JPH03186529A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To arbitrarily change a paper form size by installing contact members so that the center position between the contact members and the center of revolution coincide with each other and installing a pair of supporting members which nip the gear members whose axis center coincides with the center of revolution, in parallel by rack parts, on a longitudinal direction regulating means and a width direction regulating means. CONSTITUTION:Contact members 3 and 7 are installed on a pair of supporting members 2 and 6 which support the bottom surface of a paper, and the center position between the contact members 3 and 7 coincides with the center of revolution. Further, the supporting members 2 and 6 nip rotatable gear members 4 and 5 in parallel between rack parts 2a and 6a. Accordingly, a pair of supporting members and contact members which are installed on these supporting members can be shifted in the equal distance in the reverse direction, and the center position between the contact members always coincides with the center of revolution. Accordingly, a paper form accommodation part accommodates a paper form only by shifting the contact members, even if the paper form size differs.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a paper feed device applied to, for example, a copying machine or a printer, and more specifically, a paper feed device that can arbitrarily change the paper direction and the paper size accommodated. It is related to the device.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, copying machines, printers, and the like are capable of forming original images in the vertical or horizontal direction on paper. The above-mentioned paper is normally stored in a paper feed cassette, and is ejected from the paper feed center and travels along a travel path provided in a copying machine or the like.

The paper within the above-mentioned travel path is run in a vertical or horizontal direction depending on the direction of the original image to be formed. Therefore, when forming a document image in the vertical direction with respect to the paper, for example, a paper feed cassette is used in which the paper is housed in the vertical direction.
When forming a document image in the horizontal direction with respect to the paper, for example, a paper feed cassette is used in which the paper is housed in the horizontal direction.

However, with the above-mentioned paper cassettes, it is necessary to prepare paper cassettes according to the paper storage direction, which makes it inconvenient to select the paper cassette and attach/detach the paper cassette, which is the task of setting the paper direction. It has become. Therefore, copying machines, printers, and the like employ paper feeding devices that can arbitrarily convert the stored paper in the vertical or horizontal direction.

Conventionally, the above-mentioned paper feeding device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-2627.
As disclosed in Publication No. 35, a recessed portion is formed with the dimensions of a predetermined paper size, and a paper storage portion that stores sheets of paper corresponding to each size in the recessed portion, and a paper storage portion that is arranged vertically or horizontally. direction converting means having a rotation mechanism for converting the paper into a predetermined feeding position and setting the paper at a predetermined feeding position.

As a result, copying machines and the like equipped with the above-mentioned paper feed device can convert the paper to either portrait or landscape orientation depending on the direction in which the original image is formed, which simplifies the task of setting the paper orientation. .

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional paper feeding device, the dimensions of the recess that accommodates the paper are fixed so that it can be set at the feeding position, and there is a problem that the paper that can be accommodated is limited to a predetermined paper size. .

Therefore, when using multiple paper sizes such as A4 size and B4 size, the number of paper feeding devices corresponding to the paper size types is required. It is necessary to do so. This preparation increases the economic burden since the paper feeding device has a direction changing means in addition to a paper storage section.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that allows the paper size to be arbitrarily changed and allows a large number of paper sizes to be used with the minimum necessary quantity.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problems, the paper feeding device according to the present invention has the following features:
A paper storage unit that stores paper on which a document image is to be formed, and a direction change that rotates the paper storage unit to convert the paper vertically or horizontally with respect to the feeding direction, and sets the paper to the feeding position. The paper feeding device includes a longitudinal direction regulating means for regulating the longitudinal position of the paper and a width regulating means for regulating the widthwise position of the paper, and The direction regulating means includes a gear member such as a rotatable gear having an axis coincident with the center of rotation, and a rack portion having teeth of the same shape formed at equal intervals. A pair of support members that support the bottom surface, and an end contact portion and a bottom surface contact portion that are respectively provided on the support members so that the center position and the center of rotation coincide with each other, and that can abut the edge of the paper. It is characterized by comprising an abutment member consisting of a portion of the contact member, and an origin portion formed on at least one of the abutment members.

[For production]

According to the above configuration, the paper storage section includes a longitudinal direction regulating means for regulating the longitudinal position of the paper and a width regulating means for regulating the widthwise position of the paper. The direction regulating means has an abutting member that can abut each end of the paper.

The above-mentioned abutting members are respectively provided on a pair of supporting members that support the bottom surface of the paper, and the center position between these abutting members coincides with the center of rotation. Moreover, the above-mentioned support member holds the rotatable gear member in parallel between the rack parts. Therefore, the pair of support members and the contact members provided on these support members can move by equal distances in opposite directions, and the center position between the contact members always coincides with the center of rotation. I will do it. This results in
Even if the paper size is different, the paper storage section
It is possible to accommodate the paper simply by moving the abutting member, and it is also possible to always align the center position of the paper with the center of rotation.

In addition, setting the paper to the feeding position can be performed using the origin part formed on the contact member that contacts the edge of the paper, and since this origin part moves together with the contact member, it is possible to set the paper to the feeding position. There are no size restrictions. Therefore, the paper feed device is
Since the paper size can be changed arbitrarily, it is possible to use a large number of paper sizes with the minimum necessary quantity.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The paper feeding device according to the present embodiment includes a paper storage section that stores paper on which a document image is formed, and a paper storage section that rotates the paper storage section to convert the paper into a vertical direction or a horizontal direction with respect to the feeding direction. It also includes direction changing means for setting the feeding position. The above-mentioned direction changing means has a longitudinal direction regulating means for regulating the position in the longitudinal direction of the paper and a width direction regulating means for regulating the position in the width direction of the paper. The direction regulating means is configured to rotate about the axis of gears 4 and 5, which will be described later, shown in FIG. 2 as a rotation center O.

As shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction regulating means has a pair of support members 2, 2 that support the paper 1 by coming into contact with the bottom surface of the paper 1. Contact members 3, 3 each having a cross-sectional shape are provided at the end portions thereof.

The contact members 3, 3 mentioned above are composed of end contact parts 3a, 3a that contact the longitudinal ends of the paper 1, and bottom contact parts 3b, 3b that contact the bottom surface of the paper 1. , an origin portion 3C is formed on the surface opposite to the surface on the paper 1 side of the one end abutment portion 3a, which allows the feeding position to be detected when the paper 1 is carried out. The origin portion 3C is detected by a positioning sensor 9, such as a proximity switch or a photo ink bumper, fixed to the main body of the device.

Further, the support member 2 and the above-mentioned abutment members 3 and 3 are provided.
2 are provided parallel to each other, and rack portions 2a, 2a having teeth of the same shape at equal intervals are formed on opposing side surfaces. A gear 4, which is a gear member that can rotate by meshing with the teeth of the rack parts 2a, is held between these rack parts 2a, and the axis of this gear 4 is as follows.
It is arranged to coincide with the center position between the contact members 3. As a result, the support members 2, 2 are moved in directions opposite to each other in the A direction or the B direction centering on the axis of the gear 4, and one of the abutments provided on the support members 2, 2 is moved in opposite directions. The contact member 3 and the other contact member 3 move the same distance, so that the distance from the axis is always the same.

Further, on the axis of the gear 4, a gear 5 having a structure similar to that of the gear 4 is provided in a direction opposite to the paper 1 direction. Note that any of the gears 4 and 5 described above may be provided on the paper 1 side as long as they are provided on the same axis.

The gear 5 described above is provided between support members 6 that are movable in the width direction of the paper 1. These support members 6, 6 have rack portions 6a, 6a having teeth of the same shape at equal intervals, formed on side portions facing each other. As a result, the support members 6, 6 are moved in directions opposite to each other in the C direction or the D direction around the axis of the gear 5 by meshing the rack parts 6a, 6a with the gear 5. At the same time, the moving distances are equal, so that the distance from the axis is always the same.

Further, the supporting members 6, 6 are provided with abutting members 7, 7 at the ends whose centers coincide with the axis of the gear 5, and these abutting members 3, 3 It consists of end contact parts 7a, 7a that contact the widthwise ends of the paper 1, and bottom contact parts 7b, 7b that contact the bottom surface of the paper 1. An origin part 7C similar to the origin part 3C described above is formed on the side opposite to the paper 1 side of one end abutting part 7a, and this origin part 7C is formed on the side opposite to the paper 1 side. When the device rotates, the same position is detected by the positioning sensor 9.

In the above configuration, the operation when the paper feeding device positions the paper 1 in the horizontal and vertical directions will be described below. Note that FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e) are views of the paper feeding device viewed from the bottom.

First, as shown in FIG. 3(a), a plurality of sheets of paper 1 are placed on support members 2, 2, 6, and 6.

Then, the contact members 3, 3 are moved in the direction of the gear 5, and both ends of the paper 1 in the longitudinal direction and the contact members 3, 3 are brought into contact and positioned, while the contact members 7, 7 are moved toward the gear 5. It is moved in five directions, and both ends of the paper 1 in the width direction and the abutting member 7.
7 are brought into contact and positioned.

At this time, the longitudinal abutting members 3, 3 and the widthwise abutting members 7, 7 move the same distance centering on the axis of the gear 5. Therefore, the center position of each abutting member 3, 3, 7, 7 coincides with the above-mentioned axis, and the paper l whose end is positioned by these abutting members 3, 3, 7, 7 Even if the paper sizes are different, the center of the paper 1 will be aligned with the axis of the gear 5.

Further, an origin portion 3C is formed on one of the contact members 3, 3, and this origin portion 3C is connected to the positioning sensor 9.
Detected in Thereby, the end of the paper 1 on the origin section 3C side can be set at a predetermined feeding position using the origin section 3C and the positioning sensor 9. When the paper 1 is fed in this state, the paper 1 is ejected in a lateral direction in which the feeding direction and the longitudinal direction of the paper 1 match.

Next, when the paper 1 is to be discharged in the vertical direction with the width direction and the feeding direction aligned, the paper feeding device is rotated by 90 degrees. At this time, if the gear 5 rotates while keeping its axis constant, the edge of the paper 1 will come into contact with the positioning sensor 9, so as shown in FIG. 3(b), the gear 5 The axis of the positioning sensor 9 is moved in the direction E, which is the opposite direction to the direction of the positioning sensor 9. Then, when the end of the paper 1 and the positioning sensor 9 reach a position where the end of the paper 1 does not come into contact with each other even if the paper 1 is rotated, the movement in the E direction is stopped.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3(C), the gear 5 is rotated in the F direction about the axis center, and further rotated in the G direction as shown in FIG. 3(d), so that the paper 1 Rotation is stopped when the width direction of the paper becomes perpendicular to the feeding direction. Next, the third
As shown in Figure (e), the axis of the gear 5 is moved in the H direction, and when the origin 7C is detected by the positioning sensor 9, the movement is stopped. At this time, the origin part 7C is the same as the origin part 3C that positions the end of the paper 1 in the longitudinal direction, and the positioning sensor 9 is fixed. Therefore, the end of the paper 1 in the width direction can be set at a predetermined feeding position even when the paper feeding device is rotated 90'.

In this way, in the paper feeding device according to this embodiment, the paper 1 is positioned by the contact members 3, 3, 7, and 7 that move symmetrically around the axis of the gear 5. Therefore, even if the paper size is different, the center of paper 1 is
It always coincides with the axis of the gear 5. Also, paper 1
The feeding position of the edge of the paper 1 is set by origin portions 3c and 7c formed on the contact members 3 and 7 that abut the edge of the paper 1, and a positioning sensor 9 fixed to the main body of the device. Become,
This makes it possible to always set a constant feeding position without being affected by rotation of the paper feeding device or changes in paper size. Therefore, the paper feeding device is capable of accommodating paper of any size, making it possible to use a large number of paper sizes with the minimum necessary quantity.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the paper feeding device according to the present invention, the paper storage section includes a longitudinal direction regulating means for regulating the longitudinal position of the paper and a width direction regulating means for regulating the widthwise position, and The regulating means and the width direction regulating means include a rotatable gear member having an axis coincident with the rotation center, and a pair of supporting members that support the bottom surface of the paper by sandwiching the gear member in parallel between rack parts. , an abutment member that is provided on each of the support members so that the center position and the center of rotation coincide with each other and that is capable of abutting against an edge of the paper; and an origin portion formed on at least one of the abutment members. It is a usurpation consisting of

As a result, the feeding position can be detected at the origin that contacts the edge of the paper, and the abutting members are provided so that the center position between the abutting members coincides with the center of rotation, and the rotating Since the longitudinal direction regulating means and the width direction regulating means have a pair of support members that sandwich the gear member whose center and axis coincide with each other in parallel with the rack portion, the above-mentioned longitudinal direction regulating means and width direction regulating means Even if the paper sizes are different, the center of the paper stored in the paper accommodating section consisting of the above will always coincide with the center of rotation. Therefore, since the paper feeding device can arbitrarily change the paper size, it is possible to use a large number of paper sizes with the minimum necessary quantity.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the paper feeding device. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line X--X of the paper feeder in FIG. 1. FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e) are explanatory diagrams showing each process in which the paper feeding device rotates. 1 is paper, 2 and 6 are supporting members, 2a and 6a are rack parts,
3 and 7 are contact members, 3a and 7a are end contact parts, and 3b and 7
b is the bottom contact part, 3c and 7c are the origin parts, and 4 and 5 are the gears (
gear member).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A paper accommodating section for accommodating paper on which a document image is to be formed, and rotating the paper accommodating section to convert the paper in a vertical or horizontal direction with respect to the feeding direction; In a paper feeding device comprising a direction changing means set at a feeding position, the paper storage section is comprised of a longitudinal direction regulating means for regulating the longitudinal position of the paper and a width direction regulating means for regulating the width direction position. , the longitudinal direction regulating means and the width direction regulating means include a rotatable gear member having an axis coincident with the rotation center, and a pair of gear members that are sandwiched in parallel between rack parts to support the bottom surface of the paper. a supporting member, an abutting member provided on each of the supporting members such that the center position and the center of rotation coincide with each other and capable of abutting against an edge of the paper, and at least one of the abutting members. A paper feeding device comprising: an origin portion;