JPS6334097B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention is applicable to machines such as electrophotographic copying machines and facsimile machines, which are used to produce stacked sheets of paper cut into various sizes and stacked together, or stacked sheets of originals of different types. In a sheet feeding device that can selectively feed sheets, it relates to a device that can selectively pull out a specific storage means from among a large number of storage means such as trays that store the same sheets. It is.

Prior Art For example, in a conventional electrophotographic copying machine,
Since paper storage trays are installed inside the aircraft, it was only possible to store two or three of the same paper storage trays.

In addition, there are many sizes of originals such as B4, B5, A4, and A5, and in order not to waste paper, it is necessary to prepare many types of paper corresponding to the original size, so it is necessary to prepare various types of paper corresponding to the original size, so it is necessary to prepare various types of paper corresponding to the original size. If the paper dimensions do not match the original size,
The paper storage tray had to be replaced, and the replacement work was a hassle.

In particular, recently, as electrophotographic copying machines capable of multi-step variable magnification copying have become widespread, the frequency of replacing the paper storage tray described above has increased, and it has become impossible to ignore it from the standpoint of copying work efficiency. In order to reduce paper storage trays as much as possible, if the number of paper storage trays stored in one copying machine is increased, the number of transport means such as paper feed rolls in the area where each tray is installed will correspondingly increase, and the paper feed The cost of the entire device will increase significantly.

As a solution to such problems, there is, for example, an automatic paper feeding device disclosed in the specification of Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-48835.

This automatic paper feeder has multiple paper storage trays that can be moved between a paper feeding position and a non-paper feeding position depending on the paper size, while a single paper transport means feeds each paper storage tray. The paper storage tray is moved in and out manually or by a crank mechanism, and the paper transport means is driven by a dedicated motor.

However, since the sheet storage means moving mechanism of the automatic paper feeder with such a configuration is provided separately from the drive mechanism of the paper conveyance means, it tends to complicate the overall structure of the paper feeder. There is a problem in that the synchronization mechanism applied to both mechanisms may also encourage the above-mentioned tendency.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome such problems and to transfer paper from a selected one of a plurality of sheet feeding means through a single paper transport means to a copying machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drawer device for a sheet storage means, which has a simple structure and is applied to a sheet feeding device for conveying sheets to a paper sheet.

Structure of the Invention The present invention comprises a plurality of support means 5 supported by a support 4 and arranged at required intervals in the vertical direction, and a plurality of sheets supported by the support means 5 so as to be movable back and forth. In a sheet feeding device comprising a storage means 2 and a conveying means 18 for contacting the uppermost sheet 1 in the sheet storing means 2 and conveying it to the paper discharge side, the conveying means 18 an elevating member 7 which is mounted thereon and moves up and down along the paper discharge side of the sheet storage means 2; an elevating means which moves up and down the elevating member 7; and a first rack 36 provided on the elevating member 7. a second rack 42 provided in the sheet storage means 2;
, a first pinion 37 adjacent to each of the sheet storage means 2 and pivotally supported on the column 4 so as to mesh with the first rack 36; the second pivoted to the pillar 4;
A pinion 41, a clutch _C2 interposed between the first pinion 37 and the second pinion 41 to connect and disconnect power transmission, and a control means 50 for driving and controlling the lifting means and the clutch _C2 . Under the control of the control means 50, when the required clutch C ₂ is connected and the elevating member 7 is lowered from an appropriate position, the first rack 36 engages with the first pinion 37 and the clutch C ₂ is engaged. The second pinion 41 is rotated, and the second rack 42 that meshes with the second pinion 41 is driven, and the required sheet storage means 2 is pulled out and the sheets 1 in the same sheet storage means 2 are pulled out. It is characterized in that the conveying means 18 can be brought into contact with the top.

In addition, by raising the transport means 18, the second pinion 41 can be rotated via the connected clutch _C2 , and the sheet storage means can be pushed through the second rack 42.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the drawings will be described below.

Reference numeral 1 denotes copy paper, which is a laminated sheet cut and stacked in various sizes such as A3, A4, A5, B4, B5, etc. The copy paper 1 is divided into paper trays 2 according to size, or arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. It is stored in a layered manner with different layers.

Reference numeral 4 denotes shelf supports oriented vertically, and on the front and rear shelf supports 4, at regular intervals in the vertical direction, there are shelves facing diagonally upward in the paper feeding direction (to the right in Figure 1). Five stages of shelf support members 5 are installed facing each other, and a paper tray 2 is attached to the shelf support member 5 via a slide guide 3. The paper tray 2 is supported by the shelf support member 5 and , so that it can move back and forth along its length.

Further, the paper tray 2 is located closer to the paper feed position (first
A total of four guide rails 6 (two pairs, two pairs) are vertically oriented on both the left and right sides (the front and rear sides perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 1), and the guide rails 6 have one A pair of elevating members 7 are fitted so as to be able to move up and down.

Furthermore, a screw rod 8 oriented parallel to the two guide rails 6 is pivotally supported via a bearing 9, and a bevel gear 10 is fitted to the lower end of the screw rod 8. The rotating shaft 12 of the step motor 13 is connected to the rotating shaft 12 of the step motor 13 via the bevel gear 11.
The elevating member 7 is connected to the screw rod 8 and is screwed into the threaded rod 8, and the elevating member 7 is driven upward and downward by forward and reverse rotation of the step motor 13.

Moreover, in the elevating member 7, the paper tray 2
A bracket 14 is provided protrudingly on the opposite side, and the swing lever 1 is connected to the bracket 14 via a pivot shaft 15.
The base end of the paper feed roll shaft 17 is pivotally supported at the tip of the swing lever 16, and a pulley 19 is integrally connected to the paper feed roll shaft 17.
A belt 20 is stretched around a drive pulley 21 which is supported on the same axis as the pivot shaft 15 of the swing lever 16, and a transmission means (not shown) and a paper feed clutch C ₁ (the first When the drive pulley 21 connected via the belt 20 (see Figure 7) is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the transport roll 29, it connects to the roll shaft 17 via the belt 20, pulley 19 and paper feed roll shaft 17. The paper feed roll 18 is integrally driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.

In addition, at the lower part of the elevating member 7 near the paper tray 2,
A paper guide 32 is integrally attached so as to face obliquely downward, and the copy paper 1 fed by the paper feed roll 18 is guided by the paper guide 22 between an upper and lower pair of transport rolls 29. It's summery.

Further, on the bottom surface of the paper guide 22, a paper 1
A reflective paper feed completion detector RS is installed so as not to interfere with the paper transport. It is now possible to detect whether or not the process has been completed.

Furthermore, the elevating member 7 and the paper receiving section 35 of the dry type electrophotographic copying machine 34 capable of multi-step magnification/copying are formed by three pairs of connecting links 25, 26, 27 which are pivotally connected to each other so as to be able to swing freely. Upper and lower pairs are formed at the joints and ends of the connecting means 24 so as to be connected to the connecting means 24 and the flexible guide chute 28, which form an upper and lower pair, and project inwardly from the guide chute 28 and come into contact with each other. 4 pairs of transport rolls 2
9, 30, 31, 32 are pivotally mounted, and a paper feed motor 33 (seventh
(see figure) are appropriately connected by a belt (not shown), etc., and the transport roll 2 is connected by the operation of the paper feed motor 33.
9, 30, 31, and 32 are rotated all at once, and the copy paper 1 taken out by the paper feed roll 18 is transferred to the copy machine 3.
The paper is fed to the paper receiving section 35 of No. 4.

Further, in the elevating member 7, a first rack 36 is integrally attached to the outer side of the bracket 14 and has a length equal to the length of the drawer of the paper tray 2 and is oriented vertically. A first pinion 37 is rotatably connected to the shelf support 4 at a location above each paper tray 2, and a notch 38 is formed in the first pinion 37. The length of the teeth of the first pinion 37 is set equal to the length of the first rack 36, and when the first rack 36 moves up and down together with the elevating member 7, the first pinion facing the elevating member 7 Only 37 is rotatably driven in the counterclockwise or clockwise direction.

Further, a first connecting gear 39 is integrally connected to the first pinion 37 by sharing a rotational axis, and a second gear 40 that meshes with the first connecting gear 39 is connected to the second pinion through a tray drawer clutch _C2 . 41, the second gear 40 and the second pinion 41 are both rotatably supported on the shelf support 4,
the paper tray 2 so as to mesh with the pinion 41;
A second rack 42 is integrally attached to the tray drawer clutch C2, and when the first pinion 37 is rotated counterclockwise or clockwise when the tray drawer clutch _C2 is set to the connected state, the first connecting gear 39, the second pinion 41 is driven to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise via the second connecting gear 40 and the tray drawer clutch _C2 .

Furthermore, in the elevating member 7, the swing lever 1
A limit switch LS is disposed above and adjacent to the base protrusion 23 integrally with the base protrusion 23. Turning the limit switch LS on and off determines whether or not the paper feed roll 18 is in contact with the copy paper 1 in the paper tray 2. are now being detected.

Also, the operation panel of the copying machine 34 (not shown)
includes a paper feed ready indicator PD, a tray selection switch SE that allows you to select one of the five paper trays 2, and a copy number setting that allows you to set the number of copies by specifying a number from 0 to 9. Switch group NE
, a copy start switch ST, and other switch groups are provided.

Furthermore, the copying machine 34 has a built-in microcopy computer 50, which has an input interface 51, a ROM 52, and a RAM 53.
, a CPU 54, and an output interface 55.

Furthermore, the input interface 51 includes a tray selection switch SE, a copy number setting switch group NE,
Copy start switch ST, reflective paper feed completion detector
Signals from input means such as RS, limit switch LS, other switches, and various counters in the copying machine 34 are appropriately adjusted and input to the CPU 54.

The ROM 52 also stores sequence programs necessary for normal copying operations, programs necessary for executing the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 through 10, and the like.

Further, the RAM 53 can read and write the input data, data obtained by the operation of the CPU 54 described later, and other data.

Furthermore, the CPU 54 executes programs and instructions stored in the ROM 52 according to input signals from the input interface 51, and connects the step motor 13, the paper feed motor 33, the paper feed clutch C ₁ , and the tray via the output interface 55. Drawer clutch C ₂ , paper feed ready indicator PD and copying machine 3
Control signals are output to each operating section of 4.

Since the illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, as shown in FIG.
When the user presses , and inputs the selection of the tray 2 to be drawn out and the number of copies to be made (step), the program enters a paper feed preparation subroutine (step).

In the paper feed preparation subroutine, as shown in FIG. 9, the steps of the program are to determine whether the previously selected tray 2i and the currently selected tray 2j are equal (step 〓〓), and if they are equal, the step 〓 Proceed to 〓.

Also, if they are not equal, i.e., i≠j, then
In the step, aj-ai is calculated and set as the value of S.

Here, ai indicates the standby position of the elevating member 7 for the i-th paper tray (a position slightly higher than the highest paper level in the paper tray 2i) in terms of the number of steps of the step motor 13. The standby position a ₁ of the elevating member 7 for 2 ₁ is set as the reference position (a ₁ =0) (see FIG. 11).

Similarly, for aj, the standby position of the elevating member 7 with respect to the paper tray 2j is shown.

This standby position is also the position to which the elevating member 7 returns when a series of copying operations is completed.

Note that bj will also be explained here with reference to FIG.

At the position of the elevating member 7, there is a position range (the part marked with 〓) in which paper can be fed, which corresponds to each paper tray and is spaced apart from each other, and the lowest position of this position range is the position b. , is also expressed by the number of steps of the step motor 13 with reference to _a1 .

The above values for each paper tray a and b are stored in the ROM 52 of the computer.

In the paper feed preparation subroutine, the program proceeds to step calculation, where it is determined whether S is positive or negative, and if it is positive, the elevating member 7 is lowered by S by reversing the step motor 13 (step), and S is If it is negative, the elevating member 7 is raised by S due to the forward rotation of the step motor 13 (step 〓〓).

Here, the elevating member 7 is located at the standby position aj for the newly selected paper tray 2j, and as shown in FIG. Adjacent above.

At this time, the tray drawer clutch C ₂ j of the tray 2j selected in step 〓〓 is connected, and as the step motor 13 reverses, the elevating member 7 is lowered (step 〓〓), and the tray 2j is pulled out forward. Moreover, at the same time as the step motor 13 is driven, the number of steps m of the step motor 13 starts to be counted at the step 〓〓.

After the tray 2j is completely pulled out by the lowering of the elevating member 7, the steps 〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓〓 are repeated until the paper feed roll 18 comes into contact with the copy paper 1 in the tray 2j and continues to descend. , same paper feed roll 18
When the copy paper 1 in the tray 2j is contacted and the limit switch LS is turned off, the value of m is entered in l (step 〓〓), and the position correction subroutine 〓〓 is entered.

However, the limit switch LS is not turned off and the number of steps m being counted at step 〓〓 is bj-
If the value is equal to or exceeds the value of aj (when the elevating member 7 has passed the paper feeding position and there is no copy paper 1 in the paper tray 2j), the step motor 13 is stopped at step 〓〓, and then At step 〓, the step motor 13 is rotated forward by the number of steps m,
The lifting member 7 is raised and returned to the position aj, and the tray 2j is pushed backwards, the tray drawer clutch C ₂ j is closed (step 〓), the value of j is entered into i (step 〓〓), and the program is started. The progress of the tray 2j is stopped, and the tray 2j is waited for to be ready to be supplied with the copy paper 1.

Next, when the program proceeds to the position correction subroutine, the elevating member 7 is moved as shown in FIG.
The number of steps n of the step motor 13 that is lowering the step motor 13 is counted again (Steps 〓〓).

This number of steps n means that the paper feed roll 18 is
Touch the copy paper 1 in j and turn the limit switch.
After the LS is turned off, the elevating member 7 is counted to further lower the elevating member ₇ by a predetermined number of steps n0, and to easily feed paper with a thickness corresponding to the number of steps _n0 at the stop position of the elevating member 7. Can be done.

Therefore, the number of steps n during counting is compared with n0 (step _{〓), and if n exceeds n0 ,} the value of l is added to the value of n, and the value of l is set again ( Step 〓〓), the step motor 13 is stopped (Step 〓), and the position correction subroutine ends.

Also, before n reaches n ₀ , the value of l+n changes to bj−
Compared with the value of aj (step〓), when the value is equal to or larger, the step motor 13 is stopped (step〓〓), and the elevating member 7 is lowered from aj by l+
The step motor 13 is rotated in the normal direction again by n and is raised (step 〓), and the tray 2j is pushed backward, and the tray drawer clutch is closed in the step.
C ₂ j is cut off, the value of j is put into i at step 〓〓, the progress of the program is stopped, and the same tray 2j
Preparations are made to supply copy paper 1 to the machine.

When the position correction subroutine shown in FIG. 10 is completed, the paper feed preparation completion indicator PD is operated in step of FIG. 8 to display the completion of paper feed preparation, and the copy start switch ST is turned on in step. Then, it is determined in step whether the number of copies Z is 1 or not, and if it is 2 or more, the paper feed motor 33 is driven in step, the paper feed clutch C ₁ is connected in step, and thus the paper feed roll is 18,
With the rotation of the transport rolls 29, 30, 31, 32, j
The copy paper 1 in the th paper tray 2j is conveyed to the dry electrophotographic copying machine 34.

After copying is done in step, the number of copies Z is subtracted by one (step), and if limit switch LS is left off in step,
The steps of the program are returned from the step to the step, and the steps , , , ,
, is repeated.

During this time, when the number of copy sheets 1 in the paper tray 2j decreases and the paper feed roll 18 is no longer able to contact the copy sheets 1 with the required contact force, the limit switch LS is turned on and the step motor 13 is reversely rotated to move the lifting member 7. After the is lowered, the program steps back through the position correction subroutine.

When the number of copies Z becomes 1 in step, the program advances to step.

On the other hand, if the number of copies Z is 1, the program steps advance from step to step;
After the paper feed motor 33 is operated, the paper feed clutch _C1 is connected in step and the program is advanced to step STEP.

Then, in step, when the copy paper 1 passes the paper feed roll 18 by the reflection type paper feed completion detector RS, the paper feed clutch _C1 is shut off in step, and after a period of time has elapsed, the copy paper 1 passes through the paper feed roll 18.
8, copy paper 1 is placed in the paper receiving section 35 of the copying machine 34.
After the paper has been completely conveyed to the next step, the paper feed motor 33 is stopped in step, and the final copying is performed in step.

After copying is completed, step motor 1 is
3 is raised by l, the paper tray 2j that had been pulled out is pushed back, the tray drawer clutch _C2j is shut off at step 〓〓, the value of j is put into i at step 〓〓, and the program progress is stopped. do.

In this way, the required paper feeding and copying are accomplished.

In addition, when changing the type of copy paper 1 to be supplied, select and press the tray selection switch Sj as appropriate to operate in the same manner as described above, and the elevating member 7 and the supply roll 18 will move to the selected paper tray 2j. At the same time, the paper tray 2j is pulled forward and the required copy paper 1 is supplied.

Furthermore, by appropriately changing the spacing between the paper trays 2 and the height of the shelf supports 4, and changing the number of steps a and b stored in the ROM 52 to appropriate values, a wide variety of types can be produced regardless of the size of the copying machine 34. It is possible to quickly and easily select and supply copy sheets 1 of different paper sizes and orientations.

Furthermore, since the desired paper tray 2j can be pulled out or pushed forward in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the lifting member 7, a motor for pulling out and pushing the paper tray 2 is unnecessary, and the structure is simple and the cost is low.

In the embodiment described above, the first pinion 37 is provided with a notch 38 so that the engagement with the _first rack 36 is mechanically performed. The cutout portion 38 is not necessarily required.

Further, although the elevating member 7 was raised and lowered by rotating the screw rod 8, a cylindrical cam mechanism,
The elevating member 7 may be moved up and down by a pantograph mechanism, a removable fluid expansion/contraction means that expands and contracts by supplying and discharging fluid to a multistage cylindrical body such as a telescope lens barrel, a belt mechanism, or the like.

Furthermore, instead of the copy paper 1, a manuscript may be processed as a sheet.

Effects of the Invention According to the sheet storage means drawer device of the present invention, the three functions of elevating and lowering the elevating member, putting in and taking out the sheet storage means, and moving the conveyance means toward and away from the paper in the storage means can be performed at the same time. This constitutes a group of drive mechanisms that can selectively pull out or push in only the required sheet storage means, and synchronously move the transport means to move the sheets in the sheet storage means. can be brought into contact with.

It is possible to immediately transport and feed sheets from the required sheet storage means, and there is no need for a special mechanism, such as a prime mover, for pulling out and pushing in the sheet storage means. It is possible to simplify and reduce costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of a drawer device for sheet storage means according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of its main parts, Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 4 is a paper tray. A side view of the main parts illustrating the state before pulling out the
FIG. 5 is a side view of the main part with the paper tray pulled out, FIG. 6 is a longitudinal side view of the main part, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the control system of the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart thereof. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the paper feed preparation subroutine in the same flowchart.
Figure 0 is a flowchart of the position correction subroutine in the flowcharts of Figures 8 and 9;
The figure is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the embodiment. 1... Copy paper, 2... Paper tray, 3... Slide guide, 4... Shelf support, 5... Shelf support member, 6... Guide rail, 7... Lifting member, 8... Screw rod, 9... Bearing, 1
0, 11... Bevel gear, 12... Rotating shaft, 13... Step motor, 14... Bracket, 15... Pivoting shaft, 16... Sliding lever, 17... Paper feed roll shaft, 1
8... Paper feed roll, 19... Pulley, 20... Belt,
21... Drive pulley, 22... Paper guide, 23... Base projecting piece, 24... Connecting means, 25, 26, 27... Connecting link, 28... Guide chute, 29, 30,
31, 32...Conveyance roll, 33...Paper feed motor, 3
4... Dry electrophotographic copying machine, 35... Paper receiving section, 3
6...first rack, 37...first pinion, 38...notch, 39...first connection gear, 40...second connection gear, 41...second pinion, 42...second rack, 5
0...Microcomputer, 51...Input interface, 52...ROM, 53...RAM, 54...
CPU, 55...Output interface, _C1 ...Paper feed clutch, _C2 ...Tray drawer clutch, PD...Paper feed ready indicator, RS...Reflective paper feed completion detector,
LS...Limit switch, SE...Tray selection switch, NE...Copy number setting switch group, ST...Copy start switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of support means 5 supported by the support column 4 and arranged at required intervals in the vertical direction, and the support means 5
a plurality of sheet storage means 2 each supported so as to be movable back and forth; and a conveyance means 18 for contacting the uppermost sheet 1 in the sheet storage means 2 and conveying it to the paper discharge side. A sheet feeding device comprising: an elevating member 7 on which the conveyance means 18 is mounted and moves up and down along the paper discharge side of the sheet storage means 2; and an elevating means for elevating and lowering the elevating member 7. , a first rack 36 provided on the elevating member 7;
a second rack 42 provided on the sheet storage means 2; and a second rack 42 adjacent to each sheet storage means 2 and pivotally supported on the support 4 so as to mesh with the first rack 36. the first pinion 37 and the support 4 so as to mesh with the second rack 42;
a second pinion 41 pivotally supported by the first pinion 37 and the second pinion 41;
and a control means 50 for driving and controlling the elevating means and _the clutch _C2 . When the elevating member 7 is lowered from an appropriate position with C ₂ in the connected state, the first rack 36 engages with the first pinion 37 and rotates the second pinion 41 via the clutch C ₂ . The interlocking second rack 42 is driven to store the required sheet storage means 2.
A drawing device for a sheet storage means, characterized in that the transport means 18 can be brought into contact with the sheets 1 in the sheet storage means 2 while the sheet storage means 2 is being pulled out.