JPH0578497B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a feeding device having a manual feeding mechanism, specifically, for example, a feeding device that is used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and capable of manual feeding and automatic feeding. This invention relates to a feeding device having a manual feeding mechanism.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the method of applying contact pressure between the feed roller and the transfer material was to use a feed roller with a fixed axis position.
A method of pressing the transfer material using a biasing means such as a spring, or a method of holding the upper surface (feeding surface) of a group of transfer materials in a fixed position using a lifter that lifts the transfer materials,
There is a method in which a feeding roller whose axial position is movable is mounted on the transfer material. In either case, when replenishing the transfer material, it is necessary to release the contact between the pressure means for applying contact pressure or the feeding roller and the transfer material, which is inconvenient and inconvenient if the operator does it manually. Ta. In addition, the device is equipped with a signal system for such release,
Having a drive system complicated the configuration of the device.
Furthermore, the feed roller usually does not come into contact with the transfer material,
The method of moving (lowering) the feed roller to contact the transfer material in accordance with the timing of feeding the transfer material not only complicates the drive mechanism of the feed roller, but also makes it difficult to maintain the top surface of the transfer material in a fixed position. control for
When trying to improve the feeding performance of the device by requiring a drive mechanism and shortening the transfer material feeding interval, the feeding roller may bounce and become unstable.
There were drawbacks that hindered performance improvement.

On the other hand, in a type of feeding system called manual feeding, under the condition that the operator feeds the transfer material one sheet at a time, the transfer material that is hit against the feeding roller is transferred without releasing the contact pressure. There is a feeding mechanism that allows the feed roller to bite into the paper, but this has the disadvantage that if the abutment is too shallow, there is a high possibility that biting will not be achieved, leading to poor feeding.

[Purpose of the invention]

In light of the above-mentioned circumstances, the present invention particularly provides a signal system for releasing the feeding contact pressure that can be automatically performed without the need for an operator to release the feeding contact pressure when placing the sheet material on the feeding section. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a feeding device having a simple manual feeding mechanism that does not require a manual feeding mechanism.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a feeding device having a manual feeding mechanism according to the present invention includes: a feeding device for feeding the sheet material loaded on the sheet material mounting device; and a feeding device for feeding the sheet material loaded on the sheet material mounting device; supporting means that supports the feeding means so as to be movable up and down; a manual feeding table that can be displaced between a first position facing the feeding means and a second position retracting from the feeding means; an interlocking member that raises the feeding means by interlocking the support means with displacement of the manual feeding table from the second position to the first position; and the feeding means and the manual feeder that are raised by the interlocking member. The present invention is characterized by comprising a pressure contact means for bringing the sheet material into pressure contact with the sheet material supported by the feeding table.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained along with examples.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying apparatus in which a feeding contact pressure applying mechanism according to the present invention is applied to a manual paper feeding mechanism.

In the figure, an original 2 placed on an original placing glass 1 is illuminated by a lamp 3, and its light image is exposed to light by an optical system consisting of reflecting mirrors 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 and a lens 10. It is guided onto the drum 11. The lamp 3 and mirrors 4, 5, and 6 scan the original 2 at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow. On the other hand, since the photosensitive drum 11 is also rotated in the direction of the arrow after its surface is uniformly charged by the charger 12,
Electrostatic images corresponding to the original image are sequentially formed on the drum surface. A color developer 13 containing color toner (for example, red and blue) and a black developer 14 containing black toner are disposed around the photosensitive drum 11.
Each of these developing devices is movable in the direction of the arrow, and moves close to the photosensitive drum 11 to visualize the electrostatic image on the drum depending on a desired color image. In the case of this figure, the color developer 13 is far away and the black developer 14 is close, so a black image is formed on the drum. This image is transferred to transfer paper by a transfer charger 15. Thereafter, the photosensitive drum 11 goes to a cleaner 16 to remove residual toner on the drum surface and moves on to the next step again.

The transfer paper 17 performs the following operations to copy an original image. There are the following three means for feeding the transfer paper 17 into the copying apparatus.

One is loaded in the cassette 18 and sent to the feeding roller 1.
9 and sent to a pair of rollers 20. The roller pair 20 is designed to separate and feed only the top paper into the apparatus when a plurality of overlapping sheets of transfer paper 17 are fed into the apparatus.After passing through the roller pair 20,
The transfer paper 17 reaches the register roller 23 via the glass plates 21 and 22.

In the second means, the transfer paper 17 is also loaded in a cassette 24, which is a sheet material loading means, and fed to a pair of rollers 26 by a feeding roller 25, which is a feeding means. The roller pair 26 has the same mechanism as the previous roller pair 20, and after passing through the roller pair 26, the transfer paper 17 reaches the register roller 23 via guide plates 27 and 28.

The third method is so-called manual paper feeding, in which when the manual feed tray 29 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the manual feed tray 30, which is a manual feed tray, enters the lower part of the paper feed roller 25 in conjunction with this movement. . At this time,
The transfer paper in the cassette 24 is lowered so as not to interfere with the manual feed table 30. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the manual feed section when the manual feed tray is set in the manual feed state. In FIG. 2, the manual feed tray 29 and the manual feed stand 30 have shafts 291 and 30, respectively.
It is rotatably supported between side plates (not shown). A manual feed intermediate plate 302, which is a pressure contact means, is provided with a separation sheet (friction member) 303 at a portion that contacts the paper feed roller 25, and is supported rotatably around a shaft 304 with respect to both side walls of the manual feed table 30.

Figure 3 shows the manual feed stand 30 from the back side of the paper in Figure 2.
This is a view of the back side of the side wall. Manual feed middle plate 302
A shaft 304 fixed integrally with the manual feed tray 30 passes through the side wall of the manual feed tray 30 and has a manual feed intermediate plate drive gear 3 at one end thereof.
05 is fixed. Manual feeding middle plate drive gear 30
5 is a partial gear portion 305a that receives the driving force and a part of the side wall of the manual feed base 30, and the manual feed middle plate is moved to the third position.
Spring property utilizing portion 305 that urges in the direction of the white arrow in the figure
It consists of b.

Further, a side wall of the manual feed base 30 is provided with a relay gear 308 which is rotatable around a shaft 306 fixed to the side wall and is connected to a manual feed intermediate plate drive gear.
It meshes with a relay gear 307 rotatably supported by the rotation center shaft 301 of the manual feed table 30.

Drive gear 220 engages with relay gear 307 .
Note that the paper feed roller 25 is operated by an interlocking mechanism that will be described later.
When the manual feed tray is set in conjunction with the movement of the manual feed tray 29 and the manual feed stand 30 (the state shown by the solid line in Fig. 2)
In this case, the upper roller 26a of the roller pair 26 is rotated and moved upward. Further, there is a stopper located above that also operates in conjunction with the rotation of the manual feed table 30 to determine the position of the paper feed roller.

7 and 8 are cross-sectional views illustrating how the feeding roller 25 moves in conjunction with a change in the position of the manual feed table 30. FIG.

The feed roller 25 is rotatably fitted onto a shaft 151 fixed to a frame 150, which is a support means rotatable with respect to a shaft 26b supporting an upper roller 26a of the transport roller pair 26. A driving force is obtained from the upper roller support shaft 26b by means of a gear train, which will not be described in detail. Since the frame 150 is biased upward by a biasing spring 141 whose one end is fixed to a stay 140 that extends between side plates (not shown), the manual feed base 30 is placed on the rotation center axis 301 of the manual feed base 30.
Cam stopper 3 whose relative rotational position has been determined
It is always in contact with the long diameter portion 330a of 30. Since the cam stopper 330 rotates integrally with the manual feed base 30, the position where the frame 150 contacts the cam stopper 330 changes according to the setting of the manual feed base 30 (long diameter portion 330a→short diameter portion 330b).
In the figure, as the manual feed table 30 moves in the setting direction (clockwise), the frame 150 and the feeding roller 25 move upward. The urging spring 141 and the cam stopper 330 constitute an interlocking member. In the manual feed release state shown in FIG. 7 and in the manual feed set state shown in FIG. It does not change depending on the pressurization of 302.
When setting the cam stopper 330 manually,
The cam stopper 330 and the manual feed table 3 are each circumferentially centered around the shaft 301 even when released, and the cam stopper 330 and the manual feed table 3 are
0 so that no rotational force is applied.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the sheet feeding pressure biasing mechanism that rotates the manual feed intermediate plate 302 (FIG. 2). The photosensitive drum 11 is driven by a driving force from a driving source (not shown).
The driving force transmitted from the input shaft 201 and the input gear 202 fixed thereto, which rotate at the same time, first enters the input gear 203 of the clutch. gear 20
3 is rotatable around a shaft 204 fixed to the side plate 200, and has a cylindrical portion at one end for the winding drum of the spring clutch. Opposed to the gear 203 is an output gear 20 which also has a cylindrical surface for a spring clutch winding drum at one end.
5 is also rotatably supported around an axis 204. Clutch spring 20 between gears 203 and 205
6. The control ring 201 is across. Clutch spring 2
The inner diameter of the gear 06 is slightly larger than the diameter of the winding drum of the gears 203 and 205. Also, one end of the clutch spring is rotatable as a part of the input gear 203 (shaft 2
04 axis direction), and the other end is fixed to the control ring 2.
It is engaged with the groove portion of 07. The outer cylinder of the control ring 207 includes a friction pad 208, a pressure ring 209, and a stop plate 2.
10 are fitted, and the stop plate 210 is stopped so as not to come off in the axial direction of the control ring. A pressure spring 211 is installed between the stop plate 210 and the pressure ring 209, and presses the pressure ring 209 against the wall surface of the control ring 207 via the friction pad 208. or,
As shown in FIG. 9, on the outer periphery of the pressure ring 209, there is a control claw 296 provided on the manual feed tray 29.
Ratchet teeth are provided for engagement. This allows the control pawl 296 to be attached to the ratchet teeth.
is engaged, when the input gear 202 rotates, the input gear 203 rotates, and the clutch spring 206, whose one end is engaged with the control ring 207 whose rotation is regulated by the pressure ring 209 and the friction pad 208, The driving force is transmitted to the output gear 205. After the clutch spring 206 is wound in a predetermined amount, it causes a slip between the friction pad 208 and the control ring 207, and transmits the driving force while the input gear 202 rotates. An input gear of the torque limiter section meshes with an output gear 205 of the clutch section. input gear 2
Reference numeral 13 denotes a stepped shaft 2 rotatably supported by a side plate 200 and an auxiliary side plate 212 fixed to the side plate 200.
It is rotatably supported around 14 rotations. axis 214
A friction pad 215 is rotatably supported on the top, and a pressure ring 216 is supported by a parallel pin to be able to transmit rotational driving force and to be slidable in the axial direction. The retaining ring 217 is fixed to the end of the stepped shaft 214, and the spring 2 presses the input gear 213 and the pressure ring 216 via the friction pad 215.
I'm stopping 18. The retaining ring 217 has a retaining screw and can be adjusted and positioned in the thrust direction of the input gear 213. This torque limiter prevents a driving force exceeding a certain level from being transmitted due to slippage between the input gear 213 or the pressure ring 216 and the friction pad 215. Further, a drive gear 220 is fixedly attached to the other end of the stepped shaft 214, and the side plate 20
It meshes with a relay gear 307 that is rotatably supported by a shaft 301 on the inside of 0 (the side where the manual feed tray 39 is located).

With the above configuration, when the operator of the copying machine selects manual feed and rotates the manual feed tray 29 in the direction of arrow A, the manual feed tray 30 enters the set state (second
Figure 9). The manual feed stand 30 is always biased toward either the solid line position or the two-dot chain line position in FIG. 3 by a toggle mechanism (for example, a toggle spring) not shown.

Further, the manual feed table 30 is positioned by stoppers 321 and 322 in both the set position shown by the solid line and the released position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

A micro switch 350 is provided near the set position stopper to detect that the manual feed table 30 is in the set state. In this way, manual feed stand 3
When 0 is set, manual feed middle plate 3
02 is biased in the direction of arrow B by the action of the spring portion 305b of the drive gear 305, so a predetermined gap is formed between the paper feed roller 25 and the manual intermediate plate 302. The operator inserts the transfer material into the space between the paper feed roller 25 and the manual feed middle plate 302, and places it against the front end wall surface 310 of the manual feed table 30 (see FIG. 5). When the activation switch (copy button) is pressed, the photosensitive drum 11 of the copying apparatus rotates in order to obtain the initial state necessary for image formation. At this time, the input gear 202
rotates, and the driving force is transmitted to the manual feed middle plate 302.
rises and hits the paper feed roller 25. At this point, the aforementioned torque limiter is activated, and the manual feed middle plate 302 transfers the placed transfer material to the paper feed roller with a torque (friction coefficient and pressure between the input gear 213 or output gear 216 and the friction pad 215). spring 2
18). This state continues until a series of copies are completed and the driving of the photosensitive drum 11 and the like is stopped. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed after inputting the start switch, a transfer paper detection device (not shown) detects the presence of transfer paper, and if transfer paper is present, the paper feed roller is activated and the transfer paper is transferred to roller pair 2.
6 (see Figure 6).

Here, the register roller 23 (FIG. 1) starts rotating at a timing such that the developed image on the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer paper coincide, and the upper transfer guide 31,
The transfer paper is sent to the drum surface via the lower transfer guide 32. As described above, the image on the drum surface is transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer charger 15, and the transfer paper is separated from the drum surface by the separation charger 33 and sent to the fixing device 35 via the conveying section 34. The image on the transfer paper is fixed as a permanent image by the fixing device 35, and the transfer paper is sent to the first discharge roller 36, and then reaches the second discharge roller 39 via the first flapper 37 and the second flapper 38. Then, it is discharged from the transfer device. In the figure, the second flapper 38
is written as blocking the transfer paper path, but this second flapper 38 is made of a light material and is rotatable in the direction of the arrow, so when the transfer paper passes through it, the second flapper 38 blocks the transfer paper path. Since it is pushed up by the leading edge and takes a retracted position with respect to the transfer paper, there is no problem in passing the transfer paper.

When a series of copies is completed, the last transfer sheet is ejected, and the apparatus stops, the input gear 202 also stops rotating. At this time, the spring arm portion 305 of the drive gear 305
The biasing force b applies force to the manual feed plate 302, each gear, etc. in the opposite direction, loosens the clutch spring 206, and disconnects the drive. Therefore, the manual feed middle plate 302
rotates again in the direction of arrow A, and a space is again formed between the paper feed roller 25 and the manual feed intermediate plate 302.

When returning to normal cassette paper feeding instead of manual paper feeding, by rotating the manual feeding tray 29 in the opposite direction of the arrow, the manual feeding stand 30 will also be released, and the two-dot chain line in Fig. 2 will be released. Move to the release position indicated by .

On the other hand, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, the control pawl 296 separates from the pressure ring 209 and disengages the clutch. At this time, the paper feed roller 25 is lowered by the interlocking mechanism and positioned at a position suitable for feeding paper into the cassette.

FIG. 9 is a view seen from the outside of the side plate 200 (the side without the manual feed tray 30), and shows that the manual feed tray 29 has a control claw 296 that rotates around the boss portion 29b that forms the rotation center 291 of the manual feed tray 29. Possibly provided. The control claw is biased counterclockwise in the figure by a biasing member stretched between a fixed point on the manual feed tray and a fixed point on the control claw 296.
Further, the control claw 296 has a slot 296a that engages with a boss 29c provided on the manual feed tray 29, thereby regulating the rotational position. Therefore, depending on the setting of the manual feed tray, the control claw 29
6 approaches the pressure ring 209 and finally engages, making it possible to transmit driving force at the clutch portion.
Due to the engagement between the boss 29c and the slot 296a, the tip of the control claw 296 is regulated to a position where it can easily enter the ratchet teeth of the pressure ring 209, and is engaged by the biasing force of the biasing member 297 when setting the manual tray.

Furthermore, by arranging the spring portion 305b that biases the manual feed middle plate 302 in the return direction at the shaft end of the manual feed middle plate shaft 304 and on the drive input side, the manual feed middle plate will be twisted by the biasing force in the return direction. There are no problems and it is desirable.

The above is a description of one embodiment of the feeding device according to the present invention, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, in this embodiment, since the power source of the pressure mechanism and the drive source of each part of the apparatus main body such as the photoreceptor drum are common, the drive system of the pressure mechanism is reversed due to the load of each part, causing transfer. Since the material mounting table does not descend, a clutch means is required, but the clutch is not necessarily required. In other words, as seen in some recent image forming apparatuses, the drive sources are distributed in different parts (each part is provided with an independent motor), and the load on each drive source is light. A clutch means is not necessarily required in a system in which the rotation is reversed by an external load when the drive source is stopped.

Further, it is not necessarily necessary to apply a driving force to keep the transfer material mounting table in a pressurized state until the end of paper ejection.

Further, in this embodiment, the rotation shaft forming the rotation center of the transfer material mounting table is directly rotationally driven.
A transfer material mounting table elevating member that is different from the rotation center of the transfer material mounting table may be driven.

As described above, if the feeding means positioning mechanism of this embodiment is provided, since the feeding means is positioned upward by the positioning member, the feeding means will not be displaced even if it receives transfer material contact pressure from below. Moreover, the force required to hold the position of the feeding means is sufficient to support the weight of the feeding means, and it is extremely light, allowing for miniaturization and weight reduction. In addition, when the paper feed table is brought into contact with and separated from the paper feed table, it is always biased in the direction of opening a gap with the paper feed table, so that the paper feed table and the feeding means do not come into contact with each other, and the surface of the paper feed table is not in contact with the feeding means. There is no chance of getting it dirty or damaging it.
Therefore, the life of the feeding means can be extended.

Further, for both the cassette and the manual feeder, a driving means can be employed which drives the transfer material mounting table (middle plate) upward and presses it against the feeding means to obtain feeding pressure. Therefore,
Placing, replenishing, and removing unused transfer paper can be done very naturally. Additionally, in particular, it is possible to easily realize functions that can be performed automatically in conjunction with the drive of the device main body without providing a signal source or drive control means to control the elevation and descent of the transfer paper mounting table, improving operability. At the same time, it is useful for saving resources and energy, and making equipment cheaper and more popular.

In addition, since there is an opening between the paper feed roller and the transfer paper mounting table, it is easy to set the leading edge of the transfer paper to the back side of the paper feeding roller. Even with paper, the paper feed row will not fail to take out the transfer paper, improving paper feeding stability. Furthermore, since the leading edge of the transfer paper is on the back side (downstream side) of the paper feed roller, the position of the leading edge of the transfer paper can be matched with the position of the leading edge of the transfer paper in normal cassette feeding, which facilitates sequence control of the apparatus. That is, there is no need to change other sequences, just by changing the timing of detecting the manual feed mode and detecting the presence or absence of transfer paper.

Further, since the transfer paper is placed with the transfer paper mounting table lowered, the positioning portion for determining the position of the transfer paper to be placed can be set high, making positioning easier.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the feeding device having the manual feeding mechanism according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, the feeding means will not be displaced even if the sheet material contact pressure is applied from below, and the positioning of the feeding means can be ensured. . Further, when switching the paper feed tray, the paper feed tray is moved in a direction that opens a gap with the paper feed tray, so loading the paper feed tray is easy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the manual feed mechanism, FIG. 3 is a back view of the main parts of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a photosensitive drum and Plan view of gear train connecting manual feed mechanism section, fifth
6 to 6 are front views explaining the operation of the manual feed unit, FIG. 7 is a front view showing the relationship between the manual feed mechanism and the feed roller vertical movement mechanism, and FIG. 8 is a front view explaining the operation of FIG. 7. 9 are back views of other main parts of FIG. 2. 24...cassette (sheet material mounting means), 25
... Paper feed roller (feeding means), 30 ... Manual feed stand (manual feed stand), 141 ... Biasing spring (interlocking member), 150 ... Frame (support means), 302 ...
...Manual feeding middle plate (pressing means), 330...Cam stopper (interlocking member).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Feeding means for feeding the sheet material loaded on the sheet material placing means, and support for supporting the feeding means so as to be movable up and down with respect to the sheet material placing means. means; a manual feed table movable between a first position facing the feed means and a second position retracted from the feed means; and a manual feed table movable from the second position to the first position of the manual feed table. an interlocking member that raises the feeding means by interlocking the supporting means with displacement to a position; and bringing the feeding means raised by the interlocking member into pressure contact with the sheet material supported by the manual feeding table. A feeding device having a manual feed mechanism, comprising: a pressure contact means for the purpose of the present invention;