JPH0769483A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a paper feeder that is able to accurately correspond to a residual quantity display of sheets made on a lifter plate and another residual quantity of a residual quantity displaying member. CONSTITUTION:A lifter plate 2 mounted with sheets and a residual quantity displaying member 805 displaying a sheet residual quantity on this lifter plate 2 are connected to each other via a link 850, while this residual quantity displaying member 805 is shifted in linkage with an up-and-down motion of the lifter plate 2, and the sheet residual quantity display is carried out. With this constitution, an amount of travel of the lifter plate 2 and a display quantity of the residual quantity displaying member 805 are accurately conformed with each other, while its mechanical constitution becomes simplified, and thus assembling properties are well improved in this way.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided with a plurality of sheet feeding means which are provided upstream of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine (sheet feeding side) and which feeds sheets to the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a provided paper feeding device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a sheet feeding device provided in an image forming apparatus of a copying machine 1, a front loading type sheet feeding device which is attached side by side to a main body of the image forming apparatus is known. 10 and 11 show an example of this type of paper feeding device.

In FIG. 1, the paper feed deck is provided with a lifter plate 2 for stacking sheets inside a lifter plate 2 having an open top and forming a box structure. When the drive motor (not shown) is rotated, the lifter plate 2 moves up and down while sliding in the deck case 1 by the slide member 71. Here, the description of the lifting mechanism of the lifter plate 2 is omitted.

In FIG. 10, a wire shaft 81 is rotatably attached to the rear end of the deck case 1, and a coupling (female) as a connecting means is provided at one end of the wire shaft 81 at the mouth. ) 82 and the lifter pulley 83 are fixed to each other.

The conventional apparatus has the following structure to indicate the remaining amount of sheets in the deck. That is, the remaining amount indicating wire 800 is fixed to the wire shaft 81, and the remaining amount indicating wire 800 at the mouth is connected to the connecting pulley 80.
1, 802, direction change pulleys 803, 804,
It is fixed to one end of the remaining amount display tape 805. The other end of the remaining amount indicating tape 805 is engaged with a tension spring 806, and the tension spring 806 is fixed to the deck case 1. Therefore, the remaining amount display tape 805 is always in a biased state. With the above configuration,
The display amount of the remaining amount display tape 805 is made movable in conjunction with the vertical movement of the lifter plate 2.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the remaining amount indicating wire is used for interlocking the vertical movement of the lifter plate and the sheet amount of the remaining amount indicating tape. There was a flaw.

(1) The remaining amount indicating wire must be fixed to one end of the remaining amount indicating tape from the wire shaft at the rear of the deck case through the connecting pulley and the direction changing pulley.
The length of this remaining amount display tape is about 1 m. As a result, the accuracy of the wire deteriorates and a large number of parts are interposed, so that the vertical movement of the lifter plate and the sheet amount of the remaining amount indicating tape are not accurately corresponded.

(2) In order to make up for the above-mentioned drawback, there is a method in which an assembling operator adjusts each machine to assemble it when fixing the remaining amount indicating wire to the wire shaft, but this method is not very effective. It is efficient.

(3) The remaining amount indicating wire having a length of about 1 m is assembled by fixing it to one end of the remaining amount indicating tape through a large number of parts, resulting in extremely poor assembling workability. Machines cost more.

According to the present invention, the vertical movement of the lifter plate on which the sheets are stacked and the movement of the remaining amount display member of the sheet on the lifter plate are accurately corresponded, and the assembling property of the remaining amount display portion is improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and as shown with reference to the drawings, it is possible to feed stacked sheets (S) to an image forming apparatus (41). A sheet feeding device (40) attached to the image forming apparatus (41) so that the sheet feeding deck (47, 49) can be taken in and out of the machine body (9), and the sheet feeding deck (47). , 49) vertically movable within the lifter plate (2) on which the sheets (S) are stacked, and a sheet width regulation plate for regulating the width direction of the sheets (S) on the lifter plates (2). (11, 12) and a sheet trailing edge regulating plate (13) for regulating the trailing edge of the sheet on the lifter plate (2). In the sheet feeding device (40), one end portion of the lifter plate (2) is provided. The connecting member (850) engaged with the other end of the connecting member (850) A remaining amount display member (805) that is engaged with and moves in conjunction with the vertical movement on the lifter plate (2) to display the remaining amount of the sheet (S) on the lifter plate (2). , Are included.

[0012]

[Operation] Based on the above configuration, the paper feed deck (47, 49)
The lifter plate (2) loaded with the sheets (S) inside is
It gradually rises as the sheet (S) is fed to the image forming apparatus (41). When the lifter plate (2) is raised,
The remaining amount display member (805) moves via the connecting member (850), and the remaining amount of the sheet (S) on the lifter plate (2) is displayed.

As a result, the correspondence between the vertical movement of the lifter plate (2) and the display amount of the remaining amount display member (850) becomes accurate,
In addition, since the mechanical structure is simpler and the assemblability is improved as compared with the conventional device, the mechanical cost can be reduced.

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

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same meanings as those shown in each of FIGS. 10 and 11 are represented by the same reference numerals.

The paper feeding device of the present invention has a plurality of front loading paper feeding decks arranged side by side in a copying machine as an image forming apparatus, and the paper feeding deck is provided in the machine body of the paper feeding device. It has a plurality of divided storage units for respectively storing. FIG. 8 shows an example of an image forming apparatus provided with the paper feeding device of the present invention.

In FIG. 8, the paper feeding device 40 of the present invention is
It is connected to and attached to the apparatus main body 42 of the copying machine 41 as an image forming apparatus. The paper feeding device 40 has an upper storage unit 43 and a lower storage unit 45 which are divided into upper and lower parts. The upper storage unit 43 includes a manual paper feed section 46 capable of stacking about 50 sheets S, and a plurality of upper / middle decks (paper feed decks) 47, 49 on which about 1000 sheets S1 and S2 are stacked. However, in the lower storage unit 45, lower decks 50 each capable of stacking about 3000 sheets S3 are stored.

The copying machine 41 is originally used as a cassette sheet feeder, and when the sheet feeder 40 of this embodiment is connected to the copying machine 41, the cassette sheet feeding section in the copying machine 41 is used. A unit (not shown) is replaced with a guide, a roller pair, and the like to form a transport path for the feeding device 40. This transport path will be referred to as interface unit I hereinafter. The interface unit I includes an upper storage unit 43 and a lower storage unit 45.
And have paths that connect to and respectively.

The copying system including the copying machine 41 is
A document processing device 52, which is arranged above the copying machine 41 and automatically feeds a document 51, and an automatic double-sided device which doubles as a mounting table of the copying machine 41 and is used to form an image on both sides of the sheet S. Equipped with 55 etc.

In the apparatus main body 42, an optical system 56 for scanning the original document 51 and a photosensitive drum 57 on which a toner image is formed by the exposure and developing device by the optical system 56.
And a transfer unit 59 for transferring the toner image to the sheet S, a fixing device 60 for fixing the toner image, and the like.

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the sheet feeding device 40. A cover 61 that covers the manual paper feeding unit 46 is provided on the upper portion of the paper feeding device 40. The cover 61 prevents foreign matter such as dust from entering the sheet S of the manual paper feeding unit 46. A transparent cover 62 is provided so that it can be opened and closed. The front cover 6 of the main body 42 of the copying machine 41 and the paper feed decks 47, 49, 50 (see FIG. 2) of the paper feed device 40.
A gap cover 67a, 69a covers the gap between 3, 65, 66. The front door 68 and the front covers 63, 65, 66 of the copying machine 41 are on the same plane.

Next, the upper / middle decks 47 and 49 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 which is a top view and FIGS. 3 to 5. Here, FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow Q in FIG. 2, and FIG. 1 is a view taken in the direction of arrow R in FIG.

The upper / middle decks 47, 49 are composed of the same parts, and the front covers 63, 6
Only the mounting positions of 5 are different, and corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and will be described in the same drawing.

Upper / middle decks (paper feed decks) 47, 49
The deck case 1 has a channel-shaped (U-shaped) bottom plate (case bottom) 67 and a right side plate 6.
9 and the left side plate 70 are formed in a box-shaped structure. A lifter plate 2 on which the sheets S are stacked is arranged in the deck case 1. A slide member 71 for sliding the lifter plate 2 in the deck case 1 is provided on each side of the lifter plate 2. In addition, four wire fixtures 7 are provided on the side of the lifter plate 2.
2, 73, 75, and 76 are fixed, respectively, and extend to the outside from a slit 77 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) formed in the side wall of the bottom plate 67 of the deck case 1.

Further, the sheet materials S (S ₁ , S ₂ ) stacked on the lifter plate 2 have their width direction in the sheet width regulating plate 1
1, 12 (see FIG. 2), and the trailing edge portion is regulated by the sheet trailing edge regulating plate 13.

In FIG. 4, a wire shaft 81 is rotatably mounted on the rear end of the deck case 1. One end of the wire shaft 81 has a coupling (female) 82 as a connecting means and The lifter pulleys 83 are fixed to each other.

The lifter pulley 83 is configured such that two wires 85 and 86 are wound at one end of the wires 85 and 86, respectively, as will be described later. A pair of guide pulleys 87, 8 are provided on the upper side plates on the front and rear sides of the lifter plate 2.
9 are respectively supported. The lifter pulley 8
The wire 85 fixed to 3 is connected to the connecting pulleys 90, 9
1 and the guide pulleys 87, 89 on the front side, and are locked to the wire fixtures 72, 73. The other wire 86
Is attached to the wire fixing device 9 via the guide pulleys 89 and 87.
2 and 93 respectively.

In FIG. 5, a groove 103 formed around the boss 102 and two grooves 105 and 106 branched from the groove 103 are formed on the end surface of the pulley body 101, respectively. The depth of the grooves 105 and 106 is substantially equal to the diameter of the wire. The groove 10
5 is used for right-hand winding, and the groove 106 is used for reverse winding. Wire 85,8
6 is connected to the inside of the lifter pulley 83 and is composed of one wire, and is divided into two by a perforated ball 109 crimped to the wire.

The perforated ball 109 is formed by the pulley body 101.
It is engaged and fixed to a convex portion 110 provided in the middle of the groove 103. Then, the wires 85 and 86 are sandwiched between the flange 111 and the pulley main body 101, and the flange 1
By fixing 11 with screws 112, the wire 8
5,86 are fixed. The flange 111 also has a notch 113 into which the perforated ball 109 is fitted. By fixing the wires 85 and 86 made of one wire as described above, only the difference in the pulling force acting on the wires 85 and 86 is caused by the perforated ball 10.
Since it is added to 9, the wire can be fixed more stably than simply fixing the wire end by crimping. Further, since the wires 85 and 86 are not excessively bent, the wire 8
5,86 can be wound stably.

The wire 85 is connected to the lifter pulley 83.
Similarly, it is locked by the flange 115 in a state in which the phase is rotated by 180 ° on the other surface of the. In this way, the lifter plate 2 is moved up and down by the four wires 85 and 86 on both sides of the lifter plate 2.

FIG. 6 shows a lock unit for locking the upper / middle decks 47, 49 and the lower deck 50 in the pull-out direction and is provided corresponding to each deck.

In the figure, each upper / middle deck 47, 4
A bracket 122, to which a lock roller 121 is axially supported, is fixed to the case side plate 120 of No. 9. A support member 125 is fixedly mounted on a frame (not shown) of the upper storage unit 43, and the lock claw 12 is fixed to the support member 125.
6 is rotatably mounted by a shaft 127, and is urged counterclockwise in the figure by the elastic force of a tension spring 129 whose one end is locked to the frame. The claw portion 130 of the lock claw 126 is formed in an arc shape around the shaft 127, and the claw portion 130 is formed in the upper / middle deck 4
Lock roller 1 when 7 and 49 are pushed in and set
The upper / middle decks 47 and 49 are locked so that they cannot be pulled out by engaging with 21.

A stopper 131 made of rubber is fixed to the supporting member 125 of the frame, and the upper / middle deck 4 is
It works as a stopper when 7,49 are pushed in. A base portion of a leaf spring 132 is fixed to the support member 125, and the leaf spring 132 has a function of pushing back the pushed upper / middle decks 47, 49 forward. As a result, the lock roller 121 and the claw portion 130 of the lock claw 126 are always in contact with each other so that the upper / middle decks 47 and 49 are positioned in the pulling direction.

The solenoid 135 fixed to the frame of the upper storage unit 43 is connected to the rear end portion of the lock claw 126 via the lever 136. This solenoid 13
When 5 is turned on, the lock claw 126 is rotated to the chain line position, the leaf spring 132 is displaced by d1 in the direction of arrow 137, and the upper / middle decks 47, 49 are slightly pushed back in the pull-out direction. The unlocking by 126 is completed. The solenoid 135 uses the deck pull-out sensor (not shown) to detect the upper / middle decks 47, 49.
It is designed to turn off when it is pushed back.

The lock claw 126 and the lock roller 121 described above.
The solenoid 135 and the like constitute the lock unit 10. The lower deck 50 is also locked by the lock unit 10 similar to the upper / middle decks 47 and 49.

A drive source (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as a lifter drive motor) is fixed to the machine body 9 of the sheet feeding device, and a coupling (male) (not shown) as a connecting means is pulled out from its output shaft. It is fixed and slidably mounted. This coupling is urged toward the free end side of the output shaft by the elastic force of a stopper (not shown) fixed to the output shaft and a compression spring (not shown) arranged between the couplings.

The wire shaft 81 and the lifter pulley 8
3, a drive system 25 for moving the lifter plate 2 up and down is constituted by the wires 85, 86 and the like. The drive system 25 is a paper feed deck 47 that is taken in and out of the machine body 9.
It is provided on the 49, 50 side. Further, the coupling 82 on the side of the wire shaft 81 and the coupling on the side of the lifter drive motor constitute a connecting means capable of connecting / disconnecting the drive system 25 to / from the lifter drive motor.

Next, the operation of mounting the upper / middle decks 47, 49 on the machine body 9 will be described.

Now, when the deck case 1 of the upper / middle decks 47, 49 is set in the machine body 9, the actuator leaf spring 140 (see FIG. 4) pushes the not-shown deck pull-out sensor to turn on the pull-out sensor. To do.
In response to this ON signal, the solenoid 135 of FIG. 6 is turned on as described above, and the deck case 1 of the upper / middle decks 47, 49 is locked to the machine body 9.

At the same time, a coupling (female) 82 as a connecting means fixed to the wire shaft 81 is fitted and connected with the coupling of the lifter drive motor. In this way, the drive of the lifter drive motor attached to the machine body 9 is transmitted to the lifter pulley 83 of the wire shaft 81 via the connecting means (coupling 82 etc.), and the lifter pulley 83 is driven in the forward and reverse directions. The lifter plate 2 is moved up and down (moved up and down) by rotating the lifter plate 2.

Next, the sheet remaining amount display will be described with reference to FIG.

A seat 21 for engaging the link (coupling member) 850 and the lifter plate 2 is provided in a part of the lifter plate 2, and the link 850 and the lifter plate 2 have pins 21p.
Are engaged through. Further, the front cover 63 is provided with a support portion 631 of a fulcrum 850p of the link 850. The other end of the link 850 is fixed to the end surface of the sheet remaining amount indicating tape 805 (remaining amount indicating member).
The other end of the remaining amount indicating tape 805 is engaged with a tension spring 806. Since the tension spring 806 is fixed to the deck case 1, the remaining amount indicating tape 805 is always in a biased state. .

The remaining amount display tape 805 is provided with a remaining amount display scale (not shown) for displaying the remaining amount of the sheet material S on the lifter plate 2. The reference numeral 810 indicates a sheet remaining amount display window.

Now, when the amount of sheets is reduced and the lifter plate 2 is in the position 2A, the link 850 is in the state 852 and the remaining amount indicating tape 805 is in the position 805A. As described above, the position of the lifter plate 2, that is, the amount of sheets is determined by the amount of the remaining amount indicating tape 80
Since 5 is directly moved, the sheet amount and the remaining amount display value correspond exactly. <Other Embodiments> Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described.

A support member 21 for engaging the link (coupling member) 855 and the lifter plate 2 is provided in a part of the lifter plate 2, and the link 855 and the lifter plate 2 are engaged via a pin 21p. is doing. Further, the front cover 63 has a support member 6 at a fulcrum 855p of the link 855.
31 is provided. The other end of the link 855 is
Remaining amount display plate (remaining amount display member) 8050 and pin 63
It is engaged via p. The remaining amount display tape 805 is provided with a scale (not shown) for displaying the remaining amount of the sheet material S.

Now, when the amount of seats is reduced and the lifter plate 2 is in the position 2A, the link 855 is moved to the position 85.
In the state of 5 A, the remaining amount display tape 805 has guides 637 A, 637 B, 637 C, 6 in the front cover 63.
Guided by 37D respectively, the state of 8057 is reached. Compared to the above-mentioned embodiment, this embodiment has no tension spring, so that the device can be easily assembled.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The lifter plate on which the sheets are stacked and the remaining amount display member that displays the remaining amount of the sheet on the lifter plate are connected via a link, and the remaining amount display member is moved in conjunction with the vertical movement of the lifter plate to move the sheet. Since the remaining amount display is displayed, the movement amount of the lifter plate and the display amount of the remaining amount display member can be accurately corresponded to each other, and the mechanical configuration is simpler than that of the conventional device, and the assembling can be performed. Since the property is improved, the machine cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a view taken in the direction of arrow R in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sheet feeding device.

FIG. 3 is a P arrow diagram of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a Q arrow diagram of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lifter pulley section.

FIG. 6 is a vertical side view of the lock unit portion.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional side view of a sheet feeding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the sheet feeding apparatus of the present invention and an image forming apparatus to which the apparatus is connected.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the machine body of the paper feeding device.

FIG. 10 is a vertical side view of a conventional paper feeding device.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the paper feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S sheet 1 deck case 2 lifter plate 9 machine body 11, 12 sheet width regulation plate 13 sheet rear edge regulation plate 40 image forming device 41 paper feeding device 47, 49 paper feeding deck 805 residual amount display tape (remaining amount indicating member) 810 Sheet remaining amount display window 850 Link (connecting member) 855 Link (connecting member) 8057 Remaining amount display member (remaining amount display plate)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sheet feeding device attached to the image forming apparatus so that the stacked sheets can be fed to the image forming apparatus, and a sheet feeding deck that can be taken in and out of a machine body, and the sheet feeding device. A lifter plate that is vertically movable in the deck and on which sheets are stacked, a sheet width regulating plate that regulates the width direction of the sheet on the lifter plate, and a sheet that regulates the rear end of the sheet on the lifter plate In a sheet feeding device having a trailing edge regulating plate, a connecting member whose one end is engaged with the lifter plate, and the other end of the connecting member are engaged with each other, and the vertical movement on the lifter plate is prevented. A sheet feeding device, comprising: a remaining amount display member that moves in conjunction and displays the remaining amount of sheets on the lifter plate. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount display portion of the remaining amount display member moves in the vicinity of a display window provided on the sheet feeding deck. 3. A sheet feeding device attached to the image forming apparatus so that the stacked sheets can be fed to the image forming apparatus, and a sheet feeding deck that can be taken in and out of a machine body, and the sheet feeding device. A lifter plate that is vertically movable in the deck and on which sheets are stacked, a sheet width regulating plate that regulates the width direction of the sheet on the lifter plate, and a sheet that regulates the rear end of the sheet on the lifter plate The trailing edge regulating plate, the connecting member whose one end is engaged with the lifter plate, and the other end of the connecting member are engaged with each other, and move in conjunction with the vertical movement on the lifter plate. An image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device having a remaining amount display member that displays the remaining amount of sheets on the lifter plate.