JPH11171363A - Sheet material separating and feeding device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continuously feed sheet materials by releasing the regulation of entering of the sheet materials to a sheet materials separating part by a sheet material regulating means in releasing separating pressure of a separating pad when the sheet materials are fed one by one, in a device for separating and feeding the sheet materials one by one. SOLUTION: In this sheet material separating and feeding device provided with a separating and conveying means provided with a separating means 3j facing a conveying means sand for separating and conveying sheet materials one by one, a sheet material feeding means arranged on the downstream side in the sheet material conveying direction of the separating and conveying means, a sheet material regulating means 3g for regulating the entering of the sheet material to the separating and conveying means, and a separating pressure releasing means 3k for releasing pressing of a separating pad, the separating pressure releasing means 3k releases separating pressure of the separating means for separating and conveying the sheet materials one by one by a driving part 3k3 in single feeding of a sheet material and releases the regulation of the sheet material tip by the regulating means by moving the sheet material regulating means 3g by a driving part 3k4 to enable continuous feeding of the sheet materials in the case of single feeding.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet separating / feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheet materials one by one from a bundle of a plurality of sheet materials, and the sheet separating / feeding apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 3 according to the present invention. When a plurality of sheets of a document are fed from between an upper guide 5 and a lower guide 7,
The sheet material feeding device separates and conveys the sheet material one by one by a conveying roller 3a and a separation piece b for separation, and then feeds a roller 3c.
And the sheet is fed to the image sensor 4 by the feeding roller 3d,
Then, the original is read. In such a feeding device, for a single-sheet feeding in which sheets are fed one by one between the guides, a separation pressure release for separating the separation pad 3b made of a friction piece of resin or the like having a high friction coefficient from the separation roller. Although a mechanism is provided, and a sheet material regulating mechanism that enables the sheet material to enter the separation roller 3c at a predetermined timing is provided, conventionally, the operation of the separation pressure releasing mechanism and the sheet material regulating mechanism are provided. Were unrelated to each other.

[0003]

In the above prior art, the sheet pressure regulating mechanism is initialized after each sheet feeding, and the separating pressure is released in order to allow the next sheet to enter the separating roller portion. When feeding one sheet, the next sheet can be set only after the feeding of one sheet is completely completed. When the separation pad pressure is released, it is not necessary to regulate the leading edge of the sheet material, and if the regulation and release of the sheet material are repeated, the continuous paper passing will be hindered, and the next sheet is completely fed after one document is completely fed. Setting the original was inefficient.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and relates the operation of both the separation pressure releasing mechanism and the sheet material regulating mechanism so that one sheet of sheet material can be efficiently fed. It is an object to provide a feeding device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a representative means of the present invention comprises a conveying means and a separating means which is pressed against the conveying means by an urging means, and comprises a plurality of sheets. Separating and conveying means for separating and conveying the sheet material one by one from the sheet material, sheet material feeding means disposed downstream of the separating and conveying means in the sheet material conveying direction, and the leading end of the sheet material entering the separating and conveying means. In a sheet material separating and feeding device having a sheet material regulating means for regulating and a separating pressure releasing means for releasing the pressing of the separation pad, the separating pressure releasing means is used when one sheet is fed. The restriction of the leading end of the sheet material by the sheet material restricting means is released in conjunction with the release of the separating pressure of the separating means.

[0006] In the above arrangement, the sheet material regulating means is released in conjunction with the release of the separation pad pressure by the separation pressure release means, thereby reducing the pressure when the separation pad pressure is released.
Enables continuous paper feeding in sheet feeding.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus will be described, and then a configuration and operation of a sheet feeding apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described.

First, a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body, which includes an image reading unit 2 that reads an image of a document S as a reading target, and an image recording unit 15 that records an image on a recording sheet P such as paper as a recording target. It is configured.

The image reading section 2 includes a plurality of originals S
An upper surface cover 8 having an original mounting table 8a on which
A contact image sensor 4 for reading image information of the original S
A document pressing portion 4a for pressing the document S against the contact type image sensor 4; and a document S placed on the document placing table 8a, which is sequentially fed one by one to the document sensor 4 via the contact type image sensor 4. The document transport unit 3 includes a document transport unit 3 to be carried out, and an upper document guide 5 and a lower document guide 7 forming a transport path of the document S.

An upper cover 8 having the document table 8a
Is attached to the apparatus main body 1 so as to be openable and closable so that a cartridge exchange and a jam clearance described later can be easily performed. The document table 8a is provided with a slider 8b slidable in a width direction orthogonal to the direction of transport of the document S. The slider 8b aligns both ends of the document S placed on the document table. Is available. The upper portion of the document S is supported by a support plate 9 that can be pulled out.

The contact type image sensor 4 irradiates the image information surface of the document S with light from an LED array as a light source, and reflects the reflected light from the image information surface with a sensor element by a SELFOC lens (registered trademark). And image information is read.

The document feeder 2 as an automatic document feeder to which the present invention is applied will be described later in detail.

The image recording section 15 includes a stacking section 23 for stacking recording sheets P as recording objects, a recording sheet feeding section 12 for sequentially feeding recording sheets P from the recording sheet stacking section 23 one by one. An image forming unit 11 that records and forms an image on the fed recording sheet P, a laser scanner 13 that irradiates the image forming unit 11 with laser light as image information, and a recording sheet P that is discharged after reading is completed. It has a common discharge tray 19 for stacking and holding, a recording sheet discharge table 18 for stacking and holding recording sheets P discharged in U-turn after recording, and a transport guide 17 for guiding and supporting the recording sheets P to be transported. The recording section includes a support member 20 for supporting the upper portion of the recording sheet P,
1 is provided.

When the feeding is started, the separation / conveyance section 12 presses the recording sheet P pressed against the separation roller 12b.
Is the separation roller 12b and the separation pad 1 pressed against the separation roller 12b.
After being separated one by one by 2a, the transport rollers 12
c and the conveying roller 12d that is pressed against and driven to rotate, so that the leading end of the image (toner image) formed by the image forming unit 11 and the leading end of the recording sheet P coincide with each other. The sheet 11 is conveyed between a photosensitive drum 11a, which is an electrophotographic photosensitive member of the section 11, and a transfer unit 11f.

The recording sheet stacking section 23 can stack a plurality of recording sheets P, and the number of settable recording sheets is about 100 sheets. Further, there are three types of recording sheets that can be stacked and set: A4 size, letter size, and legal size. Reference numeral 30 denotes a control device for performing the image forming process of each image forming unit.

In the image forming section 11, first, a laser beam, which is an image signal, is emitted from a laser beam oscillator of the laser scanner 13 based on the image signal. The laser light is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 11a of the image forming unit 11 by the polygon mirror 13b, the lens 13a, and the return mirror 13c, and an image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11a.

In the image forming section 11, the photosensitive drum 11a has a charging means 11b, a developing means 11c, and a cleaning means 11d as process means acting thereon.
The process cartridge 11e is incorporated in the frame to form a process cartridge, and the process cartridge 11e is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1. Therefore, at the time of the above-described image formation, a laser beam is irradiated from the laser scanner 13 onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 11a uniformly charged by the charging unit 11b to form a latent image.
The toner image is formed into a visible image (toner image) by the toner supplied from c.

In the image forming section 11, a transfer means 11 for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11a to a recording sheet P is provided around the photosensitive drum 11a.
f, and a fixing unit 14 for fixing the transferred toner image to the recording sheet is disposed in the recording sheet conveyance path downstream of the photosensitive drum 11a. The fixing unit 14 has a heating roller 14a and a pressure roller 14b. Reference numeral 15 denotes a discharge roller.

Therefore, the recording sheet fed from the recording sheet stacking section 23 to the image forming section 11 at a time is transferred to the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11a by the transfer means 11f. Transport guide 17
The toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 14 and discharged to the common discharge tray 19 or the recording sheet discharge table 18 by the discharge roller 15. If a jam occurs during recording, the recording sheet P staying inside the apparatus can be easily taken out by opening the opening / closing bar of the upper cover 8 having the document table 8a.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that best illustrates the features of the present invention. 3k is a separation pressure release lever, 3g is a stopper,
Reference numeral 3h denotes a preliminary press-contact arm, 3j denotes a friction piece holder for holding the friction piece 3b, 3c denotes a feeding roller with a release source, and 3d denotes a feeding roller. Move the operation part 3k1 of the separation pressure release lever 3k to J
When the release lever moves in the direction, the release lever rotates about the boss 3k2 pivotally supported by the apparatus main body, and the first cam 3k3 of the release lever 3k raises the friction piece holder as described later. In FIG. 1B, which is a view B in FIG. 1B, the second cam 3k4 of the release lever 3k moves in the G direction, engages with the engaging portion 3g1 of the stopper 3g, and the stopper is lifted in the H direction. . The stopper 3g is the pivot 3
The sheet material is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body by g2, and can be moved in the vertical direction in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the separation pad pressure releasing mechanism. When the release lever is moved in the F direction as shown in FIG.
The first cam 3k3 of the release lever 3k moves in the direction D in FIG.
j is lifted in the E direction. At this time, the separation pad is released, but the preliminary pressure contact arm 3h is pressed. As described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet material regulating stopper 3g is released in conjunction with the release of the separation pad pressure. In this manner, the stopper 3g which is not required when releasing the separation pad pressure is released, thereby enabling continuous paper feeding when one sheet is fed.

The separation pressure mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. The separation pressure mechanism has a friction piece holder 3j that is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body by a support shaft 3j1 and holds a friction piece 3b as a separation pad. Holder 3
j includes a spring receiving portion 3j2 and an engaging portion 3j3 with which the first cam 3k3 is engaged. By engaging an elastic member such as a coil spring 3j4 with the spring receiving portion 3j2, the holder 3j is a transport roller. It is urged in the direction of the separation roller 3a. A preliminary press-contact arm 3h having two arms 3h1 extending on both sides of the friction piece holder 3j is rotatably supported by the support shaft 3j1 and has a coil spring 3h.
The arm 3h1 is urged toward the separation roller by an elastic member such as h2. The contact point of the arm portion with the separation roller is located upstream of the contact point of the friction piece and the separation roller in the sheet conveyance direction.

An outline of the stopper operation will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the stopper 3g is in a standby state in an initial state, and when setting a plurality of documents S, the leading end of the document S abuts against the stop surface 3g3 and waits at a fixed position. Next, document transport is started by a start button, and when the feed roller 3d rotates, the feed roller 3c with the release source rotates. The feed roller 3c is provided with a projection 3c1 at the axial end thereof, and a projection 3g4 on the stopper 3g. By engagement of these projections, the stopper 3g is rotated, and the stop surface 3g3 is formed on the sheet. The sheet S moves above the transport surface to open the sheet movement path, and the document S can enter the separation unit. When the feeding roller c rotates a predetermined angle,
The engagement between the projections 3c1 and 3g4 is released, and the stopper 3g descends, and is prevented from descending by a stopper (not shown). As the paper feed roller continues to rotate, the stopper repeatedly moves up and down.
Further, while the sheet material is being conveyed under the stopper, the lowering of the stopper is prevented by the sheet material. The interlocking mechanism between the feed roller or the feed roller and the stopper is not limited to the above-described protrusion, and may have another structure. Next, the sheets passing through the stopper are separated and fed one by one by the friction piece 3b and the separation roller 3a pressed against the friction piece. When the sheet as the final document passes through the stopper 3g, the stopper 3g, which was prevented from descending by the sheet, descends,
The stopper 3g repeatedly moves up and down by the rotation of the feeding roller.

In the case of a plurality of sheets, it is rare that the originals are set continuously. However, in the case of one sheet passing where the pressure of the separation pad is released, only one sheet is fed. Probability is high. If the original is set while the stopper 3g is moving up and down as described above, there is a possibility of a jam. Therefore, in the present invention, the restriction of the stopper 3g is released in conjunction with the release of the pressure of the separation pad. Thus, in the case of one sheet set, the next document can be set at the moment when the rear end of the document passes through the separation roller. As a result, the usability and quality of the paper feeding device are dramatically improved. After reading the original, the motor is reversed and stopped at the position where the stopper 3g is lowered. As described above, it is possible to prevent the original from being pushed in with a very simple configuration.

The operation in the case of single-sheet feeding described above is summarized as follows. As shown in the automatic document feeder shown in FIG. 3, when the image reading section 2 is loaded on the document table 8a,
By moving the knob 3k1 of the separation pad pressure release lever 3k right and left, one-sheet feeding or plural-sheet feeding is selected.
Next, a document is set. The original S is a preliminary press-welding arm 3h
And the separation roller 3a pressed against the stopper 3g, and collides with the stop surface of the stopper 3g so that it cannot be pushed further any further.

In the case of single-sheet feeding, the stopper 3g is released. Next, when document conveyance is started, the stopper 3g is opened by the feeding roller 3c with a release source, and the preliminary pressing arm 3h and the separating roller 3a pressed against the arm 3h are pressed.
The sheet is separated and fed one by one by a separation roller 3a pressed to and brought into contact with the friction piece 3b to the friction piece 3b. In the case of single-sheet feed, the preliminary press-contact arm 3h and the separation roller 3 pressed against it are used.
a, and reaches the feed roller 3d. Further, the original is conveyed to the close contact image sensor 4 by a feed roller 3d or the like pressed against the feed roller 3c pressed by the pressing spring 3i, and the original S is pressed against the close contact image sensor 4 by the original pressing plate 4a. After reading the image information of the original S while line-feeding the original sequentially while bringing the original into close contact with the original, the original S is discharged by a discharge roller 3f pressed against a discharge roller 3e pressed by a pressing spring 3i. Tray 18
Is discharged. During this time, the document S is guided by the upper document guide 5 and the lower document guide 7.

In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus has been described as an example of a facsimile and an example of separating and conveying an original sheet. The present invention can also be applied to separation and conveyance of sheets.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A sheet material separating and feeding device having a separation pad and a conveying roller for feeding one sheet material at a time when a plurality of sheet materials are fed, and sheet material regulating means for restricting the sheet material from entering the separation pad portion. In the case where the sheet is fed one by one, the sheet pressure regulating means is released in conjunction with the release of the separation pressure of the separation pad by the separation pressure releasing means, thereby enabling continuous feeding of one sheet. Efficiency can be improved, jamming caused by the sheet material regulating member sandwiching the sheet material can be prevented, the usability of the sheet material feeding device can be improved, and the quality of the fed sheet material can be prevented from deteriorating.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interlock release mechanism of a sheet feeding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a separation pad pressure release mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of a sheet material feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sheet material regulating mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an upper platen unit of the sheet feeding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view of a facsimile provided with a sheet material feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3a: Conveying roller 3b: Separation pad 3c: Feeding roller 3d: Feeding roller 3e: Discharge roller 3f: Discharge roller 3g: Stopper 3h: Preliminary transfer arm 3i: Roller pressing plate spring 3k: Separation pressure release lever 4a: White board 5 ... Upper document guide 6 ... Leader frame 7 ... Lower document guide 8 ... Top cover

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A separation / conveying means having a conveying means, a separating means pressed against the conveying means by an urging means, and separating / conveying sheet materials one by one from a plurality of sheet materials; Sheet material feeding means disposed downstream of the sheet conveying direction, sheet material regulating means for regulating the leading end of the sheet material entering the separating and conveying means, and separation pressure for releasing the pressing of the separation pad. And a release unit, wherein the separation pressure release unit is configured to, when feeding one sheet of the sheet material,
A sheet material separating / feeding device, wherein the regulation of the leading end of the sheet material by the sheet material regulating means is released in conjunction with the release of the separation pressure of the separating means. 2. The sheet material restricting means according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material restricting means is rotatably supported around a support shaft extending in a direction parallel to the sheet material conveying surface and perpendicular to the sheet material conveying direction. A regulating member, an end surface of the regulating member on the upstream side in the sheet material conveying direction is a sheet material regulating surface, and the regulating member is rotated in conjunction with the sheet material feeding means to regulate the sheet material. A sheet feeding device characterized by repeating release. 3. A sheet material separating and feeding device according to claim 1, wherein said conveying means has a conveying roller, and said separating means has a separating pad. 4. The sheet separating device according to claim 1, wherein the separating unit includes a separating pad formed of a friction piece and a support extending in a direction parallel to the sheet material conveying surface and orthogonal to the sheet material conveying direction. A sheet material separating and feeding device comprising a separation pad holder rotatable around an axis and holding the separation pad. 5. The separation means according to claim 4, wherein the separation means has an arm portion extending to a side portion of the separation pad, and has a pressure contact arm member rotatable around the support shaft. The sheet material separating and feeding device according to claim 1, wherein an arm on a side of the pad faces the transport roller upstream of the separation pad in a sheet transport direction. 6. The separation pressure releasing means according to claim 2, wherein the separation pressure releasing means is rotatable around a support shaft perpendicular to a seed material transport surface, and releases the separation pressure of the separation pad holder and a sheet. A sheet material separating and feeding device having two driving units for releasing the regulation of a material regulating member. 7. The sheet material separating and feeding device according to claim 6, wherein the driving unit has a cam shape. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the separation pressure releasing means is rotated about a support shaft, and the two cam-shaped driving portions are engaged with the separation pad holder and the sheet material regulating member, respectively. A sheet material separating and feeding device which releases the separation pressure and the sheet material regulation. 9. The sheet separating / feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit reads image information of the sheet fed by the sheet feeding device. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet material based on obtained image information. 10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising the sheet material separating and feeding device according to claim 1 for feeding the recording sheet material.