JPH11119610A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an operator from erroneously pulling out a cassette case, during the picking up of a recording paper by locking the cassette case in a device main body, when a pickup roller is rotationally driven. SOLUTION: A locking mechanism 22 executes the operation of projecting/ retracting a plunger 21 from/into the device main body by the energization control of a solenoid 20. The energization control of the solenoid 20 is linked with the disconnection/connection control of a clutch 19 for transmitting the rotational force of a motor 17 to the pickup roller 10. Therefore, when an LED printer 9 is driven, an MPU 11 transmits a driving signal to the clutch 19, for ejecting the recording paper from the cassette case 23 and simultaneously, energizes the solenoid 20 at this time, to keep the locking mechanism 22 in a locked state. On the other hand, after the recording paper is ejected from the cassette case 23, the MPU 11 stops the driving of the clutch 19, so that the energization of the solenoid 20 is released at this time as well and the locking mechanism 22 becomes in an unlocked state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In an image forming apparatus in which a recording paper cassette case accommodating a plurality of recording papers is housed so as to be removable from the apparatus main body, when the recording paper is picked up, the recording paper cassette case is used. To prevent the recording paper from being taken out to prevent jamming of the recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, image forming apparatuses, such as facsimile machines and copiers, which pick up and print recording paper stored in a recording paper cassette have been used in almost all places.

[0003]

However, in the above-described image forming apparatus, if the operator mistakenly removes the recording paper cassette case while picking up the recording paper from the recording paper cassette case, There is a problem that the recording paper jams in the apparatus. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and to provide an image forming apparatus that prevents an operator from accidentally pulling out a recording paper cassette case during recording paper pickup. It is an object.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention has a recording paper cassette case accommodating a plurality of recording papers housed therein so as to be able to be taken out of the apparatus main body. A lock mechanism for locking the cassette case to the apparatus main body so that the cassette case cannot be removed from the apparatus main body when the pickup roller for feeding out the recording paper is rotationally driven. And

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, the lock mechanism is provided with a plunger operable by energization control on the apparatus main body side, and an engaging portion for engaging and disengaging with the plunger is provided on the cassette case side. It is characterized by that. In the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the plunger is controlled in accordance with a connection state of a clutch that transmits a rotational force from a rotary drive source to a pickup roller. When the clutch is in a connected state, the plunger is controlled in a locked state. It is characterized in that the plunger is controlled to the unlocked state when the clutch is in the disconnected state.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Although the present invention has been described using a facsimile as an example of the image forming apparatus, it goes without saying that a copy machine may be used. In the image processing apparatus 1, reference numeral 2 denotes an operation panel constituted by ten keys and mode setting switches, etc., 3 denotes a CCD for reading and scanning a document, 4 denotes a light source, 5 denotes a motor for sending a document, and 6 denotes a CCD 3. An image processing circuit for processing a captured image; 7, a codec circuit for encoding / decoding image data; 8, a scanner mechanism control circuit; 9, an LED printer, which prints out on recording paper; Pickup roller for taking out each sheet from the recording paper cassette case one by one.
2 is an NCU that performs network control on the communication line L, 13 is a modem that modulates and demodulates signals for facsimile communication of image data, 14 is an image memory that stores image data and the like, 15 is variable control information, A RAM for temporarily storing data necessary for various operations, 16 a ROM for storing control programs and the like, 17 a motor for rotating the pickup roller 10 and a photosensitive drum (not shown), 18 a printer mechanism control circuit , 19 are clutches which are driven by receiving a drive signal sent from the MPU 11 to disconnect and connect the rotational force from the motor 17 to the pickup roller 10;
Is a solenoid driven by a drive signal sent from the MPU 11 to the clutch 19, 21 is a plunger that is movable when the solenoid 20 is energized, and 22 is a lock mechanism composed of the solenoid 20 and the plunger 21.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a cassette case for recording paper accommodated in the apparatus main body and a lock mechanism. In this figure, the same components as those of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
The lock mechanism 22 performs an operation of causing the plunger 21 to protrude and retract from the main body device by controlling the power supply to the solenoid 20. When the solenoid 20 is de-energized, the plunger 21 is retracted into the main unit by a spring (not shown). 23a is released to unlock.

The energization of the solenoid 20 is controlled by the motor 17.
The rotation of the clutch 19 is transmitted to the pickup roller 10 to control the disengagement and connection of the clutch 19.
Is driven, the MPU 11 sends a drive signal to the clutch 19 in order to eject the recording paper from the cassette case 23, and at this time, the solenoid 20 is energized at the same time to hold the lock mechanism 22 in the locked state. On the other hand, after the recording paper is discharged from the cassette case 23, the MPU 11 stops driving the clutch 19, and at this time, the energization of the solenoid 20 is also released, and the lock mechanism 22 is unlocked.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an example is shown in which a solenoid is used as the lock mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to this. Also, the lock mechanism has been described in which the locking portion is provided on the apparatus main body side and the engaging portion is provided on the recording paper cassette case side, but the locking mechanism is provided on the recording paper cassette case side and the engaging portion is provided on the image forming apparatus side. Needless to say, this is acceptable.

Further, the lock mechanism may be configured to operate as long as the image forming apparatus holds the state of the print mode. In this case, even if the pickup roller is not operated, the lock mechanism may be operated. Since the operation of the pickup roller is in the standby state, there is an advantage that a paper jam caused by inadvertently pulling out the recording paper cassette case can be effectively prevented.

[0011]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, when the pickup roller is driven to rotate, the cassette case is automatically locked to the apparatus main body, and the operation of the cassette case is automatically performed. This prevents a user from accidentally removing the recording paper cassette case, thereby preventing the recording paper from jamming.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect,
In addition to the effect of claim 1, a lock mechanism is provided on the device body side,
Since the engaging part is provided on the recording paper cassette case side,
The wiring of the lock mechanism is not exposed to the outside, and the structure can be simplified. According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, the second aspect
In addition to the effects described above, the lock mechanism can accurately drive the lock mechanism when the recording paper is discharged by connecting the rotational force from the motor to the pickup roller in conjunction with the operation of the clutch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a cassette case for recording paper accommodated in a lock mechanism and an apparatus main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 10 Pickup roller 19 Clutch 20 Solenoid 21 Plunger 22 Lock mechanism 23 Recording paper cassette case 23a Engaging part

Claims (3)

[Claims] In an image forming apparatus in which a cassette case for recording paper accommodating a plurality of recording papers is removably accommodated from an apparatus main body, when a pickup roller for feeding out the recording paper is rotationally driven. An image forming apparatus having a lock mechanism for locking a cassette case to the apparatus main body so that the cassette case cannot be removed from the apparatus main body. 2. The lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism includes a plunger operable by energization control on the apparatus body side, and a plunger on the cassette case side.
An image forming apparatus having a structure provided with an engagement portion that engages with and disengages from a plunger. 3. The plunger according to claim 2, wherein the plunger is controlled in accordance with a connection state of a clutch that transmits a rotational force from a rotary drive source to the pickup roller. When the clutch is in a connected state, the plunger is controlled in a locked state. And an image forming apparatus in which the plunger is controlled to the unlocked state when the clutch is in the disconnected state.