JPH0472241A - Paper feeding device in image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stabilize a paper feeding constantly by providing a cleaning means of a paper feeder and a separating roller couple, a detecting means to detect whether the paper is a high quality paper or a regenerated paper, and a cleaning interval converting means to reduce the cleaning interval shorter than that to the high quality paper, when the regenerated paper is detected. CONSTITUTION:When copying papers P of regenerated papers are loaded on a lifter 2, a switch 16 is turned on by a paper route converting lever 14, and the regenerated papers are detected by a controller. When a copy button is pushed, the lifter 2 is raised, a sensor 3 detects the uppermost position of the copying papers P and stops the papers, and a paper feeding operation is started. In a cleaning mode, a recording device enters to a waiting time mode by turning on a main switch, the lifter 2 is lowered to the OFF position of the sensor 3, brushes 8b and 10b are contacted to a feeding and a separating rubbers 5 and 7 by solenoids 9 to 11, and both rollers 5 and 7 are rotated to remove the paper powder. When the waiting time is finished, the solenoids 9 to 11 are turned off, and the lifter 2 returns to the paper feeding position. When the regenerated papers are used, the device is to be in a cleaning mode automatically when the number of the sheets passing a counter becomes a specific number or more.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a paper feeding device in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and more specifically, to cleaning of a paper feeding device that uses a mixture of high-quality paper and recycled paper. Concerning means.

(b) Conventional technology A conventional paper feeding device is shown in FIG.

The highest transfer paper P loaded on the loading table d or the paper feed roller a
The paper is fed by the feed roller B and separation roller C.
It is fed by c to a separation roller consisting of. The feed roller b is rotated by the drive source in the six directions of the arrow, and the separation roller C is rotated in the direction of the arrow B by the drive source. Since a torque limiter t is interposed between the separation roller C and the drive shaft e, when a sheet of transfer paper P1 is fed from rollers b and cζ, the transfer paper P1 and roller C are The friction torque between the two or the transmission limit torque T of the torque limiter T. Even though the drive shaft e rotates in the direction of the arrow B, the roller C rotates in the direction of the arrow B, and the fed sheet of transfer paper P1 is transferred to the feeding roller. It is fed by b.

In addition, when the uppermost transfer paper P and the lower transfer paper P2 are fed double by the paper feed roller a, the transfer paper P2
tries to be carried away by the frictional force between the paper and Pl, but the transmission limit torque T is transmitted to the separation roller C via the torque limiter t.

is larger than the frictional force between the sheets or the torque exerted on the separation roller C, so the second transfer paper P2 is pulled back by the separation roller C, and the second transfer paper P2 is not fed. 3
The same applies when triple feeding occurs due to the transfer sheet P3.

That is, the friction coefficient between the separation roller C and the transfer paper P is μ8.
and transfer paper P1. If the friction coefficient between P 2 is μ, the pressing force of separation roller C against feeding roller b is F, and the radius of separation roller C is R, then the torque limiter The configuration of the separation roller C with a t interposed therein is established, and the separation roller C is configured to rotate together to reduce wear and tear on the roller C and to prevent damage to the transferred transfer paper P. .

(c) Problem to be solved by invention However, because recycled paper is recycled from old newspapers, etc., it is usually different from the high-quality paper used in image forming devices because the fibers that are its main component are of poor quality. , it is quite easy to generate paper dust. When such recycled paper is used in a conventional paper feeding device, if the paper dust adheres to rollers a, b, c, etc., paper feeding slips and irregularities occur.

The above-mentioned RFμ
There is a drawback that the relationship >To>RFμ is difficult to hold, and it is feared that the above-mentioned configuration will not hold.

Therefore, the present invention provides a paper feeding device that can stably use recycled paper by providing means for cleaning the paper feeding roller and separation roller, and by switching the cleaning interval and cleaning time depending on the paper type. The purpose is to

(Piece Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and
For example, referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, transfer paper (P
) and a paper feed roller (5) that feeds the transfer paper (P) from a stacking section (2) loaded with transfer paper (P); and a separation roller that separates and feeds the fed transfer paper (P) one by one. Roller pair (6,7)
In a paper feeding device (1) in an image forming apparatus having
) and cleaning means (8, 10) for cleaning the transfer paper (P
) detecting means (1) for detecting whether the paper quality is high-quality paper or recycled paper.
5, 16), and cleaning interval switching means (5, 16) for making the cleaning interval of the cleaning means (8, 10) shorter than the cleaning interval for high-quality paper when the detection means (16) detects recycled paper.
17).

Further, the cleaning means (8, 10) is characterized by comprising brush members (8b, 1ob) that are charged oppositely to the transfer paper (P).

(E) Function Based on the above configuration, the transfer paper (P) is fed from the stacking section (2) by the paper feed roller (5), and the separation roller consisting of the feed roller (6) and the separation roller (7) When only one sheet of transfer paper (P) is fed by the pair (6, 7), the separation roller (7) rotates together with the transfer paper (P).
), and if two or more sheets of transfer paper (P) are fed, feed only the first transfer paper (P) and feed the second and subsequent transfer papers (P). It is sent back by the separation roller (7). During this time, the paper feed roller (
5) and the separation roller (7). When the paper quality detecting means (6) detects that the transfer paper (P) is recycled paper, the cleaning interval is changed to the cleaning interval switching means (6).
17) makes the cleaning interval shorter than the cleaning interval for high-quality paper.

Note that the symbols in parentheses are for illustrative purposes only, and do not limit the configuration in any way.

(f) Example The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a paper feeder, and 2 is a lifter on a stacking table for transfer paper P. A detection lever 4 is provided above the lifter 2 to turn on a sensor 3 when the upper surface of the transfer paper P loaded on the lifter 2 reaches the paper feeding position.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper feeding roller, which feeds the uppermost transfer paper P when it is on the upper surface of the transfer paper P or at the paper feeding position.

A feed roller 6 and a separation roller 7 are located close to the downstream side of the loading platform.
A pair of separation rollers 6.7 are provided so as to press against each other, and the separation rollers 6.7 feed the fed transfer paper P one by one to the downstream side. .

A cleaning black 8 that can freely approach and separate from the circumferential surface of the paper feed roller 5 is arranged pivotally supported by a pin 8a.
A solenoid 9 is connected to the middle part of the solenoid 9. When this solenoid 9 is turned on, the black member 8b of the cleaning black 8 comes into contact with the paper feed roller.

Similarly, a cleaning black 1 that can freely approach and separate from the separation roller 7
The black member 10b is pivotally supported on the roller 10a, and the black member 10b comes into contact with the circumferential surface of the separation roller 7 when the solenoid 11 is turned on.

In Figure 2, the lifter 2 is lowered, the detection lever 4 is lowered, the sensor 3 is turned off, and the black members sb and iob of black 8 and 10 are in contact with the paper feed roller 5 and separation roller 7, respectively. Indicates the condition.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the properties of the black member 8b and paper powder 12. The black member 8b is made of wool, nylon, etc., and is positively charged. The paper powder 12 is generally acidic and negatively charged. Therefore,
When the black member 8b comes into contact with the paper powder 12, the paper powder 12 is attracted by the black member 8b and scraped off. Note that the same applies to the black member 10b.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main body 1a of the paper feeding device 1 on the side of the transfer paper P stacking table. A nameplate 13 is attached to the left side of the opening 1b formed in the main body 1a.
At the top are characters indicating high-quality paper, and at the bottom are characters indicating recycled paper.

As shown in FIG. 5, a filter paper type switching lever 14, which can be selectively operated at the position indicated by each character, is pivotally supported by a shaft 14a. Switches 15 and 16 are provided so that the switch 15 is turned on when the paper type is changed to the high-quality paper display position, and the switch 16 is turned on when the paper type is changed to the recycled paper display position. ing.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, the transfer paper P is loaded on the lifter 2 by the user. When recycled paper is loaded, the paper type switching lever 14
is lowered to match the position of the recycled paper on the nameplate 13.

When the switch 16 is turned on by the above operation, the control section (not shown) of the main body 1a detects that the stacked transfer paper P is recycled paper.

When the user presses a copy button (not shown), the lifter 2 rises, and when the sensor 3 detects via the detection lever 4 that the topmost layer of the transfer paper P has reached the paper feed position, the lifter 2 moves upward. stops, and paper feeding operation starts.

Next, the cleaning mote will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the user turns on the main switch (not shown), the recording device 1 enters the waiting time mode (step SL).
) Sensor 3 is turned on (step S2), and lifter 2 begins to descend (step S3). By turning off the sensor 3 (step S4), the lifter 3 stops (step S5).Then, the cleaning mode is entered, and the solenoid 9.11 is turned on (step S6), as shown in Fig. 2. Members 8b and 10b contact paper feed roller 5 and separation roller 7, respectively. Then, the paper feed roller 5 and separation roller 7 start rotating (step 37). In this way, when the paper dust on the rollers 5 and 7 is removed and the waiting time ends (step S8), the solenoid 9.11 is turned off and the brush member 8 is turned off.
b, 10b are separated from each roller 5, 7 (step S9)
, rollers 5 and 7 stop rotating (step 5IO).

Then, lifter 2 starts to rise (Step 5ll)
, the top surface of the transfer paper P returns to the paper feeding position (step 512), and the paper feeding operation begins.

Next, when the number of copies exceeds a certain predetermined number, the cleaning mode is automatically entered.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart when the transfer paper P is recycled paper.

After the cleaning mode ends (step 521), a counter is set (step 522), and at the same time paper feeding starts.
Step 523). User's counter set number to 10
When the number of passed sheets exceeds 1000 sheets (step 324), the cleaning mode is started (step 52).
5).

This cleaning mode is executed at step 82 of the waiting period shown in FIG.
~ It operates in the same way as S12.

Note that if the transfer paper P is recycled paper, there will be a lot of paper dust attached to it, so cleaning the recording device 1, which makes a large number of copies, should be performed even when not in the waiting time mode.
Work time loss can be reduced.

Further, regarding the cleaning mode for each predetermined number of copies, the cleaning mode may be always entered, for example, after the user finishes copying a predetermined number of copies. By changing the length of cleaning time according to the set number of copies, it is possible to cope with the amount of attached paper dust.

Further, if the user completes the cleaning mode while exchanging documents, the loss of working time can be reduced.

Further, the cleaning mode may be entered after a paper jam occurs in the unit N1. If it is determined that the cause is a paper jam or paper feed slip in the unit W1, the cleaning time may be increased.

(g) As described in detail, according to the present invention, the paper feed roller and the separation roller are provided with cleaning means, and when the detection means detects recycled paper, the cleaning interval switching means cleans the cleaning means. Since the interval is made shorter than that for high-quality paper, paper feeding can always be stabilized not only for high-quality paper but also for recycled paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal side view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing its cleaning state, Fig. 3 is a side view of the roller section showing the cleaning function, and Fig. 4 is the main body and paper quality switching lever. 5 is a block diagram related to control by the paper quality switching lever, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the cleaning mode, FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the cleaning mode for recycled paper, and FIG. 8 is a conventional FIG. 3 is a vertical side view showing the paper feeding device of FIG. Figure 1 Figure 2 1...Paper feeding device, 2...Loading section (lifter)
, 5...Paper feed roller, 6...Feed roller 6.
7... Separation roller pair (feeding roller, separation roller>
8.10...Cleaning means (black), 16...
Detection means (switch), 17...Cleaning interval switching means, P...Transfer paper Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A paper feed roller that feeds transfer paper from a stacking section loaded with transfer paper, and a pair of separation rollers that separate and feed the fed transfer paper one by one. A paper feeding device for an image forming apparatus having the following: a cleaning means for cleaning the paper feeding roller or a pair of separation rollers; a detection means for detecting whether the quality of the transfer paper is high-quality paper or recycled paper; and the detection means. 1. A paper feeding device for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a cleaning interval switching unit for making a cleaning interval of the cleaning unit shorter than a cleaning interval for high-quality paper when the cleaning unit detects recycled paper. 2. A paper feeding device in an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning means comprises a brush member that charges the transfer paper in the opposite direction.