JPS63196434A - Feeder device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extend a substantial route of feeding a cut sheet and to form an equipment in small size, by separating the cut sheet, laminated in a cassette, into every sheet by a pawl member and flexing the cut sheet in a direction it is detached thereafter guiding the cut sheet in the horizontal direction. CONSTITUTION:Plural cut sheets S are piled building layers in a paper cassette 221, and the cut sheet S adapts its both ends to a pawl member 221A by lifting a bottom plate 220 by a spring 222. Turning a paper feed roller 111, the uppermost layer cut sheet S, while it is flexed upward, is detached from the pawl member 211A being directed upward. Subsequently, the cut sheet S is conveyed between guides 226, 227 by the paper feed roller 111 to a press holding point by a conveying roller 113 and an idler 213, aligning the point end. The cut sheet S is fed to a recording head 101 by the conveying roller 113 and the idler 213 and printed thereafter discharged onto a tray 9A from paired discharge rollers 115, 215. In this way, a device, providing a longer feed route of paper, is formed in small size.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a feeding device that supplies paper, film, or similar paper sheets to image information recording means and reading means, and more specifically, to a recording device. The present invention relates to a feeding device suitable for feeding a cut sheet-like recording medium in a computer or a document feeding device to a reading device.

[Prior Art] In recent years, office automation equipment such as copying machines, recording devices such as printers, and image reading devices used in facsimile machines have become increasingly smaller and lighter. It is increasing.

Improvements have been made to the feeding devices used in such equipment to make them smaller and lighter.In particular, improvements have been made to reduce the size and weight of the feeding devices used in such devices. A feeding device equipped with separation claws for regulating paper sheets (hereinafter referred to as a feeding device with claws) is small and inexpensive, and can reliably separate and feed paper sheets one by one. It is widely used in various OA equipment.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in such a feeding device with claws, during feeding, the removed filter paper sheet is regulated by the separation claw to a position a little apart from the cassette member, and the leading end is taken out in a distorted shape. After that, the distortion during transportation is
The restoring force (strength of the paper) of the paper sheet makes it flat. on the other hand,
In order to accurately record or read information on a sheet of paper, the sheet of paper must be conveyed toward a recording means or a reading means in a flat and regulated state. That is, after the distortion of the paper sheet is removed, it is desirable that the paper sheet is introduced into an introduction member such as a registration roller that introduces the leading end of the paper sheet toward a recording or reading position.

・1 4°1・′″+7) J:5 rt M f
T! faゞ"21°゛6" 58 requires a distance commensurate with the time required for the paper sheet to recover, and this has conventionally been an obstacle to making office automation equipment compact.

An object of the present invention is to solve such problems and to supply paper sheets to the introduction member in a reliably flattened state without requiring a large distance between the cassette member and the introduction member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding device that can contribute to miniaturization of applicable equipment.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in the present invention, in a feeding device that includes a loading means for loading cut sheets and a sending means for sending out the loaded cut sheets, one cut sheet is loaded at the time of feeding. a separating means that separates the cut sheets one by one; a first guide section that guides the cut sheets in the direction of separation from the separating means; and a second guide section that guides the cut sheets in a second direction different from the direction. It is characterized by having the following.

[Function] According to the present invention, by providing the first and second guide portions in the feeding path that actively change the traveling direction of the cut sheet, the actual distance of the feeding path becomes longer. The time required for the cut sheet to pass through the feeding path is also increased, and therefore, time for restoring the distortion of the cut sheet caused by the separation means such as the claw member can be secured.

In addition, for example, if the recording or reading position by the recording means or reading means and the leading edge position of the cut sheet taken out from the loading means are not in the same horizontal plane, an appropriate loop may be placed in front of the recording means or reading means. can be formed.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail and specifically with reference to the drawings regarding an example in which the feeding device of the present invention is applied to an inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the external configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which the exterior cover is removed for convenience.

Here, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body unit, which includes an upper unit 1a and a lower unit lb, and the upper unit 1a may be rotatable in the vertical direction with respect to the lower unit 1b, for example, with a hinge as the center of rotation. The upper unit la includes a recording head 101, an N air circuit section 103, which will be described in detail later.
Fan 150, upper discharge roller 115a, upper conveyance roller 1
13a, a paper guide 201, and a feeding roller Ill. On the other hand, the lower unit 1b includes a platen 20.
3. Ink absorber 235, ink tank 231, paper cassette 221, discharge tray 9A, and idler 213.2
15 are provided. Further, 5 is a cover arranged to cover the upper side of the main unit section 1, and this cover 5 has various command switches 7a, 7b such as an online switch with the host device H, a display 70 for displaying the mode, etc. An operating section 7 is provided. Reference numeral 9 denotes an ejection port provided on one side of the apparatus, and recorded recording media are loaded onto the ejection tray 9 through this ejection port 9.

Reference numeral 101 denotes an inkjet recording head disposed near the discharge port 9, and the nozzles 101a are arranged in a range corresponding to the entire width of the recordable width of this apparatus (for example, F4-print recording paper) at a density of 16 trees per 1 mm. It has a so-called full multi-type morphology. In addition, an electromechanical transducer (not shown) or an electrothermal transducer (not shown) or the like is arranged at an appropriate position in the ink liquid flow path such as this nozzle, and the host device H Ejection energy is applied to the ink in response to the drive signal supplied from the ejection port 101b, thereby ejecting the ink from the ejection port 101b. In this example, the recording head 101 is provided so that the ejection openings 101b of each nozzle 101a open downward in the vertical direction.

A board 103 is provided with a driver circuit for driving the recording head 101 via the flexible cable 102, as well as a power supply circuit, a control circuit, an interface circuit for various circuits inside the device, a host device H outside the device, and the like. In this embodiment, this main electric circuit section 103 is provided in the same upper unit la as the recording head 101, so that it can be used for ink ejection during recording, or for any occasion. Even if unexpected ink leakage occurs, the influence of the ink will not be transmitted to the electric circuit section 103. That is, even if ink were to leak from the ejection port 101b, the flow path would be formed on the lower unit lb side, so in this embodiment, the electric circuit section 103 is disposed above the flow path. Therefore, the influence of the ink does not reach the main electric circuit section 103 of the apparatus.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, this electric circuit section 103 is arranged at a position higher than the arrangement position of each ejection port 101b of the recording head 101. This further prevents the influence of the ink from reaching the electric circuit section 103. However, the above-described arrangement of the electric circuit section 103 and the discharge port 101b is not necessarily necessary.

Furthermore, 111 is a feeding roller formed by cutting out a part of an arc, and transports the recording medium S from a cassette 221 containing a cut sheet-shaped recording medium S such as paper, film, or cloth to the recording position by the recording head 101. This is a roller for feeding the material.

Reference numerals 113 and 115 designate a discharge roller disposed upstream and downstream on the recording medium transport path P, and a discharge roller disposed downstream near the discharge port 9 with respect to the recording position of the recording head 101, respectively. It is rotationally driven via a belt 119. Accordingly, in response to this rotational drive, the conveyance roller 113 and the discharge roller 11
5 cooperates with idlers 213 and 215 arranged to face each other, and transports the recording medium S to the recording position with the recording medium S sandwiched between them, or from the recording position to the ejection tray 98. The recording medium S is ejected.

201 is a paper guide provided on the conveyance path P of the recording medium S and regulates the conveyance path P, and 203 is a recording head 10.
It is a platen that is provided on the lower unit lb side facing the ejection port 101b of No. 1, and that maintains the recording medium S at the recording position, that is, regulates the recording surface when recording on the recording medium S with the recording head 101. .

The recording media S loaded in the paper cassette I-221 described above are separated one by one by the feeding roller 111 in cooperation with the separating claw 221A and transported toward the recording position.

An ink tank 231 serves as an ink supply source for the recording head 101, and is arranged below the platen 203.
Ink is supplied through 3. Further, 235 is an ink absorber made of a porous material capable of supplying water, and in this example, it is arranged above the ink tank 231 below the platen 203. Note that this ink absorber 235 is configured to appropriately replace the position of the platen 203 so that it can face or come into contact with the ejection ports 101b of the print head 101, and is used for ejection recovery processing and capping processing of the print head 101. You may also do so. As a result, ink dropped from the recording head 101 is appropriately collected.

Furthermore, 150 is a fan that cools each part by taking in air from outside the device, and in this example, by arranging this fan on the side of the device opposite to the exhaust port 9, the fan 150 cools each part by taking in air from outside the device. Airflow from the intake port 5a to the discharge port 9 is created. As mentioned above, in this example, the recording head 101 is provided near the discharge port 9, so that satellites that may be generated as a side effect when ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 101 and ink droplets on the surface of the recording medium S are removed. Ink mist, dust, paper powder from the recording medium, etc. that may be generated due to scattering are immediately carried out of the device from the discharge port 9 by air currents, and may adhere to and contaminate various parts of the device, or may cause damage to electrical circuits. 103 can be prevented from malfunctioning. That is, in this example, the cooling fan 150 for cooling the electric circuit is also used as a blowing means in the apparatus for removing ink mist.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the feeding mechanism of the inkjet recording apparatus shown in the first and second figures as an example of the configuration of the main part of the present invention. Here, 222 is a spring that is provided in the paper cassette 221 and biases the stored recording medium S upward until it hits the claw member 221A. 226 and 227 are
This is a guide member for guiding the leading end of the recording medium S supplied from the paper cassette 221 to a nipping position between the conveyance roller 113 and the idler 213 while changing the traveling direction of the recording medium S, and has a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium S. For example, it is provided integrally with the cassette member 221 in a direction perpendicular to the drawing.

From the paper cassette 221 having such claw members 22i, the recording medium S is deformed from a flat state as the feeding roller 111 rotates, and in the process of movement, the leading end of the paper cassette 221 is moved by the two claw members 221. 8, the topmost piece is separated and taken out. That is, in the initial stage when the feeding roller 111 is not engaged, the claw member 22 is pushed by the biasing force of the spring 222.
1A, but as the recording medium S is fed by engagement with the feed roller lil, the restoring force of the recording medium S is increased in the portion caught by the claw member 221A and the portion where the distortion occurs. The force becomes larger than the force and separates from both ends of the claw member 221.

Therefore, since such a feeding method utilizes the distortion of the recording medium S to take out the paper cassette 22,
It is not possible to take out the recording medium S more smoothly than in step 1.

Therefore, in this example, a guide member 226 for regulating the traveling direction is provided almost vertically near the exit of the paper cassette 221, and the recording medium S taken out from the paper cassette 221 is immediately moved upward, that is, by the claw member 221^. When the recording medium S moves forward a little due to the rotation of the feeding roller 111, the recording medium S is pushed down by the guide member 227, and the recording medium S is pushed down by the rollers 113, 213.
Try to lead between them.

That is, in this example, the recording medium S enters between the conveyance roller 113 and the idler 115 while meandering inside the apparatus.

In this example, although the distance from the leading edge of the recording medium S taken out from the paper cassette 221 in FIG. It becomes a meandering version of
The recording medium S has a curvature with respect to the traveling direction, so that the rigidity in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the recording medium S increases, and the timing at which the recording medium S is completely separated from the claw member 221A of the paper cassette 221 is accelerated.

This also reduces distortion at the leading edge of the recording medium S.

Therefore, the time required for the conveyance roller 113 and the idler 213 to reach the point where they engage is extended, and the leading edge of the recording medium S can be held between the rollers after it has become sufficiently stable.

In addition, it is also possible to form a loop for controlling the introduction of the leading end of the recording medium S into the recording apparatus by using a feeding device with claws, for example, by moving the guide members 226 and 227 to the paper cassette 221.
By integrating the recording device with the recording device, stable feeding can be achieved even when the recording device is made smaller and faster.

Note that if the guide members 226 and 227 are made of an elastic material such as Mylar, they will act as a buffer member when they come into contact with the recording medium S, thereby reducing bending of the recording medium S.

In addition, the shape, material, number of disposed members, disposed members, etc. of the members for removing distortion by meandering the paper sheets, such as the guide members 226 and 227, are the configuration and specifications of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Of course, it can be determined appropriately by considering the material of the paper sheet, etc.

A IJ+Iλ6f The members 226 and 227 are provided in the inner part of the drawer and the 17th guy; these can be provided integrally or separately, or together with the claw member
A may be provided integrally with the cassette 221 or separately.

Furthermore, although the above description has been made regarding the case where the present invention is applied to a small inkjet recording device with a significantly shortened conveyance system as a preferred example, the application of the present invention is not limited to this type of droplet discharge type recording head. Moreover, the invention is not limited to recording heads, but can also be applied to reading heads that read from a document being transported in a similar transport system.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, by providing a member for changing or correcting the cut sheet traveling direction on the cut sheet supply path, the actual cut sheet supply path is extended. Therefore, especially when a feeding device having a separating claw is used, the distance from the loading means such as a paper cassette to an introducing member such as a registration roller can be shortened compared to the conventional method, which contributes to downsizing of the device to which the present invention is applied. It's a big deal.

Further, since the cut sheet is conveyed along the supply path with a curvature by the traveling direction correction member, the apparent rigidity of the cut sheet is increased and the time required for the cut sheet to be completely separated from the claw member is shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an inkjet recording device as an example of equipment to which the feeding device of the present invention can be applied, and Fig. 2 shows the inkjet printing device shown in Fig. 1 with a part of the cover removed. FIG. 3 is a side view showing an embodiment of the main part of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Main unit, la...Upper unit, lb...Lower unit, 5...Cover, 9...Ejection port, 9A...Ejection tray, 101...Recording head, 103. ...Electric circuit section, 103A... Board, 11... Paper feed roller 113, 115... Roller, 117... Motor, 119... Timing belt, 150... Cooling fan, 201. ... Paper guide, 203 ... Platen, 213.215 ... Idler, 221 ... Paper cassette, 221A ... Claw member, 222 ... Spring, 226.227 ... Guide member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A feeding device comprising a loading means for loading cut sheets and a sending means for sending out the loaded cut sheets, further comprising a separating means for separating the cut sheets one by one at the time of sending out the cut sheets. , a first guide section that guides the cut sheet in a direction of separation from the separation means, and a second guide section that guides the cut sheet in a second direction different from the above direction. A feeding device characterized by: