JPH0640606A - Medium feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a paper feeder which feeds smoothly paper sheets of various sizes in the state of a skewing problem being eliminated. CONSTITUTION:A load roller 2 to give fixed load to paper sheets is provided between a paper feed guide plate 7 with which paper sheet side surfaces come into contact and are guided at the time of paper feeding, and a pick roller 1 to pick up a paper sheet out of loaded paper sheets. Skew force (m) is canceled by adding force M in a direction opposite to generated skew force (m) by providing the load roller 2, skewing can be prevented therefore, by means of a simple structure.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeding device for feeding a manuscript in an image input device such as an image scanner or an OCR or a paper such as an image output / transfer paper in a printer or a copying machine. Is.

[0002]

[Prior art]

Conventional example 1. 13 to 15 show, for example, JP-A-63-127.
FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a conventional sheet feeding device shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 955, 955, and FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a side view and a plan view showing another sheet feeding device shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. In the figure, 23 is a guide plate, 24 is a conveying roller,
Reference numeral 25 is an aligner roller, 31 is a pick roller, 32 is a skew prevention roller, and A is a paper feeding direction.

The paper may be misaligned or twisted (hereinafter referred to as skew) with respect to the original paper feeding direction.
An aligner roller may be used to correct this skew. As shown in FIG. 13, the aligner roller 25
Is provided such that the axis of the roller is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the conveying direction, the sheet is slanted toward the guide plate 23, the side surface of the sheet is abutted against the guide plate, and the sheet is conveyed according to the guide plate. Is configured. FIG. 14 shows an example in which the belt 28 is used as the aligner device. Figure 1
5 shows an example in which the pre-aligner roller 26 is further used. In the state in which the trailing edge of the sheet comes into contact with the guide plate first by the pre-aligner roller after the engagement by the transport roller 24 is released. The feeding is performed, and thereafter, the skew is corrected by the prealigner roller so that the entire side surface of the sheet including the corner portion of the sheet is in contact with the guide plate.

Conventional example 2. In order to prevent skew, a mechanism as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is provided. A skew prevention roller 32 is provided on the pick roller 31 in parallel with the pick roller behind the paper feeding direction, and the skew prevention roller is configured to be driven and rotated at the same peripheral speed as the pick roller. Due to the paper feeding action by the pressing force and the same peripheral speed, the two rollers cancel each other out the skewing force, thereby preventing the skewing. Further, as shown in FIG. 18, a skew prevention roller 32 is provided rotatably behind the pick roller 31 in the sheet feeding direction in parallel with the pick roller, and the center line positions of the pick roller and the skew prevention roller in the sheet feeding direction are set to these rollers. The rollers are configured to be coincident with each other in the direction of the rotation axis, and the effects of canceling the skew force between the rollers are exerted to prevent the skew.

[0005]

Since the conventional sheet feeding device is constructed as described above, it is necessary to secure a distance of the sheet conveying system in order to provide the aligner roller, which causes a problem that the device becomes large. There was a point. In addition, when the skew prevention roller is provided, it is necessary to strictly control the peripheral speed, roller diameter, roller pressure, etc. in order to cancel out the skew force with the pick roller. There has been a problem that high accuracy must be required to prevent one-sided contact.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and provides a medium feeding device such as a paper feeding device for preventing skew with a simple structure without increasing the size of the device. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medium feeding device such as a paper feeding device that corrects skew suitable for this structure.

[0007]

A medium supply device according to a first aspect of the invention has the following elements. (A) Medium moving means for moving the medium in a predetermined direction by contacting the medium, (b) Guide body for guiding the movement of the medium in the predetermined direction by the medium moving means, (c)
A load body between the medium moving means and the guide body, which applies a predetermined load to the medium.

The medium supply apparatus according to the second invention has the following elements. (A) Medium moving means for moving the medium in a predetermined direction by contacting the medium, (b) Guide body for guiding the movement of the medium in the predetermined direction by the medium moving means, (c)
A load body that applies a predetermined load to the medium between the medium moving means and the guide body, (d) an abutting portion that is provided in the medium movement direction and that suppresses the movement of the medium,
(E) Opening means for releasing the contact between the medium moving means and the load body with respect to the medium when the medium hits the abutting portion.

[0009]

In the medium feeding device according to the first aspect of the invention, the medium moving means such as the pick roller moves the medium in a predetermined direction by contacting the medium such as printing paper, and the guide body moves the medium in a predetermined direction. Guide to move correctly in the direction. Since the medium moving means such as a pick roller contacts a part of the medium, a load body is provided between the medium moving means and the guide body to apply a force and a moment in a direction opposite to the skew force and the moment generated on the medium. It exists and applies a predetermined load to the medium, and this load cancels the skew force and the moment generated by the movement of the medium. Further, the medium supply device according to the second aspect of the present invention is for correcting the positional displacement when the medium is displaced and moved by the medium moving means. With respect to such a medium supply device, an abutting portion is provided which is provided in the moving direction of the medium and abuts the tip of the medium when the medium moves, and when the medium abuts the abutting portion, the medium moving means and the load By opening the contact of the body with the medium, the displacement of the medium is corrected by the abutting portion. When the medium hits the abutting portion, a force and a moment are generated in the direction opposite to the skew force and the moment generated by the medium moving means by the load body, and when the medium hits the abutting portion, the medium By opening the moving means and the load body at the same time, the medium is correctly positioned at the position along the guide body.

[0010]

【Example】

Example 1. An example of the medium feeding device according to the present invention will be described using a paper feeding device. This embodiment will be described in detail below. A load that applies a constant load to the paper between the paper feed guide plate that guides the side surfaces of the paper when the paper is fed and the pick roller that picks up the paper from the stacked paper. A roller is provided, and a force and a moment are applied in a direction opposite to the skew force and the moment generated by the load of the load roller to cancel the skew force.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view. Reference numeral 1 is a pickup roller for picking up sheets from stacked sheets 8 by a driving device (not shown), and 2 is located between a sheet feed guide plate 7 for guiding the side surfaces of sheets at the time of sheet feeding and the pick roller 1, and is provided by, for example, a spring. When the pick roller picks up a plurality of sheets of paper, the load rollers 3 that apply a constant load P to the sheet apply a constant load to the separating plate 4, and only the topmost sheet is conveyed by a driving device (not shown). A separation roller configured to convey the sheet to the sheet A and stop the lower sheet by a frictional force, a conveyance roller that conveys the fed sheet to a predetermined position by a driving device (not shown), and 6 should feed the sheet. A paper tray can be moved up and down by a drive unit (not shown) so as to apply a certain load to the pick roller so that the pick roller can obtain an appropriate conveying force. It is a path table.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the paper size is large as shown by the chain double-dashed line, the conveyance force of the pick roller 1 concentrates on one end of the paper, and the paper is affected by the frictional force between the papers. The moment m is generated, and if it is left as it is, a skew is caused in the original sheet feeding direction A. However, in the sheet feeding device configured as described above, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, load roller 2
Applies a constant load to the paper, a force FB as indicated by an arrow acts to generate a moment M. Where m =
When a force FB that gives M is applied, that is, when an appropriate load P is applied to the load roller, the skew force applied to the sheet is canceled, and thus skew can be prevented. Further, by applying a constant load to the load roller by means of a spring, the load roller can flexibly cope with the amount of stacked sheets and the stacked state of the sheets, and can always provide a stable load.

On the other hand, there is also a method of applying a constant load by placing a paper retainer or the like on the side of the paper feed guide when setting the paper, but in the present invention, the paper is loaded without extra work for placing the paper retainer or the like on the user. A constant load can be applied to the paper regardless of the state. As described above, according to this embodiment, in a paper feeding device that feeds paper such as cut paper one by one, a paper feed guide plate that guides the side surfaces of the paper when the paper is fed and a pick for picking up the paper from the stacked paper. A load roller that applies a constant load to the paper is provided between the rollers. According to this embodiment, the load roller is provided to apply a force in a direction opposite to the generated skew force to cancel the skew force, so that the skew can be prevented with a simple structure.

Example 2. In the above embodiment, the case of preventing the skew has been described, but the case of further correcting the skew will be described. This embodiment is provided with the load roller and an opening mechanism for removing the load of the pick roller and the load roller on the paper, so that the paper bite between the pick roller and the load roller is released after the paper is abutted against the conveying roller. By applying force and moment in the direction opposite to the skew force and moment that occurs, the paper is sufficiently abutted against the transport roller and the leading edge of the paper is made parallel to the axial direction of the transport roller. is there. FIG. 5 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view. Portions given the same reference numerals are the same or corresponding portions. L is an axial distance between the separation roller and the transport roller, 9 is a transport roller that transports the supplied sheet 8 to a predetermined position by a drive device (not shown), and the sheet is abutted between the upper and lower transport rollers 9A and 9B. In this case, there is provided a roller portion having a length sufficient to follow the axis of the transport roller so that the leading end of the sheet becomes parallel.

As shown in FIG. 5, the carrying roller 9 is kept stationary, the paper is sent out by a distance more than the axial distance between the carrying roller and the separating roller, and the paper is abutted between the upper and lower carrying rollers 9A and 9B. The paper 8 is loosened, and the paper is traced so that the front end of the paper is parallel to the axis of the transport roller. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, when the paper size is large, the conveyance force FF of the pick roller 1 concentrates on one end of the paper, and a moment m is generated in the paper due to the frictional force between the papers. Even if the sheet hits the conveying roller 9 up to the above, the effect of making the leading end of the sheet parallel to the axis of the conveying roller cannot be sufficiently expected. However, in the paper feeding device configured as described above,
As shown in FIG. 8, since the load roller 2 applies a constant load to the sheet with respect to the conveying force FF of the pick roller 1, a force FB as indicated by an arrow acts and a moment M is generated. Here, when a force FB in which the moment M is equal to or slightly larger than m (m ≦ M) is given, that is, when an appropriate load P is given to the load roller, the pick roller conveyance force FF changes. It works on the entire leading edge of the paper so that it can be abutted against. Even when the leading edge of the paper on the side opposite to the paper feed guide plate 7 strikes the transport roller first, the paper transport force FF acts on the paper feed guide side,
After that, it is possible to make a copy so that the front end of the paper is parallel to the axis of the transport roller.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, by lowering the hopper table 6 to a position where the pick roller and the load roller do not apply a load to the paper, an eccentric load applied to the paper is removed, and a skew force is generated during conveyance. prevent. Then, the transport roller 9 is driven to smoothly feed the paper without the problem of skew.

As described above, in this embodiment, there is a load roller provided between the paper feed guide plate and the pick roller for applying a constant load to the paper, and an opening mechanism for removing the load of the pick roller and the load roller on the paper. It prevents the double feed and feeds the sheets one by one from the top sheet, sends out the sheet more than the axial distance between the separation roller and the conveyance roller, and abuts the sheet against the conveyance roller, and then It is characterized in that the load roller is configured so as to release the bite from the paper.

According to this embodiment, since the load roller can sufficiently press the sheet against the conveying roller and remove the unbalanced load during the conveying, the apparatus can be enlarged regardless of the state of the sheet. The skew can be corrected inexpensively.

Example 3. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the pick roller 1 and the separating roller 3 are each one is shown. However, as shown in FIG. They may be in contact with each other and may be configured to be driven by applying a constant load.

Example 4. In the above embodiment, the case where the separating plate 4 is provided to feed the sheets one by one to prevent the double feeding is shown. However, as shown in FIG. 11, the reversing roller 10 is provided to prevent the double feeding. Is also good.

Example 5. In the above embodiment, the transport roller 9
In the case of one sheet having a length necessary for abutting the leading edge of the sheet, as shown in FIG. 12, the sheet leading edge is, for example, 3 at a position where the leading edge is parallel to the axis of the conveying roller.
You may comprise so that the one or more short conveyance roller 11 of width may be provided.

Embodiment 6. In the above embodiment, the load roller 2
In the above, the case where a constant load is applied to the paper by the spring is shown, but a constant load may be applied by its own weight. Further, in the above embodiment, the load roller is shown as a non-rotating roller that applies a constant load, but it may be a freely rotatable roller that can obtain the force FB that causes the moment M. Further, the load roller may not have a roller shape as long as a constant load can be applied regardless of the stacked state of the sheets.

Example 7. In the above embodiment, the load roller 2
Although the position has been set to be slightly forward in the transport direction, it may be located at any position between the paper feed guide plate 7 and the pick roller 1 as long as an appropriate moment M is generated.

Example 8. In the above-described embodiment, the case of using paper as an example of the medium has been described, but the medium may be other media such as film, plastic, plate, etc. other than paper.

Example 9. In the above embodiment, the case where the conveying roller is used as the abutting portion and the sheet is abutted with the conveying roller stopped is shown, but the abutting portion is not limited to the conveying roller and a special abutting portion is used. May be provided separately from the transport roller.

Example 10. In the above-described embodiment, the sheet feeding device is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the sheet feeding device, but may be applied to a medium feeding device that correctly conveys or feeds the other medium as described above in a predetermined direction. However, it can be applied.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the load is provided to cancel the skew generated in the medium, the skew can be prevented with a simple structure.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the load body removes the unbalanced load during the transportation and the medium is abutted against the abutting portion, the skew generated during the transportation of the medium can be corrected. is there.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a moment M generated by a load roller.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a moment m generated by a pick roller.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a moment m generated by a pick roller.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a moment M generated by a load roller.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a sheet feeding device of Conventional Example 1.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a sheet feeding device of Conventional Example 1.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a sheet feeding device of Conventional Example 1.

16 is a diagram showing a sheet feeding device of Conventional Example 2. FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a sheet feeding device of Conventional Example 2.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a sheet feeding device of Conventional Example 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pick Roller 2 Load Roller 3 Separation Roller 5 Conveyor Roller 6 Hopper Table 7 Paper Feed Guide Plate 9 Conveyor Roller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A medium supply device having the following elements: (a) medium moving means for contacting the medium to move the medium in a predetermined direction; and (b) movement of the medium in the predetermined direction by the medium moving means. Guide body for guiding (c)
A load body between the medium moving means and the guide body, which applies a predetermined load to the medium. 2. A medium supply device having the following elements: (a) medium moving means for contacting the medium to move the medium in a predetermined direction, and (b) movement of the medium in the predetermined direction by the medium moving means. Guide body for guiding (c)
A load body that applies a predetermined load to the medium between the medium moving means and the guide body, and (d) an abutting portion that is provided in the medium moving direction and that restrains the medium from moving.
(E) Opening means for releasing the contact between the medium moving means and the load body with respect to the medium when the medium hits the abutting portion.