JPS59223635A - Sheet feed device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the paper feed matching by providing sheet sensors in a sheet transport path so as to be capable of movement adjusting and positioning in a sheet feed device having a large-capacity sheet storage section capable of being easily connected to an image forming unit of a general sheet cassette insertion type. CONSTITUTION:A sheet feed device A mounted on a mount D removably provided on an image forming unit proper B and a pedestal C mounting it with screws 121, 122 is provided with a large-capacity sheet storage section 1 and a transport/wait section 2 feeding sheets one by one which is protruded forward from the front upper section of this storage section 1 and is capable of being inserted into a sheet cassette inserting port 101 on the proper B side. The sheet storage section 1 has a sheet feed roller 40 feeding sheets P stacked on an elevatable sheet storage bed 5 from the top sheet and a transport roller 57, etc. Furthermore, the transport/wait section 2 is constituted so as to allow the sheet to stop and wait once and is provided with sheet sensors S5, S6 capable of moving in the sheet transport direction and positioning.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding cut sheets (hereinafter referred to as paper) such as transfer paper, printing paper, recording paper, etc. to image forming apparatuses and other various sheet processing apparatuses.

For example, a paper cassette insertion method is generally adopted for paper feeding in image forming apparatuses such as electronic or electrostatic photocopiers and simple printing machines. This is done by inserting a paper cassette containing cut sheet paper in advance into the cassette slot of the machine, and drawing the paper in the cassette one by one into the machine by the action of the machine's paper feeding means to form an image. By preparing several paper cassettes each containing paper of different size and paper quality, it is possible to easily exchange paper for the machine by inserting and removing the cassettes. Alternatively, it is convenient to have a plurality of cassette slots on the machine side and insert cassettes into them, which has the advantage that paper can be changed to the machine with a single operation of a selection button.

However, the maximum paper storage capacity of the paper cassette is about 250 or 500 sheets, so when copying a large number of sheets, such as 1000 or 2000 sheets, in succession, the paper cassette has a maximum capacity of 250 sheets or 500 sheets. It is cumbersome to have to replenish the paper in the cassette, and the copying process is interrupted each time, making it impossible to take full advantage of the machine's high-speed performance.

Some models, such as high-end high-speed machines, have multi-sheet decks that can store and feed large amounts of paper, such as 2,000 sheets at once.
There are also models equipped with a tray mechanism, but the deck mechanism is a built-in device that is built into that model.
This is a dedicated mechanism for the image forming apparatus.

Therefore, the present applicant has previously developed a paper cassette inserting type image forming apparatus that does not have a built-in multi-sheet deck mechanism, without having to connect the cassette to the image forming apparatus using a signal line. 1000 sheets/2 by simply physically inserting and connecting them into the insertion slot in the same way as a cassette.
A general-purpose unit-type highly reliable large-capacity automatic machine that can be widely used in combination with various paper cassette insertion type image forming devices, making it possible to perform continuous copying of large numbers of sheets, such as 1,000 sheets, without interruption. A feeding device was proposed and put into practical use (Japanese Patent Application No. 185961-185988).

The present invention further improves such a sheet feeding device and uses a simple sheet feeding matching adjustment mechanism to make it compatible with various types of image forming devices and other sheet processing devices with various process speeds, including high, medium, and low speeds. The purpose is to make it possible.

A detailed explanation will be given below based on an illustrated example.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a schematic configuration of a sheet feeding apparatus A connected to an image forming apparatus B (hereinafter referred to as the main apparatus). C is a pedestal on which the machine B is placed, and D is a pedestal for connecting and holding the sheet feeding device, which is detachably attached to the machine A and the pedestal C with screws 121 and 122.

In this example, machine B has a paper cassette loading slot of -1-lower 2nd stage 10.
2.101 ff1t type, this example is below.
A special unit 2 for transporting one sheet of sheet of the sheet feeding device A is fitted into the cassette loading slot on the side and connected thereto. E is a normal paper cassette loaded in the upper cassette loading slot i02, and it can remain loaded even when feeding device A is attached to machine B. If necessary, it can be inserted into machine B.
By operating the paper selection button on the side, you can switch the paper feed to the upper paper feed side and feed the paper in that cassette into the machine B for use.

The sheet 86 feeding device A of this example is broadly divided into: (1) an elevating paper storage mechanism that can load and accommodate a large amount of cut sheets, for example, about 2,000 sheets at a time, and a mechanism that feeds out the stacked sheets one by one from above. A large-capacity paper storage section 1 consisting of a feeding mechanism; It consists of a machine part 2, and (1) a control circuit part (not shown).

To attach the sheet feeding device A to the machine B, firmly attach the sheet feeding device A to the machine B and the pedicle C.
Of the four rollers 123 on the lower surface of the bottom plate of the rail, first the front left and right rollers are inserted, and the entire device A is pushed forward, and on the way, the front left and right rollers are made to ride over the protrusion 118 of the rail bottom plate, and then pushed further forward. Next, fit the rear left and right rollers into the left and right rail grooves, respectively, and push them further forward.
The rear left and right rollers are also made to ride over the protrusion l18 of the rail. As the device A is pushed forward, the single-sheet conveyance/special unit 2 protruding forward is inserted into the cassette slot 101 of the device B on the upper side of the vertical back frame of the pedestal. Enter through frame side 111. When the rear left and right rollers 123 climb over the protrusion 118 of the rail, the front plate of the large-capacity paper storage section l of the device A comes into contact with the vertical spine frame-L side horizontal frame side tit of the pedestal and is received. Further forward movement of device A is prevented. At this point, the rear protruding pin (not shown) for left and right positioning of the feeding device on the pedestal side has fully entered the corresponding pin entry hole (not shown) on the device A side, and the device A is able to transport one sheet of paper. The special unit 2 fully enters the cassette insertion port 101 of the machine B to the proper position and is in a fitted state with the cassette insertion port 101. Further, since the rear left and right rollers 123 have climbed over the protrusion l18 of the roller, the device A is stopped by the protrusion and is stably held at the final forward position.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a paper storage stand installed in the paper storage part 1, and plates 6 are fixed vertically on both left and right sides of the leading edge thereof, and a pair of upper and lower rollers 7 are attached to the outside of each plate 6. By fitting the rollers 7 and 7 into a vertical channel rail (not shown), the rollers 7 and 7 can be freely moved along the vertical rail while maintaining a substantially horizontal state. It is set up. 19 is a chain for pivoting the top of the paper storage table, which is suspended between sprockets 15 and 14 on the -L side, and a part of this chain 19 and the table 5
When the chain 19 is rotated in the forward direction a by a drive source mechanism (not shown), the base 5 moves upwardly, and when rotated in the reverse direction, it moves downwardly.

P is a large quantity of cant sheet paper, for example, 2,000 sheets, set on the recording table 5, and 40 is a paper feed roller disposed in the L section of the paper storage section l, which is connected to the shaft 39 via a one-way clutch 41. It is installed by hand. The shaft 39 rotates by receiving the rotation of the intermittent one-rotation drive shaft 33 via the timing pulley 42a and the timing belt 42c, and the paper feed roller 40 rotates in the paper feeding direction shown by the arrow. 45 is a paper p1 claw that comes into contact with the front corner of the topmost paper of the stacked paper P; 85
is a box-shaped opening/closing door disposed on the rear side of the paper storage section l that can be opened and closed freely around a hinge section 85a, and is made of a transparent or colored transparent material such as ABS resin.

When the door 85 is opened to load paper onto the paper storage table 5, replenish it, change the paper size and book type, etc., an unillustrated M7 is opened.
Based on the door-close signal from the switch, the platform 5 automatically moves down to the preset lowest home position and stops W.
state. When the J7rt85 is closed after stacking and replenishing the sheets P on the table 5, the table 5 automatically starts to move upward based on the door-close signal from the m switch. Due to this upward movement of the table 5, the highest paper surface of the stacked paper P on the table 5-)2 comes into contact with the lower surface of the paper feed roller 40, and when the load is slightly higher than that, a paper top surface level sensor (not shown) is activated. The upward movement of the platform 5 is stopped based on the signal.

56 is a first conveying roller 57 which is supported by a bearing between the chassis of the feeding device A and the left and right side plates in front of the paper separating claw 45;
59 is a first conveyance roller that is connected to the shaft 56 via a one-way clutch 58; 59 is a driven roller that is always in contact with the upper surface of the first conveyance roller with an appropriate pressing force; 61 and 6;
Reference numeral 2 designates upper and lower paper guide plates disposed between the paper separation claw 45 and the first conveyance roller 57.

In the transport/special unit 2 for one sheet of paper, 65 has its base connected to -1-
It is connected to the first conveyance roller shaft 56 and is connected to the -
This is a flat box-shaped carrier base body that is arranged to protrude forward from the L portion. The width and thickness of this base almost match the width and thickness of a thin paper cassette for 250 sheets = J method, and the length is the depth of the cassette slot on the B side of the machine. The dimensions are a little longer than that. Further, the flat box-shaped base body is free to swing about the first ri feed roller shaft 56 within a range of a downward position of about 10° from a substantially horizontal position.

Therefore, when the cassette slot on the machine B side to which paper feeder A is connected is for a thin paper cassette that accommodates 250 sheets, the cassette slot is for a single sheet of paper mainly composed of the flat box-shaped base 65. The transport/special equipment section 2 inserts the cassette into the cassette.

In addition, since the base body 65 has a degree of freedom in swinging around the shaft 56 as described above, it can be easily moved even if there is a slight deviation in the angle of approach when it approaches the cassette insertion slot of the special equipment section 2 for conveying single sheets of paper. As time goes on, the misalignment will be corrected naturally, and eventually paper 1
Sheet transport / Special unit 2 is a cassette) / Regular position in the insertion slot /
Fits smoothly in the correct position.

66 and 66 are the cassette i/insertion openings when the cassette insertion opening 101 on the machine B side to which the paper feeder A is connected is for a thick paper cassette for accommodating 500 sheets (this example). 10
In order to adapt the thin single-sheet transport unit 2 to the above-mentioned flat box-shaped base body 65, the flat box-shaped base body 65 is attached to the outer surface of the left and right side plates near the tips, respectively, and can be detached and used by screwing or the like. This is a downwardly inclined cam-shaped spacer plate.

That is, in this case, when the feeding device A is pushed forward along the rails 113 to connect it to the machine B, the left and right inclined cam shapes marked 1- are formed on the left and right sides of the lower edge of the cassette insertion slot 101. The front slope 66a of the spacer plate abuts. Its contact,
When the feeding device A is subsequently pushed and moved, the slope 66a slides along the lower edge of the cassette inserter 1101, and rotational force in 11 and 2 directions about the shaft 56 acts on the flat box-shaped base 65. As a result, as the sheet feeding device A is pushed and moved, the base body 65 naturally changes its posture in a substantially horizontal direction due to the lifting action of the inclined cam plate-shaped spacer plate 66, and the tip portion moves into the cassette slot 101. Then, the lower end of the spacer plate 66 enters the cassette insertion slot l.

1 and the base 65 is held in a substantially horizontal position.
It is towed and enters.

Therefore, whether the cassette slot 101 on the B side of the machine is for a thin paper cassette for accommodating 250 sheets or for a thick paper cassette for accommodating 500 sheets, the paper in the feeding device A is ultimately used. The single-sheet conveyance/special unit 2 is placed in the cassette slot on the machine B side, and the upper surface of a second conveyance roller 68 (described later) on the base 65 side of the conveyance/special unit 2 is placed in the paper feeding means on the machine B side. A cam plate for specifying the paper size to be used, which is in pressure contact with the lower surface of the freely rotating auxiliary roller 103a of the barrel paper feed roller 103 and protrudes forward from the front plate of the base 65, is selected by the paper size detection switch group 104 on the machine B side. When the machine B and feeding device A are properly connected, the machine B and the feeding device A are properly connected.

Reference numeral 67 denotes a second conveyance roller shaft disposed inside the front end side of the base body 65, which is parallel to the first conveyance roller shaft 56. The left and right ends of this shaft 67 are freely rotatably supported by bearings that are fitted in vertically elongated holes formed in the left and right side plates of the base body 65 so as to be able to slide up and down. The bearing is urged upward by the double spring plate 67b and lifted until the bearing is received in one end of the elongated hole.

Reference numeral 68a denotes a second conveyance roller attached to the second conveyance roller shaft 67, which is connected to the shaft 67 via a one-way clutch 68c.
It is attached to. The upper surface of the second feed roller 68 is transparent, which is formed on the -L surface of the base body 65.

Exposed to the outside through the hole. When the feeding device A is connected to the machine B, the upper surface of the roller 68 is the free rotating roller 103 of each paper feed roller 103 (made of rubber) on the machine B side.
a (for example, an acetal roller), the second conveying roller shaft 67 sinks a little against the lifting spring plate 67b, and as it sinks, the reaction force of the spring plate causes both 68
- 103a comes into pressure contact state.

Reference numeral 73 denotes a drainboard-shaped paper guide plate that can be freely raised and lowered with respect to the base and top plate around the shaft 65f, and is normally kept tilted. By tilting it down, a paper conveyance gap passage 70 from the first conveyance roller 57 to the second conveyance roller 68 is formed between the base north face plate and the guide plate 73.

Although the first conveyance roller shaft 56 and the 24th FI feed roller shaft 67 are not shown in the figure, a timing boot is attached to each of them.
A timing belt is suspended between both pulleys. The first IIIl feed roller shaft 56 is rotationally driven by a drive mechanism (not shown), and thereby the first conveyance roller 58 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow. Further, the rotation of the first conveyance roller shaft 56 is transmitted to the second conveyance roller shaft 67 via the above-mentioned timing pulley and timing belt.
8 is also rotated in conjunction with each other in the direction of the arrow.

S5 and S6 are first and second rollers respectively disposed at two positions in the paper conveyance gap passage 70 between the first conveyance roller 57 and the second conveyance roller 68, at a position near the first w feed roller 57 and at a substantially intermediate position. 2 paper sensors (for example, microswitches).

Next, the paper 10 feeding operation of apparatus A will be explained.

a. Connect the feeding device A to the machine B as shown in Fig.
When the table 5 is closed, the upper surface of the stacked paper P rises to the position specified by the paper top surface level sensor as the table 5 is closed, and the upward movement of the table 5 is stopped. S
When neither of S5 and S6 detects the presence of paper, one rotation of the intermittent one rotation drive shaft 33 is started based on the multiplied signal, and the first conveyance roller shaft Rotation drive of 56 is started. The paper feed roller 4o rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft 33. Further, as the shaft 56 rotates, the first conveyance roller 57 rotates, and in conjunction with this, the second conveyance roller 68 rotates.

J2: Due to the paper feeding force caused by the rotation of the paper feed roller 40, the second highest paper of the stacked paper P is separated into one by the action of the separation claw 45.
Only one sheet is separated and sent out between the kite boards 61 and 62. The fed paper is then rotated! The first one in E
It is held between the conveyance roller 57 and the driven roller 59 and enters the paper conveyance gap passage 70 between the top plate of the base body 65 of the single-sheet conveyance/special unit 2 and the drainboard-shaped paper guide plate 73.

One rotation of the shaft 33 is completed before the leading edge of the paper that has entered the path 70 contacts the actuator of the first paper sensor S5, and at that point, the active rotation of the paper feed roller 40 is also stopped. However, since the leading edge side of the sheet of paper that has been sent out to the edges has already been held between the first conveyance roller 57 and the driven roller 59, the sheet continues to be transferred to the first conveyance roller 59.
It is conveyed into the passage 70 with a rotational force of 7. After that, the paper feed roller 40 whose active rotational drive was cut off continues to be activated by the one-way clutch 41 as the paper continues to be conveyed.
The paper idles on the shaft 39 via the paper to reduce conveyance resistance of the paper.

The paper that has entered the gap passage 70 is first detected by the first paper sensor S5, and then by the second paper sensor S6 as the transport movement within the passage is detected. Then, the tip end side enters between the rotating second conveyance roller 68a and the freely rotating roller 103a of the paper feed roller 103 on the machine B side that is in contact with the second conveyance roller 68a, and is bitten and conveyed. When the sheet is conveyed a little further and its leading edge reaches the reference line position 0 near the leading edge of the base body 65, the first conveying roller 57 and the second conveying roller interlocked with the first conveying roller 57 are moved at exactly the timing when the conveying movement of the sheet stops. roller 68a
The rotational drive of the paper is stopped, thereby stopping the conveyance of one sheet.

To stop driving the first and second feed rollers 57 and 68a,
The leading edge of the paper that has entered the paper transport gap path 70 due to the rotation of the first transport roller 57 and the driven roller 59 is detected by the first paper sensor S5, and then detected by the second paper sensor S6. Based on the signal, the rotating encoder gear disc (not shown) and the photoelectric element start counting the number of pulses, and when the preset number of pulses has been counted, the rotational drive of the 2111il feed roller shaft 56 is cut off. It is done by being

'', the number of pulses shown below is determined by the paper transport speed, the distance from the second paper sensor S6 to the base line position O, and the number of pulses after the rotational drive of the first and second transport rollers 57 and 68 is cut off. It is calculated from the paper movement amount based on the inertial rotation of 57-68, and is set in advance in the control circuit.

Then, with the leading edge aligned with the base line position O, the conveyance of the paper is stopped, and then the paper feed roller 103 on the machine B side is rotated by the sequence program on the machine B side. Wait until then. The trailing edge of this waiting paper is located between the paper feed roller 40 and the first conveyance roller 57 when the paper size used is small, and is located between the paper feed roller 40 and the first conveyance roller 57 when the paper size is large. I haven't cut out the parts. Therefore, in either case, when the paper is on standby, both the first and second paper sensors S5 and S6 are held in the on state due to the presence of the paper on standby.

b. When the paper feed roller 103 on the machine B side is rotated based on the sequence program on the machine B side, the leading edge of the waiting paper is caught between the second @ feed roller 68 and the paper feed roller 103. The paper is drawn from the paper feeder A side to the machine B side by the rotational force of the paper feed roller 103, and is fed into the machine B.

At this time, the paper feed roller 4o on the paper feed device MA side, the first and second
None of the conveyor rollers 57 and 68 are actively rotated, but each of the rollers 4o and 57 and 68 has a one-way clutch 41 connected to each support shaft 39, 56, and 67.
058-68C, both roll idly as the paper feed roller 103 on the machine A side transports the waiting paper, reducing transport resistance.

C1 Book with the above standby paper! ! When the trailing edge of the paper passes the position of the first paper sensor s5 as it is pulled toward the IB side, the sensor s5 is turned off, and based on the signal, the intermittent 1
The rotational drive shaft 33 is driven one rotation and the paper feed roller 4o
rotational drive is performed.

By rotationally driving the paper feed roller 4o, the stacking paper 4 on the table 5 is rotated.
The next sheet of paper P is sent out to one sheet, and its leading edge is received by the nip between the first PJ feed roller 57, which is not rotating, and its driven roller 59, and the paper feed roller accompanies the completion of one rotation of the shaft 33. A slight loop of paper is formed between the ff5l transport roller 57 and the paper feed roller 40 until the rotation of the paper 40 is completed.

When the trailing edge of the preceding paper then passes the second paper sensor S6 position, this sensor is turned off and the first
The rotation of the shaft 56 of the conveyance roller 57 is started, and the first and second conveyance rollers 57 and 68 are actively rotated.

As a result, the first conveyance roller 57 and the driven roller 59
The leading edge of the sheet is received in the nip portion of the sheet.The next sheet of paper is drawn into the machine B side and introduced into the passage 70 so as to follow the preceding sheet that is being conveyed.

As a result, the upper surface plate 65C of the base 65 and the drainboard-shaped paper guide plate 7 are arranged so that the next paper follows the previous paper.
The paper is introduced into the paper conveyance gap path between the

When the leading edge of the paper passes the position of the second paper sensor S6, the switch S6 is turned on, and based on this belief, the encoder starts counting pulses, and after a predetermined number of pulses have passed, the axis of the first conveyance roller 57 is turned on. By stopping the rotation of the sheet 56, the next sheet is placed in a standby state in the special equipment section 2 with its leading edge aligned with the base line position 0.

The trailing edge of the preceding paper and the leading edge of the next paper are the freely rotating rollers 1 of the second W feed roller 68 and the paper feed roller 103 on the machine B side.
Before entering between 03a and 03a, the ejector has already come out from between both rollers.

d.L The next sheet in the standby state is introduced into the machine B by re-rotating the paper feed roller 103 on the machine B side.

e. From then on, each time the paper feed roller 103 on the B side of the machine is driven to rotate, one sheet of the next sheet is transferred from the paper storage section l in section C above to the special equipment section 2 on the paper feeder A side. The cycle of transport to the destination and waiting is automatically repeated.

f, the paper P loaded on stand 5-hi is, for example, 20 to 30 sheets °
When about 1 liter is consumed, the paper top surface position level drops to the lower limit of the allowable range. Then, the lowering is detected by a level sensor (not shown), and the platform 5 is moved upward, and after a certain period of time has elapsed, the second R movement is stopped. At this time, the upper surface of the paper has almost reached the upper limit level. Even while the -L of the table 5 is being raised, the paper feed mechanism that feeds the topmost paper of the stacked paper P to the edge feeds the paper waiting in the special unit 2 to Sakai by the rotation of the paper feed roller 103 on the machine B side. It works every time it feeds out the paper to the special equipment section 2.

Thereafter, as the paper is sequentially consumed, each time the level drops to the permissible lower limit, the raising movement of the platform 5 is automatically executed intermittently, and the paper on the second side of the stacked paper P is consumed. It is always maintained at a predetermined tolerance level until it is exhausted.

In this way, it is possible to continuously feed sheets P of many years, such as 2,000 sheets, stacked on the table 5, to the image forming apparatus B as long as the image forming apparatus B is in operation.

g. As the paper feed on the table 5 progresses, the last paper is conveyed to the special equipment section 2, and then that paper is also introduced into the machine B side, which causes the first river paper sensor S5 or the When both the first and second paper sensors S5 and S6 are turned off, the paper out lamp 90 is turned on, and the paper out warning display device (not shown) provided on the feeding device A side is in the display state. Become.

When the paperless lamp 90 lights up, the light receiving element Cd on the B side of the machine
When light enters S, the out-of-paper display/warning circuit on the B side of the machine is activated, and the paper out display/warning circuit on the feeding device A side is displayed/warned. Additionally, in general, in this machine B, the mechanism operation is automatically stopped when the display/warning circuit is activated.

h. Then, when the door 85 of the feeding device A is opened to replenish paper, the table 5 automatically descends to the lower limit level and stops, as described in the previous section, so a large number of sheets of paper can be loaded onto the table 5 again. Store it. Then, by closing the section 85, the sequence of items a to f is executed again, making it possible to continuously feed a large number of sheets.

By the way, in such a feeding device A, the paper conveyance setting speed by the first and second conveyance rollers 57 and 68 is set to VA (second
(see figure). Further, the set process speed (set speed of paper conveyance by the paper feed roller 103) of the machine B to which the feeding device is used is set to 7 days. Further, the set interval distance between the paper nip portion of the first conveyance roller 57 and the driven roller 59 and the paper contact actuator of the second river paper sensor S6 is 9.

Therefore, when there is a relationship of VA=VB or VAζVB,
Conveyance for one sheet of paper from feeding device A φ The preceding sheet conveyed from the special unit 2 into the machine B by the paper feed roller 103 on the side of the machine B, and the second sheet whose end is after the preceding sheet. When the first conveyance roller 57 starts to rotate when it passes the sensor S6, the conveyance speed of the next sheet of paper that starts to be introduced into the paper path 70 of the single-sheet conveyance and special equipment section 2 is reduced to V. =vB or ■'=
, V days, both sheets are conveyed through the passage 70 while maintaining a predetermined distance, and the trailing edge of the preceding sheet is between the paper feed roller 103 (or roller 103a) and the second conveyance roller 68.
Problems such as paper jams and poor paper feeding due to the leading edge of the next paper catching up with the trailing edge of the preceding paper before passing through the nimp section do not occur.

(b) However, if the machine B to which the feeding device A is used is a low-speed model, and the relationship between VA and VB is VA<Vs and the difference is larger than a certain level, the trailing edge of the preceding sheet will be fed. Until the paper passes through the nip between the paper roller 03 and the second conveyance roller 68, the leading edge of the next sheet shortens the interval and catches up with the trailing edge of the preceding sheet, resulting in paper feeding mismatching.

(b) Conversely, if the machine B to be used is a high-speed model, and therefore the relationship between V8 and VB is V8<VB and the difference is greater than a certain degree, the trailing edge of the preceding sheet will be placed on the paper feed roller 03.
and the second rj, the second feed roller 68.

The distance between the trailing edge of the preceding paper and the leading edge of the next paper becomes even larger than before it passes through the paper feeding section, and the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding paper and the leading edge of the next paper becomes even larger, and the timing at which the next paper feed starts on the A side of the machine ( At the next rotation start point of the paper feed roller 03), on the paper feed device B side, the next paper is still being conveyed to the single sheet conveyance/special unit 2 and has not yet reached the standby state. Causes defects.

The above-mentioned paper feeding failures result in paper feeding failure problems such as paper jams, paper feeding timing shifts, and paper feeding failures.

Therefore, when feeding device A is attached to machine B and used, the operation of feeding device A must be adjusted in relation to the process speed VB of machine B to match the paper feed with machine B. There is a need to make adjustments.

The present invention performs this paper feed matching adjustment using a simple means mechanism.
It is an object of the present invention to provide this type of feeding device that can be easily adjusted with a wide adjustment range that can be applied to a wide range of applications from high-speed machines to low-speed machines.

That is, in such a feeding device, the present invention is arranged in the paper transport path 70 of the single sheet transport/special unit (paper transport unit) 2, and detects the presence or absence of paper in the path. paper feed mechanism 4
Regarding the paper sensors S6 and S5 that coordinately control the operations of the paper conveyance mechanisms 57 and 68, the paper sensors S6 and S5 are arranged to move, adjust and position them in the direction of the paper conveyance path.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a specific example of a configuration in which the second paper sensor S6 is installed in the apparatus shown in FIGS.
Reference numeral 75 denotes a long sensor slide guide plate in the direction of the paper conveyance path 70, which is formed by spot welding 75a or the like on the back side of the top plate of the flat box-shaped board 65 of the single-sheet paper conveyance/special unit 2; Two parallel long holes 76 are formed in the longitudinal direction. 77 is a sensor support plate which is bent so that the base side 77b is the upper surface with respect to the tip side 77a, and has a second paper sensor s6 inserted several times on the tip side 77a with screws 78; the sensor slide guide plate 75
A through hole 79-7 formed in the lower surface of the guide plate 75, each long hole 76, 76 of the guide plate 75, and the base side 77b of the sensor support plate 77
Insert screws 80 and 80 into holes 9 and 81 and 81
(=J) to tighten the sensor support plate 77 to the guide plate 7.
It is fixed at 5. By slightly loosening the nuts 81, 81, the sensor support plate 77, that is, the sensor s6, can be freely slid forward or backward along the length of the elongated holes 76, 76 of the guide plate 75 (as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). After the position has been moved, the nuts 81 can be tightened again to fix the sensor s6 in that position.

82 is an upwardly protruding actuator of the sensor S6, and 83 is its rotation shaft. The tip of this actuator 82 is made to protrude into the paper transport path 70 from a long hole 84 formed in the -1 face plate surface of the base 65 in the direction of the paper transport path 70, and the position of the sensor S6 is adjusted as shown in L. 5! When i1 occurs, the position of the tip end of the actuator 82 is changed along the elongated hole 84 accordingly.

In this example, the position adjustment operation of the sensor S6 is performed using the base 65.
A cover plate 9 that normally closes a window hole 91 formed in the F face plate of
2 by removing its set screw 93, and open the window hole 91.
Then, a tool such as a box spanner is inserted into the base body 65 to loosen the nuts 81, 81, move the sensor support plate 77 along the guide plate 75, and tighten the nuts 7) 81-81. ing.

Note that this sensor position movement adjustment mechanism is merely an example, and is not limited to this, and may be configured as appropriate, such as a screw fastening type or a pressing type using a leaf spring.

On the other hand, as mentioned in (a) above, paper feeder A is used for machine B, which is a low-speed model, and the relationship between VA and VB is 8>VB, and the difference is larger than a certain level, so paper is printed after the preceding paper. If the leading edge of the next sheet catches up with the leading edge of the next sheet, causing a paper feed matching failure, change the position of the second sheet sensor S6 as indicated by the two-dot chain line in Figures 2 and 3. 'The distance between the paper nip section of the first transport roller 57 and the driven roller 59 and the actuator 82 of the second paper sensor S6 is adjusted by changing the position closer to the second transport roller 68 side as shown in the figure.
Change it to something larger than the sentence, as shown in Figure 2).

This second river paper sensor S6 is connected to the paper feed roller 10 on the side of the machine B.
3 detects the passing of the trailing edge of the paper conveyed to the machine B side, and in response to that signal, the drive of the first conveying roller 57 is started, and the leading edge is caught in the nip between the roller 57 and the driven roller 59. Since the next sheet of paper waiting to be loaded is introduced into the passage 7o, the sensor position is moved and adjusted to the second wood cutting machine 68w as shown below to achieve a cutting distance of 1°. By doing so, the next paper path 7o
The timing of internal introduction will be delayed. Therefore, even if machine B is a low-speed model, the paper feed roller 10 on machine B side
3, the trailing edge of the paper conveyed to the machine B side is paper feed roller 1.
It is possible to match one sheet of paper so that the leading edge of the next sheet does not catch up with the trailing edge of that sheet by the time it passes the 03 position.

Also, as mentioned in (b) above, machine B to be used as a paper feeder is a high-speed mechanism, and the relationship between VA and VB is VA<VB, and the difference is larger than a certain level, so paper feeding is difficult to match. If a defect occurs, move the second river sensor position closer to the first river sensor S5 as shown by the two-dot chain line S6 position in Figures 2 and 3, and make the distance smaller than the distance shown in the figure. change.

In this case, the timing of introducing the next sheet into the passage 70 will be much lower than in the above case. Therefore, even if machine B is a high-speed model, this prevents the distance between the trailing edge of the preceding sheet and the leading edge of the next sheet from becoming too large before it passes the paper feed roller 103 position. , the paper feed can be matched to machine B.

In the paper feeding device A of this example, the second paper sensor S6 detects the passage of the leading edge of the paper introduced into the passage 70 by the rotation of the first conveyance roller 57 and sends a signal thereof. This serves to start the pulse count for stopping the driving of the first conveying roller 57 after a predetermined time.
2, when the position of the second paper sensor S6 is adjusted by moving, the set pulse count number of the pulse count mechanism is corrected in accordance with the amount of adjustment.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which only one paper sensor s4 is provided in the passage 70, and the operations of the paper feeding mechanism and the paper transporting mechanism are controlled in conjunction with this one sensor S4. That is, the previous paper is conveyed to the wooden board B side by the paper feed roller 10β on the wood @B side, and when the trailing edge of the paper passes the sensor S4, the first conveyance roller 57 is rotated by the signal, and the first paper feed roller 57 is rotated. This is to start the introduction of the next sheet of paper, whose leading edge is received by the nip portion of the driven roller 59 and is waiting, along the path. In this case as well, by appropriately adjusting the position of the sensor S4 closer to the second conveyance roller 68 or closer to the first conveyance roller 57, it is possible to adjust the paper feeding matching to correspond to the low-speed and high-speed models of this machine B. can.

In addition, in the case of control using such a single sensor S4, the paper at the nip portion of the rollers 57 and 59 may fall onto the -L side of the table 5 during jam processing, etc., and the next paper feeding operation may become defective. It may happen. Therefore, roll the leading edge of the paper with the roller 5 as shown below.
The control may be performed without receiving it in the nip portion of 7.59 and making it standby. That is, when the previous paper is drawn into the machine B side and the trailing edge passes through the sensor S4, the paper feed roller 40
, the rotation of the first and second conveyance rollers 57 and 68 is started together, and the sheet of paper that has been delivered to the edge by the paper feed roller 40 is then conveyed to the first m-th feed rollers 57 and 59, and then to the second M9-th feed roller 68. The clock count for transporting the paper by the paper sensor 103a and stopping the driving of the first and second transport rollers 57-68 is started from the time when the paper sensor S4 is turned on at the leading edge of the paper.

In FIG. 6, in addition to the first and second paper sensors S5 and S6 in the example shown in FIG. Sensor S5・
This is an example in which the operations of the paper feed mechanism and the paper conveyance mechanism are controlled in conjunction with S6φS7. That is, when the trailing edge of the paper passes the first paper sensor S5 position, the paper feed roller 40 is rotated and paper feeding begins. The trailing edge of the previous paper is the second paper,
If the leading edge of the next sheet has not passed the sensor S6 position, it has stopped at the nip between the roller pair 57φ59. Next, when the trailing edge of the previous paper passes the second paper sensor S6 position, the first and second transport rollers 57 and 68 rotate, and the second
It stops when it reaches the third paper sensor S6 (provided that the trailing edge of the previous paper has not passed the third paper sensor S7)
.

When the trailing edge of the previous paper passes the sensor S7, the transport roller 5
7 and 68 rotate again to convey the next sheet. By controlling in small increments in this way, the position of the sensor S6 that can be used for both high speed and low speed can be selected, and the controllable speed range is widened.

As described in 2 below, according to the present invention, this type of feeding device A can be used to feed paper even if the target machine B to which the feeding device is installed and used is a low-speed model or a high-speed model, and the process speed VB is different. Matching can be performed simply and easily with a wide adjustment range, and the intended purpose is well achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal side view showing a schematic configuration of an example of a feeding device targeted by the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the portion between the first and second transport rollers, and Fig. 3 is a position adjustment diagram. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway rear view of the paper sensor portion made freely adjustable, and FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are schematic diagrams when one or three paper sensors are used. A is a feeding device, B is a copying machine Kasagi machine, and s4 to s7 are paper sensors.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A storage section for a large number of cut sheets, a sheet transport section that is connected to the storage section and fits into the sheet transport path/insertion opening of this machine such as an image forming apparatus, and a large-capacity sheet storage section. A feeding mechanism that feeds sheets one by one to a sheet conveying section, a sheet conveying mechanism that conveys the fed sheets to a predetermined position in the sheet conveying section and then stops and waits, and a part of the sheet conveying mechanism. at least one unit disposed in the sheet conveyance path to detect the presence or absence of a sheet in the sheet conveyance path and coordinately control the operations of the sheet feeding mechanism and the conveyance mechanism;
A sheet I/feeding device characterized in that the sheet sensor labeled L is provided on the right side, and the sheet sensor labeled L is movably adjusted and positioned in the direction of the sheet conveyance path.