JPH05162864A - Pressedly contacting structure of cassette-housed recording paper for pressing against feeding roller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the structure of a recording-paper cassette by pressedly bringing the recording paper that has been housed in a recording-paper cassette into contact with a feeding roller that has been provided on a picture-image forming device side, and also by bringing the recording paper that has been housed in interlock with the insertion of the recording-paper cassette into contact with the feeding roller. CONSTITUTION:In the paper-feeding part, a holding-plate operation arm 25 that has been oscillatably and pivotally supported so as to press a holding plate 22 from below through an operation hole opened at the front-end lower-bottom part of the holding plate 22 is connectedly provided via both an operation lever 26 that is oscillatedly operated by a cam projection 23 and a spring 24 in the position corresponding to the operation hole of an inserted recording-paper cassette 2. It is so constituted that when the recording-paper cassette 2 is inserted into a paper-feeding part, the operation lever 26 is oscillatedly operated by the cam projection 23 of the recording-paper cassette 2, and the holding-plate operation arm 25 is oscillatedly operated via the spring 24 for oscillatedly operating the holding plate 22, and the recording paper held by the holding plate 22 is pressedly brought into contact with a recording-paper introducing roller 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention inserts a recording paper cassette containing recording paper into a cassette insertion portion provided with a feed roller to feed the recording paper contained in the recording paper cassette. The present invention relates to a structure for press-contacting a cassette-containing recording sheet with a feed roller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, some image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimiles are configured to form an image on plain paper cut into a predetermined size.
In such an image forming apparatus using plain paper, a recording paper cassette accommodating recording paper (plain paper) can be attached to and detached from a paper feed unit of the image forming apparatus, and the recording paper cassettes can be used one by one. It is configured to be introduced into the apparatus and perform image formation. As a result, the size of the recording paper can be easily changed by replacing (or switching) the recording paper cassette.

[0003]

By the way, in the case where the recording paper is supplied from the removable recording paper cassette as described above, the recording paper in the recording paper cassette is introduced into the apparatus (when it is seen from the recording paper cassette side, it is sent out). Conveying means such as a feed roller for performing the above) is provided on the image forming apparatus side. Therefore, in a state where the recording sheet cassette is mounted at a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus, the recording sheet accommodated in the recording sheet cassette can be conveyed in a predetermined relative positional relationship with the conveying unit on the image forming apparatus side. For example, in the case where the image forming apparatus is provided with a feed roller, it is necessary to press the recording paper against the feed roller. However, if such a structure is provided in the recording paper cassette, the recording paper cassette becomes complicated and the cost is increased.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a structure in which the recording paper housed in the recording paper cassette is pressed against the feed roller provided in the image forming device, and the recording paper is also provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a press-contact structure for pressing the recording paper contained in the cassette to the feed roller so that the recording paper contained in the cassette can be pressed against the feed roller in association with the insertion of the cassette.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the structure for press-contacting a cassette-containing recording sheet with a feed roller according to the present invention is such that a recording sheet cassette containing a recording sheet is inserted into a cassette equipped with a feed roller. The recording sheet is inserted into the storage unit and is pressed into contact with the feed roller, and the feed roller rotates to convey the recording sheet to the outside of the recording sheet cassette. The recording sheet is held in the recording sheet cassette. The holding plate is pivotally supported at the rear end so that the front end of the holding plate can be swung, and an operation hole is formed in the lower bottom portion of the front end of the holding plate, and a cam projection is formed on the side surface of the front end. A holding plate operation arm pivotally supported at the cassette insertion portion at a position corresponding to the operation hole of the inserted recording paper cassette so as to press the holding plate from below through the operation hole. But swings by the cam protrusion It is provided by being connected to the operating lever to be created via a spring, and with the recording paper cassette inserted in the cassette insertion part, the cam lever of the recording paper cassette causes the operation lever to swing and move via the spring. The holding plate operation arm is oscillated to oscillate the holding plate through the operation hole, and the recording paper held by the holding plate is pressed against the feed roller.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram corresponding to a vertical cross section of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of a pressure-contacting structure of a cassette-containing recording sheet according to the present invention to a feed roller is applied. The illustrated image forming apparatus 1 is a so-called color image forming apparatus,
A color image is formed by performing image formation multiple times (magenta, cyan, yellow, and black four times) on the same recording paper based on image information separated into three colors of red, blue, and green. is there. The illustrated device 1 includes a paper feed unit 1 as a cassette insertion unit to which a recording paper cassette 2 containing recording papers 4 ...
0 is provided, and a paper discharge tray 3 is provided on the upper side of the paper feeding unit 10, and the recording paper 4 accommodated in the recording paper cassette 2 is introduced from the paper feeding unit 10 and Is conveyed to the opposite end side and inverted to the upper side, the sublimation dye of the ink ribbon 63 is transferred by the thermal transfer head 50 described later to form an image, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 3. There is.

The sheet feeding section 10 is formed with an opening into which the recording sheet cassette 2 can be inserted, and a driving device (not shown) is provided above the front end of the sheet feeding section 10 when the recording sheet cassette 2 is inserted into the opening. A recording paper introducing roller 11 is provided as a feed roller that is rotationally driven by the means, and further, the recording paper cassette 2
An introduction roller pair 12 in which the rollers are arranged in pressure contact with each other is provided at a position adjacent to the front end of the roller.

Here, the recording paper cassette 2 is a thin cube having a planer rectangular shape capable of accommodating corresponding recording paper and opened upward, as shown in a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2 and a partial plan view of FIG. A recording paper holding plate 22 is provided inside the container 21. The recording paper holding plate 22 has a shape substantially along the inner circumference of the recording paper cassette 2, and although only one side is shown in FIG.
A is pivotally supported on the side plate 21A of the container part 21 by a pin 22B, and its front end is provided so as to be vertically swingable. An operation hole 21C is formed in the center of the front end of the bottom plate 21B of the container part 21. Further, although only one side is shown in FIG. 3, the operation cam projections are formed on the outer surfaces of the front ends of the left and right side plates 21A, respectively. The portion 23 is provided so as to project. Operation cam unit 23
Is an inclined cam surface 2 whose front end is lower on the front side.
3A, the rear end side of which the cam surface 23A intersects the upper surface of the side plate 21A is formed as a horizontal portion 23B slightly lower than the upper surface of the side plate 21A.

On the other hand, a plan view of the paper feed section 10 is shown in FIG.
A recording paper pressing mechanism 20 having a side view shown in FIG. 5 is provided. The recording paper pressing mechanism 20 is provided with a holding plate operating arm 25 at a position corresponding to the center of the front end of the recording paper cassette 2 when it is inserted, and the recording plate pressing mechanism 20 is provided on the left and right sides (one side in FIG. 4). (Only shown) is provided with an operating lever 26. The holding plate operating arm 25 is fixed to a shaft 27 rotatably supported by the chassis side plate 1A of the apparatus at its front end, and is swingably provided by the rotation of the shaft 27. Pressing roller 25A
Is rotatably provided.

The operating lever 26 has a shaft 2 at its rear end.
7 is fixed to a swing shaft 28 that is rotatably supported by a chassis side plate 1A on the rear side with respect to 7, and the front end side thereof is swingable by rotation of the swing shaft 28. A front end thereof and a rear end of an arm 29 fixed to the shaft 27 at the front end are connected by a spring 24, and a cam follower 26A is rotatably provided on a side surface of the central side of the apparatus substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction. The cam follower 26A is positioned so as to interfere with the operation cam portion 23 of the recording paper cassette 2 to be inserted.

The recording paper pressing mechanism 20 constructed as described above.
In the state where the recording paper cassette 2 is not inserted, the front end of the operation lever 26 swings downward as shown in FIG. 5, and the holding plate operation arm 25 becomes horizontal. Then, when the recording paper cassette 2 is inserted from this state, as shown in FIG. 6, the operation cam portion 23 of the recording paper cassette 2 comes into contact with the cam follower 26A and pushes up the cam follower 26A along the cam surface 23A. As a result, the operating lever 26 swings with its front end facing upward, which causes the shaft 27 to rotate via the spring 24 and the lever 29, causing the holding plate operating arm 25 to swing with its rear end facing upward, and the pressing roller. 25A is the bottom plate 2 of the container portion 21 of the recording paper cassette 2.
The lower surface of the front end of the recording paper holding plate 22 is pushed upward through the operation hole 21C of 1B. At this time, the holding plate operation arm 2
The swing of 5 is regulated by the front end upper surface of the recording paper (not shown in FIGS. 4 to 5) housed in a stacked state on the upper surface of the recording paper holding plate 21 coming into contact with the recording paper introducing roller 11. The spring 24 elastically deforms and the restoring force of the spring 24 urges the upper surface of the front end of the recording paper against the recording paper introduction roller 11. When the recording paper cassette 2 is inserted in the predetermined position, the cam follower 26A reaches the horizontal portion 23B of the operation cam portion 23, and in this state (the state shown in FIG. 6), the stable state is achieved.

Incidentally, the spring 24 is deformed so that the front end of the recording paper holding plate 22 can be urged against the recording paper introducing roller 11 with a predetermined pressing force as shown in FIG. It is set and the amount of recording paper (thickness)
Although the swing amount of the holding plate operating arm 25 differs depending on the holding plate operating arm 25, this is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the spring 24. With the above configuration, the recording paper 4 housed in the recording paper cassette 2 is conveyed from the inside of the recording paper cassette 2 into the image forming apparatus by the rotation of the recording paper introducing roller 11.

A conveying roller pair 31 having rollers arranged in pressure contact with each other is provided in front of the introducing roller pair 12 in the conveying direction of the recording sheet (on the right side in the drawing), and further forward of the conveying roller pair 31 in the recording sheet conveying direction. A guide arm 90 having an arcuate guide portion 91 is pivotally supported by a pin 13 at a substantially central portion thereof, and a platen roller 34 is provided substantially above the guide arm 90. A pinch roller 92 is rotatably provided on the upper end of the guide arm 90, and a lower end of the operation arm 33 as an arm member provided on the right side in the figure so as to be swingable by the pin 14 is provided via a spring 32 to the lower end. The pinch roller 92 is connected to the platen roller 34 by the biasing force of the spring 32 in the horizontal direction, so that the guide arm 90 is regulated from swinging to a substantially vertical state and the lower end of the guide portion 91 is conveyed. It is located in the conveyance path of the recording paper conveyed by the roller pair 31.

The recording paper guide plate 3 for supporting the recording paper to be conveyed is provided between the introducing roller pair 12 and the conveying roller pair 31, and between the conveying roller pair 31 and the guide arm 90.
5 are arranged, and the upper side of each of them and the recording paper introducing roller 1
Recording paper support plates 36 as recording paper retracting portions are arranged above the sheet 1 in parallel with each other at a predetermined distance. At the end of the recording paper support plate 36 facing the guide portion 91 of the guide arm 90, a recording paper retreat restricting member 37 as a branching member formed of an elastic member is mounted. Is diagonally upward toward the guide portion 91,
The tip thereof is provided in contact with the guide portion 91.

Above the platen roller 34, a thermal transfer head 50 in which a thermal head array 51 extending in the width direction of the recording paper is supported by a head frame 52 is provided. It is pivotally supported by a chassis that does not rotate and is urged to rotate clockwise in the figure by a spring (not shown), and is attached to the end opposite to the thermal head array 51 that sandwiches the pivot shaft 53. The roller-like cam follower 53 serves as a cam member fixed to the cam shaft 43.
It contacts the outer peripheral cam surface of No. 1 and is rocked following the displacement of the outer peripheral cam surface due to the rotation of the head operating cam 41 (that is, the rotation of the cam shaft 43).

An ink ribbon reel 61 on the delivery side is arranged below the thermal transfer head 50, and is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) at a position substantially symmetrical to the ink ribbon reel 61 on the delivery side with the platen roller 34 interposed therebetween. The ink ribbon reel 62 on the take-up side is arranged. The ink ribbon reel 61 on the delivery side is wound with an ink ribbon 63 in which ribbons of each color to be transferred are sequentially connected by one page (one sheet) of recording paper, and the ink ribbon 63 on the take-up side is wound. It is adapted to be wound up on the ink ribbon reel 62. Thermal transfer head 5
At the time of image formation where 0 is at the transfer action position, the ink ribbon 63 is sandwiched between the platen roller 34 and the thermal head array 51 in a superposed state with the recording paper (the recording paper is on the platen roller 34 side at the ink ribbon 63 side). Is sandwiched between the thermal head array 51 side) and the recording paper, and is wound up from the delivery side ink ribbon reel 61 to the winding side ink ribbon reel 62 in synchronization with the movement of the recording paper.

Platen roller 34 and thermal transfer head 50
On the left side of the figure, a clamper 70 is slidably movable by a pair of left and right guide shafts 5 supported by a chassis (not shown) of the apparatus 1 and horizontally arranged in the front-rear direction. The clamper 70 is configured to include a holding roller pair 80 in which an upper roller 82 is arranged in pressure contact with a spring (not shown) above a lower roller 81, and the holding roller pair 80 is moved and driven by a driving means (not shown) to move right and left along the guide shaft 5 in the figure. The sheet feeding position is located at the right end in the figure adjacent to the platen roller 34 and the thermal transfer head 50, and the sheet ejection position is located at the left end in the figure. Further, on the left side of the clamper 70 at the paper discharge position in the figure, a paper discharge roller pair 38 in which rollers are arranged in pressure contact with each other is provided.

Thus, the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above introduces the recording paper 4 accommodated in the recording paper cassette 2 into the apparatus 1 by driving the recording paper introduction roller 11, and at the same time introduces the introduction roller. It is conveyed by driving the pair 12 and the pair of conveying rollers 31, is bent and conveyed upward along the arc-shaped guide portion 91 of the guide arm 90, and the tip thereof is interposed between the platen roller 34 and the pinch roller 92, and the clamper 7 is provided.
Transport until it reaches 0. Then, a predetermined amount of the recording paper 4 is bitten between the holding roller pair 80 to hold it, and the clamper 7
0 is moved to the left side in the drawing to drive the recording paper 4, the ink ribbon 63 is wound in synchronization with the movement of the recording paper 4, and an image is formed (transferred) on the recording paper 4 by the thermal head array 51. ).

Since this embodiment is a color image forming apparatus, this transfer process is carried out four times for magenta, cyan, yellow and black as described above. That is, after the first transfer process is completed, the clamper 70 is returned to the paper feeding position (the recording paper 4), and then the clamper 70 is driven to the left side in the drawing (the recording paper 4 is driven to move). The next transfer process is performed, and thereafter, this process is repeated a predetermined number of times. The clamper 70 is at the paper discharge position in a state where the transfer process of a predetermined number of times is completed (transfer of all colors is completed), and here, the lower roller 81 of the clamper 70 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing to hold the holding roller. The recording paper 4 gripped by the pair 80 is discharged and conveyed to the discharge side (the left side in the drawing), and the recording paper 4 sent out from the clamper 70 is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 38 and is discharged onto the discharge tray 3. Is discharged to.

[0020]

As described above, according to the pressure-contact structure of the cassette-containing recording paper to the feed roller according to the present invention, the recording paper accommodated in the recording paper cassette is fed to the feed roller provided on the image forming apparatus side. The structure for pressure contact is provided on the image forming apparatus side, and the contained recording paper can be pressed against the feed roller in conjunction with the insertion of the recording paper cassette, so that the structure of the recording paper cassette can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram corresponding to a longitudinal section in a standby state of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of a pressure contact structure of a cassette-containing recording sheet according to the present invention with a feed roller is applied.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a recording paper cassette.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of a recording paper cassette.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a recording paper pressing mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a recording paper pressing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the recording paper pressing mechanism with a recording paper cassette attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 2 ... Recording paper cassette 4 ... Recording paper 10 ... Paper feeding part (cassette insertion part) 11 ... Recording paper introducing roller (feeding roller) 21B ... Bottom plate (bottom part) 21C ... Operation hole 22 ... Holding plate 23 ... Cam projection 20 ... Recording paper pressing mechanism 24 ... Spring 25 ... Holding plate operating arm 26 ... Operating lever

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording paper cassette containing a recording paper is inserted into a cassette insertion portion provided with a feed roller, and the recording paper contained in the recording paper cassette is pressed against the feed roller to feed the recording paper. The recording paper cassette is conveyed by the rotation of a roller, and the recording paper cassette is provided with a holding plate for holding the recording paper, which is pivotally supported at its rear end so that its front end can swing. An operation hole is formed in the lower bottom part of the front end of the holding plate, and a cam projection is formed on the side surface of the front end, and the cassette insertion part corresponds to the operation hole of the inserted recording paper cassette. A holding plate operating arm pivotally supported so as to press the holding plate from below through the operating hole, via an operating lever and a spring that are rocked by the cam projection. Connected When the recording paper cassette is inserted into the cassette insertion portion, the operation lever is rocked by the cam projection of the recording paper cassette, and the holding plate operation arm is rocked via the spring. It is configured to be dynamically operated to swing the holding plate via the operation hole, and press the recording paper held by the holding plate against the feed roller.
The structure that presses the recording paper stored in the cassette against the feed roller.