet is completed.

  The image forming unit 7 forms an image on one surface of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying apparatus 1 while conveying the sheet conveyed along the conveying path P3 rearward along the conveying path P2 that extends rearward substantially horizontally. The sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 7 is conveyed upward along the conveyance path P2, and is discharged to the discharge tray 8B.

  When a plurality of sheets are fed from the supply tray 2, the control of the paper feed roller 60 and the separation roller 70 is repeatedly performed by the control unit. At that time, the driving start / stop timing of each roller is controlled so that an appropriate interval is provided between the sheet conveyed first and the sheet conveyed next.

  When the printer 9 ends the image forming process, the drive of the drive source 90 is stopped based on a command from the control unit. As a result, the left end portion of the swing member 81 swings backward about the swing axis S <b> 1, and the paper feed roller 60 is not pressed against the surface 99 </ b> A of the sheet 99 as described above.

  At the same time, based on a command from the control unit, the drive of the drive source 90 is stopped, so that the drive shaft 91 is stopped from rotating, and the rotation of the separation roller 70 and the separation roller side gear 70A is stopped. Thereby, the rotation of the transmission gear 32, the paper feed roller side gear 60A, and the paper feed roller 60 is also stopped.

<Operation on the sheet conveying device when the supply tray is closed>
When the supply tray 2 is changed from the open state shown in FIG. 2 to the closed state shown in FIG. 1, first, the upper end portions of the elastically deforming portions 11A and 11B of the first holder portion 10 in the parallel position are sandwiched from the left and right directions ( The first holder 10 is unlocked by the lock claws 18A and the lock holes 28A and 28B (see arrows A and B in FIG. 3). Then, by lifting the first holder part 10 upward and pushing it backward, the first holder part 10 is displaced to the intersecting position as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. As a result, the paper feed roller 60 is also displaced to the retracted position. Thereafter, the opening 8C is closed by pushing up the upper end side of the supply tray 2 and pushing it backward. By this operation, the supply tray 2 can close the opening 8 </ b> C without interfering with the holder member 30 and the paper feed roller 60.

<Effect>
In the sheet conveying apparatus 1 of the embodiment having the above-described configuration, when the supply tray 2 shifts to the open state, the displacement mechanism 40 is caused by the first holder unit 10 being displaced in a parallel position with respect to the second holder unit 20. The paper feed roller 60 is displaced to the paper feed position. On the other hand, when the supply tray 2 shifts to the closed state, the displacement mechanism 40 displaces the paper feed roller 60 to the retracted position by displacing the first holder unit 10 at the crossing position with respect to the second holder unit 20. Let Thereby, interference with the supply tray 2 to be closed, the holder member 30 and the paper feed roller 60 can be avoided.

  In the sheet conveying apparatus 1, the holder member 30 is divided into the first holder unit 10 and the second holder unit 20, and the first holder unit 10 is parallel to the second holder unit 20 when the supply tray 2 is closed. It is configured to be displaced from the position to the intersection position. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the shape (occupied space) of the holder member 30 as a whole changes between when the supply tray 2 is opened and when it is closed, and particularly when the supply tray 2 is opened (FIG. 7). When closed (FIG. 8), it becomes smaller in the front-rear direction.

  Moreover, in FIG. 9, the dashed-two dotted line S1 has shown the external shape which looked at the holder member 30 whole side view in the state which has the 1st holder part 10 in an intersection position. On the other hand, the two-dot chain line S2 indicates that the holder member 30 is swung around the rotation axis of the drive shaft 91 while the first holder portion 10 is in the parallel position, and the paper feed roller 60 is shown in the front-rear direction. 9 shows an outline of the holder member 30 as viewed from the side when it is retracted to the same position as that of the outline No. 9 of S9. That is, the outline S2 indicates an empty space for retraction that should be ensured when the paper feed roller 60 is retreated to a position where it does not interfere with the closed supply tray 2 without deforming the holder member 30. When the outline S1 and the outline S2 are compared, the outline S2 protrudes backward and upward with respect to the outline S1. That is, in the sheet conveying apparatus 1, the holder member 30 is secured around the holder member 30 in the housing 8 as compared with the case where the entire holder member 30 is swung and retracted without changing the shape of the holder member 30 itself. The space for evacuation to be reduced can be reduced. As a result, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 can use the space around the holder member 30 for disposing another member or mechanism.

  Therefore, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 according to the embodiment can realize downsizing of the apparatus. Further, the effective use of the space around the holder member 30 improves the degree of freedom in designing the device layout.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the first holder unit 10 is in the parallel position, the rotation axis of the paper feed roller 60, the rotation axis of the rotation shaft 33, and the rotation axis of the separation roller 70 are The angle of the connecting line is α1, and the interval between the rotation axis of the paper feed roller 60 and the rotation axis of the separation roller 70 is L1. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the first holder unit 10 is in the intersecting position, the rotation axis of the paper feed roller 60, the rotation axis of the rotation shaft 33, and the rotation axis of the separation roller 70 The angle of the polygonal line connecting the two is α2, and the interval between the rotation axis of the paper feed roller 60 and the rotation axis of the separation roller 70 is L2. Then, the displacement mechanism 40 reduces the angle α2 when the first holder unit 10 is in the intersecting position with respect to the angle α1 when the first holder unit 10 is in the parallel position, thereby reducing the first holder unit 10. The distance L2 when the first holder part 10 is at the intersecting position can be narrowed with respect to the distance L1 when the is at the parallel position. For this reason, the shape of the entire holder member 30 when the supply tray 2 is closed can be reliably made smaller than the shape (occupied space) of the entire holder member 30 when the supply tray 2 is opened. For this reason, the empty space for evacuation for the holder member 30 can be further reduced, and as a result, the apparatus can be reliably reduced in size. Further, since the gap between the paper feed roller 60 and the separation roller 70 is widened during the paper feed operation, the paper feed roller 60 and the separation roller 70 required for performing the sheet feeding operation and the separation operation satisfactorily. An interval can be ensured.

  Further, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 can easily displace the sheet feeding roller 60 between the sheet feeding position and the retracted position by the displacement mechanism 40 having a simple configuration including the hinge portion 39, and suppresses the rise in product cost. it can.

  In addition, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 shares the rotating shaft 33 between the driving force transmission unit 31 and the hinge unit 39, thereby reducing the number of parts and the occupied space compared to the case where a dedicated shaft for the hinge unit 39 is provided separately. Less. In addition, since the driving force transmission unit 31 itself originally exists between the paper feed roller 60 and the separation roller 70, the second rotating shaft 33 is shared by the hinge unit 39 and the driving force transmission unit 31, so that the second It is easy to realize a configuration in which the first holder part 10 intersects the holder part 20.

  Further, in the sheet conveying apparatus 1, when the supply tray 2 is not used, the appearance quality of the printer 9 can be made clear by closing the supply tray 2. Further, since the outer surface 2A of the supply tray 2 also serves as a part of the exterior cover, the apparatus can be reduced in size as compared with the case where a dedicated exterior cover is provided separately from the supply tray 2.

  In the sheet conveying apparatus 1, when the sheet feeding roller 60 sends out the sheet 99 placed on the supply tray 2, a reaction force acts on the sheet feeding roller 60. In that case, there is a possibility that the paper feeding roller 60 is displaced from the paper feeding position and the paper feeding operation cannot be normally performed. In this respect, the sheet conveying apparatus 1 can lock the first holder portion 10 in the parallel position by the lock claws 18A and the lock holes 29A and 29B. The operation can be performed reliably.

  Further, in the sheet conveying apparatus 1, if the configuration in which not only the first holder part 10 but also the second holder part 20 is displaced when the paper feed roller 60 moves to the retracted position, the second holder part is adopted. The pressing mechanism 80 that engages 20 also needs to be configured to follow the displacement of the second holder portion 20. This complicates the device configuration. In this respect, in the sheet conveying apparatus 1, when the paper feed roller 60 moves to the retracted position, only the first holder unit 10 is displaced, and the second holder unit 20 is not displaced. For this reason, the pressing mechanism 80 connected to the 2nd holder part 20 can be applied with a conventional structure, and complication of an apparatus structure can be avoided.

  While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately modified and applied without departing from the spirit thereof.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the first holder unit 10 in the intersecting position is displaced to the parallel position is performed by the user's manual operation, but in conjunction with the operation of displacing the supply tray 2 to the open state. The first holder unit 10 may be configured to include an interlocking mechanism that is displaced from the intersection position to the parallel position.

  The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus, a multifunction peripheral, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sheet conveying apparatus, 8 ... Apparatus main body (casing), 8C ... Opening, 2 ... Supply tray 99 ... Sheet, 99A ... Sheet surface, 99B ... Sheet back surface,
60 ... 1st roller (paper feed roller), 70 ... 2nd roller (separation roller)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Holder member, 10 ... 1st holder part, 20 ... 2nd holder part 40 ... Displacement mechanism, L1, L2 ... Space | interval of 1st roller and 2nd roller 39 ... Hinge part, 90 ... Drive source, 91 ... Drive Shaft 31: Driving force transmitting portion, 33 ... Rotating shaft 18A, 29A, 29B ... Locking means (18A ... Lock claw, 29A, 29B ... Lock hole)

Claims (6)

An opening formed in the apparatus body;
A back surface of a sheet that is supported by the apparatus main body so as to be displaceable between an open state in which the opening is opened and a closed state in which the opening is closed, and is supplied to the inside of the apparatus main body through the opening in the open state. A supply tray that contacts the sheet and supports the sheet;
When the supply tray is in the open state, a first roller that is in a paper feed position that contacts the surface of the sheet supported by the supply tray and that feeds the sheet toward the inside of the apparatus body;
When the supply tray is in the open state, a second sheet that is positioned on the inner side of the apparatus main body with respect to the first roller in the sheet feeding direction and separates the sheets fed by the first roller one by one. Laura,
A holder member provided in the apparatus main body and rotatably supporting the first roller and the second roller;
The holder member is divided into a first holder part that supports the first roller and a second holder part that supports the second roller, and the first holder part can be displaced with respect to the second holder part. And a displacement mechanism
When the supply tray is shifted to the open state, the displacement mechanism is configured such that the first holder part is in a parallel position where the first holder part is parallel to the second holder part in the sheet feeding direction. Displacing the first roller to the paper feeding position, and when the supply tray shifts to the closed state, the first holder part intersects the second holder part. When the first holder portion is displaced to a certain crossing position, the first roller is displaced to a retracted position that is a position on the inner side of the apparatus main body with respect to the opening with respect to the opening. A sheet conveying apparatus characterized by comprising:   The displacement mechanism widens the distance between the first roller and the second roller by displacing the first holder part at the parallel position, while the first holder part is displaced at the intersecting position. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying apparatus is configured to reduce a distance between the first roller and the second roller.   3. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement mechanism includes a hinge portion that couples the angle between the first holder portion and the second holder portion so that the angle can be changed. Driving means for applying a rotational driving force to the second roller;
A driving force transmission unit interposed between the first roller and the second roller to transmit the rotation of the second roller to the first roller;
The hinge portion, the sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 3 Symbol mounting sharing the rotating shaft and the driving force transmitting portion.   The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply tray also serves as a part of an exterior cover of the apparatus main body.   6. The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement mechanism includes a locking unit that locks the first holder portion in the parallel position when the supply tray is in the open state.

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