JPH1111706A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeding device of such constitution that recording medium pressure members take refuge at the time of supplying a recording medium and that the recording medium presser members function again when supply of the recording medium is completed. SOLUTION: A paper feeding device is composed of an opening 20 opened in a top face 21 so as to be opposed to a tray vertically moved with recording paper laminated thereon, a cover 25 with its base end part rotatably fitted to the top face 21 so as to open/close the opening 20, and presser members 30, 31 provided at the cover 25, at the opposed face to the opening 20, so as to be able to come in contact with the recording paper on the tray when the cover 25 is put in a closed state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeder connected to an image forming apparatus and supplying a recording medium to the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional paper feeder will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5A, reference numeral 1 denotes an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and reference numeral 2 denotes a sheet feeding device provided on a side of the image forming apparatus 1 to supply a recording medium to the image forming apparatus 1.

An opening 2a is formed in the front of the sheet feeding device 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a tray which is provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the sheet feeding device 2 through the opening 2a and has an open surface 3a formed on the upper surface.

The supply of the recording medium to the sheet feeding device 2 having such a configuration is performed by pulling out the tray 3 from the sheet feeding device 2 and from the open surface 3a of the tray 3. Next, in FIG. 5B, an openable and closable side cover 5 is provided on a side surface of the sheet feeding device 4 provided on the side of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0005] The supply of the recording medium to the sheet feeding device 4 having such a configuration is performed by opening the cover 5.

[0006]

Generally, in a paper feeder, in order to prevent curling of a stacked recording medium, a pressing member extending from above to a vicinity of the recording medium and a top member of the stacked recording medium are provided. And a delivery roller for delivering the recording medium in contact with the recording medium.

In the paper feeder having the configuration shown in FIG. 5A, it is necessary to pull out the tray 3 and retreat the recording medium pressing member and the feed roller before replenishing the recording medium. Similarly, in the sheet feeding apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 5B, it is necessary to retract the recording medium pressing member and the feed roller before opening the cover 5 and replenishing the recording medium.

In the conventional paper feeding device, the retraction of the recording member pressing member and the feed roller is manually performed,
In addition, a mechanism is provided for detecting withdrawal of the tray 3 and opening of the cover 5 with a sensor and retracting the recording medium pressing member and the feed roller.

However, there is a problem that it takes time and costs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object of the present invention is to retreat a recording medium holding member when replenishing a recording medium with a simple configuration, and finish replenishing the recording medium. Then, it is again to provide a sheet feeding device in which the recording medium holding member functions.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a simple structure in which the feeding roller is retracted when the recording medium is replenished, and when the recording medium is replenished, the feeding roller becomes functional again. A paper device is provided.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a paper feeder connected to an image forming apparatus and supplying a recording medium to the image forming apparatus, wherein the recording mediums are stacked and arranged in a vertical direction. An opening formed on the top surface so as to face the tray to be moved to, a cover whose base end is rotatably attached to the top surface, and a cover that opens and closes the opening, and a cover facing the opening of the cover. And a pressing member provided to extend to the vicinity of the recording medium on the tray when the cover is in a closed state.

When the cover is in the closed state, the pressing member provided on the cover extends to the vicinity of the recording medium to prevent the recording medium from being excessively curled. When the cover is opened to replenish the recording medium, the pressing member moves together with the cover and retracts from the recording member.

When the cover is closed, the pressing member is again positioned near the recording medium, thereby preventing the recording medium from being excessively curled. With a simple configuration in which the pressing member is provided only on the surface facing the opening of the cover, the recording medium pressing member can be retracted by simply opening the cover, and the recording medium pressing member can function only by closing the cover. .

Here, from the viewpoint of reducing the number of assembling steps and the manufacturing cost, the holding portion is formed as follows.
It is preferable that the cover is formed integrally with the cover. The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2,
An arm having a base end rotatably attached to the top surface side, a feed roller rotatably provided at the tip end side of the arm and capable of contacting a recording medium on the tray; A sheet feeding device, comprising: a connecting member locked by a cover and the other end locked by the arm.

When the cover is open, the delivery roller is in contact with the recording medium, and the recording medium can be delivered. When the cover is opened, the delivery roller also moves with the cover via the connecting member and retracts from the recording medium.

When the cover is closed, the delivery roller comes into contact with the recording medium, and the recording medium can be delivered. A feed roller is provided rotatably on the tip side,
With a simple structure in which the base end is rotatably provided on the top side and the cover and the cover are connected by a connecting member, the feed roller retracts by simply opening the cover, and the feed roller by simply closing the cover. Can function.

Here, from the viewpoint that the connecting member can be easily attached and detached during maintenance, it is desirable that the connecting member is a spring. In the case where the recording medium pressing member and the delivery roller are provided, it is preferable that the recording medium pressing member be located near the rotation axis of the delivery roller when the cover is closed.

That is, by prohibiting excessive curling of the recording medium in the vicinity of the delivery roller, a stable delivery of the recording medium can be obtained.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the sheet feeding device of the present embodiment and an image forming apparatus to which the sheet feeding device is connected will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a paper feeder, and 100 denotes a digital copying machine as an image forming apparatus. (1) Image Forming Apparatus 100 At the top of the digital copying machine 100, a document placing plate 101 on which a document G is placed is provided.

The original G has a mirror 111 which moves integrally with the exposure lamp 110 and mirrors 112 and 113 which are V-shaped and which move half the moving distance of the mirror 111.
Is read by the imaging lens 114 and the CCD 115.

A charger 103, a developing unit 104, a transfer unit 105, a separator 10
6. The cleaning devices 107 are arranged in the order of operation. Digital image data read by the CCD 115 is superimposed on laser light emitted from a laser (not shown) and scanned by the polygon mirror 116. The scanned laser light is reflected by mirrors 117 and 118, and f
The photosensitive member 102 having the charge applied to the photosensitive layer surface by the charger 103 is exposed through the θ lens 119, the cylindrical lens 120, and the mirror 121 to form an electrostatic latent image.

Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 104,
A visible image based on a toner image is formed on the photosensitive layer surface of the photosensitive member 102. Further, in the upper and lower positions below the digital copying machine 100, a sheet feeding unit 130 for duplex copying and a sheet feeding unit 1 are provided.
The paper feed units 140, 150, and 160 store recording papers P as recording media of different sizes.

For example, when the recording paper P stored in the paper feeding unit 140 is selected, the recording paper P is fed to the paper feeding roller 14.
1, only one sheet is fed, and this recording sheet P is
2 to transport.

Similarly, the paper feed units 150 and 160
When the recording paper P stored in the printer is selected, only one recording paper P is fed by the paper feed rollers 151 and 161, and the recording paper P is transported by the guide rollers 152 and 162.

Then, the recording paper P is transported along the transport path 170 in the direction of the photoconductor 102 on which the toner image has been formed. Then, the recording paper P is temporarily stopped by the registration roller 172, and the toner image formed on the photoconductor 102 and the recording paper P are stopped.
Are fed in such a manner that the values of.

Next, the toner image on the photosensitive member 102 is transferred onto a recording sheet P by a transfer unit 105, and the recording sheet P is separated from the surface of the photosensitive member 102 by a separator 106. Then, the recording paper P is transported to the fixing device 180 by the transport device 173.

The fixing device 180 includes a heating roller 181 and a pressure roller 182, and the toner image on the recording paper P is stably fixed on the recording paper P by the heating roller 181 and the pressure roller 182. .

The recording paper P on which the fixing has been completed is discharged by discharge guide rollers 174. In the case of one-sided copying, the discharge switching member 175 is lowered, and the recording paper P is discharged to the discharge tray 176 as it is.

In the case of double-sided copying, the discharge switching member 175 is raised, the recording paper guide 177 is opened, and the recording paper P is transported in the direction of the dashed arrow. Further, the recording paper P is transported downward by the transport mechanism 178, is switched back by the recording paper reversing unit 179, and the rear end of the recording paper P is transported into the double-sided copy feeding unit 130 as the leading end. You.

The recording paper P is fed to a paper feed unit 130 for duplex copying.
The recording paper P is moved again in the paper feeding direction by the conveyance belt 131 provided in the
To guide the recording paper P to the transport path 170.

Again, as described above, the recording paper P is conveyed in the direction of the photoconductor 102, the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the recording paper P, fixed by the fixing device 180, and then discharged to the discharge tray 176.

(2) The paper feeder 1011 is a tray that moves vertically in a vertical direction by a drive source (not shown). On the tray 11, the stacked recording papers P are arranged. In the sheet feeding device 10 of the present embodiment, the upper surface of the recording paper P stacked on the tray 11 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the upper surface of the recording paper P is always at the same position (height). The driving source (not shown) is driven so as to be as shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a delivery roller which contacts the upper surface of the stacked recording papers P and sends out the topmost recording paper P.
5 is the recording paper P fed by the feed roller 14
Is more than two, the uppermost recording paper P is conveyed only, and the other recording papers P are pushed back, and the recording paper P conveyed from the double-feed prevention roller pair 15 is pushed back. It is a pair of conveying rollers for conveying to the conveying path 170 in the digital copying machine 100.

Next, an upper portion of the sheet feeding device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 which is a configuration diagram illustrating a main part of an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes an opening formed on the top surface 21 so as to face the tray 11 on which the recording papers P are stacked and moved in the vertical direction. On this top surface 21,
A base end is rotatably mounted, and a cover 25 for opening and closing the opening 20 is provided. When the cover 25 is in the closed state, the tray 11 is located close to the surface of the cover 25 in the rotation axis direction of the delivery roller 14.
Two pressing members 30 extending to near the upper recording paper P,
31 are formed integrally.

Next, the delivery roller 14 will be described with reference to FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of the delivery roller in FIG. The base ends of the first and second arms 40 and 41 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 19 of the upper roller 15a of the double feed prevention roller pair 15 provided on the top surface 21 side.
At the tip of these first and second arms 40 and 41,
A shaft 18 of the feed roller 14 is rotatably provided.

Further, the shaft 19 and the shaft 18 are connected to the pulley 5
A belt 52 is wound around these two pulleys 50 and 51, and the double feed prevention roller pair 15 is fixed.
The rotational driving force acting on the upper roller 15a of the
0, belt 52, feed roller 14 via pulley 51
It is transmitted to.

The first arm 40 has a bent section 4
0a is formed. The delivery roller 14 moves with the opening and closing movement of the cover 25 by a spring 45 as a connecting member having one end locked to the cover 25 and the other end locked to the bent section 40 a of the first arm 40. It is supposed to.

Next, the operation of the sheet feeding device 10 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. (1) When the cover is closed (see FIG. 4A) The feed roller 14 comes into contact with the upper surface of the recording paper P stacked on the tray 11 so that the recording paper P can be fed. The pressing members 30 and 31 are also located near the upper surface of the recording paper P to prevent the recording paper P from being excessively curled. (2) When the cover is open (see FIG. 4B) When the cover 25 is opened to supply the recording paper P or the like, the feed roller 14 moves together with the cover 25 via the spring 45, and evacuate.

Further, the pressing members 30 and 31 formed integrally with the cover 25 also move together with the cover 25 and retreat from the recording paper P. When the supply of the recording paper P is completed, the cover 2
When the shutter 5 is closed again, the state returns to the state shown in FIG. 4A, and the feed roller 14 and the pressing members 30, 31 contact the recording paper P.

According to the above configuration, the holding members 30, 31
Is simply provided on the surface of the cover 25 facing the opening 20, and the holding members 30,
The holding members 30 and 31 can be made to function only by retracting the cover 31 and closing the cover 25.

Further, since the holding members 30, 31 are formed integrally with the cover 25, the number of assembling steps and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, a feed roller 14 is rotatably provided on the distal end side, and a first arm 40 whose base end is rotatably provided on the top surface side is connected to the cover 25 by a spring 45 which is a connecting member. With a simple configuration, the delivery roller 14 can be retracted by simply opening the cover 25, and the delivery roller 14 can function by simply closing the cover 25.

Further, a spring 4 is used as a connecting member.
By using 5, the spring 45 as a connecting member can be easily attached and detached during maintenance. Furthermore, the cover 25
In the closed state, the holding members 30 and 31 are provided so as to be close to each other in the rotation axis direction of the feed roller 14, thereby prohibiting excessive curling of the recording paper P near the feed roller 14, thereby stabilizing the recording paper P. Thus, the recording paper P can be sent out.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording medium can be replenished with a simple structure in which the pressing member is provided on the surface facing the opening of the cover. In this case, the recording medium pressing member is retracted only by opening the cover, and the recording medium pressing member can function only by closing the cover.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the holding portion is formed integrally with the cover, the number of assembling steps and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. According to the invention as set forth in claim 3, an arm provided with a feed roller rotatably on the distal end side and a rotatable base end part on the top surface side,
With a simple configuration in which the cover and the cover are connected by a connecting member, the feed roller is retracted just by opening the cover, the replenishment of the recording medium is completed, and the feed roller can be made to function only by closing the cover.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the connecting member is a spring, the connecting member can be easily attached and detached during maintenance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment and an image forming apparatus to which the sheet feeding device is connected.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a delivery roller in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the operation in FIG. 1; FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a cover in a closed state, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional sheet feeding device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Recording paper (recording medium) 10 Paper feeder 14 Feed-out roller 20 Opening 21 Top surface 25 Cover 30, 31 Holding member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A sheet feeder connected to an image forming apparatus and supplying a recording medium to the image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet is arranged on a top surface so as to face a tray on which recording media are stacked and moved in a vertical direction. And a cover whose base end is rotatably attached to the top surface and which opens and closes the opening. The cover is provided on a surface of the cover facing the opening. And a pressing member extending to the vicinity of the recording medium. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is formed integrally with the cover. 3. An arm having a base end rotatably attached to the top surface side, and a feed roller rotatably provided at a tip end side of the arm and capable of contacting a recording medium on the tray. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising: a connecting member having one end locked to the cover and the other end locked to the arm. 4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting member is a spring.