JP6362324B2 - Feeding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a feeding device that feeds one by one from a plurality of stacked sheets.

  2. Description of the Related Art As a feeding device that feeds stacked sheets one by one to a processing unit in order to perform recording processing and reading processing, a configuration including a sheet feeding roller and a separation slope is known. In such a feeding apparatus, the sheet moves when the sheet feeding roller rotates in contact with the surface of the uppermost sheet, and the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the separation slope, so that the uppermost sheet and the lower layer sheet are moved. Are separated.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a separation roller that can adjust contact and non-contact with the sheet surface is disposed at a position near the separation slope on the further downstream side of the sheet feeding roller. In the case of a sheet having a high rigidity, the roller is conveyed without being brought into contact with the surface of the sheet. In the case of a sheet having a low rigidity, the roller is brought into contact with the surface to be conveyed. A paper feeding method that realizes reliable separation is described.

JP 2001-199578 A

  However, even when the configuration described in Patent Document 1 is adopted, there is a case where only the uppermost sheet cannot be reliably separated. For example, when the stacked sheets have large friction and a plurality of sheets move to the separation slope, even if the first sheet is normally fed, the separation roller is not used when feeding is completed. And the second and subsequent sheets may remain between the separation slopes. When the feeding operation of the next page is started in such a state, the plurality of sheets pressed against the separation slope by the separation roller cannot hit the separation slope, and the plurality of sheets are once There is a risk of double feeding. Further, if a state where several sheets are sandwiched between the separation roller and the separation slope is maintained, the leading edge of the sheet is deformed, and there is a possibility that such deformed wrinkles remain on the sheet after the processing is completed. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. Therefore, the purpose is to feed the stacked sheets one by one, and reliably feed the topmost sheet, and after each sheet is fed, the remaining sheets are regular. It is to provide a feeding device that can be reliably deployed at the position of.

To this end, the present invention provides a paper feed tray on which a plurality of sheets are stacked, a paper feed roller that performs a paper feed operation to contact the uppermost sheet stacked on the paper feed tray and feed a sheet, A separation slope for separating the uppermost sheet fed by the sheet feeding roller from the second and subsequent sheets; and a return claw for returning the second and subsequent sheets to the sheet feeding tray. The claw is retracted from the sheet feeding path during the sheet feeding operation, and is a rotating shaft in the feeding device that presses the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding tray before the sheet feeding operation and after the sheet feeding operation. A return claw driving plate fixed to the rotating shaft for rotating the return claw, a first protrusion attached to the rotating shaft and provided on the return claw, and a return claw driving plate. And a spring locked to the second protrusion. .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to restore the normal posture before starting the feeding operation at the timing when the sheet feeding is completed, and to perform stable sheet feeding without double feeding.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the feeding apparatus to which this invention is applied. (A)-(d) is a figure for demonstrating a sheet | seat feeding state in steps. (A)-(c) is a figure explaining the process of replenishing a sheet | seat to a paper feed tray.

[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a feeding device to which the present invention is applied. A plurality of sheets 5 are stacked on the sheet feeding tray 1 (stacking unit), and the leading end 5 a is abutted against a separation slope 3 provided adjacent to the sheet feeding tray 1. The separation slope 3 supports the sheet 5 from its front end 5a, and gives an appropriate separation resistance to the front end 5a, and plays a role of promoting separation of the uppermost sheet from other sheets when the sheet is fed.

  The paper feed roller 2 attached to the tip of the swing arm 8 is made of a material having a high friction coefficient such as rubber on the surface, and is rotatable about the rotary shaft 2a. On the other hand, the swing arm 8 is also rotatable about the shaft 8a. The rotations of the swing arm 8 and the paper feed roller 2 are driven and controlled via drive transmission means in the swing arm 8.

  The return claw 4 is a member that rotates with the rotation of the return drive plate 6 and that allows the tip end 4 a to abut against or separate from the surface of the sheet 5. The return claw drive plate 6 is fixed to the rotating shaft 4c driven by a motor (not shown), but the return claw 4 is not fixed. The return claw 4 rotates via a spring 7 attached to the rotary shaft 4c and two projections 6a and 4b for locking the spring, and presses or releases the stacked sheets 5 with an appropriate pressure. Can be done.

  2A to 2D are views for explaining the sheet feeding state step by step. FIG. 2A shows a state before starting feeding. The swing arm 8 maintains a posture such that the surface of the sheet feeding roller 2 is in contact with the surface of the uppermost sheet 5a of the stacked sheets with an appropriate pressure. The return claw 4 has its front end 4a abutted against the front end of the sheet 5 to prevent the sheet from proceeding. At this time, a rotational moment is generated in the return claw 4 in the clockwise direction in the figure by the action of the return claw drive plate 6 and the return claw spring 7, and the leading end 4 a presses the surface of the uppermost sheet 5. ing. As a result, the plurality of sheets 5 are aligned at the leading ends at the separation slope 3 and are pressed between the return claw 4 and the paper feed tray 1, and are corrected even if there is some deformation.

  FIG. 2B shows a state at the start of the feeding operation. When the feeding operation is started, the return claw driving plate 6 rotates counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. During this rotation, the end 6b of the return claw drive plate 6 abuts against the protrusion 4b provided on the main body of the return claw 4 and pushes it further, whereby the return claw 4 rotates counterclockwise, and FIG. Move to position b). By this operation, the return claw 4 is retracted from the conveyance path, and the leading end of the sheet 5 is opened.

  Thereafter, the sheet feeding roller 2 rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure, so that the uppermost sheet 5 a in contact with the sheet feeding roller 2 moves along the separation slope 3. At this time, if the friction between the stacked sheets is large, the second and subsequent sheets may move following the uppermost sheet 5a. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the second sheet 5b has moved together with the uppermost sheet 5a.

  FIG. 2C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the return claw 4 rotates after the uppermost sheet 5a is fed. When the rotation operation of the sheet feeding roller 2 is continued to some extent and the leading edge of the uppermost sheet 5a passes, the return claw driving plate 6 rotates clockwise from the state of FIG. During this rotation, the projection 6a of the return claw drive plate 6 hits one side of the spring 7, and the other side pushes the projection 4b of the return claw 4 to rotate the return claw 4 clockwise. At this time, the leading end 4 a of the return claw 4 hits the leading end of the second sheet 5 b that has moved together with the uppermost sheet 5 a and pushes it back to the stacking position of the sheet feeding tray 1.

  The timing for starting the rotation of the return claw driving plate 6 is particularly limited as long as it is at least after the leading edge of the uppermost sheet 5 has passed and before the leading edge of the second sheet 5b has passed. It is not a thing. When the friction between the uppermost sheet 5a and the second sheet 5b is large and the second sheet 5b travels with little delay with respect to the uppermost sheet 5a, the return pawl is driven at a relatively early timing. It is preferable to start the rotation of the plate 6. Further, when the second sheet 5b is slightly deviated from the stacking position and hardly proceeds, the return claw driving plate 6 starts to rotate after the rear end of the uppermost sheet 5a passes. It doesn't matter.

  FIG. 2 (d) shows a state where the rotation of the return claw 4 has been completed. When the front end 4a of the return claw 4 hits the surface of the stacked sheet, the rotation of the return claw 4 stops, but the rotation of the return claw drive plate 6 continues further and stops with the biasing force stored in the spring 7. The leading edge of the second sheet 5b is aligned with the other sheets at the separation slope 3 and becomes a new uppermost sheet. At this time, as in the state of FIG. 2A, a rotational moment is generated in the return claw 4 in the clockwise direction by the spring 7, and the tip 4a presses the surface of the second sheet 5b. Become. That is, the front ends of the plurality of sheets 5 are orderly aligned on the separation slope 3 and are pressed between the return claw 4 and the paper feed tray 1, and the postures of the sheets 5 and the feeding device are shown in FIG. This is equivalent to the posture before starting feeding. As a result, the feeding operation after the next page can be repeatedly executed under the same conditions as those described above.

  As in the present embodiment, according to the configuration of the present embodiment using the spring force, the pressure applied to the surface of the sheet 5 can be stabilized regardless of the stacking amount of the sheet 5 on the sheet feeding tray. Further, the pressing force on the sheet 5 is changed by changing the stop position of the return claw driving plate 6 such as pressing the sheet 5 with a high pressure when the loading amount of the sheet 5 is large and pressing the sheet 5 with a small pressure when the loading amount is small. It is also possible to adjust according to. Further, when a plurality of sheets 5 are newly added to the sheet feed tray, the insertion of these sheets can be appropriately and flexibly handled by the spring force.

  FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating a process of replenishing the sheet 5 in the sheet feeding tray 1. When the sheet on the sheet feed tray 1 is exhausted, the return claw 4 comes into direct contact with the sheet feed tray 1 by the action of the return claw drive plate 6 and the return claw spring 7 (see FIG. 3A). When a plurality of sheets 5 are inserted in the direction A in this state, the plurality of sheets 5 advance while interrupting between the sheet feed roller 2 and the sheet feed tray 1, and the leading end presses the guide surface 4 d of the return claw 4. To do. As a result, the return claw 4 rotates clockwise as shown in FIG. 3B against the spring force.

  FIG. 3 (c) shows a state in which the plurality of sheets 5 further progress and the leading ends thereof reach the separation slope 3. The plurality of sheets 5 are pressed between the return claw 4 and the paper feed tray 1 with an appropriate amount of spring force, and the posture equivalent to that before the start of paper feeding shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the return claw urged by the spring force is provided, so that at the timing when the sheet feeding is completed or when a new sheet is replenished, FIG. ) Can be restored to the normal posture before starting the feeding operation. As a result, it is possible to repeatedly execute stable sheet feeding without double feeding one by one.

[Example 2]
Also in this embodiment, the feeding device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is used. However, the feeding device of the present embodiment does not include the return drive plate 6 and the spring 7, and the return claw 4 fixed to the rotating shaft 4c is directly driven by the motor and rotates clockwise and counterclockwise. An angle sensor for detecting the angle of the swing arm 8 is provided inside the apparatus. When the sheet feeding roller 2 is in contact with the surface of the sheet 5, the sheet stacking amount is determined from the detection result of the angle sensor. It has come to be judged.

  When the feeding operation is started, the angle sensor detects the angle of the swing arm 8 and temporarily stores the detection result. Thereafter, the return claw 4 is retracted to the position shown in FIG. 2B, and the paper feed roller 2 is rotated to feed the uppermost sheet 5 along the separation slope 3. After the leading edge of the uppermost sheet 5a has passed, the return claw 4 rotates clockwise as shown in FIG. 2C, and the position corresponding to the detected angle stored before the start of feeding, that is, the stacking of the sheets 5 Stop at a position according to the amount. Thereby, at the time when the feeding operation is finished, the plurality of sheets 5 are aligned while being pressed between the return claw 4 and the sheet feeding tray 1, and the posture of the sheet 5 and the feeding device is the same as before the sheet feeding is started. Return to posture.

  The feeding device of the present embodiment further includes a cover that can be opened and closed and a cover sensor that detects the open / closed state of the cover. The cover is opened by the operator when the sheet 5 is replenished, and is closed again by the operator when the replenishment is completed. The position of the return claw 4 is controlled according to the opening / closing information detected by the cover sensor, so that the sheet 5 can be replenished smoothly.

  For example, when the operator opens the cover, the cover sensor transmits “open” information, the return claw 4 is retracted, and a sufficient space for inserting the sheet 5 is secured. When the operator inserts the sheet 5 and installs the sheet with the leading end abutting against the separation slope 3 and further closes the cover, the cover sensor transmits “closed” information. The return claw rotates clockwise and stops at a position corresponding to the angle detected by the angle sensor. As described above, when the sheet replenishment is completed, the replenished sheet 5 is aligned while being pressed between the return claw 4 and the sheet feed tray 1 with an appropriate pressure, and the sheet feeding shown in FIG. Return to the posture before the start. As a result, subsequent feeding operations can be performed without delay without incurring double feeding.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, by providing a return claw that can adjust the posture according to the detection value of the angle sensor, the timing at which the sheet feeding is completed or the timing at which a new sheet is replenished The normal posture before the start of the feeding operation can be restored. As a result, it is possible to repeatedly perform stable sheet feeding without double feeding.

1 Feeding tray 2 Feeding roller 3 Separation slope 4 Return claw 5 Sheet

Claims (6)

A paper feed tray on which a plurality of sheets are stacked, a paper feed roller that performs a paper feed operation to contact the topmost sheet stacked on the paper feed tray, and feeds the sheet by the paper feed roller A separation slope for separating the uppermost sheet from the second and subsequent sheets, and a return claw for returning the second and subsequent sheets to the paper feed tray, In the feeding device that retracts from the paper feed path during operation and presses the sheets stacked on the paper feed tray before and after the paper feeding operation ,
A rotation shaft, a return claw drive plate fixed to the rotation shaft for rotating the return claw, a first protrusion attached to the rotation shaft and provided on the return claw, and a return claw drive plate And a spring that is locked to the second protrusion.   The return claw is movable to a first position that presses a surface of the uppermost sheet stacked on the sheet feeding tray and a second position that is retracted from the sheet conveyance path. The feeding device according to claim 1.   When the return claw drive plate rotates in the first direction, the return claw moves from the first position to the second position, and the return claw drive plate is a second opposite to the first direction. The feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the return claw moves from the second position to the first position by rotating in the direction of.   When the return claw drive plate rotates in the second direction, the return claw drive plate stops at a position where the return claw further rotates after the front end of the return claw hits the surface of the sheet stacked on the paper feed tray. The feeding device according to claim 3, wherein:   When the amount of sheets stacked on the sheet feed tray is large, the return claw presses the surface of the sheet stacked on the sheet feed tray more strongly than when the amount of stack is small. The feeding device according to claim 4.   The feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a swing arm to which the paper feed roller is attached, wherein the swing arm is rotatable about an axis.

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