JPS61178339A - Paper supply apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To send securely blanks sent by a blank feeding means to a blank transfer means by providing the blank feeding means stopped after detecting means detects that the blank sent by the blank feeding means reaches the blank transfer means. CONSTITUTION:A microcomputer turns on a feed motor to drive a paper supply roller (blank feeding means) 16 and sends a blank P from a paper supply cassette 14 toward an aligning roller (blank feeding means) 24. Also, an exposing lamp and a mirror are moved forward to start the scanning of manuscript and an end of the blank P sent out is detected by a first sensor 34. Then, on the basis of the detecting signal is turned off the feed motor to stop the paper supply roller 16. Then, when the end of blank P reaches the roller side of aligning roller 24, the blank P is temporarily stopped. Thereafter, a resist motor is turned on to drive the aligning roller 24 and transfer the blank P to a image transferring section.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a paper feeding device for feeding paper to an image transfer section in, for example, an electronic copying machine.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] For example, in an electronic copying machine, paper (or manually fed paper) in a paper feed cassette (paper storage section) is fed to an image transfer section (paper receiving section). The paper feeding device feeds the sheets of paper in the paper feed cassette one by one using a paper feeding roller (paper feeding means), and sends the fed sheets to the image transfer section using an aligning roller (paper transporting means). There is.

In this case, when a paper feed command is given (in the case of manual paper feed, when the detector detects the paper fed manually), the paper feed roller is operated and at the same time the paper feed roller is operated for a certain period of time. A time setting tine is started, and when the timer times up, the operation of the paper feed roller is stopped.

However, in such conventional paper feeding devices, paper is fed by the paper feeding roller only for a predetermined period of time (a predetermined time set by a timer), so there is a risk of slippage between the paper feeding roller and the paper. When this occurs, the paper cannot reach the aligning roller, leading to a paper feeding error. Further, there is a problem in that even when no paper is actually fed from the paper cassette, normal copying assistance continues.

Also, usually before the aligning roller (paper entrance side)
A detector is provided for detecting the presence or absence of paper, and the output signal of this detector is used to detect a paper jam or to detect whether or not there is paper on the aligning roller. Conventionally, only one of a mechanical contact type detector and an optical non-contact type detector has been used as this detector. However, if you try to detect both paper that is automatically fed from the paper cassette and paper that is manually fed using only a mechanical contact detector, the paper may not be able to pass through the detector due to its mechanism. In addition, optical non-contact detectors alone may not be able to detect transparent paper (so-called OHP paper), especially when used during manual paper feeding.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to be able to reliably feed the paper sent out by the paper feeding means to the paper transporting means, and to avoid affecting the paper feeding operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that can reliably detect the presence or absence of paper without causing any damage.

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is such that the operation of the paper feeding means is stopped after the detection means detects that the paper sent out by the paper feeding means has reached the paper transporting means. be. As the detection means, an optical non-contact type is used when paper is fed from the paper storage section, and a mechanical contact type is used when paper is manually fed.

[Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an electronic copying machine equipped with a paper feeding device according to the present invention. That is, 1 is a main body of a copying machine. A document table 2 for supporting a document is provided on the upper surface of the main body 1. A document cover 3 is provided on the document table 2 so as to be openable and closable. The original set on the original platen 2 is
The exposure lamp 4 and the mirror 5, 6, 7 are configured to reciprocate along the lower surface of the document table 2 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, so that exposure scanning is performed during the forward movement. In this case, mirror 6.7 moves at half the speed of exposure lamp 4 and mirror 5 so as to keep the optical path length constant. The reflected light from the document illuminated by the exposure lamp 4 is reflected by the mirror 5, 6, 7, passes through the lens 8, is further reflected by the mirror 9, and is guided to the photoreceptor drum 10.
It is configured such that an image of the original is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10. The photosensitive drum 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the surface is first charged by the charging device 11.
Thereafter, the image of the document is exposed to slit light to form an electrostatic latent image, and this electrostatic latent image is made visible by applying toner by the developing device 12.

Further, a paper feed device 13 is located below the developing device 12 and supplies the paper P below the photoreceptor drum 10 (@transfer section 25).
is provided. This paper feeding device 13 includes upper and lower two paper feeding cassettes (paper storage portions) 14.15 which are removably attached to the side of the main body 1 and store a plurality of sheets of paper P, and these paper feeding cassettes 14.15. 15, a paper feed roller (paper feeding means) 16, 17 that feeds paper P one by one from 15, a manual paper feed tray 19 attached to a manual paper feed 018 formed above the upper paper feed cassette 14, and A pair of paper feed rollers (paper feeding means) 20 that send out the paper P fed from the manual feed tray 19, and guide paths 21, 22 that guide the paper P sent out by these paper feed rollers 16, 17, and 20, respectively.
．． 23, and the guide paths 21, 22.2.
A pair of aligning rollers (sheet conveying means) 24 for positioning and conveying the leading edge of the sheet P sent through the sheet P 3 are provided. In addition, the paper feed cassette 14
．． 15, either one can be selected on an operation panel (not shown).

The paper P conveyed by the aligning roller 24 is sent to an image transfer section (sheet feeding section) 25. The paper P sent to the image transfer section 25 comes into close contact with the surface of the photoreceptor drum 10 at the transfer charger 26, so that the toner image on the photoreceptor drum 10 is transferred by the action of the charger 26. Ru. After the transfer, the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is cleaned by a cleaner 2.
After the residual toner is removed by step 7, the static elimination lamp 28
The structure is such that the static electricity is removed by , and the state returns to the initial state.

On the other hand, the paper P after the transfer is electrostatically peeled off from the photosensitive drum 10 by the action of two peeling chargers, and then conveyed to a heat roller 31 as a fixing device by a paper conveyance path 30, and passes there. By doing so, the transferred image is heated and fixed. The sheet P after fixing is configured to be discharged to a tray 33 outside the main body 1 by a paper discharge roller 32.

As shown in detail in FIG. 1, in front of the aligning roller 24 (on the paper inlet side), first and second detectors 34.
35 are provided respectively. The first detector 34 is a non-contact type that optically detects the paper P sent out from the paper feed cassette 14-15 by the paper feed rollers 16 and 17, and includes, for example, a light source 36 and a light receiving element 37. Consisted of. The second detector 35 is of a contact type that mechanically detects the paper P that is manually fed from the manual paper feed table 19 and sent out by the paper feed roller 20, and is, for example, The detection lever 38 is configured to include a detection lever 38 and a microswitch 39 that is turned on and off in accordance with the operation of the detection lever 38. Note that 4o is a third detector that mechanically detects the paper P that is manually fed from the manual paper feed table 19;
For example, the second detector 35
It has the same configuration as .

Figure 3 shows the main part of the sub-circuit (mainly the part related to paper feed control)
This shows that. That is, 41 is a microcomputer as a main control section, which controls the entire copying machine. This microcomputer 41 is supplied with signals from the first to third detectors 34, 35, and 40, respectively, via an input interface 42 such as a data selector.

On the other hand, control signals are sent from the microcomputer 41 to the feed motor 45 and the registration motor 46 via motor drivers 43 and 44, respectively. The feed motor 45 selectively drives the paper feed rollers 16 and 17. For example, the feed motor 45 drives the paper feed rollers 16 and 17 in reverse rotation.
The paper feed roller 17 is driven by normal rotation. The registration motor 46 selectively drives the paper feed roller 20 and the aligning roller 24. For example, the registration motor 46 drives the paper feed roller 20 in reverse rotation and the aligning roller 24 in normal rotation. There is. Furthermore, a control signal is sent from the microcomputer 41 to the jam indicator 48 via the display driver 47.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be explained.

For example, when the upper paper feed cassette 14 is selected and a copying operation is started, the microcomputer 41 turns on the feed motor 45 to drive the paper feed roller 16 to start the paper feed operation from the upper paper feed cassette 14. Start. As a result, the paper P sent out from the paper feed cassette 14 is sent toward the aligning roller 24. Further, after turning on the feed motor 45, the exposure lamp 4
is turned on, and the exposure lamp and mirrors 5 to 7 are moved forward to start scanning the original. Therefore, the leading edge of the paper P sent out by the paper feed roller 16 is detected by the first detector 34.
When it reaches the point, the first detector 34 detects it and sends the detection signal to the microcomputer 41. Upon receiving this detection signal, the microcomputer 41 turns off the feed motor 45 and stops the paper feed roller 16. Therefore, at this time, the paper P is temporarily stopped with its leading edge reaching between the aligning rollers 24. Thereafter, the microcomputer 4 indicates that the exposure lamp 4 and mirrors 5 to 7 have advanced to predetermined positions.
1 is detected, the microcomputer 41 turns on the registration motor 46 to drive the aligning row 524, and transports the sheet P, which has been temporarily stopped at that portion, to the image transfer section.

In this way, automatic paper feeding from the paper feeding cassette 14 is performed. Note that during this automatic paper feeding, the microcomputer 41 performs jam detection.

That is, for example, a timer (not shown) is started at the same time as the feed motor 45 is turned on, and if the first detector 34 does not detect the paper P within a predetermined time set by the timer, it is determined that the paper P has jammed. This causes the jam indicator 48 to light up. .

Further, the operation by manual paper feeding is performed as follows. That is, when paper P is fed from one manual paper feed tray,
The third detector 40 detects this and sends the detection signal to the microcomputer 41.

When this detection signal is accepted, the microcomputer 41
turns on the registration motor 46, drives the paper feed roller 20, and starts manual paper feeding operation. As a result, the manually fed paper P is sent toward the aligning roller 24. After turning on the registration motor 46, the exposure lamp 4 is turned on and the exposure lamp and mirror 5 are turned on.
~7 is moved forward to start scanning the original. When the leading edge of the paper P fed by the paper feed roller 20 reaches the second detector 35, the second detector 35 detects it and sends a detection signal to the microcomputer 41. At this time, the first detector 34 also detects the paper P at almost the same time, but on the condition that the third detector 40 detects the paper P, only the detection signal of the second detector 35 is valid, and the first detector 34 detects the paper P. The detection signal of the device 34 is ignored. When the microcomputer 41 receives the detection signal from the second detector 35, the microcomputer 41 turns off the registration motor 46 and stops the paper feed roller 20. Therefore, at this time, the paper P is temporarily stopped with its leading edge reaching between the rollers of the aligning row 524. After that, the exposure lamp 4 and the mirror 5~
When the microcomputer 41 detects that the paper P 7 has advanced to a predetermined position, the microcomputer 41 turns on the registration motor 46 and drives the aligning roller 24 to transfer the paper P that was temporarily stopped at that part to the image transfer section. Transport to. In this way, manual paper feeding is performed. Note that during this manual paper feeding, the microcomputer 41 performs jam detection.

That is, for example, when the third detector 40 detects the paper P, a timer (not shown) is started at the same time, and if the second detector 35 does not detect the paper P within a predetermined time set by the timer, the paper P is detected. It determines that a jam has occurred and lights up the jam indicator 48.

In this manner, the operation of the paper feed roller is stopped after the detector detects that the paper sent out by the paper feed row has reached the aligning roller. As a result, the paper feed roller can be rotated until the detector detects the paper, and therefore the paper can be reliably fed to the aligning roller, and paper feeding errors can be prevented from occurring. Also,
Select the detection method according to the function of the paper feeding means. In other words, use an optical non-contact type detector when automatically feeding paper from the paper feed cassette, and a mechanical contact type when feeding paper manually. By using this, it is possible to reliably detect the presence or absence of paper without affecting the paper feeding operation, and at the same time
Transparent paper such as HP paper can also be reliably detected.

In the above embodiment, a case was described in which the present invention is applied to a paper feeding device in an electronic copying machine, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It can also be applied to a paper feeding device in a forming device.

[Advantageous Effects of the Invention 1] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably feed the paper sent by the paper feeding means to the MWI feeding means, and also to reliably feed the paper without affecting the paper feeding operation. A paper feeding device that can detect the presence or absence of paper can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a side view of the main parts showing the installed state of the detector, and FIG. 2 is an electronic copying machine equipped with a paper feeding device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the main parts of the control circuit. 13... Paper feeding device, 14.15... Paper feeding cassette (paper storage section), 16.17... Paper feeding roller (paper feeding means), 19... ... Manual feed tray, 20 ... Paper feed roller (paper feeding means),
24... Aligning roller (paper transport means)
, 25... Image transfer section (sheet feeding section), 34...
...First detector, 35...Second detector, 41
・・・・・・Microcomputer, 45・・・・・・
Feed motor, 46...Regist motor.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A paper storage unit that stores paper, a first paper feeding unit that sends out the sheets in the paper storage unit one by one, a second paper feeding unit that sends out manually fed paper, and a first or 2. A paper transport means for transporting the paper selectively sent out by the paper transport means to the paper receiving section, and a paper transport means provided on the paper entrance side of the paper transport means, and the paper sent out by the first paper transport means is sent to the paper transport means. a non-contact type first detection means for optically detecting that the paper has arrived at the paper transport means; and a non-contact type first detection means provided on the paper entrance side of the paper transport means to detect that the paper sent by the second paper transport means has reached the paper transport means. a contact-type second detection means that mechanically detects; when the first detection means detects paper, the operation of the first paper feeding means is stopped; and when the second detection means detects paper, the second detection means stops the operation of the first paper feeding means; A paper feeding device comprising: a control means for stopping the operation of a paper feeding means. (2) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second detection means are each provided at a predetermined distance from the paper transport means. (3) The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding section is an image transfer section of a copying machine.