JPH09221230A - Sheet material storage device and sheet material feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the setting of a sheet size from being forgotten by providing detecting means detecting the size of a sheet material via the detection of the position of a regulating means near an insertion port when a storage tool is fitted to a fitting means. SOLUTION: When a cassette 1 is inserted, the flags of a regulating plate cross corresponding detecting means 10, 11 respectively, and the outputs of the detecting means 10, 11 are changed. The detecting means 10, 11 are connected to the controller of a copying machine main body 2 in advance, and the outputs of the detecting means 10, 11 are inputted to the controller. The controller calculates the length of sheet materials based on the outputs of the detecting means 10, 11 and the output resistance value of a variable resistor.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material accommodating device which is detachably provided with a container capable of accommodating a plurality of sheet materials.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a sheet accommodating device used in a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like is a cassette 51 capable of selectively accommodating a sheet material of each standard size. Is detachably attached to the lower attachment portion of the apparatus main body 54. Although not shown, the cassette 51 is provided with a vertical regulation plate that regulates the end portion in the transport direction according to the size of the accommodated sheet material, and a horizontal regulation plate that regulates the end portion in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction. Further, a sheet size detecting means for detecting the size of the sheet material is provided. As the sheet size detecting means, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the detection pieces 52 are arranged corresponding to each standard size of the sheet material accommodated in the cassette 51, and the detection pieces 52 are mounted on the apparatus main body side when the cassette is mounted. It has been proposed that the size of the sheet material be detected by being read by the detection sensor 53 disposed in the. Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
52 is arranged on the back side of the cassette 51, and similarly, when the cassette is mounted, the detection piece 52 is read by the detection sensor 53 arranged on the back side of the apparatus main body to detect the size of the sheet material. Some have been proposed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is necessary to set the detection piece 52 according to the sheet size in addition to the work of aligning both the regulation plates according to the sheet material accommodated in the cassette. , There is a possibility that the detection frame 52 may be set incorrectly or forgotten. In addition, the sheet size that can be stored in the cassette 51 is the detection piece 52.
Since it is limited to the set number of sheets, etc., it is not possible to support all sheet sizes, and the number of sheet size types that can be accommodated is limited.

Further, in the case where the sheet size detecting means is arranged at the back side of the apparatus body as in the conventional example as shown in FIG. 14, normally, the inside of the apparatus body is provided with a built-in component such as a drive mechanism. Since they are densely packed, there is a problem in that the size of the device is increased in order to avoid interference between the two (internal components such as the sheet size detection unit and the drive unit).

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since it has a structure corresponding to each standard size of the sheet material, there is a problem that it is not possible to support a sheet size other than the standard size. Further, since the sheet size is detected when the cassette is completely installed, there is a problem that the post-processing performed on the apparatus body side is delayed accordingly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a forgetting setting of a sheet size and the like, and to cope with a sheet size other than a standard size. To provide a storage device.

[0007]

A typical structure of the present invention for achieving the above object is a container capable of accommodating and accommodating a plurality of sheet materials, and a sheet material housed in the container. When the container is mounted on the mounting means, a restricting means that can move the position of the sheet material according to the size of the sheet material in order to restrict the end portion of the sheet material, a mounting means that detachably mounts the container. And a detection unit that detects the size of the sheet material by detecting the position of the restriction unit in the vicinity of the insertion port.

According to the above construction, the size of the sheet material is detected by the detecting means detecting the position of the regulating means which is moved according to the size of the sheet material contained in the container. Therefore, it is possible to cope with various sheet sizes without being limited to the standard size sheet material, and it is possible to prevent forgetting to set the sheet size.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment Next, an embodiment of a sheet material accommodation device to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. In the following embodiments, a copying machine as an image forming apparatus including the sheet material accommodation device will be described as an example.
1 is an external perspective view showing the copying machine with the cassette pulled out, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cassette seen from the back side, FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing a schematic configuration around the cassette when the main body is mounted, and FIG. Is a top view of the cassette, FIG. 5 is a partial explanatory view of the cassette, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the insertion amount detecting means, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in output resistance with respect to the insertion amount of the cassette, and FIG. 8 is control of the apparatus. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the system, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the output of the detection means.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a copying machine main body, and a sheet material accommodating device according to the present invention is integrally provided on the lower part thereof. Inside the copying machine main body 2, an image reading means (not shown) for reading an image of a document is provided.
An image forming unit for recording and forming an image read by the image reading unit on a sheet material, a conveying unit including a large number of conveying rollers for conveying the original and the sheet material, a sheet guide, and the like are provided. .

Next, the sheet material accommodating apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a cassette as a container, which is capable of accommodating and accommodating a plurality of sheet materials and is detachable from a mounting portion 3 provided at a lower portion of the copying machine main body 2. Has become. Further, in the cassette 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in order to regulate the end portion of the contained sheet material S, the regulation means 4, 5 which can be moved in position according to the size of the sheet material S. , 6 are provided. Among the regulating means, 6 is a vertical regulating plate that regulates the end portion of the sheet material in the conveying direction, and 4 and 5 are horizontal regulating plates that regulate the end portion in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet material.
As shown in FIG. 5, the lateral restriction plates 4 and 5 are configured to move in association with each other by racks 7 and 8 and a gear 9.

Further, a detecting means for detecting the size of the sheet material S by detecting the positions of the regulating plates 4 and 6 is provided near the insertion opening 3a of the mounting portion 3. The detection means includes a detection means 10 for detecting the position of the horizontal regulation plate 4, a detection means 11 for detecting the position of the vertical regulation plate 6, and an insertion amount for detecting the insertion amount of the cassette 1 into the mounting portion 3. It is composed of the detection means 12. Further, the detection means 10, 11, 12 are fixed to predetermined positions of the insertion opening 3a of the mounting portion 3, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, a flag 4a projecting from the lower surface of the cassette 1 is integrally formed on the lower portion of the lateral regulation plate 4, and the flag 4a is formed in accordance with the movement of the lateral regulation plate 4. It is designed to move in the direction of the middle arrow. Therefore, the position of the lateral regulation plate 4 is detected by detecting the flag 4a by the detecting means 10 fixed at a predetermined position of the insertion opening 3a. Further, a claw 6a projecting from the lower surface of the cassette 1 is integrally formed on the lower portion of the vertical regulation plate 6, and a flag 13 that moves in the direction of the arrow in the drawing according to the movement of the claw 6a is moved by the wire 14. It is connected. Therefore, this flag 13 is inserted into the insertion port 3
The position of the vertical regulation plate 6 is detected by detecting with the detection means 11 fixed at a predetermined position of a. In the present embodiment, photo interrupters are used as the detection means 10 and 11.

As shown in FIG. 6, the insertion amount detecting means 12 is a cassette insertion amount detecting lever 12a that engages with a wall surface 1a provided on the side surface of the cassette 1, and the lever 12a moves when the cassette 1 is inserted. And the variable resistor 12b whose resistance value changes and the lever 12a in the cassette insertion direction (arrow A
Direction) and a return spring 12c that pulls back in the opposite direction. Therefore, when the cassette 1 is inserted, the wall surface 1a pushes the detection lever 12a in the direction of arrow A against the force of the return spring 12b, and the resistance value of the variable resistor 12b changes accordingly. This allows cassette 1
The insertion amount of is required.

In the above structure, the sheet materials S having a predetermined size are stacked and accommodated in the cassette 1, and the lateral regulating plates 4 and 5 are provided.
To the end of the sheet material in the width direction, and the vertical regulating plate 6 to the end (rear end) of the sheet material in the conveying direction. At that time, since the lateral restriction plates 4 and 5 are designed to move in conjunction with each other by the racks 7 and 8 and the gear 9 as shown in FIG. The lateral regulation plate 5 also moves in the same manner. As shown in FIG. 2, by the operation of adjusting the regulation plates 4, 5, 6 to the size of the sheet material S,
The flag 4a of the lateral regulation plate 4 moves to a position corresponding to the size of the sheet material S in the width direction. Similarly, by aligning the vertical regulation plate 6 with the end (rear end) of the sheet material S in the transport direction, the claw 6
a moves, and the flag 13 connected by the wire 14 also moves to a position corresponding to the size of the sheet material S in the transport direction in response to this movement.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the cassette 1 in the above-mentioned state is inserted from the insertion port 3a of the mounting portion 3 into the copying machine main body 2.
Insert inside the. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the detection lever 12 is moved by the wall surface 1a provided on the side surface of the cassette 1.
a is pushed, and the variable resistor 12b is pushed by the detection lever 12a.
Is moved. Due to the movement of the variable resistor 12b, FIG.
As shown in, the output resistance value R changes according to the insertion amount L of the cassette 1. As shown in FIG. 8, the variable resistor 12b is previously connected to the controller 20 of the copying machine main body 2, and the controller 20 outputs the output resistance value R of the variable resistor 12b.
The table holds the insertion amount L of the cassette 1 from the table.

When the cassette 1 is further inserted, the detection means corresponding to the flags 4a and 13 of the regulation plates 4 and 6, respectively.
Since 10 and 11 are crossed, the outputs of the detecting means 4 and 6 change as shown in FIG. Like the variable resistor 12b, the detecting means 4 and 6 are also connected in advance to the controller 20 of the copying machine body 2 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the outputs of the detection means 4 and 6 are input to the controller 20. Then, the controller 20 calculates the lengths L1 and L2 shown in FIG. 9 based on the outputs of the detection means 4 and 6 and the output resistance value R of the variable resistor 12b. Where the controller
Since 20 holds a table in which the length a from the length L1 in the width direction of the sheet material S (see FIG. 3) is held in advance, the length in the width direction of the sheet material S from the length L1 (lateral regulation plate 4,5
Interval a) is obtained. Similarly, the controller 20
Also holds a table in which the length b (see FIG. 3) of the sheet material S in the conveying direction is held from the length L2.
The length b of the sheet material S in the transport direction is also obtained from 2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the controller 20 includes a display section 21 for displaying various information, a drive system 22 for driving various motors in the apparatus, and an optical section 23 for reading an image of a document. Each is connected.

When the cassette 1 is completely mounted in the mounting portion 3 of the copying machine main body 2, the lifter 15 causes the middle plate 16 to move.
Is lifted and the sheet materials S in the cassette 1 are sequentially fed by the feeding roller 17 one by one from the top.

With the above-described structure, it is possible to detect various sizes of sheet materials simply by adjusting the regulation plates 4, 5, 6 to the size of the sheet material S in the cassette 1. Further, since the controller 20 can recognize the size of the sheet material S before the cassette 1 is completely mounted, for example, the so-called automatic scaling in which the document size is already determined and the document is magnified and copied so that the document just fits in the sheet size. In this case, the controller 20 can issue a movement instruction to the optical system 23 (zoom lens or the like) during the operation of inserting the cassette 1, so that the time required for copying can be shortened.

[Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment,
As the detection means, a configuration using a photo interrupter for detecting the flags 4a and 13 of the regulation plates 4 and 6 by crossing them has been illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a sensor of the type that detects reflected light is used as the detecting means 10 and 11 in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 10, a reflecting plate 18 is provided below the lateral regulating plate 4 along the lower surface of the cassette 1 to regulate the longitudinal regulation. A triangular reflector plate 19 may be provided below the plate 6 along the lower surface of the cassette 1.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the detection means 12 constituted by the wall surface 1a of the cassette 1, the detection lever 12a, and the variable resistor 12b is exemplified as the detection means for detecting the insertion amount L of the cassette 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a rack 24a is used instead of the wall surface 1a of the cassette 1, and a gear 24b is used instead of the detection lever 12a.
Instead of the variable resistor 12b, the potentiometer 24c
It is good also as the detection means 24 of the structure which arranged.

By adopting such a configuration, as in the above-described embodiment, the sheet materials S stacked and contained in the cassette 1 are stored.
By aligning the restriction plates 4, 5, 6 with the reflection plate 18,
The position of 19 moves according to the sheet size. Then, the cassette 1 is inserted from the insertion opening 3a into the mounting portion 3 of the copying machine main body 2.
Rack 24 provided on the side wall of the cassette 1 when it is inserted into
a meshes with the gear 24b of the copying machine main body 2 to rotate the potentiometer 24c. This potentiometer 24c
The resistance value R changes in accordance with the rotation angle of, but this corresponds to the insertion amount L of the cassette as in the above-described embodiment (see FIG. 7). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the length L3 is calculated by the controller 20 from the output of the detecting means 10 as in the above-described embodiment, and the length a of the sheet material S in the width direction is calculated.
(See FIG. 3) is required. Further, from the output of the detection means 11, for example, when the reflection plate 19 is in the solid line position in FIG. 10, the length of the reflected light is La, and when it is in the dotted line position in FIG. 10, the length of the reflected light is Lb. That is, since the length of the reflected light changes depending on the position of the vertical regulation plate 6, the controller 20 calculates the position of the vertical regulation plate 6 based on the lengths La and Lb.
The length b (see FIG. 3) of the sheet material S in the transport direction is obtained. In FIG. 10, 25 is a line indicating the position of the detecting means 11.

Therefore, with such a configuration, the sheet size in the cassette 1 can be detected. Further, in this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment described above,
Furthermore, since the protrusion on the back surface of the cassette 1 can be reduced,
The device can be downsized.

Although not shown, in the automatic loading type apparatus or the like in which the cassette 1 is taken in and out by a motor or the like, the variable resistor 12b as the insertion amount detecting means exemplified in the above-described embodiment is used instead. In the cassette 1
Attach an encoder etc. to the motor that takes in and out the
A configuration may be used in which the insertion amount L of the cassette 1 is measured.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the projections 26 are provided at equal intervals d on the end portion of the cassette 1 (positions of the rack 24a in FIG. 9), and the number of the projections 26 is counted by the sensor 27 attached to the copying machine main body 2. Alternatively, the insertion amount L of the cassette 1 may be measured. With this configuration, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the lateral regulating plate is detected on the regulating plate 4 side, but the regulating plate 5 is used.
The configuration may be performed on the side of. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the apparatus in which the sheet material feeding direction is perpendicular to the insertion direction (arrow A direction) of the cassette 1 has been exemplified, but an apparatus having other configuration, for example, the cassette insertion direction. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention even if the sheet materials are fed in the same direction.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the size of the sheet material is detected by adjusting the regulation means to the size of the sheet material accommodated in the container, it is possible to prevent forgetting to set the size of the sheet material. Further, by disposing the detecting means for detecting the size of the sheet material in the vicinity of the insertion opening of the mounting means, which is the front side of the apparatus, the size of the apparatus can be reduced. Further, it is possible to detect the size of the sheet material other than the standard size. Further, since the size of the sheet material is detected during the mounting operation of the container, the post-processing section can quickly respond, and the copying time and the like can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a cassette is pulled out in a copying machine according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cassette as seen from the back side.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the surroundings when the cassette is mounted on the main body.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cassette.

FIG. 5 is a partial explanatory view of the cassette.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1, showing the configuration of the insertion amount detection means.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in output resistance with respect to the insertion amount of the cassette.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of this device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an output of a detection unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cassette according to another embodiment as viewed from the back surface side.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an output of a detection unit.

FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged view of a cassette according to another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S ... Sheet material 1 ... Cassette 1a ... Wall surface 2 ... Copying machine main body 3 ... Mounting part 3a ... Insertion port 4,5 ... Horizontal regulation plate 4a ... Flag 6 ... Vertical regulation plate 6a ... Claw 7, 8 ... Rack 9 ... Gear 10 , 11 ... Detection means 12 ... Insertion amount detection means 12a ... Detection lever 12b ... Variable resistor 12c ... Return spring 13 ... Flag 14 ... Wire 15 ... Lifter 16 ... Middle plate 17 ... Feed rollers 18, 19 ... Reflector 20 ... Controller 21 ... Display 22 ... Optical 23 ... Drive system 24 ... Insertion amount detecting means 24a ... Rack 24b ... Gear 24c ... Potentiometer 25 ... Line 26 ... Protrusion 27 ... Sensor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A container capable of stacking and accommodating a plurality of sheet materials, and a position movable according to a size of the sheet material for restricting an end portion of the sheet material accommodated in the container. Regulating means, mounting means for removably mounting the container, and detecting the position of the regulating means in the vicinity of the insertion port when mounting the container on the mounting means A sheet material accommodating apparatus comprising: a detection unit that detects the size of the material. 2. The sheet material accommodation device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means has at least insertion amount detection means for detecting an insertion amount of the container into the mounting means. 3. The regulating means includes a vertical regulating means for regulating an end portion of the sheet material in the conveying direction, and a lateral regulating means for regulating an end portion in a width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction, and the detecting means includes the above-mentioned respective ones. The sheet material accommodating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising position detecting means for detecting a position of the regulating means and insertion amount detecting means for detecting an insertion amount into the container. 4. The sheet material according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is fixed near an insertion opening of a mounting means for mounting the container. Containment device. 5. A sheet material feeding device comprising the sheet material accommodating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.