JPS62121141A - Sheet material accommodation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform multiple sheet copying continuously by moving a sheet accommodation table with drive forces from an image forming device at the same time reducing moving forces for the sheet accommodation table and for the sheets loaded on the table by means of an elastic material member. CONSTITUTION:With a sheet accommodation device A attached to an image forming device C, power transmission between them is shut off when a cover 23 is opened. Then an accommodation table 24 is depressed to load sheets P. While a spring S is made to balance the weight of 750 sheets, power from the image forming device C is connected with the cover 23 is closed, and the sheet accommodation 24 ascends. When the top surface of the sheets P reaches a paper feed position, a paper feed roller 1-2 rotates to send the sheets P up to a separation roller 2-2 so that double feeding is prevented. The sheeet P, after forming an image on its surface and the image being fixed, is discharged out of the machine.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a sheet material storage device, in particular, for example, a copying machine,
The present invention relates to a sheet material storage device used as a sheet material supply device in an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a printing machine.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, to feed paper in an image forming apparatus, a paper cassette containing cut sheet paper is inserted into the machine and set.
A paper cassette insertion method is adopted in which the paper in the cassette is drawn into the machine one by one by the action of a paper feeding means on the machine side and fed to the image forming section. Although this system has the advantage of allowing easy paper changes, the paper cassette has a paper storage capacity of approximately 250 sheets. Therefore,
For example, when copying a large number of sheets, such as 500 or 1000 sheets, it is necessary to replenish paper into the cassette many times during the process, which is troublesome and requires interruption of copying each time. It will stop moving.

In addition, a method has been proposed that allows continuous copying of multiple sheets by installing a sheet feeding device that can store a large amount of paper. It must have a drive device that includes a large-capacity motor, making the mechanism complex and large. In addition, with the method of transmitting drive from the image forming apparatus to move the sheet loading platform, it is difficult to move the sheet loading platform without using a motor that is more powerful than the motor included in the drive device used in normal image forming apparatuses. You can only move capacity sheets. Increased power also increases power consumption, which increases costs.Also, if the sheet loading platform is moved to the paper feeding position using only the drive transmission device, it takes time to be able to start copying. .

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example. (1) A sheet material storage device that can move a sheet loading means with low power consumption and shorten the time required to move it to a predetermined position. The purpose is to provide

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve this goal on a daily basis, the sheet material storage device according to the present invention includes a sheet material loading means that can load and move a large number of sheet materials, and an electric device that operates to move the sheet material loading means. and elastic means for applying a moving force to the sheet material loading means.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below based on one embodiment shown in the drawings.

1 to 4 show embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the sheet storage device A of the present invention attached to an image forming apparatus C. The image forming apparatus C is of a type with two paper cassette loading ports, upper and lower. Has a paper feed device.

First, the upper paper feeding section will be explained. to cassette 7)P
When the operator who loads the cassette 7 and inserts it into the cassette loading slot of the image forming apparatus C turns on the copy button, the push-up member 5 of the image forming apparatus C pushes up the middle plate 6 of the cassette 7.

This push-up member 5 is fixed to a shaft 4, and a sector-shaped gear 8 is attached to the shaft 4. Now, when the copy button is pressed, the clutch 9 is turned on, and the drive of the main motor of the image forming J& device C is transmitted to the sector gear 8 via the gear 10.

Since the sector gear 8 is fixed to the shaft 4, when the sector gear 8 rotates, the push-up member 5 similarly rotates, pushing up the middle plate 6 of the cassette 7 and lifting the sheet P to the paper feeding position. At this time, the clutch 9 is kept in the ON state until a sheet upper surface detection sensor (not shown) detects the upper surface of the sheet P, the fan-shaped gear 8 rotates, and the sheet P is lifted. The sheet P is prevented from falling by engaging a ratchet pawl 12 with a ratchet disc 11 integrated with the gear 10. Normally, the ratchet pawl 1 is connected by a spring 13 as shown in FIG.
2 is pulled out and is in the position shown by the solid line, preventing the gear 10 integrated with the ratchet disc 11 from rotating in reverse.

When the sheet top surface detection sensor detects the top surface of the sheet P,
The paper feed pickup roller 1-1 rotates to feed the sheet P to the separation roller 2-1, and the sheet P is prevented from being fed twice by the single-pitch roller 2-1, and the sheet is sent to the registration roller 3. The sheet P waiting on the registration rollers 3 is conveyed by a signal of a sequence program of the image forming apparatus C, an image is formed on the sheet P, and after it is fixed, it is carried out of the machine.

The ratchet pawl 12 is released in conjunction with the operation to remove the cassette 7 from the image forming apparatus C (see FIG. 2).
).

The ratchet disk 11 becomes free to rotate, and the fan-shaped gear 8 moves to C.
Rotate in the direction. Therefore, the push-up member 5 is lowered, and the middle plate 6 and sheet P in the cassette 7 are lowered.

Next, the lower paper feeding section will be explained. The sheet storage device A of the present invention is used in the lower stage of the image forming apparatus C instead of a cassette. In use, the push-up member 5 and fan-shaped gear 8 of the sheet feeding section of the image forming apparatus C are removed, and the idler gear 14- for transmitting drive to the sheet storage apparatus A is removed.
1. Attach 14-2. The sheet storage device mA is attached to the paper feed section of the image forming apparatus C, and the paper feed pickup roller 1-2 and sheet top surface detection sensor are those of the image forming apparatus C, as in the case of feeding sheets with a cassette. Attaching the seat storage device A is easy.

After attaching the sheet storage device A to the image forming apparatus C, open the paper force /<-23, manually push down the sheet storage table 24 as a sheet material loading means, and stop it at the lowest position. That is, when the paper cover 23 is opened, the claw portion 23a of the paper cover 23 swings the gear support plate 21 to which the gear 15 that connects the drive of the image forming apparatus C and the sheet storage device A is fixed (the bent portion 21a), and the drive with the image forming apparatus C is immediately cut off.

Therefore, manual depression is possible. Then, as the pin 29, which is a hook on the gear support plate 21, swings,
The ratchet pawl 18 bites into the ratchet disc 16, prevents the sheet storage stand 24 from rising due to the restoring force of the spring S after being pushed down, and keeps it at the lowest position. The spring constant of this spring S is determined according to the thickness and weight of the sheets P to be loaded. When there are no sheets P on the sheet storage table 24, the spring S It is designed so that the restoring force of is balanced, and the weight of the sheet storage table 24 and the weight of the sheet 750 equinox is balanced with the spring S when 1000 sheets are loaded. This means that the weight of 750 sheets can be lifted by the Hane S, but the remaining 250 sheets can be lifted by the power of the motor.

Here, the operation of the ratchet pawl 18 will be explained using FIG. 4.

When the paper cover 23 is closed.

The ratchet pawl 18 is located at the position (■) due to the pin 29 that is attached to the gear support plate 21, and the ratchet disc 16 is free to rotate. When the paper cuff roaster 23 is opened, the gear support plate 21 swings, and the ratchet pawl 18, which was regulated by the pin 29, becomes free and engages with the ratchet disk 16 by the spring 19, preventing it from rotating in the direction b ( (can be rotated in the opposite direction). Therefore, the spring S of the seat storage base 24
This will prevent the rise due to the restoring force.

When the sheets P are loaded on the sheet storage stand 24 and the paper cover 23 is closed, the leaf spring 22 fixed to the paper cover 23 pushes the gear support plate 21, and the gear 15 fixed to the gear support plate 21 moves to the main body. Idler gear 14-1.14-
2 until they engage, and the drive from the image forming apparatus C can be transmitted to the sheet feeding apparatus A. As the gear support plate 21 swings, the pin 29 moves to the position ■ in FIG.
The seat storage table 24 moves to the position shown in FIG. Seat storage system 24
stops at a position where the weight of the loaded seats, the weight of the seat storage stand itself, and the pushing up force of the spring S are balanced. In order to instantly move the seat storage stand 24 by the spring S,
Copying can be started in a shorter time than when the sheet storage table 24 is moved only by power transmission from the main body.

Recently, since the rising speed of the seat storage platform 24 depends on the restoring force of the spring S, the rising speed is not uniform.
When the push-up force is applied to the lifting force, the storage table 24 may rise and come into strong contact with the paper feed pickup roller 1-2. , there is a risk of damage. Therefore, in the seat storage device A of the present invention, in order to keep the rising speed of the seat storage platform 24 uniform due to the restoring force of the spring S, the rotating speed of the chain 25 is controlled by the gear 28-1.

27-2.27-3.27-1, the speed is increased and the gear 28-2 is rotated, thereby rotating the windmill integrated with the gear 28-2. By utilizing the air resistance generated by the windmill, the seat storage platform 24 is configured to rise at a uniform speed.

After the sheets P are loaded on the sheet feeding device A and the copying operation is ready, the operator or the image forming device C turns on the copy button to turn on the main motor of the image forming device C. Driven by clutch 9, idler gear 14
-1°14-2, gear 1 of seat storage device A
5, the chain 25 rotates in the direction b, and the seat storage platform 24 further rises. The drive is transmitted until the upper surface of the sheet P reaches the paper feeding position, and the sheet storage table 24 and the sheet P rise. Then, the paper feed pickup roller 1-2 rotates to feed the sheet P to the separation roller 2-2, the separation roller 2-2 prevents double feeding of the sheet P, and the sheet P is sent to the registration roller 3. The sheet P waiting on the registration rollers 3 is conveyed by the signal of the sequence program of the image forming apparatus C, and the sheet P is
After an image is formed and fixed on it, it is carried out of the machine.

- When the cover 23 is opened to store the sheet material,
Since the gear 16 becomes free, the sheet material storage table that has been raised to the paper feeding position is slightly lowered to a position where it is balanced with the spring S and then stopped. Therefore, by inserting a hand into the gap created by the lowering and pushing down the sheet material, the sheet material storage table can be lowered as described above.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention is a sheet storage device that can be easily attached to the cassette insertion slot of an image forming apparatus, and the sheet storage table is connected to a drive transmission from the image forming apparatus to a moving means for the sheet storage table. By using this together with an elastic member that reduces the moving force of the stacked sheets, it is possible to make multiple copies in succession. It can be operated using the same type of feeding device used in other systems, and it can be operated without the need for a powerful drive device, reducing the time it takes to load sheets and start copying operations. be able to.

Further, it is preferable to provide a resistor such as a windmill that rotates in conjunction with the rise of the seat storage table, since the speed at which the seat storage table is raised can be made uniform.

In addition, in the case of the wooden embodiment, the configuration is shown in which the sheet material storage table is raised by the drive source motor on the image forming apparatus side.
Of course, a configuration in which the drive source motor is built into the sheet material storage device may also be used.

Furthermore, by using a drive system that transmits the drive of the image forming apparatus of the present invention and an elastic member that reduces the moving force to the moving device of the sheet storage table of the sheet feeding device, the mechanism of the driving device of the sheet feeding device can be improved. This makes it simple and allows the use of a normal drive device for the image forming device, reducing the time required to move the sheet loading platform to the paper feeding position and start copying without increasing costs. It became possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the seat storage device according to the present invention has the configuration described above,
This has the effect of reducing power consumption and increasing speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet storage device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the paper feed ratchet section when a cassette is used, and FIG. 3 is a drive of the sheet storage device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the ratchet portion of the seat storage device. C is an image forming device, A is a sheet storage device, S is a spring, 1-1.1-2 is a sheet pick-up roller, 5 is a pushing member, 6 is an intermediate plate, 7 is a cassette, and 8 is a fan-shaped gear. 9 is the clutch. 12. 18 is a ratchet pawl, 21 is a gear support plate, 24 is a seat storage stand, 25 is a chain, and 28 is a gear with a windmill. It is.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A sheet material loading means that can load and move a large number of sheet materials, a means that is operated by an electric device to move the sheet material loading means, and an elasticity that applies a moving force to the sheet material loading means. A sheet material storage device comprising: means;