JPH02127329A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the size of a driving device by detachably mounting a supporting device provided with a moving means for detachably installing a second sheet housing device on a part where a first sheet housing device is located, and thereby moving only a sheet housing device wherein sheets of a frequently used size are housed. CONSTITUTION:When a first sheet housing device is used, sheets are housed in this device which is to be installed on a main body and the sheets are supplied therefrom. When a second sheet housing device 36 is used, the first sheet housing device is demounted from the main body, at first, a supporting device 35 provided with moving means 40, 41, 42 for detachably mounting the second sheet housing device 36 is installed in a position where the first sheet housing device is located. The second sheet housing device 36, supported by the supporting device 35, sends out sheets S.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and laser beam printers. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) that can be freely attached.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, image forming apparatuses are known in which a sheet storage device (hereinafter referred to as a cassette) is detachably attached to the machine body. A side-loading type copying machine that can be attached freely,
A front-loading type copying machine with a cassette detachably attached to the front of the machine has been put into practical use.

Furthermore, in order to improve the operability of the front-loading type copying machine, an auto-loading type copying machine has been devised in which a cassette is automatically attached and detached.

(A) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Incidentally, in the above-mentioned autoloading type copying machine, since the cassette that can accommodate the maximum size sheet is moved, the drive device becomes large, which may become an obstacle to miniaturization. be. Also,
When removing the cassette from the aircraft and installing a cassette containing sheets of different sizes, there is a drawback that the cassette is heavy and difficult to remove. Another drawback was that it required a large space to store the removed cassette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a support device storing a second sheet storage device is detachably attached to a portion where the first sheet storage device is located, thereby solving the above-mentioned problems. The purpose is to

(d) Means for solving problems The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a large number of A sheet storage device (S) that stores sheets (S) and is detachably attached in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction.
1), a second sheet storage device (1) that stores sheets (S) in a portion of the body (11) where the first sheet storage device (1) is located; 36) Transfer means for attaching and detaching (40, 41° 42)
The device is characterized in that it is configured such that a support device (35) having a support device (35) can be attached thereto.

Further, the size of the sheets stored in the second sheet storage device (36) may be changed.

And the support equipment! (35), the moving means (40
, 41, 42) is preferably provided with electrical connection means (43) for supplying power from the body (11).

(E) Operation Based on the above-mentioned configuration, when using the seat storage device (1), the seat (S) is stored in the first sheet storage device (1), and the first sheet storage device (1) is The seat (S) is attached to the aircraft body (11) and the seat (S
). In addition, when using the second seat storage device (36), the first seat storage device (1) is
), and the support device (3) is equipped with moving means (40, 41, 42) for attaching and detaching the second seat storage device (36) to the part where the first seat storage device W(1) was located.
5), and the sheet (S) is fed from the second sheet storage device (36) supported by the support device (35).

Note that the above-mentioned symbols are shown for reference and do not limit the configuration in any way.

(F) Examples Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the copying machine 10 has a machine body 1.
It has a cassette 1 removably mounted inside the cassette 1,
The cassette 1 can be pulled out in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. The body 11 includes a pressure bonding plate 13, a platen 15, a light source 16, mirrors 17, 18, 1
9, 20, 21, 22, and a lens 23, and a pair of transport rollers 25 and a pair of registration rollers 26 are provided downstream of the cassette 1. Furthermore, an image forming section 27 is arranged downstream of the roller pair 26, and a conveyor belt 29 and a fixing device 30 are arranged downstream of the image forming section 27. A pair of paper discharge rollers 31 is provided downstream of the fixing device 30, and a paper discharge tray 32 is provided downstream of the pair of paper discharge rollers 31.

In addition, in the part of the body 11 where the cassette 1 is located,
As shown in the figure, a support device 35 of the same size as the cassette 1
A cassette 36 for storing the sheets S is detachably attached to the support device 35. Further, the cassette 36 is provided with a regulating plate 37 that regulates backward movement of the sheet S, and the regulating plate 37 can be moved in accordance with the sheet size. A rack 39 is provided at the bottom of the cassette body.
is engraved, and the rack 39 is engraved with the support device 35.
It meshes with a pinion 42 driven by a gear 41 fixed to the shaft of a motor 40 disposed on the shaft. The support device 35 is also provided with a connector 43 for transmitting power from the machine body 11 to the motor 40. When the support device 35 is attached to the machine body 11 of the copying machine 10, the connector 43 is connected to the machine body 11 of the copying machine 10. It is designed to be connected to a connector (not shown) on the 11 side. Note that the reference numeral 45 in the figure is a cassette attachment/detachment button.

Since this embodiment has the above configuration, the cassette 1
Load large size sheets S into the cassette 1, place the document on the platen 15, and press the start key.The lamp 16, mirrors 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
, 22 , the image of the document is read by the lens 23 and an image is formed on the image forming section 27 . On the other hand, the sheets S are separated from the cassette 1 by a paper feeding roller 7 and a separating means (not shown), and only the uppermost sheet S is fed. Then, the sheet S is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 25 to a pair of registration rollers 26, and a conveying force is applied by the pair of conveying rollers 25 which abuts the nip of the pair of rollers and slips, thereby correcting the skew. Then, it is transported in synchronization with the image on the image forming section 27 by a pair of registration rollers 26 that start rotating at a predetermined timing. Furthermore, the sheet S
The image is copied by the image forming section 27, and is transported to the fixing device 3o by the transport belt 29. Then, the image is fixed on the sheet S by the fixing device 30, and the sheet S is discharged to a paper discharge tray 32 by a pair of paper discharge rollers 31.

Further, when using a sheet S of a frequently used size (A4, 85, etc.), the operator removes the cassette 1 and attaches the support device 35 to the part where the cassette 1 was located. Then, the connector 43 is connected to the connector on the body 11 side, and power is supplied to the motor 40. When the cassette attachment/detachment button 45 is pressed, the motor 40 is started, and the rotation of the motor 40 is transmitted to the pinion 43 via the gear 41. Then, due to the rotation of the pinion 43, the rack 3
9 moves to the front side, and the cassette 36 stops at a position indicated by a chain line detected by a sensor (not shown), that is, a position where sheets S can be replenished. Furthermore, the operator replenishes the cassette 36 with sheets S and presses the cassette attachment/detachment button 4 again.
Pressing 5 causes the motor 40 to rotate in reverse. The rotation of the motor 4o is transmitted to the rack 39 via the gear 41 and pinion 42, thereby moving the cassette 36 to the rear side to the paper feeding position. Then, the sheet S stored in the cassette 36 is fed in the same manner as described above, and after image formation, is discharged to the paper discharge tray 32.

(g) As described in detail, according to the present invention, a support device equipped with a moving means for attaching and detaching a second seat storage device can be attached to the portion where the first seat storage device is located. With this structure, only the sheet storage device that stores sheets of frequently used sizes can be moved, making it possible to downsize the drive device and make it easier to handle.

Furthermore, if the second sheet storage device is configured to be able to change the size of the sheets stored, it is possible to store sheets of various sizes in the second sheet storage device and effectively utilize the second sheet storage device. I can do it.

If the support device has a moving means for attaching and detaching the second seat storage device, the device can be made into a unit and simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a support device according to the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof. 1... First sheet storage device, 1o... Image forming device, 11... Airframe 35... Support device 36... Second sheet storage device 40.
41.42...Transportation means 43...Connection means
S... Sheet

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a first sheet storage device that stores a large number of sheets inside the machine and is detachably attached in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, comprising: The image forming apparatus is configured such that a support device including a moving means for attaching and detaching a second sheet storage device for storing sheets can be attached to a portion where the first sheet storage device is located. Device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size of sheets stored in the second sheet storage device can be changed. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support device is provided with electrical connection means for supplying electric power from the body to the moving means.