JPS63315426A - Automatic paper feeding unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a large capacity paper feeding part addable anew without enlarging the side of a recorder body in size by making a sheet of recording paper so as to be supplied to the paper feeding part at the recorder body side from a paper feeding roller in a unit. CONSTITUTION:The recording paper P delivered by a paper feeding roller 124 and a feed roller 121 is fed to an intermediate roller 43 by a conveyor roller 120 rotating as driving force is transmitted from the side of a recorder body via a manual paper feeding roller 52, and it is once stopped hereat, then it is fed to the body inside synchronously with imaging action of a recorder 1. A conveying speed of the conveyor roller 120 should be set so as to be slower than the feed roller 121 and speedier than the paper feeding roller 52, and flexible value of the recording paper P is absorbed within the proper range at each part. With this constitution that makes a paper feeding unit 100 attachable or detachable to or from the recorder body, positive paper feeding and handling effect are maintained, and flexure of the recording paper P to be produced by a difference between the conveying speed of the paper feeding unit 100 and a system speed of the recorder 1 is absorbable within the tolerance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic sheet feeding unit that supplies sheets to a recording device such as an electrophotographic copying machine.

In general, in recording devices such as electrophotographic copying machines, cut sheets or roll sheets are loaded into a mechanical device, and an automatic paper feed mechanism feeds the recording paper into the device in conjunction with the recording operation of the machine. It looks like this. The number of recorded items set in advance on the counter can be obtained by continuous operation of the recording device.

On the other hand, in recent years, electrophotographic copying machines have been proposed or provided that incorporate lasers, OFTs, etc., and have the function of recording recorded information such as conbuque output in addition to the normal copying function. Although such a recording device can be manufactured as a dedicated machine for recording electrically recorded information, it is preferable to also have the functions of a normal copying machine in order to increase the added value of the device.

However, in a normal copying machine, especially one that uses cut sheets and is relatively small, the number of recording sheets that can be set in one sheet storage section is at most 200 to 5.
00 sheets, and when used as a recording device for computer output or the like as described above, it was extremely inconvenient as the paper had to be loaded quite frequently. In addition, even if the machine is dedicated to recording electrical information, those that use the mechanism of a normal small copying machine as the base of the image-forming mechanism still have problems in terms of downsizing and cost. It is difficult to provide a large mechanism for stocking paper, and therefore, small-sized devices have the disadvantage that their uses are limited.

On the other hand, if you try to provide a large paper stock mechanism in the device to solve this inconvenience, the machine will inevitably become larger and the installation space will be difficult for users who do not need a large amount of paper stock. Moreover, for users who mainly use the functions of a normal copying machine, especially those who purchase a small copying machine, a device with such a large stock part is unnecessary. .

Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic paper feeding unit that can be attached to the entire recording device as an option and can assist in increasing the size of the paper feeding section on the device main body side. shall be.

Example Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a recording device (1), and shows a state in which an automatic paper feed unit (100) according to the present invention is not installed. explain. A photosensitive drum (2) is rotatably supported approximately in the center of the apparatus body in the direction of arrow (a) in the figure, and around it are a charging charger (3), an exposure slit (4), and a developing device. (5), Transfer charger (6
), an AC charger for static elimination (7), a separation claw (8), a cleaning device (9), and an eraser lamp (10) are arranged in sequence, and as the photoreceptor drum (2) rotates, the photoreceptor after cleaning is removed. After the surface is neutralized by the eraser lamp (10), the surface of the photoreceptor is charged again by the charging charger (3), and the image of the original (not shown) to be scanned by the original scanning system described later is transferred to the exposure slit section ( 4) to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum, toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image by a developing device (5), and the toner image on the drum is synchronously developed. After being transferred, the copy paper is separated from the drum surface by an AC charger for static elimination (7) and a separating claw (8), and is transported to a fixing device (12).
The toner image is heat-fused and discharged onto a tray (13). On the other hand, the residual toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum (2) after the transfer is scraped off by the cleaning device (9), and the photosensitive drum (2) returns to the above-mentioned erase process.

The scanning system (20) includes an exposure lamp (21), a first reflecting mirror (
22), a second reflecting mirror (23), a third reflecting mirror (24), a lens unit (25), a fourth reflecting mirror (26), etc., and an exposure lamp (21) and a first reflecting mirror (22). are integrally and movably held, and the second and third reflecting mirrors (23),
(24) is integrally held movably, and the fourth reflecting mirror (26) is fixed. The first reflecting mirror (22) and the second and third reflecting mirrors measure the rotational speed of the photoreceptor drum (2) (copy paper conveyance speed) when scanning an original placed on the original platen glass (29). ) is V, a driving device and a guide means (not shown) are moved in the direction of the arrow (b) at V/M and V/2M (M is the copying magnification) parallel to the document table glass (29), respectively. is associated with.

The automatic paper feeding and transport system (40) for copy paper (P) is a cassette loading section (41) with two upper and lower stages provided in the main body of the apparatus.

(42), paper feed rollers (R1), (R1) provided in a fixed position above each loading section, and an intermediate roller (43),
It consists of a timing roller (44), etc., and a top and bottom loading section (44).
1>.

Attach the cassettes (at) and (cx) to (42), and press the cassette (ct) with the push-up members (45) and (46).
), (at) are pressed against the paper feed rollers (R,), (Hz), and the paper feed rollers (R1)
, (R1) is selectively driven to rotate, the copy paper (P) is fed into the apparatus.

The copy paper (P) that has been completely fed out from the cassette (CI> or (C1) comes into contact with the intermediate roller (43) and its progress is temporarily blocked, and then the copy paper (P) is stopped at the intermediate roller (43) at an appropriate timing.
) is rotated and sent to the timing roller (44), where its progress is again blocked and the photosensitive drum (2)
A timing roller (44) is driven by an image forming signal outputted in synchronization with the toner image formed on the toner image, and the toner image is sent to the transfer section.

The manual paper feed mechanism (60) is located above the cassette loading section, and includes a manual paper feed table (51), a manual paper feed roller (52), and the like. The manual feed table (51) has a recessed portion for engaging the pin (53) at one end (51a) thereof,
Furthermore, the other end (51b) has a hook (54), and in FIG.
This shows a state in which the hook (54) is engaged with the pin (55) and manual paper feeding is not possible. When feeding paper manually, the hook (54) is separated from the pin (55) by an appropriate mechanism, and the manual feed table (
51), and the contact part (51c) is the stopper bin (56).
Insert the copy paper (P) from the insertion slot <57) by moving it counterclockwise around the pin (53) until it contacts the pin (53). When the inserted copy paper (P) is detected by the manual feed detection switch (58), the paper feed roller (52) is driven, whereby the copy paper (P) is conveyed toward the intermediate roller (43) and The machine operation is started, and thereafter the same copying operation as in the case of automatic paper feeding described above is executed.

Note that when it is necessary to distinguish between a copy mode using automatic paper feeding and a copy mode using manual paper feeding, an appropriate setting is made, for example, at a position where the contact portion (51c) of the manual feed table (51) contacts the stopper pin (56). A switch mechanism may be operated, or the detection switch (58)
Alternatively, the mode may be switched to manual feed mode by the operation of .

The manual feed table (51) connects the hook (54) with the pin (5).
After removing it from 5), it can be easily removed by tilting it slightly counterclockwise and pulling it upward.

In addition to such a copying function, the recording device (1) has a laser generation and modulation mechanism (60), which allows it to electronically convert electrical information such as computer output without using a scanning system (20). It has the ability to record using a photographic imaging process. Such a recording device that combines a laser generation and modulation mechanism or an OFT (optical fiber tube) and an electrophotographic image forming process is well known, and although it will not be described in detail here, information such as computer output etc. , unlike when printing on continuous recording paper, processes such as page changes are performed every appropriate number of print lines so that the conveyance state of the recording paper (copy paper) and the image on the photoreceptor are synchronized. be programmed as such.

For the recording device (1) with the above configuration, the second and third
As shown in the figure, an automatic paper feeding unit (100
) is provided so that it can be removed at a young age.

As shown in particular detail in FIG. 3, the automatic paper feeding unit (100) includes a unit main body (110) consisting of a pair of side plates (101), (102) and a bottom plate (103);
A pair of conveyance rollers (120) and a feed roller (121) rotatably supported between the side plates (101) and (102).
), grinding roller (122) and feed roller (121)
) and a paper feed roller (124) to which driving force is transmitted by a belt (123) so as to rotate in the same direction as the paper feed roller (124), and side plate parts (101), (102).
A slide portion (132) that can slide on rails (130) and (131) provided in the.

(133) and this slide part (132), (133
) A tray section for placing sheets that moves up and down integrally with the tray section <134
), and a wire (141) stretched between the lifting motor (142) and the slide part (133) via a pulley (140) along the outer surface of the side plate part (102). etc., and a side plate part (102
) is rotatably supported at the bottom of the outer surface of the spring (tS
It has a locking mechanism, etc. consisting of a hook lever (151) for fixing the unit position which is biased by the unit position. In addition,
The wire (141) and booby bar 140) of the elevating drive mechanism are also provided on the outer surface of the 1111 plate (101), and the motor (142) is driven by a rotating shaft (not shown) of the side plate (101). It is transmitted to the outer surface. Further, a locking mechanism is similarly provided on the side plate portion (101) side.

When installing the paper feed unit (100), remove the manual feed table (51) from the main body according to the procedure described above, and then pull out the upper cassette (C8). 101a),
' (102a) on the locking pin (55) of the manual feed table (51), and
) while pressing down the operation part (151a) of the unit (
100) around the pin (55), and the hook lever (151) is attached to the pin (59) provided on the recording device main body side.
), the lever (151) is released from being pressed down and the unit (100) is fixed in position. At this time, if a predetermined portion of the front surface of the unit (100) is brought into contact with the exterior surface (1a) of the recording apparatus main body, a good locking state can be obtained. When attaching and detaching such a unit (100), the operation can be performed from the upper side of the main body, so handling is easy.

In this installed state, a drive gear (not shown) or the like is installed so that the drive mechanism on the recording apparatus main body side is connected to the paper feeding and sorting mechanism of the unit (100), and the unit (100) The rollers are rotated in the directions described below. Note that when the paper feed unit (100) is attached, a mechanism for detecting its attachment (for example, a magnet is provided on the unit side, a lead is provided on the main body side, etc. A detection mechanism such as a switch may be provided to switch the operation mode of the recording apparatus 1), or the operation mode of the recording apparatus during manual paper feeding may be executed as is.

Next, the operation of the paper feeding unit (100) will be explained.

By the generation of an appropriate paper feed signal accompanying the operation of the recording device (1), power is transmitted to the gear (g, ) that drives the feed roller (121) via a clutch mechanism etc. (counterclockwise in Fig. 2). ), the gear (g
, ) similarly transmits power via the gear width , ).

When the feed roller (121) is driven, the belt (123)
), the paper feed roller (124) also rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2, and the paper is stacked on the tray (134) N! ! The recorded paper (P) is sent out. Note that the recording paper (P) is placed in the tray (1).
34) The motor (142) is rotated by the amount of the decrease due to feeding, and the tray (134) is raised by pulling up the slide parts (132) and (133) by the wire <141). , a decrease in the number of recording sheets (P) is detected by a suitable switch means.

The fed-out recording paper (P) advances between the feed roller (121) and the sorting roller (122), and as a result, only the topmost recording paper (P) advances toward the conveyance roller (120) and passes through the paper feed roller. (124), multiple sheets of recording paper (P
) is fed out, other recording sheets (P) are not moved forward due to the rotational force of the separating roller (122) in the opposite direction.

This feed roller (121) and sorting roller (122)
For the detailed structure and operation of
The mechanism already filed by the applicant as No. 93 (March 14, 1981) can be used.

The recording paper (P) sent out by the paper feed roller (124) and the feed roller (121) is similarly rotated by the conveyance roller (120), which is fully transmitted with driving force from the recording apparatus main body side.
The sheet is sent to the intermediate roller (43) via the above-mentioned manual feed roller (52), stopped there, and then fed into the main body in synchronization with the image forming operation of the recording device (1). It is.

The paper feed roller (124) and the feed roller (121) are set in consideration of the feeding force and flapping effect on the recording paper (P).
Gears (g+), (gm), (gm) are set so that the feeding speed is faster than the recording paper transport speed on the recording device main body side.
It is set by a drive transmission mechanism such as For this reason,
Due to the speed difference with the manual paper feed roller (52), the amount of deflection of the recording paper (P) at this portion becomes too large, which may cause problems such as jamming and wrinkles. Therefore, in this embodiment, the conveyance speed of the conveyance roller (120) is set to be slower than the feed roller (121) and faster than the manual paper feed roller (52), and the recording paper (
The amount of deflection of P) was kept within an appropriate range in each part. As a result, in a configuration in which the paper feed unit (100) is removably attached to the main body of the apparatus, reliable paper feeding and sorting effects are maintained, and the transport speed of the paper feed unit (100) and the system speed of the recording apparatus (1) are maintained. The deflection of the recording paper (P) caused by the difference between the two can be kept within an allowable range.

Further, the paper feed roller (124) needs to ensure straightness of paper feed and reliable feeding force by uniform pressure contact with the recording paper (P). Therefore, the paper feed roller (124) is supported by a substantially U-shaped bearing member (125), and this bearing member (125) is connected to a support member (126) provided on the drive side feed roller shaft (121a). the left and right paper feed rollers (1
24) is supported rotatably in the vertical direction. As a result, the left and right paper feed rollers (124) are uniformly pressed against the upper surface of the recording paper (P). This configuration is described in detail in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 52-87251 (Utility Application No. 50-1).
No. 75648) has already been filed by the applicant.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention.

In this example, the paper feed unit (200) is provided with a mounting section (200) that is approximately the same type as the main body mounting section of the cassette t- (C+) so that it can be mounted on the loading section (41) of the upper cassette (C+).
01) and is positioned between the pin (202) on the main body side. Other paper feeding and sorting mechanisms, lifting and lowering mechanisms, etc.
．． A configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 3 can be applied, and the recording paper (P) is fed by the same operation.

In this way, the cassette (C+
) can be used almost as-is, allowing effective use of the mechanism and space.

In the above embodiments, in each case, the cassettes (ct) and (an) can store up to 250 sheets, while the paper feed units (100) and (200) can store 1 sheet.
It is possible to set more than 000 sheets.

Effects As explained above, the present invention is made to be removable from the recording apparatus main body, and when it is attached, the recording paper is fed from the paper feed roller in the unit to the paper feed section on the recording apparatus main body side, so that the recording paper can be easily attached to the recording apparatus main body. It is possible to add a new large-capacity paper feed section without increasing the size of the main body. In other words, we can provide a compact recording device for users who require a small capacity paper feed section, and for users who require a large capacity paper feed section, simply by adding this automatic paper feed unit, we can provide a compact recording device. The user's needs can be met, and the main body of the recording device can be shared by any user.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording device in which an automatic paper feed unit according to the present invention is installed, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the automatic paper feed unit, which is an embodiment of the present invention, is installed in this recording device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the automatic paper feeding unit, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of main parts showing another embodiment of the present invention. (1)...recording device, (40)...automatic paper feeding mechanism,
(41). (42)...Cassette loading section, <ct), (ct
)...Cassette, (50)...Manual feed mechanism, 51)...Manual feed table, (55>...Pin, (
59>... Pin, (100), (200)... Automatic paper feed unit, (120)... Conveyance roller, (12
1)...Feed roller, (122)...Separation roller, (123)...Belt, (124)...Paper feed roller, (134)...Tray section, (120)... Conveyance roller, (142) ... Lifting motor, (151
)...Hook lever

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An automatic paper feeding unit that is detachably installed in the main body of the recording apparatus and for feeding recording paper into the main body of the apparatus in the installed state, the automatic paper feeding unit for placing the recording paper into the main body of the apparatus. a mounting plate; a paper feed roller provided above the mounting plate for feeding the recording paper placed on the mounting plate; and a paper feeding roller that raises and lowers the mounting plate relative to the paper feeding roller. an elevating mechanism for driving the elevating mechanism; and a drive mechanism for driving the elevating mechanism, and a drive mechanism on the apparatus main body side for feeding the recording paper fed by the paper feed roller to the paper feed section on the apparatus main body side in the above-mentioned installed state. An automatic paper feeding unit comprising: a recording paper supply section inserted into a recess formed in a paper feeding section of the paper supply section;