JPH0333710Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] This invention relates to a paper feeding device that feeds stacked and stored sheets one by one to the main body of a copying machine or the like.

[Prior Art] In a main body device, for example, a copying machine, a cassette loaded with paper is attached to the cassette loading port of the copying machine, and an entrance roller of the copying machine is engaged with the topmost paper loaded and stored in the cassette. Paper is fed into the device in synchronization with the copying process.

Such paper cassettes are usually of the upper type and have a limited storage capacity, which has the disadvantage that the user must frequently replenish paper.

For this reason, a paper feeding device has been proposed in which a large-capacity paper stacker is attached to the cassette loading slot, and the paper is fed into the stacker loading slot, thereby eliminating the need for paper replenishment over a long period of time, and this paper feeding device has become publicly known. .

That is, the paper feeding device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-151446 includes a paper storage frame, a paper loading table that is movable up and down within the paper storage frame, and a topmost sheet of paper on the paper loading table. The paper feeding device is provided with a paper feeding means that feeds the paper in contact with the paper storage frame, a paper ejection portion provided at the front of the paper storage frame, and a paper replenishment port provided at the rear of the paper storage frame.

By the way, in this type of device, since the amount of paper to be stored is large, the distance that the paper table on which the paper is placed also moves (elevating amount) becomes longer as the number of papers decreases.

Therefore, the structure of the paper width regulation guide that regulates the side edges of the paper stacked on the paper tray is also an important element in order to obtain stable paper feeding over a long period of time.

In other words, the paper position can be expected to be regulated by strongly pressing the side edges of the paper from the left and right with the paper width regulation guide, but the upward movement of the paper platform cannot be performed smoothly, and the paper platform may not rise by the set amount. Tilts forward, backward, left and right,
This may cause the inconvenience of making noise.

On the other hand, if the paper width regulating guide does not come into contact with the side edges of the paper, the paper sent out from the paper feeder may be biased to the left or right or tilted, which may lead to defective copies.

Moreover, the size of the paper usually varies by about ±2 mm for JIS A4 size paper, so the paper size is aligned based on the center reference (the center of the paper is used as the reference).
Or even if you use one-sided reference (positioning based on either the left or right side edge of the paper), it is extremely difficult to accurately align the paper to the copying process of the copying machine regardless of the variation in paper size. It is said that

The device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-151446 has a structure in which the storage section frame is provided with:
One of the left and right sides is movable so that the position can be adjusted, and it is equipped with a pair of left and right paper width regulation guides that contact both edges of the paper on the paper tray to regulate the widthwise position of the paper. There is.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, using only a movable paper width regulation guide whose position can be adjusted as in the conventional example described above, there is still a problem in that positioning is inaccurate as a width direction regulation means for paper.

With this idea, the paper width regulation guides, which contact the left and right side edges of the paper stacked on the paper stack to regulate their position, smoothly engage with the paper side edges when the paper stack moves up and down, allowing accurate paper loading. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper feeding device in which a table can be moved, and sheets fed from a paper loading table can be fed to an accurate position in a main unit, thereby reducing the risk of causing copy errors.

[Means for achieving the object] In order to achieve the above object, this invention is configured as follows.

That is, the present invention includes a paper storage frame, a paper mounting table that is movable up and down within the paper storage frame, and a paper feeding means that feeds the paper in contact with the topmost sheet of paper on the paper mounting board.
The paper carrying out section includes a paper carrying out section provided at the front of the paper storage frame, and a paper replenishing port provided at the rear of the paper holding frame, and the paper carrying out section is provided at the paper loading port of a main body device such as a copying machine. In the paper feeder to which the paper feeder is mounted, the storage section frame is provided with a width direction of the paper on the paper tray.
At least a pair of left and right sides, which are disposed such that at least one of the left and right sides is movable to adjust the position, abut against both side edges of the paper on the paper tray in the entire vertical direction, and regulate the approximate position of the paper in the width direction. A paper width regulation guide is provided, the paper width regulation guide is provided so as to protrude from the upper part of at least one left and right side of the paper width regulation guide, the lower end is fixed to the paper width regulation guide in a protruding manner, and the paper width regulation guide is attached from the middle in the ascending direction. The paper width regulation guide protrudes from the guide surface and gradually increases the amount of protrusion from the guide surface as it moves upward, and is retractable to this guide surface. An auxiliary sheet width regulating guide is provided which is elastically biased and contacts the side edges of a small number of sheets of paper.

[Function] In this invention, the paper width regulation guide roughly positions the stacked paper on the paper tray, and the auxiliary paper width regulation guide provided protruding from the top of the paper width regulation guide positions only the top of the stacked paper. Since minute paper positional deviations are corrected, the paper positioning accuracy can be improved and stable paper feeding can be performed.

Further, the lower end of the auxiliary paper width regulation guide is fixed to the paper width regulation guide in a protruding manner, and protrudes from the middle in the upward direction, and gradually increases the amount of protrusion from the guide surface of the paper width regulation guide as it goes upward. Therefore, the paper that has been regulated by the paper width regulation guide as the paper table rises can be smoothly transferred to the auxiliary paper width regulation guide.

In addition, the lower end of the auxiliary paper width regulation guide is fixed to the paper width regulation guide in a protruding manner and can be retracted to the guide surface of the paper width regulation guide. ) will not move beyond the paper width regulation guide, the auxiliary paper width regulation guide will not be significantly deformed or sagged, and the paper feeding position will hardly shift even after long-term use.

Further, an auxiliary paper width regulation guide is provided above the paper width regulation guide, and its lower end is fixed to the paper width regulation guide in a protruding manner, and it protrudes from the paper width regulation guide from the middle in the upward direction, so that the paper storage frame When replenishing paper from a paper supply port provided at the rear of the paper, the auxiliary paper width regulation guide does not become an obstacle, and paper can be replenished without moving the paper width regulation guide in the direction away from the paper.

[Example] The configuration will be described below in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

A paper feeder, generally indicated by the symbol A in FIG. 1, is attached to the cassette loading port 11 of the main body B of the copying machine as necessary, and supplies paper into the apparatus in synchronization with the copying process.

In the main body B of the copying machine, as shown in FIG. 2, an entrance roller 12 of a conventional structure is provided at a cassette loading port 11 and connected to a drive system (not shown).

Along with this entrance roller 12, the cassette loading port 11
A switch is provided to detect the presence or absence of paper, and normally a micro switch actuator is installed near the entrance roller 12, or a reflective or transmissive photo sensor is placed near the entrance roller 12. Either method is being adopted.

Therefore, when a cassette corresponding to the paper size is loaded into the cassette loading slot 11, a switch (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of paper is activated by moving the inlet roller 12 to the topmost paper of the papers stored in the cassette. When engaged, the paper is separated and fed by the inlet roller 12, and this switch detects a so-called empty state and instructs the user to replenish paper.

Although not shown, a switch for detecting the presence or absence of paper in the cassette loading port 11 is always maintained in a state in which paper is present. For example, in addition to the structure shown in Utility Application No. 167,688 filed by the present applicant, when the paper feeding device A is attached to the main body B of the copying machine, the connector is connected by the attaching operation, and the cassette loading port 11 is connected. It may be structured to switch the detection switch to an inoperative state, so that when the paper is cut off at the entrance roller 12, a paper-out signal is issued to prevent the copying process from being stopped.

The paper feed device A attached to the cassette loading port 11 having such a structure is composed of a paper storage section A1 that stores a large capacity of paper, and a paper ejection section A2 continuous with this paper storage section A1. A2 is configured in a shape that matches the cassette loading port 11 of the copying machine main body B, and the entire paper feeding device A is connected to the copying machine main body B, so that one sheet of paper is always loaded into the cassette from the paper storage section A1. The inlet roller 12 of the opening 11 is prepared so that the copying machine main body B can be supplied with just the right amount of paper.

The paper storage section A1 is composed of a paper storage frame 2, a paper mounting table 3 that can be raised and lowered to the paper storage frame 2, and a paper feeding means 4 connected to a motor or other drive system. Further, the paper delivery section A2 is composed of a separating means 5 that separates the papers fed out from the paper feeding means 4 one by one, and a delivery guide 6 that guides the paper from the separating means 5 to the entrance roller 12 of the copying machine main body B. has been done.

(Paper storage frame structure) The paper storage frame 2 is composed of a box-shaped frame having left and right side frames 21a and 21b facing each other as shown in FIG. 4. A paper width regulation guide 22 is incorporated.

The paper loading table 3 is fitted into guide grooves 23 formed in the left and right side frames 21a and 21b, and supported so as to be able to move up and down (up and down) within the sheet storage frame 2 along the grooves 23. It is supported by a platform support means.

A paper feeding means 4 is disposed above the paper storage frame 2 in a structure that feeds out the paper toward the paper delivery section A2.

In the illustrated example, a rotating shaft 41 is supported by long grooves 24 on the left and right side frames 21a and 21b.
The paper feeding means 4 is constituted by attaching a wood crawler 42 to the paper table 3 and disposing the wood crawler 42 at a position in contact with the center of the width of the uppermost paper of the paper 31 on the paper table 3. Note that the rotation shaft 41 of the wood crawler 42 is
It is connected to a drive motor (not shown).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a paper width regulating guide 22 is attached to the bottom plate 21c of the paper storage frame 2 so that its position can be adjusted in the paper width direction. Since the copying machine main body B is centered (aligned with the center of the paper as a reference), a pair of paper width regulating guides 22 are provided facing each other on the left and right sides. Further, the paper width regulating guide 22 has a width slightly wider than the paper size at the left and right intervals.

A guide rail 26 is provided on the bottom plate 21c of the paper storage frame 2 in the width direction of the paper 1 on the paper mounting table 3, and a pair of paper width regulation guides 22 are attached to grooves 27 of the guide rail 26. .

The pair of left and right paper width regulating guides 22 are arranged so that the left and right sides are interlocked with each other by a wire 28 and a pulley 29, as shown in the figure, so that they can be adjusted to move by the same amount in the paper width direction.

And this pair of left and right paper width regulation guides 22
is adapted to come into contact with the side edge of the paper 31 on the paper table 3. Incidentally, reference numeral 32' in the figure indicates an escape groove formed in the paper mounting table 3, with which the paper width regulating guide 22 engages.

The paper width regulation guide 22 has a slippery guide piece 22a made of synthetic resin attached to the surface of the reinforcing plate 22c that comes into contact with the paper, and the upper layer paper of the paper 31 is sequentially rolled up along the slippery guide piece 22a. A plate spring 22b serving as an auxiliary paper width regulation guide is attached to the upper part of the paper width regulation guide 22.

The lower end of this plate spring 22b is connected to the paper width regulation guide 2.
2 in a protruding manner, and protrudes from the paper width regulating guide 22 midway in the upward direction.

The leaf spring 22b is provided to gradually increase the amount of protrusion from the guide surface of the paper width regulating guide 22 as it goes upward, and can be retracted to this guide surface, and as the paper mounting table 3 rises. It is elastically biased and comes into contact with the side edge of a small number of sheets in the upper part of the stacked sheets.

The guide 22 is moved forward and backward as shown in FIG.
The locations are arranged.

In addition, 211 in Fig. 2 is a level switch, 212
is an empty switch.

An opening/closing door 213 is provided at the rear of the paper storage frame 2, and although not shown, this opening/closing door 213 is provided with a limit switch.

(Paper loading table elevating structure) As shown in Fig. 2, the left and right side frames 21 of the paper storage frame 2
The paper table 3 is supported by guide grooves 23 in guide grooves 21a and 21b so as to be vertically movable, and is suspended by wires 33 on pulleys 32 provided on the left and right side frames 21a and 21b, respectively.

The paper loading table 3 shown in the figure has its left and right front and rear side frames 21a, 2.
It is supported by the guide groove 23 of 1b, and is designed to ascend and descend in balance in the front, rear, left and right directions.

This paper mounting table 3 has one end of a wire 33 fixed to an engaging portion 34 with the guide groove 23.
3 is strung across pulleys 32 disposed on the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the side frames 21a, 21b, and the other end of the wire 33 is fixed to the engaging portion 34 of the paper tray 3.

This wire 33 has a fifth wire whose central portions are interlocked with each other.
The winding rollers 35 and 36 shown in the figure are wound and fixed, and one winding roller 35 is driven by a drive motor M.
1 via a worm gear and a worm wheel (not shown).

This drive motor M1 is electrically connected to a level switch 211 on the top of the paper stack 3 and an empty switch 212 on the paper stack 3, and the level switch 211 detects the gradual decrease of the paper 31 on the paper stack 3. , the drive motor M1 is started to raise the paper tray 3, and when there is no paper 31 on the paper tray 3, the empty switch 212 lowers the paper tray 3 to the lowest position, that is, the paper replenishment position. I'm starting to let them do it.

(Structure of paper delivery section) The paper 31 fed out from the paper storage section A1 by the paper feeding means 4 is delivered to the paper delivery section A2 which engages with the entrance roller 12 of the copying machine main body B, and is separated one by one by the separation means 5. The paper is sent to the entrance roller 12, and the paper discharge section A2 is configured as follows.

First, the unloading guide 6 from the paper feeding means A of the paper storage section A1 to the entrance roller 12 of the copying machine main body B is
It constitutes a normal paper conveyance path. This discharge guide 6 is provided with a separation means 5 at a position shorter than the minimum paper size in the feeding direction from the entrance roller 12. This separating means 5 is composed of a roller 51 that rotates clockwise in the paper feeding direction, that is, in FIG. 2, and a fixed (non-rotating) roller 52 that is in pressure contact with this roller 51.

Therefore, the paper from the paper feeding means 4 is separated by the separating means 5.
At the same time that the sheets are separated one by one, the separating means 5 sends them to the entrance roller 12 of the main body B of the copying machine.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fixed roller 52
A bracket 53 supporting the roller 51 can be freely moved toward and away from the roller 51 by a solenoid 54. In other words, the bracket 53 is supported on the machine frame by the pin 55.
is connected to the actuator of the solenoid 54 through an inclined slit 56, and is constantly biased in the pressure contact direction (the state shown in FIG. 3) by a biasing spring 57.

As the separating means 5, in addition to the one shown in the figure, which is composed of a roller 51 that rotates in the paper feeding direction and a fixed (non-rotating) roller 52 that is in pressure contact with this roller 51,
Instead of the fixed roller 52, a structure may be used in which a friction pad of an appropriate shape or a reversing roller rotating in the opposite direction to the paper feeding direction is pressed against the roller 51 rotating in the paper feeding direction.

The carry-out guide 6 is provided with a movable guide piece 61 that can move toward and away from the entrance roller 12 of the main body B of the copying machine. This means that when the entrance roller 12 of the main body B of the copying machine is stopped, the paper from the paper feeder A will reliably enter between this roller 12 and the guide 6, and when the entrance roller 12 starts rotating, it will be ensured that the paper enters between the roller 12 and the guide 6. This is to press the paper against the rollers 12 and feed the paper into the copying machine main body B using the conveyance force.

The illustrated movable guide piece 61 is swingably supported on the machine frame by a pin 62, and is connected to an operating solenoid 63 and a return spring 64. In particular, the illustrated movable guide piece 61 has a soft member such as felt or sponge attached to the surface that comes into pressure contact with the entrance roller 12.

This is to prevent the movable guide piece 61 from being tilted in the axial direction of the entrance roller 12 due to rattling or other causes, so-called one-piece skew (skewed conveyance of paper).

Note that S1 and S2 in FIGS. 3 and 4 are paper detection sensors.

In the above configuration, the paper feeding operation of this apparatus is performed as follows. (See FIG. 8) When the paper is not prepared on the entrance roller 12 of the main body B of the copying machine, this is detected by the sensor S2, and the paper feeding means 4 and the roller 51 are activated. Then, several sheets of paper are fed out from the paper tray 3 and held in the separating means 5 in the state shown in FIG.

Next, when one sheet of paper is separated by this separating means 5,
The sensor S1 detects this and stops the paper feeding means 4. When the leading edge of the paper enters the entrance roller 12, the sensor S2 detects this, and the separating means 5 receives the signal.
At the same time, the solenoid 54 is turned ON to separate the roller 51 and the fixed roller 52, and at the same time, the operating solenoid 63 is turned OFF to engage the paper between the movable guide piece 61 and the entrance roller 12. In this state, it waits for a paper feed instruction signal from the copying machine main body B.

When receiving a paper feed instruction signal from the copying machine main body B, the entrance roller 12 rotates and the paper is taken into the copying machine main body B.

The rear end of this paper is the sensor S2 of the entrance roller 12.
, the signal activates the solenoid 54.
OFF, the operating solenoid 63 is turned ON, and the paper feeding means 4 and separation means 5 are activated in the state shown in FIG.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the paper loading table 3 is provided in the sheet storage frame 2 so as to be movable up and down, and the paper loading table 3 is brought into contact with the left and right side edges of the stacked sheets 31 on the sheet loading table 3 to place the sheets. A pair of left and right paper width regulation guides 22 that are positioned over the entire lifting range of the stand 3 are attached to the paper storage frame 2, and at least one of the left and right pair of paper width regulation guides 22 is provided with a small number of sheets in the upper part of the stacked paper 31. Since the plate spring 22b is provided as an auxiliary paper width regulation guide that elastically contacts and regulates the width of the paper, when the paper 31 is loaded onto the paper tray 3, the paper 31 is regulated by the paper width regulation guide 22. While maintaining this aligned state, the sheets rise together with the paper tray 3 along the guide 22, and are fed into the copying machine main body B by the sheet feeding means 4, starting from the topmost sheet, under the action of the leaf spring 22b.

At this time, the uppermost sheet of paper is pressed by the pair of left and right leaf springs 22b, and its position is corrected regardless of variations in each sheet.

In other words, when the paper to be fed is based on the center,
A pair of leaf springs 22b are provided facing each other on the left and right sides, so that even if the width size of the paper is different, the leaf springs 22b can be inserted from both the left and right ends.
The center of the sheet is positioned as a reference by the elasticity of b, and the sheet is fed by the sheet feeding means 4. In addition, in the case of one-sided reference, a leaf spring 22b is provided on the paper width regulating guide 22 located on the opposite side of the side surface that is the reference, and this leaf spring 22b presses the top layer of paper against the guide 22 that is the reference to position it. .

Therefore, it is possible to feed out the paper in a state aligned with the reference position regardless of variations in paper width.

The lower end of the leaf spring 22b is fixed to the paper width regulation guide 22 in a protruding manner, and protrudes from the paper width regulation guide 22 midway in the rising direction, and gradually increases the amount of protrusion from the guide surface of the paper width regulation guide 22 as it moves upward. Since the number of paper width regulating guides 22 is increased, the paper that has been regulated by the paper width regulation guide 22 can be smoothly transferred to the leaf spring 22b.

Further, a leaf spring 22b is provided at the upper part of the paper width regulation guide 22, and its lower end is fixed to the paper width regulation guide 22 in a protruding manner, and protrudes from the paper width regulation guide 22 from the middle in the upward direction, so that the paper can be stored. When opening the opening/closing door 213 provided at the rear of the frame 2 and replenishing paper from the paper supply port, the leaf spring 2
2b does not become an obstacle, and paper can be replenished without moving the paper width regulating guide 22 in a direction away from the paper.

The lower end of the leaf spring 22b is fixed to the paper width regulation guide 22 in a protruding manner, and protrudes from the paper width regulation guide 22 from the middle of the rising direction, and the paper width regulation guide 22
Since the inclined part (paper contacting part) of the leaf spring 22b does not move beyond the paper width regulating guide 22, the leaf spring 22b does not deform or buckle significantly, and can be used for a long time. The paper feeding position is less likely to shift even when the paper is fed out.

[Modification] An embodiment of this invention has been described above,
This invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, the left and right pair of paper width regulation guides 22 are linked together and can be freely adjusted in position in the width direction of the paper, and the left and right can also be individually adjusted in position in the width direction. Further, if the copying machine main body B is based on one side, it is also possible to configure the position of either the left or right side to be freely adjustable in the width direction. Also, leaf spring 2
It is sufficient that the inclined portion (paper contact portion) of 2b does not move beyond the paper width regulation guide 22, and may be fixed to the paper width regulation guide only below the leaf spring.

[Effects of the invention] The paper feeding device according to the invention provides the following effects.

The paper width regulation guide roughly determines the device for the stacked paper on the paper tray, and the auxiliary paper width regulation guide provided protruding from the top of the paper width regulation guide can be used to detect slight paper misalignment only at the top of the stacked paper. is corrected, the paper positioning accuracy can be improved, and stable paper feeding can be performed.

Further, the lower end of the auxiliary paper width regulation guide is fixed to the paper width regulation guide in a protruding manner, and protrudes from the middle in the upward direction, and gradually increases the amount of protrusion from the guide surface of the paper width regulation guide as it goes upward. Therefore, the paper that has been regulated by the paper width regulation guide as the paper table rises can be smoothly transferred to the auxiliary paper width regulation guide.

In addition, the lower end of the auxiliary paper width regulation guide is fixed to the paper width regulation guide in a protruding manner and can be retracted to the guide surface of the paper width regulation guide, so that the inclined part (paper contact part) of the auxiliary paper width regulation guide The auxiliary paper width regulation guide does not move beyond the paper width regulation guide, the auxiliary paper width regulation guide does not greatly deform or sag, and the feeding position of the paper hardly shifts even if used for a long time.

Furthermore, an auxiliary paper width regulation guide is provided above the paper width regulation guide, and the lower end of the auxiliary paper width regulation guide is fixed to the paper width regulation guide in a protruding manner, and protrudes from the middle in the upward direction, so that it is not provided at the rear of the paper storage frame. When replenishing paper from the paper replenishment port, the auxiliary paper width regulation guide does not become an obstacle, and paper can be replenished without moving the paper width regulation guide in a direction away from the paper.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of this invention, in which Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view, Fig. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal view, Fig. 3 is an explanatory view of the paper supply section, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory view of its operating state. Figure 5 shows the wire take-up roller 3 for supporting the paper table.
5 and 36, FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory views of the paper width regulation guide, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of paper feeding timing. A... Paper feeding device, B... Copying machine main body, 2... Paper storage frame, 3... Paper loading table, 4... Paper feeding means, 11
...Cassette loading port, 12...Inlet roller, 22
...paper width regulation guide, 22a ... slippery guide piece, 22b ... leaf spring, 22c ... reinforcing plate.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A paper storage frame, a paper stack that is movable up and down within the paper storage frame, a paper feeder that feeds the paper in contact with the topmost sheet of paper on the paper stack, and the paper comprising a paper ejecting section provided at the front of the storage frame, and a paper replenishment port provided at the rear of the paper storage frame,
In a paper feeding device in which the paper ejecting section is attached to a paper loading port of a main body device such as a copying machine, the storage section frame is provided with a sheet in the width direction of the paper on the paper tray.
At least a pair of left and right sides, which are disposed such that at least one of the left and right sides is movable to adjust the position, abut against both side edges of the paper on the paper tray in the entire vertical direction, and regulate the approximate position of the paper in the width direction. A paper width regulation guide is provided at the upper part of at least one left and right side of the paper width regulation guide, the lower end is fixed to the paper width regulation guide in a non-protruding manner, and the paper width regulation guide protrudes from the paper width regulation guide midway in the upward direction. , the paper width regulation guide is provided so that the amount of protrusion from the guide surface is gradually increased toward the top, and it is possible to retract to this guide surface. A paper feeding device characterized in that an auxiliary paper width regulating guide is provided which is elastically biased and comes into contact with the side edge of a sheet of paper.