JPS6360828A - Paper feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the separation and feeding of a wide range of sheets of paper from a thick sheet of paper to thin sheet of paper by selectively using a cassette in which the separation of sheets of paper is carried out by means of a separating craw and a cassette in which the separation of sheets of paper is carried out by means of a gap, as the paper feeding cassette. CONSTITUTION:A paper feeding/discharging unit B introduces and pilingly houses sheets of paper from a paper discharge port 7b in a paper discharge stacker 23, while automatically feeding sheets of paper in a paper feeding stacker 22 from a paper feed port 7a to a printing device A. The paper feeding cassette 22 consists of two cassettes 22A, 22B for housing different types of sheets of paper respectively. The cassette 22A is formed by providing a pair of right and left separating craws which are engaged with the end edge part of the top sheet of paper on both side parts of a paper housing frame, whereas, the cassette 22B is formed by providing a sheet end engaging member which forms a paper feeding gap for the amount of one sheet of paper on the end part of a paper housing frame toward a paper feed roller 30. And, each of the cassettes 22A, 22B can be removably installed in the installing space 23 of a device frame 21.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a paper feeding device that separates and supplies sheets of paper, plastic, or other paper pre-loaded and stored one by one to the main bodies of various processing devices such as printers, printing machines, and copying machines.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, as a method for separating and feeding stacked and stored sheets one by one from the top, the top sheet of the stacker 4- is fed out by a sheet feeding roller that engages with this, and the top sheet is engaged with the leading edge of the top sheet. A so-called corner claw separation method is known, in which a pair of left and right separation claws (corner claws) separates and feeds only one sheet, and the topmost paper on the stacker is fed out by a paper feed roller that engages with the corner claws. At the same time, a so-called gap separation method is also known in which paper is separated and fed by a gap for one sheet prepared on the downstream side of the paper feed. However, in the latter gap separation method, it is a mistake that the gap or the vertical position of the member that forms the gap for one sheet of paper located downstream of the paper fed by the paper feeding roller that is normally used changes. To avoid this, the cassette system, which attempts to supply a wide range of paper by preparing multiple paper feed stackers according to the paper size and attaching and detaching them, causes the above-mentioned positional relationship to be disrupted when the stackers are replaced and installed. It has not yet been proposed. Therefore, the inventor of the present invention changed the conventional gap separation method by forming a gap for one sheet of paper between the paper feed roller and the abutment member that engages the leading edge of the paper in the stacker. We came up with the idea that it would be easy to maintain a constant gap between the paper feed roller prepared on the machine frame side and the abutment member on the cassette body side.

[Purpose of the invention]

In view of the above, the present invention provides a separation method using a conventional separation claw,
The gap separation method can be easily replaced by attaching and detaching the cassette body, making it possible to separate and feed a wide range of paper, from feeding thick paper like cards to very thin paper. The object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device that can reliably and stably supply paper.

[Solution]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention first incorporates a paper feed roller into the device frame of a paper feed device, and installs a paper storage frame into a cassette loading section prepared in the device frame below the paper feed roller. A pair of separating claws are attached to the left and right sides of the cassette, and a pair of separation claws are attached to the edges of the uppermost sheet of paper. A second cassette body is provided with a paper leading edge locking piece to define a paper feeding gap. Next, the first cassette body and the second cassette body are installed so that the distance between the leading edge of the stored paper and the paper feed rotor is longer in the first cassette body than in the second cassette body. The mounting position of each cassette body in the paper feeding direction relative to the machine frame is made different. In other words, the configuration is such that two or more paper feed cassettes each storing paper of different sizes are connected to a paper feed rotor mounted on a rotating shaft supported by the device frame and connected to an appropriate drive means. a first cassette body having a pair of left and right separation claws attached to both sides of the storage frame to engage with the tip end portion of the first paper;
A second cassette body is provided with a paper leading end locking piece that forms a paper feeding gap for one sheet between the paper storage frame and the paper feeding rotary body. The arrangement is such that the distance between the leading end of the stored paper of the first cassette body and the paper feeding rotating body is different from the mounting position of the second cassette body in the paper feeding direction relative to the apparatus frame.

[Explanation of action]

The present invention is based on the configuration described in (-) above, in which the first cassette body has a pair of left and right separating claws that engage with both ears of the leading edge of the paper, and the first cassette body engages with a pair of left and right separation claws at both ears of the leading edge of the paper, and separates the separation claws at the center of the paper, which has a relatively long distance from the leading edge of the paper. -F paper is fed out, and it is possible to curve the leading edge of the paper and use its stiffness to reliably separate the paper. Next, in the second cassette body, a paper feeding gap equivalent to one sheet of paper is formed between the leading end locking piece that butts and locks the leading edge of the paper and the paper feeding rotary body, and this cassette body is rotated to feed the paper. If you attach it based on your body, there is no risk of the paper feeding gap being unnecessarily distorted. Moreover, this paper feed gap is set so that the distance between the leading edge locking piece and the paper feed rotor is relatively short, so that the leading edge of the paper after being fed out by the paper feed rotor may be inadvertently tilted at the position of the locking piece. Reliable separation and feeding of each sheet is achieved without peeling.

[Explanation of Examples]

The illustrated example shows a case in which a paper feeder B is detachably attached to a device A consisting of a printer, and sheets are separated and fed one by one to a paper feed port of a processing device A. The printer is a normal thermal transfer printer, and includes a platen 1 for backing up paper in the printing section P, a printing element 2, a carriage 3 carrying this printing element 2 and moving step by step at each character interval, and a platen 1. A platen paper feed mechanism 4 that feeds the paper in the position stepwise in the row direction
and a drive device M for this paper feeding mechanism, the printing element 2 prints on the paper according to the printing signal output from the computer or the input key, and the carriage 3 moves step by step according to the character spacing. It is designed to cause the next print to be executed. When printing for one line is completed, the paper feed mechanism 4 is operated to step feed the sheet to the next line. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a casing, and a platen 1 is fixedly supported on an internal frame 6. The platen 1 is composed of a shaft-like stem member positioned in the paper width direction, and the surface thereof facing the paper is made of an elastic material such as rubber. A U-shaped paper path 7 is constructed around the platen 1, and the paper is taken in from the paper feed lower a at one end, printed on the platen 1, and then discharged from the paper ejection lower b at the other end. It has become. The paper path 7 is provided with a paper feeding mechanism that feeds the paper to the platen 1 portion and at the same time feeds the paper in steps at the platen 1 portion as follows. In the illustrated example, since the platen 1 does not have a paper feeding function, a paper feeding roller 8 is rotatably supported on the frame 6 in addition to the platen 1 and adjacent to the platen 1. connects one end to the drive motor M and the gear transmission mechanism 9
The other end is provided with a knob 1.0 for manual rotation as shown in FIG. A paper guide 11 is disposed opposite the paper feed roller 8 across the paper path 7, and a pinch roller 12.1
3 are placed. These pinch rollers 12 and 13 are arranged in two rows near the paper feed lower a and near the platen l.
The plate spring holder 14 is fixed to the frame 6 with screws 15 so as to be in constant pressure contact with the paper feed roller 8 side. The carriage 3 is movable left and right in the paper width direction, and its rear end 3a is fitted to a guide rail 16 of the frame 6, and its tip 3b is fitted to a shaft 17 attached to the frame. Although not shown in the drawings, the rack is fixed to an endless wire passed between the pulleys at the left and right ends of the platen 1 as usual, and at the same time a stepping motor is connected to one of the pulleys. Therefore, a printing platen 2 consisting of a thermal head is swingably attached to the carriage 3 on a shaft 19 so that it comes into contact with the platen 1 when printing and moves away when not printing, and is connected to the printing control circuit by flexible wiring. ing. Further, a ribbon tape is mounted on the carriage 3, and the tape is wound up in response to the movement of the carriage 3 in the printing direction. Reference numeral 20 in the figure indicates a paper sensor disposed in the paper feed path 7, which detects the trailing edge of the paper being printed, determines the last line to be printed, stops the printing operation, and at the same time rotates the paper feed roller 8 by a predetermined amount to is discharged from discharge lower b. In the illustrated printer, the paper feeding mechanism 4 is composed of a paper feeding roller 8 disposed near a fixed platen, but instead of this, the platen itself is composed of a rotatable roller-like member,
After the pinch roller is pressed, a drive motor may be connected to this roller-like platen to feed the paper by rotation of the platen. Therefore, the paper feeding device B of the present invention is configured as a paper feeding and discharging unit B that automatically supplies paper to the frame 6 of the printing device A together with a paper discharging device that guides the paper from the paper discharging lower b to a paper discharging stacker and stacks and stores the paper. be. This paper feed/discharge unit B is provided with a paper feed stacker 22 and a paper discharge stacker 23 in a machine frame 21 at a position connected to a paper feed lower a and a paper discharge lower b of a printing machine main body A, and a frame of the printing machine A. It is designed to be able to be attached and detached from 6 to 1. Therefore, the paper ejection device includes a paper ejection roller 25 disposed near the paper ejection [17b] of the printing machine A, and a paper ejection guide 2 that can be opened and closed and guides the sheet to the paper ejection stacker, facing the paper ejection roller 25.
6, and a paper discharge stacker 23. Particularly, the paper discharge stacker 23 has a paper trailing edge holder in section 23a and a rear paper holder in section 2.
3b, and both receivers are comprised of a manual feed slit 27 into which paper is inserted through the gap shown in the drawing. This manual feed slit 27 is connected to a path 28 prepared to feed manual paper to the pressure contact point between the paper feed roller 8 and the pinch roller 12 of the paper feed lower a of the printer main body A. A paper ejection path 29 from the paper ejection lower b of the printer main body A to the paper ejection stacker 23 is configured between the paper ejection roller 25 and the paper ejection guide 26.
The paper is ejected at the same speed as the paper conveyance speed of the platen paper feeding mechanism 4 described above. Next, the paper feed device will be explained. This paper feed device includes a paper feed stacker 22, a paper feed roller 30 that engages with the first sheet of paper stacked and stored in this paper feed stacker 22, and this paper feed roller. A paper feed path 3 that guides the paper fed out at 30 to which pressure contact point of the paper feed roller 8 and pinch roller 12 described above.
It is composed of 1. These are attached to a device frame 21 as shown in FIG. 1.2. The device frame 21 is composed of a pair of left and right side plates 32 and 33, and a bottom plate 34 that connects the left and right side plates. 25 rotating shaft 35 and its transmission gears 36, 3
7, 38, 39, 40, the chucking members 41 and 42 to the printing machine A are attached, and the paper feed stacker 22 is installed on the bottom plate 34, and at the same time, the tip 34 of the bottom plate 34 is installed.
A constitutes a paper feed path 31 that guides the paper fed out by the paper feed roller 30 to the paper feed lower a. A rotating shaft 34 attached to the left and right side plates 32, 33 is equipped with a paper feed roller 30, and a gear 36° 38, 39, 40, similar to the rotating shaft of the paper discharge roller 25 described above
It is connected to the drive device M on the printing machine A side by
They are designed to rotate together at the same timing. In other words, the output shaft 41 of the drive motor M built in the printing machine A
Power is transmitted from the platen paper feed roller 8 to the rotating shaft 8a by gear transmission. A gear 36 on the paper feeder side meshes with the gear 42 in the gear transmission system, and the rotating shaft 35 of the paper discharge roller 25 is driven by the gear 36 and the gear 37.
Rotating shaft 3 of paper feed roller 30 with gear 38° 39.40
4 is designed to rotate. The paper feed roller 34 is composed of two or more rollers spaced apart from each other in the width direction. The one shown is composed of three pieces,
This is because it is possible to feed various types of paper with different paper thicknesses and paper widths by replacing the paper feed stacker, which will be described later.
Further, the positional relationship between the paper width and the rollers is selected so that paper with a small width such as a postcard is fed by two rollers. A mounting space 43 for a paper feed stacker is prepared between the paper feed roller 30 and the bottom plate 34, and the bottom plate 34 of this space 43 has a paper feed roller that approaches from the rear end toward the front end in the paper feed direction. The plate spring guide 44 facing directly below 30 is attached. This plate spring guide 44 has a spring action to urge the paper feed stacker mounted in the mounting space 43 toward the paper feed roller 30 side, and at the same time serves as a guide when inserting the stacker into the space 43. It is composed of an inclined plate-like member. According to the present invention, such a paper feed stacker is configured with two or more paper feed cassettes each accommodating sheets of different widths and types. The first cassette body 22A is constructed by attaching separating claws 46a and 46b to the left and right sides of the paper storage frame 45 shown in FIGS. The second cassette body 22B forms a paper feed gap G corresponding to the thickness of one sheet of paper between the tip of the paper storage frame 47 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the paper feed roller 30. The end abutting pieces 48a and 48b are provided, and are respectively attached to the mounting space 43 of the device frame 21. The first cassette body 22A is composed of left and right side plates 45a, 45b which are integrally molded with a resin sheet storage frame 45, and a bottom plate 45C.
The rear end of the arm lever 50 having a tip 46b is supported by a pin 49, and the separating claws 46a and 46b are mounted so as to swing downward. The first cassette body 22A has an idle roller 52a on the bottom plate facing the paper feed roller 30. 52b is embedded therein to reduce the load when the paper feed roller 30 rotates when the paper on the cassette 22A runs out. Along with this, the cassette 22A has a protrusion 53 hanging down at the bottom, and this protrusion 53 is connected to the device frame 22A.
The guide groove 54 corresponds to the guide groove 54 formed in the bottom plate 34 of the cassette 22A, and when the cassette 22A is inserted into the mounting space 43, the guide groove 54 is used to position the cassette 22A in the left-right direction. In addition, the locking protrusion 55 formed on one side of the force cera) 22A and the device frame 21 is fitted and locked into the locking hole 56 formed on the other side, so that the device frame 21 is held in the state shown in Fig. 1. ing. In other words, in the state shown in FIG.
The distal end portion can swing freely around this joint, and is urged toward the paper feed roller 30 by the plate spring guide 44 . Next, the paper cassette) 22B has the paper storage frame 47 on the left and right side plates 47a.
, 47b and a bottom plate 47c, and a paper mounting table 57 is arranged inside the storage frame 47 so as to be vertically movable. In other words, the rear end of the platform 57 is connected to the storage frame 47 by the pin 58.
The distal end of the platform 57 is supported so as to be vertically movable around a pin 58, and a spring 59 disposed between the storage frame 47 and the bottom plate 47c allows the platform 57 to be moved toward the paper feed roller 30 side. There is one group. The illustrated cassette) 22B is designed to accommodate left and right side plates 47 of the storage frame 47 so that cards such as postcards can be stored in both horizontal and vertical positions.
There are only a few sliding side plates 60 on the - side of a and 47b so that the position in the width direction can be adjusted. In other words, the width dimensions of the left and right side plates 47a and 47b are set according to the size of the horizontal position, and the slide side plate 60 is supported by fitting its bent piece 61 into the guide groove 62 of the bottom plate 47c. By moving the side plate 60 to the right side in FIG. 4, it is possible to hold the paper in a vertical position. Similar to the cassette body 22A, this cassette body 22B is formed with a protrusion 53 that hangs down from the bottom plate 47c. It is designed to fit into the guide groove 54 of (2) and be mounted, and at the same time, a latching protrusion 55 is provided. The left and right side plates 47a, 47 of the cassette body 22B are
A positioning piece having a U-shaped groove 63 extending from b fits into the rotating shaft 34 of the paper feed roller 30, and the positional relationship between the paper feed roller 30 and the cassette body 22B, especially the paper feed roller 30 and the tip end abutment. The paper feeding gap between the sheet 48a and the sheet 48a is kept constant. This tip end abutment piece 48a is formed integrally with the storage frame 47, and at the same time it touches the leading edge of the paper on the paper loading table 57, -h, it moves the topmost sheet of paper in cooperation with the paper feed roller 30. A paper feed gap corresponding to the thickness of one sheet of paper is formed between the roller and the roller so that the paper is fed out. It is formed only in the position where This is because, when the paper undulates or curls in the width direction, it is placed at the center of the paper feed roller where the undulations are the least, thereby preventing the paper feeding from occurring. Therefore, in the present invention, the positions of the cassette body 22A and the cassette body 22B with respect to the paper feed roller 30 are determined from the tip of the stored paper of the cassette body 22A shown in FIG. ) is set larger than that of the cassette body 22B shown in FIG. In the illustrated case, each cassette body 22A, 22B is attached to the locking hole 56, 56' of the device frame 21 by a locking protrusion 55, so paper can be stored from the position of the hook 1F protrusion 55. The length to the edge of the frame (actually, the edge of the stored paper) is set larger on the cassette body 22A side than on the cassette body 22B side. (Effect of Example)

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the paper feeding device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a -L view, FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, FIG. 4 is a top view of the cassette body 22A, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the drive system, and FIG.
The figure is an enlarged view of the paper table, and FIG. 7 is a plan view thereof. 21...Device machine frame 30...Paper feed rotating body 2
2...Cassette body patent applicant Nippon Seimitsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. (, yen)
July 13, 1986 Commissioner of the Patent Office
Black 1) Yu Akira Patent Application No. 206581 of 1985 2 Name of the invention Paper feeding device 3 Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant 4 Agent 〒400 November 25, 1985 (shipment date) 6 Number of inventions increased by amendment 7 Full text of the specification subject to the amendment, drawings 1 to 5, and 8 Contents of the amendment 1, as per the engraving and attached sheet of the specification originally attached to the application
(No change in content). 2. An engraving of the drawing originally attached to the application, as shown in the attached sheet (no changes to the content). 3. Submit a power of attorney for Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Two or more paper feed cassettes each containing different types of paper are stored in a paper feed rotor mounted on a rotating shaft supported by the device frame and connected to an appropriate drive means. The paper feed cassette is removably attached to the device frame so that the top paper is engaged with the paper feed rotating body, and the paper feed cassette is attached to both sides of the paper storage frame so that the top paper A paper feeding gap for one paper is formed between the first cassette body having a pair of left and right separating claws that engage with the tip ears of the paper storage frame, and the paper feeding rotary body at the tip of the paper storage frame. a second cassette body provided with a tip locking piece; The distance between the first cassette body and the second cassette body is longer than the distance between the leading edge of the stored paper and the paper feed
A paper feeding device characterized in that the mounting positions of the cassette bodies in the paper feeding direction with respect to the device frame are different. 2. The first cassette body has a spring that biases the paper storage frame toward the paper feed rotating body, and the spring is disposed in either the cassette body or the device frame, and the second cassette body has a spring biased within the paper storage frame. A paper feeder according to claim 1, wherein a spring is disposed on either a vertically movable paper mounting board or the paper storage frame to bias the paper mounting board toward the paper feeding rotary body. Device. 3. A patent in which the paper leading edge locking piece of the second cassette body is attached only at a position facing the paper feeding rotary body in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction to lock the leading edge of the stored paper. A paper feeding device according to claim 1.