JPH07125886A - Manual paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automate the operation related to the drawing and housing of an auxiliary manual paper feeding stand for supporting the rear end of a long size paper, which can not be supported by a manual paper feeding stand, from/ into an image forming device main body at the time of use and after the use, and to secure the operation of the auxiliary manual paper feeding stand at the time of use and after the use. CONSTITUTION:An image forming device having a paper feeding device, which can house a manual paper feeding stand at the time of non-use, is provided with a manual paper feeding stand 2, on which a paper 1 to be manually fed to an image forming unit is placed to be supported, an auxiliary manual paper feeding stand 3, which can be housed inside of the manual paper feeding stand 2, and a coupling means 4 for coupling the auxiliary manual paper feeding stand 3 with the opening/closing operation of the manual paper feeding stand 2 to make it go ahead and back from/into the manual paper feeding stand 2. The auxiliary manual paper feeding stand 3 is drawn from the manual paper feeding stand 2 by the coupling means 4 so as to support the rear end of the paper 1, which can not be supported by the manual paper feeding stand 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement of an image forming apparatus having a manual paper feed tray which is housed in the main body of the apparatus when not in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional electrophotographic copying machines, facsimiles,
In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a printing machine, a manual sheet feeding device is used as a sheet feeding device for feeding a transfer sheet to an image forming unit. Further, there is also known a sheet feeding device having a manual sheet feeding stand that can be folded when not in use (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-70640). Further, since the manual paper feeding device saves space, there is also known a paper feeding device in which the manual paper feeding stand is housed in the main body of the image forming apparatus when the manual paper feeding device is not used. When the apparatus is used, the manual paper feed table is opened around the rotation fulcrum, or the transfer paper is placed and supported while being pulled out along the sliding portion (actual opening flat 2- 1
(See Japanese Patent No. 12650).

However, in order to store these manual paper feed trays in the main body of the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to set the length of the manual paper feed tray in the carrying direction to a short length. There was a problem that it could not be set on the manual feed tray. As described above, the conventional storable manual paper feed table has a limit in the length in the carrying direction, which is a big drawback.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the structure of a conventional manual paper feeding device. In this device, an auxiliary manual paper feeding table 103 is rotatably provided at the rear edge of a manual paper feeding table body 102. Is. However, when setting the long transfer paper 101, the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 103 is moved from the B position to the A position.
A troublesome work of pulling out each time is required, and after the use, the manual feed tray 102 is attached to the main body 10 of the image forming apparatus.
When the paper is stored in 0, there is a problem that the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 103 needs to be returned to the B position and the troublesome work of returning each time. If these operations cannot be performed reliably because the operation of pulling out and returning the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 103 is troublesome, the transfer paper may be dropped or pulled out by leaving the drawer part in the middle. However, there is a risk that the operator may hit the projecting part in the middle of the process and get injured, resulting in poor safety.

[0005]

In the image forming apparatus having the above-described conventional manual sheet feeding device, the use of the auxiliary manual sheet feeding table that supports the rear end of a long sheet that cannot be fully supported by the manual sheet feeding table. Each time and after use, it is necessary to perform a troublesome work associated with withdrawal or storage from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body, and there is a problem that the protruding drawer portion lacks safety.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve such a problem. That is, the present invention relates to the operation related to the withdrawal or storage from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body during and after the use of the auxiliary manual paper feed tray that supports the rear end of a long sheet that cannot be supported by the manual paper feed tray. It is another object of the present invention to provide a safe manual sheet feeding device which is automated and in which the operation of the auxiliary manual sheet feeding table is surely performed during and after use.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a paper feeding device capable of accommodating a manual paper feeding table when not in use, the paper is manually fed to an image forming section. A manual paper feed tray for placing and supporting paper, an auxiliary manual paper feed tray that can be stored in the manual paper feed tray, and an auxiliary manual paper feed tray that works in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the manual paper feed tray. Interlocking means for advancing and retracting from the inside of the manual paper feed tray and pulling out the auxiliary manual paper feed tray from the manual paper feed tray so as to support the rear end of the paper which cannot be supported by the manual paper feed tray by the interlocking means. The interlocking means includes a fixing member fixed to the image forming apparatus main body side, and a rotating member that engages with the fixing member on the manual paper feeding table side. The moving member is above The auxiliary manual paper feed tray is configured to be pulled out or stored in the paper transport direction in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the manual paper feed tray, and the interlocking means is connected to the auxiliary manual paper feed tray via a torque limiter. It is characterized by being.

[0008]

According to the manual sheet feeding device configured as described above, the auxiliary manual sheet feeding table is pulled out or stored from the manual sheet feeding table in association with the storing operation of the manual sheet feeding table. Automates operations related to withdrawal or storage of the auxiliary manual paper feed tray during and after use, and also ensures that the auxiliary manual paper feed tray is used during and after use. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having a safe sheet feeding device that supports the rear end of a long sheet that cannot be supported by the sheet feeding table.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a main part configuration of a manual paper feeding device of the present invention. A manual paper feed table for placing and supporting a manual paper 1 fed in the direction of an image forming unit (not shown) indicated by an arrow C. 2 is housed in the image forming apparatus main body 0 as shown in the drawing when not in use. When using the manual paper feed device 5, the manual paper feed tray 2 is used by pulling it out from the storage space 0 ′ provided in the image forming apparatus main body 0 in the direction of arrow D. By the operation of the interlocking means 4 which is interlocked with the operation of pulling out or storing the manual paper feed tray 2 from the inside of the main body 0 of the image forming apparatus, the manual paper feed tray 2 is slidably supported in the central space or the recess 2a of the manual paper feed tray 2. The auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is automatically pulled out to support the rear end of the long paper 1 which cannot be supported only by the manual paper feed tray 2.

The interlocking means 4 is a rack gear 6a serving as a fixing member 6 fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 0 side, and a rotating member 7 rotatably supported by the manual paper feed tray 2 so as to mesh with the rack gear 6a. And a link 9 connected to the gear 7a via a torque limiter 8, and the other end of the link 9 is loosely fitted in the long hole 3a of the auxiliary manual paper feed table 3. This allows the manual paper feed tray 3 to project into and out of the manual paper feed tray 2 in conjunction with the forward / backward movement of the manual paper feed tray 2 in the arrow E direction, and to move forward / backward in the arrow E direction of the conveyance direction of the paper 1. It has become.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the auxiliary manual paper feed tray is projected from the housed state of FIG. 1. The manual paper feed tray 2 is pulled out from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 0 in the direction of arrow D, so that the rack gear 6a is pulled out. The gear 7a meshing with
Is rotated in the direction of the arrow F to rotate the clockwise hand, and the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is reliably pulled out in the direction of arrow G. In other words, one end of the link 9 is integrated with the gear 7a within the range of the lock force by the torque limiter and rotates integrally with the gear 7a within the range, so that the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 2 is projected. Can be made.

When the manual paper feed tray 2 is housed in the main body 0 of the image forming apparatus, the reverse operations are carried out.
The auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is also securely stored in the manual paper feed tray 2 and returns to the original state of FIG. In other words, by pushing the manual paper feed tray 2 in the direction of arrow C from the protruding position, the gear 7a meshed with the rack gear 6a.
Rotates in the counterclockwise direction opposite to the arrow F, and the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 can be reliably returned in the arrow C direction.

Since the gear 7a and the link 9 are interposed by the torque limiter 8, even if the manual paper feed tray 2 is pulled out, the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is manually inserted in the manual paper feed tray 2. Can be stored in. Further, when the manual paper feed tray 2 is housed in the image forming apparatus main body 0 while the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is manually housed in the manual paper feed tray 2, the torque limiter is the same as described above. 8 allows the gear 7a and the link 9 to slide, so that the manual paper feed tray 2 can be stored.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are a front view and an enlarged side view showing the structure of the essential part of another embodiment of the present invention, in which the manual feed tray 2 is supported at its lower part by a fulcrum 10 and the fulcrum 10
The structure is characterized by being openable and closable in the direction of arrow H centering around. When not in use, the manual paper feed tray 2 for placing and supporting the manually fed paper 1 fed in the direction of arrow C toward the image forming unit (not shown) is flush with the side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 0 as shown in the drawing. Is in a vertical position. The auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 stored in the manual paper feed tray 2 is connected to the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 via the interlocking means 4 which operates in association with the operation of pulling out or storing the manual paper feed tray 2 from the main body 0 of the image forming apparatus. The rear end of the paper 1 that cannot be supported by the manual paper feed tray 2 is automatically pulled out and supported.

The interlocking means 4 is rotatably supported on the manual paper feed table 2 so as to mesh with the first bevel gear 6b of the fixing member 6 fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 0 side and the first bevel gear 6b. A second bevel gear 7b, an idle gear 7c that is integral with the second bevel gear 7b coaxially with the second bevel gear 7b, and a gear 7a as a rotating member 7 that meshes with the idle gear 7c.
It is composed of the link 9 and the like connected to the gear 7a via the torque limiter 8, and the link 9 links the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 with the storing operation of the manual paper feed tray 2 and the like. It is pulled out from the inside and moves back and forth in the arrow E direction of the conveyance direction of the sheet 1. Code 11
Is a connecting plate that integrally connects the fulcrum 10 and the manual paper feed tray 2, and the manual paper feed tray 2 integrated with the connecting plate 11 is the fulcrum 1
By rotating about 0, the 2nd bevel gear 7b which always meshes with the 1st bevel gear 6b rotates with the idle gear 7c. As a result, the idle gear 7c causes the gear 7a to rotate.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a front view and a side view showing the protruding state of the auxiliary manual paper feed tray corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the manual paper feed tray 2 is shown. Of the second bevel gear 7b meshing with the first bevel gear 6b by opening the image forming apparatus main body 0 in the direction of the arrow I.
Rotate in the direction opposite to the direction of the clockwise hand. Second bevel gear 7b
The gear 7a rotates coaxially with the second bevel gear 7b through an idle gear 7c, which is integral with the second bevel gear 7b, in the direction of rotation of the clockwise hand in the arrow K direction, and the link 9 connected through the torque limiter 8 also has an arrow L. The auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is reliably pulled out in the direction of arrow G by rotating in the direction of rotation of the clockwise hand.

When the manual paper feed tray 2 is housed in the main body 0 of the image forming apparatus, the manual paper feed tray 2 is rotated around the fulcrum 10 and closed to perform the opposite operations. The auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is also securely stored in the manual paper feed tray 2 and returns to the original state of FIG. That is, by closing the manual paper feed tray 2 toward the image forming apparatus main body 0 in the direction opposite to the arrow I direction, the second bevel gear 7b meshed with the first bevel gear 6b moves in the opposite direction to the arrow J. Rotate.
The gear 7a rotates counterclockwise through the idle gear 7c that is coaxial with the second bevel gear 7b and is integral with the second bevel gear 7b, and the link 9 that is connected through the torque limiter 8 also has an arrow L. The auxiliary manual paper feed table 3 is rotated in the direction opposite to the above to surely return the auxiliary manual paper feed table 3 in the direction of arrow C. Since the gear 7a and the link 9 are connected via the torque limiter 8, Even when the manual paper feed tray 2 is pulled out, even if the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is manually pushed and stored in the manual paper feed tray 2, the interlocking means 4 can be stored smoothly without being damaged. Further, when the manual feed tray 2 is housed in the image forming apparatus main body 0 with the auxiliary manual feed tray 3 manually accommodated in the manual feed tray 2 as described above, the torque limiter 8 is used as described above. As a result, the gear 7a and the link 9 slide, so that the manual paper feed tray 2 can be stored.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the structure of the main part of another embodiment of the present invention, in which an arrow C points toward an image forming part (not shown).
The manual paper feed tray 2 on which the manually fed paper 1 fed in the direction is placed and supported is pushed and housed in the image forming apparatus main body 0 as shown in the drawing when not in use.
When using the manual paper feed device 5, the manual paper feed tray 2 is pulled out from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 0 in the direction of arrow D and used. In connection with the operation of pulling out or storing the manual paper feed tray 2 from the inside of the image forming apparatus main body 0, the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 housed in the manual paper feed tray 2 is automatically operated through the interlocking means 4. The rear end of the paper 1 that cannot be supported by the manual paper feed tray 2 is supported by pulling out the paper to the rear.

The interlocking means 4 is fixed to the main body 0 of the image forming apparatus by a fixed shaft 6c serving as a fixed member 6 and a fixed shaft 6c so as to be pivotable in the direction of arrow M so as to be attached to the manual paper feed tray 2. The rotary lever 7d is a rotatably supported rotary member 7. The rotary lever 7d is configured to be connected to the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 via a torque limiter 8a. The rotary lever 7d is used for the auxiliary manual paper feed. Paper feed stand 3
Is pulled out or stored from inside the manual paper feed tray 2 in association with the pulling out or storing operation of the manual paper feed tray 2, and is pulled out or stored in the arrow E direction of the conveying direction of the paper 1.

More specifically, the elongated rotary lever 7d has an elongated hole 15 near the center and an elongated hole 16 near the tip, and one side guide 17 is provided in the central elongated hole 15. A pin 18 provided is fitted, and a pin 19 provided on the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is connected to the elongated hole 16 at the tip via a torque limiter 8a. Therefore, when the manual paper feed tray 2 is projected in the E direction, the rotary lever 7 is rotated about the fixed shaft 6c.
d rotates clockwise, and the auxiliary manual paper feed tray 3 is projected through the pin 19 at the tip. On the contrary, when the manual feed tray 2 is retracted in the E direction, the rotary lever 7d rotates counterclockwise around the fixed shaft 6c, and the auxiliary manual feed tray 3 is moved through the pin 19 at the tip. Withdraw. In this embodiment, the rotary lever 7 is shown for convenience of illustration.
Although the case where d is located above the side guide is illustrated,
It is preferable that the interlocking means 4 is disposed inside the manual paper feed tray 2 as a whole.

[0021]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the auxiliary manual paper feed tray is pulled out or stored from the manual paper feed tray in conjunction with the storing operation of the manual paper feed tray. Therefore, the operation related to the operation of pulling out or storing the auxiliary manual feed tray during and after the use of the auxiliary manual feed tray is automated, and the operation of the auxiliary manual feed tray after and after use is surely performed. It has become possible to provide an image forming apparatus having a safe sheet feeding device that supports the rear end of a long sheet that cannot be supported by a manual sheet feeding table.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a main part of a manual sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a manual feeding device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan horizontal cross-sectional view of a main part of a manual paper feeding device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a cross section of a main part of a conventional manual paper feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

0 ... Image forming apparatus main body, 1 ... Paper, 2 ... Manual feed tray, 3 ... Auxiliary manual feed tray, 4 ... Interlocking means, 5 ... Feeder, 6 ... Fixing members, 6a ...
Rack gear, 6b ... first bevel gear, 6c ... fixed shaft, 7 ... rotating member, 7a ... gear, 7b ... second bevel gear, 7c ... idle gear, 7d ... Rotating lever, 8 ... Torque limiter, 8a ... Torque limiter, 9 ... Link, 10 ... Support point, 100 ...
Image forming apparatus main body, 101 ... Transfer paper, 2 ... Manual feed tray, 103 ... Auxiliary manual feed tray.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding device capable of accommodating a manual sheet feeding table when not in use, and a manual sheet feeding table for placing and supporting a sheet to be manually fed to an image forming section; An auxiliary manual paper feeding table that can be stored in the paper feeding table; an interlocking device that moves the auxiliary manual paper feeding table in and out of the manual paper feeding table in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the manual paper feeding table; and the interlocking device. According to the present invention, the auxiliary manual paper feed tray is pulled out from the manual paper feed tray so as to support the rear end of the paper which cannot be supported by the manual paper feed tray. 2. The interlocking means comprises a fixing member fixed to the image forming apparatus main body side, and a rotating member that engages with the fixing member on the manual sheet feeding table side, and the rotating member is the manual sheet feeding device. 2. The manual sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary manual sheet feeding table is pulled out or stored in the sheet conveying direction in association with the opening / closing operation of the sheet feeding table. 3. The manual paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking device is connected to the auxiliary manual paper feeding base via a torque limiter.