JPH0312015B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a paper feeding device for an image forming machine, and more particularly to a paper feeding device equipped with a cleaning function for a rotating paper feeding member that feeds out sheets.

For example, a copying machine is equipped with a paper feeding device for taking out a sheet of paper to be transferred from a paper feeding cassette and feeding it to a destination position. For example, a paper feeder that feeds sheets one by one by bringing a paper feed roller into contact with the topmost sheet of paper placed in a paper feed cassette and rotating this paper feed roller. It is well known that this method is mainly used.

In the above-described paper feeding system, the uppermost sheet of paper is sequentially separated and sent to the destination position by the rotating action of the paper feeding roller and the separating action by appropriate means such as a corner separator. In such cases, the sheet of paper is fed out by the frictional action between the paper feed roller and the sheet of paper in contact with it. Therefore, in the method of feeding sheet paper using friction, conditions such as the smoothness of the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller, the coefficient of friction, and the state of adhesion of dust ensure that each sheet of paper is delivered at the set timing. It greatly affects the speed at which it is sent. In particular, it is extremely difficult to predict the effects of dust such as toner and paper dust.

Incidentally, a cleaning device for a paper feed roller of a paper feed device is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55741 of 1972 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 106130 of 1971. These conventional devices clean the paper feed roller by bringing a cleaning member into contact with and sliding the cleaning member on the circumferential surface of the paper feed roller.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of this conventional paper feed roller cleaning device. 1 is the paper feed roller, 2
is sheet paper, 3 is cleaning belt, 4, 4'
is a pulley, and 5 is a motor. The paper feed roller 1 is in contact with the uppermost sheet, and the paper feed roller 1 rotates to feed out the sheet paper. A cleaning belt 3 stretched between both pulleys 4 and 4' is in contact with the upper part of the paper feed roller. This cleaning belt 3 is rotated by a motor 5 to rub and clean the paper feed roller. However, such conventional devices have complicated structures, are expensive, and require difficult maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable, and inexpensive paper feeding device that has a function of cleaning the surface of a rotating paper feeding member and maintaining a smooth and reliable paper feeding operation.

The present invention provides a paper feeding device having a rotating paper feeding member that feeds sheets in contact with sheet paper in a cassette that can be attached to and detached from an image forming machine main body. The member is provided with a cleaning material that can come into contact with the rotating paper feeding member in a separated manner, and the above-described mounting operation of the cassette releases the contact state between the rotating paper feeding member and the cleaning material, and the above-mentioned detachment action of the cassette causes the rotating paper feeding member and the cleaning material to come into contact with each other. It is characterized by contact.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of a first embodiment according to the invention. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the paper feed cassette is inserted into the main body of the copying machine, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the paper feed cassette is removed. 1 is a paper feed roller, 6 is a friction member, 7 is a presser plate, 8 is a spring, 9 is a paper feed cassette, and 10 is a part of the side plate of the main body of the copying machine.

When there is no more sheet paper in the paper cassette,
When the paper feed cassette is removed from the copying machine to replace the paper feed cassette, the presser plate 7 is pushed up by the spring 8, and the friction member 6 attached to the upper surface of the presser plate 7 comes into contact with the paper feed roller 1. In conventional copying machines, when the paper cassette is removed from the copying machine main body, the copying machine stops feeding the paper, but in the present invention, the paper feeding roller rotates several times after the paper cassette is removed. The mechanism is incorporated into the control circuit of the paper feed roller drive system. Alternatively, the number of copies made by the copying machine may be stored and the paper feed roller may be rotated several times when the paper feed cassette is taken out after a certain number of copies have been made. Furthermore, the copying machine may be provided with a function to rotate the paper feed roller at will, so that when the paper feed roller becomes dirty, the paper feed cassette can be removed and the paper feed roller can be rotated.

After taking out the paper feed cassette 9 from the copying machine as described above, the friction member 6 on the presser plate 7 and the paper feed roller 1 are brought into contact with each other, and the paper feed roller 1 is rotated several times. The friction member adsorbs developing toner, fine cut scraps of sheet paper, and dust adhering to the peripheral surface. Therefore, the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller is kept clean, and paper can be fed smoothly and reliably.

Materials for friction members include rubber, felt, cloth,
Another possibility is cloth that has been treated with flocking.
After use, a dirty friction member may be coated with a cleaning solution such as alcohol or trichloride, and wiped with a cloth or the like, or replaced with a new one.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the holding plate 7 at the part where the friction member 6 is attached is bent to increase the area of contact between the paper feed roller 1 and the friction member 6, thereby increasing the cleaning ability. It has been improved. The other configurations are the same as those of the embodiments of the present invention described above. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the friction member 6 is divided into two parts so that it comes into contact with the paper feed roller at two places, and dust and paper can be removed between the two friction members. It has a place to put powder, etc. The other configurations are the same as those of the embodiments of the present invention described above, and will therefore be omitted.

As described above, according to the present invention, the control circuit of the rotary paper feed member drive system of the copy machine is partially changed without incorporating a complicated device into the copy machine for cleaning the paper feed roller, and
It is possible to realize an inexpensive rotating paper feeding member cleaning device with a very simple configuration by adding only a few parts such as the friction member.

Furthermore, by using the apparatus according to the present invention, dirt is removed from the circumferential surface of a rotating paper feed member such as a paper feed roller, and the surface roughness is kept substantially constant, and the friction between the sheet paper and the rotating paper feed member is reduced. It is possible to maintain the coefficient at a predetermined value and always perform smooth and reliable paper feeding.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a conventional paper feed roller cleaning device, FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of an embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention. , FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a paper feed roller, 6 is a friction member (cleaning material), 7 is a presser plate, 8 is a spring, and 9 is a paper feed cassette.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In a paper feeding device having a rotating paper feeding member that feeds sheets in contact with sheets in a cassette that can be attached to and detached from the main body of an image forming machine, the rotating paper feeding member is separated from the rotating paper feeding member in response to the above-mentioned attachment and detachment operation. A cleaning material that can be brought into contact is provided, and the above-mentioned loading operation of the cassette releases the contact state between the rotary paper feeding member and the cleaning material, and the above-mentioned detachment operation of the cassette causes the rotating paper feeding member and the cleaning material to come into contact with each other. Characteristic paper feeding device.