JPH0243140A - Sheet material feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To feed sheet materials accurately separating one piece by setting a cassette with a separating claw and a cassette without a separating claw selectively removable and holding a sheet material friction-separating member in the non-contact retreating state against a paper feeding roller when the cassette with a separating claw is mounted at a cassette removable part. CONSTITUTION:When a cassette 21 with a separating claw stacked with the sheet material P1 such as thin paper, and the like is mounted on a cassette receiver 4, the curved protrusion 9a of a holding member 9 is brought in contact with the bottom face of the cassette 21 so as to be pressed downward, and a separating pad 7 is held in the non-contact retreating state from the bottom face of a roller 6, (6). Accordingly, the separate feeding of one piece of the sheet material from inside the cassette 21 is performed stably and accurately by the separating claw method between a paper feeding roller 5 and a separating claw 12. When a cassette 22 without a separating claw stacked with the sheet material P2 such as thick paper is interposingly mounted at the cassette receiver 4, the curved protruding end 9a is dropped into the transparent hole 13a of the cassette 22, and the separating pad 7 is bonded at the bottom face of the roller 6 so that the sheet material P2 can be fed by the roller 5 and the pad 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a sheet material feeding device, and more specifically, to a sheet material feeding device, and more specifically to a cut sheet material (hereinafter referred to as sheet material) such as transfer paper, photosensitive paper, recording paper, printing paper, etc. The sheet material cassette loaded with the following items (denoted as
The cassette is installed in the cassette removable unit of a simple printing machine (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine), and the loaded accommodating sheet material in the installed cassette is transferred to the image transfer unit of the copying machine etc. using a paper feeding means. The present invention relates to a so-called sheet material cassette insertion type sheet material feeding device that sequentially separates and feeds one sheet to a processing section.

(Prior art) A sheet material feeding device that inserts a sheet material cassette is widely used as a sheet material feeding device in copying machines, etc., because it can easily set and replace sheet materials in a machine such as a copying machine. It is being utilized.

That is, simply by attaching the sheet material cassette to the cassette attachment/detachment section of the present machine such as a copying machine, the sheet material can be easily set in the present machine such as a copying machine. Prepare multiple sheet material cassettes each loaded with sheet materials of different sizes, paper qualities, etc., and replace the cassette containing the desired sheet material with the cassette attachment/detachment section of this machine, such as a copying machine. The sheet material used can be easily changed by attaching it to the seat.

Alternatively, a machine such as a copying machine may be equipped with a plurality of sheet material cassette attaching/detaching parts, and by attaching a sheet material cassette to each of these parts, the desired type of sheet material can be stored by simply operating a switch on the selection means. It is possible to specify the cassette that is currently being used and to selectively feed sheet materials from that cassette, and the sheet materials to be used can be easily switched by simply operating a switch.

Methods for separating and feeding stacked sheet materials in a cassette one by one are (A) a separation claw method that utilizes the elasticity of the sheet material to separate and feed one sheet at a time, and (B) a separation bat (roller). ), and there is a friction separation feeding system that utilizes the friction of the sheet material.

FIGS. 6(a) to 6(C) show an example of the separating claw method of the above-mentioned navigator (A). In the figure 2. 1 is a sheet material cassette, 1 is a middle bottom plate provided inside the cassette main body box, 3 is an elastic member (spring) interposed between the back surface of the middle bottom plate and the inner bottom surface of the cassette main body box, and the middle bottom plate 1 is The elastic member 3 constantly lifts and biases the distal end side. Pl is the middle sole plate 1
Sheet material loaded on top and stored in the cassette main box, 1
Reference numerals 2 and 12 designate sheet material separation claws that engage with the upper surfaces of the corner portions on both ends of the leading edge of the stacked and accommodated sheet material P. These separation claws 12, 12 are connected to shafts 18a and 12, respectively, on the tip sides of sheet material width regulating plates 18, 18 disposed on the left and right sides of the cassette body box 1.
It is integrally provided with the rocking plates (or rocking arms) 18b and 18b which are attached to the rocking plate (or rocking arm) that can freely swing up and down around the center of the stacked sheet material P, and rides on the upper surface of the corner part on both ends of the tip side of the loaded sheet material P by its own weight. engaged.

Reference numerals 4, 5, 30, and 10 are a cassette receiver, a paper feed roller, a sheet material guide, and a pair of registration rollers arranged on the side of a copying machine or the like. Sheet material cassette 2. is installed by fully inserting the tip end into the cassette receiver 4 to a predetermined extent.

The paper feed roller 5 is a half-moon roller (a round-shaped roller, a friction member) that is driven intermittently once in the clockwise direction around a drive shaft 5a that is integrated with the roller, and normally rotates in a downwardly facing position. is stopped and is maintained in a non-contact state with the sheet material P1. Reference numeral 6 denotes rollers having approximately the same diameter as the paper feed roller 5, which are provided coaxially on both sides of the paper feed roller 5, and these rollers 6 are free to rotate on the shaft 5a.

When the sheet material cassette 2I is attached to the receiver 4, the upper surface of the front end side of the sheet material P1 loaded and stored in the cassette 2 They are in a state of pressure contact due to elasticity.

When the paper feed roller 5 is driven once by the paper feed signal, the circumferential surface of the roller 5 comes into contact with the surface of the uppermost sheet material of the stacked sheet material P1, and a feeding force is applied to the uppermost sheet material. do. Due to this feeding force, both corners of the leading edge side of the uppermost sheet material on which the separation claws 12 are placed bend against the stiffness of the sheet material as shown in FIG. 6(c), causing the separation claws 12
It comes off like a two-dot chain line from the bottom to the top.

That is, only the uppermost sheet material is separated from the next and lower stacked sheet materials. The uppermost sheet material that has been separated is then fed forward by the rotational force of the paper feed roller 5 and guided to the guide 3.
0 to the registration roller pair IO. The registration roller pair 10 stops rotating until just before the paper feed roller 5 completes one rotation, and the leading edge of the feeding sheet material is not received in the nip of the registration roller pair 10 in the stopped rotation state. A loop is formed between the pair of registration rollers 10 and the feeding roller 5 (or roller 6) as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, a little before the paper feed roller 5 completes one rotation, rotation of the registration roller pair 10 in the sheet material feeding direction is started, and the rotational force of the registration roller pair 10 moves the sheet material to a transfer portion (not shown). The sheet material is transported to a sheet material processing section such as

The rotational drive of the paper feed roller 5 is stopped when it has rotated once.
The missing circular portion faces downward and does not come into contact with the surface of the sheet material.

However, at this point, the leading end of the fed sheet material is held in the pair of registration rollers 10 that has started rotating, and continues to be conveyed by the rotational force of the pair of registration rollers 10.

FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) show an example of the latter (B) frictional separation feeding method. Components and portions that are common to those in the example shown in FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals and will not be described again. As the sheet material cassette, a cassette 22 without separation claws, which is not provided with separation claws 12, is used, in contrast to the cassette 2 with separation claws shown in the example shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a separation pad assembly disposed below the paper feed roller 5 and roller 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes a separation pad (friction member), which is attached to the upper surface of the separation pad base 41. In the separation pad 41, the stationary member 42 is housed in a groove and is constantly lifted up and biased by an elastic member 43, and the biasing force causes the separation pad 7 to move around the lower surface of the rollers 6, 6, and the circle of the paper feed roller 5 that is rotationally driven. Pressurely contacts the surrounding surface.

When the paper feed roller 5 is driven one rotation, the circumferential surface of the roller comes into contact with the uppermost sheet surface of the stacked sheet material P2 in the sheet material cassette 2 □ mounted on the receiver 4, and A feeding force is applied to the sheet material, and the sheet material is fed out and moved forward. This uppermost sheet material, and the sheet materials next to this sheet material and the sheet materials in the succeeding order are also dragged forward by the feeding movement of the uppermost sheet material due to the frictional force between the sheet materials, and their leading edges are fed. It enters the wedge-shaped space in front of the contact area between the paper roller 5 and the separation pad 7, but the frictional force coefficient C1 between the paper feed roller 5 and the sheet material P2 and that between the separation bat 7 and the sheet material P2 are , when the relationship between the sheet materials P2 is E, the relationship C>D>H is maintained, so that only the leading edge of the uppermost sheet material that is in direct contact with the paper feed roller 5 is connected to the paper feed roller 5. It is allowed to enter the contact area between the paper feed roller 5 and the separation pad 7, and the leading edges of the next and lower sheet materials are prevented from entering, and only the uppermost sheet material is fed out by the feeding force caused by the continuous rotation of the paper feed roller 5. The paper passes through the contact area between the paper feed roller 5 and the separation pad 7, and is fed from the guide 30 to the nip between the pair of registration rollers 10.

In other words, only the uppermost sheet material of the stacked sheet materials P in the cassette 2 is separated and fed one by one depending on the friction coefficient.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Both the separation claw method and the frictional separation feeding method as described above have advantages and disadvantages.

That is, the separation claw method is advantageous in separating and feeding thin paper (domestic paper) and has the advantage of a long service life. However, cardboard (overseas paper) had the disadvantage of being difficult to feed.

On the other hand, the frictional separation feeding method is advantageous for separating and feeding single sheets of special paper such as thick paper, but when handling thin paper, it is easy to see so-called electrical transmission troubles, and the disadvantage is that the separation pad wears out and has a short lifespan. there were.

Therefore, there is a proposal to provide a separation pressure release means as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-229735, but it is necessary to provide an appropriate separation pressure release means depending on the type of sheet material to be loaded and accommodated in the cassette (cardboard, thin paper, paper size, etc.). It is not possible to obtain paper feed pressure (the force with which the inner bottom plate pushes up the paper feed roller). For example, in a friction separation feeding type as shown in the example shown in Fig. 7, the appropriate paper feeding pressure when the sheet material P is thin paper is 20
0 to 40 og (Figure 8 graph: C range), and in the case of cardboard, it is 300 to 500 g (double B range). Above this range, double feeding troubles will increase, and below this range. It is known to cause paper feeding errors.
In order to satisfy both requirements, it is necessary to set and manage the paper feed pressure in a very narrow range of 300 to 400 g (A range), and considering the change in paper feed pressure depending on the sheet material size and number of sheets loaded. , it becomes very difficult to design the elastic member 3 (pressing means) that lifts and biases the inner sole plate l.

In view of the above, the present invention has a function of separating and feeding one sheet material using a separating claw method, and an I! It also has the function of separating and feeding one sheet material using the J-rubbing separation feeding method, and by using a cassette with separation claws and a cassette without separation claws depending on the type of sheet material used, it is possible to select one of the above-mentioned materials as appropriate. By separating and feeding one sheet using the separate feeding method, this machine has been devised to combine the advantages of both of the above separation feeding methods, and to be able to consistently and reliably separate and feed all kinds of sheet materials one by one. An object of the present invention is to provide a seed sheet material feeding device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a method for attaching a sheet material cassette loaded with cut sheet materials to the cassette attachment/detachment section of a machine such as a copying machine, and feeding the loaded sheet materials in the cassette. This is a sheet material feeding device that sequentially separates and feeds sheets one by one into a machine such as a copying machine by a means, and the cassette attachment/detachment section includes a cassette with a separation claw for separating one sheet of sheet material. Any of the cassettes, which are not equipped with separation claws or have separation claws, can be selectively attached and detached, and the paper feeding means rotates in contact with the stacked storage sheet material in the cassette installed in the cassette attachment/detachment section. and a sheet material friction separation member that presses against the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressing force, and the sheet material friction separation member is connected to a cassette attachment/detachment section. This sheet material feeding device is characterized in that when a cassette with a separation claw is attached to the sheet material feeding device, the sheet material feeding device is held in a retracted state without contacting the paper feeding roller.

In the above, the retreat of the sheet material frictional separation member from the paper feed roller is such that when a cassette with a separation claw is installed in the cassette attachment/detachment section, a part of the installed cassette holds the sheet material frictional separation member. By this contact, the sheet material frictional separation member is released from pressure contact with the paper feed roller, and can be held in a retracted state without contact with the paper feed roller.

In addition, the sheet material frictional separation member is always kept in a retracted state without contacting the paper feed roller, and when a cassette without separation claw is attached to the cassette attachment/detachment section, the member for sheet material frictional separation is released from the retracted state and is moved away from the paper feed roller. It is also possible to adopt a relational configuration in which they are pressed together with a predetermined pressing force.

In this case, the sheet material frictional separation member is released from the paper feed roller when a cassette without separation claws is installed in the cassette attachment/detachment section, and a part of the installed cassette is removed from the sheet material frictional separation member. The sheet material frictional separation member is configured to come into contact with a holding member that holds the sheet material, and by this contact, the member for sheet material frictional separation is released from retreating from the paper feed roller and is held in a state in which it is pressed against the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressing force. be able to.

Furthermore, the sheet material frictional separation member is provided in the cassette without separation claws, and when the cassette is installed in the cassette attachment/detachment section, the member is pressed against the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressing force. It is also possible to have a relational configuration in which:

(Function) That is, with the above configuration, due to the type of sheet material used,
If you want to separate and feed one sheet of sheet material using the separation claw method, which is advantageous as a feeding means for thin paper, etc., you can attach and remove the cassette with separation claws loaded with the thin paper, etc. When the member is attached to the paper feed roller, the sheet material friction separation member that is in pressure contact with the paper feed roller is retracted from the paper feed roller, or the member is normally maintained in a state retracted from the paper feed roller. If it is, the retracted state is maintained as it is and it does not act on the paper feed roller, so that the Ih't a storage sheet material such as thin paper in the installed cassette is shared with the paper feed roller and separation claw. The machine separates and feeds each sheet material one by one in a stable and reliable manner using the separation claw method.

In addition, if you want to separate and feed sheet materials one by one using the frictional separation feeding method, which is advantageous as a feeding means for special papers such as cardboard, use a cassette without separation claws that accommodates the special papers such as cardboard. When attached to the cassette removable unit of a copying machine or other machine, the sheet material friction separation member that is in pressure contact with the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressing force remains in pressure contact with the paper feed roller, or the member If the cassette without separation claw is normally maintained in a state where it is retracted from the paper feed roller, the sheet material frictional separation member is in pressure contact with the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressing force as the above-mentioned cassette without separation claw is installed. or, if the sheet material frictional separation member is provided in the cassette without separation claws, the sheet material frictional separation member is held against the paper feed roller as the cassette is attached to the cassette attachment/detachment section. By being held in a state of pressure contact with a predetermined pressure force, the stacked storage sheet material of special paper such as cardboard in the loading cassette is caused by friction between the paper feed roller and the sheet material that is in pressure contact with the roller with a predetermined pressure force. In cooperation with the separation member, the sheet material is separated and fed one by one in a stable and reliable manner in a friction separation type single sheet separation feeding mode.

In other words, depending on the type of sheet material being used, a cassette with a separating claw or a cassette without a separating claw can be used and selectively installed in the cassette attachment/removal section of the copier. Separation and feeding of one sheet material is carried out using one of the frictional separation methods, and it is possible to always stably and reliably separate and feed one sheet of all kinds of sheet materials.

(Example) Example 1 FIGS. 1(a), (b), and (C) show the apparatus of the first example. Components and portions common to those of the device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

In the figure, reference numeral 9 denotes a separation pad holding member that holds the separation pad 7 as a member for frictional separation of sheet materials and also serves as a kite for feeding sheet materials. This holding member 9 has an extended end portion extending toward the registration roller pair IO side supported by a hinge shaft 8.
It is free to swing vertically about the shaft 8, and is constantly biased to lift and rotate vertically by an elastic member 11. (a) The figure shows a state in which the cassette is not installed, in which the cassette is removed from the cassette receiver 4. In this state, the surface of the separation pad 7 is moved on both sides of the paper feed roller 6 by the force of the elastic member 11 to lift the holding member. It is pressed against the lower surface of the roller 6 (6) with a predetermined pressing force.

(b) The figure shows a cassette 2 with a separation claw that stores sheet materials P1 such as thin paper that are preferably fed using the separation claw method. This figure shows a state in which the cassette receiver 4 is inserted into the cassette receiver 4 in a predetermined manner. In this case, the cassette 2. By mounting, the convex curved end 9a, which is provided on the holding member 9 by extending and bending the cassette receiver 4 side to the lower side of the cassette receiver, comes into contact with the lower surface of the mounted cassette 2I and is pressed downward. As a result, the holding member 9 is held in a state where it is rotated downward about the shaft 8 against the lifting force of the elastic member 11, and the separation pad 7 is separated from the lower surface of the roller 6 (6) and becomes non-operational. Retained in contact retraction. Therefore, even when the paper feed roller 5 is rotationally driven, the separation bat 7 is kept in a non-contact and non-operative state with respect to the circumferential surface of the rotation paper feed roller 5.

Therefore, the separation and feeding of one sheet from the mounting cassette 21 is stably and reliably performed by the separation claw method by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 5 and the separation claw 12 (12).

The figure (C) shows a state in which a cassette 22 without separation claws loaded with a special paper sheet material P2 such as cardboard, which is preferably fed by the frictional separation feeding method, is inserted into the cassette receiver 4.

In this case, when the cassette 2
The separation pad 7 does not come into contact with the cassette 22 and interfere with the cassette 22. Therefore, the separation pad 7 remains in pressure contact with the lower surface of the roller 6 (6) with a predetermined pressing force, and when the paper feed roller 5 is driven to rotate, It also comes into pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the rotary paper feed roller 5 with a predetermined pressing force.

Therefore, the separation and feeding of one sheet material from inside the mounting cassette 2° is carried out jointly with the paper feed roller 5 and the separation pad 7, which serves as a member for frictional separation of the sheet material and is kept in pressure contact with the roller with a predetermined pressing force. The friction separation feeding method is used to ensure stable and reliable operation.

Therefore, the paper feeding force (frictional force of the paper feed roller 5) necessary to separate and feed one sheet of thin paper using the separating claw method shown in FIG. ) It is almost equal to the paper feeding force required to separate and feed one sheet using the friction separation feeding (separation bat) method shown in Figure 2. In other words, the paper feeding pressure can be set equally for both methods as shown in Figure 2. .

Embodiment 2 FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show a second embodiment of the apparatus.

(a) shows a state in which a cassette 2 with separation claws loaded with sheet materials P1 such as thin paper, which is preferably fed by the separation claw method, is inserted and mounted in a cassette receiver 4 in a predetermined manner. In this case, the forward protruding convex portion 13b on the front wall of the cassette 21 comes into contact with the downwardly extending bent portion 9b of the separation pad holding member 9, and the holding member 9 is moved by the contact pressure from the case shown in FIG. 1(b). Similarly, the separation pad 7 is held in a state of being rotated downward about the shaft 8 against the lifting force of the elastic member 11, and the separation pad 7 is separated from the lower surface of the roller 6 (6) and is in a non-contact retracted state. is maintained. Therefore, even when the paper feed roller 5 is driven to rotate, the separation pad 7 is maintained in a non-contact and non-operative state with respect to the circumferential surface of the rotary paper feed roller 5.

Therefore, the separation and feeding of one sheet from the mounting cassette 21 is stably and reliably performed by the separation claw method by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 5 and the separation claw 12 (12).

(b) Is the diagram flJ? A state in which a cassette 2□ without separation claws loaded with special paper sheet materials P2 such as cardboard, which is preferably fed even in the X separation feeding method, is inserted into the cassette receiver 4 is shown. In this case, the front wall of the cassette 2
b is not provided, and therefore, the separation pad holding member 9 is maintained in a lifted state in which the separation pad 7 is pressed against the lower surface of the roller 6 (6) with a predetermined pressing force, and the paper feed roller 5 is rotationally driven. At this time, the sheet is pressed against the circumferential surface of the rotary sheet feeding roller 5 with a predetermined pressing force.

Therefore, the separation and feeding of one sheet material from the mounting cassette 22 is carried out by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 5 and the separation pad 7, which serves as a member for frictional separation of the sheet material and is kept in pressure contact with the roller with a predetermined pressing force. This enables stable and reliable operation using the friction separation method.

Actual: Ji Example 3 Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show a third embodiment of the apparatus.

(a) shows a state in which a cassette 21 with separation claws loaded with sheet materials P such as thin paper, which is preferably fed by the separation claw method, is inserted into the cassette receiver 4 in a predetermined manner. In this case, the downward protrusion 18C for positioning provided on the lower side of the sheet material width regulating plate 18 is extended from the positioning hole 17a of the sheet material width regulating plate formed on the bottom plate of the cassette 21 to the cassette bottom plate. It is made to protrude outward from the lower surface, and this outwardly protruding end contacts the extension part 9C of the separation pad holding member 9 to the lower side of the cassette holder, and the holding member 9 is moved by the contact pressure force as shown in FIG. ), the separation pad 7 is held in a downwardly rotated state about the shaft 8 against the lifting force of the elastic member 11, and the separation pad 7 is held by the rollers 6 (6).
It is maintained in a non-contact, retracted state where it is spaced apart from the lower surface of the paper feed roller 5 and the circumferential surface of the rotationally driven paper feed roller 5 .

Therefore, the separation and feeding of one sheet from the mounting cassette 21 is stably and reliably performed by the separation claw method by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 5 and the separation claw 12 (12).

(b) shows a state in which a cassette 22 without separation claws loaded with special paper sheets P2 such as cardboard, which is preferably fed by the frictional separation feeding method, is inserted into the cassette receiver 4. In this case, the length of the protrusion 18C of the cassette 2° without separation claws is shortened so that it does not protrude outward from the bottom surface of the cassette bottom plate, and therefore the extension 9C of the separation pad holding member 9 is the same as the protrusion 18C. The separation pad 7 is kept in pressure contact with the roller 6 (6) and the circumferential surface of the rotationally driven paper feed roller 5 with a predetermined pressing force.

Therefore, the separation and feeding of one sheet from the loading cassette 22 is carried out by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 5 and the separation pad 7, which serves as a sheet material separation member and is kept in pressure contact with the roller with a predetermined pressing force. , is executed stably and reliably using the friction division method.

Embodiment 4 FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) and 5(C) show a fourth embodiment of the apparatus.

The figure (a) shows a state in which the cassette is not attached to the cassette receiver 4, in which the cassette is removed from the cassette receiver 4.

In the case of this embodiment, the separation pad 7 serves as a frictional separation member.
is not provided on the main machine side such as a copying machine, but a separation bat storage chamber 20 is provided on the tip side of the cassette 22 without separation claws (Figure (C)), and the separation pad 7 is placed in the vertical movement piece member 22 in this chamber 20. It is supported and provided through an elastic member 21 on the top. The separation pawl equipped cassette 21 lb) (Figure) is not provided with the separation pad.

The figure (b) shows a state in which a cassette 21 with a separation claw and without a separation pad, loaded with sheet materials P1 such as thin paper which is preferably fed by the separation claw method, is inserted into the cassette receiver 4 in a predetermined manner. In this case, the separation pad is not involved, and the mounting cassette 2. The stacked and accommodated sheet material P inside is stably and reliably separated and fed one by one by the separation claw method by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 5 and the separation claws 12 (12).

(C) The figure shows a state in which a cassette 22 without separation claws and with a separation pad, loaded with special paper sheet material P2 such as cardboard, which is preferably fed by the friction separation feeding method, is inserted into the cassette receiver 4. There is. In this case, when the cassette 22 is installed in the cassette receiver 4 in a predetermined position, the separation pad 7 is attached to the elastic member 21.
The vertically movable piece member 22 supported through the cassette receiver 4 is lifted and moved vertically by the cam slope portion 4a provided on the base side of the cassette holder 4, and the separation pad 7 is accordingly applied to the lower surface of the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressing force. are held in a pressed state.

Therefore, one sheet of sheet material in the loading cassette 22 is separated and fed by the frictional separation method by the cooperation of the paper feed roller 5 and the separation pad 7 on the cassette 22 side, which is kept in pressure contact with the roller with a predetermined pressing force. It is executed stably and reliably.

The separation pad 7, which serves as a frictional separation member, can be pressed against the paper feed roller 5 and the roller 6, and can be switched between pressing and releasing the pressure using a manual knob or lever operation. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the first theory is electrically detected and the separation pad is switched between press-contact and release of press-contact by operating an electrically operating member such as an electromagnetic plate in accordance with the signal.

(Effects of the Invention) Since the sheet material feeding device of the present invention has the following configuration, 1) a cassette with a separation claw and a cassette without a separation claw can be used depending on the type of sheet material used in copying machines, etc. Just by selectively installing the cassette into the cassette attachment/detachment section of this machine, single sheet material can be separated and fed using either the separation claw method or friction separation method appropriate for the sheet material being used, so all kinds of sheet materials can be separated and fed. It is possible to always perform stable and reliable single-sheet separation feeding (feeding failures and double-feeding problems are reduced).

2) Since there is no need to provide a means to change the paper feed pressure depending on the type of cassette or sheet material used, it is easier to design the pressure means (the paper feed pressure can be set to the same for both cassettes with and without separation claws) can).

3) Increased durability due to less wear on the separation pad.

4) Two types of cassettes with different structures (functions) (with separation claws and without separation claws) can be used in the same main body, making it possible to use common cassettes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 shows the device of the first embodiment, Fig. 1(a) is a structural diagram of the cassette receiving part when the cassette is not attached, and Fig. 1(b) is a structural diagram of the cassette receiving part.
(C) is a structural diagram when cassettes with and without separation claws are installed, respectively, and Figure 2 is a paper feed pressure relationship graph.
Fig. 3 shows the second embodiment of the device, and the figures (a) and (b)
Figure 4 shows the structure of the device in the third embodiment when a cassette with and without a separation claw is installed, respectively.
a) and (b) are structural diagrams when a cassette with and without a separation claw is installed, respectively. Figure 5 shows the fourth embodiment of the device, and (a) shows the structure when the cassette is not installed. Structural diagram of the cassette receiving part. Figures (b) and (C) are structural diagrams when cassettes with and without separation claws are installed, respectively. Figure 6 shows sheet material cassette loading and feeding using separation claw method. This figure shows an example of the device. Figure (a) is a cross-sectional view, Figure (b) is a plan view, Figure (C) is a perspective view of the separating claw part, and Figure 7 shows the sheet material cassette installed and This figure shows an example of a friction separation type feeding device. Figure (a) is a cross-sectional view, figure (b) is a diagram of a single sheet material being separated, and Figure 8 is a separation claw type and friction separation diagram. This is a graph of the appropriate paper feeding pressure range for both methods. 5 is a paper feed roller, 7 is a separation bat, 21 is a cassette with a separation claw, 12 is a separation claw, 2□ is a cassette without a separation claw, Pl
is a thin paper sheet material, and P2 is a cardboard sheet material.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A sheet material cassette loaded with cut sheet materials is installed in the cassette attachment/detachment section of a machine such as a copying machine, and the stacked sheet materials in the cassette are sequentially fed into the machine such as a copying machine by a paper feeding means. The sheet material feeding device separates and feeds sheets, and the cassette attachment/detachment section includes a cassette with a separation claw for separating one sheet of sheet material, and a separation claw without a separation claw. Any of the cassettes without a cassette can be selectively attached and detached, and the paper feeding means rotates in contact with the stacked and accommodated sheet material in the cassette installed in the cassette attachment/detachment part, and applies a feeding force to the sheet material. a roller, and a sheet material friction separation member that presses against the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressing force, and the sheet material friction separation member has a cassette with a separation claw attached to a cassette attachment/detachment portion. What is claimed is: 1. A sheet material feeding device, wherein the sheet material feeding device is maintained in a retracted state without contacting a paper feeding roller. (2) The sheet material frictional separation member is such that when the cassette with separation claw is mounted on the cassette attachment/detachment part, a part of the mounting cassette comes into contact with the holding member that holds the sheet material frictional separation member. 2. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material feeding device releases the pressure contact with the paper feeding roller and is held in a retracted state without contacting the paper feeding roller. (3) The sheet material frictional separation member is normally held in a retracted state without contacting the paper feed roller, and when a cassette without separation claw is attached to the cassette attachment/detachment section, the retraction is released and paper is fed. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material feeding device is pressed against the roller with a predetermined pressing force. (4) The sheet material frictional separation member is such that when a cassette without separation claw is mounted on the cassette attachment/detachment section, a part of the installed cassette comes into contact with a holding member that holds the sheet material frictional separation member. 4. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the sheet material feeding device releases the retraction from the paper feeding roller and presses against the paper feeding roller with a predetermined pressing force. (5) The sheet material frictional separation member is provided in a cassette without separation claws, and presses against the paper feed roller with a predetermined pressing force when the cassette is installed in the cassette attachment/detachment section. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: