JPH082696A - Paper sheet kind detecting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the kind of a paper sheet by accommodating an arbitrary kind of paper sheet in a same paper sheet cassette, as for a paper sheet kind detecting mechanism for detecting the kind of the paper sheet accommodated in the paper sheet cassette. CONSTITUTION:A paper sheet kind detecting mechanism is equipped with an actuator unit 12 which is installed in a reciprocating motion enabled form on a paper sheet cassette 11, and a detecting means 13 which is opposed to the actuator unit 12 when the paper sheet cassette 11 is installed on the device body. The detecting means 13 is formed of at least three detecting elements 33a, 33b, and 33C, and the actuator unit 12 is equipped with a recessed part 27 having the width corresponding to the arrangement interval of the detecting elements 33a, 33b, and 33c, and the projection parts 25 and 26 by interposing the recessed part 27. One projection part 26 has the width for the sensing of only one among three detecting elements 33a, 33b, and 33c.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic recording apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, etc., which detects the type of paper stored in a paper cassette and the type of paper, etc. The present invention relates to a paper type detection mechanism for notification.

In an electrophotographic recording apparatus using a single-cut sheet, a toner image corresponding to a recorded image is formed on a rotating photosensitive drum, and the toner image is formed on the sheet fed in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum. Is transferred, and after the fixing process, the paper is ejected. The surface of the photosensitive drum after the transfer of the toner image is cleaned by a cleaner after the charge is removed. In such a device, the above-mentioned paper is stored in a paper cassette and mounted in the main body of the device.
It is desired to be able to identify what kind of paper is stored in the paper cassette.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a conventional example. The configuration shown in FIG.
For example, the microswitches 1a and 1c are turned off in opposition to the concave portions 3 and 4 by the concave portions 3 and 4 and the convex portion 5 formed at the bottom of the paper cassette 2 and the microswitch 1b is convex portion. By turning on in opposition to 5,
The paper type is detected.

Further, in the configuration shown in (b), the reed switches 6a, 6b and 6c are arranged on the apparatus main body side, and the paper cassette 7
Due to the magnets 8 and 9 provided at the bottom of the
The reed switches 6a and 6c are turned on when they face the magnets 8 and 9, and the reed switch 6b is turned off because they do not face the magnets, thereby detecting the paper type.

Further, an inner cassette containing paper is inserted into the outer case, and a cassette size plate having one end fixed to the outer case is provided movably in the groove of the inner cassette, and the cassette size plate has a plurality of holes. When the outer case is attached to the main body of the device, four switches facing the cassette size plate are provided, and the paper size is turned on and off by turning on and off the four switches corresponding to the pattern of the presence or absence of holes in the cassette size plate. There is known a paper size determination device that determines whether or not a sheet size is determined (for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-1173
39).

[0006]

A conventional paper type detecting mechanism is provided with concave portions 2 and 4 and convex portions 5 or magnets 8 and 9 fixedly in paper cassettes 2 and 7. The types of paper stored in the cassettes 2 and 7 are fixedly determined, and it is necessary to prepare as many paper cassettes as the number of paper types to be used.

In the above-described configuration in which the cassette size plate is provided, sheets of different paper sizes can be stored. However, the configuration is relatively complicated, and a paper size type similar to the number of switches can be determined. It was just a thing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to store an arbitrary type of paper in the same paper cassette and detect a large number of paper types with a relatively simple configuration.

[0008]

The sheet type detecting mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In the actuator unit 12 provided in the sheet cassette 11 and in the main body of the apparatus in which the sheet cassette 11 is mounted. , And paper cassette 1
In a paper type detection mechanism provided with a detection unit 13 that is provided at a position facing the actuator unit 12 when the device 1 is mounted in the apparatus main body and is sensitive to the actuator unit 12, the detection units 13 At least three detection elements 33 arranged at a predetermined interval
a, 33b, and 33c, the actuator unit 12 is attached to the paper cassette 11 so as to be able to reciprocate, and has projections 25 and 26 with a recess 27 having a width corresponding to the interval. One of the protrusions is
The width is such that only one of the three detection elements 33a, 33b, 33c is sensitive. Note that 19, 2
Reference numerals 0 and 21 are locking plates.

[0009]

When the paper cassette 11 is mounted on the main body of the apparatus,
The locking plates 19 to 21 are moved in the direction of the arrow corresponding to the size of the sheet to store the sheet, and the actuator unit 12 is moved to the position corresponding to the type of the sheet by the arrow A or the arrow A '.
Move it to and attach it. In the apparatus main body, the detecting means 1 is located at a position facing the actuator unit 12.
3 are arranged. The detection means 13 includes at least three detection elements 33a, 33b, 3 such as microswitches.
3c are arranged at a predetermined width, and the actuator unit 12 is provided with convex portions 25, 26 with concave portions 27 interposed.
Is determined so that only one detecting element is sensitive. In the state shown in the figure, the detecting elements 33a and 33b are turned on, the detecting element 33c is turned off, and the on and on states are turned on. , OFF pattern, the type of paper stored in the paper cassette 11 can be expressed and notified to the apparatus main body. Actuator unit 1
When 2 is moved from the illustrated state in the direction of arrow A, the detection elements 33a and 33c are turned on, the detection element 33b is turned off, and the type of paper stored in the paper cassette 11 is determined by the signal format of the on, off, and on patterns. Can be expressed.

[0010]

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.
The actuator unit 12 is provided so as to be able to reciprocate, that is, move in the direction of the arrow A or A ′ with respect to the paper cassette 11. On the side of the main body of the device, which is not shown,
When the paper cassette 11 is mounted, a detection unit 13 is provided at a position facing the actuator unit 12. The detection means 13 is composed of at least three detection elements 33a, 33b, 33c such as microswitches.

The actuator unit 12 has a recess 2
7 and the convex portions 25 and 26, and the concave portion 27
3a, 33b, 33c, having a width corresponding to the arrangement interval,
Further, the convex portions 25 and 2 arranged with the concave portion 27 interposed therebetween.
One of the convex portions 26 of the detecting element 33a, 33b, 33
c has a width that makes only one of the c sensitive. Note that the other convex portion 25 is provided with the detecting elements 33a, 33a.
It shows a case in which the width has a width that makes two of b and 33c sensitive.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, the projection 25 of the actuator unit 12 and the detection elements 33a and 33b of the detection means 13 face each other, and the actuator unit 1
When the concave portion 27 of No. 2 and the detecting element 33c of the detecting means 13 are opposed to each other and each detecting element 33a, 33b, 33c is constituted by a micro switch which is turned on when pressed by the convex portions 25, 26, The detection means 13 can detect the paper type in the signal format of the ON, ON, and OFF patterns by the detection elements 33a, 33b, and 33c and notify the apparatus body.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a paper cassette of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of an actuator unit of the embodiment of the present invention. . As shown in FIG. 4, the actuator unit 12 is provided on the side wall 30 of the paper cassette 11 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.
It is configured to be movable in the direction of the arrow along the guide grooves 22 to 24, the side edges of the paper are locked by locking plates 19 and 20, and the rear end of the paper is locked by the locking plate 21.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a support plate, 15 denotes a support portion, 16 denotes a spring for urging the support plate 14 upward with the support portion 15 as a fulcrum, 17 denotes a paper separating claw, 18 denotes a paper guide portion, and 3 denotes a paper guide portion.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a paper passage hole. When paper is stored in the paper cassette 11 and is mounted on the apparatus main body and is fed out by a pick roller (not shown), it passes over the paper separation claw 17 so that only one paper is removed. After being fed out, it is conveyed to, for example, a toner image transfer position. The paper passage hole 34 is for passing paper fed from another paper cassette (not shown) mounted below the paper cassette 11 and transporting the paper to, for example, a position where a toner image is transferred.

The actuator unit 12 having the convex portions 25 and 26 and the concave portion 27 holds the side wall 30 of the sheet cassette 11 at a predetermined position, as shown in FIG. Further, the side wall 30 of the paper cassette 11 is formed with a groove 32 with which the projection 29 is engaged and a groove 31 into which the locking claw 28 is inserted.

The protrusion 29 of the actuator unit 12
Is engaged with the groove 32 of the side wall 30 and the groove 31 of the side wall 30 is
The locking claw 28 of the actuator unit 12 penetrates through to lock the back side of the side wall 30, and the actuator unit 12 is pressed against the side wall 30 of the paper cassette 11 to position the actuator unit 12. To be held. Further, the position of the actuator unit 12 can be changed by applying a force such that the projection 29 of the actuator unit 12 gets over the groove 32 in the upward or downward direction of the side wall 30.

As described above, the position of the actuator unit 12 is set in accordance with the type of paper stored in the paper cassette 11. For example, in the case of fine paper of A4 size, when the actuator unit 12 is positioned at the top as shown in FIG.
The convex portion 26 of No. 2 and the detecting element 33a of the detecting means 13 face each other, and notify the apparatus main body that the A4 size fine paper is stored in the paper cassette 11 in an ON, OFF, OFF signal format. be able to.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the actuator unit 12 is lowered by one step from the case of FIG.
The protrusion 26 and the detection element 33b face each other, and the recess 27 and the detection element 33a face each other. Therefore, the detection means 13 can notify the apparatus main body that the A4 size tracing paper is stored in the paper cassette 11 in the signal format of off, on, and off.

FIG. 3C shows a case in which the actuator unit 12 is further lowered by one step. The projection 25 faces the detection element 33a, the recess 27 faces the detection element 33b, and the projection 26 and the detecting element 33c are opposed to each other, and the detecting means 13 outputs an ON signal, an OFF signal, and an ON signal, for example, A5
The fact that high-quality paper of a size is stored can be notified to the apparatus main body.

FIG. 3D shows the case where the actuator unit 12 is lowered further by one step. The convex portion 25 and the detecting elements 33a and 33b face each other, and the concave portion 27 and the detecting element 33 are arranged.
The detecting means 13 can notify the apparatus body that, for example, an A5 size tracing paper is stored, in the signal format of ON, ON, and OFF.

As described above, the protrusion 26 has a width that allows only one of the three detection elements 33a, 33b, and 33c to be sensed, so that the three detection elements 33a, 33b are changed according to the position of the actuator unit 12. , 33c are turned on or only one is turned off, and four types of detection are possible.

The convex portion 26 has a convex portion 2 with a concave portion 27 interposed therebetween.
5 (e) and (f) of FIG.
The sheet type can be detected in the state shown in. That is, FIG.
(E) shows a case where the actuator unit 12 is further lowered by one step, and the convex portion 25 and the detecting elements 33b and 33c face each other, and the detecting means 13 has a signal format of off, on, and on, for example, It is possible to notify the apparatus body that B5 size high quality paper is stored.

FIG. 3 (f) shows a case where the actuator unit 12 is lowered to the lowest position. The convex portion 25 and the detecting element 33c face each other, and the detecting means 13 outputs the OFF, OFF and ON signals. For example, it is possible to notify the main body of the apparatus that B5 size tracing paper is stored. That is, the actuator unit 12 having the convex portions 25 and 26 and the concave portion 27, and the three detection elements 33.
By the detection means 13 including a, 33b, and 33c, 6
The type can be detected.

A detecting element 33 which constitutes the detecting means 13
Various sensors a, 33b, and 33c can be applied to the convex portions 25 and 26 and the concave portion 27 of the actuator unit 12 so as to face and be sensitive to them. For example, the convex portions 25 and 26
When a magnet is applied to the detection elements 33a, 33b,
A reed switch can be used as 33c. Further, it is of course possible to use three or more detection elements, which can further increase the number of paper types.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the actuator unit 1 can reciprocate in the paper cassette 11.
2 is provided, and when the paper cassette 11 is attached to the main body of the apparatus, the detection means 13 is arranged at a position facing the actuator unit 12, and the detection means 13 is composed of at least three detection elements 33a, 33b, 33c, The actuator unit 12 includes detection elements 33a, 33b,
The projections 25 and 26 are provided with the recesses 27 having a width corresponding to the arrangement interval of the projections 33c, and the width of one projection 26 is responsive to only one of the three detection elements 33a, 33b and 33c. The width of the paper cassette 11 can be simplified, and the structure of the actuator unit 12 can be simplified.
Since the number of types of paper stored in a paper cassette is increased, it is not necessary to prepare a paper cassette 11 corresponding to a paper type such as a paper size and a paper quality, so that there is an advantage that cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a paper cassette according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of the actuator unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Paper cassette 12 Actuator unit 13 Detecting means 25, 26 Convex part 27 Recess 33a, 33b, 33c Detection element

Claims (1)

[Claims] An actuator unit provided in a paper cassette, and a position facing the actuator unit in an apparatus main body to which the paper cassette is mounted and when the paper cassette is mounted in the apparatus main body. And a detecting means responsive to the actuator unit, wherein the detecting means comprises at least three detecting elements arranged at a predetermined interval from each other; The actuator unit is mounted so as to be able to reciprocate with respect to the paper cassette, and includes a convex portion having a concave portion having a width corresponding to the interval, and one of the convex portions corresponds to one of the three detection elements. A paper type detection mechanism having a width for sensing only one of the paper types.