JPH01251045A - Electrophotographic copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly feed paper to a copying machine body side by constituting the copying machine in such a manner that a partition plate is erected on a paper feed cassette detached from the copying machine body and is laid down when the cassette is loaded to the copying machine body. CONSTITUTION:The partition plate 12 of the paper feed cassette 6 detached from the copying machine body 3 is erected and the paper comes into contact with the partition plate 12 when the cassette 6 is slightly inclined by this plate. The end parts of the paper are thereby positioned flush with each other. The partition plate 12 is laid down when the cassette 6 is loaded into the copying machine body 3. The copying paper P is thereby smoothly fed by a pickup roller, etc., to the copying machine body 3 side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an improvement of an electronic copying machine, and in particular, to
The present invention relates to an electronic copying machine suitable for uniformly aligning the paper edges of sheets stacked and stored in a removably loaded paper feed cassette.

(Prior Art) FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of a conventional paper feed cassette that accommodates stacked copy papers. The paper feed cassette 36 is removably attached to a cassette body 39 and a stacked surface of this cassette body 39. It consists of a cassette cover 40 placed thereon. The side surface of the cassette main body 39 facing the copying machine main body, that is, the cassette loading section 39a, is formed to be inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the bottom surface so that the copy paper P can be easily fed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, since the cassette loading section 39a of the paper feed cassette 36 is inclined, the paper end of the stacked copy paper P is As shown in the figure, it will be uneven. This may result in poor paper feeding, which may lead to vapor jams or paper separation. Furthermore, if the paper feed cassette 36 is tilted when replacing the paper feed force set 36 or replenishing the copy paper P, the copy paper P may protrude or jump out.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic copying machine equipped with a paper feed cassette that allows paper edges of copy sheets to be uniformly aligned when removed from the copying machine main body, and ready for paper feeding when loaded into the copying machine main body. Our goal is to provide the following.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving Problem 0) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a paper feed cassette that is removably loaded on the side of the copying machine body and stores and stores paper therein. In the electronic copying machine, a partition plate is pivotably attached to the paper feed cassette, and when the paper feed cassette is removed from the copying machine main body, the partition plate is erected and the paper is placed on the partition plate. A sheet feeding means is provided which aligns the edges of the sheets by bringing them into contact with each other and uses the operation of loading the sheet feeding cassette into the main body of the copying machine to lower the partition plate and take a sheet feeding position.

(Function) According to the above configuration, when the paper feed cassette is removed from the copying machine main body, the partition plate stands up, so that by slightly tilting the paper feed cassette, the paper comes into contact with the partition plate, and the paper comes into contact with the partition plate. Paper edges can be evenly aligned. Further, when the paper feed cassette is loaded into the main body of the copying machine, the partition plate is folded down, so that the paper feed operation can be easily performed.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings and embodiments.

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory diagram showing the overall M4 structure of an electronic copying machine, and FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory diagram of a paper feed cassette containing copy paper. Figure, 3rd
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the longitudinal section of the item shown in Figure 2.
The figure is a partial side explanatory view showing the state of the paper feed cassette when it is removed from the cassette loading slot, and FIG. 5 is a side explanatory view showing the state of the paper feeding cassette when it is loaded into the cassette loading slot.

The electronic copy W11 according to the present invention includes a copying machine main body 3 to which an original platen 2 made of transparent glass is fixed to the upper surface, and an original document 7J having one end rotatably supported on the copying machine main body 3 and covering the upper surface of the original platen 2. bar 5, a pair of upper and lower paper feed cassettes 6, which are loaded into the cassette outlet 3a provided on one side of the copying machine main body 3, and a paper discharge section on the other side of the copying machine main body 3. It is composed of a paper discharge tray 8 provided in the.

The paper feed cassette 6 includes a cassette main body 9 and a cassette cover 10 that is removably placed on the top surface of the main body 9 and covers the opening.
and a paper feeding means 11, and the side surface of the cassette main body 90 facing the power set loading port 3a, that is, the cassette loading section 9a, is formed to be inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to the bottom surface. .

The paper feeding means 11 is provided close to the cassette loading section 9a on a pair of side surfaces 9b and 9d facing each other with the cassette loading section 9a in between, and includes a partition plate 12 and a partition plate swinging mechanism 13. . The center of swing of the partition plate 12 is fixed to a rotating shaft 15 that is rotatably supported by a pair of side surfaces 9b and 9d in the horizontal direction along the cassette loading section 9a. The partition plate swinging mechanism 13 includes a sector gear 16, an intermediate gear 18, a rack member 19, and a return spring 20. A rotating shaft 15 protruding outward from a side surface, for example, the side surface 9b.
is fixed.

The intermediate gear 18 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 21 installed on the side surface 9b above the sector gear 16, and is set to mesh with the sector teeth 116. The rack member 19 is disposed on the side surface 9b above the intermediate gear 18 in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the rotating shaft 15, and includes a rack portion 22,
It consists of a shaft portion 23. The rack part 22 is the intermediate gear 1
The bulging portion 23a formed at the tip of the shaft portion 23 is formed on the guide member 25 disposed on the line of the side surface 9b parallel to the axis of the shaft portion 23. It is slidably inserted into the hollow portion 25a. Rack part 2
A compression spring 20, which is an example of a return spring, is wound around the shaft portion 23 between the rack member 2 and the guide member 25, and the rack member 19 is urged in the direction of the arrow.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, from the cassette loading port 3a to
In the paper feed cassette 6 in the 11B2 state, the compression spring 2
The tip of the rack member 19, which is urged in the direction of the arrow A by an elastic force of 0, is disposed near the cassette loading section 9a,
Further, the partition plate 12 is configured to be elastically held in a vertical state, and the upper end of the partition plate 12 is set to substantially coincide with the top surface of the cassette body 9. Further, when the paper feed cassette 6 is loaded into the cassette loading port 3a, a contacting member, for example a protrusion 26, is provided in the cassette loading port 3a to face and come into contact with the leading end of the rack section v119. There is.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper feed cassette 6 containing v4 layers of copy paper P is loaded into the cassette loading port 3a with the cassette loading section 9a side slightly downward. As a result, the paper edges of the copy paper P come into contact with the partition plate 12, and the paper edges can be evenly aligned. Also, if copy paper P protrudes outside, please use the partition plate 1.
This can be prevented by 2.

In the above state, insert the paper cassette 6 into the cassette loading slot 3.
a, the tip of the rack member 19 comes into contact with the protrusion 26, and the rack member 19 resists the elastic force of the compression spring 20 and moves its bulge 23a along the hollow part 25a of the guide member 25. While sliding, it moves in the direction of arrow B until it comes into contact with one end surface of the hollow portion 25a. Then, the sector gear 16 rotates in the direction of the arrow through the rack part 22 and the intermediate gear 18, and as a result, the partition plate 12 reaches a position where it is almost parallel to the cassette loading part 9a, as shown in FIG. oscillate. As a result, the copy paper P is smoothly fed to the copying machine main body 3 side by a pickup roller (not shown) or the like.

Conversely, when the paper feed cassette 6 is removed from the cassette loading port 3a, the rack member 19 moves in the direction of arrow A due to the restoring force of the compression spring 20, as shown in FIG. It moves until it comes into contact with the other end surface of 25a. Then, the sector gear 16 rotates in the direction of the arrow E via the rack portion 22 and the intermediate gear 18, and the partition plate 12 swings vJ to a vertical position as shown in FIG.

6 and 7 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals assigned to the same or equivalent parts as those in the received version.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory side view showing the state of the paper feed cassette when it is removed from the cassette loading slot, and FIG. 7 is a side explanatory view showing the state of the paper feeding cassette after it has been loaded into the cassette loading slot.

A coil-shaped torsion spring 30, which is an example of a return spring, is wound around the rotation @ 15, and one end of the spring is latched to the cassette body 9, and the other end is latched to the partition plate 12.
The partition plate 12 is biased in the direction of arrow G by the torsion spring 30, and is held in a substantially vertical state by coming into contact with a stopper pin 31 implanted in the cassette body 9. The upper surface of the rack member 19 is in contact with a sliding surface 25b formed in the horizontal direction on the guide member 25 provided on the side surface 9b.

Further, the tip of the rack member 19 protrudes from the cassette loading portion 9a of the cassette body 9, and the cassette loading opening 3a
It is set so as to abut against a wall portion 26, which is an example of an abutting member formed in the. When the paper feed cassette 6 is loaded into the cassette loading port 3a, the tip of the rack member 19 comes into contact with the wall surface 26, as shown in FIG.
9 moves in the direction of arrow T1 against the elastic force of the torsion spring 30. Along with this, the intermediate gear 18 and the sector gear 1
6, the partition plate 12 swings to a position where it becomes substantially parallel to the cassette loading section 9a.

The other configurations and operations are the same as those shown in the first embodiment, and their explanations will be omitted.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the present invention, the partition plate of the paper feed cassette stands up when removed from the copying machine main body, and the partition plate of the paper feed cassette falls down when loaded into the copy machine main body. Since it is configured as follows, the following effects are achieved. That is, (1) By slightly tilting the paper feed cassette, the edges of the sheets can be uniformly aligned, thereby eliminating paper jams and separation noises.

<2> Even if the paper cassette is slightly tilted when replacing the paper cassette or replenishing paper, the paper will not protrude or jump out.

(3) Paper can be smoothly fed into the main body of the copying machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 5 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 being a perspective view showing the overall structure of an electronic copy system, and Figure 2 showing a paper feed cassette containing stacked copies of copy paper. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the part shown in FIG. 2 in the direction of arrows ■-■. FIG. Figure 5 is a partial side view showing the state of the paper feed cassette when it is loaded into the cassette loading slot, Figures 6 and 7 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 shows the paper cassette being removed from the cassette loading slot. FIG. 7 is a partial side view showing the state of the paper feed cassette when it is loaded into the cassette loading slot. FIG. 8 is a partial side view showing the state of the paper feed cassette when it is loaded into the cassette loading slot. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional explanatory view of a paper feed cassette containing stacked paper sheets. 3... Copying machine main body 3a... Cassette loading slot 6
...Paper cassette 9...Cassette main body 9a.
...Cassette loading section 11...Paper feeding means 12...Partition plate 13...Partition plate swinging mechanism 15...Rotating shaft 16...Sector gear 18...Intermediate gear 19...Rack Member 20.30... Return spring 26... Contact member P... Paper (copy paper).

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an electronic copying machine equipped with a paper feed cassette that is removably loaded on the side of a copying machine body and stores paper therein, a partition plate is pivotably attached to the paper feed cassette, and the paper feed When the paper cassette is removed from the copying machine main body, the partition plate is raised, the paper is brought into contact with the partition plate to align the edges of the paper, and the paper feed cassette is loaded into the copying machine main body. An electronic copying machine characterized in that the electronic copying machine is provided with a paper feeding means that takes a paper feeding position by folding down the partition plate.