JPH03259869A - Intermediate paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep off any feed miss by making a stopper member, aligning a transfer paper bundle being fed into an intermediate tray, so as to be displaced to a shutting position as a guide member which feeds a contact part between paired separate members with the transfer paper fed out at time of paper refeeding. CONSTITUTION:A stopper member 29 is installed an and around the tip of an intermediate tray 45, and it is set down to an operating position where a tip of transfer paper 46 being taken in from the rearward is butted and aligned. When the transfer paper 46 is refeed by a pickup roller 44, it is situated in an upper shunting position. At this shunting position, it is turned round so as to double as a guide plate which guides the transfer paper 46 so as to be inset in a contact part between both separate conveyor roller pairs 42, 43. A pressing member 33a, pressing a top face of the transfer paper bundle in linkage with the shunting action of this stopper 29, is also made so as to release its pressing force. Therefore any feed miss at time of refeeding the transfer paper 46 is thus preventable.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an intermediate paper feeding device in a copying machine capable of double-sided copying.

[Conventional technology]

A copying machine capable of double-sided copying is equipped with an intermediate paper feeder that temporarily stacks transfer sheets that have been copied on one side for double-sided copying and refeeds the sheets for back-side copying.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a copying machine that is equipped with an automatic circulation document feeder (hereinafter referred to as RDH) 1 and is capable of double-sided copying.

The originals stacked on the original feed tray ↓a of RI) H]- are fed from the lowest paper in the direction of the arrow hole, and are transported to the contact glass 'l-b l, which is the illumination position, and the image thereof is is imaged and exposed via the illumination unit 2 and lens 3 onto a photoreceptor 4 rotating counterclockwise to form an electrostatic latent image. This latent image is developed into a 1-toner image by the developing unit 5, and is transferred to the paper feed roller 13 from the paper feed device ↓1 or 12 under the action of the transfer charger 6 at the transfer position.
, 14 onto transfer paper fed in the direction of arrow B.

After the transfer, the transfer paper is separated from the photoreceptor 4 and transferred to the conveyor belt 1~
7 to the fixing unit l-8 as shown by arrow C. After the toner image on the transfer paper is heated and fixed by the fixing unit 8, in the case of single-sided copying, it is directly discharged to the outside of the machine as shown by arrow G. In the case of double-sided copying, in this example, a so-called three-roller type reversing device 9 is used to copy arrows H and E.
The front and rear edges of the transfer paper can be swapped as shown. Next, this transferred 4-sheet is carried into the intermediate tray 45 of the intermediate paper feeder 10 from the rear side, and its front end is brought into contact with a stopper member 29 (FIG. 2) provided near the front end of the intermediate tray 45. Aligned and stacked. The stacked transfer papers have their imaged surfaces facing up.

In a duplex copying machine equipped with RD H1, the original is
First, the front surface is illuminated once, and the document is turned over and returned to the document feed table A1, as shown by the arrow A1, to the document stack -1- of the document stack J2. In this way, the document feed tray
The original on top a is conveyed onto + Utaji contactor 1 - glass 1b, and both images on its surface are copied, and the transfer paper on which the copied image is formed is sequentially transferred to intermediate tray 45 of intermediate paper feeder]0.
stacked on top. After all the front side copies of one set of originals have been completed, the originals stacked on the original document feed tray 1a are fed sequentially from the bottom again and the back side is illuminated, and the copied image is transferred to the intermediate paper feeder. The images are formed on the back side of the transfer paper re-fed in the direction of the arrow F, that is, on the side opposite to the side on which the image has already been formed, and each transfer paper is discharged outside the machine as shown by the arrow G.

As mentioned above, the order of illumination on the front side and the order of illumination on the back side of the document are the same, and the transfer paper stacked on the intermediate paper feeder can be re-fed from the bottom using the bottom paper feeding method. It becomes necessary.

When performing composite copying, the transfer paper with an image formed on its surface is not subjected to the reversing process by the reversing device 9, but is transported as it is to the intermediate paper feeding device 10 as shown by the arrow ■ in the first construction drawing.
The paper is stacked on the intermediate tray 45 with its image side facing down, and then again, the paper is re-fed from the lowest transfer paper to the photoreceptor 4, and images are superimposed on the same side of the transfer paper. .

As mentioned above, both in the case of double-sided copying and in the case of composite copying, the transfer paper stacked in the intermediate paper feeder 10 is re-fed from the bottom. An air suction belt is provided in contact with the bottom surface of the transfer paper stack stacked on the tray, and the lowest transfer paper is attracted to this belt, and the belt 1
- is driven to carry the lowest transfer paper, separate it from the stack of transfer paper above it, and transport it to a pair of separating and conveying members. While applying pressure with a pressure member, a pickup roller is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the transfer paper bundle, and the frictional force between this roller and the transfer paper is made larger than the frictional force between the transfer papers. There is a frictional separation method in which the paper is separated from the bundle of transfer paper above it and sent to a pair of separating and conveying members on the downstream side. When the transfer paper is carried into the intermediate tray, the pressure member rotates to the retracted position where it does not interfere with the transfer of the transfer paper, and when refeeding the transfer paper, it applies pressure to the top surface of the stack of transfer paper as described above. Rotate to the pressurizing position.

Although the air separation method described above works reliably, it requires space to place a fan and duct to generate negative pressure, makes a lot of noise when suctioning air, and requires a dedicated fan. There are drawbacks such as increased power consumption.

On the other hand, the friction separation method does not require these fans or ducts, so the equipment can be made smaller than the air separation method, and it also prevents noise generation and increased power consumption. There are advantages that can be achieved.

However, if the transfer paper has curls, the leading edge of the transfer paper that is separated from the stack of transfer paper on top of it by the pickup roller and sent out will curl upward, and it will not be inserted smoothly into the contact area of the pair of separating and conveying members. Because of the risk of jamming, it was necessary to provide a separate guide member. Therefore, the structure of the device becomes somewhat complicated and the cost increases. This is the first drawback of the conventional method.

In addition, in the conventional friction separation method, as explained earlier, the pressure member that presses the top surface of the transfer paper stack is operated to the retracted position when the transfer paper is carried into the intermediate tray, and When refeeding sheets, it is necessary to move the transfer sheet bundle to a position where pressure is applied to the upper surface thereof, so a driving means for operating the pressure member must be provided.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned stopper member is also brought to the operating position where the leading edge of the transfer paper collides with each other when the transfer paper is carried into the intermediate tray, and when the transfer paper is re-feeded, this stopper member is used to prevent the transfer paper from being sent out. Since it is necessary to bring the stopper member to a retracted position where the stopper member is not in use, a drive means for actuating the stopper member must also be provided.

In the end, in the conventional friction separation type intermediate paper feeder,
A drive means for the pressure member and a drive means for the stopper member are required, which increases the cost of the device and limits the ability to miniaturize the overall structure of the device. This is the second drawback of the conventional method.

Furthermore, in the conventional friction separation method, as explained above, when refeeding the transfer paper, the pressure member applies pressure to the top surface of the transfer paper stack, and the bottom surface of the transfer paper stack is pressed against the pickup roller. The lower transfer paper is sent out, and in order to ensure that the lower surface of the transfer paper bundle is pressed against the pickup roller, it is necessary to bring the pressure member into surface contact with the upper surface of the transfer paper stack.

For this reason, the conventional pressure member also has a flat pressure surface that contacts and presses the top surface of the stack of transfer sheets stacked on the intermediate tray when the pressure member is in the pressure position. There is. Thereby, the pressure member uniformly presses the upper surface of the transfer paper bundle, and it becomes possible to reliably bring the lower surface of the transfer paper stack into pressure contact with the pickup roller.

However, the number of sheets of transfer paper stacked on the intermediate tray varies each time, and the thickness of the stack of transfer paper gradually becomes thinner as the transfer paper is fed sequentially after the transfer paper refeeding operation starts. go. In this way, the thickness of the transfer paper bundle changes each time, so if the pressure member is simply rotatably supported as in the past, the pressure member will change as the thickness of the transfer paper stack changes. The pressing surface does not come into surface contact with the -L surface of the transfer paper bundle, but comes into line contact. As a result, the pickup roller and the bundle of transfer paper do not come into contact with each other with a predetermined paper feeding pressure, which may cause a feed error, that is, conveyance trouble when feeding the transfer paper. This is the third drawback of the conventional method.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

A first object of the present invention is to provide a bottom-feeding intermediate paper feeding device, which eliminates the above-mentioned first drawback of the frictional separation type intermediate paper feeding device, which is advantageous in terms of noise, installation space, and power consumption. To provide an intermediate paper feeding device for lower paper feeding, which eliminates the need to remove and provide a special guide member, has a simple configuration, and can smoothly and reliably guide transfer paper to an abutment part of a separating and conveying member row. That's true.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a bottom paper feeding type intermediate paper feeding device, which is advantageous in terms of noise, installation space, and power consumption, and to solve the above-mentioned second drawback of the friction separation type intermediate paper feeding device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an intermediate sheet feeding device which can reduce the number of layer errors to one and achieve miniaturization.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a lower paper feeding type intermediate paper feeding device, which is advantageous in terms of noise, installation space, and power consumption, and to solve the above-mentioned third drawback of the friction separation type intermediate paper feeding device. Intermediate paper feed that eliminates misfeeding of transfer paper by removing the pressure member and keeping the pressure member in constant surface contact with the top surface of the transfer paper stack even if the height of the top surface of the transfer paper stack on the intermediate tray changes. The purpose is to provide equipment.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, the present invention is provided with an intermediate tray located near the leading edge of the intermediate tray, which collides the leading edge of the transfer paper carried onto the I-lay from the rear side of the intermediate tray. A stopper member is rotatably supported between an operating position where the transfer paper is aligned and a retracted position where the transfer paper is not obstructed when refeeding the transfer paper, and the stopper member aligns and stacks the transfer paper on the intermediate tray. a pickup roller that feeds out the transfer paper stack starting from the lowest one of the transfer paper stack, the upper surface of which is in contact with the lower front end of the transfer paper stack whose upper surface is pressed by a pressure member; In the intermediate paper feeding device, the stopper member is a guide for feeding the transfer paper sent out by the pickup roller to the abutment portion of the pair of separation and transport members when refeeding the transfer paper. An intermediate sheet feeding device is proposed, which is supported so as to be movable to a retracted position.

In addition, in order to achieve the second object, the present invention provides an intermediate tray, which is located near the leading edge of the intermediate tray, and aligns the leading edges of the transfer sheets carried into the tray from the rear side of the intermediate tray so as to collide with each other. A stopper member is supported so as to be rotatable between an operating position and a retracted position that does not inhibit feeding of the transfer paper when refeeding the transfer paper 2-. a pressure position for pressurizing the upper surface of the stack of transfer sheets aligned and stacked on the intermediate tray by the input member 1 to the collar member when refeeding the transfer sheets; A pressure member is rotatably supported between a retracted position that does not obstruct the transfer of transfer paper when it is carried into the machine, and the lower surface of the transfer paper stack that is pressed by the pressure member when refeeding the transfer paper. In an intermediate sheet feeding device having a pickup roller that is in contact with the front end and feeds out the transfer paper stack from the lowest one, when the stopper member is in the operating position, the pressure member is moved to the retracted position so that the The stopper member and the pressure member are each provided with an engaging portion that disengages each other so that when the stopper member is engaged and the stopper member is rotated to the retracted position, the pressure member is rotated to the pressurizing position. We propose an intermediate paper feeding device featuring the following features.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned third object, the present invention provides an intermediate I-ray and a position near the leading edge of the intermediate I-ray, which impinges the leading edge of the transfer paper carried onto the I-ray from the rear side of the intermediate tray. A stopper member is rotatably supported between an operating position for aligning the transfer paper and a retracted position that does not inhibit feeding of the transfer paper when refeeding the transfer paper, and a stopper member for aligning the transfer paper on the intermediate tray. the top surface of the stacked transfer paper stack.
A pressure member is rotatably supported between a pressure position where pressure is applied when refeeding transfer paper and a retracted position where transfer paper is not obstructed when carrying the transfer paper into the intermediate tray, and The pickup roller is provided with a pick-up roller that comes into contact with the lower front end of the bundle of transfer paper pressurized by a pressure member during paper feeding and feeds out the bundle of transfer paper from the lowest one, and the pressure member is in a pressing position. At some point, in an intermediate sheet feeding device having a flat pressing surface that makes surface contact with and presses the upper surface of a bundle of transfer sheets stacked on an intermediate tray, the pressing member An intermediate sheet feeding device is proposed, characterized in that the intermediate sheet feeding device is movably supported in a direction toward or away from the intermediate tray when the intermediate sheet feeding device is in the pressure position.

[Effect]

With the above-described first configuration, there is no need to separately provide a guide member for guiding the transfer paper to the contact portion of the pair of separating and conveying members, and the configuration can be simplified.

Moreover, with the above-mentioned second configuration, the pressure member moves between the pressure position and the retracted position in conjunction with the operation of the stopper member, and a dedicated drive means for the pressure member can be omitted.

Furthermore, with the third configuration, even if the thickness of the transfer paper stack on the intermediate tray changes, the pressure surface of the pressure member is always in surface contact with the top surface of the transfer paper stack, and the pickup roller and the bottom surface of the transfer paper stack are kept in contact with each other. It is possible to apply pressure correctly and prevent misfeeding of the transfer paper.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the intermediate paper feeder according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing the configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the intermediate sheet feeding device 10 of the double-sided copying machine described in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the stacked arrangement of the transfer sheets 15-1, which have been copied on one side, indicated by chain lines, and FIG. 3 shows the state near the front end of the transfer sheets when the sheets are re-fed.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the transfer paper path that passes through the reversing device 9 (FIG. 1) and heads toward the intermediate paper feed device 10, there are three sets of conveyance sensors following an entrance sensor 21 that detects the leading edge of the transfer paper. A pair of rollers 22, 23, 24 is provided between which a first
Gate 25. A second gate 26 is provided.

These gates 25 and 26 are opened and closed by solenoids (not shown) depending on the size of the transfer paper. For example, if the transfer paper size is A3. In the case of B4 size, the first gate 25 opens as shown by the chain line, and the transfer paper is conveyed along the lower surface of the first gate 25 by the pair of conveying rollers 22 along the arrow E.
1, the paper is conveyed onto the intermediate tray 45 of the intermediate paper feeding device 10.

Also, the transfer paper is A4. In the case of B5 size, the first gate 25 is closed as shown by the solid line, and the second gate 26 is opened as shown by the chain line, so that the transfer paper is transferred to the transport roller pair 22.
After passing through the second tray 23, the second tray 6-1 is conveyed onto the intermediate tray 45 along the lower surface of the second tray 26 as shown by arrow E2. In the case of A5 size, both gates 25 and 26 are closed as shown by the solid line, and after the transfer paper passes through the pair of transport rollers 22, 23 and 24, it is placed along the paper guide 49 as shown by the arrow E3. 4 (a) and (b)).

A shifting roller 27 is provided on the downstream side of the tip of the paper guide 49 so as to be able to move toward and away from the surface of the intermediate tray 45, and further downstream of the roller 27, it is rotatably supported by a support shaft 29b and supports the tip of the transfer paper. The aforementioned stopper member 29 for aligning and stacking these against each other is retractably provided. That is, this stopper member 29 is located near the tip of the intermediate tray 45, and is located l from the rear side of the tray 45.
・The operating position shown in Figure 2, where the leading edges of the transfer paper carried into the tray collide and align them, and the operating position shown in Fig. 2, which does not obstruct the feeding of the transfer paper when refeeding the transfer paper as described later. It is supported so as to be rotatable between the retracted position shown in FIG.

During the transfer sheet stacking operation, the shifting roller 27 is always rotated and opened in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2, and moves toward and away from the intermediate layers 1 to 45 by turning on and off a solenoid (not shown). In other words, the closing roller 27 is turned on by turning on the solenoid.
is in contact with the transferred transfer paper, and is configured such that the shifting roller 27 is separated from the transfer paper when the solenoid is turned off. Therefore, the transport roller pair 22, 23, 24 and the game 1
The transfer paper carried into the intermediate I-lay 451 in steps 25 and 26 is conveyed by the double-rolling roller 27, and its leading end collides with the stopper member 29 to be stopped in an aligned state.

The on/off control of the solenoid for moving the tip shifting roller 27 toward and away from the intermediate tray 45 is controlled by the inlet sensor 21.
The leading edge of the transfer paper is detected, and the process is performed for each sheet at an appropriate timing using this as a reference (Fig. 4 (d), (e))
reference). As a result, if the transfer roller 27 is always in contact with the transfer paper, this transfer paper will be moved to the stopper member 2.
After the leading end is stopped at 9, the paper can be transported to prevent possible buckling of the paper.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a jogger fence, which is jogged by a stepping motor not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, so that the sheets of paper are aligned in the left and right direction. The timing of the movement of the jogger fence 28 is also controlled based on the detection of the leading edge of the transfer paper by the population sensor 21 (see FIG. 4(f)).
.

Through the above-described operations, the gates 25, 26, the leading edge shifting roller 27, and the jogger fence 28 are driven and controlled, for example, at the timing shown in FIG. 4 until a predetermined number of transfer sheets 46 are stacked.

Next, a mechanism for refeeding transfer paper and its operation will be explained.

Transfer paper bundles 4 aligned and stopped by a stopper member 29
Below the leading end of the pickup roller 4, there is a pickup roller 4 having a cutout so that the circumferential portion contacts the lower surface of the transfer paper bundle through a cutout provided in the intermediate tray 45, and the pickup roller 4 is separated from the transfer paper bundle by the cutout.
4, and a pressure plate 33 that presses the vicinity of the front end of the upper surface of the transfer paper bundle 46 is correspondingly provided.

9 Pressure plays 1 to 33 constitute an example of a configuration of a pressure member. The plate 33 is rotatably supported around a support shaft 35, and a stopper member 29 allows the plate 33 to be rotated to the middle 1 by a stopper member 29.
5, the upper surface of the transfer paper bundle 46 aligned and stacked on
The pressure position shown in FIG. 3, where pressure is applied when refeeding the transfer paper, and the pressure position shown in FIG. It is supported so as to be rotatable between the retracted position shown in FIG. During the transfer paper stack operation, the stopper member 29 occupies the operating position shown in the second example, but at this time, the pin 34 fixed to the pressure plate 1-33 engages the arm portion 29a of the stopper member 29. The pressure plate l-33 is lifted by the arm 29a and the second
As shown in the figure, it occupies a retracted position away from the surface of the intermediate tray 45. In this way, the transfer paper carried into the intermediate tray 45 is correctly stacked on the intermediate tray 45 without being disturbed by the pressure plate I.33.

The stopper portion 20 and the village 29 rotatably supported by the support shaft 29b are always urged counterclockwise by a return spring 32, and are connected to the pressurizing solenoid + via a connecting link 30 pivotally connected to this member 29. : 31, and in the state shown in FIG. 2, the pressure solenoid 30 is turned off and the stopper member 29 remains at the operating position to stop the transfer paper.

When refeeding the transfer paper, the pressure solenoid 31- is turned on, and the stopper member 29 is rotated in the open direction via the connecting link 30 to the retracted position shown in FIG.
A gap is formed between the tip of the stopper member and the intermediate tray 45 through which the transfer paper can pass. At the same time, as the arm portion 29a of the stopper member 29 rotates clockwise, the pressure plate 33 is fixed to the plate 33 at one end and the machine frame by the action of the pressure spring 37, which is fixed at the other end to the machine frame. The plate 1-33 is rotated counterclockwise around a support shaft 35 provided in the frame to the pressing position, and the pressing surface 33a of the play 1-33 is placed in the transfer position corresponding to the pickup roller 44 as shown in FIG. The upper surface of the front end of the paper bundle 46 is pressurized by the action of the spring 37. An example of the operation timing of the pressurizing solenoid 31 is shown in the fourth example.
Shown in Figure (c).

As described above, when the base 1 to the collar member 29 are in the operating position shown in FIG. When the stopper member 29 is rotated to the retracted position,
The arm portion 29 is rotated so that the pressure play l~ is rotated to the pressure position.
a and pin 34 are disengaged from each other.

Across the transfer paper conveyance path on the downstream side of the stopper member 29,
On the lower side is a feed roller 43 that rotates counterclockwise to convey the transfer paper to the left in FIG. 3, and on the upper side is a reverse roller 4 that does not rotate when the transfer paper is sent out.
2 are provided, and these pair of rollers constitute a separation conveyance roller pair. The feed roller 43 and the pickup roller 44 are connected via gear trains 50, 51, and 52.

Upon input of the paper refeed signal, a paper feed clutch (not shown) is turned on, the foot roller 43 is driven counterclockwise, and the pickup roller 44 is also synchronized, so that the cutout shown in FIG. 3 is aligned with the transfer paper. Rotate in the same direction from the home position.

Due to the rotation of the pickup roller 44, its circumference becomes
The pressure plate 33 occupying the pressure position presses the lowest transfer paper of the transfer paper bundle 46, and due to the cooperative action of the pickup roller 44 and the pressure plate 33, the lowest transfer paper of the transfer paper bundle 46 is pressed. The paper is sent out to the left in FIG. 3 by the frictional force with the circumference of the pickup roller 44. In this manner, when refeeding the transfer paper, the pickup roller 44 comes into contact with the lower front end of the transfer paper stack 46 that has been pressed by the pressure plate 33, and feeds out the transfer paper stack starting from the lowest one. .

At this time, the slide member 1 to the collar member 29 occupy the retracted position shown in FIG. The stop surface for aligning the transfer paper serves as a guide surface for feeding the leading edge of the transfer paper into the nip portion of the pair of separating and conveying rollers when refeeding the transfer paper. In this way, the transfer paper is smoothly inserted into the nip between the feed roller 43 and reverse roller 42 by the stopper member 29 in the retracted position, thereby preventing double feeding and conveying only one sheet. A pair of pull-out rollers 48 (FIG. 2) feeds the paper toward the transfer section along the photoreceptor 4. That is, the pick-up roller 44 is disposed between the feed roller 43 and the non-rotating reverse roller 42 that is in contact with the feed roller 43.
Therefore, when two or more sheets of transfer paper are fed in, the paper other than the lowest one is prevented from being fed out.

After the transfer paper is gripped by the puller I roller pair 48, the aforementioned paper feed clutch is turned off and rotation is stopped, and the pickup roller 44 returns to the home position shown in FIG. 3 and stops. Since the feed roller 43 is configured to be rotated via the one-way clutch 54, the foot roller 43 rotates together due to the frictional force with the transfer paper, and does not impose a load on the transfer paper. In addition, since the big quad roller 44 must always be stopped at the home position with the cutout facing upward, a home sensor and a fixed position stop cam (not shown) are provided to stop it at the home position after one rotation. ing.

By repeating the above-mentioned operation, all the stacked transfer papers are fed out, and then the pressure solenoid 3 is turned off to complete the paper refeeding operation, and the stopper member 29 is turned off as the pressure solenoid 3↓ is turned off. , is returned to the operating position shown in FIG. It is lifted up to the retracted position shown in FIG. 2 against the pressure, and is prepared for stacking the next transfer sheet.

As described above, according to the illustrated configuration, the stopper member 2 aligns and stacks the transfer sheets on the intermediate tray 45.
9, when refeeding the transfer paper, feed the transfer paper to the feed roller 4.
3 and the reverse roller 42, there is no need to provide an independent guide member, and cost reduction can be achieved.

In addition, in this example, a pressurizing solenoid 3 is used as an opening means for operating the stopper member between its operating position and its retracted position.
Since the pressure plate 33 is configured to operate in conjunction with the operation of the collar member 29, a dedicated driving means for the pressure plate 33 is not required. That is,
The arm portion 29a of the stopper member 29 and the pin 34 of the pressure plate 33 constitute an example of an engaging portion attached to each member 29.33, and when the stopper member 29 is in the operating position, the arm portion 29a and the pin 34 are engaged with each other and pressurizing plate 33
is lifted to the retracted position, and when the slide collar member 29 rotates to the retracted position, the arm portion 29a and the pin 34 release their engagement with each other, and the pressure plate 33 rotates to the pressurizing position. , there is no need to provide a dedicated moving means for the pressure plate 33.

This makes it possible to reduce the cost of the intermediate paper feeder 10 and to make its structure more compact.

Further, as described above, when refeeding the transfer paper, the pressure plate 33 applies pressure to the upper surface of the stacked transfer paper bundle 46, and presses the lower surface of the stack 46 to the pickup roller 44, so that a predetermined distance is formed between them. At this time, in order to ensure that the pickup roller 44 and the lower surface of the transfer paper bundle 46 come into pressure contact with each other, it is necessary to bring the pressure plate 33 into surface contact with the upper surface of the transfer paper stack. Therefore, when the pressure plate 33 is in the pressure position shown in FIG. 3, the pressure plate 33 is formed flat so that it comes into surface contact with the upper surface of the transfer paper stack 46 stacked on the intermediate tray 45 and presses the upper surface. It has a pressurizing surface 33a. However, the number of transfer sheets stacked on the intermediate 1 lay 45 is not constant, and as the transfer sheets are re-fed one by one, their thickness decreases, so the pressure plate simply rotates. In the conventional intermediate paper feeder, which is only supported as much as possible, there is a risk that the pressure plate may come into line contact with the upper surface of the transfer paper stack.

For example, as shown in FIG.
When stacked on the tray 45, even if the pressure surface 33a of the pressure plate 33 is in surface contact with the upper east surface of the transfer paper 27, the thickness of the transfer paper becomes thinner as the transfer paper is sequentially re-fed. When the pressure plate rotates counterclockwise along with this, the pressure surface 33a and the top surface of the transfer paper are no longer parallel, and the corners and leading edges of the pressure plate 330 are aligned with the transfer paper stack 46. As a result, a pressure contact failure between the transfer paper bundle and the pickup roller 44 occurs.
There was a risk that the transfer paper would be misfeeded.

For this reason, the intermediate paper feeder 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3
In this case, when the pressure plate 33 is in the pressure position as shown in FIG.
It is supported so as to be movable toward or away from 5. That is, the support shaft 35 that rotatably supports the pressure plate 33 fits into the elongated hole 36 formed in the pressure plays 1 to 33, and the plays 1 to 33 perform the pressure shown in FIG. When the pressure plate 33 is rotated to the position, the elongated hole 36 is formed to be elongated in the direction in which the pressure plate 33 presses the transfer paper bundle 4G, which is the vertical direction in the example shown in the figure. It is in a state where it can move in a direction perpendicular to the 28 direction. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the pressure plate 33 is held at the uppermost position due to the thickness of the transfer paper stack 46, so the pressure plate 33 does not move upward any further. As the transfer paper is sequentially re-fed and the thickness of the transfer paper stack becomes thinner, the pressure plate 33 descends while its pressure surface 33a comes into surface contact with the upper surface of the transfer paper stack.

That is, no matter what the thickness of the transfer paper stack stacked on the intermediate tray 45 or even if the thickness of the transfer paper stack 46 changes due to refeeding of transfer paper, the pressure plate 33 remains flat. Almost the entire pressing surface 33a is always in surface contact with the top surface of the transfer paper, and by the action of the spring 37, the entire top surface of the transfer paper stack can be uniformly pressed, and the pickup roller 44 and the bottom surface of the transfer paper stack By creating a predetermined paper feeding pressure during this time, it is possible to sequentially refeed the transfer paper while preventing feed errors.

Note that in the apparatus of this embodiment, the feed roller 43 of the reverse roller 42 does not rotate when the transfer paper is sent out.
In order to keep the contact surface fresh, the following mechanism is provided.

A lever 39 is provided on the reverse roller shaft 41 to which the reverse roller 42 is fixed via a one-way clutch 40, and this lever 39 is moved between the position shown in FIG. 2 and the position shown in FIG. and is biased by a spring (not shown) in the direction of rotation to the position shown in FIG. In addition, the lever 39 is in the state shown in FIG.
It engages with a roller provided at the tip of an arm 38 fixed to the same shaft 29b as the stopper member 29 rotated by the pressure solenoid 31 described above. Therefore, each time the pressure solenoid 31 is turned on and off, the lever 39 swings back and forth, and each time the reverse roller 42 rotates in one direction by a certain amount and comes into contact with the foot roller 43 at a new portion.

This can prevent the problem of only a portion of the reverse roller 42 being worn out, and can extend the life of the roller 42.

Further, the rotation of the reverse roller 42 at this time is transmitted to the feed roller 43 and the gears 50, 51, 52, but is not transmitted to the pickup roller 44 due to the action of the one-way clutch 53.
4 can hold the home position.

Note that the reference numeral 47 is a paper feed sensor, and its detection signal is as follows.
It is used as a reference signal for conveyance control of the transfer paper after it is fed from the intermediate paper feeder.

The operation timing of the solenoids and sensors described above in the case of A4 size transfer paper is shown for reference in Figure 4, and (g) in this figure shows whether or not there is transfer paper in the intermediate tray 45''. This figure shows the operation of a sensor that detects whether

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the pickup contacts the front end of the lower surface of the bundle of transfer paper which is aligned and stacked on the intermediate tray by the stopper member and whose upper surface is pressed by the pressure member, and feeds out the stack of transfer paper from the lowest one. A roller 44 with a notch formed on the circumference was used as the roller, but a cylindrical roller without a notch or a roller that comes into contact with the bottom surface of the bundle of transfer paper during paper refeeding operation, and otherwise removes the transfer paper from the transfer paper. It is also possible to use a separate Big Quar-3 ■- tube roller etc. as appropriate. In the similarly illustrated example, a pair of separation conveyance members provided downstream of the pickup roller across the transfer paper path includes a feed roller 43 that rotates in a direction to refeed the transfer paper, and a pair of feed rollers 43 that rotate in a direction to refeed the transfer paper. , Reverse roller 4 stopped when refeeding paper
2 was used, but this reverse roller 42 is used to refeed the transfer paper, especially in the direction in which the transfer paper is returned (counterclockwise in Fig. 3).
Alternatively, the reverse roller 42 may be rotationally driven.
Instead, a flade made of rubber or the like may be used and pressed against the feed roller 43.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the configuration described in claim 1, the stopper member for aligning and stacking the transfer paper on the intermediate tray of the intermediate paper feeding device separates the transfer paper at the time of refeeding and separates the transfer paper from the contact portion of the pair of conveyance members. Since it acts as a guide member that guides the paper, there is no need to provide a separate dedicated guide member, and it is possible to reduce costs and prevent the occurrence of jams.

32 According to the configuration according to claim 2, since the pressure member is configured to be operated in conjunction with the stopper member,
It is only necessary to provide two drive means for the stopper member and the pressure member, and there is no need for a dedicated drive means for the pressure member. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of errors in the intermediate paper feeding device to one, and achieve further miniaturization of the structure.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the pressure surface of the pressure member occupying the pressure position is in contact with the east upper surface of the transfer paper on the intermediate tray with its entire surface, no matter the thickness. By making surface contact with each other, a predetermined paper feeding pressure is generated between the pickup roller and the lower surface of the bundle of transfer paper, making it possible to send out the transfer paper correctly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an example of a copying machine equipped with a circulation type automatic document feeder and an intermediate paper feeder of a lower paper feed type to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the intermediate paper feeding device and its state during transfer paper stack operation; FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the state of its main parts during paper refeeding; FIG. 4 is a timing chart of its main components. This is an example.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An intermediate tray, an operating position located near the leading edge of the intermediate tray that aligns the leading edges of the transfer paper carried onto the tray from the rear side of the intermediate tray, and a transfer position when refeeding the transfer paper. A stopper member is rotatably supported between a retracted position and a retracted position that does not impede feeding of paper, and a stack of transfer paper stacked in alignment on an intermediate tray by the stopper member and whose upper surface is pressed by a pressure member. In the intermediate paper feeding device, the intermediate paper feeding device includes a pickup roller that is in contact with the vicinity of the front end of the lower surface and feeds out the lowest one of the bundle of transfer paper, and a pair of separating and conveying members provided downstream of the pickup roller across the transfer paper path. The stopper member is supported so as to be movable to a retracted position where the stopper member serves as a guide for feeding the transfer paper sent out by the pickup roller to the contact portion of the pair of separating and conveying members when the transfer paper is re-feeded. intermediate paper feeder. (2) An intermediate tray, an operating position located near the leading edge of the intermediate tray that aligns the leading edges of the transfer paper carried onto the tray from the rear side of the intermediate tray, and a transfer position when refeeding the transfer paper. a stopper member rotatably supported between a retracted position and a retracted position that does not impede feeding of paper; a drive means for operating the stopper member between the operating position and the retracted position; The upper surface of the stack of transfer sheets aligned on the tray is pressed between the pressure position when refeeding the transfer paper and the retreat position where the transfer paper is not obstructed when the transfer paper is carried into the intermediate tray. A pressure member rotatably supported; and a pickup roller that contacts the front end of the lower surface of the bundle of transfer paper pressurized by the pressure member when refeeding the transfer paper, and sends out the stack of transfer paper from the lowest one. In the intermediate sheet feeding device, when the stopper member is in the operating position, the pressure members engage with each other so as to be lifted to the retracted position, and when the stopper member is rotated to the retracted position, the pressure member 1. An intermediate sheet feeding device characterized in that a stopper member and a pressing member are each provided with an engaging portion that releases engagement with each other so that the stopper member and the pressing member rotate to a pressing position. (3) An intermediate tray, an operating position located near the leading edge of the intermediate tray that aligns the leading edges of the transfer paper carried onto the tray from the rear side of the intermediate tray, and a transfer position when refeeding the transfer paper. A stopper member is rotatably supported between a retracted position that does not impede feeding of the paper, and a stopper member that allows the upper surface of the stack of transfer paper sheets aligned and stacked on the intermediate tray to be re-feeded. a pressure member that is rotatably supported between a pressure position where pressure is applied when the transfer paper is transferred to the intermediate tray and a retracted position where the transfer paper is not obstructed when the transfer paper is carried into the intermediate tray; a pick-up roller that is in contact with the vicinity of the front end of the lower surface of the bundle of transfer paper pressurized by the member and sends out the lowest one of the bundle of transfer paper, and when the pressure member is in the pressing position, the pickup roller In an intermediate sheet feeding device having a flat pressing surface that makes surface contact with and presses the upper surface of the stacked transfer paper bundle, the pressing member, when in the pressing position, An intermediate paper feeding device, characterized in that it is movably supported in a direction toward or away from the intermediate tray.