JPH04286548A - Paper feed cassette device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve paper feeding performance. CONSTITUTION:In this paper supply cassette device, a paper supply cassette 5 provided with an energizing means for energizing according to the paper size is removably mounted thereto, and there are provided a cassette case 14 movable in the direction of the rotary shaft 29 of a paper feed roller 20, a supporting shaft 35 for rotatably supporting the side, distant from the paper feed roller 20, of the cassette case 14, and rollers 60, 61 for pushing up the paper feed roller 20 side end part of the cassette case 14 so as to press sheets 44 to the paper feed roller 20.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette device, particularly a paper feed cassette that can be inserted into and removed from a cassette accommodating portion of an image forming apparatus in the direction of the rotational axis of the paper feed roller. The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette device for an image forming apparatus for arranging a paper feed cassette device.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a so-called front-loading type image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, is known in which a paper feed cassette is loaded into a cassette accommodating portion from the front of the main body of the image forming apparatus. In this front-loading type image forming apparatus, when the paper feed cassette is installed, the paper feed cassette moves in the direction of the rotation axis of the paper feed roller in the cassette accommodating section. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the paper from shifting laterally due to the paper coming into contact with the end surface of the paper feed roller.

[0003] As a device for preventing this lateral paper shift, a device shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. 63-21630 has been proposed. In this device, the paper feed cassette slides downward away from the paper feed roller and moves toward the cassette accommodating section. When the paper is placed in the cassette accommodating section, the entire paper in the paper cassette is lifted by a pressure applying member (spring member) provided below the paper cassette, and the paper is pressed against the paper feed roller. It looks like this.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In general, the paper stored in the paper feed cassette comes in various sizes, from business card size to JIS standard A0, and the size of the paper stored in the paper feed cassette varies depending on the paper size. Weight fluctuates.

However, since the same spring member is always used, a problem arises in that the pressure force against the sheet feeding roller changes depending on the sheet size, resulting in a decrease in sheet feeding performance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding cassette for an image forming apparatus that can improve paper feeding performance.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A paper feed cassette device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be inserted into and removed from a cassette accommodating portion of an image forming apparatus having a paper feed roller in the direction of the rotational axis of the paper feed roller. This is a paper feed cassette device for an image forming apparatus for arranging a paper feed cassette. This device is
It includes a paper feed cassette case, a support section, and a push-up section.

[0008] The paper feed cassette case is configured to removably mount a paper feed cassette having a biasing means for obtaining paper feed pressure in accordance with the paper size, and is movable in the direction of the rotational axis of the paper feed roller. ing. The support portion rotatably supports the side of the paper feed cassette case that is remote from the paper feed roller. The push-up section is for pressing the paper in the paper feed cassette against the paper feed roller by pushing up the paper feed roller side end of the paper feed cassette case.

[0009]

[Operation] In the present invention, the paper feed cassette is detachably attached to the paper feed cassette case. Then, in the cassette storage section, the push-up section pushes up the end of the paper feed roller side of the paper feed cassette case, so that the paper in the paper feed cassette comes into pressure contact with the paper feed roller.

[0010] In this case, the urging means in the paper feed cassette provides paper feed pressure in accordance with the paper size, so that paper feed performance is improved. In addition, when the paper in the paper cassette is pressed against the paper feed roller by the push-up section, the side of the paper cassette case that is away from the paper feed roller is supported by the support section, so the paper does not come into contact with the paper feed roller. Contact can be ensured. Thereby, paper feeding performance can be further improved.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a copying machine incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a document table 2 on which a document is placed is arranged at the top of a copying machine main body 1, and a document presser 3 is provided on the top surface of the document table 2 so as to be openable and closable. Also,
A paper discharge tray 4 and a cassette case 14 into which a paper feed cassette 5 is detachably mounted are arranged on the left side of the copying machine body 1 in the figure. The cassette case 14 is installed into the copying machine main body 1 from the front side of the page. Furthermore, a tray 6 for bypass paper feeding is arranged on the right side of the figure.

Inside the copying machine body 1, there is a photosensitive drum 7.
is located. Around the photosensitive drum 7, in addition to a charging device, a transfer device, a paper separation device, and a cleaning device, there are developing devices 10, 11, which are arranged vertically side by side.
A developing device 8 having 12 and 13 is provided. Each developing device 10, 11, 12, 13 is used for magenta, magenta, magenta, magenta, etc., for example.
There are cyan, yellow, and black developing devices. These developing units 10 to 13 are fixed to a movable frame 9. The moving frame 9 can be moved in the vertical direction by a moving mechanism 16 including bevel gears 17, 18, a ball screw 19, and the like.

A transfer drum 2 is provided below the photosensitive drum 7.
1 are placed close to each other. Further, above the photosensitive drum 7, a laser unit 22 is arranged. The laser beam from the laser unit 22 is directed to the photosensitive drum 7.
It is designed to illuminate the upper end surface of the . On the other hand, below the document table 2, a reader 23 including a CCD element is arranged. The reader 23 is movable in the left-right direction in the figure, and is configured to scan a document placed on the document table 2. Image information obtained by the reader 23 is sent to the laser unit 22 as an electrical signal.

The lower part of the transfer drum 21 and the paper feed cassette 5
Paper feed conveyance devices 24 and 25 are arranged between the bypass paper feed tray 6 and the bypass paper feed tray 6, respectively. Each paper feed conveyance device 2
Reference numerals 4 and 25 are composed of a paper feed guide and a plurality of paper feed rollers. Between the transfer drum 21 and the paper output tray 4,
A paper discharge conveyance device 26 and an image fixing device 27 are arranged in this order from the transfer drum 21 side. A separation claw 28 for separating the recording paper on the transfer drum 21 from the transfer drum 21 is provided between the transfer drum 21 and the paper discharge conveyance device 26 .

Next, details of the mounting portion of the cassette case 14 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In these figures, a pair of Accuride (registered trademark) 30 are arranged in the copying machine main body 1 in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2). The Accuride 30 includes a fixing member 31 having a U-shaped cross section with one end fixed to the rear side plate 1a, an intermediate slide member 32 that is slidable within the fixing member 31, and a U-shaped cross section that supports the intermediate slide member 32 in a slidable manner. It is composed of a slide member 33 having a shape. The intermediate slide member 32 and the slide member 33 can protrude forward from the copying machine main body 1 through an opening 34 formed in the front side plate 1b. Further, a paper feed roller 20 is arranged above each fixing member 31 . The paper feed roller 20 is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 29 arranged in the front-rear direction.

One end of the cassette case 14 (paper feed roller 20
A support shaft 35 is inserted through the side remote from the cassette case 14, and the cassette case 14 is rotatable around the support shaft 35. The support shaft 35 is supported by a bracket 36. The bracket 36 is fixed to the slide member 33 of one Accuride 30. With this configuration, the cassette case 14 is slidable in the direction of the rotation axis 29 of the paper feed roller 20, and is inserted into the cassette storage section 42 in the copying machine main body 1.
It can be inserted and removed from the Furthermore, a pair of protrusions 38 that protrude downward are provided at the lower part of the other end of the cassette case 14 . Each protrusion 38 is formed with a long hole 38a that extends in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a connecting member 39 extending in the front-rear direction is fixed to the slide member 33 of the Accuride 30. A pair of pins 40 are attached to the connecting member 39, each of which is inserted through each elongated hole 38a. Furthermore, a pair of rails 41 extending in the front-rear direction are fixed at a position away from the support shaft 35 at the lower part of the cassette case 14 .

Further, a coil spring 45 is attached to the paper feed cassette 5 installed in the cassette case 14, and has a spring strength to obtain an appropriate paper feed pressure depending on the size of the paper 44 to be accommodated. ing.

Next, FIGS. 4 and 5 show cross-sections taken along line AA in FIG. 2. Note that FIG. 5 shows a state in which the paper feed cassette 5 is placed in the cassette accommodating section 42, and FIG. It shows the state where it is placed.

In these figures, a support plate 50 provided on the front side plate 1b (FIG. 2) of the copying machine main body 1 has a support plate 50 that is attached to a support plate 50 provided on the front side plate 1b (FIG. 2) of the copying machine main body 1. One end of the plate 51 extending to is fixed. The plate 51 has two slits 51a extending in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, below the plate 51,
A slide member 52 is arranged. The front and rear ends of this slide member 52 are bent downward, respectively.
The rotating shaft 29 is inserted through each of the bent portions 52a and 52b. The rotating shaft 29 is rotatably supported by the bent portions 52a and 52b, and moves integrally with the slide member 52 in the axial direction. The slide member 52 also has a screw 53 inserted through the slit 51a.
are screwed together from above. With this screw 53, the slide member 52 is supported by the plate 51 so as to be slidable in the front and rear directions.

Further, a coil spring 54 is installed in tension between the support plate 50 and the slide member 52. Each end of the coil spring 54 is locked to the support plate 50 and the lower part of the slide member 52, respectively. Due to the spring force of this coil spring 54, the slide member 52 is always urged forward (to the left in the figure) together with the rotating shaft 29. The support plate 50 also has a cylindrical protrusion 5 that protrudes rearward.
5 is provided. One end of the rotating shaft 29 is inserted into the hole 55a of the protrusion 55, and the rotating shaft 29 can freely slide within the hole 55a. In addition, the slide member 52
A contact plate 56 extending downward is attached to the bent portion 52b. The cassette case 14 is attached to the contact plate 56.
The front end portion 14a of the front end portion 14a can come into contact with the front end portion 14a of the front end portion 14a.

Further, a pair of rollers 60 and 61 are provided below the paper feed roller 20. Each roller 60, 61 is
It is rotatable around support shafts 60a and 61a, each extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. In addition, cassette case 14
The lower rail 41 is formed with an inclined surface 41a whose protrusion amount increases toward the front, and an arc-shaped recess 41b continuous with the inclined surface 41a. This recess 41b is formed by the roller 6
0.61 (see FIG. 5).

Next, the operation will be explained. The cassette case 1 is placed in the cassette housing section 42 (FIG. 2) inside the copying machine main body 1.
4, first, with the cassette case 14 taken out to the front side of the copying machine body 1 (see FIG. 2), the paper feed cassette 5 is installed inside the cassette case 14.

Next, the cassette case 14 is inserted into the copying machine main body 1.
Push it inside. Then, the cassette case 14 moves to the cassette accommodating part 42 side via the Accuride 30, and the rail 41 at the bottom of the cassette case 14 moves to the cassette accommodating part 4.
2 (see FIG. 4). When the cassette case 14 is further pushed in from this state, the inclined surface 41a of the rail 41 rides on the rollers 60, 61, the cassette case 14 rotates around the support shaft 35, and the end of the cassette case 14 on the rail 41 side gradually increases.

On the other hand, due to the movement of the cassette case 14,
The front end portion 14a abuts against the abutting plate 56 (FIG. 4). When the cassette case 14 is further pushed in from this state, the slide member 52 to which the abutment plate 56 is fixed extends the coil spring 54, and the cassette case 14, slide member 52 and the rotating shaft 29 move together. As a result, relative movement between the paper feed cassette 5 and the paper feed roller 20 in the cassette case 14 is eliminated, and lateral displacement of the paper due to interference with the paper feed roller 20 is prevented. When the paper feed cassette 5 in the cassette case 14 is located below the paper feed roller 20, the upper part of the roller 60 fits into the recess 41b of the rail 41 (FIG. 5). At this time, the paper 44 in the paper feed cassette 5 is transferred to the paper feed roller 2.
0 from below. In this way, the cassette case 14 is placed within the cassette accommodating section 42.

In this case, a cassette case 14 with a paper feed cassette 5 mounted therein is used. As described above, the coil spring 45 in the paper feed cassette 5 is set to an appropriate spring pressure depending on the size of the paper 44 to be accommodated. Therefore, even if the paper size changes, the paper can be brought into contact with the paper feed roller 20 with an appropriate pressing force. This makes it possible to obtain stable paper feeding pressure and improve paper feeding performance. Further, since the cassette case 14 is supported by the Accuride 30 via the support shaft 35, vertical rattling is less likely to occur. This ensures that the paper 20 is pressed against the paper feeding rollers 20, and the paper feeding performance is further improved.

[0026]

Effects of the Invention The paper feed cassette device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a paper feed cassette case into which the paper feed cassette is detachably mounted, so that paper feeding performance can be improved. Further, since the paper feed cassette case is rotatably supported by the support portion on the side away from the paper feed rollers, the paper can be reliably pressed against the paper feed rollers, and the paper feed performance can be further improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a copying machine employing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the mounting portion of the cassette case.

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Copy machine body 5 Paper cassette 14 Cassette case 20 Paper feed roller 29 Rotation axis 35 Support shaft 42 Cassette storage section 44 Paper 45 Coil spring 60 koro

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A paper feed cassette for an image forming apparatus for arranging the paper feed cassette in a cassette accommodating section having a paper feed roller of the image forming apparatus so that the paper feed cassette can be inserted and removed in the direction of the rotational axis of the paper feed roller. A paper feed cassette case in which a paper feed cassette having a biasing means for obtaining a paper feed pressure according to a paper size is removably mounted and movable in the direction of a rotational axis of the paper feed roller; , a support part that rotatably supports the side of the paper feed cassette case that is away from the paper feed roller; and a support part that rotatably supports the side of the paper feed cassette case that is away from the paper feed roller; A paper feed cassette device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a push-up portion for bringing the paper into pressure contact with the paper feed roller.