JPH07106794B2 - Paper cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a sheet cassette for storing a large number of sheets mounted on an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly to a sheet cassette in a width direction in a cassette body. The present invention relates to a paper cassette provided with a regulation plate for aligning.

(B) Conventional Technology A large number of sheets of paper are stored in a paper cassette equipped in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine to reduce the trouble of paper supply. Further, the above-mentioned paper cassette is generally capable of storing paper of an appropriate size according to the user's use condition. That is, a slidable regulation plate is provided in the cassette body, and the regulation plate is moved in accordance with the width of the sheet to be stored so that the sheet is positioned in the width direction, and the sheet is fed at a fixed position regardless of the sheet size. I am trying to do it.

(C) Problem to be Solved by the Invention Since the movement of the regulation plate is performed by the user according to the usage state, it is desirable that the regulation plate move smoothly with less force. However, if the regulation plate is allowed to move smoothly, the regulation plate may gradually shift its position due to vibrations during sheet feeding and the like, and an image distortion or the like may occur due to a jam or a positional shift of the sheet feeding. Particularly in a large-capacity cassette that stores a large number of sheets of paper, the positional deviation of the regulation plate due to vibrations is piled up, and the above-mentioned problem is likely to occur.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper cassette capable of locking a regulating plate and preventing the jam and the image distortion as described above by prohibiting paper feeding when the locked state is released. To aim.

(D) Means for Solving the Problem The present invention relates to a paper cassette including a regulation plate that is movable according to the width of the sheets stored in the cassette body, and a lock that locks the regulation plate at various paper width positions. Means and means for detecting the locked state are provided, and means for prohibiting the feeding of the paper in the cassette body when the regulation plate is in the unlocked state are provided.

(E) Function In the present invention, the regulation plate can be locked according to the width of the placed paper, and the paper feed process is prohibited when the lock is not locked. Therefore,
For example, if the locking of the regulation plate is forgotten when the paper is set, or if the lock is unlocked for some reason, the paper feeding process is prohibited, and the oblique feeding of the paper is prevented.

(F) Example Overall Configuration FIG. 16 is a schematic front view of a copying machine having a large-capacity cassette,
FIG. 15 is an external view.

In the figure, 1 is a cassette main body to be inserted into a copying machine main body, 2 is a cover made of a transparent resin such as acrylic, 3 is a side bottom plate fixedly arranged in the cassette main body, and 4 is a hopper table on which a sheet is placed. It moves up and down along the belt 5 provided on both side surfaces. Sensors (microswitches) S1 and S2 are provided at the upper and lower limit positions of the hopper table 4, respectively.
If the sheet or the hopper table is detected by the, the ascending of the hopper table 4 is stopped, and if the sensor S2 detects the hopper table 4, the descending of the hopper table 4 is stopped. A door switch S3 is provided at a position facing the cover 2 of the cassette body 1 to detect the open / closed state of the cover 2. When the cover 2 is closed, the hopper base 4 moves up, and when the cover 2 is opened, the hopper base 4 moves down to the lower limit position.

A guide plate 6 is provided in front of the side bottom plate 3 to guide the paper to the paper feed roller 7 of the copying machine body. Reference numeral 8 denotes a preliminary paper feed roller that feeds the paper by coming into contact with the paper on the hopper table 4. Further, 9 is an auxiliary roller provided between the preliminary paper feed roller 8 and the paper feed roller 7. Where the separation nail 10
Let L1 be the distance between the paper feed roller 7 (paper detection sensor S4) and the pawl provided above the leading edge of the paper for preventing double feed. L2 is the length of the smallest size paper. Auxiliary roller 9 is L1>
When L2, it is provided so that the paper transport does not stop in the middle of the guide plate. For example, in this device, L2 is about 182 mm for B5 traverse and L1 is about 200 mm, and the auxiliary roller 9 is at the center where the distance between the rollers 8-9 and the distance between the rollers 9-7 are 100 mm. It is provided. The sheet is sent to the sheet feeding roller 7 by the preliminary sheet feeding roller 8 and the auxiliary roller 9 and detected by the sensor S4. Then, the paper feed roller 7 is rotated to send the paper to a position between the photoconductor 50 and the transfer device 51 of the copying machine main body.

In addition, 11 and 12 are regulation plates, which are respectively inside (direction of arrow A),
It can move to the outside (direction of arrow B).

Hereinafter, each mechanism will be described in detail. 1 to 3
The figure is a perspective view showing a main part configuration of a large-capacity cassette.

Hopper Table Moving Mechanism In FIG. 2, the side bottom plate 3 is fixed to the cassette body as described above. On the other hand, the hopper table 4 moves up and down as the rollers 4a provided on both side surfaces move along a belt (5) not shown. The portion of the hopper table 4 accommodated in the cassette body 1 is composed of three plates 4b, 4b, 4c, and the portion of the cover 2 is composed of a mounting table 4d. The mounting table 4c at the central portion has a width substantially corresponding to the width of the smallest size sheet, and is fixed to the mounting table 4d at the outer portion. The slide hopper bases 4b, 4b are movable on the upper surface of the mounting base 4c in the directions of arrows A and B, and are moved according to the size of the paper placed on the hopper base. This movement is performed by the regulation plate. That is, the slide hopper bases 4b, 4b side engaging portions 4e, 4e
The restriction plates 11 and 12 shown in FIG.
When 12 moves in the directions of arrows A and B, the slide hopper bases 4b and 4b move in the directions of arrows A and B accordingly. Although the slide hopper bases 4b and 4b move in the vertical direction along the restriction plates 11 and 12, there is play in the engagement of the restriction plates 11 and 12 in the engagement portion 4e, and the vertical movement of the hopper base is easy. Done.

Restriction Plate Moving Mechanism In FIG. 1, the restriction plates 11 and 12 move in the directions of arrows A and B along the reinforcing plate 13 fixed to the cassette body at both ends. The restriction plates 11 and 12 are provided with horizontal pieces 11a and 12a at their upper portions, and are supported by the reinforcing plate 13 here.

Slits 14a, 15a are formed on the bottom surface of the reinforcing plate 13 along the movement direction of the restriction plates 11, 12. This slit 14a, 15a
A slide shaft 16a is passed along the slide shaft 16a, and the restriction plate mounting portions 14b and 15b are inserted into the slide shaft 16a. The restriction plate mounting portions 14b and 15b each have a restriction plate fixing portion fixed to the restriction plates 11 and 12, a slide spring, and a wire mounting portion. The regulation plate fixing portion of the regulation plate mounting portion 14b is screwed to the regulation plate 11 through the slit 14a. Further, the regulation plate fixing portion of the regulation plate mounting portion 15b is screwed to the regulation plate 12 through the slit 15a. Then, the wire 16d is stretched over the wire attachment portion above the slits 14a and 15a.

Pulleys 16b and 16c are attached to the side piece of the reinforcing plate 13 along the slide shaft 16a, and a wire 16d is stretched between the pulleys 16b and 16c and the wire attaching portions of the regulation plate attaching portions 14b and 15b. There is. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing that state.
One end of the wire 16d is fixed to the reinforcing plate 13, and the regulating plate mounting portion 1
It is fixed to the other regulating plate mounting portion 15b via 4b and a pulley 16b. Further, the wire 16d is fixed to the regulation plate attachment portion 14b via the pulley 16c. With this configuration, for example, when the regulation plate mounting portion 14b moves in the direction of arrow A, the other regulation plate mounting portion 15b is pulled and moves in the direction of arrow A by the same distance as the regulation plate mounting plate 14b. Conversely, if the restriction plate mounting portion 14b moves in the direction of arrow B, the restriction plate mounting portion 15b also moves in the direction of arrow b by the same distance. It should be noted that the same operation is performed when the restriction plate mounting portion 15b is moved.
At this time, the restricting plate mounting portions 14a and 15a are attached to the slide shaft 16a.
Move smoothly along.

The regulation plate attachment portion 14a is attached to the horizontal piece 11a of the regulation plate 11, and the regulation plate attachment portion 15a is attached to the horizontal piece 12a of the regulation plate 12. On the horizontal pieces 11a, 12a, the restriction plate mounting portions 14a, 1
The fixing place of 5a is located slightly forward of the center of gravity P of each regulation plate. When the restriction plates 11 and 12 are in a free state (when the lock described later is released), the restriction plates 11 and 12
Is suspended by the control plate attachment portions 14a and 15a, and the lower end portion is pushed out toward the front (hereinafter, the right side in FIG. 16 is referred to as the front and the left side is referred to as the back) and tilted. Regulation plate 11,12 in that state
Holding the levers 11b and 12b provided on each of the
By moving 1, 12 in the direction of arrow A or B, the regulating plate moves along the slide shaft 16a, and the regulating plates 11, 12 can be easily moved to the position of the width of the paper. 16e is a size label indicating the position of the paper width of the specified size. The restriction plates 11 and 12 are locked by the locking mechanism described later.
It is held vertically by locking the lower end of 12.

At the back of the center of gravity P, rollers 17a and 18a for facilitating the movement of the regulation plates 11 and 12 are attached. On the bottom surface of the reinforcing plate 13, slits 17b, 18b are formed behind the slits 14a, 15a, the roller 17a is screwed to the horizontal piece 11a through the slit 17b, and the roller 18a is screwed to the horizontal piece 12a through the slit 18b. There is. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mounting state of the roller 17a (18a is also mounted in the same manner),
FIG. 6 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 7 is a side view thereof. Roll 17a
The support shaft 17d is attached to the regulation plate 11 by the roller attachment portion 17c. The roller mounting portion 17c is a box-shaped portion in which the support shaft 17d is loosely fitted and has a foot portion, and rotatably supports the roller 17a in a state of being lifted from the regulation plate 11.
It should be noted that no bearing or the like is used for this supporting portion, and the cost does not increase.

When the regulation plate 11 is locked, the roller 17a does not lift up from the reinforcing plate 13 and the roller 17a does not contact the reinforcing plate 13 as shown in FIG. 7 (A). However, when the lock of the regulating plate 11 is released, the regulating plate 11 tilts and the depth of the regulating plate 11 falls below the regulating plate mounting portion 14b, so that the roller 17a comes into contact with the reinforcing plate 13 (FIG. 7 (B)). If the regulation plate is moved in the direction of arrow A or B in this state, the regulation plate 11 can be easily moved because the roller 17a rotates accordingly. Also, the mounting plate
As shown in FIG. 6, 17c is formed so that the upper surface is inclined from the front to the back. This is so that the upper surface of the mounting plate 17c becomes parallel to the support shaft 17d of the roller when the lock of the restriction plate 11 is released. With this configuration, when the roller 17a rotates along the reinforcing plate 13, the mounting plate 1
It is possible to prevent uneven rotation due to the edge portion of 7c rubbing against the support shaft 17d.

Positioning pins 11c and 12c are provided further behind the horizontal pieces 11a and 12a. Recesses (not shown) are formed in the reinforcing plate 13 at positions corresponding to the widths of various sheets of paper, facing the positioning pins 11c and 12c. As a result, the regulation plates 11 and 12 are positioned at various paper width positions. Furthermore, the horizontal piece 11a,
Roller positioning members 11d and 12d for positioning the preliminary paper feed roller 8 are attached to the rear end portion of the 12a (described later).

Restriction Plate Lock Mechanism The restriction plates 11 and 12 are formed with grooves 11e and 12e in the vertical direction. The rollers 4a of the hopper table 4 move along the grooves 11e and 12e, and the hopper table 4 is moved in the vertical direction. Regulation plate 11
Locking portions 11f and 11g are provided at the lower end portion of the, and locking portions 12f and 12g are provided at the lower end portion of the regulation plate 12, respectively. Front locking part 11
As indicated by arrows D and F, g and 12g are locked and locked by lock portions 19 and 20 provided on the side bottom plate of FIG.
Further, the locking portion 11f on the back is locked by the size detecting portion 23 provided on the side bottom portion 3 as shown by an arrow C, and the locking portion 12f
Is locked to the regulation plate detector 24.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the lock portion 19. A substantially U-shaped lock angle 19a whose lower side is opened is screwed to the side bottom plate 3. A cut portion 19b is formed from the upper surface of the lock angle 19a to the front side surface. Notch 19b
The inner side of the upper surface is gradually tapered and the engaging portion 11 of the regulation plate
g is pinched. A plurality of the cutout portions 19b are formed in accordance with the width of various sheets. When a sheet is placed on the hopper table 4, the regulation plate 11 is moved to a predetermined position according to the width of the sheet placed on the hopper table 4, and the notch portion 19 facing the sheet is placed.
It is pushed into b from the front to the back. A leaf spring 19c is provided in the lock angle 19a, and the regulating plate 11
When is pressed into the cut portion 19b, the engaging portion 11g rides over the leaf spring 19c and is biased deeply by the leaf spring 19c.
In this way, the regulation plate 11 is locked at a position corresponding to the width of the paper. The regulation plate 12 is similarly locked by the lock portion 20.

The lock release of the regulation plate 11 is performed as follows.

A lock release angle 21a that supports the lock release member 21b is provided on the side of the lock angle 19a. FIG. 9 is an external view of the lock releasing member 21b. Unlocking member 2
1b has an unlocking portion 21c parallel to the leaf spring 19c and a pressing piece 21d having a flat surface in the front direction. The unlocking member 21b is rotatably supported by the unlocking angle 21a by a supporting portion 21e. When the pressing piece 21d is pressed, the lock releasing member 21b rotates, and the lock releasing portion 21c presses and lifts the leaf spring 19c as shown in FIG. 8 (B). Then, the urging force to the locking portion 11g is released, and the lower end portion of the regulation plate 11 is pushed out in the front direction as shown by the arrow in the figure, and the lock is released.

The pressing of the pressing piece 21d is performed by the lock release lever 22a provided on the hopper base 4. The lock release lever 22a is attached to the lock shaft 22b, and the lock shaft 22b is rotatably supported. Lock retainers 22c are provided at both ends of the lock shaft 22b. When the lock release lever 22a is pressed, the lock shaft 22b rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the lock retainer 22c presses the pressing piece 21d of the lock releasing member.

As described above, the regulation plates can be locked by merely pushing the regulation plates 11 and 12 to the depth side, and the lock can be released by pushing the lock release lever 22a. Further, when the hopper base 4 is not lowered, even if the lock release lever 22a is pushed, the lock retainer 22c does not come into contact with the pressing piece 21d, so that the regulation plates 11 and 12 are not unlocked, and regulation by erroneous operation is prevented. It is possible to prevent the plates 11 and 12 from being unlocked. Lock release lever
Since 22a is provided in the central portion of the hopper table 4, that is, at a position where it is hidden even when a sheet of the smallest size is placed, the occurrence of erroneous operation itself can be prevented.

Restriction Plate Detection Device The locking portion 11f at the back of the restriction plate 11 is inserted into the size detection unit 23 as described above. The size detection angle 23a of the size detection unit 23 is formed with a plurality of cutouts 23b according to the width of the paper. The notch 23b is formed from the upper surface to the front side surface in the same manner as that provided in the lock angles 19 and 20 described above, and the regulating plate 11 is sandwiched by the deep portion of the upper surface. A size detection board 23c is provided inside the size detection angle 23a. The size detection board 23c fits the paper width, that is, the cut portion 23b, and the leaf spring 23d (first
(See Fig. 10) is provided, and the regulation plate 11 is provided with the notch 23.
When inserted into b, the leaf spring 23d is pressed and the tact switch 23e corresponding to the width of each sheet arranged below is turned on.

The locking portion 12f at the back of the regulation plate 12 is inserted into the regulation plate detection portion 24. The regulation plate detection section 24 is also provided with the regulation plate detection angle 24a, and the cut portion is provided according to the paper size.
The locking portion 12f is inserted into 24b. Regulation plate detection angle 24a
A leaf spring (not shown) is arranged inside. This leaf spring turns on a switch Sw1 (not shown) (not shown) to turn on the regulating plate 12.
Detect the lock state of.

Separation claws 10 are provided on the upper front ends of the sheet feeding mechanism regulating plates 11 and 12, respectively. The hopper table 4 on which the sheets are placed rises until the sensor S1 detects the uppermost sheet. At this time, the uppermost sheet comes into contact with the separation claw 10.

When the sensor S1 is turned on, the auxiliary paper feed rollers 8 are in contact with the upper surface of the uppermost paper. The preliminary paper feed rollers 8, 8 and the auxiliary roller 9 are rotationally driven by a motor 25. Motor 25
Is held by the motor frame 25a and fixed to the reinforcing plate 13 as indicated by an arrow G to transmit the driving force to the preliminary paper feed rollers 8 and 8 and the auxiliary roller 9. The driving force of the motor 25 is first transmitted to the paper feed drive shaft 26 by a belt. From here, the belt 8b transmits the driving force to the shaft 8a that supports the preliminary sheet feeding rollers 8 and 8, and the belts 9b and 9c transmit the driving force to the shaft 9a that supports the auxiliary roller 9.

The shaft 8a is supported so as to be slightly movable in the vertical direction. This is because the auxiliary paper feed rollers 8 and 8 ride on the uppermost paper by its own weight. The preliminary paper feed rollers 8 and 8 are supported by the shaft 8a via a one-way clutch and are movable in the directions of arrows A and B. The roller positioning members 11d and 12d sandwich the auxiliary paper feed rollers 8 and 8 and are attached to the regulation plates 11 and 12, respectively. Therefore, when the regulation plates 11 and 12 move in the directions of arrows A and B, the auxiliary sheet feeding rollers 8 and 8 also move in the directions of arrows A and B accordingly.
As shown in FIG. 11, the shaft 8a is arranged so that it is located at a position approximately 20 mm from the front ends of the regulation plates 11 and 12, and the shaft 8a is arranged so as to be located approximately 30 mm from the side faces of the regulation plates 11 and 12. The paper feed rollers 8 and 8 are moved. By setting the preliminary paper feed rollers 8 and 8 at such positions, the paper can be reliably fed regardless of the paper width.

As shown in FIG. 12, the guide plate 6 below the auxiliary roller 9 is provided with a leaf spring 27a spot-welded to the guide plate 6 to press the auxiliary roller 9 upward. This pressing force is
About 150 g is preferable. A film 27b made of urethane foam, artificial leather, or the like having a high friction coefficient is attached to the upper surface of the leaf spring 27a to prevent double feeding of paper. Generally, the paper used in a copying machine is wrapped in a wrapping paper coated with a paraffin-based moistureproof agent. Therefore, the moisture preventive agent adheres to the outermost sheet, the frictional resistance is lowered, and double feeding is likely to occur. In the case of a large-capacity cassette, since a plurality of sheet bundles are stored in the cassette at one time and used in order, double feeding is likely to occur at each boundary of sheet bundles. Therefore, the film 27a prevents double feeding. Since the feeding force by the auxiliary roller 9 is about 300 to 600 g, if a film having a very high coefficient of friction is used, a conveyance failure of the sheet may occur, so that the film should be appropriately selected. Note that 27c is a resin film attached to eliminate the step due to the leaf spring 27a.

 Controller FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the controller of the large capacity cassette.

The operation of the large capacity cassette is controlled by the controller 30. Inputs from the upper and lower limit sensors S1 and S2, the door switch S3, the paper detection sensor S4, the size detection board 23c, etc. are input to the controller 30. The size detection board 23c is the regulation plate detection unit 24
Sw1 for lock confirmation of the regulation plate 12 provided on the
The size detection data is connected to the controller only when both restriction plates 11 and 12 are securely locked.
Entered in 30. Then, based on these detections, the moving motor 31 of the hopper table 4 and the sheet feeding motor 25 are driven.

Description of Operation FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the large capacity cassette.

The door switch S3 is turned on when the door 2 is opened. When the door switch S3 is turned on, the hopper base motor 31 rotates in the reverse direction to lower the hopper base 4 (n1 → n) so that the paper can be replenished.
2). When the hopper table 4 descends to the lower limit position, the sensor S2 turns on (n3). Then, after a lapse of t ₁ time, the hopper base motor 31 is turned off and the lowering of the hopper base 4 is stopped (n4 → n5). This t ₁ time is a short time of about 1 second, and the hopper table 4 does not lower too much and the cassette body 1 is not damaged. By stopping the hopper table 4 _one hour after the sensor S2 is turned on, the lock retainer 22c of the lock release lever comes into contact with the pressing piece 21d with certainty, which causes a problem of "unlockable". Can be prevented.

Unlock lever 22 with hopper base 4 fully lowered
When a is pressed, the restriction plates 11 and 12 are unlocked, and the lower part of the restriction plate is pushed forward. In this state, levers 11b, 12
If either or both of b are slid to match the size position of the paper on which the size label 16e is placed, both regulation plates 11 and 12 move by the same distance, and the locking portions 11g, 11f and 1 of the regulation plate are moved.
2g and 12f face the cut portions 19b, 23b, 20b and 24b, respectively.
When the lower ends of the regulation plates 11 and 12 are pushed inward, the locking portions are locked, and the regulation plates will not be displaced even if vibrations or the like due to sheet feeding are applied. Only when both the regulation plates 11 and 12 are securely locked, the switch Sw1 is turned on, and one of the tact switches 23e is turned on, and the paper size is input to the controller. When the user places a sheet on the hopper table 4 and closes the cover 2, the door switch S3 detects it.

When the sensor S3 is turned off (n11), the motor for moving the hopper table rotates forward to raise the hopper table 4 to the position of the sensor S1 (n12 → n13 → n14). As a result, the preliminary paper feed rollers 8 and 8 come into contact with the uppermost sheet. This completes the setting of paper in the cassette body.

When a signal for selecting a large-capacity cassette is input from the control unit of the copying machine body (n21), it is determined in n22 whether or not the paper size is detected. Both regulation plates 1 to determine the paper size
Since it is not necessary to lock 1 and 12, at least one of the regulation plates 11 and 12 is in the lock failure state if the size is detected. When the paper size is not detected, for example, when the paper is locked when the paper is set improperly or when the paper is unlocked for some reason, a message is sent to the main body of the copying machine as an error process in n23. As a result, it is possible to prevent the restriction plates 11 and 12 from being displaced during sheet feeding due to forgetting to lock the sheet, and thus to prevent the sheet from being obliquely fed and jammed.

If the paper size is detected, it waits for the reception of the paper feed start signal (n24). When the copying process is started in the main body of the copying machine, a paper feed signal is sent to the large capacity cassette. Controller 30 then compares L1 and L2 (see Figure 16) and
If L2, proceed to n26. If L1 ≧ L2, proceed to n29.
If L1 <L2 when the paper feeding process is performed, the trailing edge of the paper remains in contact with the preliminary paper feeding roller 8 even when the leading edge of the paper reaches the paper feeding roller 7. However, when L1 ≧ L2, the trailing edge of the sheet separates from the preliminary sheet feeding roller 8 before the leading edge of the sheet reaches the sheet feeding roller 7, and the next sheet starts to be fed by the preliminary sheet feeding roller 8, and then the first sheet Sheet reaches the sheet feeding roller 7. At this time, the leading edge of the next paper
There may be a looped shape depending on 10, and if left as it is, a loop habit is attached to the leading edge of the paper, which causes a jam or a transfer failure during the image forming process.

Therefore, in the case of L1 ≧ L2, the difference ΔL between L1 and L2 is obtained. If this is smaller than the predetermined length L, the next sheet is left in a looped state and n3 is eliminated in order to eliminate it.
Proceed to processing 1 to n34 (n25 → n29 → n30). First, the paper feed motor 25 is turned on to start preliminary paper feed (n31). When the leading edge of the paper reaches S4, the paper feed roller is t ₂ until the leading edge of the paper surely leaves the separating claw 10.
Continue feeding by rotating for a time (n32 → n33). When the leading edge of the paper leaves the separation claw 10, the paper feed motor n34 is turned off.

On the other hand, when L1 <L2, the paper feed motor 25 is turned on and paper is fed until the paper feed sensor S4 detects the paper (n26
→ n27 → n28). When L <ΔL, the second sheet has already passed the separation claw 10 when the leading edge of the first sheet reaches the sheet feeding roller 7, and the second sheet is left in a loop. Since it does not occur, the process proceeds from n30 to n26 to n27 to n18, and the paper is not fed after the paper is detected in S4.

In this embodiment, L1 and L2 are compared, and after S4 detects the sheet, the sheet is further fed for t ₂ hours to prevent the leading edge of the next sheet from being left in a loop. The sensor may detect the loop state of the paper and rotate the paper feed roller.

Further, in this embodiment, a mechanism for sandwiching the locking portion 11g of the regulation plate with the notch 19b using the leaf spring 19c corresponds to the locking means of the regulation plate, and the tact switch 23e and the switch Sw1 are means for detecting the locked state. Further, n22 and n23 in the flowchart correspond to the means for prohibiting the sheet feeding.

(G) Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, when the regulating plate is not locked, the sheet is not fed, so that the sheet is prevented from being obliquely fed, and the jam and the image distortion are prevented. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 are perspective views of a main part of a large-capacity cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a regulating plate and a reinforcing plate portion holding the regulating plate, and FIG. 2 is a lower side of the regulating plate. 3 shows a lock mechanism portion, and FIG. 3 shows a paper feeding portion. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the movement mechanism of the regulation plate. 5 to 7 are views showing rollers for smoothing the movement of the regulation plate,
5 is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 6 is a front view thereof, FIG. 7 (A) is a side view of the regulating plate locked state, and FIG. 7 (B) is a side view of the unlocked state. Further, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the lock mechanism at the lower portion of the regulation plate, where FIG. 8A shows the locked state and FIG. 8B shows the unlocked state. FIG. 9 is an external view of an unlocking member that unlocks the regulating plate, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a main part of a sensor for detecting the paper width, and FIG. 11 is a position of a preliminary paper feed roller. FIG. 12 and FIG. 12 are cross-sectional views near the auxiliary roller. Furthermore
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the control unit of the large-capacity cassette, FIGS. 14A to 14C are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the large-capacity cassette, FIG. 15 is an external view of the large-capacity cassette, and FIG.
The figure is a schematic front view of a copying machine having a large capacity cassette. 11,12 ... Regulating plate, 11f, 11g, 12f, 12g ... Locking part, 13 ... Reinforcing plate, 19,20 ... Lock part, 19a ... Lock angle, 19b ... Notch part, 19c ... Leaf spring, 23e ... Tact switch , Sw1 ...
(For lock status detection) switch.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tomomasa Kurata 741 Kawaminami, Kannabe-cho, Fukaan-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture, San-S Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Etsushi Tsujiyama 1-share, 741 Kawanami, Kannabe-cho, Fukaan-cho, Hiroshima Prefecture Company San-S (72) Inventor Hideaki Tomozawa, San-S Co., Ltd., 741 Kawanami, Kannabe-cho, Fukaan-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A paper cassette including a regulation plate movable according to the width of a sheet accommodated in a cassette body, and a lock means for locking the regulation plate at various paper width positions, and detecting the locked state. And a means for prohibiting the feeding of the paper in the cassette body when the regulation plate is in the unlocked state.