JPH0632486A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a paper feeding device in which a conveying passage can be formed by connecting plural guide plates, and paper sheets can be conveyed smoothly without generating a blocking of transfer papers at the connecting part. CONSTITUTION:In this paper feeding device, a conveying passage 37 is formed with plural guide plates 50 and 51, transfer papers 34 are conveyed through, the conveying passage 37, the downstream end 50a of the guide plate 50 positioning upstream of the conveying is bent and fixed to a device main body side, and a projection 51b formed at the upstream end 51a of the guide plate 51 positioning downstream of the conveying is inserted to a hole 50c formed at the bending 50b of the downstream end 50a of the guide plate 50, so as to connect both guide plates.

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 and conveying a transfer sheet to a transfer processing section of an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, an image of an original is exposed on a photosensitive member, the image on the photosensitive member is developed to form a toner image, and the toner image on the photosensitive member is transferred. There is one in which the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper by the use electrode and the separation electrode, and further heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the transfer paper. The transfer paper is fed from the paper feed unit at a predetermined timing, for example, and is conveyed through a conveyance path formed by a plurality of guide plates, and the transfer paper is fed to the transfer processing section through this conveyance path. ing.

[0003]

By the way, in this transport path, a plurality of guide plates are generally lined up and fixed to the main body of the apparatus by screwing at four corners, respectively. There are cases where the screwing point cannot be obtained. For this reason, it is conceivable to connect a plurality of guide plates to each other, but in this case, it is necessary to consider so that they can be easily connected and that the transfer sheet can be smoothly conveyed without being jammed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a plurality of guide plates can be easily connected to each other to form a transfer path, and transfer paper can be smoothly transferred without being clogged at the connection portion. Is intended to provide.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a sheet feeding device in which a plurality of guide plates form a conveying path and a transfer sheet is conveyed along the conveying path.
The downstream end of the guide plate located on the upstream side of the conveyance is bent and fixed to the apparatus main body side, and the downstream end of the conveyance is located in the hole formed in the bent portion of the downstream end of the guide plate. It is characterized in that the convex portion formed on the upstream end portion of the guide plate is inserted and connected.

[0006]

In the paper feeding device of the present invention, the plurality of guide plates form the conveying path, and the downstream end of the guide plate located on the upstream side of the conveying is bent, and the hole formed in this bent portion. A convex portion formed on the upstream end portion of the guide plate located on the downstream side of the conveyance is inserted into, and the plurality of guide plates are easily connected by inserting. Also, since the guide plates are connected by being inserted, there is a step between the guide plate located on the upstream side of the conveyance and the guide plate located on the downstream side of the transportation at this connection part, and the guide plate is located on the upstream side of the transportation. Since the guide plate that moves is high, the transfer paper is conveyed without being jammed at the connecting portion.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the paper feeding device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion of a guide plate of the sheet feeding device, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a connecting portion of a guide plate of the sheet feeding device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which guide plates of a paper feeding device are connected.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus body 2 and
Paper feeding unit 6 connected to one side of the apparatus main body 2
And a sorter unit section 8 connected to the other side of the apparatus main body section 2.

A photosensitive member 20 is rotatably provided in the apparatus main body 2 in the direction of the arrow, and a document glass 21 is attached to the upper portion of the apparatus main body 2. This original glass 21
An automatic document reversing document feeder 22 is provided on the upper part of the document, and by simply setting a double-sided document, the document can be automatically reversed to copy both sides. Original glass 21
The light source 23 and the mirrors 24, 25, 26, 2 are located below
7, an optical system including a lens 28 and the like is disposed, and the image of the original set on the original glass 21 is exposed on the photoconductor 20 by this optical system. The light source 23 and the mirrors 24, 25, 26 of this optical system reciprocate in conjunction with exposure, and the lens 28 and the mirror 26 move in conjunction with zooming.

Around the photosensitive member 20, a charging electrode 29,
Developing unit 30, transfer electrode 31, separation electrode 32,
A cleaning unit 33 is provided, and an image exposed on the photoconductor 20 is developed by an optical system, and a toner image is transferred to a transfer paper 34 and recorded. The transfer electrode 31 and the separation electrode 32 are provided in an automatic double-sided transfer device 35. The automatic double-sided transfer device 35 is further provided with a storage tray 36, a conveyance path 37, and a conveyance unit 38. In the automatic double-sided transfer device 35, when transferring on one surface of the transfer paper 34, the transfer paper 34 transferred on one surface is sent to the transport unit 38 via the separation claw 39, and from the transport unit 38 to the fixing unit 40. Sent in. This fixing unit 4
An automatic reversing and discharging unit 42 is provided at the rear stage of 0,
The transfer sheet 34 passes through the automatic reverse sheet discharging unit 42 as it is, and is sent to the sorter unit 8. The sorter unit 8 is adapted to automatically perform page alignment and sorting of transfer sheets.

Further, when transferring to both sides of the transfer paper 34, the transfer paper 34 which is inverted by the automatic reversal paper discharge unit 42 and transferred to one side is temporarily stored in the storage tray 36 of the automatic double-sided transfer device 35. It The transfer paper 34 is fed by the paper feeding mechanism 4
1, is conveyed by the conveying path 37, is conveyed again to the transfer electrode 31 and the separation electrode 32, and is transferred and separated on the opposite surface of the transfer paper 34. Similarly, the transfer paper 34 is separated by the separation claw 39. Then, the transfer sheet 34 is sent to the transport unit 38, and the transfer sheet 34 passes from the transport unit 38 through the fixing unit 40 and the automatic reverse sheet discharging unit 42 as it is and is sent to the sorter unit 8.

Below the main body 2 of the apparatus, two paper feeders 4 are provided.
3 and 44 are arranged laterally, and the transfer paper 34 is housed in the paper feed units 43 and 44, respectively. Paper feed rollers 45 and 46 are arranged in the respective paper feed units 43 and 44, and the transfer paper 34 is intermittently fed out by the rotation of a paper feed drive motor (not shown) connected to each. Each paper feed unit 4
The transfer paper 34 sent out from 3, 44 is sent to the carrying path 37 of the automatic double-sided transfer device 35 from the carrying paths 47, 48, respectively.

Further, in the paper feeding unit 6 connected to the apparatus main body 2, three paper feeding units 60, 61 and 62 are arranged vertically and transferred to the paper feeding units 60, 61 and 62, respectively. A paper 34 is contained. Each of the paper feeding units 60,
Paper feed rollers 63, 64, 65 are arranged at 61, 62, and the transfer paper 34 is intermittently sent out by the rotation of a paper feed drive motor (not shown) connected to each. The transfer paper 34 delivered from each of the paper feed units 60, 61 and 62 is sent from the respective transport paths 66, 67 and 68 to the transport path 37 of the automatic double-sided transfer device 35 via the transport path 69. The registration roller 70 is provided on the conveyance path 37 immediately before the transfer processing section.
Is arranged, and the transfer paper 34 is abutted against the registration roller 70 and stopped, and the leading end of the transfer paper 34 is aligned in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction.

A conveying path 37 of the automatic double-sided transfer device 35
Is composed of a transport roller 37a and a transport guide 37b. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the transport guide 37b has a transport path 37 formed by a plurality of guide plates 50 and 51.
The transfer paper 34 is transported along the transport path 37. The guide plates 50 and 51 are connected by bending the downstream end portion 50a of the guide plate 50 located on the upstream side of the conveyance, and bending the bent portion 50.
b is fixed to the frame 53 of the automatic double-sided transfer device 35 with screws 54. Further, a hole 50c is formed in the bent portion 50b of the guide plate 50, and the convex portion 51b formed at the upstream end 51a of the guide plate 51 located on the downstream side of the conveyance is inserted and connected to the hole 50c. is doing.

As described above, the bent portion 5 of the guide plate 50 is
0b of the hole 50c, the upstream end 51a of the guide plate 51
Since the convex portions 51b are connected by being inserted, it is possible to connect easily and surely without using a special connecting member. Particularly, with the guide plate 50 at the lower position, the guide plate 51
Is located in the upper position, the projection 51b of the guide plate 51 is inserted into the hole 50c of the guide plate 50, and the guide plate 51 is placed on the guide plate 50. Therefore, the workability of maintenance is improved. Further, since the guide plates and 51 are inserted and connected to the guide plate 50, a step D is formed between the guide plate 50 located on the upstream side of the conveyance and the guide plate 51 located on the downstream side of the conveyance at this connecting portion. Since the guide plate 50 located on the upstream side of the conveyance is high, the transfer sheet 34 can be smoothly conveyed without being clogged at the connecting portion.

Further, the conveying paths 47, 4 of the paper feeding units 43, 44
8 is a conveyance roller 47a, 48a and a conveyance guide 47b,
48b, and the conveyance paths 66, 67, 68 and the conveyance path 69 of the sheet feeding units 60, 61, 62 are the conveyance rollers 6
6a, 67a, 68a, 69a and conveyance guides 66b, 6
7b, 68b, 69b, and these conveyance guides 47b, 48b and conveyance guides 66b, 67.
b, 68b, and 69b are also the conveyance path 3 of the automatic double-sided transfer device 35.
Similar to the transport guide 37b of No. 7, a plurality of guide plates can be connected.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the downstream end portion of the guide plate located on the upstream side of conveyance is bent and fixed to the apparatus main body side, and the bent portion of the downstream end portion of the guide plate is bent. Since the convex part formed at the upstream end of the guide plate located on the downstream side of the conveyance is inserted and connected to the hole formed in, the multiple guide plates can be easily connected by inserting without using special members. It is possible to simplify the structure of the transport path. Further, the guide plates can be easily attached to and detached from each other, and the workability of maintenance is improved when the transfer paper is jammed in the transport path. Further, since the guide plates are connected by being inserted, there is a step between the guide plate located on the upstream side of the conveyance and the guide plate located on the downstream side of the transfer at this connecting portion, and the guide plate is located on the upstream side of the transfer. Since the guide plate for moving is high, the transfer paper can be conveyed without being jammed at the connecting portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion of a guide plate of the paper feeding device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a connecting portion of a guide plate of the paper feeding device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which guide plates of a sheet feeding device are connected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 37 Conveyance path 50,51 Guide plate 50a Downstream end 50b Bent portion 50c Hole 51a Upstream end 51b Convex portion

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a sheet feeding device in which a conveyance path is formed by a plurality of guide plates and a transfer sheet is conveyed along the conveyance path, a downstream end portion of the guide plate located on the conveyance upstream side is bent. It is fixed to the apparatus main body side, and the convex portion formed at the upstream end of the guide plate located on the downstream side of the conveyance is inserted and connected to the hole formed at the bent portion of the downstream end of the guide plate. Characteristic paper feeding device.