JPH0920434A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase paper feed capacity of an automatic paper feeder and reduce substantial set up space. SOLUTION: A plurality of decks 10a, 10b for supporting a sheet loaded are arranged in a transverse direction under an image forming means 55, to be made drawable out in the same direction. An external shape of right/left front/rear of the decks and an automatic paper feeder constituted by a feed means or the like corresponding to the respective decks are formed almost the same to an external shape of an image forming device main unit including the image forming means 55. In this way, a large amount of sheets can be received to a sheet support means, to be able to increase a paper feed capacity further to be able to perform work of such as supplementing a sheet from the same direction, so as to reduce substantial set up space of the device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic sheet feeding device provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a printing device or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as the above-mentioned copying machine, it is desired to reduce the size of the apparatus in order to reduce the installation space. On the other hand, in order to eliminate the trouble of replenishing sheets, it is desired to provide a feeding device capable of feeding a large amount of paper even in a downsized image forming apparatus.

In response to these demands, as a conventional example,
As shown in FIG. 7, a paper deck b capable of storing and feeding a large amount of sheets is arranged on a side surface of an apparatus main body a, and sheets are supplied from the paper deck b.

However, in this configuration, the space of the apparatus is increased by the amount that the paper deck b projects sideways from the side of the apparatus. Further, since sheets are replenished to the paper deck b from the side of the apparatus, a work space for the replenishment is required, and a substantial installation space is increased.

On the other hand, US Pat. No. 4,888,829 discloses an arrangement in which a pair of trays for storing sheets to be sent to a printer are arranged in a frame supporting the printer. In this apparatus, a pair of trays are arranged in an inverted V-shape, and sheets are discharged from an outlet provided near an upper portion of a frame, and fed to an inlet provided in the center of the lower surface of the printer. It is configured.

As described above, by arranging a plurality of sheet storage means in the frame supporting the printer, it is possible to increase the sheet feeding capacity.

[0007]

However, in the conventional apparatus in which a paper deck is arranged on the side of the apparatus main body,
Sheet replenishment and cassette loading must be performed from the side of the apparatus main body, and a work space for performing these operations is required on the side, and even if the image forming apparatus can be reduced in size, it is substantially required. It is impossible to reduce the installation space.

In the case where a pair of trays are arranged in a frame supporting the printer, the sheet supply position is limited to the center so that the sheet is supplied from the center of the frame. There is a problem that the degree of freedom of design such as the connection relationship with the device is low. Further, since sheets are replenished from the left and right sides of the frame, a work space is required on the left and right sides of the frame, and a substantial reduction in installation space cannot be achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic paper feeder capable of increasing the paper feed capacity and substantially reducing the installation space.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the present invention according to claim 1 supplies a sheet to the image forming means below the image forming means. In an image forming apparatus provided with an automatic paper feeding device for
The automatic sheet feeding device has a plurality of sheet supporting means for stacking and supporting the sheets arranged side by side in a lateral direction, and supplies the sheets supported by the sheet supporting means in correspondence with each sheet supporting means. It is characterized in that a feeding means is provided, and the outer shape of the automatic paper feeding device in the front-rear, left-right direction is substantially the same as the outer shape of the image forming means.

The present invention according to claim 2 is characterized by further comprising guide means for supporting the respective sheet support means so as to be drawn out in the same direction.

In the present invention according to claim 3, the feeding means are arranged so that the feeding directions of the sheets supported by the sheet supporting means by the feeding means are substantially the same. The guide means supports each sheet support means so as to be able to be pulled out in a direction intersecting a sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the sheet feeding means feeds the sheet fed from the one sheet supporting means to the image forming means and the other sheet supporting means. And a second conveying unit that conveys the sheet sent by the feeding unit to the first conveying unit through the upper side of the one sheet supporting unit and conveys the sheet to the image forming unit. .

[Operation] According to the above construction, the outer shape in the front-rear, left-right direction of the automatic sheet feeding device in which the sheet supporting means is arranged side by side in the lateral direction is substantially the same as the outer shape of the image forming means, so that the image forming apparatus is installed. A large number of sheets can be accommodated without increasing the area, and the paper feeding capacity can be increased.

Further, when the sheet feeding directions of the respective feeding means are substantially the same, and the respective sheet supporting means are supported so as to be able to be drawn out in a direction intersecting the sheet feeding direction of the feeding means, Since the pull-out direction is the same, operations such as sheet replenishment can be performed from the same side.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an apparatus M according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a copying machine main body 50 is placed on a pedestal 1. Inside, decks (sheet supporting means) 10a and 10b, which are paper feeding means capable of feeding a large amount of paper, are provided.

The sheet feeding means in the pedestal 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state where the decks 10a and 10b are mounted, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in the state where 10b was removed.

Reference numeral 2 is a caster that supports the pedestal 1, and 3 is an adjuster that functions as a stopper for fixing the apparatus. Reference numeral 5 denotes a bottom plate, 6 denotes a ceiling plate, and the bottom plate 5 and the ceiling plate 6 are fixed by columns 7, 9 disposed on the near side and the back side, respectively. One side of the pedestal 1 is a door 1a that can be opened and closed.

The decks 10a and 10b are provided by rollers (guide means) 11 and 12 so that they can be easily pulled out from the front side of the apparatus main body (the operating side of the copying machine 50). The decks 10a and 10b are provided with middle plates 13a and 13b for supporting the sheets P, respectively.
a and 13b are raised and lowered by a lifting means (not shown) such that the uppermost sheet _PT of the stacked sheets P is always at a fixed position.

Next, the feeding means 20a, 20b for feeding the sheet P from each deck 10a, 10b will be described.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, 35 is a feeding means 20.
Reference numeral a denotes a side plate, and reference numeral 36 denotes a side plate of the feeding means 20b.
Each side plate 35, 36 is front and rear (direction perpendicular to the paper surface)
Are provided in parallel with each other. The side plate 36 extends in the direction of the feeding means 20a, and has a distal end portion 36a.
A gap CL is formed between the side plate 35 and the side plate 35.

First, the feeding means 20a will be described.
A stay 40 is fixed to each of a pair of side plates 35 (only one is shown) arranged in front and rear.
A feed roller shaft to which the feed roller 16a is attached extends between the feed rollers. A support plate 41a is swingably attached to the feed roller shaft, and a feed roller 15a is provided at one end of the support plate 41a. The paper feed roller 15a is in contact with the uppermost sheet _PT at a predetermined pressure by appropriate means. Note that the feed roller 16a and the paper feed roller 15a are connected to a drive source (not shown) so as to rotate in a sheet feeding direction by a drive transmission unit (not shown).

A swing shaft 19a is stretched between the end portions 36a of the side plates 36, and a swing plate 37a is swingably attached to the swing shaft 19a. Rocking plate 37
A retard roller 17a is attached to a, and the retard roller 17a is in contact with the feed roller 16a at a predetermined pressure by a spring 39a connected to a swing plate 37a. The retard roller 17a is connected to a driving source (not shown) via a torque limiter (not shown) so as to rotate in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.

Next, the feeding means 20b will be described. A pair of side plates 36 arranged at the front and rear (only one is shown)
Each has a stay 42 fixed thereto.
A feed roller shaft to which the feed roller 16b is attached is stretched between them. A support plate 41b is swingably attached to the feed roller shaft, and a feed roller 15b is provided at one end of the support plate 41b. The paper feed roller 15b is in contact with the uppermost _PT at a predetermined pressure by an appropriate means. The feed roller 16b and the paper feed roller 1
Reference numeral 5b is connected to a drive source (not shown) so as to rotate in the sheet feeding direction by drive transmission means (not shown).

Further, a swing shaft 19b is stretched between the side plates 36, and a swing plate 37b is swingably attached. A retard roller 17b is attached to the oscillating plate 37b, and the retard roller 17b is
b by a spring 39b connected to the feed roller 16b.
At a predetermined pressure. Retard roller 17b
Is a drive source (not shown) via a torque limiter (not shown) so as to rotate in the direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.
Is connected to

The retard rollers 17a and 17b provided on the feeding means 20a and 20b are the feed rollers 16 according to the withdrawal of the decks 10a and 10b.
a, 16b. This structure is as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). The cam surface 80 is provided on the side surfaces of the decks 10a and 10b, the lever 81 is rotatably supported by a shaft 81a and has one end in contact with the cam surface 80, and the direction in which the lever 81 contacts the cam surface 80. And a link member 83 provided at the other end of the lever 81. The link member 83 is engaged with swing support plates 37a and 37b that support the retard rollers 17a and 17b.

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), decks 10a, 1
0b is stored in the pedestal 1, the lever 81 is at the projecting position of the cam surface 80, and the retard rollers 17a, 17b are driven by the feed rollers 16a, 16a at a predetermined pressure.
It is located on the left side in the figure so as to be pressed against 16b.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), decks 10a, 1
0b is pulled out, the contact portion of the lever 81 becomes the cam surface 8
The lever 81 rotates and moves by the urging force of the spring 80 from 0, and the link member 83 moves the swing support plates 37a and 37b against the urging force of the springs 39a and 39b, and the retard rollers 17a and 17b Feed rollers 16a, 16b
Move to the right in the figure to move away from

Here, the retard rollers 17a, 17b
In the case where two or more sheets P enter between the feed rollers 16a and 16b and the retard rollers 17a and 17b, the coefficient of friction between the sheets is smaller than that of the sheets. Feed roller 16
a, 16b and the friction coefficient between the retard rollers 17a, 17b, the retard rollers 17a, 17b, which are configured to reverse in principle, are retarded by a friction force slightly larger than the friction force between the sheets P. Roller 17
The sheet P on the side a, 17b is reversely fed, and the feed rollers 16a,
The sheet P on the 16b side is sent out.

However, when one sheet P enters between the feed rollers 16a, 16b and the retard rollers 17a, 17b, the friction between the sheet and the retard rollers 17a, 17b is passed through the one sheet. Since the rotational force generated by the coefficient is transmitted to the retard rollers 17a and 17b, the torque limiter slips with respect to this rotational force. Therefore, when one sheet is being fed by the feed rollers 16a and 16b, the retard roller is retarded. Laura 17
a and 17b rotate forward following the feed rollers 16a and 16b. In this way, reliable separation is achieved.

Next, the means for conveying the sheet will be described.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the sheet P sent out from the feeding means 20a is a guide 22, 23, a guide 25, 26 and a guide 29, which constitute the second conveying means.
Guided by 30. The sheet P sent from the feeding means 20b is connected to a guide 30, which constitutes a first conveying means,
Guided to 31. Guides 29, 30 and Guide 30,
The sheet 31 joins the guides 32 on the main body side, and the sheet P guided by each guide is sent to the copying machine main body 50 by the guide 32. A registration roller pair 33 is disposed on the guide 32, and the timing of the feeding timing of the fed sheet P and the timing of the transfer timing of the image forming unit are set.

The transport section 2 provided in the second transport means
1a is composed of the guides 25 and 26 and a pair of rollers 27 and 28, which are one unit, and can be pulled out in the same direction as the decks in a state where the decks 10a and 10b are pulled out. Has become. Further, the guides 25 and 26 can be opened and closed by a hinge (not shown) in a state in which the transport unit 21a is pulled out.

A sensor S (jam detection sensor) for detecting the stop of the sheet is provided in the vicinity of the roller pair 27 of the conveying section 21a. It should be noted that other jam detection sensors (not shown) are appropriately disposed at predetermined positions on the respective transport paths and the transport paths of the image forming unit.

Next, the overall structure will be described with reference to FIG. Pedestal 1 containing decks 10a and 10b
Another automatic paper feeder 70 is provided between the printer and the copying machine main body 50. The automatic paper feeder 70 includes a first cassette 71 and a second cassette 72, and each of the cassettes 71, 72 is detachable from the front side (operating side of the copying machine).

The sheets P stored in the cassettes 71 and 72 are separated and fed one by one by a feeding means (not shown). This feeding direction is a direction that intersects with the drawing direction of the cassettes 71 and 72, and the fed sheet P
Joins with the path (common path) by the guide 32. The path provided by the guide 32 is connected to a sheet insertion port 50a formed at the bottom of the copying machine main body 50. The sheet insertion opening 50a is connected to one of the side walls 50.
It is provided at a position offset to the b side.

Therefore, the sheets P fed from the decks 10a and 10b and the cassettes 71 and 72 are guided by the guide 32.
Is sent to the copying machine main body 50.

The image forming section of the copying machine will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

The main body 50 of the copying machine is provided with a document placing table 51, a light source 52, and a lens system 53, and a copying section including a cylindrical photosensitive member (image forming means) 55 and the like is provided at the center of the main body 50. It is arranged. Around the photoconductor 55, a developing device 56 containing a toner, a transfer charger 57, a separation charger 58, a cleaner 59, and a primary charger 60 are provided.

A conveying device 61, a fixing roller 62, a discharging roller 63, etc. are arranged on the downstream side of the copying section.

Then, when a paper feed signal is output from a control device (not shown) provided on the main body 50 side, the automatic paper feed device starts feeding.

On the other hand, the light reflected from the light source 52 on the original placed on the original placing table 51 is reflected by the lens system 5.
Irradiation is performed on the photoconductor 55 through the third photoconductor 3. The photoreceptor 55 is charged in advance by a primary charger 60, and is irradiated with light to form an electrostatic latent image, and then a developing device 56 forms a toner image.

The sheets fed from the cassettes 71 and 72 are skew-corrected by the registration rollers 64, and the sheets are fed to the copying section with the timing adjusted. In the copying section, the toner image of the photoconductor 55 is transferred to the transfer paper by the transfer charger 57, and the transferred sheet is charged by the separation charger 58 to the opposite polarity to the transfer charger 57, and Separated.

Then, the separated copy paper is conveyed by the conveying device 6
1 to the fixing roller 62, and the unfixed transferred image is permanently fixed by the fixing roller 62. The sheet on which the image has been fixed is discharged from the apparatus main body to the outside by the discharge roller 63.

In this way, an image is formed on the sheet fed from the sheet feeding device by the image forming device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system for controlling the paper feeding operation.

When the size of the sheet P is selected by the operator by the selection switch SW, the control means 100 causes the cassette 71, on which the sheets P of the selected size are stacked.
72 or issue a paper feed command to the decks 10a and 10b,
The feeding means that has received the instruction starts feeding paper. Further, when jamming of the sheet P is detected by a jam detection sensor for detecting jamming of the sheet P, the control means C outputs a signal for stopping sheet feeding based on the detection signal and interrupts sheet feeding.

The operation of the above configuration will be described.

The sheet P sent from the deck 10a by the feeding means 20a is carried by the carrying section 21a and sent to the copying machine main body 50 through the guide 32 to form an image. Similarly, the deck 10b and the cassettes 71, 7
The sheet P sent out from the printer 2 is also sent to the copying machine main body 50 through the guide 32 to form an image.

If a paper jam occurs while the sheet P is being sent out from the deck 10a (when the sensor S detects the stop of the sheet P), or while the sheet P is being continuously fed, the guide 32 When the sheet P is jammed in the copying machine main body 50 or the like and the sheet P is stopped while being sandwiched between the feed roller 16a and the retard roller 17a, the deck 10a can be pulled out to easily take out the sheet. .

Here, there are two ways to take out the stopped sheet P. When the leading end side of the stopped sheet P is not sandwiched by the roller pair 27 of the transport section 21a, the deck 10a is pulled out. Then, the retard roller 17a is separated from the feed roller 16a in conjunction with the pulling-out operation, so that the stopped sheet P has side plates 35, 36a.
And is easily taken out together with the deck 10a through the gap CL. Further, when the leading end side of the stopped sheet P is sandwiched between the roller pair 27 of the conveyance unit 21a, the sheet P cannot be taken out even if the deck 10a is pulled out because the sheet P is sandwiched between the roller pair 27. Transport unit 21a
, The sheet P is pulled out through the gap between the side plates 35 and 36a. Then, the sheet P is removed by opening the guide 26.

If the sheet P sent from the deck 10b is jammed midway, the door 1a on the side surface of the pedestal 1 may be opened and taken out. Also, the feeding means 20
b has the same configuration as the feeding means 20a, and the deck 10b
, The jammed sheet P may be taken out.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, instead of extending the side plate 36 and providing the retard roller 17a at the tip end 36a, a short side plate 43 is provided, and the side plate 43 is provided with the paper feed unit 20.
b for supporting the retard roller 17a of the paper feeding unit 20a.
Is provided on the upper end portion of the column 45 fixed to the bottom plate 5. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment.

According to this structure, since the short side plate 43 is used instead of the long side plate 36, the processing and mounting are easy. It should be noted that other configurations and operations are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the place where the decks are arranged side by side may be inside the pedestal, but inside the frame integrally formed with the main body of the copying machine. Depending on the situation, three or more decks may be arranged side by side. Regarding the separating means, regardless of the retard method, another separating method such as a nail separating method or a separating method using a friction pad may be used.

Next, regarding another embodiment of the present invention,
Description will be given with reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. 96 is deck 1
A sheet feeding / conveying unit that feeds and conveys the sheet P stored in 0a, and is configured by integrally forming the sheet feeding unit 95 and the conveying unit 21a. The paper feeding / conveying unit 96 includes guide rails 91 and 92.
Has been installed in pedestal 1 by.

FIG. 9 shows an operation diagram of each part. Deck 10
As shown in the figure, a and 10b can be pulled out to the front of the apparatus main body and can be freely inserted.
1, 92, it can be pulled out to the near side and inserted freely as shown.

As a result, the paper feeding / conveying unit 96 can be easily taken out from the inside of the main body, and the removal of the sheet P at the time of jamming, the replacement of mechanical members such as the paper feeding roller, and the maintenance such as inspection can be performed very easily. Can be made. Further, the paper feeding unit 93 disposed at the most downstream side is configured to be detachable from the paper feeding device as indicated by a two-dot chain line in the case of maintenance such as replacement and inspection of a mechanism member.

In FIG. 10, the paper feeding / conveying unit 96 is shown when jammed.
5 shows a coupling mechanism that is pulled out integrally with the deck 10a. 1
Reference numeral 02 denotes a side plate of the sheet feeding / conveying unit 96, and a self-holding solenoid 103 is fixed to the side plate 102. 1
Reference numeral 06 denotes a connecting arm, which is swingably supported about a rotating shaft 107, and one end of which is connected to the iron core 10 of the solenoid 103.
5 and is always urged downward by a spring 108.

On the other hand, on the side wall 109 of the deck 10a, a lock plate 110 is swingably supported around a rotary shaft 111, is constantly urged by a spring 112 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and is stopped by a stopper 113. .

The solenoid 103 and the connecting arm 10 described above.
6, the lock plate 110 and the like constitute a connecting means for pulling out the sheet feeding / conveying section 96 in conjunction with the pulling-out operation of the deck 10a.

Next, the operation will be briefly described.

In a normal state, the solenoid 103 is not energized and the connecting arm 106 is in a state shown by a chain line by the urging force of the spring 108. In this state, the lock plate 110 and the
The connecting arm 106 is separated, and the deck 10a can be freely taken in and out.

Next, when the sheet P stays in the sheet feeding / conveying unit 96 due to a jam or the like, the solenoid 103 is energized and the connecting arm 106 is displaced to the state shown by the solid line. Here, since the solenoid 103 is a self-holding type, even after the energization is turned off, the state of the solid line position is maintained by the permanent magnet in the solenoid 013 until the next energization of the reverse magnetism.

In this state, since the connecting arm 106 is in the interference position with the stopper 113, the paper feed / conveyance unit 96 is also pulled out at the same time when the deck 10a is pulled out.

When the processing of the jammed sheet P is completed, the solenoid 103 is energized with the reverse magnetism, and the connecting arm 106 returns to the initial state (chain line state). In addition,
When the connecting arm 106 is in the solid line state, the deck 10
Even if a is inserted (direction D), since the lock plate 110 can swing, the connecting arm 106 can be retracted.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It shows in FIG. In addition, the same thing as the first embodiment is
The same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted, and the sheet feeding units 20a and 20b, which are essential parts of the present embodiment, particularly the retard roller 1 are provided.
The support structure of the shafts 7a and 17b and the shafts 19a and 19b of the torque limiter will be described.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 35 is a side plate of the paper feeding unit 20a, and 36 is a side plate of the paper feeding unit 20b. And
The shaft 19a of the torque limiter of the paper feeding unit 20a is supported by the transport unit side plate 130. And retard roller 1
7a is supported via a retard roller supporting plate 37 supported by a torque limiter shaft 19a, and is urged by a spring 39 to the feed roller 16a at a predetermined pressure. Also,
The feed roller 16a includes an upper stay 40 fixed to the side plate 35.
The feed roller 15a is supported by a feed roller support plate 41 that is supported by the shaft of the feed roller 16a.
a.

The feed roller 16b is supported by the side plate 36 via the upper stay 42, and the shaft 19b of the torque limiter is provided.
Are also supported by the side plate 36. Note that the paper feed roller 15
b, the supporting method of the retard roller 17b is the same as that of the feed roller 15a and the retard roller 17a.

Next, the support structure of the transport section will be described. Plastic support rails 133 and 135 are fastened to the guide 25 on the long transport section 21a. Further, the paper feed unit 20b is provided with transport rail tables 131 and 132, and the support rails 133 and 135 are fitted. The transport unit is provided with a handle (not shown), and by pulling the handle forward, the transport unit 21a can be moved forward by the action of the rail member.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

The sheets P fed from the cassette 10a by the sheet feeding roller 15a are securely separated by the feeding roller 16a and the retard roller 17a and fed one by one as described above, and the guide 23, the guide 25, It is conveyed by a pair of rollers 27 and 28 via 26, and further guide 2
After 9 and 30, the registration roller pair 33 of the apparatus main body 32
To reach.

In the middle of this, when the sheet P causes a paper jam, or when the sheet P is jammed at a part in the apparatus main body 32 during the continuous feeding of the sheet P and the sheet conveyance is stopped. When the sheet P is sandwiched between the feed roller 16a and the retard roller 17a and stopped, the sandwiched sheet P is easily removed because the transport section and the sheet feeding section are integrally supported.

Further, the sheet P from the cassette 10b is fed by the feed roller 15b, further separated and conveyed one by one by the feed roller 16b and the retard roller 17b, and guided inside the apparatus main body 32 via the guides 30 and 31. To the registration roller pair 33.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the transport unit 2
Although the side plate 130 that supports the retard roller unit and the torque limiter unit of the sheet feeding unit 1a and the sheet feeding unit 20a is provided, the guide plate 25 may be integrally provided for the purpose of cost reduction.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the sheet supporting means is arranged laterally below the image forming means, a large number of sheets can be accommodated without projecting the sheets laterally from the image forming means to increase the sheet feeding capacity. In addition, since each sheet supporting means can be pulled out in the same direction, work such as replenishment of sheets can be performed from the same side, a substantial installation space can be reduced, and workability is also improved. Can be achieved.

Further, the sheet supporting means is arranged side by side in the lateral direction below the image forming means, and the sheet sent from the other sheet supporting means is conveyed through the conveying section above the one sheet supporting means. With the above configuration, the sheet can be supplied from the end of the image forming unit on the upper side, so that the degree of freedom in design can be increased.

Further, if the conveying portion is provided so as to be pulled out in the same direction as the sheet supporting means, the jam processing of the sheet can be performed from the same side as the work such as the replenishment of the sheet and the jam processing can be easily performed. The workability is improved, and the installation space can be substantially reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an image forming apparatus including an automatic paper feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of a feeding unit provided in a pedestal of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a mounting structure of a feeding unit of the feeding unit.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing another embodiment of the mounting structure of the feeding unit.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a mechanism for separating a retard roller from a feed roller.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an image forming apparatus having a conventional automatic sheet feeder.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an image forming apparatus including an automatic paper feeding device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the feeding unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a connection mechanism of the feeding unit.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of an automatic paper feeding device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional side view of the entire pedestal having the automatic sheet feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

M image forming apparatus P sheet CL gap 1 pedestal 1a opening / closing doors 10a, 10b deck (sheet supporting means) 11, 12 rollers (guide means) 15a, 15b paper feed rollers 16a, 16b feed rollers 17a, 17b retard rollers 16b, 17b 1 Conveying means 20a, 20b Paper feeding portion (feeding means) 21a Conveying portion 32 Main body side guide 33 Registration rollers 35, 36 Side plate 50 Copier main body 55 Photoconductor 55 (image forming means) 70 Paper feeding means 71 First Cassette 72 second cassette 91,92 guide rails 93,95 paper feed section (feeding means) 96 paper feed transport section (integrated transport section and feed means) 100 control device 103 solenoid 106 connecting arm 110 Lock Plate 103, 106, 110 Connecting Means 117 Paper Feeding Section (Feeding Means) 19 transport unit 103 transporting unit front plates 131 and 132 transport rail base 133, 135 support rail (rail member)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Agency reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/00 516 G03G 15/00 516

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising an automatic sheet feeding device for supplying sheets to the image forming unit, the image forming unit being provided below the image forming unit, wherein the automatic sheet feeding unit stacks and supports the sheets. A plurality of sheet supporting means are arranged side by side in the lateral direction, and a feeding means is provided corresponding to each sheet supporting means for feeding out the sheet supported by the sheet supporting means, and the front and rear and right and left directions of the automatic sheet feeding device are provided. An image forming apparatus having the same outer shape as that of the image forming means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising guide means for supporting each of the sheet supporting means so as to be pulled out in the same direction. 3. The respective feeding means are arranged so that the feeding directions of the sheets supported by the respective sheet supporting means by the respective feeding means are substantially the same, and the guide means is the respective sheet supporting means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is supported so that the sheet can be pulled out in a direction intersecting a sheet feeding direction by the feeding unit. 4. A first transporting sheet, which is sent from one sheet supporting means by a feeding means, to the image forming means.
Second transporting means and second sheet transporting means for feeding the sheet sent from the other sheet supporting means by the feeding means to above the one sheet supporting means to merge with the first transporting means and to the image forming means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. A conveyance unit located above the one sheet supporting unit in the second conveying unit is supported so as to be drawn out in the same direction as the drawing direction of the sheet supporting unit. The image forming apparatus according to item 4. 6. A second automatic device having a sheet supporting unit for supporting a sheet and a feeding unit for feeding the sheet supported by the sheet supporting unit, between the image forming unit and the automatic sheet feeder. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet feeding device. 7. A guide for supporting each sheet supporting means provided in each of the automatic sheet feeding device and the second automatic sheet feeding device so as to be able to be pulled out in a direction intersecting a sheet feeding direction of each sheet feeding device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sheet supporting means of the automatic sheet feeding device is a deck, and the sheet supporting means of the second automatic sheet feeding device is a cassette. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit is mounted on an upper surface of the automatic paper feeding device. 10. An image forming apparatus comprising an automatic sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to the image forming unit below the image forming unit, wherein the automatic sheet feeding device stacks and supports the sheets. A plurality of sheet supporting means are arranged side by side in the lateral direction, and a feeding means is provided corresponding to each sheet supporting means in order to send out a sheet supported by the sheet supporting means. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the upper projected area is substantially the same as the projected area of the image forming means.