JPH06199439A - Sheet separator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make all sheet tips properly arrangeable as well as to prevent any paper feed failure or the like due to unevenness in the sheet tips from occurring by retracting a frictional ember from a mount surface at a time when sheets are mounted on it. CONSTITUTION:When a lot of sheets are mounted on a sheet mount 2, a separate board 3 is depressed by a cam 6 against the energizing force of a spring 5. At this time, the sheet mount 2 goes down in the wake of the separate board 3 till it bumps against a stopper 7 installed in an image forming device body by its own weight. In this case, since a rocking angle of the separate board 3 is preset to be larger than that of the sheet mount 2, a separate sheet (frictional member) 8 being installed on a projection 3A of this separate board comes to a state of being retracted from a sheet mounting surface 2A of the sheet mount 2. Accordingly, these lots of sheets mounted on this sheet mounting surface 3A are made of all the sheet tips colliding against a sheet bumping part without any shifting owing to frictional resistance of the separate sheet 8, so these sheet tips are trued up.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention (first invention, second invention) relates to a sheet separating apparatus provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers and facsimiles are provided with a manual sheet feeding section for manually feeding sheets one by one.

In the manual sheet feeding section, recently, similarly to the cassette sheet feeding, a plurality of stacked sheets can be separated and fed one by one.

FIG. 20 shows the overall structure of a sheet separating apparatus installed in a manual sheet feeding section of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 21 shows the structure of the sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

In this sheet separating apparatus, a plurality of sheets 1 are placed with their leading ends aligned on a sheet placing table 2.

The sheet mounting table 2 is swingable about the fulcrum O in the directions of the arrows D1 and D2, and one of the sheets is supported by a spring 5 held by a hook 4 of an image forming apparatus main body (not shown).
It is biased in one direction.

The up-and-down swing operation of the sheet placing table 2 is controlled by a swing control mechanism composed of a cam 6, a clutch (not shown) and the like.

The sheet placing surface of the sheet placing table 2 and the sheet 1
If there is little friction with, as the top sheet 1 is fed,
The lower sheet will be double-fed. Therefore, a separation sheet 8 for increasing frictional resistance with the sheet 1 is provided on the sheet mounting table 2.

When the sheet 1 is set on the sheet mounting table 2, the leading end of the sheet 1 is abutted against the sheet abutting portion 9 so that the positions in the sheet feeding direction are aligned. When this sheet is set, the sheet mounting table 2 is pushed down by the cam 6 as shown in FIG. 21, and is in the position shown in phantom in FIG.

In the vicinity of the leading edge of the sheet, there is arranged a sheet feeding roller 11 for feeding the sheet 1, and a separating member 13 for separating the sheet 1 one by one.

When a paper feed command is issued from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the cam 6 on which the swing control mechanism operates is disengaged,
The sheet placing table 2 swings in the direction of arrow D1 by the urging force of the spring 5. As a result, the sheet 1 contacts the sheet feeding roller 11.

Next, the paper feed roller 11 rotates in the direction of the arrow to feed the uppermost sheet 1. Sheet 1 sent out
Are separated one by one by the separating member 12, and only the uppermost sheet 1 is taken into the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a predetermined image forming process is performed.

[0014]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

<Problem of the First Invention> However, in the above-mentioned conventional sheet separating apparatus, in order to increase the friction resistance so that the lower sheet 1 is not fed by the upper sheet 1 on the sheet mounting table 2. The separating sheet 8 is provided, but when the sheet 1 is set, the final sheet 1 that comes into contact with the separating sheet 8 or the sheet 1 in the vicinity of the separating sheet 8 does not reach the abutting portion 9 due to friction, and the sheet ends are sufficiently aligned. I couldn't. Therefore, there is a drawback that the sheet 1 does not reach the sheet feeding roller 11 and a sheet feeding failure occurs.

Therefore, the first aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and when the sheets are placed on the sheet placing table, the tips of all the sheets to be placed are abutted against the abutting portion and aligned. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet separating device configured to be used. <Problem of the Second Invention> Further, in the above-described conventional sheet separating apparatus, the separating member 12 is always brought into contact with the sheet feeding roller 11 at a predetermined pressure not only during sheet feeding but also during sheet feeding. Therefore, if the sheet 1 is not fed for a long period of time, there is a problem that the contact portion with the sheet feeding roller 11 is deteriorated.

Further, the separating member 12 is always the paper feeding roller 11.
Since it is in contact with the separation member 12 when the paper is fed.
The leading edge of the second sheet 1 separated from the first sheet 1 is sandwiched between the sheet feeding roller 11 and the separating member 12 (nip portion) after the first sheet 1 is fed. It may happen. In such a case, if the second sheet 1 is pulled and taken out, the leading edge of the sheet sandwiched in the nip portion may be damaged.

Therefore, a second invention is made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a sheet separating apparatus in which a separating member is separated from a sheet feeding roller during a non-sheet feeding operation. And

[0018]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

<Means of the First Invention> A first invention is a sheet mounting table (2) which is vertically swingable, and the sheet mounting table (1) mounted on the sheet mounting table (2). A friction member (8) for increasing frictional resistance on the mounting table (2) and a separating section (11, for separating and feeding the sheets (1) mounted on the sheet mounting table (2) one by one. 12), and a sheet separating device including:

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention, when the sheet (1) is placed on the sheet placing table (2), the friction member (8) is placed on the sheet placing surface (2).
A friction member retracting means (3) for retracting from A) is provided. <Means of Second Invention> A second invention is a sheet (100).
The present invention relates to a sheet separating apparatus including a sheet feeding roller (105) for feeding a sheet and a separating member (106) that comes into contact with the sheet feeding roller (105) to separate sheets (100) one by one.

In order to achieve the above object, the second aspect of the invention is to separate the separating member (106) from the paper feed roller (1).
05), and a separating member position switching means (109) for switching between a position abutting against the sheet feeding roller (105) and a position separated from the sheet feeding roller (105).

The separating member position switching means (10)
9) normally switches the separation member (106) to a position separated from the paper feed roller (105), and moves the separation member (106) to the paper feed roller (105) during a paper feeding operation.
It is characterized in that it is switched to a position where it comes into contact with.

[0022]

[Action]

<Operation of the First Invention> According to the first invention having the above-described structure, when the sheet (1) is placed on the sheet placing table (2), the friction member (8) is moved by the sheet placing surface (2A). ) Has been evacuated from.

Therefore, the sheet (1) placed on the sheet placing surface (2A) does not receive frictional resistance from the friction member (8), and the leading ends of all the placed sheets are the sheet abutting portions. Abut.

As a result, the leading ends of all the sheets placed on the sheet placing table (2) can be aligned, and a sheet feeding failure or the like due to the unevenness of the sheet ends does not occur. <Operation of the Second Invention> According to the second invention having the above-described configuration, the separating member (106) has the paper feed roller (1) during the paper feed operation.
05) and contacts the paper feed roller (10
Separated from 5).

Therefore, the separating member (106) does not come into contact with the sheet feeding roller (105) when the sheet feeding roller (105) does not feed the sheet (100), and the sheet feeding roller (105) becomes 1 Even after the first sheet (100) is fed, the sheet is not in contact with the sheet feeding roller (105).

As a result, the separation member (106) is kept in contact with the paper feed roller (105) continuously for a long period of time, so that the contact portion of the separation member (106) is not deteriorated and the separation function is improved. Deterioration can be prevented.

During the paper feeding operation, the separating member (1
2) separated from the first sheet (100) by 06)
The leading edge of the first sheet (100) is the first sheet (1
00), the paper feed roller (105) and the separating member (1
It is not caught in the nip part of 06).

The reference numerals in parentheses refer to the drawings and do not limit the structure of the invention.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the first invention and the second invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment 1 of the first invention> FIG. 1 shows Embodiment 1 of the first invention.
1 shows an overall configuration of a sheet separating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

In the present sheet separating apparatus, the same members and the like as those of the conventional sheet separating apparatus (FIGS. 20 and 21) are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the present sheet separating apparatus, the sheet mounting table 2 for mounting the sheet 1 and the separating table (friction member retracting means) superposed under the sheet mounting table 2 are fulcrum O.
Can be swung in the directions of the arrows D1 and D2.

The separation table 3 is urged in the direction of arrow D1 by a spring 5 whose one end is engaged with a hook 4 of a main body (not shown) of the image forming apparatus.

The sheet is placed on the sheet placing table 2 and the separating table 3.

The vertical swing motions of the sheet placing table 2 and the separating table 3 are controlled by a swing control mechanism composed of a cam 6 and a clutch (not shown).

In this case, the cam 6 drives the separation table 3,
The sheet placing table 2 is driven by the separating table 3.

When a large number of sheets 1 are placed on the sheet placing table 2, the separating table 3 is pushed down in the direction of arrow D2 by the cam 6 against the biasing force of the spring 5. At this time, the sheet mounting table 2 is driven by the self-weight and descends following the separation table 3 until it abuts on the stopper 7 provided in the image forming apparatus main body.

In this case, since the swing angle of the separation table 3 is set to be larger than the swing angle of the sheet mounting table 2, the separation sheet (friction member) 8 provided on the convex portion 3A of the separation table is a sheet. It is in a state of being retracted from the sheet mounting surface 2A of the mounting table 2 (states of FIGS. 2 and 3).

Therefore, the plurality of sheet materials 1 placed on the sheet placing surface 2A are abutted against the sheet abutting portion 9 by the frictional resistance of the separation sheet 8 without any deviation. The sheet leading end positions in the sheet feeding direction are aligned.

As described above, when a sheet feeding command is issued in a state in which a plurality of sheets 1 are set on the sheet mounting table 2, first, the swing control mechanism operates and the cam 6 is disengaged from the separation table 3. . As a result, the separation table 3 swings in the direction of arrow D1 by the urging force of the spring 5.

Along with this, the convex portion 3 provided on the separation table 3
Since A is fitted in the notch 2B of the sheet mounting table 2, the sheet mounting table 2 is pushed up by the separation table 3 and the leading edge of the sheet 1 comes into contact with the sheet feeding roller 11 (state in FIG. 1).

Next, the paper feed roller 11 rotates in the direction of the arrow to feed the uppermost sheet 1. Sheet 1 sent out
Are separated one by one by the separating member 12, and only the uppermost sheet 1 is taken into the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a predetermined image forming process is performed.

Here, since the plurality of sheets 1 on the sheet placing table 2 are surely abutted against the abutting portion 9 when set, all the placed sheets 1 are
It is possible to reliably feed the paper. <Embodiment 2 of the first invention> FIG. 4 shows Embodiment 2 of the first invention.
1 shows an overall configuration of a sheet separating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

In this sheet separating apparatus, the same members and the like as those in the conventional example and the sheet separating apparatus of the first embodiment of the first invention are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the present sheet separating apparatus, the sheet placing table 2 for placing the sheet 1 is swingable about the fulcrum O in the directions of arrows D1 and D2. The sheet mounting table 2 is biased in the direction of arrow D1 by a spring 5 whose one end is locked by a hook 4 of a main body (not shown) of the image forming apparatus.

A separating table (friction member retracting means) 3 is attached to a notch 2B in the central portion of the sheet mounting table 2 so as to be swingable about the fulcrum P in the directions of arrows D1 and D2.

The fulcrum separation table 3 is urged in the direction of arrow D1 by a spring 13 provided between the fulcrum separation table 3 and the fulcrum separation table 3, and is abutted against the sheet table 2 by a stopper 3B.

The vertical swinging motion of the sheet mounting table 2 is controlled by a swinging control mechanism including a cam 6 and a clutch (not shown).

When a large number of sheets 1 are placed on the sheet placing table 2, the placing table 2 resists the urging force of the spring 5 and the cam 6 moves.
Is pushed down in the direction of arrow D2 (state of FIG. 6).

At this time, since the lever portion 3C of the separation table 3 swinging integrally with the sheet mounting table 2 abuts against the stopper 7 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the arrow is shown against the biasing force of the spring 13. Swing in the D2 direction, and the sheet mounting table 2
The sheet is removed from the notch 2A and moved to the lower side of the sheet mounting table 2.

As a result, the separation sheet (friction member) 8 provided on the separation table 3 is retracted from the sheet mounting surface 2A of the sheet mounting table 2.

Therefore, the plurality of sheets 1 placed on the sheet placing table 2 are not displaced by the frictional resistance of the separation sheet 8 and all the leading ends of the sheets are in the sheet abutting portion 9.
The sheet leading end position in the sheet feeding direction is aligned.

As described above, when a sheet feeding command is issued in a state in which a plurality of sheets 1 are set on the sheet mounting table 2, first, the swing control mechanism operates to cause the cam 6 to move the sheet mounting table. It deviates from 2. As a result, the sheet placing table 2 and the separating table 3 are swung in the direction of arrow D1 by the urging force of the spring 5.

Along with this, the lever portion 3C of the separation table 3 separates from the stopper 7, so that the separation table 3 is moved in the direction of the arrow D1 by the urging force of the spring 13 so that the stopper 3B moves toward the sheet mounting table 2.
Rock until it hits.

When the sheet placing table 3 and the separating table 3 swing in the direction of arrow D1, the leading end of the pushed sheet material 1 comes into contact with the sheet feeding roller 11.

Next, the paper feed roller 11 rotates in the direction of the arrow to feed the uppermost sheet 1. The sent sheet materials 1 are separated one by one by the separating unit 12, and only the uppermost sheet 1 is taken into the main body of the image forming apparatus and a predetermined image forming process is performed.

Here, since the plurality of sheets 1 on the sheet mounting table 2 are surely abutted against the abutting portion 9 at the time of setting, all the placed sheet materials 1 are placed.
Can be reliably fed.

Further, the size of the separation table 3 can be made smaller than that of the structure of the first embodiment, and the cost can be reduced. <Third Embodiment of First Invention> FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the first invention.
1 shows an overall configuration of a sheet separating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows the structure of the sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

In this sheet separating apparatus, the same members as those of the above-mentioned conventional sheet separating apparatus are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this sheet separating apparatus, a plurality of sheet materials 1 are placed with their leading ends aligned on the sheet placing table 2. The sheet mounting table 2 is swingable about the fulcrum O in the directions of arrows D1 and D2. The sheet mounting table 2 is urged in the direction of arrow D1 by a spring 5 that is engaged with a hook 4 of the image forming apparatus main body (not shown).

The vertical swinging motion of the sheet mounting table 2 is controlled by a swinging control mechanism composed of a cam 6, a clutch (not shown) and the like.

Below the sheet mounting table 2 of the main body of the image forming apparatus, when the sheet mounting table 2 swings in the direction of the arrow D2, the sheet mounting table 2 penetrates through a large number of window holes 16 and is above the sheet mounting surface 2A. Many rib members (friction member retracting means) protruding to the
17 are installed.

When a large number of sheets 1 are placed on the sheet placing table 2, the sheet placing table 2 is pushed down in the direction of arrow D2 by the cam 6 against the biasing force of the spring 5.

When the sheet placing table 2 is lowered, each window hole 1 is formed.
A large number of ribs 17 project through 6 onto the sheet mounting surface 2A of the sheet mounting table 2 (state in FIG. 8).

The sheet material 1 set on the sheet mounting table 2 is temporarily placed on the large number of rib members 17, so that the separation sheet (friction member) 8 does not come into contact with the sheet 1. is there. Therefore, all the sheet ends of the plurality of placed sheets 1 are abutted against the sheet abutting portion 9 without being displaced by the frictional resistance of the separation sheet 8, and the sheet leading end positions in the sheet feeding direction are aligned. .

As described above, when a sheet feed command is issued in the state where a plurality of sheets 1 are set on the sheet mounting table 2, first, the swing control mechanism operates and the cam 6 is disengaged. As a result, the sheet mounting table 2 swings in the direction of arrow D1 by the biasing force of the spring 5. At this time, the plurality of rib members 17 on which the sheet 1 has been placed come out of the window holes 16 and are positioned below the sheet placing table 2.

Accordingly, the sheet 1 comes to be placed on the sheet placing surface 2A of the sheet placing table 2 and the sheet 1
Is pushed up by the sheet placing table 2 and comes into contact with the sheet feeding roller (state of FIG. 7).

Next, the paper feed roller 11 rotates in the direction of the arrow to feed the uppermost sheet. The sent-out sheets 1 are separated one by one by the separating member 12, and only the uppermost sheet 1 is taken into the main body of the image forming apparatus and a predetermined image forming process is performed.

Here, since the plurality of sheets 1 on the sheet placing table 2 are surely abutted against the abutting portion 9 when being set, all the placed sheet materials 1 are
It is possible to reliably feed the paper.

Further, in this embodiment, the rib member 17 and the window hole 1 are used.
Since the configuration is simple by providing only 6, there is almost no increase in cost. <Embodiment 2> FIGS. 9 and 10 show the overall construction of a sheet material separating apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the second invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 100 is a sheet, reference numeral 101 is a fixed mounting table, and reference numeral 102 is an oscillating mounting table.

The tip of the sheet 100 is a swinging mount 102.
The others are mounted on the fixed mounting table 101.

The rocking table 102 is vertically rockable about a fulcrum O1 and is biased in the direction of arrow D1 by a spring 104 interposed between the rocking table 102 and the main body 103 of the image forming apparatus.

The rocking table 102 is rocked in the directions of arrows D1 and D2 by a rocking control mechanism (not shown).
The swing control mechanism is composed of a cam, a clutch, and the like.

A paper feed roller 105 and a separating member 106 are installed on the downstream side of the rocking table 102.

A transport path 107 for transporting the sheet 100 fed by the paper feed roller 105 to an image forming unit (not shown) is formed on the downstream side of the paper feed roller 105.

Immediately upstream of the separating member 106, the mounting table 1
Sheet abutting section 1 for abutting the tips of a plurality of sheets 100 placed on 01, 102 to align the sheet tips
08 is formed.

The separating member 106 contacts the sheet feeding roller 105 with a predetermined pressure to separate the plurality of sheets 100 fed by the sheet feeding roller 105 one by one. Only when the sheet feeding roller 105 performs the sheet feeding operation, the separating member 106 comes into contact with the sheet feeding roller 105 to exert the sheet separating function.

In this embodiment, separating member operating levers (separating member position switching means) 109 interlocked with the vertical swing motion of the swing mount 102 are installed near the left and right sides of the separating member 106 (see FIG. 11). By this, the separation member 106
The contact position of the paper feed roller 105 with the paper feed roller 105.
It is possible to switch to a position away from.

One end 109A of the operation lever 109 is rotatably coupled to a support shaft 110 on the image forming apparatus main body 103 side, and the other end 109B projects below the swing mount 102.

This operation lever 109 is used for the rocking mount 10.
When 2 swings in the direction of arrow D2 about the fulcrum O1 (state of FIG. 10), it is pushed down by the tip of the swing mount 102 and rotates about the support shaft 110 in the direction of arrow E2, and the separation member 106 moves. The protrusion 111 installed on the leg 106A is pressed downward.

The leg portion 106A of the separating member 106 is movably fitted in the hole 112 formed in the image forming apparatus main body 103.

As a result, the separating member 106 moves to a predetermined position against the urging force of the pressure spring (not shown) urging the sheet feeding roller 105 side, and is separated from the sheet feeding roller 105. A gap G is formed and separated from the paper feed roller 105.

When the oscillating mounting table 102 oscillates in the direction of arrow D1 (state of FIG. 9), the pressing force acting on the operating lever 109 is released, so that the separating member 106H is attached to the pressure spring. It is urged to move upward while pushing up the operation lever 109, and comes into contact with the sheet feeding roller 105 with a predetermined pressure. <Embodiment 2 of the Second Invention> FIGS. 12 and 13 show the overall structure of a sheet separating apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the second invention.

In this sheet separating apparatus, the same members and the like as those of the sheet separating apparatus of the first embodiment of the second invention are designated by the same reference numerals, and those which are structurally and functionally unchanged will be described. Is omitted.

In this sheet separating apparatus, the separating member 1
The position of the separating member 106 on the downstream side of the sheet feeding roller 10
A separation member position switching mechanism 113 that switches between a position abutting on the sheet 5 and a position separated from the sheet feeding roller 105 is installed. The separating member position switching mechanism 113 includes a spacer member 114 having a rack portion 114A, a gear 115 that rotates around an axis O2 that meshes with the rack member 114A of the spacer member 114, and the spacer member 114. The plurality of support members 116 that support the transport path 10
7 and an elastic member 117.

At the time of non-feeding, the oscillating mounting table 102 is at a position away from the sheet feeding roller 105, and the tip end 114B of the spacer member 114 is interlocked with this and the tip 114B of the spacer member 114 is fed.
5 and the separation member 106, and a gap G is formed to separate the paper feed roller 105 and the separation member 106 (state of FIG. 13).

At the time of sheet feeding, the spacer member 11 is interlocked with the swinging mount 102 swinging toward the sheet feeding roller 105.
4 retracts along the support member 116. As a result, the separating member 106 is brought into contact with the sheet feeding roller 105 by the urging force of the pressure spring, and the sheet separating function at the time of sheet feeding can be achieved.

In the retracted position of the spacer member 114,
The tip 114B is retracted from the transport path 107.

The transport path 107 escapes only at the place where the spacer member 114 goes in and out, and the top end 114B of the spacer member 114 is covered by the elastic member 117 having a smooth surface. It is sent smoothly without being caught by 107.

The interlocking operation of the swinging mount 102 and the spacer member 114 is performed by the drive system shown in FIG.

A gear train 118 of a drive system is arranged on one side of the image forming apparatus main body 103. The center of the gear train 118A at the right end of the gear train 118 is on the swing center 01 of the swing mount 012 and is rotated by the swing angle of the swing mount 102. For example, the swing mount 102
On the swing support plate support shaft (01) integrally provided on the
18A is fixed.

Now, after the paper feeding operation is completed, the rocking mounting table 102 is
When the paper is separated by the paper feed roller 105, the gear 118A rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the other gears rotate accordingly.

The gear 118B at the left end is adapted to rotate integrally with the gear 115 via a shaft (not shown) about the axis O2. As a result, the spacer member 114 moves toward the separating member 106.

When the rocking mount 102 rocks upward,
12 and 13 show the rotating direction of the gear 115 and the moving direction of the spacer member 114 when swinging downward. <Embodiment 3 of the Second Invention> FIGS. 15 and 16 show the overall structure of a sheet separating apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the second invention.

In this sheet separating apparatus, the same members and the like as those of the sheet separating apparatus of the first embodiment of the second invention are designated by the same reference numerals, and those which are structurally and functionally the same will be described. The description is omitted.

In the present sheet separating apparatus, the position of the separating member 106 on the roller shaft 120 of the sheet feeding roller 105 and the position where it abuts against the sheet feeding roller 105, and the sheet feeding roller 1
A cam 121 for switching to a position separated from 05, a gear 112 and G are provided. A gear 123 that meshes with the gear 122 is provided above the gear 122.

When the sheet is not fed, the cam 121 has a portion near the maximum diameter thereof on the separating member 106 side and presses the separating member 106 downward to form a gap G between the separating member 106 and the sheet feeding roller 105. The separating member 106 to the paper feed roller 10
5 is separated (state of FIG. 16).

At the time of paper feeding, the cam 121 is set to 1
When rotated by 80 degrees, the diameter of the cam on the separation member 106 side becomes smaller than the diameter of the paper feed roller, and the separation member 106 moves to the paper feed roller 1
05 (state of FIG. 15).

The rotational drive of the cam 121 is performed by the structure shown in FIG.

The paper feed roller 106 is rotatably held by the roller shaft 120, and an electromagnetic clutch 124 is provided on one side thereof. The electromagnetic clutch 124 transmits the rotation of the roller shaft 120 to the paper feeding roller 105 during paper feeding and does not transmit the rotation to the paper feeding roller 105 during non-paper feeding.

Another electromagnetic clutch 125 is provided on the other side of the paper feed roller 105, and the rotation of the roller shaft 120 is transmitted to the cam 121 at any time in the same manner as the paper feed roller 106.

The electromagnetic clutch 125 transmits the rotation of the roller shaft 120 to the cam 121 and rotates the cam 121 when the oscillating mounting table 102 starts to separate from the paper feeding roller 105. The rotation of the cam 121 is detected by a sensor not shown in FIG.
The cam 121 stops rotating at the 6th position.

Then, the swingable mounting table 102 is set to the paper feed roller 1.
When it starts to swing in the 05 direction, the electromagnetic clutch 125 operates again to transmit the rotation of the roller shaft 120 to the cam 121.
At this time, the cam 121 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 15, the sensor detects the position of the cam 121, and the cam 121 again.
Stops rotating.

A gear 123 is integrally provided on the cam 121, and the gear 123 meshing with the gear 122 is integrally held by a shaft 126.

The cams 12 are provided on both sides of the paper feed roller 105.
1 and gears 122 and 123 are provided, and both cams 121 and 121 rotate in the same direction via a shaft 126.

The separating member 106 has a width between the cams 121 and 121 or a width larger than that, and the cam contact surface is a smooth surface. <Embodiment 4 of the Second Invention> FIGS. 18 and 19 show the overall structure of a sheet separating apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the second invention.

In this sheet separating apparatus, the same members and the like as those of the sheet separating apparatus of the first embodiment of the second invention are designated by the same reference numerals, and those which are structurally and functionally unchanged will be described. Is omitted.

In the present sheet separating apparatus, the separating member 1
Separation member operating levers 130 for switching the position 06 to a position where it abuts the paper feed roller 105 and a position where it separates from the paper feed roller 105 are installed near both sides of the separation member 106.

The operating lever 130 is substantially L-shaped, and the bent portion thereof is the support shaft 1 on the image forming apparatus main body 103 side.
It is rotatably supported by 31.

One end 130A of the operating lever 130 has the protrusion 11
The other end 130B is freely connected to a solenoid 132 fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 103.

When the sheet is not fed, the solenoid 132 is contracted and the operation lever 130 is rotated downward to move the separating member 106.
In the direction of arrow B. As a result, a gap G is formed between the sheet feeding roller 105 and the separating member 106, and the separating member 106 is separated from the sheet feeding roller 105 (FIG. 19).
State).

At the time of sheet feeding, the solenoid 132 extends to rotate the operation lever 130 upward. by this,
The separating member 106 is biased by a pressure spring, and the paper feeding roller 10
5 (the state of FIG. 18).

In the case of the third and fourth embodiments of the second invention, the electromagnetic clutch 125 and the solenoid 132 are separated by controlling the electromagnetic clutch 125 and the solenoid 132 so as to interlock with the vertical swing of the swing mount 102. The member 106 is fed to the paper feed roller 105.
Can be brought into contact with or separated from.

[0117]

As described above, in the sheet separating apparatus of the first invention, when the sheet is placed on the sheet placing table, the friction member is retracted from the sheet placing surface. The leading ends of all the sheets placed on the placing table can be abutted against the sheet abutting portion to be aligned.

For this reason, a sheet feeding failure or the like due to the non-uniformity of the sheet front ends does not occur.

Further, in the sheet separating apparatus of the second invention, the separating member contacts the sheet feeding roller only during the sheet feeding operation,
Since the separating member is separated from the paper feeding roller during the non-paper feeding operation, the separating member does not continuously contact the paper feeding roller for a long period of time, and even after the first sheet is fed. It is not in contact with the paper feed roller.

Therefore, the contact portion of the separating member does not deteriorate due to the separating member contacting the sheet feeding roller for a long period of time. Further, the second sheet separated from the first sheet will not be caught in the nip portion between the sheet feeding roller and the separating member.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing the overall configuration of a sheet separating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional side view for explaining the operation of the sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of the sheet separating apparatus according to the second embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sheet placing table of the sheet separating apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional side view for explaining the operation of the sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of a sheet separating device according to a third embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of the sheet separating device according to the first embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional side view for explaining the operation of the sheet separating apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a separating unit of the sheet separating apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of a sheet separating device according to a second embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional side view for explaining the operation of the sheet separating device.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a configuration of a drive system of a separating member position switching mechanism of the sheet separating device.

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional side view showing the overall configuration of a sheet separating device according to a third embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional side view for explaining the operation of the sheet separating device.

FIG. 17 is a front view showing the configuration of a separating member position switching mechanism of the sheet separating device.

FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of a sheet separating device according to Embodiment 4 of the second invention.

FIG. 19 is a vertical sectional side view for explaining the operation of the sheet separating apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of a conventional sheet separating device.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sheet mounting table of the sheet separating apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,100 sheet 2 sheet mounting table 2A sheet mounting surface 3 separation table (friction member retracting means) 8 separation sheet (friction member) 11 paper feed roller (separation unit) 12 separation member (separation unit) 17 rib member (friction member) Evacuation means) 105 Paper feed roller 106 Separation members 109, 130 Separation member operating lever (separation member position switching means) 114 Spacer member (separation member position switching means) 121 Cam (separation member position switching means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sheet mounting table that is vertically swingable,
A friction member for increasing the frictional resistance of the sheets placed on the sheet placing table on the sheet placing table, and a separating section for separating and feeding the sheets placed on the sheet placing table one by one. A sheet separating apparatus including: a sheet separating apparatus having friction member retracting means for retracting the friction member from a sheet mounting surface when the sheet is mounted on the sheet mounting table. .. 2. The friction member retracting means forms a temporary sheet mounting surface by penetrating the sheet mounting table and projecting when the sheet is mounted on the sheet mounting table, and when the sheet is fed. The sheet separating device according to claim 1, wherein the rib separating member is a rib member that is retracted under the sheet mounting table. 3. A sheet separating apparatus comprising: a sheet feeding roller that feeds a sheet; and a separating member that comes into contact with the sheet feeding roller to separate the sheets one by one. A sheet separating apparatus comprising a separating member position switching means for switching between a position in contact with a roller and a position in which the roller is separated from the sheet feeding roller. 4. The separating member position switching means normally switches the separating member to a position separated from the sheet feeding roller, and switches the separating member to a position contacting the sheet feeding roller during a sheet feeding operation. The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sheet separating apparatus is a sheet separating apparatus. 5. The separation member position switching means includes a sheet mounting table disposed on a main body of the apparatus that stacks a plurality of sheets and moves in a contacting / separating direction with respect to the sheet feeding roller, and the sheet mounting table is connected to the sheet mounting table. The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the sheet separating apparatus includes a moving unit that moves in a separating direction. 6. The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the separating member position switching means is configured to interlock with movement control of the sheet mounting table. 7. The sheet separating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the separating member position switching means is configured to be rotatably supported by a rotation shaft of the sheet feeding roller.