JPH06100190A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a paper feeding device capable of providing the constant paper feeding condition of the paper to be fed from both storing parts to an image forming part and the smooth paper feeding operation without skew separation/feeding performance by providing a single paper feeding passage to the image forming part, and by separating/feeding either paper to be fed from the storing parts which are continuously arranged in the longitudinal direction by the same paper feeding device. CONSTITUTION:In a paper feeding device 30 where a pair of front and rear storing parts 301, 302 which is arranged forward of and rearward of the paper feeding direction and store the paper is continuously arranged, a first paper feeding passage and a paper feeding means to feed the paper in the storing part 301 provided forward of the paper feeding direction to an image forming part are provided. A second paper feeding passage to feed the paper in the storing part 302 provided rearward of the paper feeding direction to the paper feeding means of the storing part 301 provided forward of the paper feeding direction, and the paper in the storing part 302 provided rearward of the paper feeding direction is fed to the image forming part through the first paper feeding passage by the paper feeding means of the storing part 301 provided forward of the paper feeding direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to an image forming portion of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The number of sheets processed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer tends to increase dramatically. For this reason, there is provided a paper feeding device having a large-capacity paper storage portion for paper supplied to these image forming apparatuses.

In general, a sheet feeding device provided with such a large-capacity sheet accommodating portion is attached to and detached from the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body.
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 237 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-192032, a cassette for storing A3 size sheets has a storage space that is half or less than a cassette for storing small size sheets of A4 size or smaller. There is provided a paper feeding device that is installed side by side with respect to the direction to save space.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned JP-A-2-204237 and JP-A-3-1920.
It can be said that the paper feeding device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 32 is a space-saving device when viewed only in terms of the storage space, but both papers are individually loaded from the storages arranged side by side in the front-back direction. There is a drawback in that a branched paper feed path for feeding paper to the image forming unit is formed, which makes the paper feed path complicated.

In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, a mounting table is provided at the front of the large-capacity storage section provided in front of and behind the sheet feeding direction in the feeding direction, as disclosed in JP-A-3-186532. However, when all the sheets in the front storage section are fed, the sheets stored in the rear storage section in the sheet feeding direction are moved to the front storage section, which has the drawback that the structure for moving the sheets becomes complicated. there were.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to the drawbacks of the above-described conventional paper feeding device, and all the papers in the front in the paper feeding direction of the storage units arranged side by side in the paper feeding direction are fed. Then, the sheets in the storage section at the rear in the sheet feeding direction are sequentially fed to the storage section in the front in the feeding direction, and are fed to the image forming section using the sheet feeding path and the sheet feeding means in the storage section at the front in the feeding direction. By using paper, it is possible to use both the paper feed path and the paper feed means, and a single paper feed path to the image forming section is sufficient, and the conventional paper feed path to the image forming section is two layers above and below. Compared to the structure, it is extremely simple and space-saving, and both sheets fed from the front and rear storage units are separated / fed by the same feeding unit, which results in separation / feeding performance. There is no deviation in the paper feed, and the paper feeding conditions for the paper fed from both storage sections are constant and smooth in the image forming section. It can be carried out, in particular, for the purpose of providing a smooth paper feeding device upon switching of the sheet feeding from the storage portion of the hotel's front and rear.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to an image forming portion of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. In a sheet feeding device provided with a pair of storage sections, a first sheet feeding path for feeding a sheet in the storage section provided in the front in the sheet feeding direction to the image forming section and a sheet feeding unit are provided, and the sheet feeding unit is provided. A second paper feed path is provided for feeding the paper in the storage section provided at the rear in the paper feeding direction to the paper feeding means of the storage section provided at the front in the paper feeding direction. First by the paper feeding means of the storage section provided in the front in the paper feeding direction
Paper is fed to the image forming unit via the paper feeding path.

Further, a mounting table for supporting the sheets of the first storing section is provided, and the mounting table feeds the sheet of the second storing section to the sheet feeding means of the first storing section. Paper feed path.

Further, the paper feeding means comprises a feeding means for feeding out the paper in the rear side in the paper feeding direction and a separating means for separating the fed out paper one by one, and the feeding means is stored in the rear side in the paper feeding direction. Position the paper that can be fed from the unit, and support the mounting table that supports the bottom of the paper in the storage section in the front in the paper feeding direction so that it can move up and down.
The mounting table is used as a conveyance guide for a sheet in a storage section provided rearward in the sheet feeding direction at the raised position, and a sheet in a storage section provided rearward in the sheet feeding direction is fed to a sheet storage section provided forward in the sheet feeding direction. A second sheet feeding path for feeding the means is formed by the feeding means and the mounting table.

Further, a storage means for storing the paper in the front in the paper feeding direction is provided with a detection means for detecting the empty or remaining amount of the paper stored, and the storage in the rear in the paper feeding direction according to the output of the detection means. Paper is fed from the department.

Furthermore, the paper feeding unit is supported so as to be pulled out to the front side orthogonal to the paper feeding direction.

[0013]

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the sheet feeding device in a state where the sheet feeding unit is pulled out, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the sheet feeding unit of the sheet feeding device shown in FIG. Are shown respectively.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a schematic structure of the sheet feeding device will be described. In the sheet feeding device 30, letter size or A4 size sheets can be set side by side with a predetermined interval at least in the front and rear of the sheet feeding direction. 2 on the paper feeding unit
Divided mounting bases 331 and 332 and the mounting base 33
The uppermost sheet of paper P stacked and set on each of 1 and 332.
The feeding means 35 that presses the sheet to feed it in the paper feeding direction indicated by the arrow, and the separation paper feeding means 3 for feeding only the uppermost paper among the paper P fed by the feeding means 35.
It consists of six. Further, the paper feeding unit can be pulled out to the operation side (front side of the paper surface) in a direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction, and the paper feeding unit 32 is pulled out by a paper replenishment instruction, and a maximum of 1500 sheets of paper P on one side, 3000 sheets in total. Can replenish at once. Although the feeding means 35 is retracted upward at least when the paper feeding unit 32 is pulled out or loaded, the feeding means 35 comes into contact with the uppermost sheet when the loading is completed or a sheet feeding command is issued. Biasing means are deployed. A paper level sensor is attached to the feeding means 35. Further, the elevating means 331 and 332 are intermittently raised by a signal from the level sensor of the feeding means 35, and are controlled so that the level of the uppermost sheet is always within a certain range.

Next, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG.
A copying system in which 0 is mounted on the copying apparatus F will be described. 3 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the uppermost sheets of the sheets P stacked on the mounting table 331 on the front side in the sheet feeding direction in this copying system are sequentially separated one by one and fed to the copying apparatus F, and FIG.
In this copying system, the paper P stacked on the mounting table 331 on the front side in the sheet feeding direction becomes empty, and the uppermost paper of the paper P stacked on the mounting table 332 on the rear side in the sheet feeding direction continues to the mounting table on the front side in the sheet feeding direction. FIG. 16 is a schematic side view showing a state in which 331 is used as a conveyance guide and the sheets are sequentially separated one by one using the sheet feeding path of the mounting table 331 on the front side in the sheet feeding direction and are fed to the copying apparatus F. Although not shown, the mounting table 331 on the front side in the sheet feeding direction may not be used as the conveyance guide, but the shape of the upper guide 41 may be changed to provide a separate member to serve as the conveyance guide. In this case, the separating / feeding means 36 can also be moved so that it can be used in common. In addition, the feeding means 3 for the mounting tables 331 and 332.
5, an auxiliary roller, a low-friction member, etc. are provided in a portion that comes into pressure contact with sheet 5 in a paper empty state.

Explaining the structure thereof, it has a frame body 11 which is movable by casters 12 and has a sheet feeding device 30 built-in or mounted, and a copying apparatus F which is an image forming apparatus is placed on the frame body 11. Has been done.

The copying apparatus F includes a lamp 2 for exposing an original placed on a platen 1 on the upper surface and a plurality of mirrors,
A fixing unit that has an optical system 3 including a lens, forms a latent image from a document image received on the photoconductor 4, develops the latent image, and transfer unit that transfers the latent image onto a sheet, and fixes the latent image. 5 is discharged to the discharge table 6, and the details thereof are well known and will not be described. Instead of the discharge table 6, a down tray for storing a large amount of processed sheets or a sorter for sorting and storing may be connected.

Further, as shown in the drawing, an inlet roller 7, a guide 8 and a registration roller 9 for receiving a sheet are arranged at the joint portion of the frame body 11 with the sheet feeder main body 10.

Further, inside the frame body 11, a large-sized sheet storage portion, for example, an A3 cassette 1 is provided at a lower portion thereof.
3, B4 cassette 14 and the like are provided. These are guided by guide rails 15 and 16, respectively, and are mounted so that they can be pulled out to the front side of the operator, that is, the front side of the paper in order to facilitate the supply of paper. Well-known push-up means for pushing up the paper P upward are built in each cassette 13, 14, while feed-out means 17, 18 for feeding in contact with the uppermost paper are arranged inside the frame 11. . In addition, the feeding means 1
Separation and feeding means 19 and 20 for separating and feeding the sheets fed out by 7 and 18 into one sheet are provided, and sheet guides 21 and 22 for guiding the sheets are provided ahead of the separating and feeding means, respectively. The guides 21 and 22 join a feeding guide 23 that is a common feeding path.

Next, the feeding means 35 and the separating and feeding means 3
6, and the drive system of the mounting tables 331 and 332 in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. 5 shows the drive system of the feeding means 35 and the separation / feeding means 36, and FIG. 6 shows the mounting table 33.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the drive system including FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively.

In FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the drive system of the feeding means 35 and the separating / feeding means 36 is a pulse motor MO, a first pulley PL1 pivotally supported by the rotary shaft of the pulse motor MO,
A second pulley PL2 and a second pulley PL, which are drivingly connected to the first pulley PL1 by a first timing belt TB1.
A drive system for separating and feeding means 36, which is provided on the second shaft and separates and feeds the sheets P fed out by the feeding means 35 together with the fixed roller 37, is formed. A third pulley PL3 is provided for tensioning the first timing belt TB1. Further, the pulse motor MO is driven from the second pulley PL2 by the fourth pulley PL4 for tension, the sixth pulley PL6 driven by the timing belt TB2 via the fifth pulley PL5, and the seventh pulley PL7. The sixth pulley PL6 and the seventh pulley PL7 are provided with electromagnetic clutches CL1 and CL2, respectively, and the rotation shafts thereof can be set side by side with a predetermined interval in the front-back direction of the paper feed unit. The mounting tables 331 and 332 divided into two above, and the mounting tables 331 and 332
The eighth means for transmitting the driving force to the feeding means 35 that presses the uppermost sheets P stacked and set in the sheet feeding direction and feeds in the sheet feeding direction indicated by the arrow via timing belts TB3 and TB4.
The pulley PL8 and the ninth pulley PL9 form a drive system of the feeding means 35. The electromagnetic clutch C
In L1 and CL2, the paper P stacked on the mounting table 331 on the front side in the sheet feeding direction becomes empty, and the uppermost paper of the paper P stacked on the mounting table 332 on the rear side in the sheet feeding direction becomes the mounting table on the front side in the sheet feeding direction. Using 331 as a conveyance guide, the sheets are controlled to be sequentially separated one by one and fed to the copying apparatus F using the sheet feeding path of the mounting table 331 located in the front in the sheet feeding direction.

6 and 7, the mounting tables 331 and 332 are shown.
The drive system of the first drive shaft is supported by the rotary shaft of the pulse motor MO used in the drive system of the feeding means 35 and the separation / feeding means 36.
10th pulley PL10 for speed reduction driven by the fifth timing belt TB5 from the pulley PL1 of No. 11, and eleventh pulley PL11 for speed reduction, 11th pulley PL11 driven and connected by the sixth timing belt TB6. 2 is driven by gears GA1 and GA2 via a twelfth pulley PL12 and a thirteenth pulley PL13 which are drivingly connected by a seventh timing belt TB7, and wires WA1 and WA2 for moving up and down the mounting tables 331 and 332 as shown in FIG. It comprises winding means GK1 and GK2 for winding.

Next, the control relating to the sheet feeding device will be described.

FIG. 8 shows the positional relationship between the sensors and the control means. 9 to 13 show a series of flow charts, FIG. 9 is a flow when the power is turned on or when the door of the paper feeding unit set or the paper feeding device is closed, and FIG. 10 is a flow when preparing to start the paper feeding operation. Reference numeral 11 denotes a paper feed flow when the paper is fed from the storage section at the front in the paper feed direction, and FIG. 12 is a paper feed flow when the paper is fed from the storage section at the rear in the paper feed direction.
Reference numeral 3 shows a lifting flow of the lifting tables 331 and 332. In the figure, PSOL controls the feeding means 35 to the sheet pressing position and the retracted position, PMO P corresponds to the pulse motor MO, and PCL1 and PCL2 transmit the driving of the pulse motor MO to the feeding means 35. Corresponding to CL1 and CL2, ELS1 and ELS2 are detection sensors that detect the position of the feeding means 35 and control the elevation positions of the elevators 331 and 332, EXIT is a discharge sensor,
BSOL is a control solenoid that separates and feeds a fixed roller 37 for separating the sheets one by one together with the separating / feeding means 36, and PPS0 to PPS2 and EMS are particularly fed from the rear storage part and fed out. The PPS2 is arranged so as to catch the sheet to be stored, and the PPS2 is positioned with respect to the discharge sensor EXIT within the maximum size width of the sheet handled by the sheet feeding device, and the reflection type detection sensors ECL1 and ECL2 for detecting the presence or absence of the sheet at that position. Is the lift 33
The electromagnetic clutch CL3 for selectively transmitting the drive of the pulse motor MO to drive the motors 1,332 up and down.
Corresponds to CL4. Further, in the drawing, the structural portions of the sheet feeding means 36 and 37 are different from those in FIGS. 1 to 4. That is,
In addition to the fixed roller 37, the separation / feeding means 36 is provided with not only a fixed roller 37 but also a conveying roller 38 for feeding a sheet from a sheet cassette mounted on the lower side to the image forming unit together with a path for guiding the sheet from the lower side. Has been done.

The flow will be briefly described below.
In FIG. 9, the pulse motor PM is turned on by turning on the power, turning on the feeding unit set, or closing the door of the feeding device.
OT (MO) and control solenoid PS for feeding means 35
After turning ON the OL, the level sensor ELS1 for detecting the position of the sheet in the storage section 301 detects whether the position of the feeding means 35 is within a predetermined range, that is, whether it is ON or not.
In the case of F (N), the electromagnetic clutch ECL1 is turned on until it is turned on.
Is turned on and the lift 331 is raised. If the level sensor ELS1 is ON (Y), the electromagnetic clutch ECL
1 is turned off, and then the level sensor ELS2 for detecting the sheet position of the storage section 302 detects whether the position of the feeding means 35 on the storage section 302 side is within a predetermined range, that is, whether it is ON, and turns it off. In the case of (N), the electromagnetic clutch ECL2 is turned on until the ON position is reached, and the lift 332 is raised. If the level sensor ELS2 is ON (Y), the electromagnetic clutch ECL2 is turned OFF, and this flow is completed.

FIG. 10 shows a paper feed preparation operation in which the paper placed in each storage unit in FIG. 9 is made to stand by at the paper feed start position. First, the detection sensors PPS0 to PPS2 and EMS detect the state of the paper at that time. . When the detection sensor PPS0 is ON (Y), the control solenoid PS for moving the feeding means 35 up and down as it is.
Turn off OL and turn off pulse motor PMOT. When the detection sensor PPS0 is OFF (N): When the detection sensor PPS1 is ON (Y), the storage unit 30
Electromagnetic clutch PCL1 for driving the feeding means 35 of No. 1
Is turned off, the detection sensor PPS0 is turned on (Y) and then turned off, the control solenoid PSOL is turned off, and the pulse motor PMOT is turned off. If the detection sensor PPS1 is OFF (N), the storage unit 3
01 electromagnetic clutch PCL for driving the feeding means 35
1 is set to 0N, the sheet is fed out until the detection sensor PPS0 is turned ON (Y), and then turned off, the control solenoid PSOL is turned off, and the pulse motor PMOT is turned off. Similarly, the downstream detection sensors PPS2 and EMS are turned on.
Each electromagnetic clutch PCL1, PCL to be in the (Y) state
2 and control solenoid PSOL and pulse motor PMO
Let T be controlled according to the flow.

In FIG. 11, it is confirmed whether or not copying is in progress (starting). If copying is not in progress (N), the control solenoid PSOL and the pulse motor PMOT are turned off, and if copying is in progress (Y), the control solenoid is in progress. After turning on the PSOL and the pulse motor PMOT, it is confirmed whether or not the paper to be fed is the paper of the paper feeding device having the accommodating section provided side by side. If YES (Y), the feeding means 35 of the accommodating section 301 is moved to the pulse motor PMOT. The control solenoid BSOL is turned on so that the fixed roller 37 is brought into pressure contact with the separation sheet feeding means 36 and the electromagnetic clutch PCL1 which is drivingly connected to the sheet feeding means 36, and the uppermost sheet is fed out and the discharge sensor E
Continue feeding until XIT turns on, and turn off the electromagnetic clutch PCL1 when the discharge sensor turns on.
After that, the separation control solenoid BSOL is turned off after a predetermined time through the timer.

FIG. 12 shows the case where the paper in the rear storage section 302 is fed based on the output when the paper in the front storage section 301 has become empty, and the last sheet in the storage section 301 is detected by the detection sensor PPS2. This is because in the detection sensor PPS1 that detects the empty state of the storage section 301, when the leading edge of the last sheet reaches the discharge sensor EXIT, the trailing edge of the last sheet turns on the detection sensor PPS1, so that This is a detection method for making it impossible to continue feeding paper from the storage unit 302. Others operate according to the flow.

In FIG. 13, after the control solenoid PSOL of the feeding means 35 is turned on to raise the lifting table 331, the level sensor ELS1 is turned on and off in conjunction with the swing lever of the feeding means 35. After adjusting the position of P, the position of the sheet P in the rear storage portion 302 is continuously adjusted by the level sensor ELS2.

Next, a series of sheet feeding operations of the sheet feeding device will be described.

Each storage section 301, 302 of the sheet feeding device 30
For example, A4 size paper can be placed on one side at a maximum of 1500
A total of 3000 sheets are put together and stored.

When the paper feeding support from the paper feeding device 30 is issued by the copying command of the copying device F, the pulse motor M
While the O / D drive rotates the separating / feeding means 36, first, the feeding means 35 provided in the storage section 301 on the front side in the feeding direction.
Is connected to the pulse motor MO when the electromagnetic clutch CL1 is turned on and rotates, and presses the uppermost sheet of the sheet placed in the storage section in the front in the sheet feeding direction and feeds it to the separation sheet feeding means 36. Paper is fed to the image forming unit while being separated one by one. At this time, the mounting table 331 of the storage section 301 on the front side in the sheet feeding direction is also connected to the pulse motor MO, and a sensor provided in the feeding means 35 indicates that the position of the uppermost sheet of the sheet P has always reached a certain value or less. Detect and electromagnetic clutch C
When L3 is turned on, the winding means GK1 winds the wire WA1 and the mounting table 331 moves up.

Then, in accordance with the output signal of the detecting means PPS1 for detecting the empty or the remaining amount of the sheets stored in the storage section in the front in the sheet feeding direction, the sheet is continuously fed out in the storage section 302 in the rear in the sheet feeding direction. When the electromagnetic clutch CL2 is turned on, the means 35 is connected to the pulse motor MO to start rotation, and presses the uppermost sheet of the sheet placed in the storage section at the rear in the sheet feeding direction, and is provided in the storage section at the front in the sheet feeding direction. To the separated sheet feeding means 36, the placement table 331 of the storage section in the front in the sheet feeding direction is used as a transport guide, and further, is fed out by the feeding means 35 in the storage section in the front of the sheet feeding direction, and the separation sheet feeding means 36 separates the sheets one by one. Meanwhile, the paper is fed to the image forming unit. At this time, the mounting table 3 of the storage unit 302 at the rear of the sheet feeding direction
32 is also connected to the pulse motor MO, and a sensor provided in the feeding means 35 detects that the position of the uppermost sheet of the sheet P has always reached a certain value or less, and O of the electromagnetic clutch CL4 is detected.
By N, the winding means GK2 winds the wire WA2 and the mounting table 332 moves up.

Next, when the paper P in the storage section 302 behind the paper feeding direction becomes empty, the drawer paper P is replenished to the front side of the paper feeding unit orthogonal to the paper feeding direction, and a series of operations is completed.

FIG. 14 shows a modified example of the above embodiment, which shows the reference position for feeding the paper P of the feeding means 35, 35 of the storage portions 301, 302 arranged before and after the sheet feeding direction, and the front storage. The sheet feeding surface of the section 301 is provided with a step L with respect to the sheet feeding surface of the rear storage section 302. This step L is about 10 mm, and the rear storage part 30
In the warped state of the sheet fed from 2, the leading end of the sheet can be guided by the elevating table 331 of the front storage section 301, and the leading end of the warped sheet is provided at the upper portion of the guide 41. On the other hand, it does not come into contact with the weirdly, so that troubles such as jams can be prevented and paper can be smoothly fed.

The sheet feeding device 30 may be detachably attached to the image forming apparatus as a single unit or may be housed integrally with the frame body 11.

[0038]

According to the paper feeding apparatus of the present invention, in a paper feeding apparatus provided with a pair of front and rear storage portions arranged in front of and behind the paper feeding direction for storing sheets, the storage portion provided at the front in the paper feeding direction is provided. A first paper feed path for feeding paper to the image forming unit and a paper feed unit are provided, and paper in a storage unit provided at the rear of the paper feeding direction is provided at a storage unit provided at the front of the paper feeding direction. A second paper feed path for feeding paper to the paper means is provided, and the paper in the storage section provided rearward in the paper feed direction is fed to the image through the first paper feed path by the paper feeding means in the storage section provided front in the paper feed direction. By feeding the sheet to the forming section, the first sheet feeding path and the sheet feeding means can be used in common, and a single sheet feeding path to the image forming section is sufficient. The paper feed path leading to is extremely simple and space-saving as compared with the upper and lower two-layer structure. By separating / feeding both sheets fed from the front and rear storage sections by the same sheet feeding means, there is no deviation in the separation / sheet feeding performance, and the sheets fed from both storage sections The feeding conditions to the image forming unit are constant, and smooth feeding can be performed. In particular, it is possible to smoothly carry out the switching of the paper fed from the front and rear storages.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a sheet feeding unit of a sheet feeding device according to the present invention in a housed state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of the sheet feeding unit of the sheet feeding device according to the present invention in a pulled-out state.

FIG. 3 is a structural explanatory view for explaining one operation state of a copying apparatus including the sheet feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory view for explaining one operation state of a copying apparatus including the paper feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a structural explanatory view for explaining a paper feeding drive system of the paper feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a structural explanatory view for explaining a drive system of the lifting means of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a structural explanatory view for explaining a drive system of the paper feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a layout view of each sensor and control means of the paper feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram when the power of the paper feeding device of the present invention is turned on, or when the paper feeding unit set or the door of the paper feeding device is closed.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart at the time of preparation for starting the paper feeding operation of the paper feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of sheet feeding when the sheet is fed from the storage section at the front of the sheet feeding device of the present invention in the sheet feeding direction.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of sheet feeding when the sheet is fed from the storage section at the rear of the sheet feeding device of the present invention in the sheet feeding direction.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the raising / lowering of the raising / lowering table of the sheet feeding device of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view showing a modified example of the paper feeding device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F Image forming apparatus 30 Paper feeding device 35 Feeding means 36 Separation and feeding means 301 Storage section 302 Storage section 331 Mounting table 332 Mounting table

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B65H 3/00 310 H 9148-3F G03G 15/00 109 7369-2H

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to an image forming section of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, wherein at least first and second storing sections arranged in front and rear of a sheet feeding direction to store the sheet. In the side-by-side sheet feeding device, a first sheet feeding path for feeding the sheet in the first storage section provided in the front in the sheet feeding direction to the image forming section and a sheet feeding unit are provided. A second paper feed path for feeding the paper in the second storage unit provided at the rear to the paper feeding means of the first storage unit, and the paper in the second storage unit to the first storage unit The sheet feeding device is configured to feed the sheet to the image forming unit via the first sheet feeding path. 2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a placement table supporting the paper in the first storage unit supplies the paper in the second storage unit to the paper feeding unit in the first storage unit. A paper feeding device, wherein the paper feeding device is the second paper feeding path for paper. 3. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding means feeds the paper in the first storage section and feeds out the fed paper one by one. And a placement table which is composed of separate sheet feeding means, and in which the feeding means is arranged at a position where the sheet fed from the second storage section can be fed, and which supports the sheet in the first storage section. The mounting table serves as a conveyance guide that feeds the paper in the second storage unit to the separation paper feeding unit of the paper feeding unit, and the paper in the second storage unit feeds the paper in the first storage unit. A sheet feeding device, characterized in that the second sheet feeding path for feeding the means comprises the feeding means and the mounting table. 4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit is provided with a detection unit that detects the empty or remaining amount of the stored sheets, and the second storage unit. A feeding means for feeding the paper to the paper feeding means of the first storage portion is provided, and the paper is fed from the second storage portion according to the output of the detection means. Paper equipment. 5. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second storage units are provided in a single paper feeding unit, and the paper feeding unit is pulled out in a direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction. A paper feeder characterized by being supported as much as possible.