JPH0628517Y2 - Paper remaining number display - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a remaining paper number display device for displaying the number of remaining sheets of paper in a sheet feeding device used in a copying machine or the like.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in a paper feeding device that supplies paper to a copying machine or the like, various devices have been proposed that display the remaining amount of paper, and among them, a paper feeding cassette having a relatively large capacity is provided. In the paper feeding device, the paper is loaded on the lift plate provided so as to be able to move up and down, the lift plate is lifted by the drive motor according to the feeding of the paper, and the paper remaining amount is based on the moving amount of the lift plate. Generally, the amount is displayed (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-25345). That is, the above-mentioned conventional apparatus has a structure in which a supporting member (elevating plate) on which sheets (paper) are stacked is sequentially raised in correspondence with sheet feeding and consumption, and a pointer integrally provided on the supporting member is used. Therefore, the remaining amount of the sheet is displayed, or the amount of movement of the support member is driven based on a detection signal of an electric position detecting means such as a potentiometer to display the remaining amount. A similar structure is also described in JP-A-58-7658.

However, in such a configuration, with the pointer integrally provided on the support member, the remaining amount can only be roughly displayed by an analog amount, and with the one using the potentiometer, the remaining amount of the sheet on the support member can be displayed. In the case of a large load and a large amount of movement of the support member, a long potentiometer is required, which is not only expensive but also has a difficulty in the linear (linearity) characteristic of the detection accuracy, and therefore it is possible to accurately display the remaining amount. It was difficult.

Also, the movable arm of the slide volume is set at the top of the paper, and the movable arm is configured to move in association with the decrease of the paper, and the voltage value, the current value or the voltage value between one end of the slide volume and the movable arm is set. Although there is a device in which the resistance value is measured, even in such a configuration, there is the same problem as described above, and the remaining amount cannot be accurately detected particularly when the remaining amount is low. Therefore, there is an attempt to improve the detection accuracy in the area by changing the resistance change rate of the slide volume in the area where the remaining amount is low (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-52440).

However, even if the resistance change rate is changed as described above, it is difficult to obtain the ideal resistance value because the resistance value of the slide volume or the like varies greatly depending on the element.
Therefore, it is difficult to detect with high accuracy, and accurate display of the remaining amount cannot be expected. Moreover, the structure described in the above publication requires a technique for smoothly moving the movable arm of the slide volume in association with the decrease in the amount of paper, which is difficult to realize with a simple structure.

Further, although the supporting member on which the paper is stacked is not moved up and down as described above, a device has been proposed that can accurately display the remaining number of sheets by a digital value (Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-59).
-230934). That is, in the above apparatus, the number of sheets is input as a digital value when the sheets are set in the apparatus, the consumed number of sheets is subtracted, and the remaining number is displayed.

However, in such an apparatus, it is necessary to input the number of sheets to be set using a ten-key pad or the like, and the input operation is not easy, and the number of sheets is not counted because of the input operation. Sheets cannot be set, and in fact, a predetermined number of sheets packed in a pack must be used as one unit.
Therefore, it is difficult to replenish an arbitrary number of sheets in the middle of using the apparatus.

Further, a predetermined sheet amount M is automatically set at a timing when the recording paper loading table starts to move up from the lower limit position, and thereafter, the loading table is moved up according to the consumption feeding of the recording paper by the upper end paper feed roller. It is proposed that the remaining number of sheets of recording paper is automatically displayed by sequentially subtracting the number of sheets corresponding to the amount of increase from the value M each time (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-22235). Issue).

The above-mentioned device can display the remaining number of sheets even when an arbitrary number of sheets are set. However, since the recording sheet is replenished at the lower limit position where the value M, which is the rated number of sheets, is set, The upper feed roller interferes with paper supply, making it difficult to set the rated number of sheets, or causing the topmost sheet to bend or fold.
This causes problems such as the occurrence of paper jams. In order to solve such a problem, it is preferable that the recording paper placing table is set at a position lower than the lower limit position. However, in this case, the setting timing of the value M, the sensor for that, or the lowermost position is set. Must be taken into consideration, and the structure becomes complicated, and the mechanical parts such as sensors that are turned on to set the value M during the ascending from the lowermost position must be mounted extremely accurately. An error will occur in the remaining number of sheets due to the mounting error.

(Purpose of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a paper remaining number display device capable of accurately calculating and displaying the remaining number of sheets with a simple structure for supplying paper and having a simple structure with a small number of mechanical parts regardless of the paper feed standby position. To do.

(Constitution of the Invention) The present invention is capable of ascending from the paper feed standby position where the uppermost surface of the loaded paper contacts the upper paper feeding member to the highest lifted position, and when the rated number of sheets of paper are loaded. An elevating plate that is lower than the paper standby position and is capable of elevating from the lowest position set for paper supply to the paper feeding standby position, and elevates the elevating plate from the lowest position to the paper feeding standby position. And a drive motor that raises the lift plate in accordance with the feeding of the stacked paper from the paper feed standby position, and from the lowest position of the lift plate loaded with paper to an arbitrary raised position via the paper feed standby position. Measuring means for accumulating and measuring a value x corresponding to the rotation amount of the driving motor, and driving from the lowermost position to the paper feed standby position when the rated number Y of sheets of paper are loaded. A value α corresponding to the amount of rotation of the motor, a value T corresponding to the amount of rotation of the drive motor from the paper feed standby position to the highest position, and the rated number of sheets Y are constants, y = Y- (x-
α) storage means for storing Y / T, calculation means for sequentially executing the calculation of the above formula according to the value x, and calculating the remaining number y of paper, and the calculated remaining number y of paper are displayed. Display means.

With this configuration, paper replenishment is performed at the lowest position, which facilitates the work. Moreover, for the same kind of paper, even if an arbitrary number of papers are set, that is, regardless of the paper feed standby position, the operating time of the drive motor or the number of rotations or the number of pulses generated with rotation, that is, The value corresponding to the rotation amount of the drive motor is integrated and measured, and y = Y based on the value corresponding to this rotation amount.
It is possible to accurately calculate and display the remaining number y of sheets of paper from the expression of − (x−α) Y / T.

(Embodiment) The basic principle configuration of the paper remaining number display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a), (b) and (c). As shown in FIG. Lift plate 1 installed in
Is moved to the lowest position, and in this state, the paper 2 having a predetermined thickness per sheet is loaded on the elevating plate 1. From this state, as shown in FIG. 2B, the lift plate 1 is raised, and when the uppermost end face of the paper 2 comes into contact with the lift plate highest lift position detection switch SW ₁ and the switch is operated, the lift plate 1 is raised. Is stopped and this state is set to the standby state. After that, when the paper 2 is sequentially fed by the paper feed roller 3 and finally the paper 2 is exhausted, the all paper feed completion state shown in FIG. Then, the operating time of the drive motor required for the lift plate 1 shown in FIG. 4A to rise from the lowest position is integrated and measured by a timer or the like, or the rotation speed of the drive motor or the number of pulses generated with the rotation. Is integrated by a counter or the like. Since the integrated measurement value and the consumed number and the remaining number of sheets of paper 2 have a certain relationship, the remaining number (value) of the paper can be calculated by the calculation process based on the integrated measurement value.

The following is a description of the case where the operating time is integrated,
Now, for example, the elevating plate 1 is moved to the lowest position, and a predetermined paper as a rated full capacity of 2,50 is placed on the elevating plate 1.
0 sheets are set, and then the lift plate 1 is raised to the paper feed standby position. The time until this paper feed standby state is set to α seconds, and 2,500 from the paper feed standby position.
Assuming that the cumulative time during the movement of the lifting plate 1 until the end of feeding all the sheets is T seconds, the time measured by a timer or the like from the start of the lifting of the lifting plate 1 from the lowermost position is x, and the remaining paper is When the number of sheets is y, the remaining number y of sheets of paper is calculated based on the equation: y = 2,500-2,500 (x-α) / T. Note that T and α are constants corresponding to the rated full capacity of the apparatus, and the measurement time x to the paper feed standby position when the rated number of sheets is set is equal to α. Further, the number of sheets of paper set on the lift plate 1 is not limited to 2,500, and an arbitrary number of sheets can be set as long as they are the same predetermined paper. For example, if you initially set a smaller number of papers than the rated number,
The time from the state shown in FIG. 1A to the standby state shown in FIG. 1B requires a longer time than in the case where the rated number of sheets is set. Is larger than α, and the value of y indicating the remaining number of paper sheets is small, which corresponds to the set number. Even when the type of paper is changed, the same operation can be performed by setting the constants T and α according to the rated full capacity of the paper.

Also, the measurement time x to the paper feed standby position when the rated number of sheets is set, that is, α is set as follows.
Since the lowest position is set below the paper feed standby position even when the rated number of sheets is set, the replenishment setting operation for the rated number of sheets becomes easy in terms of space.

FIG. 2 shows a specific structure in which a paper remaining number display device as a first embodiment of the present invention is implemented in a paper feeding device.

In the figure, an elevating plate 1 on which a paper 2 is stacked is provided in a paper feeding device main body 4 so as to be vertically movable. That is, the movable roller 5 for lifting, which is supported by the bracket 1a of the lift plate 1, is fitted in the guide hole 6 provided in the side portion of the apparatus body 4 in the vertical direction, and is provided coaxially with the movable roller 5. Two
Drive means are connected to the two movable sprockets 7 and 8. As this drive means, a reversible lift plate drive motor 9 as a drive source, a worm gear mechanism 10 for reducing the rotation speed of the motor 9, and a pair of upper and lower fixed sprockets 1 are provided.
1, 12 and a chain 13 wound around the fixed sprockets 11, 12. The lower fixed sprocket 12 is provided on the output shaft of the worm gear mechanism 10, and the chain 13 extends from the upper fixed end 14 via one movable sprocket 7 to the fixed sprocket 11.
Further, the fixed sprocket 11 is wound around the fixed sprocket 12, and the other movable sprocket 8 is wound around to reach the other fixed end 15.

With this configuration, when the fixed sprocket 12 is rotated counterclockwise by the motor 9, the movable sprocket 7,
8, that is, the lift plate 1 moves up, while the reverse rotation of the motor 9 causes the lift plate 1 to move down contrary to the above.

A switch SW ₁ for detecting the highest position of the lift plate ₁ is provided above the main body 4, and a switch SW ₂ for detecting the lowest position of the lift plate 1 is provided at the lower part of the main body 4 at an arbitrary position. In this embodiment, the display panel 16 provided on the upper portion of the main body 4 is provided with the switch SW ₃ for starting the lifting of the lift plate 1 from the lowest position. Further, it receives signals from the respective switches SW _{1 to} SW ₃ , outputs a signal for driving the lift plate drive motor 9, and also cumulatively measures the time for which the motor 9 is operated. Control unit 18 which has a means for calculating the remaining number of sheets and which outputs a signal to the display means 17 of the display panel 16 based on the remaining number of papers obtained by this calculation.
Is provided. The structure and operation of the control unit 18 will be described later.

A paper feeding unit 19 is provided on the upper side of the main body 4, and the paper feeding unit 19 faces the copying machine main body 20. As the paper feeding means 19, guide plates 22 and 23 are arranged so that a paper feeding conveying path 21 is formed by the paper feeding roller 3 in the paper feeding direction, and the second paper feeding roller 24 and the driven member are driven. A roller 25 is provided. As the above lift plate rises start switch SW _3, it may be configured to operate in closing operation of the main body 4 of the lid or side wall cover.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of a control system by the control unit 18, which has a microcomputer having control calculation and storage functions and an input / output (I / I).
O) device, the microcomputer receives the signals from the detection switches SW _{1 to} SW ₃ via the I / O device, outputs a rising or falling signal to the lift plate drive motor 9, and outputs the signal from the drive motor 9. It has means for cumulatively measuring the operating time and means for calculating the remaining number of papers based on the measured integrated value, and outputs a signal for displaying the remaining number of papers obtained by the above calculation to the display means 17. It is configured to get. The display means 17 includes a light emitting diode (L
For example, an ordinary display device in which one digit is 7 segments using ED) may be used.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the microcomputer of the control unit 18, which will be described below.

Steps S ₁ to S ₆ are a routine for moving the lift plate 1 to the lowest position, which is the lift plate lowermost position detection switch SW ₂
Is off (step S ₁ ), the lift plate drive motor 9
Reversed (Step _S 2), lowering the elevator plate 1 (Step _S 3). When the detection switch SW ₂ is turned on (Step _S 4), turns off the motor 9 (step _S 5), to stop the descent of the elevator plate 1 (step _S 6). Any number of predetermined paper in this state is set on the elevator plate 1 (step S _7). This state is the first
This corresponds to FIG.

Then, reset the microcomputer internal timer in step S _8, the elevator plate up start switch SW ₃ in step S ₉
The by turning on, raise the elevator plate 1 between steps S ₁₀ in step S _16, allowed to enter the standby state shown in FIG. 1 (b). That is, the switch S
When W ₃ is turned on, the motor 9 is turned on (step S
₁₀ ), the lift plate 1 moves up (step S ₁₁ ), the lift time of the lift plate 1 is counted from the time when the motor 9 is turned on (step S ₁₂ ), and the lift plate highest lift position detection switch SW ₁ is loaded. It contacts the upper end surface of the paper and determines whether it is turned on (step S ₁₃ ). When it is turned on, the motor 9 is turned off (step S ₁₄ ).
To stop the increase in the (step _{S 15),} this time, terminates the counting of the rise time (step _S 16). Subsequently, increasing the time that the count in step S _17, namely on the basis of the integrated metrology value, calculates the remaining number of paper (value), the display means 17 the paper remaining number (value) at Step S ₁₈ Display by driving.

Then, to determine the presence or absence of the remaining amount of paper in step S _19. Although this determination is not shown, it may be performed by using a paper detecting means of an optical system including a light emitting element and a light receiving element,
For there remaining amount of paper, the flow proceeds to step S _20, the detection switch SW ₁ investigate whether turned off. That is, when the paper is fed, the stacking capacity of the paper is reduced by that amount, whereby the switch SW ₁ is turned off.
Then, the process proceeds to step S ₁₀ described above, the following run similar to that described above step. That is, the drive motor 9 is driven to raise the lift plate 1, and as a result, the switch S is again turned on.
When W ₁ comes into contact with the upper end surface of the paper position and turns on,
The motor 9 is turned off to stop the lifting of the lifting plate 1.
The operation time of the motor 9 driven by the operation of switching the switch SW ₁ from OFF to ON accompanying such a sheet feeding operation is integrated and measured, and the remaining number of paper sheets (value) is successively measured at that time.
Will be displayed.

Incidentally, when it is determined that the paper remaining amount is no at step S ₁₉ is a state of completion of the entire paper feed shown in FIG. 1 (c), the lifting plate made in step S ₂₅ from step S ₂₁ 1
The routine moves to the lowest position. That is, when the remaining amount of paper is used up, to reverse the motor 9 (Step S _21), lowering the elevator plate 1 (step S
₂₂ ), and when the switch SW ₂ is turned on (step S ₂₃ ), the motor 9 is turned off (step S ₂₄ ),
The descent of the elevator plate 1 is stopped (step _S 25).

Although not shown in the flow chart, when replenishing paper in the middle of using the apparatus, the same state as when the elevating plate 1 is moved to the lowest position and the paper is set first Do it. In this replenishing operation, the remaining time (value) of the new paper after replenishment is automatically displayed by accumulating and measuring the operating time of the drive motor 9 that similarly raises the lifting plate 1.

In this way, by displaying the remaining number of sheets of paper, it is possible to immediately know the time to replenish the paper, and it is possible to easily judge whether or not continuous copying is possible based on the remaining number of sheets, and to directly check the paper. Since it is not necessary to visually check the remaining amount, it is not necessary to use a transparent material for the side wall cover of the main body of the sheet feeding device, and the operating time of the drive motor is integrated without using a potentiometer or the like. The remaining amount of paper can be accurately detected and displayed only by measuring and performing a predetermined calculation process.

Moreover, it is not necessary to input the set number as a digital value even in the first paper setting operation, and it is possible to set an appropriate number of sheets for a person. Even in such a case, the remaining number of sheets can be set. Can be displayed accurately as a digital value.

Next, the construction of the sheet feeding device provided with the paper remaining number display device and the control system thereof according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment described above, the operating time of the drive motor is integrated by a timer or the like, whereas in the second embodiment, the drive motor is provided with a pulse generator and pulses generated by the pulse generator are provided. The position of the lift plate is controlled by counting the number with a counter or the like of the control unit.

That is, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the same members as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, the clock plate 91 is attached to the rotation shaft of the drive motor 9, and the outer peripheral portion of the clock plate 91 is sandwiched. An encoder 92 that is positioned as described above and that generates a pulse according to the rotation thereof is installed, and a pulse generator 90 is configured by these, and the number of pulses generated by this is counted by the control unit 18. A DC motor may be used as the drive motor 9. Further, as the detection switch SW ₁ , an actuator which comes into contact with the uppermost paper 2 in a paper feedable state and rocks and displaces when the paper 2 is fed and consumed, and a rocking of this actuator. A combination configuration with a photo interrupter that outputs an ON / OFF signal according to the displacement may be used. The detection signal from the detection signal from the actuator and the photo interrupter is used to detect that the paper is fed, and drive the drive motor 9 to raise the elevating plate 1.

Regarding the processing operation of the configuration of the second embodiment, the timer in the first embodiment is replaced by a counter,
Above fourth sets a counter of the microcomputer at step S ₈ of FIG counts a rising time of the pulse in step S _12, and ends the counting of the rise time of the pulse in step S _16, the paper remaining number in step S ₁₇ Can be calculated by a microcomputer, and the others are the same. It should be noted that the step _{S 17}
For the above process, it is necessary to prepare a conversion map between the pulse count value and the remaining number of paper sheets in the memory of the microcomputer. In this way, by displaying the remaining paper number by accumulating the number of pulses generated with the rotation of the drive motor 9, the correspondence relationship between the number of pulses and the lift amount of the lift plate 1 is better than that of the timer time. However, since highly accurate detection can be expected, it is possible to display the remaining number of sheets with extremely high accuracy.

In addition, in the second embodiment, the pulse generator 90
However, even if a stepping motor is used as the drive motor 9 and the number of drive pulses or the number of rotations of the stepping motor is counted, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

(Effect of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, from the lowermost position set for paper replenishment, which is below the paper feed standby position when the rated number Y of sheets of paper is stacked. The elevator plate can be raised to the highest position via the paper feed standby position, and the drive motor raises the elevator plate from the paper feed standby position according to the feeding of the loaded paper, and the stored contents α, T, From Y and the value x corresponding to the rotation amount of the drive motor, y = Y− (x−α) Y
Since the calculation of / T is sequentially executed according to the value x and the remaining number y of papers is calculated and displayed, the paper can be easily replenished and the mechanism can be used regardless of the paper feed standby position. It is possible to accurately calculate and display the remaining number of sheets with a simple configuration having a small number of copies.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 (a), (b) and (c) are basic principle configuration diagrams of the remaining paper number display device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a concrete example according to one embodiment of the remaining paper number display device, FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control system in the apparatus, FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the control system of the apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a paper remaining number display apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 and FIG. 6 are schematic configuration diagrams of a control system by the device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Elevating plate, 2 ... Paper, SW ₁ ... Elevating plate highest position detecting switch, SW ₂ ... Elevating plate lowest position detecting switch,
SW ₃ ... Lift plate rising start switch, 9 ... Lift plate drive motor, 17 ... Display means, 18 ... Control unit, 90 ... Pulse generator.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Mizude 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Higashi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Mita Industry Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-58-7658 (JP, A) Special features Open Sho-58-22235 (JP, A) Actual Open Sho-58-48644 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A stacking paper can be raised from a paper feed standby position where the uppermost surface abuts an upper paper feeding member to the highest lift position, and from a paper feed standby position when a rated number of sheets of paper are stacked. And an elevating plate that can be raised from the lowest position set for paper supply to the paper feed standby position, and the elevating plate is elevated from the lowest position to the paper feed standby position, and A drive motor that raises the lift plate according to the feeding of the loaded paper from the paper feed standby position, and a drive motor from the lowest position of the lift plate loaded with paper to an arbitrary raised position that passes through the paper feed standby position. Measuring means for integrating and measuring a value x corresponding to the rotation amount, and rotation of the drive motor from the lowermost position to the paper feed standby position when the rated number Y of sheets of paper are loaded. Corresponds to a value alpha, the formula to a value T and the constant rated number Y and the constant corresponding to the amount of rotation of the drive motor to the highest position from the paper feed standby position, y = Y- (x
-Α) storage means for storing Y / T, calculation means for sequentially executing the calculation of the above formula according to the value x, and calculating the remaining paper number y, and displaying the calculated remaining paper number y And a display unit for displaying the remaining number of sheets of paper.