JPH11314767A - Feeding and recording devices - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide both feeding and recording devices excellent in the qualitative point of view, capable of stably conveying a sheet in preventing any buckling due to its own weight even in the case where the sheet is left loaded intact for a long period of time. SOLUTION: In a standby state, a pressure plate 3 is pressed down by a cam 8 and thereby it is on standby at a position distant from paper feeding roller rubber 6, while a small pressure plate 10 is released from a small pressure plate and energized by a spring 11 instead, and it is situated in a position turned in the direction separating from the pressure plate 3, whereby the central pressure plate 3 is positioned so as to be more protuberant than two small pressure plates 10 at both ends, curving a sheet of paper, and on the other hand, in the case where feeding motion takes place, each small plate 10 forms an approximate equal surface with the pressure plate 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet, and is applied to, for example, a recording apparatus having a recording unit for recording an image on a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus is provided with an ASF (auto sheet feeder) for continuously performing a large amount of recording, whereby a plurality of recording sheets can be stacked.

[0003] This ASF is used to reduce the size of the device.
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an apparatus that stacks sheets (paper) in a state where the sheets (paper) are provided at a certain angle obliquely (in an inclined state) rather than in a horizontal state.

The angle is preferably close to vertical for miniaturization, but has a different value depending on the number of stacked sheets and the paper feeding mechanism.

The paper is loaded on a spring-biased pressure plate rotatably mounted on the ASF.

In a standby state, the pressure plate is separated from the paper feed roller. When the pressure plate is rotated by the driving source in a direction approaching the paper feed roller by the drive source only during paper feeding, The paper is pressed against the paper feed roller, and the paper feed roller rotates by a predetermined pulse to feed the paper to the printing unit.

After the paper is fed, the pressure plate rotates in a direction away from the paper feed roller, and returns to the standby state.

[0008]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, the following problems have occurred.

In the above-described ASF, the stacked sheets (paper) need only be immediately fed and printed, but if the stacked sheets are left for a while, the ASF will have a certain angle from the horizontal, , The bottom side of the loaded state may buckle due to the weight of the paper.

When the paper buckles in this way, curling occurs locally, the paper has a curl or the rigidity of the paper decreases, and the pickup by the paper feed roller is unstable during paper feeding. And there is a drawback that it tends to cause skew and double feeding.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to prevent buckling due to the weight of a sheet even when the sheet is left for a long period of time with the sheet loaded. Another object of the present invention is to provide a feeding device and a recording device which are excellent in quality and enable stable sheet conveyance.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet stacking means for stacking sheets in an inclined state, and feeding the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means. And a feeding unit provided with a bending unit that bends the sheet in the sheet width direction during a feeding standby state in which the sheet feeding operation is not performed by the feeding unit. .

[0013] Therefore, in the feeding standby state, the sheet is bent in the sheet width direction by the bending means, so that the rigidity is increased and the sheet itself is prevented from buckling due to its own weight.

When the sheet is fed by the feeding means, the sheet may be fed while being formed in a substantially uniform plane in the sheet width direction.

The sheet stacking means has a plurality of support members for independently supporting the sheet support positions at different positions, and each of the support members is provided movably in a direction perpendicular to the sheet stacking surface. The sheet may be curved in the sheet width direction or may be formed in a substantially uniform plane by the relative movement of each support member.

The sheet stacking means has three support members divided into three in the sheet width direction. When the sheet is bent in the sheet width direction, the center support member is provided at both ends. It is good to move in the direction in which it rises relatively to.

The sheet stacking means includes a main support member having a hole and capable of supporting substantially the entire area of the sheet, and a protruding support member which is provided so as to be able to be taken in and out of the hole and can support a part of the sheet. When the sheet is curved in the sheet width direction, the projecting support member can be protruded from the hole to lift a part of the sheet.

A regulating member is provided slidably in the sheet stacking surface direction and regulates the position in the sheet width direction according to the size of the sheets to be stacked. At least one of the support members is connected to the regulating member. It is preferable to move the bending position in conjunction with the slide movement of.

The sheet may be curved near the lower end in the direction of inclination of the sheet.

The feeding means has a rotating member, and the rotating member rotates while contacting the sheet surface during feeding in synchronism with the contact / separation operation of the sheet stacking means provided so as to be freely contactable / separable. When feeding and waiting for feeding, it is preferable to wait in a state away from the sheet surface.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus including recording means for recording an image on a sheet fed by the feeding apparatus.

[0022]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The material, shape, relative arrangement, and the like are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified.

The feeding device according to the present embodiment is applied to a recording device (for example, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile device, etc.) having recording means for recording an image on a sheet by various methods. However, since the configuration and the like of the entire recording apparatus are known, description thereof is omitted.

Each embodiment will be described below by taking as an example the case where the feeding apparatus of the present invention is applied to an ASF (auto sheet feeder) provided in a recording apparatus.

(First Embodiment) A feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a feeder (ASF) according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a right side view as viewed from the middle right side, and FIG. 5 is a right side view as viewed from the right side in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a state at the time of feeding standby.

In FIG. 1, 1 is ASF based,
Further, a sheet as a sheet is conveyed one by one from a paper feed port 2 to a recording (image recording) section of a recording device such as a printer (not shown).

Reference numeral 3 denotes a pressure plate serving as a sheet stacking means rotatably supported on the ASF base 1, and is urged from the back by a pressure plate spring 4 disposed on the ASF base 1.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper feed roller shaft, which is rotatably supported by the ASF base 1.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a paper feed roller rubber (rotating member) constituting the feeding means, and one or a plurality of paper feed roller shafts 5 are arranged at intervals so that optimum pickup can be performed.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a gear train, which transmits a drive from a drive source (not shown) to rotate a paper feed roller.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a pressure plate cam. By pressing down a cam surface provided on the pressure plate 3, the pressure plate 3 can be turned from the sheet feeding state to the standby state.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a sub-sheet feed tray, which supports a portion of the sheet that protrudes from the ASF base 1 from the back.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a small pressure plate rotatably supported by the pressure plate 3, and is urged by a spring 11 so that the side opposite to the rotation axis is rotated away from the pressure plate 3.

Numeral 12 denotes a small pressure plate cam for rotating the small pressure plate 10 by driving transmitted by the gear train 7, and rotates in synchronization with the operation of the pressure plate.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a side guide as a regulating member, which regulates the position in the width direction (lateral direction) of the paper.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a separation pad made of a material having a high coefficient of friction, and is disposed on the surface of the pressure plate 3 facing the paper feed roller with an adhesive tape or the like.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a separation claw for feeding paper one by one.

The above-mentioned pressure plate 3 and small pressure plate 10 constitute a bending means, which is a feature of the present embodiment.
Support members for supporting the paper at different positions are configured so as to be divided.

The pressure plate 3 and the small pressure plate 10 are
The pressure plate is provided relatively movable in the direction perpendicular to the sheet (paper) loading surface (in the case of the configuration shown in the figure, the small pressure plates 10 at both ends rotate with respect to the central pressure plate 3). 3
And the small pressure plate 10 are positioned on the same plane, so that the sheets to be stacked can be formed in a flat shape,
By moving these to shifted positions, the sheet can be curved.

Next, the operation of the ASF to which the present embodiment is applied in the above configuration will be described step by step.

FIG. 2 shows a standby state in which paper is loaded on the ASF and a feeding operation (paper feeding operation) is not performed. The pressure plate 3 is pushed down by the cam 8 and is separated from the paper feeding roller rubber 6. I'm waiting.

At this time, the small pressure plate 10 is released from the small pressure plate cam 12, is urged by the spring 11, and is in a position rotated in a direction away from the pressure plate 3.

The paper is set by inserting the paper into the ASF base 1 and hitting the right end, moving the side guide 13 and setting it so that there is no extra space.

At this time, since the small pressure plate 10 is retracted below the paper in the inclination direction, as shown in FIG. 3, the central pressure plate 3 is positioned so that it rises higher than the small pressure plates 10 at both ends. As a result, the paper bends so that both ends are down, giving a bow-like appearance.

Next, a case where a feeding operation (paper feeding operation) is performed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a right side sectional view as viewed from the right side in FIG. 1, and shows a state at the time of feeding.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, when a recording signal is sent from a host (not shown) to the recording apparatus, the gear train 7 transmits a drive from a driving source (not shown), and the paper feed roller shaft 5 To rotate.

At this time, the pressure plate 3 is rotated by the pressure plate cam 8 in the direction approaching the paper feed roller, and similarly the small pressure plate 10
Is rotated by a small pressure plate cam 12 approaching the same plane as the pressure plate 3.

The pressure plate 3 stops in a state where the uppermost paper of the stacked papers is in contact with the paper feed roller rubber 6.

At this time, the small pressure plate 10 forms a substantially uniform surface with the pressure plate 3.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed roller rubber 6 rotates a predetermined pulse to feed the paper.

When the paper feeding is completed, a predetermined pulse rotation is performed, and the pressure plate cam 8 pushes down the pressure plate 3, rotates so as to be separated from the paper feed roller rubber 6, and returns to the standby position (FIG. 2).

At this time, the small pressure plate 10 is also released from the small pressure plate cam 12, and is rotated by the spring 11 in a direction away from the pressure plate 3, so that the stacked paper follows the shape of the pressure plate 3 and the small pressure plate 10, and the lower end becomes a bow. (See FIG. 3).

As described above, in the feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the right and left sides of the pressure plate are lower than the center portion during standby for feeding (at the time of standby for printing). The sheet (paper) is curved in the width direction of the sheet to form an arc shape, has high rigidity, and can prevent buckling due to its own weight even when the sheet is left inclined.

Further, by forming a pressure plate having a substantially uniform surface in conjunction with the operation of the pressure plate during the feeding (feeding) operation,
Since the sheet is fed from a state of being stacked on a plane, stable feeding is possible.

In the above description, the left and right pressure plates are rotated about the center of rotation, but may be moved in parallel and separated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the same effect can be obtained even if the rotation center is rotated around an axis perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the bending position of the sheet can be changed by moving the supporting member that supports the sheet along with the sliding movement of the regulating member shown in the above-described first embodiment.

The other configuration and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment, so that the same components are denoted by the same reference characters and description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a feeder (ASF) according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is the left sectional view seen from the middle left.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a side guide as a regulating member which can move to the left and right in accordance with the size of the paper loaded on the pressure plate.

On the side guide 21, there is provided a paper supporting portion 22 as a supporting member which is rotatably mounted, and is spring-biased so as to be flush with the lower surface of the side guide 21.

The camshaft 23 arranged in the lateral direction of the ASF in parallel with the paper feed roller shaft 5 is driven by the gear train 7 to rotate.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a paper support cam having a cam shape disposed on the cam shaft 23. The paper support cam 24 can move right and left on the shaft by fitting a key shape provided on the shaft, and has the same phase as the shaft. Rotate with.

The position of the cam shaft 23 is regulated by a frame shape 25 provided on the side opposite to the paper loading surface of the paper support portion 22, and follows the side guide 21 when the side guide 21 is moved right and left in accordance with the paper width. Move.

In the above configuration, the operation of the ASF to which the present embodiment is applied is the same as the configuration and operation of the first embodiment described above, except that the side guide 21 is moved when the side guide 21 is moved in accordance with the sheet width. The paper support (small pressure plate) 22 provided on the guide 21 interlocks with the side guide 21,
It can be moved to a position appropriate for the paper width.

As described above, in this embodiment, the movable portion is partially provided on the side guide on the non-reference side, and the left and right portions are lowered in synchronization with the small pressure plate 10 on the reference side during standby for feeding, thereby stacking. By bending the bent sheet (paper) in the width direction to form an arch shape, it is possible to prevent buckling due to the weight of the paper, and to provide a substantially uniform surface in conjunction with the operation of the pressure plate during the paper feeding operation. By forming the pressure plate, the sheet is fed from a state where the sheet is stacked on a flat surface, so that stable sheet feeding is possible.

Further, since it is possible to move in the left-right direction in conjunction with the side guide, the bending position can be changed, and it is possible to cope with sheets (paper) of various widths.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 9 to 11 show:
A third embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the bending means is performed by the relative movement of the three support members obtained by dividing the bending means into three parts has been described. However, in the present embodiment, the bending means is provided by the main support member having the hole, 2 shows a configuration in the case of relative movement with a protruding support member provided so as to be able to be taken in and out freely.

Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a feeder (ASF) according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 10 and 11 are right side sectional views as viewed from the right side in FIG. FIG.
Shows a state during feeding standby, and FIG. 11 shows a state during feeding.

In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a projection as a projection supporting member provided near the center of the ASF base 1.

The pressure plate 3 as a main support member is provided with a hole shape 32 so as not to interfere with the projection shape 31 in the ASF sheet feeding / standby state.

The height of the projection 31 from the ASF base is higher than the surface of the pressure plate 3 during the standby state (in a protruding state), and in the feeding state in which the pressure plate 3 is raised, is the same level as the surface of the pressure plate 3 formed? Or lower than that.

Further, a loose guide slope 33 is provided so that the projection 31 does not interfere with the setting of the paper when the paper is loaded.

Next, in the ASF to which the present embodiment is applied in the above-described configuration, in the standby state, the pressure plate 3 is pushed down by the pressure plate cam 8, and the projection 31 provided near the center is protruded from the pressure plate 3 of the ASF. Because of this, the paper can be curved and formed into an arcuate shape and loaded.

In this state, when a recording signal is sent from a host (not shown) to the recording apparatus, the gear train 7 transmits a drive from a driving source (not shown) to rotate the paper feed roller shaft 5.

At this time, the pressure plate 3 is rotated by the pressure plate cam 8 in a direction approaching the paper feed roller.

The pressure plate 3 stops in a state where the uppermost paper of the stacked papers is in contact with the paper feed roller rubber 6.

At this time, the protruding shape 31 is at the same height as the upper surface of the pressure plate 3 or at a position lower than that, and the paper can be supported on the pressure plate 3 in a planar manner.

Next, the paper feed roller rubber 6 rotates a predetermined pulse to feed the paper.

When the paper feeding is completed, a predetermined pulse rotation is performed,
The pressure plate cam 8 pushes down the pressure plate 3, rotates so as to be separated from the paper feed roller rubber 6, and returns to the standby position.

As described above, in the present embodiment, since the projection at the center is higher than the surface of the pressure plate during standby, the left and right ends are lowered, and the stacked paper is curved to form an arcuate shape. By forming the paper, it is possible to prevent buckling of the paper due to its own weight.

In the paper feeding operation, since the projection is flush with the upper surface of the pressure plate or lower than the upper surface of the pressure plate, the paper can be fed from a state of being stacked in a plane, and stable paper feeding is possible. .

In this embodiment, the number of parts is small, and the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained at low cost.

The projections are provided on the side guides 21. When the side guides 21 are moved in accordance with the paper width, the projections provided on the side guides interlock with the side guides and are positioned at the paper width. By adopting a configuration that can be realized by the above, it is possible to cope with paper of various widths.

[0088]

As described above, by bending the sheet in the width direction of the sheet during standby for feeding by the bending means, the rigidity of the sheet can be increased. Buckling due to the weight of the sheet is prevented, and stable sheet conveyance is enabled, thereby improving quality.

When the sheet is fed by the feeding means, the sheet can be fed stably while being formed in a substantially uniform flat shape in the sheet width direction.

A plurality of support members for independently supporting the sheet support positions at different positions are provided movably in a direction perpendicular to the sheet stacking surface, respectively, and the relative movement of each support member causes the sheet to move. Can be curved in the sheet width direction or formed in a substantially uniform planar shape.

A regulating member for regulating the position in the sheet width direction according to the size of the sheets to be stacked is provided, and at least one of the supporting members is moved in conjunction with the sliding movement of the regulating member to move the bending position. , Can be applied to various sheet sizes.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side sectional view seen from the right side in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of a sheet stacked on the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a sheet feeding standby state.

FIG. 4 is a right side sectional view seen from the right side in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a right side view as viewed from the right side in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of a main part of the feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a feeding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a left side sectional view as viewed from the left side in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a feeder (ASF) according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a right side sectional view as viewed from the right side in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a right side sectional view as viewed from the right side in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ASF base 2 Paper feed port 3 Pressure plate 4 Pressure plate spring 5 Paper feed roller shaft 6 Paper feed roller rubber 7 Gear train 8 Pressure plate cam 9 Sub paper feed tray 10 Small pressure plate 11 Spring 12 Small pressure plate cam 13 Side guide 14 Separation pad 15 Separation Claw 21 Side guide 22 Paper support 23 Cam shaft 24 Paper support cam 25 Frame shape 31 Projection shape 32 Hole shape 33 Guide slope

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A feeding apparatus comprising: sheet stacking means for stacking sheets in a tilted state; and sheet feeding means for feeding sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means. A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising: a sheet bending unit that bends a sheet in a sheet width direction during a sheet feeding standby state in which a sheet feeding operation is not performed. 2. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is fed while being formed in a substantially uniform plane in the sheet width direction when the sheet is fed by the feeding means. Feeder. 3. The sheet stacking means has a plurality of support members for independently supporting a sheet support position at different positions, and each of the support members is movable relative to the sheet stacking surface in a direction perpendicular to the sheet stacking surface. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is curved or formed into a substantially uniform plane in the sheet width direction by relative movement of each support member. 4. The sheet stacking means has three support members divided into three in the sheet width direction, and when the sheet is curved in the sheet width direction, the center support member is provided at both ends. The feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the feeding device moves in a direction in which the supporting member rises relatively. 5. A sheet supporting means, comprising: a main support member having a hole and capable of supporting substantially the entire area of a sheet; and a projection capable of supporting the sheet in a part thereof and capable of supporting a part of the sheet. 4. When the sheet is bent in the sheet width direction, the projecting support member is protruded from the hole to lift a part of the sheet. 2. The feeding device according to claim 1. 6. A regulating member provided slidably in a sheet stacking surface direction and for regulating a position in a sheet width direction according to a size of a sheet to be stacked, wherein at least one of the support members is The feeding device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the bending position is moved in conjunction with the sliding movement of the regulating member. 7. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is curved near a lower end in a tilt direction of the sheet. 8. The feeding means has a rotating member, which rotates in contact with a sheet surface during feeding in synchronization with a contact / separation operation of a sheet stacking means provided so as to be freely contactable / separable. The sheet feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sheet is fed, and at a time of feeding standby, the sheet is standby in a state away from the sheet surface. 9. A recording apparatus comprising recording means for recording an image on a sheet fed by the feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.