JP2004277046A - Paper feeding device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily correspond to change of a setting position between types of machines by simple operation and obtain the common property between types of machines to contribute to the reduction of cost. <P>SOLUTION: This paper feeding device is constituted in such a way that four steps are vertically arranged in a condition in which they cross a paper feeding passage C extending substantially vertically substantially orthogonally, and a guide member 58 which is an another member is attached to an upper face of a conveyance guide part 51 of a paper feeding device 23c at the third step by snap fitting connection or fixing by a screw when a clearance occurs between a paper feeding device at the second step and the paper feeding device at the third step to bury the clearance in order to prevent the reduction of conveyance property of paper P in the paper feeding passage C. In this paper feeding device, a guide member which is an another member can be attached to a lower face of the conveyance guide part 51 and is selectively attached in accordance with situation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, a plotter, and the like, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding device in multiple stages (laminated state).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In this type of image forming apparatus, a plurality of paper feeders accommodating, for example, sheets (sheet-shaped recording media) of different sizes are provided inside the image forming apparatus main body, so that an operator can designate a sheet of an arbitrary size. ing.
In order to reduce the size of the image forming apparatus, for example, these paper feeders are arranged in multiple stages (stacked state) so as to be substantially orthogonal to one paper transport path extending substantially vertically. The paper fed from the paper device is guided to the transport path and heads to the printing unit.
The sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding tray as a recording medium storage unit that stores and stacks sheets of paper, a feeding unit that separates and feeds sheet-shaped recording media stored in the sheet feeding tray one by one, The image forming apparatus has a conveyance guide unit for guiding the recording medium, and is also called a sheet feeding unit, and can be arbitrarily attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-740 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-5-178474
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the image forming apparatus having the multi-stage arrangement of the paper feed units (paper feed devices) as described above, the distance between the paper feed units, that is, the vertical space between the paper feed units varies depending on the model of the image forming apparatus. In that case, the design of the paper feeding unit had to be changed and rebuilt.
If there is a gap (gap) between the paper feeding units, the leading edge of the paper may enter the gap and cause a conveyance jam.
A slight change in the distance between the paper feed units made it impossible to deploy to other models, and the commonity (compatibility) of the paper feed units between the models was lost.
When the distance between the paper feeding units is considerably large, the relay conveyance guide plate is arranged between the paper feeding units and assembled to the image forming apparatus main body. When the distance between the paper feeding units is large, the relay conveyance guide plate can cope with this. However, when the relay width (distance between the paper feeding units) is as narrow as about 10 mm or less, the relay conveyance guide plate is used for delivery. Since the layout restrictions such as the rake shape become very strict, the relay conveyance guide plate could not cope with it, and the paper feed unit had to be redesigned.
[0005]
The present invention provides a paper feeder that can easily respond to a change in setting position between models by a simple operation, can obtain commonality between models and contribute to cost reduction, and an image having the paper feeder. The aim is to provide a forming device.
[0006]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a recording medium accommodating section for stacking and accommodating sheet-shaped recording media and a sheet-shaped recording medium accommodated in the recording medium accommodating section are separated one by one. It has a feeding means for feeding, and a conveyance guide portion for guiding the sheet-shaped recording medium, is disposed in a state substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium, and is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body. The sheet feeding device provided has a configuration in which the transport guide section can arbitrarily extend the length in the front-rear direction in the transport direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first aspect, the transport guide is extended by attaching a detachable guide member to the transport guide. Has been adopted.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the second aspect, the guide member of the separate member is arbitrarily arranged on either the front side or the rear side of the transport guide portion in the transport direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium. It has a configuration that can be selected and attached.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus in which a plurality of paper feeders are arranged in multiple stages in a state substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium, the paper feeders may be any of the first to third aspects. 3 is a sheet feeding device described in any one of 3.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, an outline of the configuration of the image forming apparatus (copier) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, an image forming section 100 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 10, and a photoreceptor drum 11 as an image carrier is provided in the image forming section 100. Around the photosensitive drum 11, a charging device 12, a developing device 13, a transfer / transport device 14, a cleaning device 15, and the like are arranged in this order in a clockwise direction.
A laser writing device 16 is provided on the image forming unit 100. Although not shown, the laser writing device 16 is provided with a light source such as a laser diode, a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) for scanning, a polygon motor, and a scanning optical system such as an fθ lens and a mirror.
[0011]
A fixing device 17 is provided on the left side of the cleaning device 15 in the drawing. The fixing device 17 is provided with a fixing roller 18 having a built-in heater, and a pressure roller 19 pressed against the fixing roller 18.
In the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 10, a double-sided unit 22 and four-stage paper feeders 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d are vertically multi-tiered in a state substantially perpendicular to the paper feed path C (laminated state). It is prepared for. Each of the paper feed trays 23a-1, 23b-1, 23c-1, and 23d-1 of each of the paper feed devices 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d stores a sheet or a sheet-shaped recording medium such as an OHP sheet.
The sheet-shaped recording medium extends substantially vertically from the duplex unit 22 through the re-feeding path A, and from each of the sheet feeding devices 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d through the supply path B, and goes down to below the photosensitive drum 11. To a common paper feed path (transport path) C extending therefrom. The duplex unit 22 has a reversing path E that branches from the middle of a sheet discharging path D extending from the exit of the fixing device 17.
[0012]
A contact glass 26 is provided on the image reading section 24 on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 10. An automatic document feeder (ADF) 27 is provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 10 so as to open and close so as to cover the contact glass 26. An image reading device 200 is configured by the automatic document feeder 27 and the optical reading device 20.
On the right side of the image forming apparatus main body 10, a manual feed tray 28 for guiding manual paper to the paper feed path C is provided so as to be freely opened and closed. A large-volume paper feeding device 30 externally attached to the image forming apparatus main body 19 is provided, and a large number of papers are stacked therein and provided so as to be movable up and down.
On the left side of the image forming apparatus main body 10, a sheet post-processing device 31 external to the image forming apparatus main body 10 is installed. The paper discharged through the paper discharge path D is received by the paper post-processing device 31 and discharged as it is onto the upper tray 32, or after being subjected to post-processing such as binding processing and punching, the upper tray 32. Alternatively, it is discharged onto the lower tray 33.
[0013]
A copy operation by the image forming apparatus will be described. A document is set on the automatic document feeder 27, or the document is set directly on the contact glass 26 by opening the automatic document feeder 27.
When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, the automatic document feeder 27 is driven to drive the original conveyed onto the contact glass 26 of the image reading section 24, or when the original is set on the contact glass 26 in advance, the set original is read.
At the same time, appropriate paper feed rollers 34 of the paper feed devices 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d rotate, and paper feed trays 23a-1, 23b-1, and 23c-1 provided in multiple stages in the image forming apparatus main body 10. , 23d-1 are fed out of the corresponding paper feed tray. The sheet is guided to a sheet feeding path C via a supply path B, and is conveyed by a conveying roller pair 35 toward a registration roller pair 36. The sheet is temporarily stopped by the pair of registration rollers 36 to correct the skew, and then conveyed by the pair of registration rollers 36 below the photosensitive drum 11 (transfer site) of the image forming unit 100 at a predetermined timing.
[0014]
Alternatively, the paper feed roller 37 rotates to feed out the paper from inside the large-volume paper feeder 30. The sheet is guided to a paper feed path C via a transport path F, and is transported by a transport roller pair 35 toward a registration roller pair 36. After the paper is temporarily stopped by the pair of registration rollers 36 to correct the oblique displacement, the sheet is conveyed below the photosensitive drum 11 of the image forming unit 100 at a predetermined timing by the pair of registration rollers 36. Alternatively, the paper feed roller 38 in the manual paper feed unit rotates, and the paper for manual feed set on the opened manual feed tray 28 is guided to the paper feed path C, and is conveyed toward the registration roller pair 36. After the paper is temporarily stopped by the pair of registration rollers 36 to correct the oblique displacement, the sheet is conveyed below the photosensitive drum 11 of the image forming unit 100 at a predetermined timing by the pair of registration rollers 36.
[0015]
When a start switch (not shown) is pressed, the photosensitive drum 11 of the image forming unit 100 rotates clockwise in FIG. With the rotation of the photoconductor drum 11, the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 is first uniformly charged by the charging device 12, and then the laser beam is emitted by irradiating a laser beam according to the read content read by the above-described optical reading device 20. Writing is performed by the writing device 16, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. Thereafter, toner is adhered by the developing device 13, and the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image.
As described above, the toner image is transferred by the transfer / transport device 14 to the sheet fed below the photosensitive drum 11. After the image transfer, the photosensitive drum 11 is cleaned of the surface by removing the residual toner by the cleaning device 15, and is prepared for the next similar image formation.
[0016]
On the other hand, the sheet after image transfer is conveyed by the transfer / conveyance device 14 and enters the fixing device 17. The paper is heated and pressed by the fixing roller 18 and the pressure roller 19 to fix the transferred image. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged to the sheet post-processing device 31 via the sheet discharge path D.
When an image is formed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is guided to the reversing path E from the middle of the sheet discharge path D, is reversed by the duplex unit 22, and is fed again. After the transfer / transport device 14 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 11 also separately formed on the back surface of the sheet, the transferred image is fixed by the fixing device 17 and discharged to the sheet post-processing device 31.
[0017]
As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the sheet feeding devices 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d has a sheet feeding tray 23d-1 and a sheet feeding tray 23d-1. The feeding unit 50 includes a feeding unit 50 that separates and feeds the stored sheets P one by one, and a conveyance guide unit 51 that guides the sheets P. The feeding means 50 has a paper feed roller 34, separation rollers 52 and 53 as separation means, and conveyance rollers 35a and 54.
The other transport roller 35 b of the transport roller pair 35 is provided on a substantially vertically extending frame 55 fixed to the image forming apparatus main body 10. Since the distance between the uppermost sheet feeding device 23a and the second-stage sheet feeding device 23b is large, the relay conveyance guide plate 8 is provided.
As shown in FIG. 5, the transport guide 51 has a housing shape including the feeding unit 50, and has a guide surface 51 a on a side facing the frame 55. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 56 denotes a rotation shaft of the transport roller 35a, and reference numeral 57 denotes a sheet discharge port.
[0018]
When the sheet is set in the image forming apparatus main body 10 and there is an interval between the second-stage sheet feeding device 23b and the third-stage sheet feeding device 23c, as shown in FIG. A separate guide member 58 is attached to the upper surface 51b of the transport guide section 51 of the paper device 23c. The guide member 58 as a separate member is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin, and is detachably attached to the upper surface 51b of the transport guide portion 51 by snap-fit coupling or screw fixing, although not shown.
FIG. 2 shows a state in which the sheet feeding device 23c to which the separate guide member 58 is attached is set in the image forming apparatus main body 10. The gap between the second-stage paper feeder 23b and the third-stage paper feeder 23c is filled by a separate guide member 58 indicated by hatching for clarity, and the paper P can pass through the paper feed path C favorably. Conveyed.
[0019]
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the present embodiment, measures to be taken when a gap exists between the third-stage paper feeder 23c and the lowermost-stage paper feeder 23d are shown.
In such a case, as shown in FIG. 6, another guide member 60 is attached to the lower surface 51c of the transport guide portion 51 of the third-stage paper feeder 23c. The guide member 60 as a separate member is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin, and is detachably attached to the upper surface 51c of the transport guide portion 51 by snap-fit connection or screw fixing (not shown).
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the sheet feeding device 23c to which the separate guide member 60 is attached is set in the image forming apparatus main body 10. The gap between the third-stage paper feeder 23c and the lowermost-stage paper feeder 23d is filled by the separate guide member 60 indicated by hatching for easy understanding, and the paper P is conveyed favorably through the paper feed path C. Is done.
[0020]
In the above embodiments, the guide members 58 and 60 as separate members are attached to the transport guide portion 51 of the third-stage paper feed device 23c. However, in any of the paper feed devices 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d. Guide members 58 and 60, which are separate members, can be selectively attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the transport guide section 51, and a separate guide member is attached each time in response to structural changes in the model. The user selects a device and selects one of the upper and lower surfaces of the transport guide unit 51.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the shape of a separate guide member 58 attached to the upper surface of the transport guide portion 51 and a different guide member 60 attached to the lower surface are different, but the transportability of the paper P is not impaired. May have the same shape.
If a plurality of different guide members 58 and 60 having different heights are prepared, fine adjustment can be made for any model.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a recording medium accommodating portion for stacking and accommodating sheet-shaped recording media, and a feeding means for separating and feeding the sheet-shaped recording media accommodated in the recording medium accommodating portion one by one And a conveyance guide portion for guiding the sheet-shaped recording medium, and disposed in a state substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium, and provided detachably with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. Since the transport guide section is configured so that the length in the front-rear direction in the transport direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium can be arbitrarily extended, the space between the sheet feeding devices disposed substantially at right angles to the transport direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium is provided. Even if a change occurs, the gap can be filled with a simple configuration without changing the structure of the paper feeder as a whole, and good transportability can be obtained. Can respond.
[0022]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the first aspect, the transport guide is extended by attaching a detachable guide member to the transport guide. Therefore, even if a change in the spacing occurs between the paper feeding devices arranged at substantially right angles to the transport direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium, the gap can be removed by a simple attaching / detaching operation without changing the overall structure of the paper feeding device. It is possible to fill the space and obtain good transportability, and it is possible to cope with a model change at a low cost for common use.
[0023]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper feeder according to the second aspect, the guide member of the separate member is provided on one of the front side and the rear side in the transport direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium of the transport guide portion. Since the configuration can be arbitrarily selected and attached, the degree of freedom of the interval correction for the model change can be improved.
[0024]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus in which a plurality of paper feeders are arranged in multiple stages in a state substantially orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium, Since the sheet feeding device described in any one of 1 to 3 is configured, a sheet feeding device common to other image forming apparatuses can be formed, and therefore, the manufacturing process, management and the like can be configured. The cost can be reduced, and the management can be facilitated by reducing the number of types of sheet feeding devices related to the setting of the sheet feeding device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a main part front view showing a state in which the interval between sheet feeding devices is corrected.
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a sheet feeding device arranged in multiple stages.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of one sheet feeding device.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of a sheet feeding device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a main part front view showing a state in which the interval between sheet feeding devices in the second embodiment is corrected.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Image Forming Apparatus Main Units 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d Paper Feeding Devices 23a-1, 23b-1, 23c-1, and 23d-1 Paper Feeding Tray 50 as Recording Medium Storage Unit Feeding Unit 51 Transport Guide Units 58 and 60 Separate guide member P Sheet as sheet-shaped recording medium

Claims (4)

A recording medium accommodating section for stacking and accommodating the sheet-shaped recording medium, a feeding means for separating and feeding the sheet-shaped recording medium accommodated in the recording medium accommodating section one by one, and a conveyance for guiding the sheet-shaped recording medium A sheet feeding device having a guide portion, disposed in a state substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium, and provided detachably with respect to the image forming apparatus main body;
A sheet feeding device, wherein the conveyance guide section can arbitrarily extend the length in the front-rear direction in the conveyance direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium. The paper feeding device according to claim 1,
A sheet feeding device, wherein the transport guide is extended by attaching a detachable guide member to the transport guide. The paper feeding device according to claim 2,
A sheet feeder, wherein the guide member of the separate member can be arbitrarily selected and attached to any one of a front side and a rear side in the conveyance direction of the sheet-shaped recording medium of the conveyance guide portion. In an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of paper feeding devices are arranged in multiple stages in a state substantially orthogonal to a conveying direction of a sheet-shaped recording medium,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the paper feeding device is the paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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