JPH11157672A - Paper feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an accident caused by the inattention of a user by providing a shield piece stretched between both storage sections so that at least one paper storage section closes the gap between both storage sections when the other paper storage section is set. SOLUTION: A solenoid is turned on, and a connecting bracket is rotated by a release lever to release the engaging with a lock lever. When a front cover 2 is pulled, only the left tray 1 is drawn from a main body. The right tray 4 is held by a lock means so that the right tray 4 is not drawn by mistake during paper feeding. A stopper 10 is provided near the front face (inner cover 7 portion) of the held right tray 4, and a side projection 11 in the rear end range of the left tray 1 is allowed to abut to the stopper 10 to close the gap between the left tray 1 and the right tray 4. When the right tray 4 is first supplied with paper sheets and set at the time of paper supply, the gap between both trays 1, 4 is likewise closed by the contact between the stopper 10 and the side projection 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeder used for an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, a laser printer, and a facsimile, and more particularly to a tandem type paper feeder in which two paper storage units are arranged in parallel. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a large-sized image forming apparatus, the number of sheets used is considerable, and the possibility of running out of sheets during a copying operation is not low. In view of this, a tandem type paper feeder has been proposed in which paper is stacked at a paper feed position and a spare position arranged side by side with each other, and the spare paper is transferred to the paper feed position when the paper is exhausted. It has been put to practical use.

In such a tandem type paper feeder, if a gap between a main storage unit for storing paper for paper supply and a sub storage unit for storing spare paper is small, when a paper is replenished. The wall of the next sheet is obstructed, and the sheet replenishing property is deteriorated.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, when pulling out the housing section from the main body, both the main housing section and the sub-housing section which are juxtaposed are integrally pulled out from the main body to the near side, and when the housing section is set. There is known a configuration in which only the main housing portion can be set alone. In such a configuration, it is easy for the user to understand that the operability of setting the main storage unit to which the paper has been supplied first in the main body is improved, or that both of the paper storage units can be set independently in the main body. In order to achieve this, it is desirable to change the amount (travel amount) that can be pulled out of the main body between the two housing portions.

[0005]

However, if the travel amount of the sub-storage portion is increased in order to change the travel amount of both paper storage portions, the front cover 2 is pulled as shown in FIG. When both the storage sections are pulled out, paper is first supplied to the main storage section (right side in the figure), and only the main storage section is set in the main body 13, the front of the main storage section (the inner cover 7) and the sub storage section A large gap is created between the rear surfaces of the two. If a jam occurs during paper feeding with a so-called limitless paper feeding device capable of replenishing the sub-storage unit even during paper feeding, there is a risk that the user may reach inside the main storage unit through such a gap. In particular, in the type in which the bottom plate of the main housing is raised by the main body and the bottom plate is lifted by coupling etc., the drive will come off if the main housing is pulled out even a little, and the bottom plate will descend by its own weight. Therefore, there is a problem in safety.

Therefore, the present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus having two sheet storage sections arranged in parallel, even if only the main sheet storage section is set in the main body, between the main sheet storage section and the sub sheet storage section. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device in which a gap for a user's hand is eliminated.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, at least one of the paper storage sections is provided between the two storage sections so that the gap between the two storage sections is closed when the other paper storage section is set. The problem is solved by providing an overhanging shielding piece.

In a sheet feeding apparatus in which a main sheet storage section and a sub sheet storage section are arranged in parallel, and the amount of drawing out of the sub sheet storage section from the image forming apparatus is larger than the amount of drawing out of the main sheet storage section. If the piece of the sub-sheet storing portion that defines the amount of drawing out of the sub-sheet storing portion is a shielding piece that protrudes between the two storing portions so as to close the gap between the two storing portions when the main storing portion is set. Thus, the object of the present invention can be solved. The shielding unit is arranged such that the sheet position regulating piece disposed in the sub sheet storage unit is located outside the image forming apparatus main body when the sub sheet storage unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus to the maximum. It is effective if the piece is attached to the sub-sheet storing section.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described based on examples shown in the drawings. In FIG. 2 showing the operation method of the paper feeding device according to the present invention, when the front cover 2 attached to the sub paper storage unit 1 (second paper storage unit, hereinafter referred to as “left tray”) is pulled, the main paper The storage unit 4 (first paper storage unit, hereinafter referred to as “right tray”) is also pulled out. FIG. 3 shows a configuration for the drawer. That is,
At normal times when paper is not being fed, the lock lever 3 rotatably attached to the left tray 1 and having a hook and a raised portion and the connecting bracket 5 rotatably attached to the right tray 4 are engaged. By pulling out the left tray 1, the right tray 4
Is also pulled out integrally. At the end of the withdrawal process, as shown in FIG. 4A, a stay 6 arranged in the width direction of the front surface of the main body (recognizable in FIG. 1 for convenience).
When the raised portion 3a of the lock lever 3 hits the convex portion 6a of
The lock lever 3 pivots up and is disengaged from the connection bracket 5, and as a result, only the left tray 1 can be pulled out by a predetermined distance (travel amount difference). When the predetermined distance is longer, the user easily pushes the inner cover 7 provided on the right tray 4 when the user first supplies paper to the right tray 4 and sets it on the main body. After 4 sets of right tray,
When replenishing paper in the left tray 1 and setting it,
As shown in (b), when the left tray 1 is pushed in, the tip of the hook 3b of the lock lever 3 hits the already set connection bracket 5 of the right tray and is lifted, and the connection bracket 5 and the lock lever 3 are engaged again. Will be combined.

During paper feeding, the solenoid 8 shown in FIG. 3 is turned on, and the connection bracket 5 is rotated by the release lever 9 so as to release the engagement with the lock lever 3. When the front cover 2 is pulled in this state, only the left tray 1 is pulled out from the main body. The right tray 4 is held by lock means (not shown) (for example, a solenoid) so that the right tray 4 is not accidentally pulled out during the paper feeding. A stopper 1 is provided in the vicinity of the front surface of the right tray 4 thus held (the inner cover 7).
0 is provided, and the gap between the left tray 1 and the right tray 4 is closed when the side projection 11 in the rear end range of the left tray 1 hits the stopper 10. Therefore, even after the paper is first replenished and set on the right tray 4 during the paper replenishment, the gap between the two trays is similarly closed by the contact between the stopper 10 and the side protrusion 11. Becomes

As shown in FIG. 6, the stopper 10 is provided on the left side of the tray 1 so that the rear side fence 12 of the left tray 1 can come out of the front of the main body 13 (outside the main body) when the tray is pulled out. The contact position of the tray with the side protruding portion 11 is set, so that a good sheet supply property of the left tray 1 is ensured. The stopper 10 is
It is made of a material such as urethane so as to absorb a shock at the time of contact.

[0012]

According to the present invention, at least one of the sheet storage portions has a shielding piece projecting between the two storage portions so as to close the gap between the two storage portions when the other sheet storage portion is set. Therefore, an accident due to the carelessness of the user can be prevented.

[0013] When the sub paper storage unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus to the maximum, the sheet position regulating piece provided in the sub paper storage unit is positioned so as to be located outside the image forming apparatus main body. If the piece is attached to the sub-sheet storing section, the sheet replenishing property in the sub-sheet storing section is not impaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a problem of a conventional sheet feeding device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an operation procedure in the sheet feeding device according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating a coupling mechanism between a main sheet storage section and a sub sheet storage section.

4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining engagement and disengagement of both housing portions in the coupling mechanism of FIG. 3, wherein FIG.
Indicates engagement.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state in which a side protruding portion that defines an amount of pull-out of a sub-sheet storing portion is in contact with a stopper of a main sheet storing portion.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing that a sheet position regulating piece disposed in a sub sheet accommodating section is located outside the image forming apparatus main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sub paper storage part 7 Inner cover 10 Stopper 11 Side protrusion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising two paper storage units arranged in parallel, wherein at least one of the paper storage units closes a gap between the two storage units when the other paper storage unit is set. A sheet feeding device comprising a shielding piece protruding between accommodation portions. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the main sheet storage section and the sub sheet storage section are arranged in parallel, and the amount of drawing out of the sub sheet storage section from the image forming apparatus is larger than the amount of drawing out of the main sheet storage section. In the apparatus, a piece of the sub-sheet storing section that defines the amount of drawing out of the sub-sheet storing section is a shielding piece that protrudes between the two storing sections so as to close a gap between the two storing sections when the main storing section is set. A sheet feeding device, comprising: 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet position regulating piece disposed in the sub sheet storage unit is positioned outside the image forming apparatus main body when the sub sheet storage unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus to the maximum. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the shielding piece is attached to a sub sheet storage unit.