JPH11227984A - Sheet carrier device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily remove a jammed sheet by forming a sheet guide member so as to freely enlarge a space between a first sheet guide surface and a sheet guide surface on the side of a frame by relatively revolving the sheet guide member with a sheet separation mechanism around a support shaft integrally formed on the frame as its center. SOLUTION: A sheet separation mechanism 21 is provided on a frame 9 through a fixed member 26, and a support shaft 35 is integrally provided on the frame 9. Additionally, a sheet, guide member 31 is provided on the support shaft 35, and consequently, the sheet guide member 31 becomes free to relatively revolve with the sheet separation mechanism 21. It is provided free to selectively position at an ordinary using position free to carry and guide the sheet as a first sheet guide surface 32 approaches a sheet guide surface 36 on the side of the frame 9 and at a releasing position where the first sheet guide surface 32 is extensively separated from the sheet guide surface 36.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a first paper transport path, a second paper transport path, and a paper transport path, which are disposed at a confluence of the two paper transport paths and are opposed to a paper guide surface on a frame side. A paper guide member having a first paper guide surface forming a first paper transport path and a second paper guide surface forming a second paper transport path, and provided at an entrance of the second paper guide surface. And a sheet separation mechanism that cooperates with a sheet feeding roller of a second sheet feeding unit to separate sheets one by one from the sheet storage unit and feed the sheets to a confluence of the two sheet conveyance paths. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A schematic structure of an image forming apparatus is shown in FIGS. In these figures, 1 is an apparatus main body, 2 is an electrophotographic process unit, 11 is a first paper feeding unit, and 16 is a second paper feeding unit.
, 21 is a paper separation mechanism, 39 is a paper discharge unit, 30P
Denotes a paper transport device.

The electrophotographic process unit 2 is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 1, and includes a photosensitive member 3 and a charging unit 4.
And a developing unit 5, and the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 3 based on the print data is formed so as to be transferable on paper in cooperation with the transfer unit 7. The toner image transferred onto the paper is fixed by the fixing unit 8.

The first paper supply unit 11 includes a paper storage unit (paper supply cassettes (12, 14)) capable of storing a plurality of sheets (for example, A4 size paper and B4 size paper), and a paper storage unit ( 12 and 14) and paper feed rollers (13 and 15) capable of picking up and sending out sheets. On the other hand, the second paper supply unit 16 includes a paper storage unit (paper supply cassette 17) capable of storing a plurality of sheets (for example, postcards and letters), and picks up paper from the paper storage unit (17). The paper feed roller 18 is capable of being sent out.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
The paper sent from the first paper supply unit 11 is transferred to a predetermined location (electrophotographic process unit 2, fixing unit 8, paper discharge unit 39).
A first paper transport path 37 capable of guiding the paper fed from the second paper feed unit 16 to a first paper transport path 37; The first paper conveyance path (37, 38) is disposed at the confluence of the two paper conveyance paths (37, 38), and is disposed opposite to the paper guide surface 36 (forming the lower guide surface of the first paper conveyance path 37) on the frame 9 side. Paper guide surface 3 that forms the paper transport path 37
A sheet guide member 31 </ b> P having a second sheet guide surface 33 forming a second sheet conveyance path 38 and a second sheet feed unit 16 provided at an entrance of the second sheet guide surface 33. The paper roller 18 includes a paper separation mechanism 21P capable of separating the paper picked up by the paper roller 18 from other storage paper. Further, the paper transport device 30P has transport rollers (41, 41) for transporting the paper fed from the first paper supply unit 11 and the second paper supply unit 16 to a predetermined location of the first paper transport path 37. 42, 43, 44, 45) are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the paper guide member 31P has claw portions 9H formed at both ends thereof.
Into the mounting holes 9J formed in the frame 9 so as to be locked to the frame 9.

The paper separating mechanism 21P includes a cork support member 23 whose base end is rotatably mounted on a paper guide member 31P via a support shaft 24, and a cork support member 23.
And a biasing spring 25 that biases the cork support member toward the feed roller 18 to press the frictional separating cork 22 against the feed roller 18. ing.

In the above-described paper transport device 30P, for example, the paper picked up by the paper feed rollers 13 (15) from the paper feed cassette 12 (14) of the paper feed unit 11 is
The transport rollers 41 (42) and the transport rollers (43, 4)
4, 45), and is conveyed in the first paper conveyance path 37, and is discharged to the paper discharge section 39 via the electrophotographic process unit 2 and the fixing means 8.

The sheet cassette 1 of the second sheet supply section 16
The sheet picked up from the sheet 7 by the sheet feed roller 18 is separated from other storage sheets by the sheet separation mechanism 21, and then conveyed along the second sheet conveying path 38 to the first sheet.
At the junction with the paper transport path 37.

[0010]

By the way, in the paper transporting device 30P, the paper transported along the first paper transporting path 37 is jammed in the vicinity of the junction with the second paper transporting path 38. There is. When such a paper jam occurs, the space between the paper guide surface 36 on the frame 9 side forming the first paper transport path 37 and the first paper guide surface 32 is small, so that it is difficult to remove the jammed paper.

Here, it is conceivable to remove the paper guide member 31P from the frame 9 and move the first paper guide surface 32 away from the paper guide surface 36. But,
Paper separation mechanism 21 attached to paper guide member 31P
Since P is constrained by the paper feed roller 18, it is very difficult to remove the paper guide member 31P from the frame 9.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus capable of easily removing a jammed sheet when a sheet jam occurs in a first sheet conveying path near a junction with the second conveying path. It is in.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided the following:
A first paper transport path capable of guiding the paper sent from the paper supply unit to a predetermined location, and a paper transported from the second paper supply unit to a junction with the first paper transport path. Forming a second paper transport path and a first paper guide surface and a second paper transport path which are disposed at a confluence of the two paper transport paths and form a lower guide surface of the first paper transport path; A paper guide member having a second paper guide surface
A sheet separating mechanism provided at an entrance of a sheet guide surface of the sheet feeder and capable of separating a sheet picked up by a sheet feed roller of a second sheet feeder from another sheet to be accommodated. Is formed so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the paper separating mechanism about a support shaft formed integrally with the frame, so as to be able to enlarge the interval between the first paper guide surface and the paper guide surface on the frame side. Paper transport device.

In this case, since the paper guide member is rotatable with respect to the paper separation mechanism, the paper guide member is rotated about the support shaft without being hindered by the paper feed roller contacting the paper separation mechanism. Thus, the first paper guide surface can be separated from the paper guide surface on the frame side. Therefore, the first paper transport path can be greatly expanded, and jammed paper jammed in the paper transport path can be easily removed.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Paper transport device (30) according to the present invention
Is installed in the image forming apparatus, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the basic configuration is the same as that of the conventional example (FIGS. 5 and 6). And it is configured to be relatively rotatable.

The same components as those in the conventional example (FIGS. 5 and 6) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

The paper separating mechanism 21 is provided on the frame 9 via a fixing member 26, and the support shaft 35 is provided integrally with the frame 9. Further, the paper guide member 31 is provided on the support shaft 35, whereby the paper guide member 31 is rotatable relative to the paper separation mechanism 21.
The normal use position (the position shown in FIG. 2) where the first paper guide surface 32 can approach and guide the paper while approaching the paper guide surface 36 on the frame 9 side, and the first paper guide surface 32 is the paper guide surface 36 And an open position (position shown in FIG. 1) which is largely separated from the opening.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper separating mechanism 21 includes a cork support member 23 whose base end is rotatably mounted on a fixed member 26 via a support shaft 24,
A friction separating cork 22 provided at the distal end of the cork supporting member 23 and a friction separating cork 22 attached to the spring supporting portion 26s of the fixing member 26 and urging the cork supporting member 23 toward the paper feed roller 18. And a biasing spring 25 that presses against the paper feed roller 18. With this configuration, the paper guide member 31 can rotate relative to the paper separation mechanism 21.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. For example, the sheet cassette [12 (1
4)], the paper picked up by the paper feed roller [13 (15)] is fed and urged by the transport rollers [41 (42)] and the transport rollers (43, 44, 45) to transport the first paper. The paper is conveyed in the path 37 and is discharged to the paper discharge unit (39) via the electrophotographic process unit (2) and the fixing means (8).

Here, if the paper conveyed along the first paper conveyance path 37 is jammed near the junction with the second paper conveyance path 38, the electrophotographic process unit 2 is removed from the apparatus main body. . Next, the paper guide member 3
1 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 from the normal use position to position it in the open position shown in FIG.

At this time, since the paper guide member 31 is rotatable relative to the paper separation mechanism 21, the paper guide member 31 can be smoothly positioned at the open position without being obstructed by the paper feed roller 18 and the paper separation mechanism 21. Can be. As a result, the first sheet transport path 37 is greatly expanded from the normal use state, and jammed paper jammed in the path can be easily removed.

According to this embodiment, however, the paper guide member 31 rotates relative to the paper separating mechanism 21 about the support shaft 35 integrally formed on the frame 9 side, and the first paper guide member 31 is rotated. Surface 32 and paper guide surface 3 on the side of frame 9
6, the paper guide member 31 is rotated about the support shaft 35 without being hindered by the paper feed roller 18 and the paper separating mechanism 21 so that the first paper guide surface 32 is formed. To the paper guide surface 3 on the frame 9 side.
6 away. Therefore, the first sheet conveyance path 37 near the junction with the second conveyance path 38 can be expanded, and jammed paper jammed in the path 37 can be easily removed.

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the paper guide member rotates relative to the paper separation mechanism about the support shaft formed integrally with the frame, and the first paper guide surface and the frame side. Is formed so as to be able to widen the interval between the first paper transport path and the second transport path, so that the first paper transport path near the junction with the second transport path can be widened, and jammed paper jammed in the path section can be widened. Can be easily removed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a view showing a state in which the paper guide member is similarly rotated from the open position shown in FIG. 1 and positioned at a position for normal use.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a positional relationship among a sheet guide member, a sheet separation mechanism, and a sheet guide surface on a frame side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a conventional configuration of a sheet conveying device incorporated in an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a conventional configuration of a paper guide member.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a positional relationship among a sheet guide member, a sheet separation mechanism, and a sheet guide surface on a frame side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Frame 26 Fixing member 30 Paper transport device 31 Paper guide member 32 First paper guide surface 33 Second paper guide surface 35 Support shaft 36 Frame-side paper guide surface 37 First paper transport path 38 Second paper transport Route

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first sheet transport path capable of guiding a sheet sent from a first sheet feeding unit to a predetermined location, and a first sheet transport path for sending a sheet sent from a second sheet feeding unit. A second paper transport path that can be guided to the junction of the first and second paper transport paths; a first paper guide surface disposed at the junction of the two paper transport paths and forming a lower guide surface of the first paper transport path; A sheet guide member having a second sheet guide surface forming a second sheet transport path; and a sheet provided at an entrance of the second sheet guide surface and picked up by a sheet feeding roller of a second sheet feeding unit. A sheet transporting device having a sheet separating mechanism capable of being separated from other storage sheets, wherein the sheet guide member rotates relative to the sheet separating mechanism about a support shaft formed integrally with a frame, and First paper guide surface and paper guide on the frame side Expandable-formed by being sheet conveying apparatus the distance between.