JP2001341856A - Sheet feeder, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the basic functions such as the shielding from a power source unit and prevention of the mixture of foreign matter in a sheet feeder body, and reduce the cost thereof. SOLUTION: The sheet feeder comprises the sheet feeder body F as an external member, sheet loading bases 22, 23 and 25 which are supported by the sheet feeder body to load sheets 20 thereon, a sheet feeding means 26 for feeding the sheets loaded on the sheet loading bases one by one, and the power source unit 3 disposed within the sheet feeder body below the sheet loading bases. A support part 1e for supporting the sheet loading bases rises from a bottom part 1d of the sheet feeder booty, and the support part comprises an external wall part 1a butted to a supported surface of the sheet loading bases and an internal wall part 1b substantially parallel to the external wall part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding stacked sheets one by one, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding apparatus and forming an image on the fed sheet. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a composite apparatus thereof has an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet.
Many products incorporate a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet to the image forming means. Here, the sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking table such as a tray for stacking sheets, and a sheet feeding unit including a roller member and a claw member for feeding the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking sheet one by one. Means.

In an image forming apparatus, the image forming means, a sheet feeding device,
Further, there are many devices provided with image reading means for reading an image of a document, a control unit for controlling these units, a power supply unit for supplying power to these units, and the like. Further, in the image forming apparatus, the sheet stacking table of the sheet feeding apparatus is partially exposed from the apparatus main body, and is supported by the apparatus main body at a predetermined inclination angle, thereby reducing the size of the entire apparatus. Types are known.

A conventional example of a facsimile machine as such an image forming apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing the entire structure of a conventional facsimile machine.

The facsimile apparatus includes a document reading section A for reading an image while transporting the document, a sheet feeding section C for stacking sheets and sequentially feeding the sheets one by one, and feeding the sheets from the sheet feeding section C. And a recording unit B for recording an image based on the image information transmitted from the other device on the completed sheet, and these units are stored at predetermined positions in the apparatus main body as exterior members. Here, the apparatus main body includes a bottom cover 101 serving as a member on the installation side of the facsimile apparatus, a front cover 107 connected to the bottom cover 101 on the front side of the apparatus,
A rear cover 108 serving as a member on the rear side of the apparatus; and a power supply cover 10 connected to the bottom cover 101 on the rear side of the apparatus.
9 and each is a separate member.

The facsimile apparatus has a control board 10 having a control circuit (not shown) for controlling the entire apparatus.
2a, a power unit 102b serving as a power supply unit for supplying power to the entire apparatus, an operation panel 103 for inputting an operation number for a facsimile transmission destination, setting of operation of the apparatus, and control of the operation panel 103. Document tray 1 for stacking substrate 104 and document 105
06 are respectively arranged at predetermined positions. Here, the control board 102a is provided with a CPU for controlling the entire apparatus, a network board for communicating with other facsimile apparatuses and the like, and a primary circuit such as an NCU.

The original reading section A irradiates the original 105 with light, converts the reflected light into an electric signal, and transmits the electric signal to another machine in accordance with an operation mode based on the operation of the operation panel 103. Alternatively, the data is transmitted to its own recording unit B.

The sheet feeding section C includes a sheet stacking tray 112 for stacking sheets, a pick-up roller 113 for feeding the sheets stacked and stored in the sheet stacking tray 112 one by one, and a claw member or roller (not shown). It has a drive motor and the like. Here, in the sheet feeding section C, as shown in FIG. 6, the sheet stacking tray 112 is inclined at a predetermined angle and is attached to the apparatus main body so as to be partially exposed from the apparatus main body. Is being downsized. Further, by arranging the power supply unit 102b in the dead space directly below the sheet feeding section C, the overall size of the apparatus is reduced and the installation area is reduced.

In the sheet feeding section C, the sheet stacking tray 1
Reference numeral 12 is supported by a support portion 109a on the upper end side of the power supply cover 109, and is detachable from the apparatus main body. In the sheet feeding unit C, a limited number of sheets 110 are stacked on the middle plate 114 in the sheet stacking tray 112 by the sheet height regulating plate 111 provided on the back cover 108. I have.

In the sheet feeding section C, the middle plate 114
The upper surface of the upper sheet is urged toward the pickup roller 113 by a spring member 115 so that the uppermost surface is always at a fixed position, and the pickup roller 113 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 6 by the roller drive motor. Are fed to the recording unit C one by one sequentially from the top sheet.

As the recording section B of the facsimile apparatus, a so-called ink jet recording type is adopted. The recording unit B discharges ink onto the sheet 110 supplied from the sheet feeding unit C in accordance with an image signal transmitted from another device or an image signal transmitted from a document reading unit A described later to print an image. Form. The sheet that has passed the recording unit B
Discharge roller 116 arranged near the front cover 107
As a result, the sheet is discharged in a direction indicated by an arrow through a sheet discharge port 107a formed in the front cover 107, and is sequentially stacked, for example, on a sheet discharge tray (not shown) provided below the sheet discharge port 107a.

[0012]

As described above, in an image forming apparatus having a built-in power supply unit and further having a primary circuit such as a network board or an NCU for performing communication, conventionally, a dangerous voltage is applied to a human body from a dangerous voltage. It is essential to take measures to prevent electric shock.

On the other hand, in the conventional example, in order to prevent electric shock from dangerous voltage of the power unit 102b, the power supply cover 109 is formed of an insulator, and a roof 109b is provided on the inner side of the power supply cover 109. Thus, even when the sheet stacking tray 112 is pushed up to put a hand in the gap between the power supply cover 109 and the support portion 109a, the hand is not directly touched by the power unit 102b. The roof 109b of the power supply cover 109 is connected to the sheet stacking tray 112 and the support 109a of the power supply cover 109.
This is also a countermeasure against a short-circuit of the power unit 102b caused by intrusion of foreign matter such as dust or dust through a gap between the power unit 102b and the power unit 102b.

However, with such an arrangement and configuration, the power supply cover 109 is a separate member from the bottom cover 101 that covers the bottom surface of the device and the back cover 108 that covers the back surface of the device. However, the cost of the apparatus main body has increased and the number of assembly steps has increased.

More specifically, for example, when the bottom cover 101 and the power supply cover 109 are integrated with each other in the apparatus main body, there is a problem in that the mold cannot be removed in the manufacturing process. It is also conceivable to arrange the power supply unit 102b in a place other than the dead space immediately below the sheet feeding section C. If such an arrangement is adopted, the shape of the power supply cover 109 can be freely designed. Although it can be integrated with the bottom cover 101 and the cost of the apparatus main body can be reduced, there is a problem that the installation area of the apparatus is increased this time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent an increase in the installation area of an apparatus, secure a basic function of shielding a power supply unit and invasion of foreign matter, and reduce the cost of a sheet feeding apparatus provided with an apparatus main body. An object of the present invention is to provide a feeding device and an image forming apparatus having the same.

[0017]

A first configuration of a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention comprises an apparatus main body as an exterior member, a sheet loading table supported by the apparatus main body, and for loading sheets.
A sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking table one by one; and a power supply unit disposed in the apparatus main body below the sheet stacking table. The support part that supports the loading table rises and is formed,
The support portion has an outer wall portion abutting on a supported surface of the sheet stacking table, and an inner wall portion formed substantially parallel to the outer wall portion.

A second configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the first configuration, an inner wall portion of a support portion of the apparatus main body abuts against a supported surface of a sheet stacking table.

According to a third configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention, in the first or second configuration, a substantially bag-shaped space portion is formed by the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion in the support portion of the apparatus main body. It is characterized by having.

In a fourth configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention, in any one of the first to third configurations, the power supply unit is surrounded by the sheet stacking table, a bottom portion of the apparatus main body, and an inner wall portion. Characterized in that it is arranged in a space defined.

According to a fifth configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus according to the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth configurations, the sheet stacking table is inclined so that the leading end of the stacked sheets is directed downward. It is characterized by doing.

A first configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is a sheet feeding device having any one of the first to fifth configurations, and a sheet feeding device disposed in the apparatus main body and fed by the sheet feeding device. And an image forming means for forming an image on the sheet.

A second configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the first configuration, the image forming apparatus further includes an image reading unit that is disposed in the apparatus main body and reads an image of a document.

A third configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the second configuration, an interface unit for transmitting information of an image of a document read by the image reading unit to an external device is provided. And

According to a fourth configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in the third configuration, there is provided a transmission unit that transmits information of an image of a document read by the image reading unit to another device via a communication line, Switching means for supplying information on the image of the document read by the reading means to either the interface unit or the transmitting means.

According to a fifth configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, in any one of the second to fourth configurations, information on an image of a document read by the image reading unit is transmitted to another device via a communication line. And a receiving unit for receiving, via a communication line, image information transmitted from another device, wherein the sheet feeding device and the image forming unit perform the image forming process based on the image information received by the receiving unit. A facsimile receiving operation for forming an image on a sheet is performed.

A sixth configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth configurations, wherein the sheet feeding device and the image forming unit convert the image of the original read by the image reading unit into a sheet. It is characterized by performing a copying operation formed thereon.

According to a seventh aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the fifth and sixth aspects, the operation of the sheet feeding device and the image forming means is switched between a facsimile receiving operation and a copying operation. It is characterized by having switching control means for controlling.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the entire structure of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. 2 and 3
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a facsimile apparatus. Hereinafter, the configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment has a document reading section A for reading a document image.
A recording unit B as an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and a sheet feeding unit C for supplying a sheet to the recording unit B
And an operation unit D for inputting an operation of a facsimile transmission destination number, setting of operation of the apparatus, and the like, and an apparatus main body F as an exterior member for storing these units.

The apparatus main body F includes a bottom frame cover 1 serving as a bottom member, a sheet discharge tray 32 movably connected to the bottom frame cover 1, an upper cover 21 serving as a top member, and a document table 8. , A paper feed frame 22 and the like. In the apparatus main body F, a control board 2 constituting a control system, which will be described in detail later, for controlling the entire apparatus.
And a power supply unit 3 for supplying power to each part of the apparatus, an operation panel 4 for inputting operations for setting operation of the apparatus, and a control board 5 of the operation panel 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the original reading section A includes an original table 8 and an original tray 7 on which the originals 6 are stacked, a preliminary conveying roller 10 for preliminary conveying the originals 6, and a preliminary conveying plate 11.
A friction piece 12 for separating the original 6 into one sheet; a feed roller 13a and an auxiliary roller 13b for feeding the separated original 6; a preliminary transport roller 10 and a feed roller 13a
, A contact sensor 15 for reading an image of the document, a discharge roller 17 a and an auxiliary roller 17 b disposed downstream of the contact sensor 15, and a preliminary conveyance roller 10. And feed roller 1
A drive motor (not shown) for rotating the discharge roller 3a and the discharge roller 17a is provided.

In the document reading section A, a document tray 7 can be attached to and detached from a document table 8 formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body F, and the documents 6 are stacked thereon. As shown in FIG. 3, the stacked originals 6 are aligned in the width direction by original width regulating plates 9 a and 9 b which are configured to be movable with respect to the original table 8.

In the document reading section A, the upper preliminary transport plate 11 is pressed against the lower preliminary transport roller 10 by a spring (not shown), and before the preliminary transport roller 10 operates, the loaded original 6 Each tip is sandwiched between the preliminary transport roller 10 and the preliminary transport plate 11. When the preliminary transport roller 10 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) in FIG. 1 by the drive motor, the stacked originals 6 are preliminarily transported from the lower side in contact with the preliminary transport roller 10. Is done.

More specifically, the original 6 stacked on a plurality of sheets is
The sheet is separated one by one by the friction piece 12 and is
Is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by the drive motor, so that the sheet is conveyed while being sandwiched between the feed roller 13a and the auxiliary roller 13b opposed to the feed roller 13a. Then, the document 6 is transported to the contact sensor 15 while being guided by the document transport guide 14.

The contact sensor 15 is fixed to a contact sensor mounting plate 15a which is a frame-shaped member. Above the contact sensor 15, a reading reference plate 16 serving as a background color of the document 6 and serving as a white reference in reading has a width that covers the entire reading width of the contact sensor 15. I have.
A light source (not shown) for irradiating the original 6 is provided inside the contact sensor 15 (LEDs are used in the present embodiment).
Is arranged.

The original 6 whose image has been read by the contact sensor 15 is rotated by the drive motor in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The sheet is conveyed while being sandwiched between them, and is discharged out of the apparatus in the direction of arrow a in FIG.

In the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the document discharge tray 18 can be opened and closed, and FIG. 1 shows a closed state and FIG. 3 shows an opened state. When the document reading unit A is used, the document discharge tray 18 is turned in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 to be in an open state, so that the document 6 conveyed by the discharge rollers 17a and the auxiliary rollers 17b is opened. Are discharged and stacked on the document discharge tray 18. On the other hand, when the document reading section A is not used except for the reading operation, the document reading section A is closed as shown in FIGS.

The operation unit D is used to perform an input operation when performing a copy operation, a facsimile transmission operation, a scanner operation, and the like. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a dial is attached to an operation cover 4 as an exterior member. A key switch corresponding to various operations of the key 4a and the like, and a display unit 4b for displaying input of the key switch and the like are provided. A telephone line modular (not shown) for transmitting and receiving image information via a telephone line is provided at one end of the operation unit D.

The operation section D is provided above the above-described document transport mechanism in the document reading section A, and is rotatable in the direction of the arrow around the front end side as shown in FIG. When the operation unit D is opened with respect to the apparatus main body, the preliminary conveyance plate 11, the auxiliary roller 13b, the reading reference plate 16, and the auxiliary roller 17b in the document reading unit A are also opened integrally.

Next, the sheet feeding section C will be described. The sheet feeding unit C includes a sheet feeding frame 22, a sheet auxiliary tray 23 movable with respect to the sheet feeding frame 22, and upper portions of the sheet feeding frame 22 and the sheet auxiliary tray 23 as members for stacking and storing sheets. And a pressure plate 25 on which the sheet is placed, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4,
These are arranged obliquely. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the leading end of the sheet 20 stacked on the pressure plate 25 abuts on the lower end of the sheet feeding frame 22 by its own weight.

The sheet feeding section C includes a sheet side guide 24 movably attached to the pressure plate 25 to regulate the width direction of the sheet, a sheet feeding frame 22 and the pressure plate 25.
And a pressure plate spring 25a arranged between them. Further, the sheet feeding unit C includes a substantially half-moon-shaped feeding roller 26, a driving motor (not shown) for rotating the feeding roller 26, and an unillustrated feeding motor for feeding the stacked and stored sheets one by one. It has the illustrated separation claws.

As the sheet 20 used in the sheet feeding section C, it is possible to use plain paper, a plastic sheet or the like and other materials which can transfer ink. In this embodiment, plain paper cut into B4 size or A4 size is used as the sheet 20.
Then, the sheet 20 is stacked on the pressure plate 25, and the pressure plate 25 is pressed in the direction of the feed roller 26 by the pressure plate spring 25a, so that the sheet height provided on the back side of the upper cover 21 as an exterior member is provided. The position of the uppermost surface is regulated by the regulation unit 21a. Thereby, a limited number of sheets 20 are stacked on the pressure plate 25.

In the sheet feeding section C, the width of the sheet 20 can be regulated by moving the sheet side guide 24 to a predetermined position with respect to the pressure plate 25. In the sheet feeding unit C, the sheet auxiliary tray 23 can be inserted into and removed from the sheet feeding frame 22 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4, and the sheet auxiliary tray 23 is set at a predetermined position corresponding to the length of the sheet 20. Thereby, the rear end side of the sheet 20 can be supported.

The feeding roller 26 of the sheet feeding section C is supported rotatably with respect to the apparatus main body about a rotating shaft (not shown), and is driven by a driving motor one rotation in a clockwise direction in FIG. In the stopped state, the substantially flat standby surface is the sheet 2
0 with a predetermined interval from the uppermost surface of the zero.

In the sheet feeding section C, the feeding roller 26 is driven by one rotation in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
The curved conveying surface of the feed roller 26 abuts on the uppermost surface of the sheet 20 stacked on the pressure plate 25 with a predetermined pressure, and is fed from the uppermost sheet in the leftward direction in FIG. The sheets are separated and separated by the separation claw, and are sequentially conveyed to the recording unit B one by one.

Next, the recording section B of the facsimile apparatus will be described. The recording unit B includes an image signal transmitted from another device,
Alternatively, an image is recorded on the sheet 20 supplied from the sheet feeding unit C according to an image signal transmitted from a document reading unit A described later. As the recording section B of the facsimile apparatus, an apparatus generally called an ink jet recording apparatus is employed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording section B includes a sheet presser 27 for holding the sheet supplied from the sheet feeding section C.
An LF roller 28 that conveys the sheet, a pinch roller 27 a that presses against the LF roller 28, and an LF roller 2.
8, a recording cartridge 29 that discharges ink onto a sheet, a platen plate 30 facing the recording cartridge 29, a discharge roller 31a disposed after the platen plate 30, and a spur roller that presses against the discharge roller 31a. 31b, and a drive motor (not shown) for driving each roller.

The sheet presser 27 of the recording section B is pressed against the LF roller 28 by a spring (not shown), and has a function as an upper guide of the sheet 20 conveyed from the sheet feeding section C and a pinch roller 27a. By pressing the pinch roller 27a from above, the LF roller 28
Is pressed against.

The sheet fed from the sheet feeding section C to the recording section B reaches the nip between the LF roller 28 and the pinch roller 27a while being guided by the sheet presser 27, and the LF roller 28 is driven by the drive motor. The recording cartridge 29 and the platen plate 3 are rotated while being rotated between the LF roller 28 and the pinch roller 27a.
0, and the recording operation is performed by the recording cartridge 29.

The recording cartridge 29 of this embodiment is
Serial printing is performed while moving in the width direction of the conveyed sheet 20 by a motor and a driving unit (not shown). Then, the sheet 20 after printing and recording
Is discharged in the direction of the arrow b in FIG. 1 by the discharge roller 31a and the spur roller 31b so that the printing surface is not stained, and is stacked on the sheet discharge tray 32.

Here, the sheet discharge tray 32 can be moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4, and has a structure capable of responding to various sheet lengths. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the document table 8 is supported by a support (not shown) provided on the upper cover 21 so as to be rotatable in the direction of the arrow in FIG. In the facsimile apparatus, when the upper cover 21 is opened from the apparatus main body, the recording cartridge 29 of the recording section B can be detached in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

Next, a control system of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
In this facsimile apparatus, a control unit 2a, a modem 201, a network control unit (NCU) 2c, and a printer interface 209 shown in FIG. 5 are configured on a control board 2 shown in FIG.

The control section 2a controls the entire facsimile apparatus.
Various key switches of the recording unit B, the operation unit D, and the display unit 4
b, a printer interface 209 described later, and a modem 201.

The NCU 2c is a modem 2 which is a modem.
01 is connected to a telephone and a telephone line, and transmits and receives a call control signal of the telephone line. Printer interface 209
Is connected to a peripheral computer E, which is an external device, and transmits and receives image data between the peripheral computer E and the control unit 2a.

The control unit 2a is a CP that controls the entire apparatus.
U202, a ROM 203 storing various programs and various data, etc., and a RAM 204 used as a work area of the CPU 202 and temporarily storing various data such as the number of recordings and storing and registering various data;
The recording unit B has an input / output switching interface 208 for switching input / output of image data to be recorded on a sheet.

The control unit 2a includes a line memory 205 for storing an image of each line of image data, and an encoding / decoding unit 206 connected to the line memory 205.
, Encoding / decoding section 206, CPU 202, and modem 2
01 is provided with a buffer memory 207.

The line memory 205 of the control section 2a is connected to the document reading section A, and stores one line of image data supplied from the document reading section A at the time of facsimile transmission or copying of a document image. . The line memory 205 stores data for one line decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 206 when receiving image data from another facsimile apparatus or the peripheral computer E.

The encoding / decoding section 206 of the control section 2a
The image information to be transmitted is encoded by MH encoding or the like. The encoding / decoding unit 206 decodes the encoded image data received from another facsimile apparatus or the like and converts the data into image data. Buffer memory 20
7 temporarily stores the transmitted and received encoded image data,
Based on the control of the CPU 202, the data is output to either the modem 201 or the encoding / decoding unit 206.

The image data stored in the line memory 205 is encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 206 and the buffer memory 207.
After that, the recording section control code is added by the CPU 202 and the recording section B is transmitted from the input / output switching interface 208 to the recording section B.
Is output to the CPU 211. In a facsimile machine,
When the CPU 211 decodes the above-described recording unit control code, the recording unit B performs image recording.

The input / output switching interface 2 of the control unit 2a
Reference numeral 08 switches input / output of image data to be recorded on a sheet in the recording unit B based on input operations of various key switches in the operation unit D. Specifically, when the copy function is used, the image data read by the document reading unit A is supplied to the recording unit B. When the facsimile function is used, the image data is input via the telephone line, the NCU 2c, and the modem 201. The image data from the external facsimile apparatus is supplied to the recording unit B, and the image data output from the peripheral computer E via the printer interface 209 is supplied to the recording unit B when the function of the printer is used.

That is, in this facsimile apparatus, image data and text data output from the peripheral computer E can be output from the input / output switching interface 208 to the recording section B via the control section 2a, and can function as an ink jet printer. Is provided. Also,
In the facsimile apparatus, image data read by the document reading unit A can be taken into the peripheral computer E via the control unit 2a and the printer interface 209, and has a function as an image scanner.

The facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment includes a power supply unit 3 for supplying power to the entire control system and further to the entire facsimile apparatus. As shown in FIG. Paper feed frame 2
2 and a bottom frame cover 1.

Here, the bottom frame cover 1 of the apparatus main body F
Is formed of an insulating member such as a synthetic resin, and as shown in FIG. 1, a bottom surface 1d and a back surface 1e are integrally formed,
A plurality of flat walls 1f, 1g, and 1h are formed on the bottom surface 1d, and an outer wall 1a and an inner wall 1b are formed on the back surface 1e.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom frame cover 1
Has a structure in which the wall portions 1f, 1g, 1h and the back surface portion 1e are formed so as to rise substantially in the same direction with respect to the bottom surface portion 1d. The portion 1d and the back portion 1e can be integrally formed.

Then, the rear portion 1e of the bottom frame cover 1
Are supporting portions for supporting the sheet feeding frame 22, the sheet auxiliary tray 23, the pressure plate 25, etc. as a sheet stacking portion. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the outer wall portion 1a and the inner wall portion 1b Each upper end is configured to support the sheet feeding frame 22 by abutting against the bottom surface thereof.

In the rear portion 1e of the bottom frame cover 1, the inner wall portion 1b is formed so as to rise from the bottom portion 1d, and the outer wall portion 1a and the inner wall portion 1b are formed substantially in parallel, so that the mold can be easily removed. Has become. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, in the back surface 1e, the base end side of the outer wall 1a is connected to the outer surface of the inner wall 1b, and the space 1c surrounded by the outer wall 1a and the inner wall 1b has a substantially bag shape. Is formed.

As a result, in the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment, the rear wall adjacent to the power supply unit 3 has a double structure, so that the strength of the apparatus main body is improved, and the outer wall 1a and the inner wall 1b are provided. There is a sufficient distance between each end side of the power supply unit 3 and the power supply unit 3. For example, it is difficult to lift the sheet feeding frame 22 and insert a hand into the inside of the apparatus through a gap between the back surface 1 e, and it is safer than before to prevent an electric shock. Mechanism.

Further, even if a foreign matter such as a clip or a stapler core enters the gap between the sheet feeding frame 22 and the rear surface 1e from the rear side of the apparatus, the foreign material is not in contact with the outer wall 1a. Since it enters the substantially bag-shaped space 1c surrounded by the inner wall 1b, the inner wall 1b becomes a protective wall,
The short circuit caused by the foreign matter entering the power supply unit 3 is effectively prevented. In particular, since the space 1c has a substantially bag shape, short-circuiting due to intrusion of a liquid such as water is effectively prevented.

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment, the power supply unit 3 is disposed while the power supply unit 3 is disposed in the dead space below the sheet feeding unit C on which sheets are stacked in an inclined manner. The bottom part and the back part of the device body to be integrated are integrated into a double wall structure on the back part, and a substantially bag-shaped space capable of accommodating foreign substances is provided. It is possible to improve the safety quality of the device while securing sufficient strength of the device body near the power supply unit 3 without increasing the size of the device, adding new members and increasing the cost of the device body. Become.

In the above-described embodiment, the image forming means for forming an image on a sheet is of an ink jet type. However, an electrophotographic type (laser beam type) using toner, or an ink sheet and a thermal head Of course, it may be constituted by a thermal transfer method or the like which uses the above method.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, the cost can be reduced while preventing an increase in the installation area of the apparatus, securing basic functions such as shielding of the power supply unit and entry of foreign matter, and the like. It is possible to provide a sheet feeding apparatus having the above-described apparatus main body and an image forming apparatus having the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the facsimile apparatus with a document discharge tray closed.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the facsimile apparatus with a document discharge tray opened.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an opening / closing operation, a state, and the like of each part of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram for explaining a control system of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a conventional facsimile apparatus as an image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Document reading section B Recording section C Sheet feeding section D Operation section E Peripheral computer F Main unit 1 Bottom frame cover 1a Outer wall section 1b Inner wall section 1c Bag section 1d Bottom section 1e Back section 1f, 1g, 1h Wall section 2 Control board 2a control unit 2c NCU (transmitting unit, receiving unit) 201 modem 202 CPU 203 ROM 204 RAM 205 line memory 206 encoding / decoding unit 207 memory buffer 208 input / output switching interface 209 printer interface 3 power supply unit 4 operation panel 4a dial Key 4b Display unit 5 Operation panel control board 6 Document 7 Document tray 8 Document table 9a, 9b Document width regulating plate 10 Preliminary conveyance roller 11 Preliminary conveyance plate 12 Friction piece 13a Feed roller 13b Auxiliary roller 14 Document conveyance guide 15 Contact sensor ( image 15a Contact sensor mounting plate 16 Reading reference plate 17a Discharge roller 17b Auxiliary roller 18 Document discharge tray 20 Sheet 21 Upper cover 22 Paper feed frame 23 Sheet auxiliary tray 24 Sheet side guide 25 Pressure plate 26 Feeding roller 27 Sheet presser 28 LF Roller 29 Recording cartridge 30 Platen plate 31a Discharge roller 31b Spur roller 32 Sheet discharge tray

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus body as an exterior member, a sheet loading table supported by the apparatus body and loading sheets, and sheet feeding means for feeding sheets loaded on the sheet loading table one by one. A power supply unit disposed in the apparatus main body below the sheet stacking table, wherein the apparatus main body is formed with a support portion for supporting the sheet stacking table rising from a bottom surface portion, and the support portion is formed. A sheet feeding device comprising: an outer wall portion abutting on a supported surface of the sheet stacking table; and an inner wall portion formed substantially parallel to the outer wall portion. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall portion of the support portion in the device main body abuts on a supported surface of the sheet stacking table. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion of the apparatus main body has a substantially bag-shaped space formed by the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion. 4. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is disposed in a space surrounded by the sheet stacking table, the bottom surface of the apparatus main body, and the inner wall. 2. The sheet feeding device according to 1. 5. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stacking table is inclined such that a leading end of the stacked sheets is directed downward. 6. A sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit disposed in the apparatus main body, the image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed by the sheet feeding apparatus. An image forming apparatus comprising: 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising an image reading unit that is disposed in the apparatus main body and reads an image of a document. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an interface unit for transmitting information of the image of the document read by the image reading unit to an external device. 9. A transmitting unit for transmitting information of an image of a document read by the image reading unit to another device via a communication line; and transmitting the image information of the document read by the image reading unit to the interface unit. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a switching unit that supplies the signal to any one of the transmission unit. 10. A transmitting means for transmitting image information of a document read by the image reading means to another device via a communication line, and receiving image information transmitted from the other device via the communication line. A receiving unit, wherein the sheet feeding device and the image forming unit perform a facsimile receiving operation of forming an image on a sheet based on information of the image received by the receiving unit. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sheet feeding device and the image forming unit perform a copying operation for forming an image of a document read by the image reading unit on a sheet. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a switching control unit configured to perform switching control between the facsimile receiving operation and the copying operation for the operations of the sheet feeding device and the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus as described in the above.