JP2002347956A - Paper feeder and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems in changing sheet sizes of a first sheet storage part 1 and a second sheet storage part 2, wherein the positions of four side fences in total, respective side fences 51 and 52 of the first sheet storage part 1 and respective side fences 53 and 54 of the second sheet storage part 2 are detached and changed according to the sheet sizes so that the positional changes of the side fences in changing the sheet sizes are troublesome and it takes a lot of times. SOLUTION: This paper feeder is provide with the first sheet storage part 1 for stacking a sheet bundle 6A, the second sheet storage part 2 for stacking the sheet bundle 6B, a transfer fence 23 collectively transferring the paper bundle 6B to the first sheet storage part 1, a paper feed means feeding the uppermost sheet 6 on the first sheet storage part 1, and a pair of side fences 4 and 5 as paper alignment members integrating a first sheet alignment member and a second sheet alignment member for simultaneously aligning the both side ends of the sheet bundle 6A and the both side ends of the sheet bundle 6B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feeder and an image forming apparatus having the paper feeder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Paper feeders used in connection with an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a stencil printing machine include:
In order to eliminate dead space for small-sized paper and to facilitate replenishment and replenishment of paper, there is known a paper feeder as shown in FIG. JP-A-5-124737 and JP-A-5-221
536, JP-A-6-144600, JP-A-7-13
No. 7851 and JP-A-7-137852). The sheet feeding device shown in FIG. 8 includes a bottom plate 60 on which a first sheet bundle 6A including a plurality of first sheets 6 is stacked.
And a second sheet composed of a plurality of second sheets 6 disposed behind the first sheet storage unit 1 in the sheet feeding direction C with respect to the first sheet storage unit 1. A second sheet storage unit 2 having a loading table 25 for stacking the bundle 6B, and a transfer fence (not shown, for example, as a transfer member) serving as a transfer member for transferring the second sheet bundle 6B to the first sheet storage unit 1 in a lump 1 and 2) and a paper feeder (not shown, for example, see FIG. 4) for feeding the first sheet 6.

FIGS. 8 and 10 show a first paper storage unit 1.
As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of upper and lower side fences 51 in FIGS. 8 and 10 as a first sheet aligning member for aligning the side end surfaces of the plurality of first sheets 6 (or 7) in the first sheet bundle 6A. , 52 are provided. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the plurality of second sheets 6 in the second sheet bundle 6 </ b> B (or 7 </ b> B) are stored in the second sheet storage unit 2.
A pair of upper and lower side fences 53 and 54 are provided in FIGS. 8 and 10 as a second paper alignment member for aligning the side end surfaces of (or 7).

[0004] The bottom plate 60 is formed smaller than the first sheet storage section 1 and is formed at least larger than the sheet width of the maximum sheet size that can be stacked thereon. This is to prevent the occurrence of a feeding failure such as a non-feed or a double feed by maintaining a proper sheet posture at both end portions in the sheet width direction of the first sheet during feeding. In order to simplify and represent that the bottom plate 60 is formed smaller than the first sheet storage section 1, in FIGS. . It should be noted here that the same applies to the bottom plate 24 of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing an embodiment to be described later. Each side fence 51, 52 is usually provided with a bottom plate 60.
Is placed on top. Each side fence 53, 54
Usually, it is arranged on the loading table 25.

[0005] Similarly to the bottom plate 60, the loading table 25 is formed smaller than the second sheet accommodating section 2, and is formed at least larger than the sheet width of the maximum sheet size that can be stacked thereon. In order to simply represent that the loading table 25 is formed smaller than the second sheet storage section 2, the second sheet is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 including FIGS. It is indicated by reference numeral 25 in parentheses near the reference numeral of the storage unit 2. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 3 denotes a paper feed tray having a first paper storage unit 1, a second paper storage unit 2, the above-described transfer unit, and the like.

Each of the side fences 5 includes an embodiment to be described later with reference to FIGS.
1, 52, 53, 54, the side fences 4, 5 and the components related thereto are illustrated in order to facilitate understanding.
3, 54 and the like are enlarged and exaggerated. Similarly, the size of the paper size, for ease of understanding,
The vertical and horizontal ratios are represented in a simplified manner.

The side fences 51 and 52 in the first sheet storage section 1 have a function of positioning the side end faces of the plurality of first sheets in the first sheet bundle in the sheet width direction. . As shown in FIG. 6 of JP-A-11-240630, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 of JP-A-11-240630, a pair of L-shaped back fences (15, 16)
Some are assembled so as to be swingable about the fulcrum shaft (14). And each side fence 51,
Reference numeral 52 denotes a pair of back fences (15, 16) according to the paper size, as shown in FIG.
At the same time, it is movable in the sheet width direction by moving means (not shown).

The side fences 53 and 54 in the second sheet storage section 2 have a function of positioning the side end faces of the plurality of second sheets 6 in the second sheet bundle 6B in the sheet width direction. Things. Each side fence 5
3 and 54 are also movable in the sheet width direction by a moving means (not shown) according to the sheet size. As described above, for example, as described in JP-A-11-240630, in FIG. 8, the side fences 53 and 54 are connected to the paper feed tray 3 via screws or the like which can be easily removed. A plurality of female sides of the connecting portion are provided on the side of the paper feed tray 3 so as to correspond to the sheet size.

The first sheet storage section 1 is also provided with a lifting means (not shown) for moving the bottom plate 60 in a vertical direction while maintaining a substantially horizontal state. The position at which a plurality of first sheets (not shown) stacked on the bottom plate 60 can be fed by the feed roller (not shown, for example, see FIG. 4 or the like) of the feed means by the elevating means. And a bottom plate at a position where the second sheet bundle 6B (to be a first sheet bundle (not shown)), which is collectively transferred to the first sheet storage unit 1 by the transfer fence, can be loaded and stored. 60 can face each other. The so-called cantilever system is not limited to the elevating means, and stacks a relatively small-capacity sheet bundle of, for example, about 300 sheets of A4 size paper and raises and lowers only the front of the sheet bundle in contact with the paper feed roller. Some are provided with elevating means.

[0010] The first sheet storage section 1 and the second sheet storage section 2 are configured to perform so-called tandem sheet feeding. That is, in the paper feeding device, the bottom plate 60 of the first paper storage unit 1 and the loading table 25 of the second paper storage unit 2
This means that sheets of a relatively small size and of the same sheet size can be stacked, and for example, A4 (horizontal) size sheets 6
Can be loaded and accommodated in a total of about 2,000 sheets. When the feeding of the sheet (not shown) on the bottom plate 60 of the first sheet storage unit 1 is completed, the transfer fence is moved from left to right, that is, along the sheet feeding direction C by the operation of the transfer unit. Accordingly, the second sheet storage unit 2
The first sheet bundle 6B on the loading table 25 at the time is collectively transferred onto the bottom plate 60 of the first sheet storage unit 1, and then the first sheet storage unit is operated by the operation of the elevating means of the first sheet storage unit 1. The sheet conveyed onto the bottom plate 60 is fed by contacting the feed roller. Such a sheet feeding operation by the sheet feeding method is commonly called tandem sheet feeding.

[0011]

However, in a paper feeder having a pair of side fences 51 and 52 and side fences 53 and 54 shown in FIG.
For example, when changing the paper size of the first paper storage unit 1 and the second paper storage unit 2 in a case such as performing tandem paper feeding, the side fences 51 and 5 of the first paper storage unit 1 are changed.
2 and the side fences 53 and 5 of the second paper storage unit 2
4, the positions of the four side fences had to be changed at the same time according to the paper size, for example, by removing the side fences. This makes it difficult to change the position of the side fence when changing the paper size, and
It took time.

Thus, in the conventional paper feed tray 3, when the paper size of the first paper storage unit 1 and the second paper storage unit 2 is changed, each of the side fences 51, 52, 53, and 5 is changed.
By changing the positions of the sheet Nos. 4 and 4 separately and separately, there is a possibility that the sheet size to be changed may be changed to the position of the wrong sheet size.

That is, in a paper feeder having side fences 51, 52, 53, and 54 as shown in FIG. 8, for example, as shown in FIG. Storage unit 1 and second paper storage unit 2
When the paper size of the first paper storage unit 1 is changed to A4 size paper 6, the position of each side fence 51, 52 of the first paper storage unit 1 is changed to the position of B5 size, and each side fence 53, 54 of the second paper storage unit 2 When the position is changed to the position of A4 size, when the second sheet bundle 6B of A4 size in the second sheet storage unit 2 is transferred by the transfer fence, the front end face of the second sheet bundle 6B is Each side fence 5
The second sheet bundle 6 </ b> B cannot be transferred from the second sheet storage unit 2 to the first sheet storage unit 1 due to the collision with the rear ends of the first and second sheets 52.

As shown in FIG. 10, when changing the paper size of the first paper storage unit 1 and the second paper storage unit 2 to B5 size paper 6 in the case of performing tandem paper feeding, etc. Each side fence 51, 52 of one sheet storage unit 1
Is changed to the position of the A4 size, and the positions of the side fences 53 and 54 of the second paper storage unit 2 are changed to the position of the B5 size.
The second sheet bundle 6 </ b> B having the size
Although the sheet can be transported to the sheet storage unit 1, the side fences 51 and 52 of the first sheet storage unit 1 are too wide, so that both end surfaces of the second sheet bundle 6 </ b> B cannot be aligned. Are transported in a state where skew has occurred, which may cause skew during paper feeding.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned problems. More specifically, a first object of the present invention is to change the paper size of the first paper storage unit 1 and the second paper storage unit 2 in, for example, a case where tandem paper feeding is performed or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeder and an image forming apparatus capable of simultaneously improving the operability by changing the positions of the sheet feeders. The second purpose is the first
By changing the position of each side fence of the paper storage unit 1 and the position of each side fence of the second paper storage unit 2 separately and separately, there is no problem such as inability to transport or skew paper feeding failure. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved sheet feeder and an improved image forming apparatus.

[0016]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the above object, the invention described in each claim employs the following characteristic means and configurations. According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first sheet storage portion for stacking a plurality of first sheets, and a plurality of first sheet storage portions disposed rearward of the first sheet storage portion in the sheet feeding direction. A second sheet storage unit for loading the second sheet, a transfer unit that collectively transfers the second sheet to the first sheet storage unit, a sheet feeding unit that feeds the first sheet, and a first sheet First for aligning the side end faces of
And a second sheet aligning member for aligning the side edges of the second sheet, the side edges of the first sheet and the side edges of the second sheet are simultaneously aligned. A sheet aligning member for integrating the first sheet aligning member and the second sheet aligning member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder of the first aspect, the paper alignment member is movable in a paper width direction according to a paper size.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the second aspect, the sheet aligning member has a base end pivotally supported by the second sheet accommodating portion and a free end swingably. In addition, it is characterized in that it can be locked at a position corresponding to the sheet size.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the third aspect, the sheet aligning member is formed of a substantially flat member extending from the second sheet accommodating section to the first sheet accommodating section. The free end is bent outside the width of the first sheet at a predetermined angle so as to align the side end faces of the small-sized first sheet.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
The paper feeder according to any one of the above, further comprising a paper feed tray for loading the first paper, and elevating means for raising and lowering the paper feed tray, wherein the paper feed tray is provided with the paper alignment member. Characterized by having an escape for letting out.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having an image forming means for forming an image on a fed sheet, comprising the sheet feeding device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. It is characterized by the following.

The image forming apparatus includes a copier including an exposure device, a charging device, an image carrier (photoreceptor, an intermediate transfer member), a developing device, a transfer device, and the like, which constitute image forming means.
In addition to a printer, etc., a stencil printing machine including a plate cylinder and pressing means such as a press roller or an impression cylinder for pressing a sheet onto a plate-making master on the plate cylinder, a printing apparatus including an offset printing machine, etc. Is also included. As a specific example of the copying machine in the image forming apparatus, for example,
No. 7851 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-137852 are provided with the same image forming means as disclosed in JP-A-7-137852. As a specific example of the stencil printing machine of the above image forming apparatuses, there is one having the same image forming means as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-5-229243.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention including embodiments (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiments") will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the above-described prior art examples and the respective embodiments, components having the same function, shape, and the like, such as members and components, are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the drawings, components that are configured as a pair and do not need to be specifically distinguished and described will be replaced with the description by appropriately describing one of them in order to simplify the description. For the sake of simplicity of the drawings and description, components that do not need to be particularly described in the drawings may be omitted without omission, even if they are components to be shown in the drawings.

An embodiment of an image forming apparatus provided with a paper feeder to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. First, an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 26 denotes an image forming apparatus including an image forming means for forming an image on a fed sheet. Below the image forming apparatus 26, a paper feeder 14 for feeding paper to the image forming apparatus 26 is arranged.

Image forming apparatus 26 provided with paper feeder 14
Is compared with an image forming apparatus provided with the conventional sheet feeder shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 (for example, see JP-A-7-137851 and JP-A-7-137852).
Instead of the side fences 51 and 52 of the first sheet storage unit 1 and the side fences 53 and 54 of the second sheet storage unit 2, a side end surface of the first sheet and a side end surface of the second sheet are simultaneously aligned. 4, having side fences 4 and 5 as sheet aligning members disposed on the front side and the back side of the sheet of FIG. 4 in which the first sheet aligning member and the second sheet aligning member are integrated; Accordingly, the main difference is that a bottom plate 24 is provided instead of the bottom plate 60.

The paper feeder 14 is substantially the same as the conventional paper feeder shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 except for the configuration around the pair of side fences 4 and 5 and the bottom plate 24 described above. For example, in order to eliminate dead space for small-sized paper such as B5 or A4 size and to facilitate paper replenishment, as shown in FIG. The following configuration is provided inside the paper feed tray 3 that can be stored side by side. That is, inside the paper feed tray 3, a plurality of first
A first sheet storage unit 1 having a bottom plate 24 on which a first sheet bundle 6A (hereinafter, simply referred to as “sheet bundle 6A”) composed of the sheets 6 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “sheet 6”) is provided;
The above-described second sheet storage unit 2 and a plurality of second sheets 6
A second sheet bundle 6B (hereinafter, simply referred to as “sheet bundle 6B”) constituted by the first sheet bundle (hereinafter, simply referred to as “sheet bundle 6B”) is referred to as a first sheet bundle.
A transfer unit (not shown) having the above-described transfer fence 23 for transferring the sheet to the sheet storage unit 1 in a lump, and the above-described elevating unit (not shown) for raising and lowering the bottom plate 24 of the first sheet storage unit 1. Each sheet bundle 6A, 6B on the back side of the paper surface in FIG.
4 and a side fence 5 (FIG. 4) as a sheet aligning member for simultaneously aligning the side end faces of the sheet bundles 6A and 6B on the front side of the sheet in FIG. 4 are omitted, and are shown in parentheses).

Each of the sheet bundles 6A and 6B on the bottom plate 24 of the first sheet container 1 and on the loading table 25 of the second sheet container 2 is
For convenience of explanation, the reference numerals are changed for distinction, but, for example, sheets 6 of the same sheet size A4 are stacked.

The paper feed tray 3 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body of the paper feed device 14, and when the user supplies and sets sheets, the paper feed tray 3 is moved from the apparatus main body in FIG. Pull out to the front of the paper to supply paper
Perform the set. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 3a denotes a paper feed front wall for abutting and aligning the front end faces of the paper bundle 6A stacked and stored on the bottom plate 24 of the first paper storage unit 1. The sheet bundle 6A stacked on the bottom plate 24 is fed in the sheet feeding direction C by contacting the uppermost sheet 6 above the sheet stacking unit 6A mounted on the bottom plate 24 above the first sheet storage unit 1 mounted and set in the apparatus main body. Paper feed roller 1
5 and a sheet feeding means including a pair of separation rollers 16 for separating and feeding the sheet 6 fed one by one, and provided downstream of the sheet conveyance path in the pair of separation rollers 16. A transport roller pair 17 for transporting the paper 6 fed by the paper feeding means toward the image forming apparatus 26 is provided. The sheet 6 is fed to the image forming apparatus 26 one by one sequentially from the uppermost sheet 6 of the sheet bundle 6A stacked on the bottom plate 24 by such a well-known sheet feeding unit and the conveying roller pair 17. It is going to be done. The sheet feeding means is not limited to the above-described one, and may be a member including a separation roller and a separation pad pressed against the separation roller in place of the separation roller pair 16.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 28 denotes an upper limit detection sensor.
Is controlled so as to always maintain a constant paper feeding height. Reference numeral 18 denotes a paper end sensor, which detects the presence or absence of the sheet 6 stacked on the bottom plate 24. Reference numeral 27 denotes a lower limit detection sensor that detects a lower limit position of the bottom plate 24.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a paper end sensor.
The presence or absence of the paper 6 loaded on the loading table 25 is detected. Reference numeral 20 denotes a home position sensor for detecting an initial stop position of the transfer fence 23. Reference numeral 21,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a remaining amount detection sensor for detecting the remaining amount of the sheet bundle 6B loaded on the loading table 25. In the example of the present embodiment, two sensors are provided, as shown in FIG. 3
The remaining amount of the stage is detected. Paper end sensor 19
Each of the remaining amount detection sensors 21 and 22 is, for example, a reflection type photo sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

In FIG. 5, when the sheet bundle 6B stacked on the stacking table 25 is stacked and stored up to the height indicated by the reference numeral 6-1, the paper end sensor 19 (ON) and the remaining amount detection sensor 21 (OFF). ), The sheet bundle 6B is denoted by reference numeral 6-2.
5, the paper end sensor 19 (ON), the remaining amount detecting sensor 21 (ON), and the remaining amount detecting sensor 22 (OFF) indicate that When the paper is loaded and stored up to the height of the upper surface, the paper end sensor 19 (ON) and the remaining amount detection sensors 21,
22 (both are on), three levels of remaining amount detection can be performed.

When the sheet bundle 6B on the stacking table 25 is transferred collectively onto the bottom plate 24 of the first sheet storage unit 1, the upper surface of the bottom plate 24 occupying the lower limit position in the first sheet storage unit 1 is set. The lower limit position of the bottom plate 24 is set in advance so that the bottom plate 24 is in a substantially horizontal state at the same height as the upper surface of the loading table 25 in the second paper storage unit 2.

The transfer means includes a transfer fence 23 which is movable in the sheet feeding direction C by contacting the rear end face of the sheet bundle 6B.
A pair of guide shafts (not shown) as transfer member guiding means for guiding the transfer fence 23 to the vicinity of the second sheet storage unit 2; and a transfer member driving means (not shown) for moving the transfer fence 23. It is mainly composed of The transfer member driving means includes a stepping motor as a driving source, a driving pulley provided on an output shaft of the stepping motor, a plurality of driven pulleys, and a plurality of driven pulleys. It mainly comprises an endless timing belt that is stretched, and a connecting member that locks and connects the timing belt and the hanging base end of the transfer fence 23. The transfer fence 23 is a fixed end because its hanging base end is locked to the timing belt as described above.
The upper part has a cantilever structure with a free end.

Each of the side fences 4 and 5 is movable in a sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction C by the following simple configuration according to the sheet size. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, each side fence 4, 5 has a shaft 12, 13 on a loading table 25 in the second paper storage unit 2 at a base end thereof. Each free end is swingable, and can be locked at a position corresponding to the sheet size. The side fences 4 and 5 are not limited to the structures shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, and may be, for example, a sheet tray 3 in which the shafts 12 and 13 are loosely inserted through the loading table 25. It may be pivotally supported by being mounted on the bottom wall surface of the.

Each of the side fences 4 and 5 is integrally formed of a sheet metal or a synthetic resin having an appropriate insert. Each of the side fences 4 and 5 is formed of a substantially flat member extending from the second paper storage unit 2 to the first paper storage unit 1, and each free end has a small size paper 7.
The paper 7 is bent to the outside of the sheet width of the sheet 7 at a predetermined angle so as to align both end faces (for example, B5 size shown in FIG. 2). Each side fence 4,5,
As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the loading platform 25
They are provided in such a manner as to stand on the upper surface and penetrate and stand through the bottom plate 24.

On the other hand, the bottom plate 24 is formed smaller than the first sheet storage portion 1 for the same reason as described for the conventional bottom plate 60, and is at least larger than the sheet width of the maximum sheet size that can be stacked thereon. Is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, each side fence 4, 5 is provided on the bottom plate 24.
There are formed four cutouts 8, 9, 10, and 11 as escapes for letting escape according to the sheet size. Each of the outer cutouts 8 and 9 in the bottom plate 24 is provided with a corresponding one of the side fences 4 and 5.
A sheet bundle 6 of, for example, A4 size (horizontal) as shown in FIG.
A and 6B are provided for aligning both side end surfaces of each sheet 6, and the inner cutouts 10 and 11 in the bottom plate 24 are formed with side fences 4 and 5 of, for example, a B5 size (horizontal) as shown in FIG. 2. This is for aligning both end surfaces of each sheet 7 of the sheet bundles 7A and 7B. The bottom plate 24 has a necessary strength so that 1000 sheets of A4 size paper 6 can be loaded and raised. For this reason, the bottom plate 24 is, for example, a sheet metal material,
It is integrally formed of a synthetic resin having an appropriate insert, and necessary reinforcement (not shown) is made along the paper feeding direction C.

Next, a series of operations of the sheet feeding device 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. The operations described below are based on a control operation sequence according to a program or the like stored in a ROM (read-only storage device) or the like in a control device including a microcomputer (not shown) except for operations performed by a user. , Automatically performed by a command from a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

First, as shown in FIG. 6A, while the uppermost sheet 6 of the sheet bundle 6A on the bottom plate 24 in the first sheet accommodating section 1 is being fed, as shown in FIG. As shown, when the sheet bundle 6A runs out after the sheet 6 on the bottom plate 24 has been fed, the paper end sensor 18 detects that there is no sheet, and the elevating means operates to thereby activate the bottom plate 2.
4 descends to its lower limit position. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, A4
Sheet bundle 6A composed of 1000 sheets of paper 6 in size
Are stacked in a set state in which the rear end face is abutted against the sheet contact surface of the transfer fence 23 indicated by a two-dot chain line, that is, in an aligned stacking state.

When the lower limit detecting sensor 27 detects the lower limit of the bottom plate 24 and the bottom plate 24 moves down to the lower limit position, FIG.
7D, the transfer fence 23 is moved from left to right, that is, along the sheet feeding direction C by the operation of the transfer member driving unit, so that The sheet bundle 6 </ b> B on the loading table 25 is transferred and pushed into the bottom plate 24 of the first sheet storage unit 1 at a time.

As described above, when the sheet bundle 6B on the stacking table 25 is collectively transferred onto the bottom plate 24 of the first sheet storage unit 1, the bottom plate 24 occupying the lower limit position in the first sheet storage unit 1 is set. Of the loading table 2 in the second sheet storage unit 2
5, the sheet bundle 6B can be stably and reliably transferred to the first sheet storage unit 1 by the transfer fence 23.

When the pushing / transfer of the sheet bundle 6B into the first sheet accommodating section 1 is completed, as shown in FIG.
By the operation of the elevating unit in the sheet storage unit 1, the bottom plate 24 on which the sheet bundle 6B is loaded is raised to occupy the sheet supply position where the uppermost sheet 6 can be supplied, and at the same time, the transfer member driving unit By the operation opposite to the above, a transfer return operation in which the transfer fence 23 is transferred in the reverse sheet feeding direction D to the initial position is performed. On the other hand, the sheet bundle 6 on the bottom plate 24
When the uppermost sheet B contacts the paper feed roller 15 and the upper limit detection sensor 28 detects that the paper feed roller 15 is slightly lifted and occupies the paper feed position, the paper can be fed immediately. State.

The transfer fence 23 during the transfer operation
Is controlled by measuring and clocking a clock to a motor driver IC of a stepping motor (not shown) in the transfer member driving means by an internal counter of the CPU in the microcomputer.
That is, the transfer operation is continued from the start of transfer of the transfer fence 23 until the predetermined count is reached, and the transfer fence 23 is stopped when the internal counter counts the predetermined count. Then, the transfer operation is completed. In the stepping motor, since the step angle corresponding to the input clock is predetermined, accurate position control of the transfer fence 23 during transfer is enabled. The transfer return operation of the transfer fence 23 in the reverse sheet feeding direction D is such that the transfer fence 23 is returned and stopped at the initial position until the home position sensor 20 detects ON.

The paper feeding operation for feeding the paper 6 of the paper size A4 is completed, and then B5 smaller than the paper size A4
When a paper feeding operation for feeding paper 7 of a size is performed, the user performs an operation of changing the positions of the side fences 4 and 5 as described below. First, in a state where the bottom plate 24 is lowered to the lower limit position, in order for the user to adjust the position of the free end of each of the side fences 4 and 5 to the paper width of the B5 size paper 7, the figure is centered on each shaft 12 and 13. Swing in each direction shown in 2. As a result, the side fences 4 and 5 are loosely fitted into the inner cutouts 10 and 11 in the bottom plate 24, so that the side fences 4 and 5 can be locked at a position corresponding to the paper size B5 without hindering the elevating operation of the bottom plate 24. Is made.

In order to easily adjust the positions of the two free ends of the side fences 4 and 5 to the width of the B5 size paper 7, the bottom surface of the first paper storage unit 1 in the paper feed tray 3 is required. It is desirable to display the outline shape of the position of the paper size B5 and the position of the paper size A4 and the paper size on the upper surface of the wall.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when changing the paper size of the first paper storage unit 1 and the second paper storage unit 2 in the case of performing tandem paper feeding, for example, the side fences 4, 5 By simultaneously changing only the two positions, it is possible to easily change the positions of the side fences 4 and 5 according to the paper size, and to perform the position changing work easily and in a short time. As a result, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus that can improve operability. In addition, since the positions of the side fences of the first paper storage unit 1 and the positions of the side fences of the second paper storage unit 2 are not individually and separately changed as in the related art, it is impossible to transfer the paper. A paper feeder and an image forming apparatus free from problems such as skew paper feed failure can be provided. In addition, each notch 8, 9, 1
By having the bottom plate 24 formed with 0,11, any paper size (in the above embodiment, the paper size A4
(Horizontal) and sheets of paper size B5 (horizontal) can be stacked and a reliable paper feeding operation can be performed.

The notches 8, 9, 10, and 11 are connected to the bottom plate 2
If it is desired to avoid the reinforcement of the bottom plate 24 due to the formation of the sheet 4, or if it is not necessary to care much about the accuracy of aligning the sheet width and the sheet attitude at the time of sheet feeding, the following configuration can be adopted. That is, for example, paper sizes B5 and A4
40 mm (paper size B5: 182)
(Vertical) x 257 (horizontal), paper size A4: 210 (vertical)
× 297 (horizontal), each side edge is divided by 20 mm), and by adjusting the size of the bottom plate 24 to the paper size B5, the above notches 8, 9, 1
0 and 11 can be eliminated. By changing the size of the bottom plate 24 in this way, the side fences 4, 5
Can be configured in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

It should be noted that it is of course possible to configure so as to change paper sizes other than the above-described paper sizes.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment applied to the sheet feeding device 14 as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, and is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-240630 (Japanese Patent Application No. 10-199188). That is, a large-sized sheet (for example, a paper tray) is provided over a bottom plate (the right tray 1 in the above publication) of the first paper storage unit and a loading table (the left tray 2 in the above publication) of the second paper storage unit. A3 portrait) is loaded, the second
An interlocking means for raising and lowering the loading table (the left tray 2 in the above-mentioned publication) of the paper storage unit while maintaining the substantially horizontal state in conjunction with the raising operation of the bottom plate (the right tray 1 in the above-mentioned publication) of the first paper storage unit. The present invention can also be applied to a paper feeding device having a configuration provided with the above. In addition, the lower part of the image forming apparatus 26 as shown in FIG.
The present invention is not limited to the one having one paper feed tray 3 but can be applied to a multi-stage paper feeder, that is, a multi-stage paper feeder and an image forming apparatus having the same. It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the application to the image forming apparatus provided with the paper feeding device, but can also be applied to the paper feeding device itself as a moving unit for manufacturing and sales.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, a new sheet feeder and image forming apparatus are provided by solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional sheet feeding apparatus and the image forming apparatus having the same. A forming device can be provided. The effects of each claim are as follows. According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the first sheet aligning member and the second sheet aligning member for simultaneously aligning the side edge of the first sheet and the side edge of the second sheet are integrated. Paper alignment member
Since the side edge of the first sheet and the side edge of the second sheet can be simultaneously aligned in accordance with the sheet size, the position of the sheet alignment member can be easily changed according to the sheet size, and the position change operation can be performed. Can be performed easily and in a reduced time, thereby improving operability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sheet aligning member has a base end pivotally supported by the second sheet accommodating portion, a free end swingable, and a position corresponding to the sheet size. The position of the first paper alignment member in the first paper storage unit 1 and the position of the second paper alignment member in the second paper storage unit 2 are different from each other as in the related art. -Since it is not necessary to change them separately, in addition to the effects of the invention described in the second aspect, it is possible to prevent a transfer failure, a skew paper feeding problem, and the like.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the sheet aligning member is formed of a substantially flat plate member extending from the second sheet storing section to the first sheet storing section, and the free end has a small size. Since the first sheet is bent to the outside of the first sheet width at a predetermined angle so as to align the side end faces, the effect of the invention according to claim 3 can be achieved with a simple configuration.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feed tray on which the first paper is stacked, and elevating means for lifting and lowering the paper feed tray, wherein the paper feed tray is for releasing the paper alignment member. Since there is a clearance, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, sheets of any size can be loaded and loaded.
Ascending and reliable feeding operation can be performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having the sheet feeding device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. The effects of the invention are exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view of a main part around a sheet feeding tray and side fences in a sheet feeding apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and is a plane view when each side fence is adjusted to a sheet size A4 (horizontal). FIG.

FIG. 2 shows each side fence in FIG.
It is a top view of the principal part around a side fence when the position is changed according to 5 (horizontal).

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a bottom plate having four cutouts in the sheet feeding device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of a main part of the sheet feeder of FIG. 1 and an image forming apparatus having the same.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a main part illustrating an operation of detecting a remaining amount of paper by a remaining amount detection sensor of a second paper storage unit in FIG. 4;

6 (a) to 6 (c) are cross-sectional front views of main parts showing the operation of the sheet feeding device in FIG.

FIGS. 7 (d) and 7 (e) are cross-sectional front views of main parts showing a continuation of the operation of the sheet feeding device in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a main part around a sheet feeding tray and side fences in a conventional sheet feeding apparatus, where each side fence is adjusted to a sheet size A4 (horizontal).

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the sheet feeding device shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining a problem in a case where the timing has been adjusted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the side fences on the first sheet storage unit side are erroneously adjusted to the sheet size A4 (horizontal) when the sheet size is changed to the sheet size B5 (horizontal) in the sheet feeding device illustrated in FIG. It is a top view explaining a problem in the case.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st paper accommodation part 2 2nd paper accommodation part 3 paper feed tray 4, 5 A pair of side fences as a paper alignment member 6 paper of paper size A4 6A paper bundle of paper size A4 6B paper bundle of paper size A4 7 paper Sheet B of size B5 7A Sheet bundle of sheet size B5 7B Sheet bundle of sheet size B5 8, 9, 10, 11 Notch as relief 15 Sheet feeding roller constituting sheet feeding means 16 Separating roller pair constituting sheet feeding means 23 Transfer fence as a transfer member 24 Bottom plate as a paper feed table 25 Loading table 26 Image forming device C Paper feed direction D Reverse feed direction

Claims (6)

[Claims] A first sheet storage unit for stacking a plurality of first sheets, and a plurality of second sheets disposed rearward of the first sheet storage unit in a sheet feeding direction; Paper storage unit for loading paper, transfer means for collectively transferring the second paper to the first paper storage unit, paper supply means for feeding the first paper, and a side end surface of the first paper And a second sheet aligning member for aligning the side edges of the second sheet, wherein the side edge of the first sheet and the second sheet are aligned. A sheet aligning member that integrates a first sheet aligning member and a second sheet aligning member for simultaneously aligning side end surfaces of the sheet feeding device. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet alignment member is movable in a sheet width direction according to a sheet size. 3. The paper feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the paper alignment member has a base end pivotally supported by a second paper storage portion, a free end swingable, and a paper size. A sheet feeding device characterized in that it can be locked at a corresponding position. 4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 3, wherein the sheet aligning member is formed of a substantially flat member extending from the second sheet storing section to the first sheet storing section, and the free end portion is formed. A sheet feeding device characterized in that a small-sized first sheet is bent outward at a predetermined angle outside the first sheet width so as to align side end surfaces of the first sheet. 5. The paper feeder according to claim 1, further comprising a paper feed tray on which the first paper is loaded, and a lifting means for raising and lowering the paper feed tray. A paper feeder, characterized in that the paper stand has an escape for allowing the paper alignment member to escape. 6. An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming means for forming an image on a fed sheet, wherein the image forming apparatus includes the sheet feeding device according to claim 1. Forming equipment.