JPH0383739A - Transfer paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the speed of a system with shorter tray change time by employing a control device for discriminating whether a newly selected tray is above or below an already selected tray, and for moving a paper sheet feed unit by a minimum distance according to the result of the discrimination. CONSTITUTION:When a tray selection button 6 is pressed to change the tray to be selected, a tray selected position discriminating means 120 discriminates whether the newly selected tray 4 is above or below an already selected tray 4. If the result is 'above,' the control means 120 causes paper sheet feed unit 3 to move to a position slightly above the sheet feed position for the newly selected tray 4 and to stay in a standby position and, after the tray 4 in that stage moves to a set position, to move down to the sheet feed position to that stage.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a transfer device that is connected to an image forming device such as a copying machine or a printer that uses transfer paper, and feeds the transfer paper into the main body of the image forming device. This invention relates to a paper feeding device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a feeding device has trays arranged in multiple stages within the main body, and transfer paper is fed from a selected tray among the trays, and then fed into the main body of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. An example of a transfer paper supply/feeding device that uses paper is shown in FIG. 11, for example.

This transfer paper supply device selects any tray from trays 4A to 4E (hereinafter simply referred to as tray 4 if a specific tray is not specified) arranged in multiple stages in the supply device main body 5. Each time you make a selection, the tray 4 that was previously selected returns from the set position shown by the imaginary line (see tray 4D) to the home position (retracted position) shown by the solid line, and then returns to the paper delivery end side of tray 4 (see Tray 4D). right side in the same figure)
The paper feeding unit 15, which is disposed at the top and is raised and lowered by the lifting device 16, rises once to the paper feeding home position shown by the solid line, which is the upper limit, and then moves to a newly selected set position for feeding paper. It descends to the paper feeding position corresponding to the moved tray 4 and stops.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in a transfer paper supply device in which each time the tray is changed, the paper feed unit 15 is raised to the upper limit paper feed home position and then lowered, for example, the paper feed unit 15 is moved to the lowermost tray. Even when changing the tray from Tray 4E to Tray 4D, which is one step above it, the paper feed unit 15 rises once to the upper limit paper feeding home position and then lowers again to the paper feeding position corresponding to Tray 4D. In the past, there was a problem in that the waiting time for the user was long.

This invention was made in view of the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer paper supply device capable of completing the change in a short time when changing the tray to be selected, thereby increasing the speed of the system.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes trays arranged in multiple stages in the main body of a feeding device, a tray selection button for selecting a tray to be used from one of the trays, and a tray selection button for selecting a tray to be used from among the trays. a tray moving device that moves the paper to a set position for loading the paper; and a paper feeder that moves the paper to the paper feeding position corresponding to the selected tray when the tray selection button is operated and feeds the transfer paper. A tray for determining whether a newly selected tray is higher or lower than a previously selected tray when the tray selection button is operated in a transfer paper supply device equipped with a paper unit. Selected position determining means.

When the determination result of the tray selection position determination means is high, the paper feeding unit is moved slightly above the paper feeding position of the newly selected tray and placed on standby, and the tray in that stage is moved to the set position. After that, lower it to the paper feeding position of the current stage, and if the judgment result is lower,
The paper feed unit is moved slightly above the paper feed position of the previously selected tray and placed on standby, and after the tray in that stage returns to the home position, it is moved to the set position. A control means for controlling the tray to be lowered to the paper feeding position is provided.

[For production]

According to the transfer paper supply device configured in this manner, when the tray selection button is operated to change the tray to be selected, the tray selection position determination means determines whether the newly selected tray is higher than the previously selected tray. It is determined whether the tray is in the upper or lower position, and if the determination result is in the upper position, the control means moves the paper feeding unit slightly above the paper feeding position of the newly selected tray and puts it on standby. After the tray moves to the set position, it is lowered to the current paper feeding position.

If the determination result is lower, the control means moves the paper feed unit slightly above the paper feed position of the previously selected tray and puts it on standby, and the tray in that stage returns to its home position. later.

The tray is controlled to be lowered to the paper feeding position of the newly selected tray to be moved to the set position.

Therefore, the tray can be changed in the shortest possible time.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a transfer paper supply device according to the present invention together with a control system, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the transfer paper supply device, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram seen from the left side showing a state in which a copying machine is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 3, this transfer paper supply device 1 has a copying machine main body 2 mounted on the upper part, and is equipped with trays 4A to 4E in which transfer papers P of different sizes can be stacked, and any stage of the trays 4A to 4E can be stacked. This constitutes a copying machine system in which paper can be fed from the tray 4 to the copying machine main body 2.

On the top of the front part (right side in FIG. 3) of the copying machine main body 2, there is a tray selection button 6 for selecting the tray to be used.
In addition, an automatic document feeder 20 is mounted on the upper part.

The transfer paper supply device 1 includes trays 4A to 4E arranged in five stages (which can be increased or decreased as appropriate) that can be pulled out from a supply device main body 5 that also serves as a pedestal, and a predetermined tray corresponding to the tray 4 in each stage. The paper feed unit 3 moves to the paper feed position and feeds the transfer paper P, and the tray 4 is set at the set position where the paper feed unit 3 can feed paper (the position where the tray 4A is shown by the imaginary line in Figure 3). ) and a tray moving device 7 arranged for each stage (the illustrations of the second stage and below are omitted) are attached to the front of the feeding device main body 5 so that they can be opened and closed, and are opened when pulling out the tray 4. 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, each paper feed stage has a lock that locks the tray 4 with elastic force to give a sense of moderation when the tray 4 is inserted into the main body 5 of the feeding device. A mechanism (detailed description will be given later) 10 is provided respectively.

The paper feed unit 3 is raised and lowered by a mechanism to be described later, and can be raised to the upper limit of the paper feed unit home position shown in FIG. 2. When the tray selection button 6 (FIG. 3) is operated, It moves to the paper feeding position corresponding to the tray 4 of the selected stage and feeds the transfer paper P.

The tray moving device 7 includes a drive gear 32, an idle gear 33, and a binion 34 that mesh with each other on a motor bracket 38 that is fixed to a bracket support shaft 31 and can rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2 and in the opposite direction. The motor 35 is rotatably supported and the motor 35 is fixed.
A worm gear 36 fixed to a rotating shaft of the motor is meshed with the drive gear 32, so that when the motor 35 is rotated, the pinion 34 is decelerated and rotated.

When the motor bracket 38 rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow A, the pinion 34 engages with a rack 51 fixed to the side surface of the tray 4 along the direction in which it is pulled out.

The door 8 can be opened and closed about a hinge 8a, and has a rod pressing plate 40 fixed to its inner surface. The rod 41 can be moved in the direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 2 and in the opposite direction so that the end portion 41a comes into contact with the rod pressing plate 40 when the door 8 is closed, in correspondence with the rod pressing plate 40. It is set up in

A locking pin 42 is fitted into the rod 41 in the radial direction a little further back than the middle, and is fixed integrally with the rod 41. The rod 41 is integrally supported by a shaft 43 at the rear side of the rod 41, and is shown in the direction of the arrow by a spring (not shown). Arm 44 rotated in direction C
The end face of the arm 44 presses the locking pin 42, thereby constantly urging the rod 41 to protrude in the direction of arrow B.

Then, the rear end of the rod 41 is abutted against the abutment surface 45a of a swinging arm 45 that can swing in the direction of the arrow in FIG. A bottle fixed to the elevating plate 46 is engaged with the groove.

The elevating plate 46 is supported movably in the vertical direction by fitting stepped screws 47 into a plurality of guide holes formed along the vertical direction and fixing them to a fixed part of the device. An engaging portion 48a that engages with the roller shaft 21 of the locking mechanism 10 is provided protruding toward the front of the device.

Further, a swing lever 48 is fixed below the shaft 43 that is integrated with the arm 44 at a slight distance from the arm 44.
The tip of the swinging lever 48 is brought into contact with a pin fixed to one end of the swingable intermediate lever 4 whose middle part is supported by a shaft, and the other end of the middle lever 49 is placed behind the motor bracket 38. Engagement pin 5 fixed to the protruding part
2 is engaged.

These pins and the levers that engage with them are always in contact with each other due to the biasing force of the bracket support shaft 31, which is biased to rotate in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 by a spring (not shown).

Further, this rod pressing plate 40 and the rod 41 that engages with it are provided for each paper feed stage together with the tray moving device 7.

Next, the locking mechanism 10 will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, an engaging piece 55 formed of, for example, a plate-like member is integrally provided on the back surface 4a of the tray 4, and a mountain-shaped protrusion 55a and a horizontal portion 55b are provided on the upper edge of the engaging piece 55. , and when the tray 4 is inserted into the feeding device main body 5 (FIG. 2), the rollers 22 are in contact with the upper edge of the engaging piece 55.
The roller 22 is rotatably attached to one end of the roller shaft 21.

The roller shaft 21 is fixed to one end of a bracket 56, and the other end of the bracket 56 is passed through a shaft 57 supported by the supply device main body 5 along the horizontal direction, thereby swinging in the direction of arrow F. Normally, the winding portion of the bracket 56 is rotated downward by the urging force of the spring 58 fitted into the shaft 57, and the lower part of the bracket 56 comes into contact with a stopper (not shown) to keep it in a predetermined position. It's dripping.

When the tray 4@: is inserted into the main body of the supply device, the lower part of the roller 22 rolls into contact with the upper edge of the engagement piece 55,
It climbs over the protrusion 55a and advances to above the horizontal portion 55b.

Further, the engagement piece 55 has a light shielding part 55C formed at its lower part, and a set sensor 61 and a home sensor 62 are arranged on the supplying device main body 5 (see FIG. 2) side corresponding to the light shielding part 55C. There is.

The set sensor 61 and home sensor 62 are as follows:
For example, when both transmitting type photosensors are used and the tray 4 is moved to a predetermined home position in the feeder main body 5 as shown in FIG. The detection unit is connected to the light shielding unit 550 (
(It may be only the home sensor 62) It is designed to be turned off when light is blocked.

Next, the paper feed unit 3 and the door 8 to which it is attached will be explained in detail using FIGS. 6 and 7.

The paper feeding unit 3 is provided inside a door 8, and is separated from the tray 4 in the main body S of the feeding device as the door 8 is opened in the direction of arrow G shown in FIG. ing.

The door 8 is framed by left and right side plates 72, 75, an intermediate side plate 77 disposed between them, upper and lower base plates 85, 88, and a front plate 87, and has a door hinge part 90 on the side plate 73 side. It is fixed in one piece.

A winding shaft 78 to which wire winding pulleys 79 and 80 are respectively fixed is rotatably provided on the side plate 73 and the intermediate side plate 77, and a gear 81 is fixed to the left end of the winding shaft 78. At the same time, the gear 81 is meshed with a worm 91 fixed to the rotating shaft of a drive motor (stepping motor) 83 via an idle gear 92° worm wheel 93.

Wires 74 and 75 are wound around the pulleys 79 and 80 in a loop shape, and the wires 74 and 75 are attached to the vertically tensioned portions at a distance from both sides of the paper feed unit 3 in the horizontal direction. Each protruding wire fixing rod 94 is fixed.

Then, the slide shaft 76 is fitted into the guide portion 3a formed on the right side of the paper feed unit 3 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and when the drive motor 83 is driven in both forward and reverse directions, the entire paper feed unit 3 It is arranged to move up and down along the slide shaft 76.

Note that the opposite side of the paper feed unit 3 from the guide section 3a has two upper and lower sides.
Each wire fixing rod 94 of the book is guided through a guide hole 77a formed in the intermediate side plate 77 along the vertical direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the sheet feeding home position at the upper limit of the sheet feeding unit 3, a light shielding piece 96 fixed to the upper surface of the sheet feeding unit 3 shields the detection section of the sheet feeding unit sensor 97 fixed to the feeding device main body 5 from light. It is supposed to be done.

As shown in FIG. 7, the paper feeding unit 3 supports a support plate 101 within the unit so as to be able to swing around a roller shaft 106, and a pickup roller 10 is mounted on the support plate 101.
2 and a feed roller 103 are rotatably mounted, and an intermediate gear 107 is meshed between gears that are each integrally fixed to a shaft that supports the pick-up roller 102 and feed roller 103. It is designed to rotate in conjunction with the direction of the arrow.

Further, a reverse roller 104 is rotatably attached to the fixed part of the paper feed unit 3, and the reverse roller 104
The rotational force is transmitted through a known torque limiter (not shown) to
The transfer paper P is applied in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the feed roller 103, and when the transfer paper P is fed in an overlapping manner by the pickup roller 102, it is returned to the tray 4 side from the lower transfer paper.

Furthermore, a pair of conveying rollers 105 are rotatably attached to a fixed portion of the paper feeding unit 3 on the right side in the figure, which is the paper feeding downstream side of the reverse roller 104.

Note that a protruding piece 101a is formed at the end of the support plate 101 on the pickup roller 102 side, and a pickup sensor 108 is attached to a fixed portion of the paper feeding unit 3 in correspondence with the protruding piece 101a.

Then, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 7, the support plate 101 rotates downward slightly and the pickup roller 102 is lowered, and the entire paper feeding unit 3 is lowered, and the pickup roller 102 feeds the paper. When the support plate 101 rotates to the position shown by the solid line and the protrusion 101a contacts the pickup sensor 108, the support plate 101 rotates to the position shown by the solid line. The detection part of the sensor is shielded from light.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 110 denotes a belt conveyance device, which conveys the transfer paper P conveyed by the conveyance roller 105 upward and into the copying machine main body 2 (FIG. 3).

Next, a control system for controlling this transfer paper supply device will be described with reference to FIG. 8 in addition to FIG. 1.

This transfer paper supply device is entirely controlled by a control device 120 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8.

The control device 120 includes a central processing unit (CPU) that has various judgment and processing functions, and a ROM that is a program memory that stores various programs and fixed data necessary to control the transfer paper supply device. RAM, which is a data memory that stores processing data, and an input/output circuit (Il
This is a microcomputer consisting of (o).

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, this control device 120 receives a tray selection signal outputted from the tray selection button 6 every time 1-lay is selected, and receives a tray selection signal from the pickup sensor 108 at which paper feeding unit 3 is selected. The paper feed position movement completion signal that is output when the paper feed unit 3 moves to the paper feed position corresponding to the tray is outputted from the paper feed unit sensor 97 when the paper feed unit 3 rises to the paper feed home position which is the upper limit. are detected (upper limit detection) and output upper limit detection signals are respectively input.

In addition, from the set sensor 61 and home sensor 62 of each stage, which are arranged one set for each of the plurality (5 stages) of paper feed stages, each sensor outputs or stops depending on the moving position of the tray. Input each signal.

The drive motor (stepping motor) 83 has
It also outputs a drive signal for raising and lowering the paper feed unit 3 via the driver 121.

Encoder 12 attached to the rotating shaft of the drive motor 83
2 inputs a pulse signal that is output in accordance with the rotation.

Furthermore, each motor 35 of the tray moving device 7 (FIG. 2) provided for each paper feed stage is used to move the tray 4 of each stage to the home position and the set position for paper feeding. Tray movement signals are output via drivers 123, respectively.

Note that this control device 120 also has a function of determining whether a newly selected tray is higher or lower than the previously selected tray when the tray selection button 6 is operated. ing.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the tray selection button 6 is operated, the control device 120 is a tray that determines whether a newly selected tray is higher or lower than the previously selected tray. This corresponds to selected position determining means.

Further, in this embodiment, when the determination result of the tray selection position determination means is high, the control device 120 moves the paper feeding unit 3 slightly above the paper feeding position of the newly selected tray and puts it on standby; After the tray 4 of that stage moves to the set position (paper feeding position), it is lowered to the paper feeding position of the current stage, and if the determination result is lower,
The paper feed unit 3 is moved slightly above the paper feed position of the previously selected tray and placed on standby, and after the tray 4 of that stage returns to its home position (retracted position), it is moved to the set position. It also functions as a control means for controlling the selected tray 4 to be lowered to the paper feeding position.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained in the 9th w.
The explanation will be made with reference to i and later.

This transfer paper supply device is opened in the direction of arrow E from the state shown in FIG.
The rod 41, whose end portion 41a has been pressed in the direction opposite to the arrow B, is moved in the direction of the arrow B via the arm 44 by the urging force of a spring (not shown) that urges the shaft 43 to rotate in the direction of the arrow C. It protrudes to a position where it is regulated by a stopper (not shown).

Therefore, the swinging arm 45 rotates clockwise, the elevating plate 46 descends, and the spring 5 is attached to the upper edge of the engaging portion 46a.
The roller shaft 21 pressed by the tray 4 swings downward, and the roller 22 firmly engages with the horizontal portion 55b of the engaging piece 55 integrated with the tray 4, as shown in FIG.
becomes locked.

Further, in conjunction with the opening operation of the door 8, the tray moving device 7 also moves in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, and the rack 51 of the tray 4 and the pinion 34 are disengaged.

That is, when the rod 41 protrudes in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 and the arm 44 rotates in the direction of arrow C.

The swing lever 48 also rotates in the same direction via the shaft 43, thereby causing the motor bracket 38 to move toward the bracket support shaft 31.
It rotates in the direction of arrow A by the biasing force of a spring (not shown) that is biased to rotate, and stops at the position where the bin attached to the intermediate lever 49 comes into contact with the swinging lever 48.

Therefore, the pinion 34 separates from the rank 51 and is disengaged.

In this state, when the tray 4 is pulled out in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5 to replenish the transfer paper on the tray 4, the roller 22 climbs over the mountain-shaped protrusion 55a from the horizontal portion 55b of the engagement piece 55. There is some resistance up to this point, but once this is overcome, the tray 4 can be smoothly pulled out from the supply device main body 5 shown in FIG. 2 along the slide rail (not shown).

Then, when the tray 4 is loaded with transfer paper and inserted into the main body 5 of the supplying device, the tray 4 is moved by the rollers in the lowered position as shown in FIG. 22 is brought into contact with the upper edge of the engaging piece 55 while climbing over the mountain-like protrusion 55a and engaging with the horizontal part 55b as shown in FIG. You can feel the sensation and the tray 4 is inserted in the specified position! (The position where the roller 22 has climbed over the protrusion 55a) is inserted.

Next, when the door 8 is closed, the rod pressing plate 40 is moved to the end 41 of the rod 41 protruding in the direction of arrow B in FIG.
a and push it back in the direction opposite to the arrow B, the arm 44 and the swinging lever 48 both rotate in the direction opposite to the arrow C, thereby causing the intermediate lever 4 to move through the pin. While being swung, the engagement pin 52 is attached to the intermediate lever 49.
The motor bracket 38 that is engaged through the shaft rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow A, and the pinion 34 engages with the rack 51 on the side of the tray 4.

Further, when the rod 41 is pushed back by closing the door 8, the swinging arm 45 is pressed and swings counterclockwise, and the elevating plate 4B rises accordingly.

Therefore, the roller 22 (the state shown in FIG. 4), which is pressed by the spring 5 and is urged to swing downward,
The engaging portion 46a of the rising/lowering plate 46 pushes upward through the roller shaft 21, and the lower part of the roller 22 is lifted above the protrusion 55a of the engaging piece 55.

Therefore, a gap is created between the lower part of the roller 22 and the upper edge of the protrusion 55& of the engagement piece 55, and the locking mechanism 10 becomes in the unlocked state. In this state, the tray 4 is locked by the rack 51 and pinion 34.

Thereafter, when the tray selection button 6 of the copying machine main body 2 shown in FIG. The contents of the operation differ depending on whether the newly selected tray is higher or lower than the previously selected tray.

A series of controls related to the operations of the tray moving device 7 and paper feeding unit 3 are all performed by the control device 1120 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, the control bag! When the subroutine shown in FIG. 9 starts, 120 first presses the tray selection button 6 in step 1.
It is determined whether or not it has been operated (pressed down). If it has not been operated yet, it waits, and if it has been operated, it proceeds to step 2.

In step 2, each motor 3 of the tray moving device 7 of all stages is
5 and outputs a tray movement signal to each driver 123 (FIG. 8) to respectively move the trays 4 of all stages to the home position (HP), and the set sensor 61 and home sensor shown in FIG. The detection section 62 is the light shielding section 55
When the light is blocked by c and both are turned off (only the home sensor 62 may be turned off), the output of the j~ray movement signal is stopped and the motor 35 is stopped.

Further, a drive signal for raising the sheet feeding unit 3 is outputted to the drive motor 83 via the driver 121 to raise it, and when an upper limit detection signal is obtained from the sheet feeding unit sensor 97, it is stopped.

Next, in step 3, it is determined whether the tray newly selected by operating the tray selection button 6 is a tray in a higher level than the previously selected tray.

In this case, when the tray selection button 6 is operated for the first time, no tray has been selected because the tray selection button B has not been operated before. For example, the RA in the control device 120 automatically selects the topmost tray 4A as the previously selected tray.
It is designed to be stored in M.

In addition, the control device, for example, determines the vertical relationship between the paper feed stages of the newly selected tray and the previously selected tray. 120 converts it into a numerical value when the tray selection signal of the newly selected tray is input from the tray selection button 6,
The stage of the tray that has been selected so far is also digitized and stored, and the judgment can be easily made by comparing and calculating them.

Then, in the judgment in step 3, if the newly selected tray is lower than the previously selected tray (determination of No), the process proceeds to step 4; If so, proceed to step S,
A drive signal is output to the drive motor 85 shown in FIG. 6 to raise the paper feed unit 3 via the driver 121 (FIG. 8), and the drive signal is raised slightly above the paper feed position of the newly selected tray. At the same time, the previously selected tray is returned to its home position.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, if the previously selected tray is the third tray 4C and the newly selected tray is the second tray 4B, the paper feed unit 3 Move the pickup roller 102 to a position slightly above the paper feeding position of the newly selected tray 4B, and then move the pickup roller 102 and the tray 4B
The tray 4 is placed on standby at the position shown by the imaginary line where there is a slight gap between the transfer paper P stacked on top and the uppermost paper surface.
Return C to the home position shown by the imaginary line.

In this case, when the paper feeding unit 3 moves for the first time, it descends from the home position (ascent limit) to the above position.

Next, in step 6, the driver 12 controls the motor 35 of the tray moving device 7 corresponding to the newly selected tray 4B.
3 (FIG. 8), the tray 4B is moved to the set position for paper feeding shown by the imaginary line in FIG. Light shielding part 55 clearly shown in FIG. 4 integrated with tray 4B
When the light shielding by C is released and it is turned on, the output of the tray movement signal is stopped and the motor 35 is stopped.

Then, in step 7, the driver 12 is connected to the drive motor 83.
1 (FIG. 8), outputs a drive signal for lowering the paper feed unit 3, and lowers it.

Then, the paper feed unit 3 descends together with the support plate 101 with the pickup roller 102 slightly rotated downward, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
When pressed against the topmost sheet of paper, the pickup roller 1
02, the support plate 101 rotates upward around the roller shaft 106, and when it rotates to the position shown by the solid line, the protrusion 101a blocks light from the detection section of the pickup sensor 108 (turns off).

Then, it is determined in step 8 whether or not the pickup sensor 10B is turned off, and if it is not turned off (NO)
Since it is still descending, the process waits as it is, and when it is turned off, the process proceeds to step 9, where the drive motor 83 is stopped to stop the paper feed unit 3 from descending, and then the process returns to the main routine.

On the other hand, the tray newly selected in step 3 is
If the tray is in a lower level than the previously selected tray and you proceed to step 4 (determination of No),
A drive signal for raising the paper feed unit 3 is output to the drive motor 83 shown in Fig. 6 via the driver 121 (Fig. 8), and the drive signal is sent to the drive motor 83 shown in Fig. 6 to raise it slightly above the paper feed position of the tray selected so far. raise.

That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, if the previously selected tray is the second tray 4B and the newly selected tray is the fourth tray 4D, the paper feed unit 3 The pickup roller 102 moves slightly above the paper feeding position of the tray 4B that has been selected so far, and the paper is placed between the pickup roller 102 and the uppermost paper surface of the transfer paper P loaded on the tray 4B. The tray 4B is stopped at a position where there is a slight gap, and the tray 4B that has been selected so far is returned to the home position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 10 by driving the motor 35 of the tray moving device 7.

Thereafter, the process returns to step 6 described above, and the motor 35 of the tray moving device 7 corresponding to the paper feed stage of the newly selected tray 4D is driven to feed paper from the tray 4D as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 10. Then, in step 7, the paper feeding unit 3 is lowered.

Then, when the pickup sensor 108 is turned off in step 8, the process proceeds to step 9, where the lowering of the sheet feeding unit 3 is stopped and the process returns to the main routine.

When paper feeding is started in this state where paper feeding is possible, the feed roller 103 and pickup roller 102 shown in FIG.
rotate in the direction of the arrow at the same time, and the transfer paper P on the tray 4 is fed from the top to the right, and the transfer paper P is fed to the right side by the conveyance roller 10.
5 and conveyed by the belt conveying device 110, the third
It is transported into the copying machine main body 2 shown in the figure.

Note that the control for moving the paper feeding unit 3 slightly above the paper feeding position of the previously selected tray and the paper feeding position of the newly selected tray in steps 4 and 5 in FIG. 9 is as follows: The maximum amount of transfer paper P is loaded on each of the trays 4A to 4E shown in FIG. 1.

The position where the lower part of the pickup roller 102 of the paper feed unit 3 is slightly separated from the upper surface of the uppermost sheet, and a gap is created between them, is determined in advance for each stage.

This is replaced with the number of pulses of the drive motor (stepping motor) 83 and stored in advance in the ROM of the control device 120 shown in FIG. This is done by selecting one corresponding number of pulses from those stored in the internal memory and driving the drive motor 83 until the selected number of pulses matches the number of pulses input from the encoder 125.

In addition, the paper feeding unit 3 is moved slightly above the paper feeding position to standby, and the pickup roller 102 is moved slightly away from the top surface of the uppermost sheet of paper.
This is to prevent the uppermost paper from remaining and protruding from the tray when the tray 4 of that stage is returned to the home position if it is in contact with the transfer paper.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, when the tray selection button is operated, it is determined whether the newly selected tray is higher or lower than the previously selected tray; Since the paper feeding unit is moved by the minimum distance according to the result and the tray is changed efficiently, the tray can be changed in a short time, making it possible to speed up the system.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a transfer paper supply device according to the present invention together with a control system, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the transfer paper supply device, and FIG. A configuration diagram seen from the left side showing a state in which a copying machine is installed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the locking mechanism 102 and its vicinity, Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing how the detection parts of the two sensors are both shielded from light when the tray is inserted into the predetermined position, and Fig. S And the 71st! 1 is a perspective view showing the paper feed unit 3 and a mechanism for raising and lowering it, and a configuration diagram showing the internal structure of the paper feed unit 3; FIG. 8 is a control device 120 that controls the transfer paper supply device 1 and its relation 9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of tray and paper feeding unit movement processing executed by the control device 120 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the newly selected tray. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of each part when the tray is in a lower stage than the tray in which the transfer paper was supplied. It is a similar explanatory diagram. 1... Transfer paper supply device 2... Copying machine main body 3.
...Paper feed unit 4A-4E...Tray 5.
... Supply device main body 6 ... Tray selection button 7 ...
・Tray moving device 8...Door 10...Lock mechanism 34...Pinion 35...Motor
40... Rod pressing plate 41... Rod (
51... Rack 61... Set sensor 62.
... Home sensor 83 ... Drive motor 97 ...
Paper feed unit sensor 108...Pickup sensor 120...Control unit! P...Transfer paper jll @A Fig. 2 & Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 7 g5 Fig. 6 q Fig. 7 9 'sB Fig. 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Trays arranged in multiple stages within the main body of the feeding device, a tray selection button for selecting a tray to be used from among the trays, and a set for setting the tray to a home position and feeding paper. a tray moving device for moving the tray to the position;
and a paper feeding unit that moves to a paper feeding position corresponding to the tray of the selected stage to feed the transfer paper when the tray selection button is operated, the tray selection button tray selection position determination means for determining whether a newly selected tray is higher or lower than the previously selected tray when the tray selection position determination means is operated; If it is in the upper level, the paper feeding unit is moved slightly above the paper feeding position of the newly selected tray and placed on standby, and after the tray of that stage moves to the set position, it is lowered to the paper feeding position of the current stage. and when the determination result is lower, the paper feeding unit is moved slightly above the paper feeding position of the tray that has been selected so far and placed on standby, and the tray in that stage is returned to the home position. A transfer paper supply device comprising: control means for controlling the tray to be lowered to a paper feeding position of a newly selected tray that is later moved to the set position.