JPH069070A - Sheet material feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To mitigate collision against a separation means or a paper feed means and prevent generation of injury on a supplied sheet material or paper clogging due to dislocation of the loading position by providing a buffer means to buff sudden ascending motion of a movable bed plate, when the engaging condition between a movable bed plate and a lock means is released by a releasing means. CONSTITUTION:The lock release arm of a lock claw 57 abuts against a lock release piece by pushing movement of a sheet material cassette 50, and the lock claw 57 is rotationally moved clockwise so as to release locking. Following to this, the bed plate 55 of the sheet material cassette 50 is upward rotationally moved by energizating force of a pressing spring 62 around the rear side part 55A of the bed plate as a fulcrum, but because right and left both end faces of a push-down shaft 59 are engaged with friction members 46, 46 at releasing the locking, the sliding resistance from the friction members 46, 46 is applied on the push-down shaft 59, and as a result of this, the upward rotational movement of the movable bed plate 55 is slowly performed. The uppermost sheet material or the corner angle part on the extreme end side of the movable bed plate 55 abuts to separation claws 63A, 63A and stops.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material feeding device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a sheet material feeding device of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a sheet material such as a transfer sheet or a photosensitive sheet is used as a sheet material stacking base plate (movable base) in a cassette 100 shown in FIG. A large number of sheets are stacked on the plate 101, and the sheet materials are separated and fed one by one from the sheet material stack base plate 101 to the next step by a sheet feeding means such as a sheet feeding roller.

However, in the case of such a sheet material feeding device, in the cassette 100 as the sheet material storage portion, the tip end portion of the sheet material stacking base plate 101 which is always urged to rotate upward by the urging spring 102. Alternatively, the uppermost tip of the sheet material stacked on the sheet material stacking base plate 101 is pushed down to the uppermost position and is stable in a state of being in contact with the separating means (separating claw) 103 or the sheet feeding means. Therefore, the stacking and replenishment of the sheet material in the cassette 100 is performed while pushing down the urging spring 1012 of the sheet material stacking base plate 101, and the leading end of the replenishing sheet material is bypassed from the separating means or the paper feeding means. What to do, sheet material cassette 100
There was a drawback that the replenishment to the inside was poor.

In order to solve such a drawback, a sheet material feeding device shown in FIG. 20 has been proposed recently (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-46020).

In this sheet material feeding device, when the sheet material stacking base plate 106 is pushed down against the cassette (stocker) 105 against the biasing spring 107, the sheet material stacking base plate 106 is engaged at a predetermined position. Locking means 109 for stopping (consisting of a pin 110 provided on the sheet material loading base plate 106 and a lock lever 112 provided on a side plate 111 of the cassette 105) is provided, and the cassette 105 is loaded after the sheet material is replenished in the cassette 105. When mounted on the image forming apparatus body (not shown),
A releasing means 113 for releasing (the lock lever 112 of) the locking means 109 is provided on the image forming apparatus main body side.

In FIG. 20, reference numeral 106A is a support shaft of the sheet material loading base plate 106, and reference numeral 112A is a lock lever 1.
2 is a support shaft, reference numeral 115 is an urging spring of the lock lever 12,
Reference numeral 116 is a separation claw, and reference numeral 117 is a paper feed roller.

[0007]

However, in the case of the above-described sheet material feeding device (proposed technique shown in FIG. 20), when the cassette 105 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the locking means 109 is released by the releasing means 113. Once released,
Due to the action of the urging spring 107, the sheet material stacking base plate 106 jumps up violently, which not only causes unnecessary anxiety to the user, but also damages the sheet material due to the collision with the separating means 116 and the sheet feeding means 117, which causes a deviation of the stacking position. Problems such as paper jams and troubles due to impact on the main body of the image forming apparatus may occur. This is more noticeable when the sheet material is mounted in a state where the amount of the sheet material is smaller than the capacity of the cassette 105, such as when jamming or when a small amount of sheet material that is rarely used is temporarily used.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the movable base plate when the locking means for locking the movable base plate for stacking the sheet material at a predetermined position is released by the releasing means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet material feeding device capable of suppressing a sharp rise in the sheet material.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a movable base plate (55) for stacking sheet materials (P), and a movable base for carrying the sheet material feeding means (35) to the movable base plate (55). A plate urging means and a locking means for locking the movable base plate (55) at a predetermined position when the movable base plate (55) is pushed down against the movable base plate urging means (62). 57), a sheet material cassette (50), a sheet material feeder (30) for feeding the sheet material (P) stored in the sheet material cassette (50), and the sheet material cassette (5).
0) is attached to the sheet material feeder (30),
The present invention relates to a sheet material feeding device comprising: a release means (33A) for releasing the engagement state of the movable base plate (55) and the locking means (57).

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the movable base plate (55) and the locking means (57) when the engagement state is released by the release means (33A). It is characterized in that a buffer means (46) for buffering the sudden movement of the base plate (55) is provided.

[0011]

According to the above construction, when the movable base plate (55) and the locking means (57) are released from each other and the movable base plate (55) is suddenly moved up by the action of the movable base plate urging means (62). The cushioning means (46) cushions the sudden movement of the movable base plate (55).

As a result, the collision with the separating means (63A) and the paper feeding means (35) is alleviated, and the replenished sheet material (P) is not damaged or jammed due to the deviation of the stacking position.

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

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment 1> FIGS. 1 and 2 show the overall structure of a sheet material feeder of a sheet material feeding apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
3 and 4 show the overall structure of the sheet material cassette of the sheet material feeding device.

First, the structure of the sheet material feeder 30 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, reference numeral 31 is an upper plate of the feeder, reference numerals 32L and 32R are pedestals long in the front-rear direction, which are attached to the left side portion and the right side portion of the upper surface plate 31 in parallel with each other, and the reference numeral 33.
Is the bottom plate of the feeder.

The lower surface plate 33 of the feeder is provided with an unlocking piece 33A at its front end.

On the lower surface of the feeder upper surface plate 31, the upper surface of the feeder lower surface plate 33, and the inner side surfaces of the left and right pedestals 32L and 32R,
A sheet material cassette storage space C (FIG. 1) is configured.

Reference numeral 35 is a sheet material feeding roller, and reference numeral 36.
Is a sheet material conveying roller.

The sheet material feeding roller 35 is a roller (D-shaped cutting roller) having a circular section in side or cross section.

Sheet material feeding roller 35 and conveying roller 36
Are substantially parallel to each other, the transport roller 36 is located on the front end side of the feeder upper surface plate 31, and the feed roller 35 is located upstream thereof with respect to the sheet material feeding direction.

Reference numerals 42 and 42 (one of which is not shown) are sheet material cassette loading / unloading guide grooves symmetrically provided along the longitudinal direction on the inner surfaces of the left and right pedestals 32L and 32R, respectively.
43 (one is not shown) is also the pedestals 32L and 32 on the left and right.
It is a cam groove portion symmetrically provided on each inner surface of R, and includes a front inclined portion 43A, a substantially horizontal portion 43B, and a rearward inclined portion 43C.

Reference numerals 46 and 46 (one of which is not shown) are friction members symmetrically projected on the inner surfaces of the same left and right pedestals 32L and 32R, and are located behind the cam grooves 43 and 43. . Inclined surfaces 46A and 46A are provided in front of and behind the friction member 46 so as to be smoothly connected to the inner surfaces of the pedestals 32L and 32R.

Reference numeral G in FIG. 1 denotes a gear train that transmits rotation to the sheet material feeding roller 35 and the conveying roller 36.

Next, the structure of the sheet material cassette 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the figure, reference numeral 51 is a flat-faced rectangular cassette body case having an open upper surface, and reference numerals 51A, 51B,
51C, 51D and 51E are the front wall / left side wall, right side wall / rear surface wall and bottom plate of the cassette body case 51.

Reference numeral 52 is a grip portion provided on the outside of the cassette body case 51, and reference numerals 54L and 54R are elongated flanges that extend outward along the upper end longitudinal direction of the left and right side walls 51B and 51C of the cassette body case 51. is there.

Reference numeral 55 is a movable base plate housed in the cassette body case 51, and is biased upward by a pressing spring 62 with the rear end portion 55A as a pivot. A base plate locking portion 55B is provided at the front end of the rotary base plate 55.
The base plate locking portion 55B is inserted into the front wall 5 through the locking groove 53, 53 provided in the front wall 51A of the cassette body case 51.
It is projected on the back side of 1A. The sheet material P is stacked on the movable base plate 55 and stored in the cassette body case 51.

Reference numeral 59 is a pressing shaft engaged with the movable base plate 55. The pressing shaft 59 has left and right end portions 59L and 59R.
Are provided symmetrically on the surfaces of the left and right side walls 51B and 51C of the cassette body case 51, respectively.
The left and right end portions 59L and 59R thereof are fitted to the outer periphery of the left and right side walls 51B and 51C. Both end surfaces of the push-down shaft 59 are substantially spherical.

Reference numerals 63 and 63 are cassette body case 51.
The left and right side walls 51B and 51C are separation claw levers, and reference numerals 63A and 63A are separation claws. The separation claw levers 63, 63 are vertically rotatable about the rear ends 63B, 63B as fulcrums, and the front ends 63C, 63C of the separation claw levers 63, 63 are provided on the front wall 51A of the cassette body case 51.
It is fitted in 5,65. Reference numerals 68 and 68 are sheet material conveying rollers.

FIG. 5 shows the detailed structure of the lock portion of the movable base plate 55.

Reference numeral 57 is a lock claw for holding the movable base plate 55 at a predetermined position. Reference numeral 61 is a rib provided on the back surface of the front wall 51A of the cassette body case 51,
It is located between the locking portion slots 53 provided in the front wall 51A.

The lock claw 57 is supported by a tension coil spring 58, and the support shaft 5 is provided in front of the tip of the movable base plate 55.
It is urged counterclockwise around 7A and lock claw 5
The tip portion 57B of No. 7 comes into contact with the rib 61 from below to restrict its rotation.

The movable base plate 55 is the cassette body case 51.
The locking portion 55B protruding on the back surface of the front wall 51A of
The lock claw 57 is held at a predetermined position by coming into contact with the tip portion 57B of the lock claw 57 from below.

On the other hand, the unlocking arm 57C projects downward from the bottom plate 51E of the cassette body case 51,
It is covered with a protective cover 64 provided on E.

Behind the protective cover 64, the opening 6 into which the unlocking piece 33A provided on the feeder lower plate 33 is fitted.
4A is provided.

FIG. 6 shows the positional relationship between the base plate pressing shaft 59 of the sheet material cassette 50 and the cam groove 43 and the friction member 46 of the sheet material feeder 30. Both end portions 59L, 59R (one of which is not shown) of the push-down shaft 59 are configured such that their shaft peripheral surfaces engage with the cam groove 43, and further both end surfaces abut on the friction member 46 and slide. There is.

FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 continuously show the operation of the main part when the sheet material cassette 50 is attached to and detached from the sheet material feeder 30.

When the sheet material cassette 50 is mounted on the sheet material feeder 30, the push-down shaft 59 is separated from the cam grooves 43, 43. The movable base plate 55 is pushed upward by the pressing spring 62, and the uppermost sheet material or the corner portion on the front end side of the base plate 55 is in contact with the separation claw 63A. On the other hand, the lock release arm 57C is provided with a lock release piece 33A provided on the feeder lower surface plate 33 of the sheet material feeder 30.
And the lock claw 57 is held at the retracted position (state of FIG. 7).

The sheet material cassette 50 can be taken out of the sheet material feeder 30 by a grip portion 52 on the front side of the cassette.
Hook your finger on the sheet, pull and move it in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 7, and remove it from the sheet material feeder 30.

At the beginning of the process of taking out the sheet material cassette 50, the lock claw 57 is separated from the unlocking piece 33A as the sheet material cassette 50 is pulled out, and counterclockwise by the urging force of the tension coil spring 58. It rotates, contacts the rib 61, and is held at the lock position (state of FIG. 8).

By further pulling out the sheet material cassette 50, the left and right side walls 51B, 5 of the sheet material cassette 50 are moved.
Left and right end portions 5 of the push-down shaft 59 protruding outward from 1C
9L and 59R engage with the rear inclined portions 43C and 43C of the cam groove 43 provided on the inner surface sides of the left and right pedestals 32L and 32R of the sheet material feeder 30, respectively, and the pressing shaft is pushed by the subsequent pulling movement force of the sheet material cassette 50. Left and right ends 59 of 59
L and 50R receive downward pressing force by the rearward inclined portions 43C and 43C of the cam groove 43, and the pressing shaft 59 engages with the obliquely vertical groove holes 60 and 60, and from the upper end side starting point to the lower end. It descends to the side end point. With the downward movement of the push-down shaft 59, the movable base plate 55 is downwardly rotated around the rear end portion 55A as a fulcrum (state of FIG. 9).

When the sheet material cassette 50 is subsequently withdrawn, the movable base plate 55 is lowered to the lowest position by the cam grooves 43, 43, and the locking portion 55 provided at the tip of the movable base plate 55.
B pushes over the lock claw 57, gets over the lock claw 57, and then engages with the lock claw 57, whereby the movable base plate 55 is moved to the sheet material cassette 50.
Locked near the bottom of the sheet material feeder 3
It is removed from 0 (state of FIG. 10).

When the movable base plate 55 is locked, the lock release arm 57C of the lock claw 57 is placed in the sheet material cassette 5
It is covered by a protective cover 64 provided on the bottom plate 51E of No. 0 so as not to be easily touched from the outside. Further, since the other part of the lock claw 57 is almost completely accommodated in the sheet material cassette 50, the lock is not unnecessarily released during the normal sheet material replenishing operation.

In order to stack and store the sheet material P in the sheet material cassette 50, the sheet material cassette 50 is removed from the sheet material feeder 30 as described above, and the cassette body case 51 is formed.
From the top opening. In the state of FIG. 10 in which the sheet material cassette 50 is removed from the sheet material feeder 30, as described above, the movable base plate 55 in the cassette body case 51 is locked near the bottom plate 51 of the cassette body case 51. Further, the separation claws 63A, 63A are mounted such that the tip ends 63C, 63C of the levers 63, 63 provided with the separation claws 63A, 63A ride on one side of the separation claw opening windows 65, 65 provided on the front wall 51A of the cassette body case 51. Since it is received and its downward rotation is restricted, it is held above the upper opening in the cassette body case 51. Therefore, the tip side of the movable base plate 55 and the separation claw 63A,
Since the gap between the sheet material P and the sheet 63A is kept large, the stacking and storing operation of the sheet materials P in the cassette body case 51 can be performed easily and quickly.

The sheet material cassette 50 is mounted on the sheet material feeder 30 by mounting the upper surface plate 3 of the sheet material feeder 30.
1 lower surface, upper surface of feeder lower surface plate 33, left and right pedestals 32
With respect to the sheet material cassette storage space C (FIG. 1) configured by the inner side surfaces of L and 32R, the rear surface wall 51D side of the sheet material cassette 50 from the front of the sheet material feeder 30
In addition, the guide grooves 4 in the front-rear direction provided on the inner surfaces of the pedestals 32L and 32R of the sheet material feeder 30 along the longitudinal direction are elongated flanges 54L and 54R on the left and right sides of the cassette.
2, 42 are fitted and engaged and pushed in (direction of arrow Y in FIG. 10).

The operation of each part when the sheet material cassette 50 is mounted is the reverse of the operation when the cassette is pulled out. That is, at a time immediately before the sheet material cassette 50 is sufficiently pushed into the sheet material feeder 30 to be properly mounted,
Left and right ends 59L and 59 of the push-down shaft 59 protruding outward from the left and right side walls 51B and 51C of the sheet material cassette 50.
R is the right and left pedestals 32 of the sheet material feeder 30, respectively
The cam grooves 43, 43 provided on the inner surface sides of the L, 32R are engaged with the front inclined portions 43A, 43A, and get over the cam grooves 43, 43.

As the sheet material cassette 50 is subsequently pushed in, the unlocking arm 57C of the locking claw 57 contacts the unlocking piece 33A, and the locking claw 57 is rotated clockwise to unlock the lock. Along with this, the sheet material cassette 5
The base plate 55 of 0 moves upward by the urging force of the pressing spring 62 with the rear side 55A of the base plate as a fulcrum. At the time when the lock is released, the left and right end surfaces of the push-down shaft 59 serve as friction members 46 and 46. Because they are engaged (the one-dot chain line in FIG. 8),
The push-down shaft 59 receives sliding resistance from the friction members 46, 46, and as a result, the movable base plate 55 is slowly rotated upward. When the rotating base plate 555 is rotated, the uppermost sheet material or the corner portion of the movable base plate 55 on the tip side is separated by the separation claw 63A,
It stops when it contacts 63A.

Then, when the sheet material cassette 50 is fully pushed into the normal mounting state, the sheet material conveying roller 68 on the sheet material cassette 50 side comes into contact with the front surface of the sheet material conveying roller 35 on the sheet material feeder 30 side. Become.

Until just before the sheet material cassette 50 is sufficiently pushed into the sheet material feeder 30 and is properly mounted, the movable base plate 55 is locked by the lock claws 57 near the bottom plate 51E of the cassette body case 51. And the stacked sheet material P on the movable base plate 55 is also stored in the cassette body case 51 in a horizontal posture. Further, the sheet material feeding roller 35 arranged on the upper surface plate 31 side of the sheet material feeder 30 is the circular disc-shaped roller (D-shaped cut roller) as described above, and the circular side 35A is always in the downward rotation angle posture. The rotation is stopped at. Therefore, in the movement process accompanying the attachment / detachment of the sheet material cassette 50, the upper surface of the uppermost sheet material of the stored and stacked sheet material P in the cassette body case 51 is sufficiently downward from the downward cutout side 35A of the sheet material feeding roller 35. The separated sheet feeder 3
There is no interference with the feeding roller 35 on the 0 side.

When the sheet feed cassette 50 is mounted in the regular position of the sheet feeder 30 and a sheet feed start signal is input from the image forming apparatus, the gear train G, a clutch (not shown), and a clutch (not shown). The sheet material feeding roller 35 is rotated once by the action of the electromagnetic solenoid, the uppermost sheet material is separated by the separating claws 63A and 63A, and is fed out toward the front wall 51A of the sheet material cassette 50 to the sheet material feeder 30 side. Sheet material conveying roller 36
The sheet material is conveyed from the lower side to the nip portion formed by the sheet material conveying roller 68 on the sheet material cassette 50 side, gripped and conveyed upward, and fed into the main body of the image forming apparatus. As the consumption of the stacked and stored sheet materials P in the sheet material cassette 50 decreases, the movable base plate 55 is sequentially lifted and rotated by the urging force of the pressing spring 62.

Thus, every time the sheet material feeding roller 36 on the side of the sheet material feeder 30 is driven to rotate once, the sheet material cassette 5 mounted on the sheet material feeder 30.
The stacked storage sheet material in 0 is fed to the image forming apparatus main body side for one sheet, and image formation is sequentially performed on the fed sheet material.

The sheet material feeding device of the present invention is configured as described above, and when the movable base plate 55 is unlocked in the mounting process of the sheet material cassette 50 to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the pushing shaft is already pushed. Since the left and right end surfaces of 59 are in contact with the friction members 46, 46, the upward movement of the push-down shaft 59 receives sliding resistance from the friction members 46, 46. Therefore, when the lock is released, the rotary base plate 55 does not suddenly jump up, and good operability and the conventional easy and quick replenishment of sheet material without causing any trouble to the image forming apparatus main body and the sheet material are provided. Can be realized.

In the present embodiment, the friction brake is used as the buffer means, but the technical idea of the present invention is to buffer the upward movement of the movable base plate 55 at the time of unlocking, and the elastic means such as a spring is used as the buffer means. It goes without saying that a member, a torque limiter, an air damper, an electromagnetic brake or the like may be used. <Embodiment 2> This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the friction member 46 is provided at a position different from the range of movement of the base plate pressing shaft 59 in the state where the sheet material cassette 50 is mounted at the regular position of the sheet material feeder 30 in association with the feeding. There is. <Third Embodiment> FIG. 11 shows the structure of a third embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the friction member 46 is provided so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in the figure with a pivot shaft 46D provided on the lower side thereof as a fulcrum. Reference numeral 71 indicates the friction member 46,
A compression coil spring that urges the base plate pressing shaft 59 in a direction of abutting it, and a reference numeral 48 is an electromagnetic solenoid that rotates and holds the friction member 46 at a retracted position separated from the base plate pressing shaft 59.

The electromagnetic solenoid 48 rotates the friction member 46 to the retracted position against the urging force of the compression coil spring 71 in response to the paper feed start signal from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and holds the friction member 46 from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The control means 49 controls to release the holding of the friction member 46 in response to the sheet feeding completion signal. The friction member 46 whose holding is released is
The compression coil spring 71 rotates to a buffer position where it comes into contact with the depression of the base plate.

This embodiment is constructed as described above,
At the time of paper feeding, both end surfaces of the push-down shaft 59 and the friction members 46, 46 of the pedestals 32L, 32R of the sheet material feeder 30 are separated from each other, and when the sheet material P is fed to the image forming apparatus main body, the friction members are provided. 46 and 46 do not interfere with the operation of the movable base plate 55. Therefore, the friction members 46, 46 do not affect the sheet feeding pressure for pressing the sheet material P against the sheet material sheet feeding roller 35, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained while maintaining a stable sheet feeding pressure. .

The technical idea of the present embodiment is to eliminate the influence of the buffering means 46, 46 on the sheet feeding pressure at least at the time of sheet feeding. For example, the ON / OFF of the cassette mounting completion signal by the sensor is used. The above control may be performed, or the retracting drive force of the friction member 46 may be obtained from the drive source of the sheet material feeding roller 35, and the operation of the friction member 46 may be linked with the operation of the sheet material feeding roller 35. Needless to say, the base plate pressing shaft 59 may be retracted. <Embodiment 4> This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, the sheet material feeder 30
The friction members 46, 46 of the bases 32L, 32R are provided at different positions in the attaching / detaching direction of the cam grooves 43, 43 and the sheet material cassette 50.

This embodiment is configured as described above,
When the sheet material cassette 50 is attached / detached, the base plate pressing shaft 59 of the sheet material cassette is moved by the friction members 46, 46 and the cam groove 4.
There is no simultaneous contact with both 3, 43. Therefore, in the operation of taking out the sheet material cassette 50, the sliding resistance by the friction members 46, 46 and the base plate pressing resistance by the cam grooves 43, 43 are not simultaneously applied, and the maximum value of the taking-out resistance of the sheet material cassette 50 is lowered. By suppressing, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained while realizing good operability.

The technical idea of this embodiment is that the sliding resistance by the friction members 46, 46 and the base plate pressing resistance by the cam grooves 43, 43 act at different times in the operation of taking out the sheet material cassette 50. , For example, friction members 46, 46
May be retractable, and the friction members 46, 46 may be retracted to a position where they do not interfere with the rotating base plate 55 during the base plate pressing operation in the operation of taking out the sheet material cassette 50. <Embodiment 5> This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the end portion of the base plate pressing shaft 59 of the sheet material cassette 50.

Reference numeral 59A is a crown-shaped roller provided on the end surface of the push-down shaft 59. The roller 59A is provided so as to be movable around a rotary shaft 59B that is provided substantially perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction of the sheet material cassette 50. The base plate pressing shaft 59 is locked so that the rotary base plate 55 cannot rotate.

According to this embodiment, the sliding opposition of the pressing shaft 59 and the friction member 46 in the attachment / detachment direction of the sheet material cassette 50 in the attachment / detachment of the sheet material cassette 50 is reduced by the rotation of the roller 59A. On the other hand, the rise of the rotary base plate 5 due to the unlocking is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the movable support shaft 59B of the roller 59A, and the sliding resistance is not reduced by the rotation of the roller 59A. <Embodiment 6> This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an end portion of the base plate pushing shaft 59, and FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an engagement state of the base plate pushing shaft 59 and the friction member 46.

The base plate pressing shaft 59 in this embodiment is non-rotatably locked to the rotary base plate 55, and both end faces thereof are provided with elongated ribs 50C substantially parallel to the sheet material cassette attaching / detaching direction. On the other hand, the friction member 46 is composed of a flexible body. As shown in FIG. 14, the positional relationship between the friction member 46 and the base plate pressing shaft 59 is the rib 59 of the pressing shaft 59.
C is configured to come into contact with the friction member 46 while deforming it.

According to the present embodiment, the sliding movement of the push-down shaft 59 and the friction member 46 receives the friction resistance and the deformation resistance that deforms the friction member 46. The deformation area 72 of the member 46 is smaller than the deformation area 73 in the sliding movement of the movable base plate 55 in the rising direction. Therefore, the resistance in the sliding is smaller in the attaching / detaching direction of the sheet material cassette 50 than in the ascending direction of the movable base plate 55.

This embodiment is constructed as described above,
It is possible to reduce the attachment / detachment resistance of the sheet material cassette 50 at the same time while obtaining a sufficient braking force for the rise of the movable base plate 55, and to achieve the same effect as that of the first embodiment while realizing good operability. . <Embodiment 7> This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view of the friction member 46.
Flexible members 46C are arranged on the surface of the friction member 46 at a predetermined density with an oblique downward direction as shown in the drawing. <Embodiment 8> This embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 16, the friction member 46 is made of a flexible material,
The surface has an uneven shape composed of a plurality of obliquely downward slopes and a horizontal plane as shown in the figure.

In the case of the seventh and eighth embodiments described above, when the base plate pushing shaft 59 and the friction member 46 slide, the pushing shaft 5
The sliding resistance in the upward movement of 9 is larger than the sliding resistance in the other directions. <Embodiment 9> This embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 17 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a main part of a resistance means for giving a resistance to the rotational movement of the flexible base plate 55 of the sheet material cassette 50, and FIG. 18 is a perspective view.

Reference numeral 55 is a friction piece symmetrically provided on the side surface of the flexible base plate 55 of the sheet material cassette 50, and has a curved shape curved in the vertical direction. Reference numeral 46 designates a friction member symmetrically provided near the left and right side walls 51B and 51C of the sheet material cassette 50. A rotary support shaft 46A provided near the periphery of the friction member serves as a rotary fulcrum, and a movable base is provided by a spring (not shown). The plate 55 is biased in a direction away from the friction piece 55C.

Reference numeral 46 is a rib provided on the upper portion of the friction member 46, and the left and right side walls 51B, 5 of the sheet material cassette 50 are provided.
It projects outside from the friction member opening window 66 provided in 1C. Reference numeral 47 indicates the left and right pedestals 32 of the sheet material feeder 30.
It is a friction member operation cam provided symmetrically on the inner surface of L, 32R.

When the sheet material cassette 50 is mounted on the feeder 30, the rib 46B of the friction member 46 engages with the friction member operation cam 47 of the pedestals 32L and 32R of the feeder 30 immediately before the movable base plate 55 is unlocked. Then, the friction member 46 rotates about the rotation support shaft 46A as a fulcrum and contacts the friction piece 55C of the movable base plate 55.

As the sheet material cassette 50 is subsequently pushed in, the movable base plate 55 is unlocked.
Rises slowly while receiving the sliding resistance of the friction member 46. Further, when the sheet material cassette 50 is sufficiently pushed into the normal mounting state, the ribs 46B of the friction member 46 pass over the friction member operation cams 47 of the pedestals 32L and 32R of the sheet material feeder 30 and are separated therefrom.
Is a friction piece 5 of the movable base plate 55 by the urging force of a spring (not shown).
Separate from 5C.

This embodiment is constructed as described above,
Sliding between the friction member operation cam 47 and the friction member 46 when the sheet material cassette 50 is attached and detached is performed via the rib 46C having a relatively small sliding resistance, and the members forming the sheet material cassette 50 and the sheet material feeder 30. And friction member 46
There is no sliding in and out of the cassette. Therefore, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained while achieving sufficient operability while obtaining a sufficient braking force for the rise of the rotary base plate 55.

Further, it is possible to realize a constant cassette attachment / detachment resistance regardless of the friction coefficient of the friction member 46, and it is possible to select the optimum friction member without affecting the cassette attachment / detachment resistance regardless of the device. it can.

[0080]

As described above, in the sheet material feeding apparatus of the present invention, when the releasing means releases the locking means for locking the movable base plate on which the sheet material is stacked at a predetermined position, the movable means is movable. Since the movable base plate that rapidly rises due to the action of the base plate urging means is buffered by the buffer means, the collision with the separating means and the paper feeding means is softened. Therefore, the replenished sheet material will not be damaged, and the paper jam due to the deviation of the stacking position will not occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the overall configuration of a sheet material feeder of a sheet material feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of the sheet material feeder.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing the overall configuration of the sheet material cassette.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of the sheet material cassette.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view showing a detailed configuration of a lock portion of a movable base plate of the sheet material cassette.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the positional relationship between the base plate pressing shaft of the sheet material cassette, the cam groove of the sheet material feeder, and the friction member.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of essential parts for explaining the operation when the sheet material cassette is removed from the sheet material feeder.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of essential parts for explaining the operation when the sheet material cassette is removed from the sheet material feeder.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of essential parts for explaining the operation when the sheet material cassette is removed from the sheet material feeder.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of essential parts for explaining the operation when the sheet material cassette is removed from the sheet material feeder.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing another configuration example (Example 3) of the friction member provided in the sheet material feeder.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another configuration example (embodiment 5) of the base plate pressing shaft provided in the sheet material cassette.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another configuration example (Example 6) of the base plate pressing shaft provided in the sheet material cassette.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an engaged state of the pressing shaft and the friction member.

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional side view showing another configuration example (Example 7) of the friction member provided in the sheet material feeder.

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing another configuration example (Example 8) of the friction member provided in the sheet material feeder.

FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a configuration example (Embodiment 9) of the resistance means for giving resistance to the rotating operation of the movable base plate of the sheet material cassette.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the resistance means.

FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a configuration of a sheet material cassette of a conventional example (normal structure).

FIG. 20 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the configuration of a sheet material feeding device of a conventional example (proposed technology).

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 Sheet Material Feeder 33A Lock Release Piece (Release Means) 35 Sheet Material Feeding Roller (Sheet Material Feeding Means) 46 Friction Member (Cushioning Means) 50 Sheet Material Cassette 55 Rotation Base Plate 57 Lock Claws (Locking Means) 62 Push-up spring (rotating base plate urging means) P sheet material

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A movable base plate for stacking sheet materials,
A movable base plate urging means for urging the movable base plate toward the sheet material feeding means, and a predetermined position of the movable base plate when the movable base plate is pushed down against the movable base plate urging means. A sheet material cassette having locking means for locking the sheet material, a sheet material feeder for feeding the sheet material stored in the sheet material cassette, and the sheet material cassette mounted on the sheet material feeder, In a sheet material feeding device including a releasing means for releasing the engagement state of a movable base plate and the locking means, the engagement state of the movable base plate and the locking means is released by the releasing means. A sheet material feeding device, characterized in that it is provided with a buffering means for buffering the sudden movement of the movable base plate when the sheet is moved. 2. With the operation of taking out the sheet material cassette from the sheet material feeder, the movable base plate is moved downward at least to a position at which the movable base plate is locked against the biasing means. And a movable base plate pressing means for causing the cushioning means and the movable base plate to be engaged with each other at a different time from the engagement between the base plate pressing means and the movable base plate. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1. 3. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 2, wherein a cam is used as the base plate pressing means. 4. The seat according to claim 1, wherein the buffer means is in a position where it does not interfere with the movable base plate when the mounting of the sheet material cassette onto the sheet material film is completed. Material feeding device. 5. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the buffering means is retractable to a position where it does not interfere with the movable base plate. 6. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the buffering means is in the retracted position until just before the engagement between the movable base plate and the locking means is released. 7. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the buffer means is at the retracted position at least during the sheet material feeding operation. 8. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a resistance reducing means for reducing only a resistance force in a predetermined direction is provided in an engaging portion of the movable base plate with the buffer means. . 9. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 8, wherein the resistance reducing means reduces only the resistance force in the attachment / detachment direction of the sheet material cassette. 10. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 9, wherein the resistance reducing means is a roller that rotates in the cassette attaching / detaching direction. 11. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer means has a resistance force in a predetermined direction larger than a resistance force in another direction. 12. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning means is provided in the sheet material cassette.