JPH04317929A - Sheet storing body, sheet feeder using the same and sheet handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the handing efficiency for sheets such as recording sheet or the like, to keep the sheet surface from stains, flaws, bending, corner folding or the like in a sheet handling process, to protect the sheet from the environmental change such as the temperature and humidity and to prevent the generation of printing on the back of the sheet in a sheet feeder, and a sheet handling apparatus of a recording apparatus. CONSTITUTION:A sheet storing body comprises a stack P of sheets and a sheet storing body 51 removably set in a sheet loading and storing portion of a sheet feeder, wherein the stack P of sheets is previously substantially closed and stored in the sheet storing body 51, and the storing body 51 is constructed so that a part thereof is unsealed 52 or an opening and closing lid is opened to form a sheet feed opening 54 and an opening portion which serves as an operating portion of a sheet draw-out means of the sheet feeder, or the storing body has the opening portion.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is applicable to recording (printing) devices such as printers, copying machines, facsimile machines, and simple printing machines, image forming devices, and other sheet processing devices. Effective when applied to a sheet feeding device that feeds sheets (sheets, cut sheets) of photosensitive paper, printing paper, etc. one by one from the sheet stacking storage section into a sheet processing device such as a printer using a feeding means. The present invention relates to a novel sheet storage body (sheet magazine), a sheet feeding device, and a sheet processing device using the same.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of sheet feeding apparatus, there are various configuration methods for the sheet stacking and storage section, such as a sheet cassette detachable type, a seat base sliding/drawing type, a sheet deck movable type, and a fixed sheet tray type.

In either case, the stack of sheets (sheet stack, hereinafter referred to as a sheet bundle) that has been unwrapped or unpacked and taken out is carefully sorted, aligned vertically and horizontally, and placed in a sheet cassette or sheet stand. It is used by being loaded and stored in a predetermined manner on a seat deck or a seat tray.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] (1) Conventional sheet feeding devices handle exposed bundles of sheets that easily come apart during operations such as storing and taking out sheets from sheet cassettes, sheet stands, etc. Seat handling is poor.

(2) The bundle of sheets taken out bare,
Avoid stains, scratches, or bends on sheets when sorting them, aligning them vertically or horizontally, storing them in a specified position inside a sheet positioning regulating member such as a sheet cassette or sheet stand, or when taking them out.・It was easy to cause the edges to break.

[0006] Staining of the sheet surface degrades the quality of the output recording/image forming sheet if the sheet processing apparatus is a recording apparatus/image forming apparatus.

For example, if the coating surface (recording surface) of an inkjet recording sheet is scratched, ink may flow along the scratches or bleed, causing image defects. It will occur.

[0008] Folds and edge folds of sheets cause sheet skew, sheet jams, etc. in the sheet feeding and conveyance path. For example, in an inkjet recording device, the gap between the sheet and the recording head is set to about 1 mm or less, so if the sheet is bent or bent, the sheet may interfere with the recording head surface, causing sheet jams and images. It is easy to see the occurrence of collapse, dirt, etc. due to rubbing.

(3) When the sheets to be used have different front and back sides, when the sheets are stacked and stored in a sheet cassette, sheet stand, etc., it is easy to set the front and back sides in the wrong direction.

For example, inkjet recording sheets include coated paper, which is plain paper coated with an ink absorbing and retaining layer, and OHP sheets, which are coated with a transparent ink absorbing and retaining layer on a transparent base film such as PET. There is also a back print film, which has a similar structure and is coated with a white ink absorbing and retaining layer, and prints a mirror image on the coated surface to obtain a regular image when viewed from the back side.

In both cases, the coating side of the ink absorbing and retaining layer is the sheet surface side serving as the recording surface. The sheets must be loaded and stored in a sheet cassette, sheet stand, etc. with the sheet surface facing a predetermined direction (upwards or downwards) so that the sheet is conveyed with the front side facing the recording head. .

By printing on the front side of the sheet, the adhering printing ink is quickly absorbed by the ink absorbing and retaining layer on the sheet surface, resulting in a good printed image. However, when printing is performed on the back side of the sheet, the ink is absorbed slowly or not at all, causing the ink to flow. In particular, in color recording devices with multiple recording heads, multiple colors of ink are printed on the same location on the sheet, so the amount of adhering ink increases.
This results in further ink flow, color mixing, etc.

[0013] This not only results in a defective image, but also contaminates the conveyance rollers that grip and convey the printed sheet that has passed through the recording head section with ink, causing stains on the roller marks and defective sheet conveyance. .

[0014] Therefore, if the sheet to be used has a front and back side as described above, it is necessary to load and store the sheet in a sheet cassette, sheet stand, etc. with the front side of the sheet in a predetermined direction. Sometimes I make mistakes.

As means for distinguishing between the front and back sides of a sheet, there are 1) a means for distinguishing from the color difference between the front and the back of the sheet, 2) a means for discriminating by the difference in the amount of reflected light between the front and the back of the sheet, and 2) a means for discriminating by the difference in the coefficient of friction between the front and the back of the sheet. be.

However, sheets for office use are generally white on both the front and back, and coated papers are also desired to be white on the front and back, and the coating thickness is approximately several tens of micrometers, which affects the texture and surface condition of the paper. Although there is no major difference, it is often difficult or virtually impossible to distinguish between the front and back sides based on the color difference (2) or the difference in the amount of reflected light (2). In addition, the friction coefficient of the front and back sides of the sheet changes greatly depending on the environment in which the sheet processing device such as the recording device is installed, especially the temperature and humidity, and also varies depending on the sheet material, so it is not possible to reliably distinguish between the front and back sides even by the difference in the friction coefficient mentioned in (■) above. There are many cases.

[0017] There is an idea to eliminate the distinction between the front and back by applying the same coating to both the front and back sides of the sheet, but this poses problems, such as increasing the cost of the sheet.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0019]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention is a sheet storage body, a sheet feeding device, and a sheet processing device using the same, which are characterized by the following configuration.

(1) It consists of a stack of sheets and a sheet storage container that can be attached and detached to the sheet loading storage section of the sheet feeding device, and the stack of sheets is stored in the sheet storage container in advance in a substantially hermetically sealed manner, The container can be formed with an opening that serves as a sheet feeding port and an operating part of a sheet feeding means of a sheet feeding device by partially unsealing or opening an opening/closing lid, or is provided with an opening. Features a seat storage body.

(2) The sheet storage body according to (1), wherein the stack of sheets is stored in the sheet storage container with the surfaces of the individual sheets oriented in the same direction.

(3) The sheet storage according to (1), further comprising means for detecting or recognizing that the sheet feeding device is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet stacking storage section. body.

(4) It consists of a stack of sheets and a sheet storage container that can be attached and detached to the sheet loading storage section of the sheet feeding device, and the stack of sheets is stored in the sheet storage container in advance in a substantially hermetically sealed manner, The container is capable of forming an opening that serves as a sheet feeding port and an operating part of a sheet feeding means of a sheet feeding device by partially unsealing or opening an opening/closing lid, or a sheet storage having such an opening. This is a sheet feeding device in which a sheet storage container is set in a sheet stacking storage section and sheets stored in the sheet storage container are fed out one by one, and the sheet storage body is set in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet stacking storage section of the sheet feeding device. The sheet storage device has means for detecting or recognizing that the sheet storage body is installed in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet loading storage section of the sheet feeding device. A sheet feeding device characterized in that it is possible to feed sheets only when the sheet is fed.

(5) It consists of a stack of sheets and a sheet storage container that can be attached to and detached from the sheet loading storage section of the sheet feeding device, and the stack of sheets is stored substantially hermetically in the sheet storage container in advance, The container is capable of forming an opening that serves as a sheet feeding port and an operating part of a sheet feeding means of a sheet feeding device by partially unsealing or opening an opening/closing lid, or a sheet storage having such an opening. 1. A sheet processing apparatus, characterized in that the sheet processing apparatus receives sheets by a sheet feeding device which sets the sheet storage container in a sheet stacking storage section and sequentially feeds out the sheets stored in the sheet storage container one by one.

(6) It has means for detecting or recognizing that the sheet storage body is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet stacking storage section of the sheet feeding device, and the means allows the sheet storage body to The sheet processing device according to item (5), characterized in that sheet feeding is enabled only when it is detected or recognized that the sheet is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet stacking/accommodating portion of the feeding device.

(7) The sheet processing device is a recording device,
The recording means is a jet recording method in which an electric current is applied to an electrothermal transducer according to a signal, and ink is ejected from an ejection port by the growth of bubbles generated by heating exceeding film boiling by the electrothermal transducer to perform recording. The sheet processing device according to (6), characterized in that:

[0027]

[Operation] Operations such as storing and taking out sheets from the sheet loading/accommodating section of the sheet feeding device are performed on the stacked sheet (
Handling of sheets becomes extremely easy by handling a container in which a bundle of sheets is stored and loading and unloading the container itself into and from the sheet stacking storage section.

[0028] During the above-mentioned operation, the sheets stored in the container are not directly touched with fingers, so the sheet surface may become dirty, scratched, bent, bent, etc., and problems caused by this may occur. It is possible to prevent trouble from occurring.

[0029] The sheet bundle stored in the sheet storage body is sealed inside the container before the container is opened or the lid is opened, and is protected from environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, and from dirt and dust, and even after the container is opened or the lid is opened. Since the externally exposed part of the storage sheet bundle can be limited to the minimum required part on the leading edge side, it can also be protected from environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, dust, dirt, etc.
Even if it is affected by temperature and humidity, since the sheet is contained within the container, the rate of moisture absorption and drying of the sheet is gradual, which prevents the occurrence of waviness of the sheet due to sudden environmental changes. It can be prevented.

When the sheet is fed out by the operation of the sheet feeding means of the sheet feeding device, the inner surfaces of both side walls of the container act as good side guides over almost the entire length of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction, thereby preventing the sheet from falling easily when the sheet is fed out by the sheet feeding means. The occurrence of skew is prevented.

[0031] To enable sheet feeding only when it is detected by a mounting direction detecting means that the sheet storage body is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet stacking storage part by a mounting direction detection means of the sheet storage body with respect to the sheet stacking storage part. This makes it possible to strictly prevent printing on the back side of the sheet.

[0032]

【Example】

<Example 1> (FIGS. 1 to 4) (1) Recording device (FIGS. 1 and 2) FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a recording device as a sheet processing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an upper sheet processing device. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the recording device with the stand pulled out.

Reference numeral 200 represents a recording apparatus main body, and 100 represents an image reading device mounted on the recording apparatus main body.

a) The image reading device 1001 is a document glass, and the document 2 is placed on the upper surface of the document glass with the image surface facing downward in accordance with a predetermined placement standard, and the document holding cover 3 is placed on top of the document 2. Cover and set. The width direction of this original glass 1 (direction perpendicular to the drawing) is the main scanning direction,
The length direction (horizontal direction in the drawing) is the sub-scanning direction.

Reference numeral 4 designates a main scanning member disposed facing upward on the lower surface side of the original glass, and reference numeral 8 designates a sub-scanning member in which the main scanning member 4 is disposed. The main scanning body 4 is provided with an imaging device 5 such as a CCD, an imaging lens 6, an original illumination lamp 7, and the like.

The main scanning body 4 is driven to reciprocate along a pair of parallel main scanning direction rails 9 provided on the sub-scanning body 8.
The sub-scanning body 8 has a parallel pair of sub-scanning direction rails 10 (10
) is driven to reciprocate along the Therefore, the main scanning body 4 moves in the main scanning direction and in the sub-scanning direction within a plane parallel to the downward image surface of the original 2 set on the original glass 1.

By reciprocating the main scanning body 4 once along the main scanning direction rails 9, one line of the original 2 is main scanned, and the image of one line is read (photoelectric reading) by the CCD 5. . Each time this main scanning is performed, the sub-scanning body 8 intermittently moves in the sub-scanning direction (forward movement) by a predetermined amount along the sub-scanning direction rails 10, 10, and by repeating this movement, the entire document surface is covered. Image information is read. The read image information for each line is transferred to the control section (not shown) of the recording apparatus main body 200 as a time-series electric digital image signal via an image processing section (not shown).

b) Recording Apparatus Main Body 200 The recording apparatus of this embodiment is of the serial scan type and inkjet recording type.

Reference numerals 21 and 22 designate an upper and a lower seat stand of two stages, upper and lower, serving as sheet stacking and storage sections. The upper and lower seat bases 21 and 22 can be independently attached to and removed from the front side 201 of the recording apparatus main body 200 (front loading method), and are completely stored inside the recording apparatus main body when attached.

[0040]In place of the conventional storing set of exposed sheet bundles, sheet storage bodies 50(A) and 50(B) as described in detail in the following section (2) are set on the seat bases 21 and 22. and use it. Seat storage body 50(A)・50(
B) has different storage sheet sizes.

When the sheet size is selected by an operation unit (not shown) and the recording start key is pressed, a predetermined pre-recording operation is performed, and sheet feeding from the upper sheet table 21 side or the lower sheet table 22 side is executed. be done.

That is, when sheet feeding from the upper sheet stand 21 side is selected, the sheet storage body 50 (A) is lifted by the lift mechanism 80 (A) on the upper sheet stand 21 side and moved to the pickup roller. The uppermost sheet of the stored sheet bundle P in the sheet storage body 50 (A) comes into contact with the lower surface of the sheet feeding means 23 (sheet feeding means), and the uppermost sheet is fed out by the rotational drive of the pickup roller 23, and the double feeding prevention roller By passing through pair 24, only this uppermost sheet is separated and conveyed, and then passing through pair 28 of intermediate conveying rollers,
9 and is conveyed to a pair of high-precision feed rollers 30.

Furthermore, when sheet feeding from the lower sheet stand 21 side is selected, the sheet storage body 50 (B) is lifted by the lift mechanism 80 (B) on the lower sheet stand 22 side and moved to the pickup roller. The uppermost sheet of the stored sheet bundle P in the sheet storage body 50 (B) comes into contact with the lower surface of the sheet storage body 50 (B), and the uppermost sheet is fed out by the rotational drive of the pickup roller 25 and passes through the double-feed prevention roller pair 26. Only this topmost sheet is separated and conveyed,
It is conveyed to a high-precision feed roller pair 30 through relay conveyance roller pairs 27, 28, and 29.

The sheet conveyed to the high-precision feed roller pair 30 is transferred to the inkjet recording head 3 by this roller pair 30.
1 and the platen 32 (recording position 33), and is intermittently conveyed by a pair of tension rollers 38.

[0045] Here, the above-mentioned upper seat base and lower seat base 2
Seat storage bodies 50 (A) and 50 (set to 1 and 22)
B) The storage stacked sheets in
By passing through the U-turn sheet path from the second side to the recording position 33, the conveyed sheet is reversed with the front side facing upward and faces the recording head 31.

At the recording position 33, the sheet P is conveyed under the control of the high-precision feed roller pair 30, and the tension roller pair 38 works to maintain the flat surface of the sheet between the high-precision feed roller pair 30 and this tension roller pair 38. area is formed.

The recording head 31 faces the high-precision feed roller pair 30 and the tension roller 38 above the sheet plane with a very small gap, and also in the sheet width direction (main scanning direction). ) is driven to reciprocate along a pair of parallel rails 34.

[0048] The recording head 31 is an image reading device 100.
It is driven to move forward along the rail 34 in accordance with one line of read image signals inputted from the side, and prints and records one line of image information on the sheet P. In this example, the discharge port density is 16 nozzles/mm, and the discharge port arrangement is 256 nozzles/mm.
A recording head 31 with ejection ports is used. The conveyance of the sheet P is stopped while one line of printing is recorded by the forward movement drive of the recording head 31, and when the recording of one line is completed and the recording head 31 moves backward and returns to the home position. , during this period, the sheet is conveyed a predetermined amount and then stopped again. Then, all images are recorded by repeating the same operation. A recording method in which printing is performed on a stationary sheet while reciprocating the recording head is called a serial scan method.

Reference numeral 35 denotes an ink cartridge. Ink is replenished from this cartridge to an ink tank 36, and the ink in the ink tank 36 is supplied to the recording head 31 through a tube 37 by the operation of an ink supply pump for printing. Or supplied for head recovery.

The recorded sheet is moved to the tension roller 38
The paper is introduced into a paper discharge tray (recording material collecting means) 39 and stored therein. The paper discharge tray 39 has a length equal to or longer than the length of the maximum size sheet that can be set on the sheet table 21 or 22 and used.

(2) Sheet storage body and sheet feeding device (
3 and 4) FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the seat storage body 50 (A and B). As shown in FIG. 3(a), the sheet storage body 50 of this example has a form in which a stack of sheets (sheet bundle) P is completely stored in advance by the manufacturer in a hard case 51 made of cardboard, resin, etc. It is.

In this case, case 51 in FIG.
When the upward facing side is the top side of the case and the opposite side is the bottom side of the case, the sheet bundle P is arranged so that the front side (recording side) of each sheet, that is, the coated side of the ink absorbing and retaining layer, is the bottom side of the case. It is stored.

The case 51 has a case portion 52 corresponding to the leading end side of the sheet bundle P stored in the case, and the bottom side of the case is tilted so that the sheets are not exposed, as shown in FIG. 3(b). A perforation line 53 is provided for separation so that the case 51 can be separated and removed to open the case 51 and the leading end side of the stored sheet bundle P can be exposed.

As shown in FIG. 3(c), a window 54 covered with a transparent film is provided on the bottom side of the case at an asymmetrical position on a part of the surface for determining the presence or absence of a sheet inside the case. In addition, the seat storage body 50 has a seat base 21 and a seat base 21 as described later.
A marker 55 is provided for detecting whether or not the sheet storage body 50 is placed in a predetermined direction when the sheet storage body 50 is placed on the sheet storage body 22.

The unopened form shown in FIG. 3(a) is the packed state of the sheet, which is passed from the manufacturer to the user. When using the sheet storage body 50, the operator on the user side separates and removes the case portion 52 along the perforation line 53 as shown in FIG. state.

[0056] The opened sheet storage body 50 is placed in the case 5.
case 51 without taking out the storage sheet bundle P from inside case 51.
Sheet stand 21 of the recording device main body 200 (FIGS. 1 and 2)
(22) Place and set.

As described above, the sheet base 21 (22) is removable from the front side 201 of the recording apparatus main body 100,
Pull out the seat base 21 (22) and move the sliding seat side regulating members 81, 81 (FIG. 2) and the seat rear end regulating member 82 in accordance with the size of the case 51, and move these members 81, 81, The unsealed sheet storage body 50 is placed inside the case 82 with the upper side of the case facing upward and the unsealed side facing the sheet feeding direction, and is positioned and set on the sheet stand 21 (22). This seat base 2
1 (22) into the recording apparatus main body 200 to bring it into the installed state.

When the sheet storage body 50 is attached to the seat base 21 (22) in a predetermined direction, that is, with the top side of the case facing upward and the unsealed side facing the sheet feeding direction as described above, The marker 55 on the back side of the case is detected by the sheet stand 21 (22) or the marker detector 83 (FIG. 4(a)) fixedly arranged on the recording apparatus main body side, thereby detecting the sheet. The control circuit 84 determines that the storage body 50 is attached to the seat base 21 (22) in a predetermined direction, and the drive control means 85 for the pickup roller 23 (25) becomes operable.

As described above, when the recording start key is pressed, the lift mechanism 80 of the preselected upper sheet stand 21 or lower seat stand 22 is operated to lift the sheet storage body 50, as shown in FIG. 4(a). As shown in the figure, the top surface of the exposed sheet bundle on the opening side of the case 51 is the pickup roller
(25) comes into contact with the lower surface of the pickup roller 23 (25), and the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle P stored in the case 51 is fed out by the rotational drive of the pickup roller 23 (25), and the double-feed prevention roller pair 24 (26) is fed out. By passing through, only the uppermost sheet is separated and conveyed to the recording position 33. In this case, the coated surface side, which is the front side of the stored sheet bundle P in the sheet storage body 50, faces downward, and the sheets that are fed out from the case 51 and separated and conveyed are U-turn sheets that reach the recording position 33. By passing through the path, the front side is reversed upward and faces the recording head 31, and printing and recording processing is performed on the front side.

The sheets stored in the case 51 are fed and consumed one by one starting from the top, and when the last one is fed and there are no more sheets in the case 51, the transparent film on the back side of the case is removed. At the above-mentioned window 54 which is opened, it is detected by a sheet presence/absence detection means (not shown) that all the storage sheets have been consumed. The detection signal causes a paper out display to be displayed on a display section (not shown). The operator removes the empty case 51 from the seat base 21 (22), sets the newly opened seat storage body 50 on the seat base 21 (22) as described above, and uses it.

On the other hand, if the seat storage body 50 is attached to the seat base 21 (22) in a direction different from the predetermined direction,
For example, as shown in FIG. 4(b), when the case 51 is set upside down with the top side and back side reversed, or with the unsealed side facing in the opposite direction to the sheet feeding direction, on the sheet stand. In this case, the marker 55 on the case 51 side does not correspond to the marker detector 83, and no marker detection is performed. As a result, the control circuit 84 determines that the direction of the mounted sheet storage body 50 is not predetermined, the warning means 86 is activated, and the operation of the drive control means 85 of the pickup roller 23 (25) is maintained in a prohibited state. Therefore, printing on the back side of the sheet is prevented. In this case, the operator can cancel the warning means 86 by reinstalling the sheet storage body 50 in the correct predetermined direction, and the drive control means 8 for the pickup roller 23 (25)
5 is also ready for operation.

Furthermore, the marker detector 83 malfunctions, and even though the seat storage body 50 is installed in a direction different from the predetermined direction as shown in FIG. 4(b), the control circuit 84 No judgment is made and therefore the lift mechanism 80.
Even if the pickup roller 23 (25) operates, in this embodiment, the outer surface of the case 51 contacts the lower surface of the pickup roller 23 (25) and does not contact the storage sheet P, so sheet feeding does not occur. do not have. In this case, a self-judgment function (jam detection function by jam sensor S and control circuit 84) provided in the recording apparatus main body 200; (If the printer does not detect a jam, a jam will occur) and the recording operation will be stopped. Therefore, this also prevents printing on the back side of the sheet.

In this embodiment described above, operations such as storing and taking out sheets from the sheet base 21 (22) are performed using the case 51 with the sheet bundle P stored therein, and the case 51 itself is Since the sheet is attached to and taken out from the stand, handling of the sheet is extremely easy.

B. Also, when performing the above operation, case 5
Since the sheet bundle P stored in the sheet stack P is not directly touched with fingers, it is possible to prevent dirt, scratches, bends, edges, etc. on the sheet surface, and to prevent malfunctions and troubles caused by this. .

C. Sheet bundle P stored in the sheet storage body 50
is sealed in the case 51 before the case is opened, and the temperature and
It is protected from environmental changes such as humidity, dirt, dust, etc.
In addition, even after opening the case, the only externally exposed part of the storage sheet bundle P can be the minimum necessary part on the tip side.
Similarly, it can be protected from environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, and from dust and dirt, and even if it is affected by temperature and humidity, the rate of moisture absorption and drying of the sheet is gradual because the sheet P is housed in the case 51. This makes it possible to prevent sheet waving, etc., caused by rapid environmental changes.

[0066] Also, the ability to protect from dust and dirt is as follows:
For example, in an inkjet recording method, it is particularly effective in preventing ejection failure due to dust on the recording head or misalignment of the landing point of ink droplets.

D. When the pickup roller 23 (25) is operated to feed the sheet, the inner surfaces of both side walls of the case 51 in the sheet feeding direction act as good side guides over almost the entire length of the sheet, which prevents the sheet from falling easily when the pickup roller 23 (25) feeds out the sheet. Diagonal feeding is prevented.

E. The seat base 21 (2) of the seat storage body 50
2), sheet feeding can be enabled only when the mounting direction detection means 55 and 83 detect that the sheet storage body is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the seat base, and thereby printing on the back side of the sheet is possible. can be strictly prevented from occurring.

<Embodiment 2> (FIG. 5) This embodiment corresponds to the sheet storage bodies 50 (A and B) on the front end side of the sheet bundle P stored in the sheet storage case 51. The opening/closing rotating lid 52A does not separate the case portion from the case body side.

Closed state of the lid 52A (FIG. 5(a))
), the entire stored sheet bundle P is hermetically stored in a case 51 and is protected from environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, dust, dust, etc. 5 by opening and rotating the lid 52A.
As shown in (b), the case 51 is opened 54 and the leading end side of the sheet bundle P stored in the case is exposed.

In (a) and (b) of FIG. 5, case 5
When the upward facing side of 1 is the top side of the case and the opposite side is the bottom side of the case, the sheet bundle P has the front side (recording side) of each sheet, that is, the coated side of the ink absorption and retention layer, the bottom side of the case. It is stored on the side.

When the operator uses the seat storage body 50, the operator opens and rotates the lid 52A of the case 51 as shown in FIG. Similar to the above, the sheet stand 21 is placed with the top side of the case facing upward and the opening side facing the sheet feeding direction.
(22) Position, place and set. In this case, on the seat base 21 (22) side there is a recess 87 (FIG. 5(c)) into which the lid 52A that has been rotated open and connected to the case 51 is inserted.
) is formed.

Hereinafter, similarly to the first embodiment, when the recording start key is pressed, the lift mechanism 80 (A/B) of the upper seat stand 21 or the lower seat stand 22 selected in advance is operated and the sheet storage body 50 is moved. As shown in FIG. 5C, the uppermost surface of the exposed sheet bundle on the side of the opening 54 of the case 51 comes into contact with the lower surface of the pick-up roller 23 (25), and the rotation of the pick-up roller causes the case 51 to be lifted up.
The uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle P stored inside is fed out.

In the case of this embodiment, only when the case 51 is placed and set on the seat base 21 (22) by fitting the lid 52A, which has been opened and rotated from the case 51, into the recess 87 of the seat base 21 (22). The seat storage body 50 is the seat base 21
(22) in a predetermined direction.
2), the lid 52A in the opened and rotated state does not fit into the recess 87 on the seat base side and interferes with the seat base, so that it does not fit on the seat base.

In other words, the lid 52A and the recess 87 serve as a mechanical fool-proof mechanism to ensure that the seat storage body 50 is attached to the seat base 21 (22) in a predetermined direction. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the marker 55 on the sheet storage body 50 side and its detector 83 in the case of the first embodiment can be omitted.

Furthermore, when the seat storage body 50 (A/B) is taken out from the seat base 21 (22) during use, the rotary opening/closing lid 52A is closed against the case body 51 (see (a) in FIG. 5). ), the remaining sheet P can be kept sealed inside the case, and can be protected from environmental changes, dirt, dust, etc. until the next time it is used.

The device of this embodiment also has the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

<Embodiment 3> (FIG. 6) In this embodiment, the seat storage bodies 50 (A and B) are shown in FIG. 6.
In (a), when the upward facing side of the case 51 is taken as the case top side and the opposite side is taken as the case bottom side, the pickup roller 23 (25) of the sheet feeding device is located on the surface near the tip of the case top side. It is provided with small openings 56, 56, into which the lower surfaces of the parts are correspondingly exposed. Further, a slit opening 57 as a seat outlet is provided along the upper side of the front end surface of the case 51, and the PE
A valve body 58 made of an elastic film such as T is provided. Further, on the bottom surface of the case 51, a window 54 covered with a transparent film and a marker 55 are provided as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, a notch 59 for lifting the sheet is provided.

A sheet bundle P is stored in the case 51 with the surface side (recording surface) of each sheet, that is, the coated surface of the ink absorption and retention layer facing the bottom surface of the case.

[0080] The operator selects this seat storage body 50 (A.
B) is positioned and placed on the sheet table 21 (22) in the same manner as in Example 1, with the upper surface of the case facing upward and the slit opening 57 facing the sheet feeding direction.

When the recording start key is pressed, the lift mechanism 80 (A/B) of the preselected upper sheet stand 21 or lower sheet stand 22 is operated to move the notch 59 on the bottom side of the case to the position shown in FIG. As shown in c), the bundle of sheets P stored in the case 51 is pushed up inward of the case 51.
The top surface of the front side of the pickup roller 23 (25
), and due to the rotational drive of the pickup roller 23 (25), a feeding force is applied to the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle P stored in the case 51, and the sheet pushes the valve body 58 in its place. It is pushed open against elasticity and is drawn out of the case 51 through the slit opening 57.

In the case of the sheet storage bodies 50 (A and B) of this embodiment, there is no need to open the seal or open the lid as in the case of the first and second embodiments.

The valve body 58 for the slit opening 57 through which the sheet exits the case 51 is easily bent in the sheet feeding direction, and is installed in such a way as to prevent the sheet from entering in the opposite direction, thereby preventing other sheets from entering the case. It is possible to prevent the operation of storing the

Since the case 51 has only small openings 56 and 56 on the upper surface of the case for exposing the lower surface of the pickup roller 23 (25), the stored sheet bundle P is kept substantially sealed. Therefore, it is protected from environmental changes, dirt, dust, etc. When shipped from the manufacturer, the openings 56, 56 may also be sealed with a sheet or the like, and the seal or the like may be peeled off during use.

[0085] In addition, this embodiment also has the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

<Embodiment 4> (FIG. 7) In this embodiment, in the seat storage body 50 (A and B) of Embodiment 3, the notch 59 for lifting the seat on the bottom of the case is not provided, and instead, the notch 59 for lifting the seat is provided inside the case 51. A middle plate 60 is provided on the bottom side of the case 51 with its rear side serving as a fulcrum 61 and can move up and down freely, and an elastic member (spring) 62 for lifting the middle plate is installed between the back side of the front side of the middle plate 60 and the bottom of the case 51. A sheet bundle P is stacked on the middle plate 60 and stored in the case 51.

The middle plate 60 is constantly lifted up and rotated about the fulcrum 61 by the elastic member 62, so that the upper surface of the front side of the stored sheet bundle P in the case 51 comes into contact with the inner surface of the upper surface of the case. Facing the openings 56, 56, the openings 5
When the lower surface of the pickup roller 23 (25) comes into contact with the sheet surface portion facing the sheets 6 and 56, a feeding force acts on the uppermost sheet of the stored sheet bundle P in the case 51.

In the case of this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide the lift mechanisms 80 (A and B) on the seat base 21 (22) side, and the configuration of the seat base 21 (22) can be simplified.

When all the sheets in the case 51 are consumed, the front side of the middle plate 60 is pushed up by the elastic member 62 and comes into contact with the front side inner surface of the upper surface of the case. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to forcibly insert another sheet into the case 51 through the slit opening 57, the leading end of the sheet interferes with the intermediate plate 60 or the elastic member 62, and insertion of the sheet is blocked.

<About inkjet recording method> Figure 1.
The inkjet recording method adopted in the recording apparatus 200 of FIG. 2 will now be briefly explained.

The non-impact recording method has recently attracted attention because the noise generated during recording is so small that it can be ignored. Among these, the inkjet recording method is an extremely powerful recording method because it has the possibility of high-speed recording and can perform recording on so-called plain paper without requiring a specific fixing process.

[0092] A recording head applied to an inkjet recording apparatus generally has a fine liquid ejection opening (orifice), a liquid path, an energy acting part provided in a part of this liquid path, and an energy acting part that acts on the liquid in the acting part. Energy generating means are provided for generating droplet formation energy.

Energy generating means for generating such energy include a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, and a method of irradiating electromagnetic waves such as a laser, causing the liquid to absorb it and generate heat. A recording method using an energy generating means that ejects and flies droplets by the action of heat generation, or an energy generating means that ejects the liquid by heating the liquid with an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistor. There are recording methods, etc.

Among these, the recording head used in the inkjet recording method that discharges liquid using thermal energy has a high density of liquid discharge ports (orifices) for discharging recording droplets to form flying droplets. Since it can be arrayed, it is possible to record with high resolution. Among these, a recording head that uses an electrothermal converter as a means for generating thermal energy is easy to make the overall recording head compact, and it is also compatible with IC technology and microelectronic technology, which have seen recent technological advances in the semiconductor field and remarkable improvements in reliability. It is possible to fully utilize the advantages of processing technology, and it is easy to make it long and planar (two-dimensional), so it is easy to make multi-nozzles and high-density packaging, and it is also highly productive in large quantities. It is also possible to provide an inkjet, a recording head, and a device having the head with low manufacturing costs.

FIG. 8 shows the principle of ink flight in the bubble jet recording method, which is a type of ink jet recording method.
This will be explained with reference to (a) to (g).

In the steady state, as shown in (a), the surface tension and external pressure of the ink (2) filled in the nozzle (2) d are balanced on the ejection port surface. When ink (2) is to be ejected in this state, the electrothermal converter (2) in the nozzle (2) is energized to cause the ink in the nozzle (2) to undergo a rapid temperature rise beyond film boiling. Then, as shown in (b), the ink adjacent to the electrothermal converter (b) is heated and microbubbles (
The ink in the heated area is vaporized to cause film boiling, and the bubbles (2) rapidly grow as shown in (c).

When the bubble (2) grows to the maximum as shown in (d), an ink droplet is extruded from the ejection opening in the nozzle (2) d. Then, when the electricity supply to the electrothermal converter ■b is finished, the grown bubble ■ is cooled and contracted by the ink ■ in the nozzle ■d, as shown in (e).
The contraction causes ink droplets to fly from the ejection port. Furthermore (
As shown in f), the ink comes into contact with the surface of the electrothermal transducer (2) and is rapidly cooled, and the bubble (2) disappears or shrinks to an almost negligible volume. When the bubble (2) contracts, ink is supplied from the common liquid chamber (2) g by capillary action into the nozzle (2) d, as shown in (g), in preparation for the next energization.

Therefore, an ink image is recorded on the recording sheet by reciprocating the carriage and energizing the electrothermal transducer (b) in accordance with the image signal in synchronization with this movement.

[0099]

As described above, according to the present invention, sheets such as recording paper in a sheet feeding device or a sheet processing device can be stored in the form of a sheet storage body in which a stack of sheets (sheet bundle) is stored in a container. In operations such as storing and taking out sheets from the sheet stacking storage section, the sheet storage body itself is attached to and taken out from the sheet stacking storage section, thereby making it extremely easy to handle the sheets.

[0100] During the above-mentioned operations, the sheets stored in the container are not directly touched with fingers, so the sheets may become dirty, scratched, bent, bent, etc., and problems caused by this may occur. It is possible to prevent trouble from occurring.

[0101] The sheet bundle stored in the sheet storage body is sealed inside the container before the container is opened or the lid is opened, and is protected from environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, and from dust and dust, and even after the container is opened or the lid is opened. Since the externally exposed part of the storage sheet bundle can be limited to the minimum required part on the leading edge side, it can also be protected from environmental changes such as temperature and humidity, dust, dirt, etc.
Even if it is affected by temperature and humidity, since the sheet is contained within the container, the rate of moisture absorption and drying of the sheet is gradual, which prevents the occurrence of waviness of the sheet due to sudden environmental changes. It can be prevented.

[0102] When the sheet is fed out by the operation of the sheet feeding means of the sheet feeding device, the inner surfaces of both side walls of the container act as good side guides over almost the entire length of the sheet in the sheet feeding direction. Oblique movement is prevented.

[0103] To enable sheet feeding only when it is detected that the sheet storage body is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet stacking storage portion by means for detecting the mounting direction of the sheet storage body with respect to the sheet stacking storage portion. As a result, printing on the back side of the sheet can be strictly prevented in the recording apparatus, and the occurrence of image stains, color mixing, and ink stains on the sheet conveyance means can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1] Schematic configuration diagram of an image reading and recording device as a first embodiment

[Figure 2] Perspective view of its appearance

[Figure 3] (a) is a perspective view of the sheet storage body before opening;
(b) and (c) are perspective views of the opened sheet storage body.

[Figure 4
] (a) is a state diagram in which the sheet storage body is placed and set in a predetermined position and sheet feeding is executed, and (b) is a state diagram in which the sheet storage body is not placed and set in a specified manner and sheet feeding is prohibited. State diagram

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the second embodiment, in which (a) is a perspective view of the seat storage body in a closed state, (b) is a perspective view of the seat storage body in an open state, and (c) is a perspective view of the seat storage body A state diagram where the sheet is set in the specified position and sheet feeding is being executed.

[Figure 6]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a third embodiment, in which (a) is a perspective view of the seat storage body, (b) is a perspective view of the seat storage body showing the bottom side, and (c) is a set in which the seat storage body is placed in a predetermined position. State diagram where sheet feeding is being executed

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the fourth embodiment, in which (a) is a perspective view of the seat storage body;
b) is a state diagram in which the sheet storage body is placed and set in a predetermined position and sheet feeding is being executed.

[Figure 8] (a) to (g
) is an explanatory diagram of the principle of ink flight in the bubble jet recording method.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Image reading device 200 Image recording devices 21 and 22 Sheet stand 50 as a sheet stacking storage section
A/50B Sheet storage body 51 Hard case P as a container Stacked sheets (sheet bundle) stored in the case
31 Recording head

Claims (7)

[Claims] [Claim 1] Consisting of a stack of sheets and a sheet storage container that can be attached and detached to a sheet loading storage section of a sheet feeding device, the stack of sheets is stored in the sheet storage container in advance in a substantially hermetically sealed manner, The container is characterized by being capable of forming or having an opening which becomes a sheet feeding port and an operating part of a sheet feeding means of a sheet feeding device by partially unsealing or opening an opening/closing lid. Seat storage body. 2. The sheet storage body according to claim 1, wherein the stack of sheets is stored in the sheet storage container with the surfaces of the individual sheets facing in the same direction. 3. The sheet storage body according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting or recognizing that the sheet storage unit is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet loading storage section of the sheet feeding device. . 4. The sheet storage container comprises a stack of sheets and a sheet storage container that can be attached and detached to a sheet loading storage section of a sheet feeding device, and the stack of sheets is stored in the sheet storage container in advance in a substantially hermetically sealed manner. A sheet storage body in which an opening can be formed in the container by partially unsealing or by opening an opening/closing lid to form an opening that serves as a sheet feeding port and an operating part of a sheet feeding means of a sheet feeding device, or a sheet storage body having such an opening. This is a sheet feeding device that sets a sheet storage container in a sheet stacking storage section and sequentially feeds out the sheets stored in the sheet storage container one by one. It has a means for detecting or recognizing that the sheet storage body is mounted, and when the means detects or recognizes that the sheet storage body is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet loading storage section of the sheet feeding device. A sheet feeding device characterized in that only sheets can be fed. 5. The sheet storage container comprises a stack of sheets and a sheet storage container that can be attached to and detached from a sheet stacking storage section of a sheet feeding device, and the stack of sheets is stored in the sheet storage container in advance in a substantially hermetically sealed manner. A sheet storage body in which an opening can be formed in the container by partially unsealing or by opening an opening/closing lid to form an opening that serves as a sheet feeding port and an operating part of a sheet feeding means of a sheet feeding device, or a sheet storage body having such an opening. What is claimed is: 1. A sheet processing apparatus, characterized in that the sheets are fed by a sheet feeding device which sets the sheet in a sheet stacking storage section and sequentially feeds out the sheets stored in the sheet storage container one by one. 6. A means for detecting or recognizing that the sheet storage body is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet stacking storage section of the sheet feeding device, the sheet storage body being configured to feed the sheets by the means. 6. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein sheet feeding is enabled only when it is detected or recognized that the sheet is mounted in a predetermined direction with respect to the sheet stacking storage section of the apparatus. 7. The sheet processing device is a recording device, and the recording means energizes an electrothermal transducer in response to a signal, and ejects ink by the growth of bubbles generated by heating exceeding film boiling by the electrothermal transducer. 7. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sheet processing apparatus employs a jet recording method in which recording is performed by discharging from an outlet.