JPH10273245A - Paper feeding cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive paper feeding cassette so as to be dispos able by stacking recording paper sheets on a paper raising plate to be housed in a box shape and separating the recording paper sheets one by one by the rotation of a paper feed roller pressure-contacted with the recording paper sheets via a pair of separation catches. SOLUTION: A paper feeding cassette 1 houses recording paper sheets 2 in a box shape by stacking them on a recording paper raising plate 3, and in the front side of the recording paper sheets 2 in a transfer direction and the left and right corner parts of the upper surface 1c of the paper feeding cassette 1, a pair of separation catches 1c1 and 1c2 for separating the recording paper sheets 2 from one another are integrally formed in a roughly symmetrical triangular shape. Since a paper feed roller is rotated in a clockwise direction while being pressure-contacted with the uppermost one of the recording paper sheets stacked on the recording paper raizing plate by pressing force of a leaf spring, the recording paper sheets 2 are surely separated one by one by the pair of separation catches 1c1 and 1c2 integrally formed in the left and right corner parts of the upper surface 1c of the paper feeding cassette 1 and the paper feeding cassette 1 is disposed of.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a box-shaped interior in which recording paper is stacked and stored on a recording paper push-up plate, and
The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette in which a pair of separation claws are integrally formed substantially symmetrically at the left and right corners on the upper surface in the front of the recording paper transport direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an automatic paper feeder applied to a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like has a feeder provided with a recording paper separating means for separating recording papers stacked in a box one by one. A paper cassette is used.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional paper feed cassette.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the conventional paper feed cassette 100 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box. Further, a recording paper push-up plate 101 is urged upward by a compression spring 102 below the inside of the paper feed cassette 100, and a plurality of recording papers 103 are stored in a state where the recording papers 103 are stacked on the recording paper push-up plate 101. I have.

A pair of separation claws 10 are provided inside the paper feed cassette 100 to separate the uppermost recording paper 103.
Reference numerals 4 and 105 denote front left and right front corners 103 a and 1 of the recording paper 103 in the transport direction (direction of the arrow) of the recording paper 103.
03b is provided in the vicinity. At this time, the recording paper push-up plate 1
01 at the front corner 103 of the recording paper 103 laminated on
a and 103b are a pair of separation claws 104, 1 by the urging force of a compression spring 102 for urging the recording paper push-up plate 101 upward.
05 is prevented from projecting upward by contacting the lower side.

Further, an upper portion of the sheet feeding cassette 100 is opened, and a sheet feeding roller 106 of an automatic sheet feeding device (not shown) is provided at the upper portion so as to be rotatable clockwise in the drawing. Is pressing the uppermost recording paper 103 in front of the recording paper 103 in the transport direction. On this occasion,
The pressing force of the paper feed roller 106 utilizes the urging force of the compression spring 102 described above.

Then, the recording paper 1 is stored in the paper feed cassette 100.
The sheet cassette 100 is mounted on the automatic sheet feeding apparatus in a state where 03 is stored. Here, the paper feed roller 106 of the automatic paper feeder rotates clockwise in the drawing, and the uppermost recording paper 1
03 moves in the transport direction, but the movement of the front corner portions 103a and 103b of the recording paper 103 is temporarily prevented by the pair of separation claws 104 and 105 in the initial stage of the transport, so that the vicinity of the front corner portions 103a and 103b. Is bent upward, and when the bending reaches the limit, the front corner 1
03a and 103b are released from the pair of separation claws 104 and 105, and only the uppermost recording paper 103 is separated from the lower recording paper 103 and sent out of the paper feed cassette 100.

[0008]

In the conventional paper feed cassette 100, a pair of separation claws 104 and 105 are used to separate the uppermost recording paper 103.
0, and is provided inside the sheet cassette 10 separately.
The structure of 0 is complicated.

On the other hand, recently, thermal transfer printers and the like have been actively reduced in size and weight, and recording paper used for small thermal transfer printers and the like has an outer size of about business card size or telephone card size. Some paper cassettes are also required to be downsized. At this time, for a paper feed cassette which is required to be miniaturized, a recording paper separating means having a simple structure capable of reliably separating only the uppermost recording paper is desired. Further, it is desired that the sheet cassette, which is required to be reduced in size, can be easily attached to and detached from a small-sized thermal transfer type printer or the like, has a portability, and is disposable.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has a recording paper sheet laminated on a recording paper push-up plate and housed in a box-shaped interior. A pair of separation claws are integrally formed substantially symmetrically at the left and right corners of the upper surface in the front of the transfer direction, and the recording paper is rotated through the pair of separation claws by rotation of a paper feed roller pressed against the recording paper. This is a sheet feeding cassette for separating sheets one by one.

Further, the paper feed cassette of the present invention is formed by using a hard paper material.

Further, the paper feed cassette according to the present invention is characterized by being formed with a thin wall using a resin material.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a paper feed cassette according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a paper feed cassette according to the present invention, FIG. 2 (A) ~ (C) is a top view showing a paper feed cassette according to the present invention, Y ₁ longitudinal sectional view, Y ₂ Longitudinal section,
FIG. 3 is an enlarged configuration diagram showing an example of a thermal transfer printer to which the sheet cassette according to the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette 1 according to the present invention stores recording paper 2 in a box-like shape and stores the recording paper 2 on a recording paper push-up plate 3. A pair of separation claws 1 are provided at the left and right corners of the upper surface 1c in the front of the transfer direction.
It is characterized in that c ₁ and 1c ₂ are integrally formed substantially symmetrically.

The recording paper 2 accommodated in the paper cassette 1 has an outer size of about the size of a business card or a telephone card. Therefore, the size of the paper cassette 1 is reduced, and portability is improved. And is configured to be disposable, and can be detachably attached to a small-sized thermal transfer printer 10 (FIG. 4) as an example as described later.

The paper feed cassette 1 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped box by using a paper material (hard paper) harder than the recording paper 2 or by using a resin material to form a thin wall. Recording paper push-up plate 3 placed on bottom surface 1b of paper feed cassette 1
Plural pieces are stored in a state of being stacked on top. At this time, the recording paper push-up plate 3 also uses a paper material (hard paper) that is harder than the recording paper 2.

A rear surface 1d of the sheet feeding cassette 1 facing the front surface 1a is temporarily opened. When the recording paper 2 and the recording paper push-up plate 3 are stored from the rear surface 1d, the rear surface 1d is opened.
d is closed.

A pair of separation claws 1c ₁ , 1c ₂ for separating the recording paper 2 are provided at the left and right corners of the upper surface 1c of the paper feed cassette 1 in the forward direction of the recording paper 2 in a triangular shape. Are formed integrally with each other.
c ₁ and 1c ₂ are the main parts of the present invention, and are formed corresponding to the left and right front corners 2 a and 2 b of the recording paper 2.

Further, from the left and right sides of the upper surface 1c of the paper feed cassette 1 to the upper part of the front surface 1a, the recording paper feed port 1c ₃ is moved along the pair of separation claws 1c ₁ and 1c ₂ while the pair of separation claws 1c
_1, 1c are opened like a slit between _2, the recording paper feed port 1c ₃ are formed to allow passage of the recording paper 2 having a width B.

Further, a thermal transfer printer 10 which will be described later in front of the paper feed cassette 1 of the bottom face 1b (Fig. 3) a leaf spring 12 provided on the side (2, 3) a hole 1b ₁ which enters the穿接On the other hand, in front of the upper surface 1c of the paper feed cassette 1, a half-moon-shaped paper feed roller 13 provided on the side of the thermal transfer printer 10 is provided.
(2, 3) a hole 1c ₄ that enters is穿接.
Then, the leaf spring 12 is recording paper push-up plate 3 through the hole 1b ₁
The recording paper 2 laminated on the recording paper push-up plate 3 is pushed up to the inside of the upper surface 1c while being in contact with
When the paper feed roller 13 comes into contact with the uppermost recording paper 2 with the urging force of 2, the pressure of the paper feed roller 13 against the recording paper 2 is obtained. At this time, the front corners 2a and 2b of the recording paper 2 stacked on the recording paper push-up plate 3 have a pair of separation claws 1c ₁ and 1c ₁ , which are urged by a compression spring 12 that urges the recording paper push-up plate 3 upward.
Below the 1c ₂ contacts is prevented from jumping out upward.

Next, the operation of the paper feed cassette 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C. The paper feed roller 13 is stacked on the recording paper push-up plate 3 by the urging force of the leaf spring 12. While rotating in the clockwise direction in the figure (in the direction of the arrow) while pressing against the recording paper 2 of the uppermost layer, the recording paper 2 of the uppermost layer moves in the transport direction.
Of the front corners 2a and 2b of the pair of separation claws 1
Since the area is temporarily blocked by c ₁ and 1c ₂ , the vicinity of the front corners 2 a and 2 b is bent upward as shown in FIG. 2C, and when the bending reaches the limit, the front corner 2 is prevented.
a, 2b is opened by a pair of separation claws _1c 1, _{1c 2,}
Only the uppermost recording paper 2 is separated from the lower recording paper 2 and sent out of the paper feed cassette 1.

Accordingly, a pair of separating claws 1c ₁ , 1c integrally formed at the left and right corners of the upper surface 1c of the sheet cassette 1.
₂ the recording sheet 2 can be reliably separated one by one by, and can provide an inexpensive paper feed cassette 1 since the structure of the recording paper separating device according to the pair of separating claws 1c _1, 1c ₂ is simple In addition, the paper cassette 1 can be disposable.

Next, a thermal transfer printer 10 employing the sheet cassette 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The thermal transfer printer 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a small size with good portability. That is, in the thermal transfer printer 10, a small paper feed tray 1 described above from the opening 11a ₁ which is open below the front 11a side of the housing 11 as a base is detachably attached. At this time, a leaf spring 12 is fixed to the bottom plate 11b of the paper feed tray storage portion of the housing 11, and a half-moon shaped paper feed roller 13 is provided on the side of the upper plate 11c of the paper feed tray storage portion in the clockwise direction (arrow direction) in the figure. It is provided rotatably. Then, the paper feed tray 1 is
When installed in the paper tray 12, the leaf spring 12
enters the hole 1b ₁ which is穿接to b, and the recording paper 2 pushes upwardly stacked on the recording paper push-up plate 3, the paper feed roller 13
There has so feeding of the recording paper 2 is started when the pressure from the hole 1c ₄ was穿接on the upper surface 1c on the recording paper 2 of the uppermost layer.

On the left side in the figure downstream of the front surface 1a of the paper feed cassette 1, a printing start end (rear) 2c of the recording paper 2 is provided.
A capstan roller 15 connected to a motor (not shown) for reciprocating the recording paper 2 in the left and right direction at a constant speed and rotatable counterclockwise and clockwise in the drawing. A pinch roller 16 which is pressed against the roller 15 and is driven while nipping the recording paper 2 between the capstan roller 15 and supporting the pinch roller 16 at one end and compressing the other end via a rotation shaft 17 A pinch roller arm 19 for pressing the pinch roller 16 against the capstan roller 15 via a spring 18 is provided.

A platen roller 20 that rotates while abutting the recording paper 2 is supported by one end of a platen roller arm 21 on the left side of the drawing downstream of the capstan roller 15 and the pinch roller 16. The arm 21 is connected to a vertical movement mechanism (not shown), and rotates around a rotation shaft 22 so that the platen roller 20 can freely contact and separate from a thermal head 27 described later.

Above the platen roller 20, a plurality of inks such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are provided between the supply reel 24 and the take-up reel 25 in the transfer paper cartridge 23. Are sequentially and repeatedly applied.

Further, a thermal head 27 having a plurality of heating elements in the width direction of the recording paper 2 is fixed downward on the back side of the transfer paper 26 on the ink color side.

Further, the surface 11d after the housing 11, a recording paper discharge port 11d ₁ is opened. Each of the above-described components is installed so that the transfer path of the recording paper 2 from the feeding of the recording paper 2 to the discharge thereof is substantially straight.

The operation of the thermal transfer printer 1 having the above configuration will be briefly described. First, at the time of paper feeding, a half-moon-shaped paper feeding roller 13 rotates clockwise in FIG. , Only the uppermost recording paper 2 is separated by the pair of separation claws 1c ₁ and 1c ₂ (FIGS. 1 and 2) and passes through the recording paper feed port 1c ₃ (FIGS. 1 and 2). ,
Thereafter, the recording paper 2 is sandwiched between a capstan roller 15 rotating counterclockwise in the figure and a pinch roller 16 driven by the capstan roller 15, and the recording paper 2 is moved to the left in the figure until the printing start end 2 c is detected by the photosensor 14. It is transported toward. At this stage, front temporarily protruding from the recording paper discharge port 11d ₁ of the recording paper 2, and paper feed roller 13 is separated from the recording paper 2 of the uppermost layer at the time the paper feed is completed. On the other hand, at the time of paper feeding, the platen roller 20 is separated from the thermal head 27 and waits below.

After that, when the printing start end 2c of the recording paper 2 is detected, the capstan roller 15 rotates in the reverse direction and rotates clockwise in the drawing, so that the recording paper 2 is transported rightward in the drawing and the platen roller 20 is moved. Is pressed against the thermal head 27 via the recording paper 2 and the transfer paper 26. Here, the print information corresponding to the first color yellow (Y) is supplied to the thermal head 27, so that the printing of the first color yellow (Y) on the recording paper 2 is started by the thermal head 27 while winding the transfer paper 26. I do. During this printing, the recording paper 2 is temporarily stored between the upper surface 1c of the paper feed cassette 1 and the upper plate 11c of the paper feed tray housing.

Then, at the printing end position of the first color yellow (Y), the platen roller 20 is separated from the thermal head 27 side, and the same operation is repeated to repeat the second color magenta (M) and the third color. printing a cyan (C), the printing is paper discharging the recording sheet 2 from the recording sheet discharging port 11d ₁ of the housing 11 upon completion.

In the embodiment, the sheet cassette 1 according to the present invention is applied to an example of the thermal transfer printer 10, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0035]

According to the paper feed cassette of the present invention described in detail above, the recording paper is stacked on the recording paper push-up plate and stored inside the box-shaped paper feed cassette, and the recording paper is stored in the box. A pair of separation claws are integrally formed substantially symmetrically at the left and right corners of the upper surface of the sheet cassette in the front of the transport direction, so that the recording paper can be reliably separated one by one by the pair of separation claws. Since the structure of the recording paper separating means using a pair of separation claws is simple, a paper feed cassette can be provided at low cost.
The paper cassette can be disposable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a paper feed cassette according to the present invention.

[2] (A) ~ (C) is a top view showing a paper feed cassette according to the present invention, Y ₁ longitudinal sectional view, a Y ₂ longitudinal sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an enlarged example of a thermal transfer printer to which a sheet cassette according to the present invention is applied.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a plan view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional sheet cassette.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... paper feed cassette, 1c ... top, _1c 1, 1c 2 _... a pair of separation claws, 2 ... recording paper, 2a, 2b ... front corner, 3
... on a recording paper push-up plate, 10 ... thermal transfer printer, 13 ... paper feed roller.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording paper is stacked on a recording paper push-up plate and housed in a box-shaped interior, and a pair of separation claws are substantially symmetrically provided at left and right corners on an upper surface in front of the recording paper in the transport direction. A paper feed cassette formed integrally with the recording paper and separating the recording paper one by one via the pair of separation claws by rotation of a paper feed roller pressed against the recording paper. 2. The paper feed cassette according to claim 1, wherein said paper feed cassette is formed using a hard paper material. 3. The paper feed cassette according to claim 1, wherein said paper feed cassette is formed of a resin material to have a small thickness.