JPH04303345A - Paper feed cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically perform paper loosening in a paper feed cassette without requiring handwork. CONSTITUTION:On both side parts of a cassette body 1 on which a cassette cap 2 is mounted in such a manner as to be capable of being opened and closed and in which several piece of paper P can be stacked and received, paper end pressing members 3, 4 are pivotally supported in such a manner as to be capable of being erected and inclined. Reacting to the closing operation of the cassette cap 2, the first paper end pressing member 3 is inclined to the side of pressing the paper end in the cassette body 1, and the part closer to the second paper end pressing member 4 of the paper P is also pushed up from under the paper P by a first back face pressing member 7 provided on the bottom part of the cassette body 1 and reacting to the closing operation of the cassette cap 2. When the closing operation is further advanced, the second paper end pressing members 4 is fallen on the side of pressing the paper end in the cassette body 1, and the part closer to the first paper end pressing member 4 of the paper P is pushed up from under the paper by a second back face pressing member 8 provided on the bottom part of the cassette body 1 and reacting to the closing operation of the cassette cap 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette used for supplying paper to a copying machine or the like.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when supplying transfer paper to a copying machine, a dedicated paper supply cassette is used. That is, a large number of sheets of transfer paper to be supplied are stacked and stored in a paper feed cassette, and the paper feed cassette is installed in a copying machine.

By the way, if the transfer paper taken out from the wrapping paper is put into the paper feed cassette and fed, the paper may not be properly separated in the copying machine, and several sheets of transfer paper may overlap. Malfunctions such as double feeding may occur, and jams may also occur due to these malfunctions.

[0004] Conventionally, in order to avoid such a situation caused by poor separation of transfer paper, the work of manually sorting and separating the transfer paper one by one before storing it in the paper feed cassette was performed. .

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, as described above, when paper is handled manually, the work is not only complicated, but also when done by a person who is inexperienced with the work, the transfer paper becomes scattered and unusable. There were problems such as losing them.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention aims to provide a paper feed cassette that automatically sorts paper without requiring manual labor.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cassette body capable of accommodating a large number of stacked sheets of paper, and a cassette lid that is attached to the cassette body so as to be openable and closable. , is pivotably supported on one side of the cassette body so as to be able to rise and fall, and in response to the closing operation of the cassette lid, it falls to the side that presses the edge of the paper inside the cassette body, and returns to its original position when the lid is closed. a first paper edge pressing member that is pivotally supported on the other side of the cassette main body so as to be able to freely rise and fall; The second lid falls to the side that presses the edge of the paper inside the cassette body at the right time, and returns to its original position when the lid is closed.
a paper edge pressing member located at the bottom of the cassette body;
A portion biased towards the installation side of the second paper edge pressing member from the intermediate portion of the paper in the cassette main body in synchronization with the timing at which the first paper edge pressing member falls down in response to the closing operation of the cassette lid. a first back pressing member that rises to push up the cassette lid from below and returns to its original position when the lid is closed; In synchronization with the timing when the paper edge pressing member falls down, the part of the paper in the cassette main body that is biased toward the installation side of the first paper edge pressing member than the middle part of the paper rises from below and returns to its original position when the lid is closed. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a second back pressing member that returns to the original position.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the above structure, when the cassette lid is closed, the first paper edge pressing member pivotally supported on one side of the cassette body first presses one end of the paper inside the cassette body. At the same time as being pushed down, the first back pressing member rises, and this back pressing member pushes up from below the part of the paper that is biased towards the installation side of the second paper end pressing member rather than the middle part of the paper. As a result, the paper in the cassette main body is pinched from both sides by the pair of paper edge pressing members, and is curved and deformed so as to bulge upward in a portion near the second paper edge pressing member. Subsequently, the second paper edge pressing member, which is pivotally supported on the other side of the cassette main body, is pushed down to push the other end of the paper inside the cassette main body as the cassette lid closes. , the second back pressing member rises, and this back pressing member pushes up from below the portion of the paper that is biased toward the installation side of the first paper end pressing member rather than the middle portion of the paper. As a result, the curving deformation of the paper inside the cassette main body shifts from a portion near the second paper edge pressing member to a portion near the first paper edge pressing member, thereby separating the paper. When the cassette lid is completely closed to the cassette main body, each paper end pressing member and each back pressing member return to their original states, and the papers in the cassette main body are also returned to the stacked state before being curved and deformed.

[0009]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a paper feed cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an enlarged main part of the paper feed cassette, and FIG. 3 is a cross section showing the operation of the paper feed cassette. It is a diagram.

The paper feed cassette of this embodiment is a cassette used, for example, to supply transfer paper to a copying machine, and includes:
The cassette body 1 has a bottomed box-like cassette body 1 capable of storing a plurality of sheets of transfer paper in a stacked state, and a cassette lid 2 pivotally attached to the rear end of the cassette body 1 so as to be openable and closable. On both sides of the cassette main body 1, paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4 are provided with shafts 5 and 5, respectively, so that they can be raised and lowered toward the end of the transfer paper stored in the cassette main body 1. It is pivotally supported through. Furthermore, these pair of paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4 are connected to shafts 5 and 5.
The cassette main body 1 is biased by torsion coil springs 6, 6 wound in the direction of rotation to rise to a vertical position along the side wall 1a of the cassette main body 1. One of these paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4, for example paper edge pressing plate 3, is set to be slightly longer than the other paper edge pressing plate 4.

On the outer surfaces of these paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4, that is, the surfaces facing the side wall 1a of the cassette body 1, there are guide protrusions that slide into guide plates 12 and 12, which will be described later, formed on the cassette lid 2 side. 3a and 4a are formed, respectively. As described above, since the paper edge pressing plate 3 is set longer than the paper edge pressing plate 4, the guide protrusions 3a, 4a are longer than the other guide protrusion 4a. It is formed to extend slightly upwards.

Further, on the transfer paper mounting table 1b on the bottom surface of the cassette body 1, there is provided a tray 1 extending from each side of the cassette body 1 over the middle part to a position close to the other side.
A pair of back pressing plates 7 and 8 are arranged. The base end portions 7a, 8a of these back pressing plates 7, 8 are pivotally supported on each side of the cassette body 1 via the shafts 5, 5 so that the distal ends facing each other can be raised and lowered. ing. moreover,
These pair of back pressing plates 7 and 8 have a comb-shaped intersection 7b from the middle to the tip so that they do not overlap each other.
8b is formed.

Further, between the side walls 1a on both sides in the cassette main body 1 and each paper edge pressing plate 3, 4, there are a pair of pressing plates for pressing down the base ends 7a, 8a of the corresponding back pressing plates 7, 8, respectively. Pushing members 9 and 10 are arranged. These pressing members 9 and 10 are connected to the corresponding paper edge pressing plates 3 and 10, respectively.
A schematic cross-sectional view having receiving plate portions 9a, 10a horizontally protruding toward the 4 side on the upper end side, and guide protrusions 9b, 10b protruding toward the corresponding paper edge pressing plates 3, 4 side on the lower end side. The shape is inverted L-shape, and the guide protrusions 9b and 10 are always
b is supported on the bottom surface of the cassette main body 1 via a coil spring 11 such that it is located at a height that does not push down the base end portions 7a, 8a of the back pressing plates 7, 8.

Furthermore, among the pair of pushing members 9 and 10, the pushing member 9 corresponding to the paper edge pressing plate 3 has a lower pressure than the other pushing member 10 corresponding to the paper edge pressing plate 4. Its height is set high.

On the other hand, on both sides of the cassette lid 2, at positions corresponding to the installation parts of the paper edge pressing plates 3, 4 and the pushing members 9, 10 on the cassette main body 1 side, there are holes perpendicular to the lid surface. Guide plates 12, 12 are formed respectively. The inward surfaces of these guide plates 12, that is, the surfaces on which these guide plates 12 face each other, are provided with guide protrusions 1 that slide into guide protrusions 3a and 4a of the corresponding paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4.
2a are formed respectively.

Next, the operation of the paper feed cassette will be explained with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3(a), when the cassette lid 2 is not closed, the pair of paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4 are pressed against the cassette by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 6 wound around the shaft 5. It is raised in a vertical position along the side wall 1a of the main body 1. The transfer paper P is stored in a stacked state on the transfer paper mounting table 1b sandwiched between the pair of paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4. Also, at this time, since the pushing members 9 and 10 are supported by the coil springs 11 at a height position that does not push down the base end portions 7a and 8a of the back pressing plates 7 and 8, the left and right back pressing plates 7 and 8 is in a horizontal position with the transfer paper P placed on it and laid down on the transfer paper mounting table 1b.

Under this condition, when the cassette lid 2 begins to close as shown in FIG. Since it is formed to extend slightly higher than the guide protrusion 4a of the end pressing plate 4, the guide protrusion 12a of the guide plate 12 on the cassette lid 2 side first presses the corresponding paper on one side of the cassette main body 1. In sliding contact with the guide protrusion 3a of the end pressing plate 3,
This paper edge pressing plate 3 is tilted to the side that presses the edge of the transfer paper P.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, the upper end of the pushing member 9 is set higher than the other pushing member 10, so at this time, in parallel with the tilting of the paper edge pressing plate 3, the pushing member 9 is first pushed. The moving member 9 is pushed down by the guide plate 12 on the cassette lid 2 side against the coil spring 11, and as a result, the base end 7a of the back pressing plate 7 is pushed by the pushing member 9, and the back pressing plate 7 is pushed down. The leading end side, that is, the leading end side extending toward the paper edge pressing plate 4 side rises.

Therefore, at this time, the transfer paper P stored in a stacked state is pinched by the paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4 from both sides, and the part that is biased toward the paper edge pressing plate 4 side beyond the middle part is Forced to curve deformation. In addition, from below, the back pressing plate 7 lifts up the portion that is biased toward the paper edge pressing plate 4 beyond the intermediate portion. As a result, the transfer paper P is curved and deformed in the portion that is biased toward the paper end pressing plate 4 side.

In this case, since the paper edge pressing plate 3 presses one end side of the transfer paper P in an inclined position, the curvature of the curvature gradually increases from the lower layer side to the upper layer side. As a result, an air layer is reliably formed between the transfer papers P that overlap one above the other, and the transfer paper P
will be automatically handled.

As the closing operation of the cassette lid 2 progresses, as shown in FIG.
As shown in c), the guide protrusion 12a of the other guide plate 12 of the cassette lid 2 comes into sliding contact with the guide protrusion 4a of the corresponding paper edge pressing plate 4 on the cassette body 1 side, and this paper edge pressing plate 4 is tilted toward the side that presses the edge of the transfer paper P. That is, at this time, the pair of paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4 are both in a tilted position.

In parallel with this, the other pushing member 10
is pushed down by the corresponding guide plate 12 on the cassette lid 2 side against the coil spring 11. As a result, the base end 8a of the back pressing plate 8 is pushed by the pushing member 10, and the back pressing plate 8 is pushed down by the corresponding guide plate 12 on the cassette lid 2 side. The leading end side, that is, the leading end side extending toward the paper edge pressing plate 3 side is raised. On the other hand, first the back pressing plate 7
The pushing member 9 that was raising up the guide protrusion 9
b is pushed down to the position where it overcomes the base end 7a of the corresponding back pressing plate 7, so that the back pressing plate 7, which is released from the pushing restriction, returns to its original horizontal position.

Therefore, at this time, the transfer paper P is pressed from both sides by the paper edge pressing plates 3 and 4 tilted in a V-shape, and from below by the back pressing plate 8 beyond the intermediate part. The portion that is biased toward the paper edge pressing plate 4 side is lifted. As a result, the curve that had been created in the part that was biased toward the paper edge pressing plate 4 side is now displaced in a wave-like manner to the part that is biased toward the other paper edge pressing plate 3, and air is spread over the entire surface of the transfer paper P. A layer is formed and sufficient paper separation is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3(d), when the cassette lid 2 is completely closed, the guide plate 12 on the cassette lid 2 side
, 12 go over the guide protrusions 3a, 4a of the corresponding paper edge pressing plates 3, 4, so that each paper edge pressing plate 3, 4 is attached to the torsion coil spring 6 wound around the shaft 5. It rises to its original vertical position due to the biasing force.

Also, the pushing member 10 pushed down by one of the guide plates 12 has its guide protrusion 10b over the base end 8a of the back pressing plate 8 and reaches the lower position. The back pressing plate 8, which has been released from the pressing restriction, also returns to its original horizontal position. In this way,
Inside the cassette main body 1, the paper edge pressing plates 3, 4 and the back pressing plates 7, 8 return to the state before closing the cassette lid 2, and the transfer paper P returns to its original stacked state. Therefore, by simply installing this paper cassette into the copying machine,
Transfer paper can be smoothly fed into the copying machine.

When the cassette lid 2 is opened, the guide plate 12 is retracted upward from the inside of the cassette body 1.
, 12 is released, the pressing members 9, 10 are pushed up by the restoring force of the coil spring 11, and their guide protrusions 9b, 10b touch the back pressing plate 7.
, 8 and returns to the original height position.

In the above embodiment, the guide plates 12, 12 on the side of the cassette lid 2 are in direct sliding contact with the paper edge pressing plates 3, 4 to tilt the paper edge pressing plates 3, 4. The movement of the guide plate 12 is controlled by the paper edge pressing plate 3 via an intermediate member.
, 4, these may be tilted.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the movement of the guide plates 12, 12 is transmitted to the back pressing plates 7, 8 through the pushing members 9, 10, which are intermediate members.
Although the configuration for raising and lowering the guide plate 12,
12 may be used to directly raise and lower the back pressing plates 7 and 8.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the paper edge pressing plate 3,
In order to vary the timing of tilting between the paper edge pressure plates 3 and 4 and the rising timing of the back pressure plates 7 and 8,
, 4 and the heights of the pushing members 9 and 10 have been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the vertical lengths of the left and right guide plates 12 and 12 of the cassette lid 2 can be changed. The above-mentioned timing may be made to be different by making the timing different.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case of a paper feed cassette used in a copying machine has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a paper feed cassette used to supply paper to a printer or other apparatus.

[0031]

Effects of the Invention The present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and has a cassette lid attached to the cassette lid so as to be openable and closable, and a paper edge pressing member that can be folded up and down on both sides of the cassette main body that can store several sheets of paper in a stacked manner. In response to the closing operation of the cassette lid, the first paper edge pressing member is first tilted to the side that presses the paper edge inside the cassette body, and at the same time, the first paper edge pressing member provided at the bottom of the cassette body closes the cassette lid. The first back pressing member that responds to the lid operation pushes up the portion of the paper inside the cassette body closer to the second paper end pressing member from below, and as the cassette lid closes further, the second paper end pressing member At the same time, when the member is tilted to the side that presses the edge of the paper inside the cassette body, the second back pressing member, which is provided at the bottom of the cassette body and responds to the closing operation of the cassette lid, presses the first edge of the paper inside the cassette body. Since the portion close to the paper edge pressing member is pushed up from below, the sheets stacked in the cassette body can be caused to curve in a wave-like manner as the cassette lid closes. , which allows paper to be automatically sorted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a paper feed cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an enlarged main part of the paper feed cassette of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the operation of the paper feed cassette of the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols] 1　Cassette body 2　Cassette lid 3, 4 Paper edge pressing member 7, 8 Back pressure member

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cassette body capable of accommodating a large number of stacked sheets of paper; a cassette lid attached to the cassette body so as to be freely openable and closable; a first paper edge pressing member that falls to the side that presses the paper edge inside the cassette body in response to the closing operation of the cassette lid and returns to its original position when the lid is closed; and the other side of the cassette body. In response to the closing operation of the cassette lid, the lid is pivoted to the side that presses the paper edge inside the cassette body at a timing slightly delayed from the first paper edge pressing member, and the lid is closed. The second part returns to its original position upon completion.
a paper edge pressing member located at the bottom of the cassette body;
A portion biased towards the installation side of the second paper edge pressing member from the intermediate portion of the paper in the cassette main body in synchronization with the timing at which the first paper edge pressing member falls down in response to the closing operation of the cassette lid. a first back pressing member that rises to push up the cassette lid from below and returns to its original position when the lid is closed; In synchronization with the timing when the paper edge pressing member falls down, the part of the paper in the cassette main body that is biased toward the installation side of the first paper edge pressing member than the middle part of the paper rises from below and returns to its original position when the lid is closed. A paper feed cassette characterized in that it is provided with a second back pressing member that returns to the original position.