JPS6327346A - Automatic document feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent malfunction because of forgetting the switchover of modes by forcedly switching over the mode of a recording device to the operation mode of an automatic document feeder which is set to said recording device. CONSTITUTION:An automatic document feeder (ADF) 12 is set on the top of a recording device 2 forcedly switching a release lever 7 which is projected out on the top of the recording device 2. Opening parts 16, 17 as well as a push rod 14 which is rotated around a pin 13 are provided on the bottom face of the ADF 12. When the ADF 12 is set on the top of the recording device 2, the tip 14A of the push rod 14 is lifted up pushing the release lever 7 rightward, to forcedly switch over the mode of the recording device 2 to a function corresponding to the ADF 12, e.g., a pin feed mode. Thereby, malfunction because of forgetting switchover to the mode of the loaded ADF 12 can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder that is connected to a recording device and automatically supplies and discharges sheets of paper or the like to the recording device.

[Prior art] This automatic document feeder automatically feeds single sheets (cut sheets) etc. to a recording device.
This device eliminates the need to manually insert sheets (recording media such as paper or thin plastic plates), improves the operability of the recording device, and reduces the burden on the user.

As this type of automatic document feeder, it does not have its own drive source (morph, etc.) within its main body.
In addition, the relatively low-power type (northern type) that does not have an electrical output source that indicates its presence (connected and ready for use) is widely used.

On the other hand, recording devices such as printers usually use single-sheet paper or continuous paper, and even if it is continuous paper, it is continuous paper that is conveyed by Subroqueso I- etc. (pin feed). It has various sheet conveyance functions to accommodate various types of sheets (recording media), such as continuous paper that is friction-fed using a friction roller or the like.

When using a recording device, the user must
Depending on the type of media), the corresponding seam general feed function is selected and used.

If the user makes a mistake in the selection (for example, by using the friction feet and bin feet together), uneven sheet feeding pinches or sheet jams may occur.

The recording device is designed so that when the user selects bin feed, the friction rollers and the like are retracted so that the other friction feed function does not affect the sheet.

Conventionally, when connecting an automatic document feeder to a recording device, the user selects the friction feeder mode on the recording device side, and the sheet fed from the feeder is sandwiched between friction rollers and guided into the recording device. It had been. In this case, if the bin feed mode is set, even if the sheet is fed from the feeder into the recording device, it will stop at that position and will not be taken into the recording device.

The selection operation between the friction feed and the bin feed has been performed by a switching operation using a release lever or the like provided on the main body of the recording apparatus.

In addition, in some high-value-added recording devices, the friction roller, etc., can be forcibly operated by obtaining power from a drive source such as a motor by a software command or some selection signal, without the user manually moving the release lever. There is also a mechanism for advancing and retracting, but such a configuration has the problem of unnecessarily increasing costs and making the product expensive.

As mentioned above, when using an automatic document feeder, only the friction feet function effectively.
Since this type of recording device is often used for personal use on a desk, its external dimensions are designed to be as compact as possible. Therefore, when the document feeder is placed on the recording device and connected, the release levers are often hidden inside the feeder.

There are some devices that are forced to be placed outside the feeder so that their presence can be easily confirmed, but this is not desirable in terms of appearance.

On the other hand, if the release lever is hidden inside the feeder, it is often impossible to confirm the position of the release lever.

Therefore, if you forget to switch to Fri-Crayon feed mode and connect the feeder, the problem will only be recognized after the first sheet has been fed from the feeder, such as a paper feed failure, and the cause will be determined. After it was discovered that the release lever had been operated incorrectly, the feeder had to be removed and reset, resulting in handling problems.
There was a problem with becoming.

〔the purpose〕

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and to prevent malfunction of the sheet i12 feeding function even if the user forgets to change the release lever when connecting an auto document feeder to a recording device. , to ensure that the sheet is in the specified mode 1. Our goal is to provide an automatic document feeder with fast forwarding speed.

[Means to achieve the purpose]

The present invention achieves the above object by using an automatic document feeder configured to switch the paper feeding function of the recording apparatus to a function corresponding to an O1-document feeder when connected to the recording apparatus.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a recording device (printer) to which an automatic document feeder according to the present invention is connected.

In FIG. 1, the case (exterior) of the A device 1 is composed of an upper case 2 and a lower case 3, and the upper part of the case has an operation key 4, a sheet supply port 5, a sheet discharge port 6, and a release lever 7. is provided.

The release lever 7 is a lever that switches between paper feeding functions such as sheet friction feeding and bin feeding.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the release lever 7 in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, when the release lever 7 is in the position shown by the solid line, the paper feeding function of the recording device is selected as friction feed mode, and when the release lever 7 is in the position shown by the two-dot chain line, the paper feeding function of the printing device is selected. Function or pin feed mode is selected.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the states of the friction roller (pinch roller) in the friction feed mode and pin feed mode of the recording apparatus 1.

In the friction feed mode shown in FIG.
The sheet 11 fed into the contact area between the friction roller 9.9 and the friction roller 9.9 is brought into close contact with the sheet feed roller 8, and is applied to the circumferential surface of the sheet feed rollers 4 to 8 by the feeding force applied by the pressing force of the friction roller 9.9. It is generally fed in the direction of rotation along arrow A).

Note that the illustrated sheet feeding roller 8 also serves as a platen roller, and a recording head (not shown) is arranged opposite to the circumferential surface of the sheet feeding roller.

In the pin foot mode (or mode other than friction mode) shown in Figure 3 (B), the friction roller 9.9
Even if the sheet 11 is separated from the sheet feeding roller 8 and is fed onto the circumferential surface of the sheet feeding roller 8 as shown in FIG. 3(A), no feeding force is generated on the sheet and the sheet remains at that position. It does not reach the recording section.

When used in the pin feed mode, a sheet with perforations such as a fan hold sheet is fed by a bin feed mechanism (not shown) consisting of a sprocket or a bin tractor.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the automatic document feeder 12 is connected (mounted) to the case of the recording device 1, and the release lever 7 is hidden inside the feeder 12.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the release lever 7 when the automatic document feeder 12 is connected.

In FIG. 5, inside the auto document feeder 12, there is a penon yurosod 14 that can swing around a shaft 13.
is pivotally supported, and one end 14A of the bushing rod 14 is mounted on the bottom surface 15 of the auto document feeder.
When the auto document feeder 12 is set at a predetermined connection position with respect to the recording device 1, the release lever 7 passes through the bottom surface 15 and the other end 14B of the bushing rod 14 inside the feeder 12. An aperture 17 is formed for abutment.

That is, when the automatic document feeder 12 is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the case 2 in order to connect it to the recording device 1, the bushing rod 14 - 21 portion 14A hits the case 2 and is forced clockwise. When the release lever 7 is in a position other than friction feed, such as pin feed (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line), the release lever 14B is pressed by the pusher 14 and the release lever 7 is rotated to the right in FIG. The device is configured to automatically switch to friction feed mode.

When the release lever 7 is set to the friction feed mode in this way, the friction roller 9 in the recording apparatus 1 is brought into pressure contact with the sheet feed roller 8, as shown in FIG. In such a state, as shown in FIG. 4, the single sheets (cut sheets) 11 stacked on the automatic document feeder 12 pass through the sheet supply port 5 (FIG. 1) of the recording device and are moved between the rotating sheet feed roller 8 and the driven sheet feeder 12. When the sheet I-11 is fed into the pressing part (FIG. 3(A)) with the rotating friction roller 9, the sheet is surely fed to the desired position while being in close contact with the circumferential surface of the sheet feeding roller 8. After passing through the recording section, the sheet output port 6 (Fig.
8 (Fig. 4) and deposited there.

According to the embodiment described above, by simply setting the feeder 12 in the 221 device 1 without providing a special drive source or an output terminal for switching the paper feeding mode in the automatic document feeder 12, feeding & IE can be performed. An automatic document feeder that can reliably select the friction mode (feed mode) has been obtained.

Therefore, even if the user forgets to change the position of the release lever 7, it is possible to automatically switch to the predetermined paper feeding mode position, and the possibility of erroneous operation of the release lever 7 can be avoided with a simple and relatively low-cost structure. An automatic document feeder that can reliably solve this problem and reduce the handling burden on the user has been obtained.

FIG. 6 shows the main parts of an automatic document feeder according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, auto document feeder 1
The cam surface 1 slides forcibly into a predetermined position while the release lever 7 comes into contact with the bottom surface 15 of the cam surface 1 of the cam surface 1.
9 is formed. That is, when the automatic document feeder 12 is set in the recording device 1, the release lever 7 is forcibly (or automatically) set to a predetermined paper feeding mode (friction foot mode) position by the cam surface 19. Configured to be moved.

This embodiment has a configuration equivalent to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 in which the bushing rod 14 is replaced with a cam surface 19, and the structure other than the main parts shown in FIG. 6 is as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. This is substantially the same as the case shown in FIG.

According to this embodiment, in addition to obtaining the same functions and effects as the embodiment shown in FIGS. Got document feeder.

In each of the above embodiments, the friction mode and the other mode are switched via the release lever 7, but the present invention uses another member that directly presses and separates the friction roller 9 without using the release lever. The present invention can be similarly applied to the case where a desired paper feeding mode is set by selecting a paper feed mode.

〔effect〕

As is clear from the above explanation (according to the present invention, the paper feed function of the recording device is switched to a function corresponding to an automatic document feeder by connecting the recording device, so the paper feeding function of the release lever etc. To provide an automatic document feeder that can automatically set a proper function even if a function switching means is forgotten to be switched, and can eliminate sheet feeding malfunctions caused by forgetting to switch.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a recording device to which an automatic document feeder according to the present invention is connected, Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the release lever shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 3 (A) and (B) are pressure contact of the friction roller. , a schematic sectional view showing a separated state, FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the automatic document feeder according to the present invention is attached to the recording device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 shows release lever settings in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing a release lever setting mechanism in another embodiment of the present invention. 1---------Recording device, 5---------Sheet supply port, 7------Release lever, 8
−・−・・−Sheet feed roller, 9−・−m−−−−−
・Friction roller, 11-1---sheet, 12----------・-Auto document feeder, 14-------Butsch rod, 19-・-
...---One cam surface.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An automatic document feeder characterized in that when connected to a recording device, the paper feeding function of the recording device can be switched to a function corresponding to an automatic document feeder. (2) The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, characterized in that the paper feeding function of the recording device is forcibly switched to a friction feed mode.