JPH0789622A - Picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To move paper sheets stored in a storage efficiently according to a purpose. CONSTITUTION:A picture forming device is provided with a storage 1 for storing paper sheets and an intermediate plate 2 as a moving means for moving the paper sheets stored in the storage 1 upward and downward. The storage 1 can be fully drawn out to the outside of the device and the intermediate plate 2 drops downward by a designated distance and stops at a first drop point when the storage 1 is started to be drawn out from a designated position in the device body and the storage 1 is drawn out of the device body and the intermediate plate 2 further drops to a second drop point interlocking with the movement of the storage 1 reaching to the designated position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper deck storage for storing and feeding a large amount of paper such as an electronic copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine, a large amount of paper is placed not only from a cassette provided in the entire apparatus but also at the lower part of the main body as shown in FIG. There are many things in the market that have a paper deck (hereinafter referred to as a deck) for storing and feeding. In FIG. 6, in the storage 101, there is a middle plate 102.
Approximately 2000 sheets of paper 103 are stacked on the upper side, and the uppermost sheet moves to a predetermined paper feeding point by moving the middle plate 102 upward and downward. After that, the sheet is conveyed by the sheet feeding roller 104, separated into one sheet by the separation roller 105, and the vertical pass rollers 106, 107, 10
The sheets are successively conveyed upward by 8, 109 and then sent to the image forming unit. A sensor (not shown) for detecting the position of the paper in the height direction is provided at the uppermost position as the paper is fed one after another, so that the intermediate plate 102 is gradually moved upward by the signal of the sensor. The paper feed point is controlled so that it is at a fixed position.

When replenishing the paper 103, the storage 101
The intermediate plate is linked to pulling out the
The paper 103 is dropped to the lowest point and a predetermined amount of paper 103 is loaded. Currently, the storage box 101 from the front side of the copying machine to the front side
The front loading type is becoming more popular. Further, when the paper 103 is supplied to the storage case 101 and the storage case 101 is set in the copying machine main body A ′, the storage case 101 is detected and the intermediate plate 102 automatically moves upward and stops at a predetermined position.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional image forming apparatus, a paper feed failure occurs in the paper feed section of the deck, and the storage 101 is removed to remove the paper with the paper feed failure. When trying to pull it toward you, the middle plate 10
2 drops to the bottom as in the case of paper supply. However, with such a configuration at present, when the storage case 101 is pulled out in order to remove the topmost sheet, the entire sheet 103 falls, so if the storage case 101 is set at a predetermined position in the main body A ′ after removal. The middle plate 102 that has dropped to the lowest point must raise the uppermost paper on the middle plate 2 to a predetermined position. During this period, even if an attempt is made to feed paper from the deck, the machine cannot operate naturally, and the user has to wait until the middle plate 2 finishes rising. In particular, when only a few sheets of paper are stacked on the intermediate plate 102, the waiting time becomes long.

In order to pull the storage case 1 out of the main body A ', it is necessary to retract the paper feed roller 104 in the upward direction in order to break the contact between the paper feed roller 104 and the paper. If the paper is not moved downward by a certain amount, the uppermost paper will come into contact with the body frame and the like. However, it is not necessary to drop the middle plate 102 to the lowest point in order to remove the uppermost paper.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the main body A'of the copying machine. The right side is the front side of the main body, and half of the storage case 101 is inside the main body A '.
One half shows the state where it is out of the main body A '. In this state, the intermediate plate 102 has dropped to the lowermost portion, and the stacked paper 103 is about half the capacity. In this state, when the user inserts the arm into the storage 101, the arm enters in the direction indicated by the arrow, reaches the upper side of the trailing edge regulating plate 110 of the paper 103, and the hand enters the body A '. Unlike the cassette, the storage 101 cannot be detached separately from the main body A ′, so it is rare to put a hand inside the main body A ′. Paper feed roller 104 and separation roller 10
Not only 5 but also many mechanical parts are equipped, and there is a risk of injuring a finger or the like. Further, when the storage 101 is pulled out, the main body of the device is in a standby state in which power is applied unless the main switch is turned off. Therefore, it is unexpected if the main body malfunctions while the hand is put in. The situation may occur.

From this point, if the middle plate 102 falls to the lowest point before the paper can be replenished, an opening through which an arm or the like can enter the main body A'is made, and it is considered from the safety of operation. It cannot be said that it is in a favorable state.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of efficiently moving the paper stored in the storage according to the purpose. To provide.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a storage box for storing paper and a moving means for moving the paper stored in the storage box in the vertical direction are provided. In the image forming apparatus, which has the storage box as a whole and is capable of being pulled out to the outside of the apparatus, the moving means descends a predetermined amount downward at a starting point of the storage box from the predetermined position in the apparatus main body, and a first drop point The storage means is pulled out to the outside of the main body of the apparatus, and the moving means further descends to the second descending point in conjunction with reaching the predetermined position.

Further, when the entire paper stored in the storage is pulled out of the apparatus main body, the moving means may start moving to the second descending point.

[0011]

In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the paper stored in the storage is gradually lowered to the first descent point and the second descent point and stopped.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a storage case according to the present invention. This drawing is a view of the storage cabinet from an oblique rear side, and a wire 3 is fixed to an intermediate plate 2 as a moving means in the storage cabinet 1, and the wire 3 is a wire pulley via a deflection pulley 4. It is multiplied by 5. The wire pulley 5 has a gear 5a that rotates fixedly with the pulley. This gear 5a
Becomes an input gear and is driven.

The gear 6 for driving the storage 1 is at a fixed position of the main body device and receives power from a drive motor (not shown),
Rotate in the direction of the arrow. There is a gear 8 that meshes with the gear 6 when the storage 1 is in a paper feedable state, the gear 8 rotates integrally with the shaft 7, and the gear 9 also rotates integrally. A pulley 14 is also fixed on the shaft 7, and a wire 15 is hung on the shaft 7 in the same manner as the rear wire 3 and is connected to the intermediate plate 2 via a deflection pulley 16.

The driving force transmitted to the gear 9 is transmitted to the gear 5a via the clutch gear 10. A control ring 11 is engaged with the clutch gear 10, and a lever 11 a projects from the control ring 11. A lever 12 that engages with the tip of the lever 11a is supported so as to rotate about an axis 12a. When the lever 12 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the lever 11a on the control ring 11 also rotates. When the storage 1 having such a structure is pulled out in the direction of arrow A, the release lever 13 and the lever 12 fixed on the main body by means not shown engage. FIG. 2 is a view of the arrangement of the drive gear units in the direction of arrow B. The wire 3 is running behind the gear 9.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the clutch portion. A drum 10a is integrally formed with the clutch gear 10, and a clutch spring 17 is provided around the drum 10a. The clutch spring 17 has a certain amount of interference.
It is wrapped around 0a.

The clutch spring 17 has a hook 17a and a hook 17c. The hook 17c enters the square hole 18a of the output drum 18 fixed by means not shown in the main body of the storage case 1 and fixed in the rotating direction. Will be done. The clutch spring 17 is provided on the outer circumference of the drum portion 18b of the output drum 18.
Fits in. Further, the hook 17a enters the notch 11b in the control ring 11 that covers the outer peripheral portion of the clutch spring 17.

When the clutch gear 10 rotates in the direction of arrow D, the gear 5a also rotates and the intermediate plate 2 rises. This is drum 1
This is because the clutch gear 10 becomes rotatable due to the slippage between 0a and the inner circumference of the clutch spring 17. When the storage case 1 is pulled out from the main body in this state, the gears 6 and 8 are disengaged and the intermediate plate 2 tries to descend downward. Then, the clutch gear 10 'momentarily rotates in the direction of the arrow C, so that the clutch spring 17 is tightened, and when the clutch spring 17 is completely tightened, the gear 10 stops rotating. This is the first descent point. The operation of the clutch spring 17 will be described with reference to FIG. When the clutch gear 10 raises the intermediate plate 2, the hook 17a moves to 17
In the state of e, the clutch gear 10 can rotate. However, when the storage case 1 comes out of the predetermined position of the device body, the hook 17
a moves to 17d, the clutch spring 17 tightens the drum 10a, and the rotation is stopped. At this time, the clutch spring 1
7 does not wind up unless the drum 10a rotates by a predetermined amount, so that the intermediate plate 2 moves down a little. However, when the storage case 1 comes out to a position sufficient to replenish the paper, the release lever 13 and the lever 12 are engaged with each other, whereby the lever 11a moves upward, whereby the cut surface of the cutout 11b of the control ring 11 is hooked. By pushing the surface of 17a on the 17b side, the clutch spring 17 releases the force for tightening the drum 10a.
When this is shown in FIG. 4, the hook moves to the position 17f. As a result, the clutch gear 10 starts rotating in the C direction and the intermediate plate 2 drops to the lowest point (second descent point).

(Other Embodiment) Another embodiment will be described with reference to the perspective view shown in FIG.

In the previous embodiment, the driving force necessary to raise the intermediate plate 2 was received from the main body via the gear.
As shown in FIG. 5, the lifter motor 19 may be exclusively provided in the storage case 1, and the output gear 19a is directly meshed with the gear 20 coaxial with the pulley. The lifter motor 19 is supplied with electric power by means not shown. Further, the electric power is controlled by a controller (not shown) located on the main body side. When the storage case 1 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow, the shading plate 21 fixed to the storage case 1 shields the photo interrupter 22 fixed to the main body, and the signal is transmitted to the controller of the main body. Then, the controller determines that the storage case 1 has reached the paper refillable position, rotates the intermediate plate 2 in the reverse direction, and lowers the storage case 1 to the lowest point.

[0021]

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention has the above-described configuration and operation. Since the paper stored in the storage is lowered step by step to the first descent point and the second descent point and stopped, the paper jam treatment is performed. , It can respond efficiently according to the purpose such as paper supply. Also, the recovery time can be shortened.

Further, since the paper is lowered to the second lowering point by the moving means after the storage is pulled out of the main body of the apparatus, when the paper is lowered to the second lowering point, the entrance into the main body of the apparatus is the storage. It will be blocked by, and there is no danger of injuring a finger or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage case showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the drive gear arrangement of the storage case according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the operation of the clutch of the storage case showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the clutch spring of the storage according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage case showing another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a copying machine, which is the object of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus to which a conventional storage is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 101 Storage 2, 102 Middle Plate (Movement) 5 Wire Pulleys 5a, 6, 8, 9 Gear 7 Shaft 10 Clutch Gear 10a Drum 11 Control Ring 17 Clutch Spring 18 Output Drum

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage box for storing paper, and a moving means for vertically moving the paper stored in the storage box,
In an image forming apparatus capable of pulling out the entire storage cabinet to the outside of the apparatus, when the storage cabinet starts to be pulled out from a predetermined position in the apparatus main body, the moving means descends by a predetermined amount and stops at a first descent point. Then, the image forming apparatus is characterized in that the moving means further descends to the second descending point in conjunction with the fact that the storage is pulled out of the apparatus main body and reaches a predetermined position. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the moving means starts moving to the second descending point when the entire paper stored in the storage is pulled out of the apparatus main body. Forming equipment.