JPH0573656B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette for storing a stack of sheets, that is, a paper storage cassette, which is inserted into a copying machine or the like, and then a paper feed means provided in the copying machine, etc. The present invention relates to a device for loading the paper feed cassette of a paper feed device such as a copying machine into a main body of a copying machine that feeds paper sheet by sheet.

PRIOR ART As a paper feeding device for transfer paper, manuscripts, etc. for electrophotographic copying machines, printers, facsimile machines, etc., there is a paper feeding cassette which is pivoted on a fulcrum at the bottom of the container and has a bottom plate on which a stack of sheets is placed. Insert it into a copying machine etc.,
The above-mentioned bottom plate is rotated upward by a push-up member provided on the copying machine, etc., and the top surface of the stack of sheets is brought into pressure contact with the paper feed roller of the copying machine, etc., so that the sheets are fed one by one from the top. paper feeders are widely used. However, in conventional paper feeding devices of this type, the bottom plate is generally pressurized by pressing a push-up member against the bottom plate using a tension spring, and when the cassette is attached or detached, the pressure is applied by a switching lever or by pressing the side of the cassette. It was necessary to temporarily separate the pressure member from the bottom plate by using a cam provided at the bottom plate against the force of the spring. Therefore,
Those with a switching lever that releases the pressure force require force to operate the lever, which is not only time-consuming, but also can cause damage to the cassette or the main body of the copying machine if you forget to release it and try to attach or remove the cassette. Even with a cam provided on the side of the cassette, a considerable amount of operating force is required to attach and detach the cassette, resulting in poor productivity. Paper feeding pressure is generated by the load of the tension spring applied between the paper and the paper feeding means, but this pressure changes depending on the displacement of the spring and the paper's own weight, so the paper stack on the bottom plate The disadvantage is that stable paper feeding pressure cannot be obtained depending on the amount of paper and paper size.

In addition, conventionally, when replacing or replenishing paper, the paper cassette had to be removed from the main body of a copying machine, etc., which resulted in poor operability. The cassette is provided with a top cover that can be opened and closed when the cassette is loaded, and in conjunction with the opening/closing operation of the top cover, the bottom plate push-up member is separated from the bottom plate and the bottom plate is lowered. Create a gap between the top surface and
For example, Utility Model Application No. 53-155975 proposes a paper feeding device in which paper can be replenished from under an open top lid. However, even in that device, the paper feeding pressure is applied using a tension spring, so
A considerable amount of operating force is required to open and close the top cover and to attach and detach the cassette, and the paper feed pressure inevitably fluctuates depending on the amount and size of paper as described above.

Purpose This invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of paper feeding devices such as copying machines that use conventional paper feeding cassettes with top lids, and provides paper for copying machines, etc., which has excellent ease of paper replacement, replenishment, and cassette attachment/detachment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a loading device for a main body of a storage container.

Configuration To achieve this objective, the paper storage container loading device of the present invention is a paper storage cassette loading device comprising a bottom plate push-up member on the side of the main body of a device such as a copying machine, and a paper storage cassette separate from the main body of the device. The paper storage cassette includes a container, a bottom plate whose rear end is pivoted to the bottom of the container and on which a stack of paper is placed, and a top lid that can be opened and closed by flipping up the rear part even when attached to the main body of the device. The paper storage cassette has a first mounting state in which it cannot be inserted into or removed from the device body and can feed paper, and a front portion thereof is lower than the first mounting state in which it can be inserted into or removed from the device body. The bottom plate pushing up member pushes up the bottom plate of the paper storage cassette attached to the main body of the device, and lifts the paper placed thereon. In a paper storage cassette loading device configured to bring the top surface of a bundle into pressure contact with a paper feeding means provided on the main body of the device, the paper storage cassette is provided with a container that is connected to the opening/closing operation of the top lid. A displacing actuating member is provided, and the device main body includes an electric motor that drives the push-up member in the push-up direction, an interlockable power transmission means that transmits the driving force of the electric motor to the push-up member, and the above-mentioned device body. A switch means for connecting and disconnecting the power to the electric motor, and a power transmission means disconnection member that engages with the operating member, the power transmission means, and the switch means are provided, and the power transmission means disconnection means connects the power transmission means to the power transmission means. A paper storage cassette which is movable between a first position in which the means is disconnected and the switch means is disconnected, and a second position in which the power means is connected and the switch means is in contact, and the upper lid is closed. from the second mounting state to the first
or the first
Due to the movement of the actuating member accompanying the operation of closing the top cover of the paper storage cassette in the installed state, the power transmission means disconnecting means is brought to the second position,
The actuation member is activated by the operation of displacing the paper storage cassette with the top lid closed from the first mounting state to the second mounting state, or by the operation of opening the top lid of the paper storage cassette in the first mounting state. Due to the movement, the power transmission means disconnecting means is connected to the first
It is characterized by being in the position of

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sheet of paper (hereinafter referred to as paper) is placed at the bottom of the cassette container 1.
A bottom plate 2 on which P is placed is rotatably attached by inserting an engaging portion 3 formed by bending the rear end into a slit 1-5 provided on the bottom surface of the container 1. On the other hand, a friction pad 4 is attached to a recessed portion in the center of the front end (left end in the figure) of the bottom plate 2. There is a shaft 50 in the cassette insertion part of the main body to which the cassette is attached (hereinafter referred to as the copying machine) of a copying machine, etc.
A lifter 51 that rotates together with the bottom plate and constitutes a member for pushing up the bottom plate is provided, and as the shaft 50 rotates counterclockwise, the arms 51a and 51b provided on both sides of the lifter 51 move the cassette container 1 upward. It rotates through the holes 1-4 provided in the bottom and front wall, pushes up the bottom plate 2, and the upper surface of the paper bundle P placed thereon comes into pressure contact with the paper feed roller 100. The paper feed roller 100 rotates in the direction of the arrow in response to the paper feed signal to feed out the paper. The paper feed roller 100 is pivotally supported on the tip of a lever 110 that is pivotally supported on the shaft O.
A stopper 100b provided on the lever 110 prevents the lever from falling below a certain level. A roller 200a that rotates in the same direction in synchronization with the paper feed roller 100 is supported on the shaft O, and a pair of separating rollers 200 is connected to the roller 200b that is in pressure contact with the roller 200b and can rotate only in the direction of pushing the paper back toward the cassette. It consists of The lever 110 is provided with a protrusion 110a, and a sensor S1 is provided which is activated by the protrusion 110a when the paper feed roller 100 is pushed up to a height suitable for predetermined paper feeding.

On the upper surface of the container, except for a part of the front part, a cover 5 serving as an upper lid is provided on both ends of the container, and hinge pins 6 are implanted in hinge members 7 facing downward, and holes 1 provided in the side wall of the container are installed. -3, it is pivotally attached to the container 1, and can be opened and closed by holding the rear end and flipping it up in the direction of the arrow. The cover 5 can be held in its open position and closed position by a click stop mechanism (not shown). A roller 8 is provided on the side surface of the lower end of the hinge member 7. The roller 8 is engaged with a guide pin implanted inside the side plate of the container 1 through an elongated hole, and is slidable in the front-rear direction within a range. The slider 9 is engaged with the rear end of the slider 9, which is biased rearward by the slider 9. A cam 11 is attached to the front end of the slider 9 as an actuating member that is formed by bending a leaf spring and is elastically displaced.

Near the front end of both sides of the container 1, there are marks shown in Figures 2 and 3.
As shown in the figure, a protrusion 1-1 extending in the front-rear direction is provided with a recess 1-2 on the lower edge, and these are connected to a guide block 3 fixed to the cassette attachment part of the copying machine.
The cassette is set in a predetermined position by engaging the groove 30-1 and the guide pin 30-2, respectively.

One end of the shaft 50 of the lifter 51 is swingably supported in a substantially horizontal plane about a shaft fulcrum 50-1 on one side plate of a copying machine (not shown), and the other end is supported on the other side plate so as to be able to swing as described above. It passes through an elongated hole 75 provided in the direction, and is swingable within that range and rotatable around its own axis. Long hole 75
As shown in FIG. 2, a sector gear 52 is fixed to the end of the shaft 50 that passes through the shaft. On the side plate of the copying machine are a drive motor 81, a worm 82 attached to its shaft, a worm gear 83 that meshes with this, a gear 84 that rotates together with this, and a gear 8 that meshes with this.
5. The sector gear 52 rotates together with the sector gear 52.
A drive unit 80 is attached, which includes a gear 86 that can mesh with the drive unit 80 . warm 82
A power transmission means is constituted by a gear transmission mechanism such as a worm gear 83 and a worm gear 83.

Lifter 51 attachment part of shaft 50 and sector gear 5
2 is supported by a shaft 62 and held between the two legs of a bifurcated swinging lever 60, which is an element of the power transmission means connection/disconnection means. A spring 64 that biases the lever 60 clockwise around the shaft 62 is attached to an arm extending parallel to the shaft 50 from the side of the lever 60, and the tip of the arm protrudes to the right in FIG. A roller 61 is attached to the tip. The upper surface of the cam 11 attached to the front end of the slider 9 of the inserted cassette 1 engages with this roller 61, and in the position where the cover 5 of the cassette is closed and the slider 9 is advanced, as shown in FIG. The roller 61 is pushed up by the cam 11, and the lever 60 is pushed up by the spring 64.
The lever 6 is rotated counterclockwise by a certain angle against the
One end 50' of the shaft 50 held between the two legs of
5 toward the cassette, and the sector gear 52 and drive unit 80 shown in FIG.
The gear 86 is in mesh with the gear 86. A plate spring tongue piece 63 is attached to the front edge of the lever 60 in the opposite direction to the arm so as to face a micro switch 70 fixed to the copying machine. When the lever 60 rotates counterclockwise as described above, the sector gear 5
2 engages with the gear 86, the above-mentioned tongue piece 63
operates the micro switch 70 to start the motor 81. Furthermore, when the lever 60 is rotated and the sector gear 52 and the gear 86 are engaged, the tongue piece 6
3 is deformed due to its elasticity, and both the tongue piece itself and the switch 70 are prevented from being damaged. A cushion member 20 is provided at a position other than the notch 1-4 at the front end of the bottom of the container 1, and supports the front end of the bottom plate 2 in the falling position, and also supports one arm 51a of the lifter 51.
A cushion member 55 is attached to the machine frame below and supports the lifter 51 in the falling position.

Since this device is constructed as described above, when the cover 5 is opened and paper is placed on the bottom plate of the cassette 1, and the cover 5 is closed, the slider 9 is pushed at its rear end by the roller 8 and resists the spring 10. The container protrudes slightly from the notch 1-6 of the container, and is inserted along the top surface of the groove 30-1 of the guide block 30 with the protrusion 1-1, and the notch 1-2 is inserted into the pin 30-2. When engaged and the cassette is set, the spring cam 11 attached to the tip pushes up the roller 61 and rotates the lever 60 counterclockwise against the spring 64. Then, the tongue piece 63 first operates the micro switch 70 and the motor 81 starts rotating. As the lever 60 continues to rotate, the sector gear 52 and the gear 86 begin to mesh. At this time, since the motor 81 is already in a rotating state, even if the sector gear 5
2 and the gear 86 contact each other, they immediately become engaged, and at that point the lifter 51 begins to rotate together with the shaft 50, raising the bottom plate 2. The upper surface of the paper P placed on the bottom plate 2 is the paper feed roller 100
When it reaches a height that pushes it up further,
The protrusion 110a of the lever 110 activates the sensor _S1 and stops the motor 81. Even when the motor 81 stops, the worm 82 and the worm gear 83 hold the bottom plate in that position. When the height of the stack of paper decreases due to repeated copies, the lever 11
0's protrusion 110a comes off from the sensor _S1 , and the motor 81 rotates again due to the signal, and the paper feed roller 10
By raising 0 to a predetermined position and repeating this process, the upper surface of the paper and the paper feed roller 100 are always maintained within a predetermined range, and the paper feed pressure is determined by the weight of the paper feed roller 100 and the lever, so it always remains unchanged. It is maintained.

When paper continues to be fed and there is no more paper on the bottom plate 2, it is detected by a detection means (not shown), and the motor 81 is stopped and the end of paper is displayed.

When the cover 5 of the cassette 1 is opened, the roller 8 moves backward, the slider 9 is pulled backward by the spring 10, the roller 61 is disengaged from the cam 11, and the lever 60 is rotated clockwise by the spring 64. First, the sector gear and the gear 86 are disengaged, and the lifter 51, together with the shaft 50, falls to the bottom of the cassette 1 due to its own weight. At this time, the lifter 51 comes into contact with the cushion material 55, and the impact is alleviated. At the same time, the cassette bottom plate 2 also fell, and the cushion material 20
buffered by Then, the tongue piece 63 is removed from the micro switch 70. As a result, even if the motor 81 is rotating (if the cover is opened with paper on the bottom plate 2), the power to the motor 81 is cut off and the motor 81 stops. Thereby, paper can be easily replenished from under the cover 5, which is wide open at the rear, onto the bottom plate 2, which is separated from the paper feed roller 100 by a large distance.

Next, when removing the cassette from the copying machine main body in order to replace the cassette, as shown in FIG.
It is set in an inclined state where it is removed from the guide pin 30-2 of 0. As a result, the cassette 1 moves counterclockwise around the tip of the protrusion 1-1 (point Q in FIG. 5) as a fulcrum until the upper surface of the protrusion 1-1 comes into contact with the upper surface of the guide groove 30-1. As the cam 11 rotates and moves downward, the roller 61 separates from the cam 11 and the lever 6
0 rotates clockwise about the fulcrum 62, and stops when the shaft 50 comes into contact with the left end of the elongated hole 75. As a result of this operation, the lifter 51 falls, and the cassette bottom plate 2 also falls accordingly, and the upper surface of the paper bundle P is separated from the paper feed roller 100, so that there is no longer any obstacle to pulling out the cassette. That is, the lifter can be dropped by a simple tilting motion performed prior to pulling out the container. When loading a container, the container is maintained in an inclined state by the guide groove 30-1 during the insertion process, and assumes the mounting posture at a predetermined loading position, whereby the cam 11 and the rollers 61 engage and the lifter is moved. Since the container is raised, loading of containers can be easily carried out with almost no operating force required.

Effects As described above, according to the present invention, the lifter and the cassette bottom plate can be dropped by displacing the same cam both when opening/closing the cassette cover and when attaching/detaching the cassette. Replacement and replenishment and replacement of cassettes can be easily and reliably performed with almost no operating force required.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the container, Figure 3 is a side view showing the engaging members provided on the outside of the container and the device body, and Figure 4 is the above when the container is loaded into the device body with the cover closed. a side view showing the engaged state of the engaging member and the resulting state of the power transmission/disconnection member;
FIG. 5 is a similar side view when the container is tilted prior to removal. 1...Cassette (container), 2...Bottom plate, 5...Cover (upper lid), 9...Slider (operating member), 11...Cam,
51... Lifter (push-up member), 60... Power transmission means disconnection means, 70... Switch means, 81... Drive source, 100... Paper feeding means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A paper storage cassette loading device comprising a bottom plate push-up member on the side of a main body of a device such as a copying machine, and a paper storage cassette separate from the main body of the device, wherein the paper storage cassette includes a container; This paper storage cassette has a bottom plate whose rear end is pivoted to the bottom of the container and on which a stack of paper is placed, and an upper lid that can be opened and closed by flipping up the rear part even when attached to the device main body. A first mounting state in which paper cannot be inserted and removed from the main body of the device and paper can be fed; and a second mounting state in which the front part of the device is inclined so that it can be inserted into and removed from the main body of the device and is lower than the first mounting state. The bottom plate push-up member pushes up the bottom plate of the paper storage cassette attached to the main body of the device, and lifts the top surface of the stack of paper stacks placed thereon to the paper storage cassette installed in the main body of the device. In a paper storage cassette loading device configured to be brought into pressure contact with paper means, the paper storage cassette is provided with an operating member that is displaced relative to the container in conjunction with the opening/closing operation of the top lid, and A motor for driving the push-up member in the push-up direction, a power transmission means that can be connected to transmit the driving force of the motor to the push-up member, a switch means for connecting or disconnecting power to the motor, and A power transmission means disconnecting means is provided which engages the operating member, the power transmitting means, and the switching means, and the power transmitting means disconnecting means disconnects the power transmitting means and the switch means. 1
and a second position where the power means is connected and the switch means is in contact, and the paper storage cassette with the top lid closed is moved from the second installed state to the first installed state. By the displacement operation or by the movement of the actuating member accompanying the operation of closing the top cover of the paper storage cassette in the first installed state, the power transmission means disconnecting means is brought to the second position, and the top cover is closed. By the operation of displacing the closed paper storage cassette from the first installed state to the second installed state, or by the movement of the actuating member accompanying the operation of opening the top cover of the paper storage cassette in the first installed state, A paper storage cassette loading device characterized in that the power transmission means disconnecting means is in the first position.