JPH01209227A - Paper guide position adjusting mechanism for paper cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contrive the correctness of positioning even in the time of an error in size and a change of humidity by providing a member urged by a paper guide engaging with a cassette bottom part further a stopper means in which the cassette bottom part adjusts a guide position of the engaging member in its point end in two or more positions. CONSTITUTION:When a lever 31 of an engaging member 28 is pressed and turned against urging force of a spring 27 in the counterclockwise direction in the time of storing paper, an engaging bar 33 is lifted retracting from a bottom part 34. Next moving a paper guide 23 to a position suited for size of the stored paper, when the lever 31 is released from being pressed, the lever 31 turns in the clockwise direction by the urging force of the spring 27, and the engaging bar 33 lowers engaging with a recessed part 29 corresponding to the size of the paper. Thus, the paper guide 23 is positioned in a width direction of the paper. Here, a clearance between the guide 23 and the side end of the storage paper can be formed to within 1.5mm when a space of the recessed part 29 is set to 1.5mm, even when unevenness is provided in the size of the paper due to its cutting error and a change of humidity or the like, the paper guide 23 displaces its position from the ideal position only by 1.5mm even in the worst case.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding the paper guide position adjustment mechanism in a paper cassette for storing and feeding multiple types of cut paper of different sizes, it is necessary to adjust the paper guide position when there is an error in the paper size, high humidity or low humidity. In a paper cassette equipped with a paper guide that can be moved to positions corresponding to multiple types of paper sizes, the paper guide is provided with An engaging member is provided which is activated by an activation means to engage with the bottom of the paper cassette, and the paper guide is positioned at at least a plurality of positions on either the bottom of the paper cassette or the engaging member. The configuration includes a locking means for adjusting the position by locking in the direction of movement.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a paper guide position adjustment mechanism in a paper cassette for storing and feeding a plurality of types of cut paper of different sizes.

With the recent spread of printers and copying machines that use cut sheets, there is a demand for easier handling of paper cassettes and improved paper feeding reliability.

For this reason, paper cassettes are used in which the position of the paper guide can be changed according to various paper sizes.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the structure of this type of paper cassette 11. In the figure, 1 is a support plate that is rotatable about the support part 2, 3 is a paper separation claw, and 4, 5° and 6 are storage parts. This is a paper guide for positioning paper. The support plate 1 is urged upward by a spring (not shown). paper guide 4,
5 is for locking one side end of the paper (cut paper), and is guided by guide grooves 7 and 8 provided on the bottom plate of the cassette, and is movable in the directions of the arrows.

The paper guide 6 is for locking the rear end of the paper.
It is guided by a guide groove 9 provided on the bottom plate of the cassette and is movable in the direction of the arrow.

When installing the paper cassette 11 in a printer or the like, first, paper of a predetermined size is stored in the paper cassette 11. At the time of storage, each paper guide 4.degree. 5.6 is positioned at a position corresponding to this size. In this case, the leading edge of the paper on the support plate 1 is locked by the claw 3.

In this state, the paper cassette 11 is attached to the paper feed section of the apparatus and used. During recording, the paper is fed out over the claws 3 by the pick roller on the attachment side, and recording is performed.

In conventional paper cassettes with such a configuration, positioning of the paper guide to regulate the paper position according to the size relies on a click or the like (the click mechanism is not shown).
I was going.

Paper cassettes that do not use guide grooves are also used, as shown in Figure 13, but in this case, positioning holes corresponding to each paper size are provided in the bottom plate of the cassette. Positioning is performed by inserting the paper guide.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, the cutting accuracy of cut paper according to the JIS standard is A4.
The paper size is approximately 1% relative to the short side, and the size of the paper changes by approximately 1% due to changes in humidity (varies slightly depending on the fiber direction and paper quality), so the paper guide position is narrow to improve paper feeding reliability. If you determine the positions of the clicks and holes as specified, the paper may be too large to be stored due to high temperatures, etc., so the clicks and holes may be set to accommodate all types of paper within the humidity range of JIS standards and equipment specifications. Once the position is determined, there is a problem in that paper feeding reliability deteriorates. This occurs because, conventionally, only one click or hole corresponds to one paper size designation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a paper guide position adjustment mechanism for a paper cassette that can accurately position paper even if there is an error in the paper size or the paper size changes due to high or low humidity. It is something.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a paper cassette equipped with a paper guide movable to positions corresponding to a plurality of types of paper sizes. an engaging member that is energized by the paper cassette and engages with the bottom of the paper cassette, and the paper guide is disposed at at least a plurality of positions on either the bottom of the paper cassette or the tip of the engagement member. The configuration includes a locking means for adjusting the position by locking in the direction of movement.

[For production]

When storing the paper, the holding member is moved against the force of the positioning means to be separated from the bottom of the paper guide, and the paper guide is moved to a position suitable for the size of the paper to be stored.

If you stop applying the moving force to the engaging member in this state,
The engaging member engages with the bottom of the paper cassette by the force of the biasing means and is locked in this position by the action of the locking means. In this state, the paper is positioned by the paper guide through a minute gap, allowing accurate paper feeding.

[Example] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

A first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the structure of the paper guide position adjustment mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the recess formation procedure of this mechanism,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an outline of the structure of the paper cassette.

As shown in FIG. 3, the paper cassette 21 to which the present invention is applied has paper guides 22, 23 in the cassette main body 21a.
．． 24 and paper separation claws 251° and 25□. Note that in this figure, the support plate and the springs that make up the support plate are not shown. The paper guide 22 is fixedly provided to position the stored paper on one side, and the paper guide 23 is provided movably in the width direction of the stored paper (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3) to position the stored paper on the other side. The paper guide 24 is provided movably in the length direction of the stored paper (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3) and positions the rear end of the stored paper. The paper guides 23 and 24 are used by positioning them at positions suitable for the size of the stored paper, and the paper guide position adjustment mechanism for realizing this will be explained as follows, taking the paper guide 23 as an example.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 26 denotes a paper guide position adjustment mechanism, and the paper guide position adjustment mechanism 26 includes a spring (biasing means) 27, an engaging member 28, and a plurality of recesses (locking means) 2.
It consists of 9.

Note that the claw 25□ is supported by the paper guide 23. The engaging member 28 includes a lever 31 rotatably supported by the paper guide 23 via a pin 3°, and a bin 32 attached to the lever 31.
The lever 31 is supported by a pair of engaging rods 33 facing perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing, and the lever 31 is pushed clockwise in the drawing by a spring 27. The recess 29 is the second
As shown in detail in the figure, the bottom 34 of the cassette body 21a
The paper guides 23 are arranged in parallel at a pitch P along both sides of a groove 35 for moving the paper guides 23. This pitch P is approximately 1.
It is set to 5ll. Note that the above-mentioned engagement rod 33 is provided at a position facing these recesses 29. The paper guide position adjustment mechanism 26 of this example is configured as described above, and its operation will be explained next.

When storing the paper, the lever 31 of the engaging member 28 is pressed and rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 against the force of the spring 27. As a result, the engagement rod 33 rises and retreats from the bottom portion 34. Next, move the paper guide 23 to a position suitable for the size of the stored paper and release the pressure on the lever 31.
The lever 31 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 by the force of the spring 27, and the engagement rod 33 is lowered and engaged with the recess 29 corresponding to the paper size. Thereby, the paper guide 23 is positioned in the paper width direction. In this case, the gap between the paper guide 23 and the side edge of the stored paper is P = 1.5.
va, it can be within 1.5N(P). That is, even if the paper size varies due to cutting errors, changes in humidity, etc., the position of the paper guide 23 will deviate from the ideal position by 1.5 fl at the worst. On the other hand, in the conventional method, if the paper guide position is set to correspond to the case where the width of A4 paper is 2% larger, the width of 2% larger is 21.
Although 4fi paper can be positioned in an optimal state, in the worst case there is a case where the paper width is 2% smaller than 206 Ill, and in this case, 811 backlash occurs and becomes a serious obstacle to paper feeding reliability. From this comparison, the effects of the present invention are clear.

In addition, when engaging the engagement rod 33 with the recess 29 as described above, it is necessary to move the paper guide 23 a little and engage it with the recess 29 under optimal conditions.

In addition to the paper guide position adjustment mechanism described above, if you use a click mechanism that provides a click feeling when the paper guide is positioned at a position corresponding to the nominal dimensions of each size of paper, even an operator who is unfamiliar with the device can easily click the paper guide. It is possible to perform standard paper guide positioning based on feeling, and using this as a reference, it becomes possible to easily perform optimal paper guide positioning using the paper guide position adjustment mechanism according to the paper storage situation. This click mechanism is used for paper guide 2.
The explanation is as follows, taking No. 4 as an example.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the click mechanism, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing how to form a recess in the click mechanism.

In FIG. 4, 36 is a click mechanism, and the click mechanism 36 includes a clicker 37, a splinter 38, and a plurality of recesses 39 formed at positions corresponding to the nominal dimensions of each size of paper. ．． 392°39. It is composed of. The clicker 37 has a shape bent into a 3-shape, and is provided with an operation button 40 on its head and a click portion 41 made of rubber or the like on its tip. Recessed portion 391
39□ and 393 are provided at a predetermined arrangement along the guide groove 24a that guides the movement of the paper guide 24.

The above-mentioned clicker 37 is supported by the paper guide 24 so as to be able to move forward and backward, and is urged upward by a spring 38. The intermediate portion 37a of the clicker 37 passes through the guide groove 24a, and the clicker 41 of the clicker 37 is inserted into each recessed portion 3 when the paper guide 24 is moved.
91° On the line where 39g and 39- are arranged in parallel, touch the back surface of the bottom part 34 (due to the force of the spring 38)
It is supposed to move. Then, the click portion 41 is connected to each recessed portion 39 . , 39□, and 393, the click portion 41 engages with these recesses, and the click feeling causes the paper guide 24 to move to a position corresponding to the nominal size of paper of each size (paper of the nominal size). This allows you to know when you are at a position where you can position the object.

This click mechanism is applicable to all other embodiments described below.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the general structure of a printer using the paper cassette 21. Recording by this printer is performed as follows.

In FIG. 6, 42 is a printer main body, and various devices shown in the figure (details will be described later) are housed in the printer main body 42.
The paper cassette 21 is used by being attached to the lower part of the printer main body 42 as shown in the figure.

The paper stored in the paper cassette 21 is accurately positioned by the above-mentioned paper guide position adjustment mechanism 26, but when recording on this paper, first the photoreceptor 43 is rotated counterclockwise as shown by the arrow. At the same time, the pick roller 44 is rotated in synchronization with the paper cassette 2.
Feed out the paper in 1. The surface of the rotating photoreceptor 43 is uniformly charged by a pre-charger 45, and an exposure means 4 is placed on the surface of the rotating photoreceptor 43.
Step 6 forms a latent image corresponding to the image information. This latent image is then developed by a developing device 47 to become a toner image. On the other hand, the paper fed out by the pick roller 44 is held by the claw 25. . Here, the toner image is transferred onto the paper by the transfer device 52. After that, the paper is placed in the fixing position (b).
The toner image is fixed by the fixing device 53, and the fixed paper is conveyed by the feed rollers 54, 55, 56, and discharged onto the stack section 58 by the discharge roller 57. Further, the surface of the photoreceptor 43 after transfer is removed by a static eliminator 5.
After being neutralized by step 9, it is cleaned by a cleaner (not shown).

A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the structure of the paper guide position adjustment mechanism 61, in which the engagement member 62
and a spring (enemy force means) 63. As shown in FIG. 9, the engaging member 62 is connected to the paper guide 64 (
An engagement plate 66 is integrally provided at the tip of a lever 65 which is rotatably supported by a lever 65 (corresponding to the paper guide 23 in FIG. 1), and a rubber plate (locking means) is provided on the surface of the engagement plate 66. 67
is attached. The lever 65 has an intermediate portion passing through the groove 35, and the spring 63 biases the lever 65 clockwise in FIG.
It plays the role of press contact on both sides of 5. The notch 68 of the paper guide 64 shown in FIG.
This is for inserting the lever 65 when supporting it on the supporting portion 64a of the lever 65.

This paper guide position adjustment mechanism 61 allows the paper guide 64 to
To adjust the position of the rubber plate 67, press the head of the lever 65 and rotate the lever 65 counterclockwise in FIG. 7, and move the paper guide 64 in the left-right direction in FIG.

Then, when the pressure on the lever 65 is released at the desired position,
The rubber plate 67 is pressed against the bottom 34 by the force of the spring 63.
The paper guide 64 is stopped at this position by the frictional force acting on the engagement surface, thereby positioning the side surface of the stored paper.

Note that if such a mechanism is applied to the paper guide portion that positions the trailing edge of the stored paper, it becomes possible to position the trailing edge of the paper.

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment.

The paper guide position adjustment mechanism 71 of this example has two features: the tip of the engagement rod 73 of the engagement member 72 has a tapered surface, and the bottom 3
The only difference from the first embodiment is that the recess (locking means) 74 formed in the second embodiment is serrated.

The procedure for positioning the paper guide 23 by this mechanism is the same as that in the first embodiment, but since the engagement surface between the recess 74 and the engagement rod 73 is tapered, the direction of the taper, that is, the engagement If the loosening direction of the paper cassette is set to face the paper as shown in the figure, the paper guide 23 will not move in the direction (to the right in Fig. 10) where paper positioning accuracy will be reduced due to shock or vibration when the paper cassette is installed. Don't move (become, - layer effective).

A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

As shown in FIG. 11, the paper guide position adjustment mechanism 81 of this example includes an elastic arm 83 that is provided integrally with the paper guide 82 and fits into the groove 35, and an elastic arm 83 formed on the bottom part 34 on both sides of the groove 35. It consists of a serrated recess (locking means) 84.

The elastic arm 83 serves as both the retaining member and the spring (energizing means) in each of the above-described embodiments, and the engaging portion 86
．． It is equipped with 87. The engaging portions 86 and 87 engage with the peripheral edge of the paper 35 on the back side of the bottom portion 34, and in this state the paper guide 82 is movable in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8
Reference numeral 5 denotes a wedge-shaped engagement piece provided on the paper guide 82 and capable of engaging with the recess 84 .

When adjusting the position of the paper guide 82, the engagement piece 85 is disengaged from the recess 84 by rotating the paper guide 82 in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 12(b).

The rotation in this case is performed against the force of the elastic arm 83, and the elastic arm 83 is elastically deformed on the right side of the engaging portion 87. When the paper guide 82 is moved in this state and the rotational force applied at the desired position is released, the elastic arm 83 returns to the horizontal state as shown in FIG. The paper guide 82 is positioned at this position by engaging with the recess 84. The effect of the tapered surface of the recess 84 is similar to the previous example.

As shown in FIG. 11, there are recesses 88□ on the side surface of the groove 35 at positions corresponding to paper of each size.

88□, . . . are provided, and by providing corresponding protrusions 89 on the elastic arm 83, the engagement of the protrusions 89 with the respective recesses allows the paper guide 82 to correspond to the nominal dimensions of each size of paper. You will know when you are in a position to do so. This mechanism serves almost the same role as the click mechanism described above.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the paper guide can be positioned at a position that matches the size of the paper to be stored.
Accurate paper feeding becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the structure of the paper guide position adjustment mechanism of the paper cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a side view showing the structure of the click mechanism, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing how to form a recess in the click mechanism, FIG. 6 is a side view showing an outline of the structure of the printer,
The figure is a front view showing the structure of the paper guide position adjustment mechanism of the paper cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the paper guide, and FIG. 9 is the locking member of the engagement member. A perspective view showing the structure of the means; FIG. 10 is a front view showing the paper guide position adjustment mechanism of the paper cassette lift according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the structure of the paper guide position adjustment mechanism of the paper cassette lift according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
) and (b) are diagrams illustrating the structure and operation of the paper guide position adjustment mechanism of the same paper cassette, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional paper force center. In the figure, 21 is a paper cassette, 23, 24, 64° 82 is a paper guide, 26, 61, 71.81 is a paper guide position adjustment mechanism, 27.63 is a spring (energizing means), 2
8, 62.72 are engagement members, 29.74.84 are recesses (
34 is a bottom, 35 is a groove, 67 is a rubber plate (locking means), and 83 is an elastic arm.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a paper cassette equipped with a paper guide (23) movable to positions corresponding to a plurality of paper sizes, the paper guide (23) is energized by an energizing means (27). An engagement member (28) that engages with the bottom (34) of the paper cassette is provided, and the engagement member (28) is provided at least at a plurality of positions on either the bottom (34) of the paper cassette or the engagement member (28). Paper guide (23)
A paper guide position adjustment mechanism for a paper cassette, characterized in that a locking means (29) is provided for locking the paper guide in its moving direction to adjust the position.