JPH0891589A - Automatic paper sheet feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent malfunction from being generated in simple constitution by releasing a matching means matchingly arranging the extreme end parts of a plurality of paper sheets loaded on a loading base interlocking with closing operation of a cover body. CONSTITUTION: Laminated paper sheets on a loading base 3 are separated by contacting with the slope part 11 of a paper sheet separating mechanism, and carried on the paper sheet processing device 100 side. When the laminated paper sheets are loaded on the loading base 3, the front end part is matched with a stopper member 15 as a matching means. This stopper member 15 is interlocked with a cover body 25 being opened/closed at loading the laminated paper sheets, and the matching state is released by closing the cover body 25. When the matching state is released, the laminated paper sheets are let draw out by drive of a paper feed roller 7, and the front end part is contacted with the slope part 11. The paper sheet of the lowermost layer is separated by one sheet due to friction force by the slope part 11. At operating such paper feed, the stopper member 15 is released, and hence malfunction is not generated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic paper feeder attached to a paper processing apparatus such as a printer, and more particularly to an automatic paper feeder having a paper stopper mechanism in a lower surface separation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printer has
An automatic paper feeding device for accommodating sheets in a stacked manner, separating the sheets into a single sheet, and feeding the sheets to a printing unit can be attached.
Among the automatic paper feeders, the bottom surface separation method is that the stacked sheets are placed on a paper feed roller in a pressed state, and the paper feed roller is driven to sequentially separate and feed the sheets from the lowermost layer. To do.

For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-738 discloses an automatic paper feeder of the lower surface separation type as described above. This automatic paper feeder has a stopper member that is rotatably supported by a guide plate, and a solenoid that is attached to the stopper member and that selectively rotates and holds the stopper member at a locking position and a standby position. When the stopper member is in the locking position, the stopper member comes into contact with the leading ends of the stacked sheets of paper and regulates the movement of the sheet of paper from the gap defined by the guide plate to the sheet separating section. When the stopper member reaches the standby position, the contact relationship is released,
The sheet fed by the sheet feeding roller can be moved to the sheet separating section through the gap.

However, since the solenoid is provided as the positioning and holding means for the stopper member, the structure is complicated and the cost is high. Further, since this solenoid is driven independently, it is troublesome to operate, and if it is driven at the wrong timing with respect to the paper feed roller, problems such as double feeding occur.

In general, when the automatic paper feeding device is used as a paper feeding device for postcards, etc., it is an option device which is used relatively infrequently, and therefore an inexpensive and simple structure is required. Therefore, as the sheet separating mechanism as such an optional device, a separating mechanism using a slope is suitable. When this slope separation mechanism is used in the conventional automatic paper feeder, the paper comes into sliding contact with the paper guide plate between the paper feed roller and the paper separation unit, which becomes a load during paper transportation and stabilizes. Paper feeding is blocked. On the other hand, without such a paper guide plate, when the paper is stacked and stored on the mounting table,
The leading edge of the paper enters the space below the space between the paper feed roller and the slope separation unit, and the slope separation unit does not completely separate the paper, causing double feeding and damage to the paper. Occurs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic paper feeder having a simple structure and free from malfunction. Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic paper feeding device which can reliably set a laminated paper sheet at a predetermined position and does not cause a double feed or damage the paper sheets.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the automatic paper feeding device of the present invention is configured to be attachable / detachable to / from a paper processing device, and a loading table on which a plurality of papers can be loaded. An openable / closable lid for covering the mounting table; a paper urging mechanism for pressing the plurality of sheets mounted on the mounting table in the mounting table direction; and the plurality of mounting units mounted on the mounting table. Of the sheets of paper, the paper feed mechanism that sequentially feeds the paper from the lowest layer, and the paper that is fed by this paper feed mechanism,
A sheet separating mechanism that separates the lowermost sheet from other sheets and feeds the sheet to the sheet processing apparatus, and an aligning unit that aligns and arranges the leading ends of the plurality of sheets placed on the placing table,
And a releasing means for releasing the aligning means, the releasing means being interlocked with the closing operation of the lid body.

Further, the automatic paper feeder of the present invention is configured to be attachable / detachable to / from the paper processing device, and has a loading table on which a plurality of sheets can be loaded, and the plurality of sheets loaded on the loading table. A sheet urging mechanism that presses the sheets in the direction of the mounting table, a sheet feeding mechanism that sequentially feeds the lowermost sheet of the plurality of sheets mounted on the mounting table, and the sheet feeding mechanism. Among the papers fed by the paper, a paper separating mechanism that separates the lowermost paper from other papers and feeds the paper to the paper processing device, and the leading end of the plurality of papers placed on the placing table. It is characterized in that it is provided with an aligning means for aligning and arranging the parts and a releasing means for releasing the aligning means, and the releasing means is interlocked with the pressing operation of the sheet urging mechanism.

Further, the automatic sheet feeder of the present invention is configured so as to be attachable / detachable to / from the sheet processing apparatus, and is provided with a placing table on which a plurality of sheets can be placed and the plurality of sheets placed on the placing table. A sheet urging mechanism that presses the sheets in the direction of the mounting table, a sheet feeding mechanism that sequentially feeds the lowermost sheet of the plurality of sheets mounted on the mounting table, and the sheet feeding mechanism. Among the papers fed by the paper, a paper separating mechanism that separates the lowermost paper from other papers and feeds the paper to the paper processing device, and the leading end of the plurality of papers placed on the placing table. An aligning means for aligning and arranging the parts, and the aligning means,
It is characterized by having a substantially L-shaped member so as to align the leading end portions of the stacked sheets and hold the lower side surface thereof.

[0010]

The stacked sheets on the mounting table are separated by coming into contact with the slope of the sheet separating mechanism, and are conveyed to the side of the sheet processing apparatus. When the laminated sheet is placed on the placing table, the front end portion thereof is aligned by the stopper member which is the aligning means.
This stopper member is interlocked with a lid that is opened and closed when stacking stacked sheets, or a pressing unit that applies a pressing force to the stacked sheets, and by closing the cover or by the pressing operation of the pressing unit. The matching state is released. When this alignment state is released, the stacked sheets are fed out by the drive of the sheet feeding roller that is the sheet feeding mechanism and abut on the slope portion, and are separated into one sheet by the frictional force. When the paper feeding operation is performed in this way, the stopper member is in the released state, and therefore no malfunction occurs.

Further, when the stacked sheets are loaded, the stopper member for aligning the front end portions of the stacked sheets has a substantially L-shape so that the leading end side of the stacked sheets can be reliably set at a fixed position.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which an automatic sheet feeder 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a printer 100 which is a sheet processing apparatus, and FIG. It is a perspective view showing an important section.

Inside the automatic paper feeder 1, there is provided a placing table 3 for placing laminated sheets, on which a side guide 5 defining the side of the sheets to be laminated is slidable. It is provided in. A paper feeding mechanism is arranged in front of the mounting table 3, and the paper feeding mechanism has a drive shaft 7a rotatably arranged on the frame 1a of the automatic paper feeding device 1 and a predetermined space between the drive shaft 7a. The sheet feeding roller 7 is fixed (a pair in the embodiment). The drive shaft 7a is driven by a drive motor (not shown) provided in the automatic paper feeder or a drive source on the printer side.

In front of the paper feed roller 7, there is provided a guide body 10 provided with a paper separating mechanism for separating the stacked paper sheets and an aligning means for aligning the front end side of the paper sheets stacked on the mounting table 3 with the frame 1a. It is arranged together with. The sheet separating mechanism is formed integrally with the guide body 10 and has a separating slope 11 that is inclined downward in the sheet conveying direction. The separation slope may be composed of a single surface, but as shown in the figure, two separation slopes 11a and 11 are inclined in order to ensure the separation of the sheets.
It is preferably constituted by b. The shape, angle, and the like of the slope for separating such sheets can be variously modified according to the sheets used.

An opening 10a is formed in the center of the guide body 10 so as to face the mounting table side.
At 0a, an aligning unit that aligns and holds the front end side of the sheets stacked on the mounting table 3 is arranged. The aligning means has a stopper member 15 which is rotatably supported by the guide body 10 and holds the front end side of the sheets stacked on the mounting table 3. The stopper member 15 is stacked by a biasing member 17. The rotation position is regulated by the regulation member 10b while being urged to rotate toward the sheet. Further, the stopper member 15 preferably has a substantially L-shape so as to align the front end portions of the stacked sheets and hold the lower surface of the front end portion as shown in the figure. That is, the vertical portion 15a is configured to align the front end portion of the laminated paper, and the horizontal portion 15b substantially perpendicular thereto holds the lower surface of the front end of the laminated paper. The restriction member 10b is a horizontal portion 15b of the stopper member 15.
However, the rotation of the stopper member 15 is regulated between the sheet feeding roller 7 and the separation slope 11 at a position substantially flush with the surface of the mounting table 3. In this embodiment, the regulating member 10b is integral with the guide body 10 and the opening 1
It is arranged so as to cross 0a.

A hinge 20 is provided above both side surfaces of the guide body 10, and a pivot cover (lid body) 2 covers the mounting table 3 when closed by using the hinge 20 as a pivot.
5 is attached. Pressing roller support portions 27 are provided on both sides of the back surface of the rotating cover 25 at positions above the paper feed roller 7 when closed.
An elongated hole 28 extending in the vertical direction is formed in each of the pressing roller support portions 27, and a pair of pressing rollers 30 are provided in the elongated hole 28 so as to correspond to the pair of paper feeding rollers 7. The held support shaft 32 is arranged (see FIG. 6). A biasing member (leaf spring) is provided on the back surface of the rotating cover 25.
35 has one end attached thereto, and the other end has a support shaft 3
It engages with the central part of 2. Therefore, the pressing roller 30
The support shaft 32 that holds is always urged downward by the urging force of the urging member 35.

Further, on the back surface of the rotating cover 25, there is provided a releasing means for releasing the aligning and holding of the stacked sheets by the aligning means (stopper member 15). The releasing means is composed of an abutting member 38 that abuts the surface of the stopper member 15 through the opening 10a of the guide body 10 when the rotating cover 25 is closed.
5 is rotated against the biasing force of the biasing member 17, and the entire stopper member is retracted from the state shown in FIG. 2 into the guide body 10 as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the automatic sheet feeder of this embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic paper feeder 1 is mounted in the manual insertion slot of the printer 100, and the rotary cover 25 is closed. Therefore, the stopper member 15
The contact member 38 is rotated against the urging force. From this state, when the rotating cover 25 is opened in order to place the stacked sheets on the mounting table 3, the engagement relationship between the contact member 38 and the stopper member 15 is released, and the stopper member 15 is moved to the biasing member 17. It is rotated by the biasing force. The rotation of the stopper member 15 is restricted by the restricting member 10b, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the horizontal portion 15b of the stopper member 15 is disposed between the sheet feeding roller 7 and the separation slope 11 in the mounting table 3a. It is almost flush with the surface of.

In this state, the sheet is placed on the table 3.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the laminated sheet has its front end portion reliably aligned with the vertical portion 15a of the stopper member 15, and its front end lower surface portion with certainty held by the horizontal portion 15b of the stopper member 15. It That is,
Such a shape of the stopper member 15 ensures reliable alignment and holding, and enables setting at a constant position at all times. Further, since the stopper member 15 is positioned between the paper feed roller 7 and the separation slope 11, when the stacked sheets are accommodated, the stacked sheets are prevented from entering from this portion and the sheets are not damaged.

When the rotating cover 25 is closed with the stacked sheets placed on the mounting table 3 as described above, the stopper member 15 is rotated by the abutting member 38 and the guide member is rotated, as shown in FIG. Evacuated within 10. In addition, the pressing roller 3
Since the support shaft 32 holding 0 can move up and down along the elongated hole 28 formed in the pressing roller support portion 27, the support shaft 32 can move up and down according to the stacking amount of the sheets, and the stacking sheet shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
The sheet is pressed by the pressing roller 30 held by the sheet feeding roller 7.

In this state, when the paper feed roller 7 is driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5 by a drive source (not shown), the laminated paper is entirely displaced toward the separation slope 11 side, and its front end portion is displaced. It contacts the separation slope 11. The lowermost sheet is separated into one sheet by the frictional force of the separation slope 11.
It is guided by the guide member 105 (see FIG. 2) on the printer side. Desirable separation slopes 11a and 11b in this embodiment
According to the first separation slope 11a, the lowermost sheet of paper is preceded by the downstream side of the upper sheet of paper, and the uppermost sheet of paper is retracted at the portion where it moves to the second separation slope 11b. Is subjected to separation action. Then, the second separation slope 11b is subjected to a reliable separation action, and only the lowermost one sheet is fed out. As described above, according to the configuration of the separation slope of the present embodiment, it is possible to surely separate the sheets into one sheet. The sheet separated into one sheet passes through a guide member 105 on the printer side and a pair of conveyance rollers 1 on the printer side.
07 (see FIG. 1), and the conveying roller pair 107
Is conveyed toward the printing section.

As described above, the stopper member 15 is
Since it is released together with the closing operation of the rotary cover 25, the configuration and operation are simple, and it is released when the paper is fed, so that no malfunction occurs. Further, since the stopper member 15 is located between the separation slope 11 and the paper feed roller 7, when the stacked sheets are accommodated, the sheets are prevented from entering from this portion and the sheets can be prevented from being damaged. Further, there is no need to provide a guide in this portion, and a load due to friction does not occur during the sheet conveyance, and stable sheet conveyance is achieved. In particular,
When the stopper member 15 is formed in a substantially L shape as in the present embodiment, the laminated paper can be reliably aligned and held, and the laminated paper can be reliably set at a fixed position, which is stable. The paper is conveyed.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a pair of arms 50 holding a weight roller 30a at the tip is rotatably held at the hinge 20 portion in the above embodiment. In this arm 50, as in the above embodiment,
An abutting member 38 for releasing the stopper member 15 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the arm 50 is lifted so that the stacked sheets are placed on the placing table 3, the stopper member 15 is rotated by the urging force of the urging member 17 and is also controlled by the regulating member 10b. It is regulated and held in the position shown by the solid line in the figure. Similar to the above embodiment, the laminated paper is approximately L
The front end portion is aligned and the lower surface of the front end is held by the V-shaped stopper member 15. And FIG.
When the arm 50 is rotated to press the weight roller 30a against the stacked sheets, the contact member 38 rotates the stopper member 15 against the urging force of the urging member 17 as shown in FIG. Retract inside the body 10. After that, by driving the paper feed roller 7, the stacked sheets are fed out from the lowermost sheet by the separation slopes 11a and 11b and conveyed to the printer side. According to the configuration of this embodiment, the configuration of the automatic paper feeder can be simplified.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously modified. For example, the stopper member for aligning the leading end portions of the stacked sheets and the contact member for releasing the stopper member may have shapes and configurations other than those shown in the drawings, and the stopper member may be a holder member. The engaging member may be biased in the direction of retreating to the position where the stopper member is rotated to the alignment and holding position of the stacked sheets against the biasing force.

[0028]

As described above, according to the automatic paper feeder of the present invention, the aligning means for aligning the stacked sheets is interlocked with the lid body or the pressing means, so that the structure is simple and Since the aligning means can be released when the paper is fed, no malfunction occurs.
Furthermore, the configuration of the aligning means allows the stacked sheets to be set in a predetermined position without causing double feeding and damage to the sheets.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an automatic sheet feeder according to the present invention,
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the printer is attached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of the automatic paper feeding device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a lid of the automatic sheet feeder shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a lid of the automatic paper feeder shown in FIG. 1 is opened and stacked sheets are placed on a placing table.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a lid of the automatic paper feeder shown in FIG. 1 is closed, and stacked sheets are separated and fed.

FIG. 6 is a view of FIG. 5 viewed from the front.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the automatic paper feeder according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a weight roller of the automatic paper feeder shown in FIG. 7 is pressed against laminated paper to separate and feed the laminated paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic paper feeding device, 3 ... Mounting table, 7 ... Paper feeding roller, 10
... guide body, 11 ... separation slope, 15 ... stopper member, 1
7 ... Energizing member, 25 ... Lid, 30 ... Pressing roller, 30a
... weight roller, 35 ... biasing member, 38 ... contact member,
50 ... Arm, 100 ... Printer (paper processing device).

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A loading table configured to be attachable to and detachable from a sheet processing apparatus, on which a plurality of sheets of paper can be placed, an openable / closable lid for covering the loading table, and the loading table placed on the loading table. A sheet urging mechanism that presses the plurality of sheets toward the mounting table, and a sheet feeding mechanism that sequentially feeds the lowermost sheet of the plurality of sheets mounted on the mounting table. Among the papers fed by the paper feed mechanism, a paper separating mechanism that separates the lowermost paper from other papers and feeds the paper to the paper processing device; and the plurality of papers mounted on the mounting table. An automatic sheet feeder, comprising: an aligning unit that aligns and arranges the leading ends of the sheets, and a releasing unit that releases the aligning unit, the releasing unit interlocking with the closing operation of the lid. 2. A mounting table which is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a sheet processing apparatus and on which a plurality of sheets can be mounted, and the plurality of sheets mounted on the mounting table are pressed toward the mounting table. A sheet urging mechanism, and a sheet feeding mechanism that sequentially feeds the lowermost sheet of the plurality of sheets placed on the placing table,
Among the papers fed by the paper feeding mechanism, a paper separating mechanism that separates the lowermost paper from other papers and feeds the paper to the paper processing device, and the plurality of sheets placed on the mounting table. The aligning means for aligning and arranging the leading end portions of the sheets and the releasing means for releasing the aligning means, the releasing means being interlocked with the pressing operation of the sheet urging mechanism. Paper equipment. 3. The aligning means aligns the leading end portions of the stacked sheets and holds the lower side surface thereof.
The automatic sheet feeder according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a member having a substantially L shape. 4. A mounting table configured to be attachable to and detachable from a sheet processing device and capable of mounting a plurality of sheets, and pressing the plurality of sheets mounted on the mounting table toward the mounting table. A sheet urging mechanism, and a sheet feeding mechanism that sequentially feeds the lowermost sheet of the plurality of sheets placed on the placing table,
Among the papers fed by the paper feeding mechanism, a paper separating mechanism that separates the lowermost paper from other papers and feeds the paper to the paper processing device, and the plurality of sheets placed on the mounting table. Aligning means for aligning and aligning the leading edge of the sheets of paper, and this aligning means aligns the leading edges of the stacked sheets and holds a member having a substantially L-shape so as to hold the lower side surface thereof. An automatic paper feeder, characterized by having.