JP6264983B2 - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feeding device that supplies a useful medium to a printing apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine.

  For example, as described in Patent Document 1 described later, the paper feeding device includes a paper feeding tray having a paper loading surface and a paper feeding tray for positioning the paper placed on the paper loading surface of the paper feeding tray. And a pair of left and right movable side regulating plates provided on the tray. The paper feed tray is provided with a gear at a position corresponding to the center of the pair of left and right side restricting plates and a guide groove for linearly guiding the slider of each side restricting plate. Each plate is provided with a rack that meshes with a gear. That is, the paper feeding device can translate the pair of left and right side regulating plates in synchronization with a direction substantially orthogonal to the paper feeding direction, and is placed on the paper mounting surface of the paper feeding tray by the parallel movement. The paper can be positioned.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-08451

  In order to enable positioning of a wide sheet (for example, A4 size sheet) and a narrow sheet (for example, a postcard size or less) in the sheet feeding device, the moving distance of the pair of left and right side regulating plates is set. It is only necessary to increase the paper size that can be supplied by increasing the size. However, when the movement distance of the pair of left and right side regulating plates is increased, there is a concern that problems such as a decrease in component strength, a decrease in holding force, and a decrease in positioning accuracy occur as the movement distance increases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that can accurately position a narrow paper (medium) without causing problems such as a reduction in component strength, a holding force, and a reduction in positioning accuracy. .

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention (paper feeding device) is provided in the medium tray for positioning a medium tray having a medium mounting surface and a medium placed on the medium mounting surface of the medium tray. A movable side regulating plate and a narrow medium holding mechanism for positioning a medium narrower than the medium, and the narrow medium holding mechanism includes a shaft portion provided on the medium tray. A guide hole for guiding, a shaft provided in the bottom plate of the side restricting plate and rotatably inserted in the guide hole, and the bottom plate of the side restricting plate via the shaft comprising a spring which resiliently biased toward the tray, and you characterized in that.

  According to the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device that can accurately position a narrow sheet (medium) without causing problems such as a decrease in component strength, a holding force, and a decrease in positioning accuracy. .

1 is an external perspective view of a printer according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the sheet feeding device illustrated in FIG. 1. It is operation explanatory drawing corresponding to FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the printer which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the sheet feeding device illustrated in FIG. 4. It is operation explanatory drawing corresponding to FIG. It is operation explanatory drawing corresponding to FIG.

<< First Embodiment >>
A first embodiment in which the present invention (paper feeding device) is employed in a printer will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a paper feeding device 2 for supplying paper having an arbitrary width on one side surface thereof so as to be freely opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feeding device 2 includes a paper feeding tray 3, a pair of left and right movable side restriction plates 4, and a narrow paper holding mechanism (no reference).

  More specifically, on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 3, a paper mounting surface 3a and a second paper mounting surface 3b for narrow paper are provided. The second paper mounting surface 3b is constituted by a bottom surface of a rectangular recess formed at the center of the upper surface of the paper feed tray 3, and is located at a position lower than the paper mounting surface 3a. Further, a front-lowering inclined surface 3c is provided on the front side of the second paper mounting surface 3b to assist in placing a narrow paper on the second paper mounting surface 3b. Furthermore, each of the two step surfaces of the paper mounting surface 3a and the second paper mounting surface 3b is provided with an opening 3d through which each of a pair of left and right second side regulating plates 5 described later enters and exits. Although not shown, in addition to the above, the paper feed tray 3 includes a guide hole for linearly guiding each of the shaft portions 4c of the pair of left and right side restricting plates 4 in the direction of the arrow, and a pair of left and right pairs described later. A second guide hole for linearly guiding each of the base portions of the two side regulating plates 5 in the direction of the arrow is provided. On the lower surface side of the paper feed tray 3, a gear that meshes with the rack described later is rotatably provided at a position corresponding to the center of the pair of left and right side regulating plates 4.

  On the other hand, the pair of left and right side regulating plates 4 has an L shape having a regulating plate portion 4a and a bottom plate portion 4b substantially perpendicular to the regulating plate portion 4a. It has the axial part 4c which protrudes toward. The pair of left and right side restricting plates 4 are arranged so that the restricting plate portions 4a face each other substantially in parallel, and each shaft portion is inserted into the guide hole, and the upper surface of each bottom plate portion 4b is loaded with paper. Used as part of the surface 3a. In addition, a base portion of a second side regulating plate 5 having a U-shape (two each in the drawing) is connected to the lower surface of each of the bottom plate portions 4b of the pair of left and right side regulating plates 4. The pair of left and right second side restricting plates 5 are arranged such that each base portion is inserted into the guide hole and each leading end portion protrudes from the opening 3d onto the second paper mounting surface 3b. ing. Although not shown, in addition to the above, the pair of left and right side regulating plates 4 are each provided with a rack that meshes with the gear. That is, the pair of left and right side regulating plates 4 can be translated in synchronism with a direction (see arrows) substantially orthogonal to the paper feeding direction by the cooperation of the gear and the rack, and interlocked with the parallel movement. Thus, the pair of left and right second side regulating plates 5 can also be translated in the same direction.

  Incidentally, in the first embodiment, the narrow paper holding mechanism described at the beginning is provided by the second paper mounting surface 3b for narrow paper and the pair of left and right second guide restricting plates 5. That is, a mechanism for positioning a narrow sheet is configured.

  Here, an example of a preferable operation method of the sheet feeding device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. When a wide sheet (for example, A4 size sheet) is supplied by the sheet feeder 2, the sheet is placed between the pair of left and right side regulating plates 4 on the sheet mounting surface 3a in the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of left and right side regulating plates 4 are translated inward so that the inner surface of each regulating plate portion 4a is brought into light contact with the side edge in the width direction of the paper. Thereby, the paper placed on the paper mounting surface 3a is positioned. When the pair of left and right side restricting plates 4 are translated inward, the pair of left and right second side restricting plates 5 are also moved in the same direction as shown in FIG. Since it does not protrude above 3 a, the sheet placed on the sheet mounting surface 3 a is not deformed or damaged during the positioning process.

  On the other hand, when a paper having a narrow width (for example, a paper having a postcard size or less) is supplied by the paper feeding device 2, a pair of left and right second side regulating plates 5 on the second paper mounting surface 3b in the state shown in FIG. A pair of left and right side restricting plates 4 are moved inward by moving a pair of left and right side restricting plates 4 inward as shown in FIG. The inner surface of each leading end is lightly brought into contact with the side edge in the width direction of the narrow paper. As a result, the narrow paper placed on the second paper mounting surface 3b is positioned.

  In the first embodiment described above, a narrow sheet can be positioned by the pair of left and right second side restriction plates 5 without increasing the movement distance of the pair of left and right side restriction plates 4. Thus, it is possible to accurately position a narrow sheet by avoiding problems such as a decrease in component strength, a decrease in sheet holding force, and a decrease in positioning accuracy that may occur as the moving distance increases. Further, since positioning of a narrow sheet can be performed with a movement amount smaller than the movement amount when positioning the narrow sheet with the pair of left and right side regulating plates 4, an operation for positioning a narrow sheet is performed. And the durability can be improved by reducing the wear of parts caused by movement.

  In the above-described first embodiment, each of the pair of left and right second side regulating plates 5 is illustrated as having a configuration of two, but the plate-shaped member is attached to two tip portions. A narrow sheet of paper may be positioned on the inner surface, and the two-piece configuration may be one or three or more, and the same plate-like member is attached to one or three leading ends. You may do it. Further, optical sensors 6a and 6b for detecting the sizes of the sheets placed on the sheet loading surface 3a of the sheet feeding tray 3 and the second sheet loading surface 3b for narrow sheets (see FIG. 3). May be provided.

<< Second Embodiment >>
A second embodiment in which the present invention (paper feeding device) is employed in a printer will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the printer 11 includes a paper feeding device 12 for supplying paper of an arbitrary width on one side thereof so as to be freely opened and closed. As shown in FIG. 5, the paper feeding device 12 includes a paper feeding tray 13, a pair of left and right movable side restriction plates 14, and a narrow paper holding mechanism (no reference).

  More specifically, a guide groove 13b for linearly guiding each of the sheet mounting surface 13a and the bottom plate portion 14b of the pair of left and right side regulating plates 14 in the direction of the arrow is provided on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 13. Further, a guide hole 13c for linearly guiding each of the shaft portions 14c of the pair of left and right side regulating plates 14 in the direction of the arrow is provided on the bottom surface of the guide groove 13b. Although not shown, in addition to the above, on the lower surface side of the paper feed tray 13, a gear that meshes with a rack described later is rotatably provided at a position corresponding to the center of the pair of left and right side regulating plates 14.

  On the other hand, the pair of left and right side restricting plates 14 has an L shape having a restricting plate portion 14a and a rectangular bottom plate portion 14b substantially perpendicular to the restricting plate portion 14a. The shaft portion 14c protrudes toward the lower surface side. The pair of left and right side restricting plates 14 are arranged so that the restricting plate portions 14a face each other substantially in parallel, each bottom plate portion 14b is fitted into the guide groove 13b, and each shaft portion 14c is rotated into the guide hole 13c. The upper surface of each bottom plate portion 14b is used as a part of the paper mounting surface 13a. Although not shown, the lower portion of each shaft portion 14c protrudes downward from each guide hole 13c, and each shaft portion 14c, that is, between the lower end of each protruding portion and the lower end of each guide hole 13c, A spring (for example, a compression coil spring) that elastically biases the bottom plate portion 14b of each side regulating plate 14 toward the bottom surface of the guide groove 13b is mounted. Each of the pair of left and right side regulating plates 14 is provided with a rack that meshes with the gear. That is, the pair of left and right side restricting plates 14 can be lifted upward against the urging force of the spring, and can be rotated about each shaft portion 14c. The pair of left and right side regulating plates 14 can be translated in synchronization with a direction (see an arrow) substantially orthogonal to the paper feeding direction by the cooperation of the gear and the rack.

  Incidentally, in the second embodiment, the shaft guide guide hole 13c provided in the paper feed tray 13 and the pair of left and right side restricting plates 14 rotatably inserted in the guide hole 13c are provided. The narrow paper holding mechanism described at the beginning by the shaft portion 14c and the spring that elastically biases the bottom plate portion 14b of each side regulating plate 14 toward the bottom surface of the guide groove 13b via each shaft portion 14c. That is, a mechanism for positioning a sheet having a narrow width is configured.

  Here, an example of a preferable operation method of the sheet feeding device 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. When a wide sheet (for example, A4 side sheet) is supplied by the sheet feeder 12, the sheet is placed between the pair of left and right side regulating plates 14 on the sheet mounting surface 13a in the state shown in FIG. The pair of side restricting plates 14 are translated inward so that the inner surface of each restricting plate portion 14a is brought into light contact with the side edge in the width direction of the paper. Thereby, the paper placed on the paper mounting surface 13a is positioned.

  On the other hand, when a narrow sheet (for example, a sheet of a postcard size or less) is supplied by the sheet feeder 12, first, as shown in FIG. Then, it is lifted upward and rotated 180 degrees around the shaft portion 14c, and the bottom plate portion 14b of each side regulating plate 14 after rotation is fitted into the guide groove 13b using a spring biasing force. Thereby, the opposing space | interval of the control board part 14a of a pair of right and left control boards 14 becomes narrow by 4 times the distance of the axial part 14c and the control board part 14a. Then, a narrow sheet is placed between the pair of left and right side restricting plates 14 on the sheet mounting surface 13a, and the pair of left and right side restricting plates 14 are translated inward so that the outer surface of each restricting plate portion 14a has a width. Lightly touch the side edge of the narrow paper in the width direction. As a result, the narrow paper placed on the paper mounting surface 13a is positioned.

  In the second embodiment described above, since the narrow side paper can be positioned by each side regulating plate 14 after rotation without increasing the moving distance of the pair of left and right side regulating plates 14, the moving distance Thus, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as a decrease in positioning accuracy due to a decrease in component strength and a decrease in sheet holding force that can occur with an increase in the number of sheets, and it is possible to accurately position a sheet having a narrow width. Further, since the narrow paper can be positioned with a movement amount smaller than the movement amount when positioning the narrow paper with each side regulating plate 14 before the rotation, the operation when positioning the narrow paper is performed. And the durability can be improved by reducing the wear of parts caused by movement.

  In the second embodiment described above, the guide tray 13b for linearly guiding each of the bottom plate portions 14b of the pair of left and right side restricting plates 14 on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 13 is exemplified. Two elongate guide grooves parallel to the guide hole 13c are provided on both sides of the hole 13c, and a protrusion inserted into one of the two elongate guide grooves before and after rotation is a pair of side restrictions. Even if it is provided on each of the lower surfaces of the bottom plate portion 14b of the plate, it is possible to perform linear guidance similar to the case where the guide groove 13b is used. In this case, if an optical sensor for detecting protrusion insertion is provided in the two elongated guide grooves, the direction (before or after rotation) of each side regulating plate 14 can be detected by the detection signal of the optical sensor.

  As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described, the improvement, change, addition, etc. which do not deviate from the technical idea of this invention are also included in the invention described in the claim, and its equal range. The invention described in the scope of the original claims of the present application will be added below.

[Appendix 1]
A medium tray having a medium loading surface, a movable side regulating plate provided on the medium tray for positioning the medium placed on the medium loading surface of the medium tray, and a width narrower than the medium A sheet feeding device including a narrow medium holding mechanism for positioning a medium.

[Appendix 2]
The narrow medium holding mechanism is provided so as to interlock with the second medium mounting surface for narrow media provided on the medium mounting surface of the medium tray at a position lower than the medium mounting surface, and the side regulating plate. And a second side regulating plate for positioning a medium having a small width placed on the second medium mounting surface.

[Appendix 3]
The second side restricting plate is arranged such that a base portion is connected to the side restricting plate and a tip end portion thereof is protruded on the second medium mounting surface. Paper feeder.

[Appendix 4]
The narrow medium holding mechanism includes: a guide hole for guiding a shaft provided in the medium tray; and a shaft provided in a bottom plate of the side regulating plate and rotatably inserted in the guide hole. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a spring that elastically biases the bottom plate portion of the side regulating plate toward the medium tray via the shaft portion.

[Appendix 5]
The sheet feeding device according to appendix 4, wherein the medium tray is provided with a guide groove for linearly guiding the side regulating plate.

  The present invention can be widely used in various printing apparatuses including a mechanism for positioning a sheet placed on a sheet mounting surface or other than a printing apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Paper feed device 3 Paper feed tray 3a Paper loading surface 3b Second paper loading surface 4 Side restriction plate 5 Second side restriction plate 11 Printer 12 Paper feed device 13 Paper feed tray 13a Paper loading surface 14 Side restriction plate 14a Restriction plate part 14b Bottom plate part 14c Shaft part

Claims (2)

A media tray having a media mounting surface;
A movable side regulating plate provided on the medium tray for positioning the medium placed on the medium mounting surface of the medium tray;
A narrow medium holding mechanism for positioning a medium narrower than the medium ;
Equipped with a,
The narrow medium holding mechanism is
A guide hole for guiding the shaft provided in the medium tray, a shaft provided in the bottom plate of the side regulating plate and rotatably inserted in the guide hole, and the shaft through the shaft A spring that elastically biases the bottom plate portion of the side regulating plate toward the medium tray;
Comprising
Sheet feeding device you wherein a. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein the medium tray is provided with a guide groove for linearly guiding the side regulating plate.

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