JPH0455222A - Cassette type paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a large size cassette usable without incurring any upsizing of an installation device by setting at least two or more adjacent installation spaces as a continuous space among the installation spaces to install respective cassettes so as to install freely in the vertical direction a cassette of a size larger than that of any other cassette. CONSTITUTION:Plural cassettes S1 and S2 are installed in a continuous space 34, or one large size cassette L is installed there instead of them. Thereby, various size cassettes can be normally used properly so that demands from customers for using specific sizes frequently can be satisfied if necessary. Furthermore, according to this structure, exclusive space for a large size cassette L becomes unnecessary so that a paper feeder can be downsized to that extent.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a paper feeding device that supplies cut sheets, that is, sheets of paper cut to predetermined dimensions one by one, to a printer, facsimile machine, copy machine, etc. Regarding.

In particular, this invention is B5. A4. B4. The present invention relates to a cassette-type sheet feeding device in which cut sheets of various sizes such as A3 are stored in a stacked state in a cassette, and these cassettes are attached to supply cut sheets.

[Prior Art] In this type of cassette-type paper feeding device, two or more cassettes can be installed at the same time, paper feeding means is provided for each cassette, and one of these paper feeding means is selected. A sheet feeding device has been developed that takes out a cut sheet from any one of the cassettes by driving the cassette, and with this, it is possible to select the size of the cut sheet to be fed. To make cassettes compatible,
The outer dimensions of the cassettes are the same, and any cassette I can be mounted at any position.

Therefore, each cassette contains almost the same number of cassettes.
Seats can be accommodated.

However, some users often use B5 paper,
Alternatively, A4 paper may be used frequently, and in order to meet this demand, a large cassette that can accommodate a large number of sheets has been developed. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing this type of paper feeding device, in which compatible standard cassettes can be installed in the installation spaces 50 to 52, and a large cassette can be installed in the space 54.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] This type of paper feeding device is extremely convenient for users who often use A4 size paper, for example, and occasionally use B5 or B4 size paper. However, this is not necessarily suitable for users who regularly use paper of various sizes and sometimes use a large amount of paper of a particular size. When using various sizes, you do not need a large horn set,
This is because when using a large amount of a specific size, there is no need to install a standard cassette. It would be nice for such users to be able to load either multiple standard cassettes or one large cassette. If this could be done, it would no longer be necessary to simultaneously install a plurality of standard cassettes and large cassettes, and the installation space or paper feeding device could be made smaller. In addition, if this is possible, it is necessary to provide each of the plurality of standard cassettes and large cassettes with a paper feeding means for taking out the cut sheets from each cassette, or a paper feeding path for feeding the taken out cut sheets to a predetermined position. This is no longer the case, and it may be omitted because it is only for large cassettes. However, no technology has been developed to date that recognizes and addresses this need.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional paper feeding device, in which the mounting space 5
Standard cassette S1 for 0 or standard cassette S2 for 52
Alternatively, a state in which the large cassette L is mounted in the mounting space 54 is shown. Here, 26 (Sl) is a paper feeding means for the case foot installed in the installation space 50, and 26 (B2)
, 26 (1,) indicate paper feeding means for the cassettes mounted in the mounting spaces 52 and 54, respectively.

In conventional paper feeding devices with this structure, the standard cassette hs
Even if a large cassette L-I- is installed in place of 1 and B2, the large cassette L cannot be installed in the space 50.52, and even if this can be installed, the paper feeding means 26 (B2) and It is only possible to accommodate the large cassette L-L in a predetermined position due to interference.

Therefore, the present invention attempts to solve these problems and realize a paper feeding device to which a plurality of standard cassettes or one large cassette can be attached.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in the present invention, as an example is schematically shown in FIG. 6, two or more adjacent spaces (in FIG. In the example, the spaces 30 and 32) are made into a continuous space 34, into which a large cassette L can be attached. Among the cassettes S1 and S2 installed in the continuous space 34, the paper feeding means for the cassettes other than the two-most cassette S1 is the large cassette 1. It is placed in a position that does not interfere with the mounting position of the .

[1] According to the paper feeding device having this structure, a plurality of cassettes S1 and S2 can be installed in the continuous space 34, or one large cassette L can be installed instead. As a result, it is possible to fully meet the demands of users who normally use various sizes and occasionally use a specific size. Furthermore, this structure eliminates the need for a dedicated space for a large cassette, thereby making it possible to downsize the paper feeding device.

[Example] Next, an example embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows perspective views of various cassettes used in the paper feeding device according to this embodiment, and S1 is a standard cassette having a 15 mm thick storage space that can accommodate A4 cut sheets P (A4), S2 is A3 cut sheet P (A
, 3), which has a 15 mm thick storage space. The external dimensions of the standard cassettes S1 and S2 are equal in width E and height D, and either marker cassette I can be installed in the same installation space. Furthermore, the length F
is based on the paper size, but this does not interfere with mounting compatibility.

The side plates 2, 2, back plate 4, and front plate 8 of the cassette S2 are compatible with A3 size, and the cassette S1 is further provided with paper side edge alignment plates 16 and 16 to accommodate the width of A4 size. There is. Each of the cassettes S1 and S2 is provided with a pair of separation claws 10.10 at the ends of the cassettes in the insertion direction at positions that abut both corners of the uppermost cut sheet. Furthermore, abutting portions 14S1 and 14s2 having different shapes for each cassette are provided at the same position on the sides of the cassette.

When this contact part is installed in the paper feeder, it presses a switch fixed on the paper feeder side, and from the signal of this switch, it is determined whether or not a cassette is installed, and if a cassette is installed. The type of cassette installed can be identified.

At the bottom of each standard cassette S1, S2, as clearly shown in FIG. 3, a hopper is provided which mainly consists of a spring 17 and a bottom plate 19 which is urged upward by the spring 17. Both corners of the uppermost sheet of the stacked A4 cut sheets I) (A.1) to No.3 cut sheets P (A3) are stored in a state where they are pressed from above with a predetermined load by the separating claws 10. Note that the bottom plate 19 can be rotated by a hinge 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, the large cassette L is large in the vertical direction so that it can accommodate a large amount of A4 cut sheets, and the upper part is the standard cassette SL.

It is formed to have the same width E1 and the same height D as 82 etc.

Also, there is a protrusion 14L with a different shape in the same position as the standard cassette.
is formed. The width at the bottom is slightly narrower
(Still, it still has a width that can accommodate A4 size.) Also, its height G is thicker than the standard safiz size D. That is, the third
As shown, standard size cassettes S1 and 82
When the distance between the two is set as H when they are placed one above the other,
The relationship is set as G=D+H. Therefore, in addition to the total number of sheets accommodated in the two standard cassettes, the large cassette L can accommodate an additional number of sheets that can be accommodated in the thickness H.

As shown in FIG. 4, a hopper mainly consisting of a spring 17 and a bottom plate 5 is formed at the bottom of the large cassette l-1. This bottom plate 5 has two plates 5a and 5b connected by a hinge 7, and a link is provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 5b to keep the bottom plate 5b horizontal. Bottom plate 5a
An aligning plate 6 at the rear end of the paper is connected by a hinge 3, and as the number of papers in the cassette decreases, the bottom plate 5 becomes thicker (bent) as shown by the dashed line in the figure, and the cut sheet is bent accordingly. Accordingly, the cutting sheet P (A4) is moved forward to align the rear edges of the cutting sheet P (A4) so that both corner portions do not come off from the separating claws 10.

Now, Figure 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the paper feeding device.
A cassette mounting space 34 is formed between the pair of side plates 20, 20. A pair of rails 24.24 are fixed to each of the side plates 20.20, and an upper space 30 for mounting a standard cassette is secured above the rails 24, and a lower space 32 is secured below the rails 24.

Note that the interval between the rails is wider than the width EL of the lower part of the large cassette L shown in FIG. 1, making it possible to mount the large cassette L. A rail 22 is fixed to the lower part of the booklet set mounting space 34, and guides the mounting of a standard cassette in the lower space 32.

Further, a stopper 25 is fixed to the rail 2/I to regulate the insertion depth of the cassette. A stopper 23 is fixed to the rail 22 at a position farther back than the stopper 25. Each cassette S1, 'S2 is inserted until the corner portions 12, 12 of the side plate 2, front plate 8, and bottom plate are guided by the rails 24 to 22 and abut against the stoppers 24 to 23.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the cassette installed in the lower installation space 32 is inserted deeper than the cassette installed in the upper part. Further, on the side of this cassette device space, switches 27u and 27ff for determining the presence or absence of a cassette and the type of cassette are fixed to the device side plate 20. These are placed in a positional relationship such that when the cassette I is inserted until it contacts the stoppers 25, 23, they are pressed by the projections 14 provided on the cassette, and the switches 27u, 27p
The presence or absence of a cassette and further the type of the loaded cassette are determined from the signal.

One side of each of the upper and lower cassette mounting spaces 30, 32 is provided with paper feeding means 26u mainly composed of rollers.

26p is provided. When the roller rotates, this paper feeding means takes out the cut sheets on the top surface of the cassette one by one from the cassette and sends them out to the paper feeding paths 29u and 29ff. The paper feeding means 26u and 26n are arranged at different positions corresponding to the different insertion depths of the lower cassettes.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, even if the guide parts 12, 12 of the large cassette L are inserted along the rails 24, 24 until the front edge of the large cassette L comes into contact with the stopper 25, the large cassette
.

It does not interfere with the paper feeding means 26β. In addition, the illustrations 28u, 2
8p is a switch for detecting the absence of cut sheets from the cassette, and is either fixed to the side plate 20 of the apparatus or does not interfere with the mounting position of the large cassette L-L.

Now, Fig. 3 shows the state in which the standard cassettes Sl and S2 are inserted, and when the roller 26u rotates, the cassettes A to A are inserted.
・A: 3 cut sheets are fed from the cassette S2 when the 1st cut sheet is missing.

If the user frequently uses cut sheets of a specific size, he or she can install a large cassette. This is shown in FIG. 1, and in this way two standard cassettes St. , S2 can each use a larger amount of paper than the maximum number of sheets stored in each of them.

In this state, the signal from the switch 27p indicates that no cassette is set, so the lower sheet feeding device 26β will not be driven by mistake.

Now, in the above embodiment, there are two standard cassettes Sl.

Although an example is shown in which one large cassette +-r- is used in place of S2, three or more standard cassette mounting spaces may be connected to each other so that one large cassette can be mounted therein. In addition, if three or more standard cassettes can be installed, a large cassette can be installed instead of the underground cassette, or a large cassette can be installed instead of the middle and lower cassettes. Good too.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, if four standard cassettes can be installed, it is possible to install four standard cassettes, or one large cassette and two standard cassettes ( (This is the state shown in FIG. 5), it is also possible to install two large cassettes. In this way, it is possible to meet the diverse demands of consumers.

[Effects of the Invention] Now, in the present invention, since it is possible to mount a plurality of cassettes or, instead, to mount one large cassette, it is necessary to provide a separate mounting space for the large cassette, or to install a space exclusively for the large cassette. There is no need to provide paper feeding means. Therefore, it is possible to use a large cassette without increasing the size of the apparatus, and for example, it is possible to mount a large capacity cassette in a small desktop copy fax machine. In this way, it is possible to accurately and widely correspond to the various varnishes of the users.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of various cassettes, Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the paper feeder main body side related to the embodiment, Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a standard cassette installed, and Fig. 4 is a large-sized one. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment, FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining the present invention in detail, FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional paper feeding device. 2Gu (1)... Paper feeding means -1-, (bottom) 30.
... Upper mounting space 32... Lower mounting space 34... Continuous mounting space Sl. , S2...Standard cassette I. ...Large cassette

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of cassettes containing stacked cut sheets can be mounted in a vertically arranged positional relationship, and cut sheets can be taken out one by one from each of the plurality of mounted cassettes. In a cassette type paper feeding device in which a paper feeding means is provided for each cassette, and one of the paper feeding means is selectively driven to take out a cut sheet from one of the cassettes, each cassette is installed. Among the mounting spaces, at least two adjacent mounting spaces are continuous spaces in which a cassette larger than any of the cassettes can be mounted in the vertical direction, and among the cassettes mounted in the continuous spaces, A cassette-type paper feeding device, characterized in that paper feeding means for cassettes other than the uppermost cassette are arranged at a position that does not interfere with the mounting position of the large cassette.