JPH10258942A - Paper size detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an improper image from being formed when a size adjustment is changed from a right state by setting the size detection order of the both longitudinal and lateral sizes of a paper sheet to gradually getting smaller in the rotation direction in order and displaying the minimum and maximum sizes of the size display in such a state as separating an interval between presser parts or more. SOLUTION: A paper size detection sensor 10 has push switch parts 11a-11c and outputs a detection signal to a system control part. A disc operation board 12 which is also operated as a paper sheet size display means radially projects projection parts 20a-20f in different positions respectively in a central flat part. 19 in respective rotation areas of the push switch parts 11a-11c of the paper sheet size detection sensor 10 by changing the installation position and the installation number responding to the paper sheet size. The paper sheet sizes are displayed in such a state as gradually getting into a smaller size in the rotatable direction of the operation board 12 in order, the projection positions of the projections 20a-20f are responded to the size display, and an interval S is set between the maximum lateral size B4 side and the minimum lateral size A6 side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a printer, and detects a sheet size in a sheet cassette capable of storing sheets of different sizes used for image formation. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is an external view of a conventional facsimile apparatus in which various functions are combined. As shown in this example, sheets fed to an image forming section (not shown) are stacked and stored. There is a type in which a paper feed cassette 1 to be stored is detachably mounted to a facsimile apparatus main body 2.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the paper feed cassette shown in FIG. 8, and a known paper feed roller 4 and a paper feed roller The cassette body 3 is provided with
A paper size detecting device 7 described below, which is configured to display a paper size with the side opening 6 as a size presenting portion, is provided at the bottom of the printer.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the paper size detecting device, FIG. 11 is a plan view of a main part of the paper size detecting device of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
Indicates a plurality (three in the figure) of push switch units 11
a, 11b, 11c are provided, a paper size detection sensor for outputting a detection signal to a central control unit mounted on the apparatus main body 2, 12 is a disk-shaped operation plate also serving as a paper size display means, and 13 is a paper size Formed at the bottom of the cassette body 3 adjacent to the detection sensor 10 so as to have a central hole 13a;
Further, a receiving portion, on which a concave and convex portion 13b in which one side is a vertical surface and the other side is an inclined surface, is formed so as to have a central hole 14a in the center of the operation plate 12, and further around the periphery, This is a rotation receiving portion on which an uneven portion 14b having one vertical surface and the other inclined surface is formed.

A portion 15a is inserted into the central hole 14a from the lower side of the operation plate 12, and a portion 15a that passes through the central hole 13a of the receiving portion 13 and exits from the receiving portion 13 is locked by a stopper plate 16. The support shaft is to be fixed to the cassette body 3. 17 is wound around the support shaft 15 to urge the operation plate 12 upward,
Can rotate around the support shaft 15 (the uneven portion 13b
The rotation direction of the projections and depressions and projections 14b is restricted so as to be able to move up and down in one direction (only in the direction of the arrow), and the projections and depressions in the receiving portion 13 and the rotation reception portion 14.
This is an urging spring that brings the 13b into contact with the uneven portion 14b.

The operation plate 12 includes a rotation receiving portion 14 and an outer edge portion 18.
And a central flat portion 19. The central flat portion 19 has push switches 11 a and 1 in the paper size detection sensor 10.
In each of the rotation ranges 1b and 11c, projections 20a to 20f are protruded at different positions radially in different positions corresponding to the paper size and at different installation positions. Therefore, in this example, eight types of size detection can be performed by a combination of pressing and non-pressing states of the three push switch units 11a, 11b, and 11c. In this example, the protruding positions of the protrusions 20a to 20f correspond to six types of paper size display of A4 width, A5 width, A4 length, B5 length, B5 width, and B4 width, respectively.

In the paper size detecting means having the above-described configuration, the user rotates the operation plate 12 to display the paper size of the paper stored in the paper feed cassette 1 on the bottom side of the cassette main body 3 shown in FIG. It moves to the opening 6 so that it can be viewed. Then, the protrusions 20a to 20f of the operation plate 12 corresponding to the paper size display press (or non-press) the push switch units 11a, 11b, and 11c, and a detection signal due to the press is sent to the central control unit. The central control unit recognizes the paper size based on the data table of the combination of pressing and non-pressing, and sets each component mounted on the apparatus main body 2 to an operation mode suitable for the paper size.

[0008]

However, when the conventional paper size detecting means is used, the paper cassette 1 is removed from the apparatus main body 2 and the paper size is adjusted by rotating the operation plate 12 as described above. Later, when the user remounts the sheet cassette 1 into the apparatus main body 2, the user mistakenly operates the operation plate.
12 may cause the operation plate 12 to be inadvertently rotated and the paper size detection device 7 to be mounted on the apparatus main body 2 with a paper size different from the size of the stored paper. was there.

For example, after the A4 size paper is stored in the paper feed cassette 1 and the paper size detecting device 7 is also adjusted to the A4 size, when returning the paper feed cassette 1 to the apparatus main body 2, a large paper size, for example, B4 When the operation plate 12 is inadvertently rotated so as to match the size detection position, and the operation plate 12 is attached to the apparatus main body 2 as it is, the central control section of the apparatus main body 2 stores the B4 size paper in the sheet cassette 1. Is recognized as being stored.

In this state, when the facsimile unit of the apparatus automatically receives the document and the transmitted document size is B4 size, the apparatus recognizes that the B4 size paper is stored as described above. 1x reception.
Therefore, the size of the actually stored paper (A4) and the size of the original (B4) do not match, and all the received information is not printed (image formed) on the paper. A defect of dropping occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to prevent a problem in image formation from occurring even when the size adjustment is inadvertently changed from a correct state. It is to provide a detection device.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a paper feed cassette which can store sheets of different sizes in any direction and which is detachably provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. A paper size detection device used, comprising: a plurality of pressure detection members that output a detection signal when pressed; and a rotation operation member that is rotatably disposed in only one direction with respect to these pressure detection members. A plurality of groups of pressing portions provided at substantially constant intervals in the rotation direction of the rotary operation member for selectively pressing the pressure detection member according to the paper size, and an outer periphery of the rotary operation member And a size display section for displaying the size of the paper to be stored, and a size detection order that matches the size display is set in the rotation direction in the vertical direction of the paper size. Set to sequentially become smaller size's and horizontal size both, yet the minimum and maximum sizes in the size display, spacing 1 between the pressing portion
With this configuration, when the paper cassette is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the rotation operation member is inadvertently prepared from a state according to the actually stored paper size. Even if it rotates, the direction of rotation only rotates in the direction of the smaller size than the size of the actually stored paper, so it is actually smaller than the wrong paper size recognized as a device by the pressure detection means. Since the stored paper size is larger, all information can be printed even if, for example, the installed apparatus body automatically receives a facsimile, and the trouble that all the received information is not printed due to erroneous detection is avoided. be able to.
In addition, since the paper size is displayed by the rotary operation member, the maximum paper size is set next to the minimum paper size. Trouble can be prevented.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet size detecting device which is capable of storing sheets of different sizes in any direction and is used in a sheet cassette detachably provided in an image forming apparatus main body. A plurality of pressure detection members that output detection signals by selecting a rotation operation member that is rotatable in only one direction with respect to these pressure detection members, and selecting the pressure detection member according to the paper size For pressing, a plurality of groups of pressing portions installed at substantially constant intervals in the rotation direction of the rotary operation member,
A plurality of sizes are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary operation member for each paper size, and a size display unit for displaying the stored paper size is provided.
In the rotation direction, the paper size is set so that both the vertical size and the horizontal size are sequentially reduced, and divided into a vertical group and a horizontal group, and the interval between the display of the vertical group and the horizontal group is set. Even if the sheet cassette is capable of vertically and horizontally laying out sheets by this configuration, the same action as described above can be achieved even if the sheet feeding cassette is separated by at least one interval between the pressing portions. Trouble due to erroneous detection of paper size can be prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned configuration, the display of the size of the paper in which either the vertical size or the horizontal size is not smaller than the size of the next paper is performed between the display of the size of the paper and the display of the size of the next paper. Are separated by one or more intervals between the pressing portions. With this configuration, even when non-standard paper such as overseas paper is set, the same operation as described above is performed, and the paper size is reduced. Trouble caused by erroneous detection can be prevented.

Further, according to the present invention, when a portion between the size indications in the rotary operation member is present at a size indicating position in the image forming apparatus main body, the fact can be notified by the notifying means. According to this configuration, the user can be informed that the rotary operation member is at the non-detection position by a sound or a display from the notifying unit, and promptly take a corresponding action. Can be.

[0016]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 8 shows a paper size detecting apparatus according to this embodiment.
An example applied to the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 9 will be described. Members corresponding to the members described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a paper cassette 1 for storing and loading sheets is detachably mounted on the side of the facsimile apparatus main body 2, and at the bottom of the cassette main body 3, A paper size detection device 7 described below, which has a configuration in which the paper size is displayed with the side opening 6 as a size presentation portion, is provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 30 denotes a reading unit that reads image information from a document, 31 denotes a recording unit that records (prints) based on received image information and the like, and 32 denotes an encoding / decoding unit that encodes / decodes data related to information. , 33 is a system control unit (central control unit) that controls the entire system, 34 is a system memory which is a work area used in system control, 35 is an image information memory for storing image information as necessary, 36, an operation display unit provided with various input keys, LEDs, LCDs and the like for receiving input from a user and displaying various setting modes, etc., 37, a communication control unit for performing facsimile transmission control, and 38, a line A modem that modulates / demodulates an analog signal with the communication control unit 37, 39 is a DTMF detector that detects a DTMF signal sent from the line, and 40 is an external DTMF connected to the facsimile apparatus. The personal computer 41 is a data bus.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a paper size detecting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of (three in FIG. 3) push switch units are provided for a paper size detection sensor 10. 11a, 11b, 11c, and the system control unit 33
Output a detection signal. The disc-shaped operation plate 12 also serves as a paper size display means, and includes a rotation receiving portion 14 and an outer edge portion 18.
And a central flat portion 19. The central flat portion 19 has push switches 11 a and 1 in the paper size detection sensor 10.
In each of the rotation ranges 1b and 11c, the projections 20a to 20f are protruded at different positions radially different from each other in accordance with the paper size, by changing the installation position and the number of installations.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, three push switch units 11a (SW1), 11b (SW2), and 11c (SW
Eight types of sizes can be detected by a combination of pressing (ON) and non-pressing (OFF) states with respect to 3), and in this example, the size becomes smaller in the rotatable direction of the operation plate 12 in order. , B4 landscape (here, placing the paper longitudinally horizontally is referred to as landscape and described as landscape), A4 landscape, B
Six types of paper size are displayed in the order of 5 width, A5 width, B6 width, and A6 width, and the protruding positions of the protrusions 20a to 20f correspond to the size display, respectively. Further, an interval S is provided between B4 width of the maximum horizontal size and A6 width of the minimum horizontal size.

In this case, 360 degrees are divided into eight at the central flat part 19, and six of them are assigned to the protruding parts 20a to 20f, for example, as shown in FIG. S is assigned. Of course, in this case,
Since there are only seven types of position settings, 360 degrees may be divided into seven parts. Alternatively, the protruding positions and the intervals S of the protruding portions 20a to 20f may be appropriately assigned and set by dividing into eight or more.

The operation plate 12 can rotate only in one direction (arrow direction) and can move up and down by regulating the rotation direction of the concave and convex portions 13b and 14b. In addition, the urging spring 17 urges the uneven portion 13b and the uneven portion 14b of the receiving portion 13 and the rotation receiving portion 14 in a direction in which they are always in elastic contact.

By the way, after removing the paper cassette 1 from the facsimile apparatus main body 2 and operating the operation plate 12 to adjust the paper size, when the paper cassette 1 is mounted on the facsimile apparatus main body 2 again, the user may make an error. The operation plate 12 is inadvertently rotated by touching the operation plate 12, and the push switches 11a, 11b, and 11c of the paper size detection sensor 10 are pressed by the projections 20a to 20f corresponding to the positions by the rotation. The system controller 33 detects a size different from the size of the paper stored in the paper cassette 1 and detects the size of the paper.
May output a detection signal.

Even if the user does not notice this, according to the apparatus of this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the erroneously detected paper size is determined by gradually changing the rotation direction of the operation plate 12 to the paper size. Is smaller than the actually stored paper size, for example, even if automatic facsimile reception is performed, as a facsimile device, the system control unit 33 actually stores the paper. The paper size may be divided or reduced because it is recognized and received as paper of a smaller size than the paper size specified.However, the received information does not match the paper size because the received size does not match the paper size. There is no problem that the is discarded.

Further, since the display of the paper size is sequentially provided around the operation plate 12, the maximum size is set next to the minimum size (in this example, A4 width is displayed next to B4 width next to B4 width). When the minimum size paper is stored, the operation plate 12
If the 12 is rotated carelessly, an erroneous detection state for detecting the maximum size may occur, which may cause a problem at the time of print recording as in the related art. However, in this example,
As mentioned above, the maximum width is B4 width and the minimum width is A
By setting the interval S between the six sides, a non-detection state is set, and trouble due to erroneous detection can be prevented.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a paper size detecting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Assuming that the detection sizes are B4 side, A4 side, B5 side, and A5 side in the rotatable direction on the plate 12 in order,
Regardless of the position where the size display and detection from A5 horizontal to B5 vertical are set at any position, they are not in the small size order as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the device of the second embodiment, such a position is provided with an interval S in the same manner as described above to cope with the erroneous detection as described above.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the detection sizes are set to B4 side, A4 side, B5
Horizontal, A5 horizontal, B5 vertical, and A5 vertical, and intervals S1 and S2 are set at two locations between A5 horizontal and B5 vertical and between A5 vertical and B4 horizontal.

In this case, 360 degrees are divided into eight at the central flat part 19, and six of them are assigned to the protruding parts 20a to 20f, for example, as shown in FIG. Both of the intervals have the same protrusion setting as either one). Also, divide it into 8 or more, and projecting parts 20a-20f
And the intervals S1 and S2 may be appropriately assigned and set.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a paper size detecting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the paper feed cassette 1 that enables the use of paper sizes other than the prescribed A size and B size, for example, letter paper used in North America, the letter size of A4 size is 210 mm x 297 mm. The size of the paper is 216 mm x 279 mm, and the A4 size is longer in the longitudinal direction than the letter paper, but shorter in the transverse direction. In the case of detection, recording and printing of information is lost in the short direction. Conversely, if the setting is made in the order of letter width to A4 width, a problem occurs in which information recording and printing is missing in the longitudinal direction due to erroneous detection.

Therefore, in the device of the third embodiment, the operation plate
In order of the detection size in the rotatable direction in 12, B4
Horizontal, A4 horizontal, B5 horizontal, A5 horizontal, B5 vertical, A5 vertical, letter horizontal, and three intervals between A5 horizontal to B5 vertical, between A5 vertical to letter horizontal, and letter horizontal to B4 horizontal S1, S2,
S3 is set to cope with the erroneous detection as described above.

In this case, 360 degrees are set to 1 in the central flat portion 19.
For example, as shown in FIG. 7, seven portions are assigned to the protrusions 20a to 20g for detecting the paper size, and the other three portions are separated by the intervals S1, S2, S3 (the same projection is applied to both the intervals, as shown in FIG. 7). Department setting). Also, the projecting positions of the projecting portions 20a to 20g and the intervals S1, S2, S3
May be assigned and set as appropriate.

In each of the above embodiments, when the spaces S, S1, S2, and S3 are located in the side opening 6 that is the size presenting portion, the system control unit 33 recognizes that. The buzzer, speaker, or the like provided in the facsimile apparatus main body 2 notifies the user of the fact by sound or voice, and the operation display unit 36 displays the sound of the buzzer, the speaker, and the like so as to confirm the size. It is also conceivable to provide appropriate notification means. By doing so, the user can quickly respond to the erroneous detection.

[0034]

As described above, according to the paper size detecting device of the present invention, when the paper cassette is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the paper cassette is rotated from the state adjusted to the paper size actually stored. Even if the operation member is rotated carelessly, the direction of rotation is smaller than the size of the actually stored paper, and it rotates only in the display direction and detection direction. than,
Since the actually stored paper size is larger, all information can be printed even if, for example, the installed apparatus body automatically receives facsimile, so that all information received due to erroneous detection is not printed. That trouble can be avoided.

In addition, between the sizes that are not always in the order of the small size, a trouble due to erroneous detection can be prevented by providing an empty space at a position corresponding to the size in the rotary operation member and making the detection state non-detection.

Further, the user can be informed that the rotary operation member is at the non-detection position by a sound or a display from the notification means, and can promptly respond to it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a paper size detection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between ON / OFF and size detection in a push switch unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus for explaining the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a paper size detecting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between on / off and size detection in a push switch unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a paper size detecting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between ON / OFF and size detection in a push switch unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a conventional facsimile machine.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the sheet feeding cassette of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the paper size detecting device of FIG.

11 is a plan view of a main part of the paper size detecting device of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... paper feed cassette, 2 ... facsimile machine body,
3 ... cassette body, 6 ... side opening of cassette body
(Size presenting section), 7: paper size detection device, 10: paper size detection sensor, 11a, 11b, 11c: push switch section, 12: operation plate, 13b, 14b: unevenness Department, 15 ...
-Support shaft, 20a-20g ... Projection, 33 ... System control part, 36 ... Operation display part, S, S1, S2, S3 ... Interval.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet size detecting device which can store sheets of different sizes in an arbitrary direction and is used in a sheet cassette detachably provided in an image forming apparatus main body. A plurality of pressure detection members that output detection signals, a rotation operation member disposed to be rotatable in only one direction with respect to these pressure detection members, and selectively press the pressure detection members according to a sheet size. And a plurality of groups of pressing portions provided at substantially constant intervals in the rotation direction of the rotary operating member, and a plurality of paper sizes provided and stored on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary operating member for each paper size. And a size display unit for displaying the paper size, and the size detection order corresponding to the size display is set so that both the vertical size and the horizontal size of the paper size are sequentially reduced in the rotation direction. In addition, the minimum size and the maximum size in the size display are determined by the distance 1 between the pressing portions.
A paper size detection device characterized by being displayed at least two pages apart. 2. A sheet size detecting device which can store sheets of different sizes in any direction and which is used in a sheet cassette detachably provided in an image forming apparatus main body. A plurality of pressure detection members that output detection signals, a rotation operation member disposed to be rotatable in only one direction with respect to these pressure detection members, and selectively press the pressure detection members according to a sheet size. And a plurality of groups of pressing portions provided at substantially constant intervals in the rotation direction of the rotary operating member, and a plurality of paper sizes provided and stored on the outer peripheral portion of the rotary operating member for each paper size. And a size display unit for displaying the size of the paper size in the rotation direction so that both the vertical size and the horizontal size of the paper size are sequentially reduced in the rotation direction. Paper size detection wherein a vertical group and a horizontal group are separately set, and the display between the vertical group and the horizontal group is separated by at least one interval between the pressing portions. apparatus. 3. A paper size display in which either the vertical size or the horizontal size is not smaller than the size of an adjacent paper,
3. The paper size detecting device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the display of the paper size and the display of the next paper size is separated by one or more intervals between the pressing portions. 4. When a portion between size indications of the rotary operation member is present at a size presenting position in the image forming apparatus main body, the fact can be appropriately notified by a notifying means. Claim 1, 2, or 3
Paper size detection device according to the above.