JPH0423866Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] This invention is applicable to a sheet feeding device attached to a sheet intake port provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a laser printer, a liquid crystal printer, or a printing machine. The present invention relates to a sheet conveyance device such as an automatic document feeder that automatically feeds a document onto a platen of an image processing device such as a copying machine, facsimile machine, or image reader.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, an automatic document feeder attached to an image processing device, such as a copying machine, is provided with a feed roller that rotates and feeds a document loaded on a document tray in the document conveyance direction, and a feed roller that is opposed to the feed roller.
A separation roller that rotates in the opposite direction to the original transport direction and follows the original sent out by the feed roller, which rejects the original, separates the original and sends it out one by one, and the original is transferred onto the platen using the transport belt. When the copying is completed after feeding and setting the copy to the reference position,
The document is ejected from above the platen using a conveyor belt and stored in a paper ejection tray.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in such an automatic document feeder, the document tray has a small document storage capacity, and only 50 documents can be stored at one time.
I can only set about 1 sheet.

Therefore, in places where a large number of originals are frequently copied, the originals must be set frequently.

Therefore, a large-capacity document storage section is provided, the documents are stacked on the stacking section that can move up and down, and the feeding means is engaged with the topmost sheet of the document to send out the documents, and as the number of documents decreases on the stacking section, It is considered that a large amount of documents can be conveyed by raising the stacking section by a predetermined amount.

However, in this case, although it is convenient for conveying a large number of documents, it is very inconvenient when conveying documents one by one.

In other words, when a document is set, the stacking section moves up to the position where the top sheet is fed out, and when there are no documents on the stacking section, it lowers to the document loading position. The loading section moves up and down each time a load is sent, which is inconvenient as the waiting time is long.

[Purpose of invention]

The object of this invention is to provide a sheet conveyance device that can easily manually feed sheets without providing a special manual feed port even if the stacking section has a mechanism that moves up and down.

[Example of idea]

An embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration> (Overall Configuration) As shown in FIG.
is installed.

The automatic document feeder 75 includes a separation and feeding section 209 that accommodates documents, separates the accommodated documents into single sheets, and sends them out, and a separation and feeding section 209 that conveys the documents sent out from the separation and feeding section 209 over a platen 77. A conveying section 211, a reversing ejecting section 213 that reverses and ejects the copied original, a storage tray 215 that stores the original ejected from the reversing ejecting section 213, and a control device as shown in FIG. It is equipped with a system that allows documents to be automatically fed and ejected.

(Structure of Separation and Feeding Section 209) The separation and feeding section 209 is separable from the conveyance section 211 and detachable from the copying machine 7, and is supported by the support plate 3 when attached.

The separation and feeding section 209 includes a document storage section 17 that stores documents, a separation section 19 that guides the document sent out from the document storage section 17 to a conveyance section 211, and a rotatable structure on the back of the document storage section 17. It has a rear cover 27 attached thereto.

The document storage section 17 also includes a stacking section, for example, a hopper 29, which supports the document by abutting the tip against the tip regulating plate 28, as shown in FIG. A lifting device 31 that moves up and down along the line is provided.

The lifting device 31 includes a motor 33 and
a transmission mechanism 34 that transmits the driving force, and a take-up roller 35 to which the driving force is transmitted from the transmission mechanism 34.
, a belt 37 that combines the take-up roller 35 and the hopper 29, and a roller 39 that supports the belt 37.

Although not shown, there is a down switch that lowers the hopper 29. If you press it with the cover 27 closed, the hopper 29 will lower. If you open the cover 27 while it is descending, it will be turned off for safety. Stop. Furthermore, since the operator wishes to open the cover 27 to replenish originals or clear jammed originals, pressing the down switch with the cover 27 open lowers the switch, and pressing it again stops the down switch.

The hopper 29 is provided with a pair of support means, for example, support rollers 36 and 38 attached to the support member 26 on the rear left and right sides of the center of gravity in the direction in which the document is taken in when the document is loaded, and the hopper 29 is tilted forward. and is supported by the guide 30. The hopper 29 also has an empty detection hole 101 and notches 103, 105, 107, 1 as shown in FIG.
09 is provided.

Furthermore, a support plate 115 is attached to the upper part of the document storage section 17 between the side plates 111 and 113 as shown in FIG. This support plate 115 is provided with guide grooves 117 and 119.

Sliders 121,
123 guide shafts 125, 127, 129, 13
1 is inserted. Note that the slider 121,
123 are connected by a rack and pinion (not shown), so that even if either slider 121 or 123 is slid, both sliders 121 and 123 will move by the same amount.

Hanging regulating plates 133, 135, 137, 139 are attached to the outside of the sliders 121, 123. In addition, the regulation plates 133, 135, 13
7,139 are notches 103, 105, 10
7,109, respectively.

An empty sensor lever 141 and a level sensor lever 143 are rotatably attached to the center of the support plate 115, and the empty state and level of the document are detected by, for example, a transparent empty sensor 145 and a level sensor 147. It's summery. In addition, the empty sensor 145 and the level sensor 14
7 has a step at its mounting position, and the empty sensor 145 is mounted at a slightly higher position. Further, a pair of stoppers 149 and 151 are attached to the front of the support plate 115.

By the way, the level sensor lever 143 and the level sensor 147 constitute a first detection means, and the empty sensor lever 141 and the empty sensor 145 constitute a first detection means.
constitutes the second detection means.

The separating section 19 has a guide 153, as shown in FIG.
A conveyance path 159 is formed by 155 and 157, and a cover 154 is attached so as to be openable and closable via a hinge 156 as shown in FIG. The cover 154 is raised together with the cover 154, so that document jams in the transport path can be cleared.

In addition, the separation unit 19 includes, across the conveyance path 159, a feeding means 161 that feeds out the document on the hopper 29, a first feeding means 163 that rotates in the document conveying direction, and a first feeding means 163 that rotates in the document feeding direction. a first separating means 165 disposed opposite to each other and rotating in a direction opposite to the document conveying direction and rejecting a document that follows the document being conveyed by the first feeding means 163;
a second feeding means 167 for conveying the document being sent out while being separated by the feeding means 163 and the first separating means 165;
a second separating means 1 disposed opposite to the document transporting means 7 and rotating in a direction opposite to the transporting direction of the original and rejecting the original following the original transported by the second feeding means 167;
69, a registration means 171 that once receives the document sent out while being separated by the second feeding means 167 and the second separation means 169 and registers the leading edge, and a sensor that detects the document reaching the registration means 171. 173 are provided.

The first feeding means 163 includes two feeding rollers 183 attached to a rotating shaft 179 via a one-way clutch 181, as shown in FIG. The one-way clutch 181 is connected to the rotating shaft 179
When the feed roller 18 rotates in the document conveyance direction, the feed roller 18
3, and when the rotary shaft 179 rotates in the opposite direction, the drive is not transmitted.

A rotating shaft 179 is supported by bearings 301 and 303, and a gear 307 with a spring clutch 305;
An arm 311 with a spring clutch 309, a pulley 313 and an arm 317 with a spring clutch 315 are attached.

Note that when the gear 307 rotates in the document conveyance direction, the spring clutch 305 moves the gear 307 to the rotation axis 1.
79, and when rotating in reverse, the gear 307 and rotating shaft 179 will slip if a load exceeding a predetermined value is applied. Also, spring clutch 3
09, 315, when the gear 307 rotates in the document conveyance direction, when a load of more than a predetermined value is applied, the rotation shaft 17
9 and the arms 311, 317 to rotate in the opposite direction, the rotating shaft 179 and the arms 311, 31
7 is fixed.

The feeding means 161 includes a rotating shaft 319 supported by arms 311 and 317 as shown in FIG.
21 (feeding means).

A pulley 323 is attached to the rotating shaft 319. This pulley 323 is drivingly connected to the pulley 313 by a belt 325.

The first separating means 165 includes three separating rollers 17 attached to a rotating shaft 175 as shown in FIG.
It has 7. These three separation rollers 177
are arranged alternately with the two feeding rollers 183, and overlap each other by a length L1.

One end of the rotating shaft 175 is supported by a bearing 176,
A gear 178 with a one-way clutch is attached. This gear 178 transmits a driving force to the rotating shaft 175 when a drive motor 347 (described later) rotates in the forward direction, and slips against the rotating shaft 175 when it rotates in the reverse direction.

The second feeding means 167 includes three feeding rollers 329 attached to a rotating shaft 327 as shown in FIG.
It is equipped with One end of the rotating shaft 327 is a bearing 328
gear 33 with a one-way clutch
1 is attached. This gear 331 transmits a driving force to the rotation shaft 327 when the drive motor 347 rotates in the forward direction, and slips against the rotation shaft 327 when the drive motor 347 rotates in the reverse direction.

The second separating means 169 includes four separating rollers 335 attached to a rotating shaft 333. These four separating rollers 335 are arranged alternately with the three feeding rollers 329, and are provided so as to overlap each other by a length L2. Note that L2 is larger than L1.

One end of the rotating shaft 333 is supported by a bearing 334,
A gear 336 with a one-way clutch is attached. This gear 336 is a drive motor 347
When rotates forward, it transmits driving force to the rotating shaft 333,
When rotating in the reverse direction, it slips against the rotating shaft 333.

The registration means 171 includes a registration roller 339 attached to a rotation shaft 337 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and a registration roller 34 attached to a rotation shaft 341 and pressed against the registration roller 339.
3. Note that a gear 345 with a one-way clutch is attached to the rotating shaft 337. This gear 345 slips with respect to the rotating shaft 337 when the drive motor 347 rotates in the forward direction.
When rotating in reverse, driving force is transmitted to the rotating shaft 337.

Gears 178, 307, 331, 336, 345
is a drive motor 34 via a transmission mechanism (not shown).
It is connected to 7.

(Configuration of the conveyance section 211 and the reversal discharge section 213) The conveyance section 211 and the reversal discharge section 213 are constructed using a cover C.
It is attached to the back of the copying machine 7 via a hinge so that it can be opened and closed, and by opening the cover C upward, it is also possible to set the original on the platen 77 by manual operation. There is.

The conveying section 211 includes rollers 28 as shown in FIG.
A conveyor belt 285 stretched between 1,283 and
Pressure rollers 287, 289, 291, 29 that press this conveyor belt 285 against the platen 77
3 is provided.

The reversal discharge section 213 includes a reversal path 295, conveyance rollers 297, 299, and a discharge sensor 300.
and discharge rollers 301 and 303 are provided. Note that the roller 283 and the conveyance roller 299,
The discharge roller 303 is driven by a motor 284.

(Configuration of Control Device) As shown in FIG. 7, the control device includes a control unit 5 having a microcomputer, a start button 9 to start conveying the document, an operation panel 11 to set copying conditions, and a mode setting means such as manual feed. It includes a paper feed mode switch 15, a copying machine 7, a separation feeding section 209, a conveying section 211, and a reversing and discharging section 21.
3.

When the manual paper feeding mode switch 15 is pressed, the mode is set to manual paper feeding mode, and when it is pushed again, the mode is changed to automatic paper feeding mode. Normally, it is in automatic paper feed mode.

<Operation> With the above configuration, this device operates as follows.

(Automatic Paper Feeding Mode) First, the back cover 27 of the separation and feeding section 209 is opened, and a document is set on the hopper 29. Hotupa 2
9 is inclined, so that the leading edge of the document abuts against the leading edge regulating plate 28.

In this state, when the back cover 27 is closed, the motor 33 is automatically driven and the roller 35 is
rotates and the hopper 29 rises. The original is empty sensor lever 141 and level sensor lever 1
43 and stops when the empty sensor 145 and level sensor 147 are turned on.

Next, copy conditions are set by operating the operation panel 11 shown in FIG.

When the start button 9 is pressed under this condition, the drive motor 347 rotates forward and the gear 30
The rotation of 7, 178, 331, 336 is the rotation axis 17
9, 175, 327, and 333, the feeding rollers 183, 329 rotate in the direction of conveying the document, and the separation rollers 177, 335 rotate in the direction of discarding the document. Note that the rotating shaft 337 is the gear 34
The one-way clutch in item 5 slips and does not rotate.

The rotation of the rotating shaft 179 causes the hard crawler 321 to rotate in the document conveyance direction via the pulley 313, belt 325, and pulley 323, and the arms 311 and 317 to rotate downward. Arm 31
1,317 rotates and the hard crawler 321 comes into contact with the original, a load is applied to the arms 311, 317, causing the spring clutches 309, 315 to slip.
The wood crawler 321 comes into contact with the document with a constant force.

When the hard crawler 321 comes into contact with the document, the document is fed out, and first the feed roller 183 and separation roller 1
A separation operation is performed by 77. Then, a second separation operation is performed by the next feeding roller 329 and separation roller 335, and the sheet is transported.

When the leading edge of the document is detected by the sensor 173, the drive motor 347 stops after a predetermined time T. Here, for a predetermined time T, the leading edge of the document is at the sensor 1.
After passing through 73, registration rollers 339 and 34
The length of time is set to be sufficient for the document to come into contact with the rolling contact portion No. 3 and bend. Therefore, the leading edge of the bent document is aligned and the document is placed in a standby state.

When the copying machine 7 is ready for copying in this state, the drive motor 347 rotates in the reverse direction. Therefore, the registration rollers 339 are rotated in the transport direction via the gear 345 and the rotation shaft 337, and together with the driven registration rollers 343, the document in the standby state is sent out.

By the way, due to the reverse rotation of the gear 307, the arm 3
11,317 rotates upward, and the hard crawler 321
leaves the manuscript. When the rotating shaft 319 hits the stoppers 149, 151, the arms 311, 3
17 is prevented from rising and the spring clutch 30
A load is applied to the gear 307, causing the gear 307 to slip relative to the rotating shaft 179.

Further, the gears 178, 331, 336 also rotate in the reverse direction, but the one-way clutch slips and the rotating shafts 175, 327, 333 are not driven. However, as the original is sent out by the registration rollers 339 and 343, the feeding roller 183 and
329 and separation rollers 177 and 335 rotate as the document moves.

The original sent out by the registration rollers 339 and 343 is supplied onto the platen 77. When the trailing edge of the document is detected by the sensor 173, the drive motor 347 rotates forward and the next document is sent to the standby position by the above-described operation.

On the other hand, at the same time as the motor 347 rotates, the motor 28
4 rotates, and the document is conveyed onto the platen 77 by the conveyor belt 285 and set at the reference position. Then, a copying operation is performed.

When copying is completed, the conveyor belt 285 rotates and the document is sent from above the platen 77 to the reversing path 295, reversed and discharged. At this time, when the trailing edge of the document is detected by the sensor 300, the previously delivered document is sent onto the platen 77. The document discharged from the reversing path 295 is stored in the storage tray 215.
be accommodated in.

Note that as the originals are fed from the separation and feeding section 209, the leading ends of the empty sensor lever 141 and the level sensor lever 143 go down, and the rear ends go up. This rise in the rear end causes the level sensor 147 to
After turning off, the empty sensor 145 turns off. As a result, the motor 33 rotates and the hopper 29 is raised by a predetermined height.

When this operation is repeated and the document runs out, the level sensor lever 143 is pushed up by the hopper 29 and the empty sensor lever 141 enters the empty detection hole 101, so the empty sensor 145 turns off and the level sensor 14
7 turns on. Under this condition, the empty document is detected and the hopper 29 is automatically lowered.

(Manual Paper Feeding Mode) When manually feeding documents one by one using the separation feeding section 209, first, if there is a document on the hopper 29, open the cover 27 and remove it. Then, the manual paper feed mode switch 15 is turned on.
This drives the motor 33 and raises the hopper 29. As shown in FIG. 8, the upper surface of the hopper 29 pushes up the level sensor lever 143, and when the level sensor 147 is turned on, it stops. Note that the empty sensor lever 141 is connected to the empty detection hole 10.
1, the empty sensor 145
is off.

In this state, when the original P is inserted along the top surface of the hopper 29 as shown in FIG. 8, the empty lever 141 is pushed up and the empty sensor 1 is
45 turns on.

As a result, the drive motor 347 rotates after a predetermined period of time, and the wood crawler 327 falls onto the document in the same manner as in the automatic paper feeding mode, and feeds out the document. This document is registered by registration rollers 339 and 343 and stands by, and when the copying machine 7 completes preparation for copying, it is sent onto the platen 77.

When the trailing edge of the document passes the empty sensor lever 141, the empty sensor 145 is turned off and the next document can be manually fed.

When returning from the manual paper feeding mode to the automatic paper feeding mode, close the cover 27 and then press the manual paper feeding mode switch 15 to cancel the manual paper feeding mode. As a result, the hopper 29 is lowered and the stacked documents can be set.

<Effects of Example> According to this example described above, the hopper 29
A level sensor lever 143 and a level sensor 147 detect whether or not the uppermost paper on the top surface or the hopper 29 is in a position where it can be engaged with the tight crawler 321, and detect whether or not there is a document on the hopper 29. An empty sensor lever 141, an empty sensor 145, and a manual paper feed mode switch 15 for setting a manual paper feed mode are provided. When the manual paper feed mode is set by the switch 15, there is no document on the hopper 29. So, Hotsupa 2
9 is detected by the level sensor 147, and when the empty sensor 145 detects the manually fed sheet, the tight crawler 321
Since the hopper 29 is driven by the hopper 29, even if the hopper 29 has a mechanism that moves up and down, when manually feeding the hopper
stops at the highest position and does not move up or down.

Therefore, documents can be manually fed one by one using the hopper 29 as a guide for manual feeding without providing a special manual feeding port, and manual feeding work can be easily performed.

[Modified example]

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above,
The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, the following modifications are possible.

(1) In the embodiment described above, the sheet conveying device was applied to the separation feeding section 203 of the automatic document feeder 75.
The present invention can also be applied to a sheet supply device that supplies copy paper to an image forming apparatus or the like.

(2) In the above embodiment, the hopper 29 is moved vertically in parallel, but the present invention can also be applied to one in which one end of the hopper is the center of rotation and the other end is pivoted vertically.

(3) In the above embodiment, a lever type sensor was used as the detection means, but for example, in the case of the second detection means,
A light emitting element and a light receiving element may be provided above and below the hopper 29, and the presence or absence of a sheet may be detected by turning on and off the light receiving element.

[Effect of idea]

In summary, this invention feeds out the sheets by engaging the feeding means with the topmost sheet of sheets stacked on a vertically movable stacking section, and also raises the stacking section by an appropriate amount in response to a decrease in the number of sheets on the stacking section. In the sheet conveying device, the sheet conveying device includes a first detecting means for detecting whether or not a sheet supporting surface of the stacking section is in a position where it can be engaged with the feeding section; a second detecting means for detecting a sheet; a paper feeding means for setting a manual sheet feeding mode; and when the manual sheet feeding mode is set by this setting means, the second detecting means is not detecting a sheet; , the stacking section is raised until the first detecting means detects that the sheet supporting surface of the stacking section has reached a position where it can be engaged with the feeding means, and the second detecting means manually feeds the sheet. Since a control means is provided which drives the feeding means when the sheet is detected, even if the loading section has a mechanism that moves up and down, it is possible to easily manually feed the sheet without providing a special manual feeding port. A sheet conveying device can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 8 are views showing one embodiment of this invention, with Figure 1 being a sectional view showing the overall structure of the automatic document feeder, and Figure 2 being a side view showing the internal structure of the separation and feeding section. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of the elevating device of the separating and feeding section, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the separating and feeding section as seen from above, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the second feeding means and the second separating means, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device. , FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation. 5...Control unit, 7...Copy machine, 15...Manual paper feed mode switch, 17...Document storage unit, 19
...separation section, 29 ... hopper, 31 ... lifting device, 75 ... automatic document feeder, 161 ... feeding means, 163 ... first feeding means, 165 ...
...first separation means, 167...second feeding means,
169...Second separation means, 171...Registration means, 173...Sensor, 209...Separation and feeding section, 211...Transportation section, 213...Reversing discharge section,
215... Accommodation tray.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A feeding means is engaged with the uppermost sheet of sheets stacked on a vertically movable stacking section to feed the sheet, and in response to a decrease in the number of sheets on the stacking section, A sheet conveying device for raising a stacking section by an appropriate amount, comprising: a first detection means for detecting whether or not a sheet supporting surface of the stacking section is in a position where it can be engaged with the feeding section; a second detection means for detecting whether or not there is a paper feeding means; a paper feeding means for setting a manual paper feeding mode;
When the manual paper feeding mode is set by this setting means, the sheet supporting surface of the stacking section reaches a position where it can be engaged with the feeding means while the second detecting means is not detecting any sheets. and control means for raising the stacking section until the first detection means detects the manually fed sheet, and driving the feeding means when the second detection means detects the manually inserted sheet. Sheet conveyance device. (2) Utility Model Registration The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the stacking section is vertically movable in parallel. (3) Utility model registration The sheet conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the stacking section has a rotation center at one end and the other end rotates up and down. Device. (4) Utility Model Registration In the sheet conveying device according to claim 1, the first detection means is located at a position where the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the stacking section can be engaged with the feeding means. A sheet conveying device characterized in that it also serves to detect whether or not.