JPH0834536A - Automatic paper loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a simple and inexpensive automatic paper loading device stabilizing the paper travel at the time of automatic loading and preventing the ill effect on paper conveyance at the time of printing. CONSTITUTION:This automatic paper loading device is provided with a paper conveying belt 7 and a suction chamber 16 arranged below the paper conveying belt 7 and connected to a suction source. The suction chamber 16 is lifted at the time of automatic loading, and it is lowered at the time of printing. The connection between the suction chamber 16 and suction source is maintained at the time of automatic loading by a flange section provided on the side plate 20 of the suction chamber 16, and the connection is cut off at the time of printing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic paper loading device, and more particularly to an electrophotographic printing device incorporating the automatic paper loading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional automatic sheet loading apparatus, the sheet is often stopped during transportation due to charging of the sheet, bending of the sheet, warping, roughness of a surface through which the sheet passes, and the like, which causes a problem in automatic loading. Has occurred. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem of automatic loading, there has been proposed a device utilizing a suction force by a negative pressure source, for example, a blower, a suction hose connected to the blower, and a suction chamber. An automatic sheet loading device utilizing this suction force will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of an automatic paper loading device in the prior art, and FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view of an electrophotographic printer incorporating the continuous paper automatic loading device. In FIG. 4, 2 is paper, 3 is toner, 7 is a paper transport belt,
8 is a suction hole, 14 is a sheet conveying roller, 15 is a pressing roller, 16 is a suction chamber, 16a is a suction hole of the suction chamber, 24 is a belt guide roller, and 26 is a drive mechanism. In FIG. Loading device, 4 is a transfer unit, 5 is a fixing unit, 6 is a paper storage unit, 9 is a paper feeding unit, 1
Reference numerals 0 and 11 denote sheet conveyance guides, 12 denotes a preheating plate, 13 denotes a pressure roller, 17 denotes a photosensitive drum, and 18 denotes a suction hose.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet 2 loaded by the operator into the lower sheet conveying guide 10 in the sheet feeding section 9 is sent out by the lower sheet conveying guide 10 and is transferred from the photosensitive drum 17 in the transfer section 4. After the toner 3 is transferred, it passes through the upper sheet conveyance guide 11 and then enters the sheet automatic loading device 1 through the sheet feeding section 9, where the preheating plate 12 and the fixing section 5 are connected.
Then, the paper is passed between the heating roller 19 and the pressure roller 13 and sent to the paper storage unit 6.

The automatic sheet loading device 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Paper transport belt 7 connected to the paper feed unit 9
Is rotated with a constant tension by a drive pulley (not shown) driven by a drive mechanism 26 and the belt guide roller 24. A suction hole 8 is provided on the paper transport belt 7 as needed. A suction chamber 16 is provided below the paper transport belt 7.

The suction chamber 16 has a flat upper surface and a lower surface, and the lower surface is provided with a suction source, and in FIG. 5, a suction port connected to a preheating plate suction hose 18, and the preheating is performed through this suction port. Negative pressure is transmitted from the plate suction hose 18. The upper surface is provided with a suction hole 16a.
a communicates with the suction hole 8 on the sheet conveyance belt 7, and the negative pressure transmitted to the suction chamber 16 sucks air through the suction hole 8 or directly sucks air through the suction hole 16a.

In the automatic sheet loading apparatus 1 having the above-described structure, the sheet 2 fed from the sheet feeding section 9 is rotated and conveyed with a constant tension while the sheet conveying belt 7 sucks the sheet through the suction holes 8. Then, the paper is fed into the automatic paper loading device 1 by the pressing force of the paper conveying roller 14 and the pressing roller 15 driven by the driving mechanism 26.

[0008]

The conventional automatic paper loading device is functionally related to a paper transporting roller and a belt driving roller (not shown) for transporting a paper, and a paper transport belt and a pressing roller for transporting paper. An elevating mechanism that contacts the paper only when it is loaded and that separates from the paper when printing does not affect printing is required. In particular, when separated from the paper at the time of the printing by the elevating mechanism, the suction due to the negative pressure of the suction chamber disturbs the conveyance of the printing paper and causes various problems.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional automatic sheet loading device, and stabilizes the running of the sheet at the time of automatic loading, and prevents the adverse effect on the sheet transportation at the time of printing. It is an object of the invention to provide an automatic loading device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the structure of the automatic paper loading apparatus according to the present invention comprises a paper transport belt, and a suction source which is internally provided under the paper transport belt. In an automatic paper loading device having a suction chamber and configured to raise the suction chamber during automatic loading and lower it during printing, by an opening / closing member provided on a side plate of the suction chamber,
The connection between the suction chamber and the suction source is maintained during automatic loading, and the connection between the suction chamber and the suction source is blocked during printing.

[0011]

The function of the above technical means is as follows.
The automatic sheet loading device configured as described above is configured by the opening / closing member provided on the side plate of the suction chamber,
For example, without changing the control of the suction source such as a blower or adding a suction control valve, it is possible to control the start and stop of suction during paper loading and printing with a simple configuration.At the time of automatic loading, the negative pressure from the suction source is applied to the suction chamber. The negative pressure is cut off from the suction source to the suction chamber during printing. This allows
Even when printing preprinted paper or the like, it is possible to prevent damage to the paper and adverse effects on the image.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an automatic paper loading device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a case where an automatic paper loading device is incorporated in an electrophotographic continuous paper printing device will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view including a partially exploded view of an automatic paper loading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a suction path communication state of the automatic paper loading apparatus in the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the suction path blocking state of the automatic sheet loading device in the embodiment of FIG. 1, 2 and 3
In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 are the same parts, and thus the description thereof will be omitted and only new reference numerals will be described. 18a is a suction hose joint, 20 is a side plate, 21 is a chamber-side hose, 21a is a chamber-side hose joint, 22 is a suction passage, 23 is a buffer plate, 25 is a brim portion, 27 is a case extending portion, 20a, 23a, 27a is a joint hole, and 31 is a rotating shaft.

In the automatic sheet loading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the same parts as the conventional ones and the parts already described in the conventional art will not be described again, and the characteristic parts of the present invention will be described in detail. To do. Automatic paper loading device 1
As a suction source for generating a negative pressure in the suction chamber 16 in FIG. 1, for example, a blower (not shown) or a preheating plate suction hose 18 as shown in FIG. 5 is used.

The communication mechanism between the suction source and the suction chamber 16 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the communication mechanism includes a side plate 20 and a buffer plate 2.
3 and the case extending portion 27 are sequentially closely attached and fixed from the suction chamber 16 side. Side plate 20
The collar portion 25 is provided on the collar portion 25, and the collar portion 25 has a shaft 3
1 is attached. The shaft 31 is loosely inserted into a shaft hole provided in the buffer plate 23 and the case extending portion 27.
Therefore, only the side plate 20 rotates at a right angle with the buffer plate 23 and the case extending portion 27 remaining stationary about the shaft 31. Further, the side plate 20 is provided with a chamber-side hose joint 21a connected to the chamber-side hose 21 and a joint hole 20a continuous with the joint 21a.

The case extension 27 is used for the automatic sheet loading device 1.
The drive mechanism 26 has a drive shaft extending in the vicinity of the drive shaft in the feeding direction of the sheet 2 of the sheet transport belt 7, and a suction hose joint 18a connected to the suction hose 18 and a joint hole 27a continuous to the joint 18a are provided. Has been. The buffer plate 23 is provided with a shaft hole for loosely inserting the shaft 31, a joint hole 27a continuous with the joint 18a, and a joint hole 23a further continuous with the joint hole 27a.

The communication between the suction source and the suction chamber 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. At the time of automatic loading, the suction chamber 16 is raised to the uppermost position, and the side plate 20 is rotated about the rotation shaft 31 to be horizontal as shown in FIG. At this time, the suction hose 18 on the suction source side, the suction hose joint 18a, and the joint 18
joint hole 27a, joint hole 23a, and joint hole 20 continuous to a
a, the joint 21a continuing to the joint hole 20a and the chamber-side hose 21 communicate with each other, the suction passage 22 is completely communicated, and the suction chamber 16 has a negative pressure due to the suction source.
a through the suction holes 8 or directly or through the paper transport belt 7
Aspirate the upper sheet 2.

At the time of printing, the suction chamber 16 is lowered to the lowermost position, and the side plate 20 is attached to the rotary shaft 31.
Rotate around to make it vertical as shown in FIG. At this time,
The suction hose 18 on the suction source side, the suction hose joint 18a, the joint hole 27a continuous to the joint 18a, and the joint hole 23a communicate with each other, but the joint hole 20a is out of position, and the flange portion 25 of the side plate 20 is connected to the communication port. Will be shut off. Therefore, the joint 21a continuing from the suction source side and the joint hole 20a and the chamber-side hose 21 are cut off, the suction passage 22 is incomplete, and the suction chamber 16 is no longer under negative pressure.

As described above, with the above-described structure, it is possible to control the start and stop of suction, which is likely to cause a problem, without changing the control of the suction source such as a blower or adding a suction valve. The opening / closing mechanism provided on the side plate of the suction chamber is used. In this embodiment, the side plate 20 is provided with the brim portion 25 as the opening / closing member, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be any shape as long as it has the function as described above. It doesn't matter.

[0020]

As described above in detail, according to the configuration of the present invention, a simple and inexpensive automatic paper sheet stabilizing the paper traveling at the time of automatic loading and preventing the adverse effect on the sheet conveying at the time of printing. A loading device can be provided. More specifically, since the print surface can be conveyed without rubbing, there is almost no adverse effect on the paper or image even when the already-printed paper or the like is conveyed. Further, it is possible to provide an automatic paper loading device capable of performing suction control during paper loading and printing without changing control of a suction source such as a blower or installing a control valve.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view including a partially exploded view of an automatic paper loading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a suction path communication state of the automatic sheet loading device in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a suction path blocking state of the automatic sheet loading device in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of an automatic sheet loading device according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view of an electrophotographic printer incorporating an automatic continuous paper loading device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Automatic paper loading device, 2 ... Printing paper, 3 ... Toner, 7
... Paper transport belt, 8 ... Suction hole, 16 ... Suction chamber, 16a ... Suction chamber suction hole, 18 ... Suction hose, 18a ... Suction hose joint, 20 ... Side plate, 21 ... Chamber side hose, 21a ... Chamber side hose Joint, 22 ... Suction path, 23 ... Buffer plate, 24 ... Belt guide roller, 25 ... Collar part, 26 ... Driving mechanism, 27
... Case extension, 20a, 23a, 27a ... Joint hole, 3
1 ... Rotation axis

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Yuuo Nakajima 1060 Takeda, Katsuta City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sheet conveying belt, and a suction chamber provided below the sheet conveying belt and connected to a suction source. The suction chamber is raised during automatic loading and lowered during printing. In the automatic sheet loading device described above, the connection between the suction chamber and the suction source is maintained during automatic loading by the opening / closing member provided on the side plate of the suction chamber, and the connection between the suction chamber and the suction source is performed during printing. An automatic paper loading device characterized by being configured to shut off.