JPH0266046A - Paper supplier and picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable simple leaf paper and continuous paper to be used by providing a housing mounted to a picture forming device main unit and containing the continuous paper, means supplying the continuous paper, means measuring a supply amount of the continuous paper and a means cutting the before described continuous paper by an assigned length. CONSTITUTION:A continuous paper supplier 20 is provided with a housing 22 provided independently of a picture forming device main unit 10 and containing continuous paper 21 used being mounted to the device main unit 10, step motor 24 serving for both a feed means feeding the continuous paper 21 and a measuring means measuring a supply amount of the continuous paper and a paper cutting means 26 cutting the continuous paper 21 by an assigned length. Accordingly, the continuous paper supplier 20 enables the paper to be used by cutting it to the assigned length, further the device main unit 10, mounting a so-called paper feed cassette serving as the normal simple leaf paper supplier, is separated, and only by replacing the main unit 10 with the continuous paper supplier 20, it can be switched to use for simple leaf paper and the continuous paper 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a paper feeding device and an image forming device, and in particular, to an image forming device such as a facsimile machine, a copying device, a printer device, etc., and an image forming device used in the image forming device. The present invention relates to a paper supply device that supplies paper to be processed.

[Prior Art] Conventional image forming apparatuses of this type include image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines and printers that each contain a continuous sheet of paper, or copying machines and printers that take out a plurality of single sheets of paper from a built-in cassette. There are image forming apparatuses such as , facsimile machines, etc.

Further, examples of the paper supply device include a paper feed cassette that feeds single sheets of paper, and continuous paper that serves as a housing for the image forming apparatus itself.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional paper supply device and image forming device are configured as described above, the type of paper to be used is determined depending on the type of paper supply device that the image forming device has. The user cannot change the paper used by the image forming apparatus from single paper to continuous paper, or vice versa, from continuous paper to single paper.

Therefore, for example, if a user has purchased a facsimile machine that uses single paper, based on its usage status, the user often uses special slips and mainly transmits information on B5 paper size or about half the size of A4 paper. In this case, there is waste in using standardized single sheets. However, currently, it is not possible to change to using continuous paper without purchasing a new facsimile machine that uses single paper.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper supply device that allows the use of standardized single-sheet paper and continuous paper depending on the selection. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can use the standardized single sheets and continuous sheets according to their selection.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A paper supply device according to claim (1) includes a housing that is independent of an image forming apparatus main body and that accommodates continuous paper that is attached to the image forming apparatus main body and used, and The apparatus includes a feeding means for feeding paper, a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper, and a paper cutting means for cutting the continuous paper at a specified length.

A paper feeding device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the housing, a feeding means for feeding the continuous paper, and a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper.

In the paper feeding device according to claim (3), the feeding means for feeding the continuous paper and the measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper calculate the feeding amount based on a known feeding amount. By measuring, both methods can be used together.

A paper feeding device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes the housing and a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper.

The paper supply device according to claim (5) is independent of the image forming apparatus main body, and can be replaced with a single paper supply device that stores continuous paper and is used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body. The structure consists of a housing.

The paper feeding device according to claim (6) includes a single sheet feeding device that accommodates standardized single sheets of paper that is mounted on an image forming apparatus main body and used, and a continuous paper that is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and used. and a continuous paper supply device that accommodates the single paper supply device and the continuous paper supply device, and the single paper supply device and the continuous paper supply device are selectively attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the single paper supply device or the continuous paper supply device It is used to feed continuous paper to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[Function] The paper feeding device according to claim (1) includes a feeding means for feeding continuous paper to a housing that accommodates continuous paper that is attached to the main body of an image forming apparatus, a measuring means, and a paper cutting means. The continuous paper is cut to the specified length and supplied.

In the paper feeding device according to claim (2), a housing;
It is equipped with a feeding means and a measuring means, and supplies the continuous paper to the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In the paper feeding device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the feeding means and the measuring means measure the feeding amount based on a known feeding amount and simultaneously feed the paper.

The paper feeding device according to claim (4) feeds continuous paper from a housing having a structure that can be replaced with a single sheet feeding device that stores continuous paper and is used by being attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. , feeding and cutting are performed in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

The paper feeding device according to claim (5) feeds continuous paper from a housing having a structure that can be replaced with a single sheet feeding device that accommodates single sheets of continuous paper that is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus and used. , feeding, measuring, and cutting are performed in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

In the paper supply device of claim (6), the single paper supply device and the continuous paper supply device are selectively mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and single paper or continuous paper is fed to the image forming apparatus main body.

[Example] The present invention will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a part of a continuous paper supply device and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a part of a single sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a control block circuit diagram for controlling an image forming apparatus equipped with a continuous paper supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a control block circuit diagram for controlling an image forming apparatus equipped with a continuous paper supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart for controlling the image forming apparatus in the case of FIG.

In FIG. 2, the photosensitive drum 1 is connected to an image forming apparatus main body 10.
The outer skin of the photosensitive drum 1 has a photosensitive layer coated with, for example, a zinc oxide photosensitive layer. Around the photosensitive drum 1,
A charger 2 that uniformly charges the photosensitive layer and an optical writing unit 3 that guides light to the photosensitive drum 1 are provided. The optical writing unit 3 guides the LED element array or the original through an optical system as an optical signal, and the optical writing unit 3 performs image exposure to form an electrostatic image corresponding to the original image. .

The electrostatic image formed on the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 1 is developed with toner in a developing device 4 disposed around the photosensitive drum 1 adjacent to the optical writing unit 3 . That is, the developing device 4 contains toner therein, and has a sleeve and a magnetic roller disposed on the surface facing the photosensitive drum 1.
The sleeve and magnetic roller cause toner to adhere to the electrostatic image on the opposing developer 4. Next, the toner image is transferred onto the paper 6 at the position of the lowermost transfer discharger 5 along the circumference of the photosensitive drum 1. And photosensitive drum 1
A cleaner 7 is disposed near the charger 2 between the transfer discharger 5 and the charger 2 around the transfer discharger 5, and the cleaner 7 is used to prevent the transfer of particles that adhere to the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 1. The remaining toner is scraped off with the end of the cleaning blade, and the scraped off toner is stored in a box constituting the cleaner 7.

The single sheet feeding device 30 for the single sheets 31 is operated by a corner separator disposed at the corner of the feeding side, that is, the housing 3
2 is used to separate the sheet 31 and feed it to the photosensitive drum 1 side of the main body 10 of the image forming apparatus.
Single sheet 31 at the top of single sheets 31 stored in 2
, one single sheet of paper 31 is used as a transfer material for transferring the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 1, and
The paper feed roller 12 is guided by a paper feed guide 15 between the upper registration roller 13 and the lower registration roller 14, and the upper registration roller 1
- Synchronization with the photosensitive drum 1 is achieved by the roller 13 and the lower registration roller 14, and the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer discharger 5 are synchronized.
will be supplied between.

The image forming apparatus 10 equipped with the single sheet feeding device 30 configured as described above performs an image forming operation as follows.

First, the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged with the charger 2, and image exposure is performed using the optical writing unit 3, so that an electrostatic image corresponding to the original image is formed on the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 1. Next, the photosensitive drum 1 is developed with toner from a developing device 4 disposed around the photosensitive drum 1 to form a toner image. transferred on top. The remaining toner that has not been transferred adhering to the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 1 is removed by a cleaner 7.
will be removed. Further, the toner image transferred onto the paper 6 is fixed by a fixing means (not shown), and is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 10.

Note that the single sheet 31 fed by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 12 from the sheet feeding device 30 is guided as the sheet 6 by the sheet feeding guide 15, and is transferred to the photosensitive drum by the upper registration roller 13 and the lower registration roller 14. 1 and is supplied between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer discharger 5.

In this way, from the single paper supply device 30 to the paper feed roller 1
The single sheet 31 fed by the image forming apparatus main body 1
0. By the way, the structure and operation of this M4 are well known.

Further, the continuous paper supply device 20 that supplies the paper 6 to the image forming apparatus main body 10 is configured as shown in FIG.

Note that only the differences from FIG. 2 will be described here.

In FIG. 1, a housing 22 that is independent of the image forming apparatus main body 10 and that accommodates the continuous paper 21 inside the image forming apparatus main body 10 is connected to the paper feed port 11 of the image forming apparatus main body 10. Installed by inserting. In this embodiment, the continuous paper 21 housed in the housing 22 is supported at its center by a mounting shaft 23 to facilitate its rotation. However, when implementing the present invention, the continuous paper 21 wound directly may be placed on the bottom of the housing 22.

The continuous paper 21, which is supported by the mounting shaft 23, is fed at its undrawn end using a step motor 24 and a feed roller 25, based on a known feed amount for each step, and the continuous paper 21 is fed. It is something that will be provided. That is, the step motor 24 and the feed roller 25 serve both as a feeding means for feeding the continuous paper 21 and as a cylinder-side means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper 21.

Further, the continuous paper 21 fed by the step motor 24 and the feed roller 25 is provided with a paper cutting means 26 including a cutter or the like driven by a drive means (not shown). The paper cutting means 26 cuts the continuous paper 21 to a predetermined length using an externally driven motor, solenoid, electromagnetic clutch, or the like.

Furthermore, a paper feed roller 27 and a paper feed roller 28 are disposed on the side of the image forming apparatus main body 10 of the paper cutting means 26, and the cut continuous paper 21 is transferred into the image forming apparatus main body 10 as paper 6. send.

In particular, the paper feed roller 27 is in pressure contact with the paper feed roller 12, which is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 10, and the paper 6 is held between the two.
It is held and fed.

During this time, paper guides 29 are provided at locations necessary for transporting the continuous paper 21 and the paper 6, so that the continuous paper 21 or the paper 6 moves toward the photosensitive drum 1 without coming off.

The paper 6, which is pinched and fed by the paper feed roller 28 and the paper feed roller 12, is guided by the paper feed guide 15, and is synchronized with the photosensitive drum 1 by the upper registration roller 13 and the lower registration roller 14. and is supplied between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer discharger 5.

Note that the presence or absence of the continuous paper 21 in the housing 22 is optically detected by a paper detection sensor 35.

A control block circuit for controlling an image forming apparatus equipped with this type of continuous paper supply device 20 is shown in FIG.

In the figure, a microcomputer 41 is a control circuit having a function as an image forming apparatus, and has application input and application output as a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a printer apparatus, etc. The input of the microcomputer 41 is sent via an input circuit 42 to a paper setting switch, that is,
When used as a copying machine or the like, the continuous paper 21 is specified to be supplied with paper 6 corresponding to a predetermined standardized B4 paper size, B5 paper size, or A4 paper size. Further, a paper detection sensor 35 for detecting the presence or absence of continuous paper 21 is connected to the input circuit 42 . When the step motor 24, paper cutting means 26, and paper detection sensor 35 included in the continuous paper supply device 20 are connected to the image forming apparatus main body 10 by a connector, the continuous paper 21 is continuously inserted into the input circuit 42 by the connector. A connector connection detection signal for detecting connection of the paper supply device 20 is input. Specifically, the configuration is such that predetermined connectors are electrically connected by connecting the connectors.

The output of the microcomputer 41 is connected via an output circuit 43 to a step motor 24, a paper cutting means 26, a buzzer and a lamp or LED for notifying the paper out.

The image forming apparatus configured as described above is controlled as shown in the flowchart of FIG. Next, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG.

First, this "paper selection routine" executes control that matches the predetermined purpose of the image forming apparatus, and is called during printing.

In step S1, it is determined whether the step motor 24, paper cutting means 26, and paper detection sensor 35 included in the continuous paper supply device 20 for the continuous paper 21 are connected to the image forming apparatus main body 10 through connectors. When the connector is not connected,
In step S2, it is determined that the single sheet feeding device 30 for the single sheet 31 is installed in the image forming apparatus main body 10, and in step S2, a “single sheet feeding routine J” that uses the single sheet feeding device 30 is called and this routine is executed. escape.

If it is determined in step S1 that the connector of the continuous paper supply device 20 is connected to the image forming apparatus main body 10, the output of the paper detection sensor 35 is checked in step S3, and the continuous paper 20 is
Determine whether or not exists. When the paper runs out, a visual and audible paper out notification is output in step S4.

When the continuous paper 21 is present, in step S5, when the image forming apparatus main body 10 is used in a copying machine, for example,
Determines the operation of a paper setting switch that specifies the supply of paper 6 corresponding to a predetermined standardized paper size of 84, B5, or B4, and when the paper setting switch is operated,
In step S6, a counter value corresponding to the paper size is set in the counter. In step S7, the step motor 24
is rotated one step, the counter (direction) is decremented by "1" in step S8, and the counter value becomes r in step S9.
Determine whether it is below OJ. Then, through the operations from step S7 to step S9, the paper size specified by the operation of the paper setting switch is determined. Then, in step 310, the cutter of the paper cutting means 26 is driven to cut the continuous paper 21, and this routine is exited.
It is synchronized with the photosensitive drum 1 by the roller 13 and the lower registration roller 14, and is supplied between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer discharger 5.

Further, if the paper setting switch is not operated in step S5 when the image forming apparatus main body 10 is used as a facsimile machine, for example, a paper feed instruction is determined in step 311, and when a paper feed instruction is received, step At 312, the step motor 24 is stepped a predetermined number of times;
A cutting instruction is determined in step 313, and when there is a cutting instruction, the paper cutting means 26 is driven to cut the continuous paper 21 in step 310, and this routine is exited. The photosensitive drum 1 is guided by the photosensitive drum 1 and synchronized with the photosensitive drum 1 by the upper registration roller 13 and the lower registration roller 14, and is supplied between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer discharger 5.

Then, when there is no paper feeding instruction in step 311,
Alternatively, if there is no instruction to disconnect at step 313, this routine is exited.

As described above, the image forming apparatus of this embodiment uses a standardized single sheet 31 that is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 and used.
In an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes a single sheet supply device 30 that stores continuous paper, and a continuous paper supply device 20 that stores continuous paper 21 that is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 and used. The supply device 20 is selectively attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10, and the single sheet supply device 3
Single sheets or continuous sheets are fed to the main body 10 of the image forming apparatus from a continuous sheet feeding device 20 or a continuous sheet feeding device 20.

Therefore, when the image forming apparatus is used as a copying machine, a printer device, a facsimile device, etc., if the single sheet feeding device 30 and the continuous sheet feeding device 20 are selected and installed, the single sheet 31 or the continuous sheet 21 can be used. This makes it possible to use single paper 31 or continuous paper 21 as necessary. Therefore, unnecessary and wasteful paper 6 is not used.

Further, the continuous paper supply device 20 that accommodates the continuous paper 21 that is attached to and used in the image forming apparatus main body 10 constituting the image forming apparatus of this embodiment is independent from the image forming apparatus main body 10,
Continuous paper 2 used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10
1, a step motor 24 that also serves as a feeding means for feeding the continuous paper 21 and a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper 21, and a step motor 24 for cutting the continuous paper 21 at a specified length. It is equipped with a paper cutting means 26.

Therefore, the continuous paper supply device 20 that accommodates the continuous paper 21 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 can be used by cutting the paper to a specified paper length, and is a normal single paper supply device 30. The so-called paper feed force cera! It is possible to switch between using the single sheet 31 and the continuous sheet 21 by simply separating the image forming apparatus main body 10 equipped with the paper and replacing it with the continuous sheet feeding device 20.

In particular, since the image forming apparatus main body 10 can handle this by simply changing its control software, by making the image forming apparatus main body 10 serve both as the single paper supply device 30 and the continuous paper supply device 20, it is possible to This can be done by simply adding equipment, so the image forming apparatus main body 10 can be replaced with a single paper supply device 30, a continuous paper supply device 20, and a single paper supply device 3.
0 or the configuration corresponding to the continuous paper supply device 20,
It has almost no effect on the number of parts, etc. Of course, the price will not be affected.

That is, if the user purchases the unitized single sheet feeding device 30 and/or continuous sheet feeding device 20 as needed, the single sheet feeding device 30 and/or the continuous sheet feeding device 20 can be easily installed in the image forming apparatus main body 10.
It is possible to switch from using the continuous paper 21 to using the continuous paper 21, or vice versa.

In addition, the feeding means for feeding the continuous paper 21 and the measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper 21 in h4 in the above embodiment are both carried out by a step motor 24, which reduces the number of parts and the cost. However, for example, the feeding means may be a motor, and the measuring means may be an encoder that detects the rotation of the motor or the rotation of the feed roller.

Further, the continuous paper supply device 20 that accommodates the continuous paper 21 attached to and used in the image forming apparatus main body 10 constituting the image forming apparatus of the above embodiment is independent from the image forming apparatus main body 10, and is independent from the image forming apparatus main body 10. It is also possible to provide a housing 22 that accommodates the continuous paper 21 that is attached to the main body 10 and used, a feeding device that feeds the continuous paper 21, and a measuring device that measures the feeding amount of the continuous paper 21.

In this type of embodiment, it is necessary to arrange a paper cutting means 26 in the image forming apparatus main body 10 for cutting the continuous paper 21 to a specified length, but the paper feeding roller 12 disposed in the image forming apparatus main body 10 Since the paper cutting means 26 can be disposed closer to the photosensitive tram 1 and the process of cutting the continuous paper 21 into a predetermined length is delayed, troubles such as paper jams can be reduced. Also, depending on the capacity of the paper feed roller 12, the continuous paper 21
The feeding means for feeding can be omitted.

That is, the continuous paper supply device 20 that accommodates the continuous paper 21 that is attached to and used in the image forming apparatus main body 10 constituting the image forming apparatus in the case of implementing the present invention is the image forming apparatus main body 10.
A housing 22 for accommodating the continuous paper 21 to be attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 and a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper 21 may be provided independently from the main body 10 of the image forming apparatus.

Furthermore, a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper 21 also includes:
It can be provided in the image forming apparatus main body 10. Continuous paper 21 used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body 10 constituting the image forming apparatus in the case of implementing the present invention at this time
The continuous paper supply device 20 that accommodates the image forming apparatus main body 1
It is also possible to use a housing 22 that is independent from the main body 10 of the image forming apparatus and accommodates the continuous paper 21 that is attached to the main body 10 of the image forming apparatus.

In this type of embodiment, the configuration of the continuous paper supply device @20 can be made the simplest, and no electrical circuit connection is required, so the single paper supply device 30 and the continuous paper supply device 20 can be selectively used. It is preferable to use the image forming apparatus as a premise.

By the way, the feeding means for feeding the continuous paper 21 and the measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper 21 in the above embodiment include steps of measuring and feeding the feeding amount based on a known feeding amount. However, when implementing the present invention, the feeding means may be a motor that feeds the continuous paper 21, and the measuring means may be the rotation of the motor or the rotation of the feeding roller 25, paper feeding roller 27, or paper feeding roller 28. Encoder to detect or continuous paper 2
It is possible to use a known means such as an encoder that measures the movement of 1 by its rotation.

Further, in the above embodiment, the paper is cut to a predetermined length in the paper supply device and supplied to the image forming device main body under the control of the image forming apparatus main body. It can also be controlled to cut into sheets of paper.

Although the image forming apparatus main body of the above embodiment has been described as an image forming apparatus, it can be used not only for general dot printers but also for printing-only printers, facsimile machines, copying machines, and the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the paper feeding device according to claim (1) of the present invention has a unit that is independent of the image forming apparatus main body and accommodates continuous paper to be used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body. A housing having a structure that can be replaced with a single paper supply device that stores paper, a feeding means for feeding the continuous paper, a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper, and a housing for feeding the continuous paper at a specified length. Since it consists of a paper cutting means for cutting, the paper can be cut to a predetermined length in the paper supply device and then supplied to the main body of the image forming apparatus, so it can be used in place of a single paper supply device that accommodates single sheets. It is. Further, when used in place of a single sheet supply device that accommodates single sheets, there is no particular need to change the main body of the image forming apparatus.

The paper feeding device according to claim (2) of the present invention includes the housing, a feeding means for feeding the continuous paper, and a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper. The cutting means for cutting can be installed at any location within the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, since the paper is in a continuous state in the paper supply device, paper jams are less likely to occur.

Since the feeding means and measuring means of the paper feeding device according to claim (3) of the present invention measure and feed the feeding amount based on a known feeding amount, the number of parts is small. And it is inexpensive.

The paper feeding device according to claim (4) of the present invention is independent from the image forming apparatus main body, and is replaced with a single paper feeding device that accommodates single sheets and accommodates continuous paper used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body. Since the housing has a possible structure and the measuring means for measuring the feed rate of the continuous paper, it is relatively easy to use.
The structure of the paper supply device can be made more compact.

The paper supply device according to claim (5) of the present invention is independent from the image forming apparatus main body, and is replaced with a single paper supply device that accommodates single sheets and accommodates continuous paper used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body. Since the housing has a possible structure, the paper feeding device can be made most compact.

The image forming apparatus according to claim (6) of the present invention further includes a single sheet feeding device that accommodates standardized single sheets that is attached to the image forming apparatus main body and used, and a single sheet supply device that is attached to the image forming apparatus main body and used. In an image forming apparatus having a continuous paper supply device that stores continuous paper to be used, the single paper supply device and the continuous paper supply device are selectively mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and the single paper supply device or the continuous paper supply device Since single sheets or continuous sheets are fed from the paper supply device to the main body of the image forming apparatus, single sheets or continuous sheets can be selectively used as required.

represents a considerable portion.

Patent applicant: Murata Machinery Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) A housing that is independent of the image forming apparatus main body and has a structure that can be replaced with a single sheet supply device that stores single sheets, and that stores continuous paper that is used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body. and a feeding means for feeding the continuous paper, a measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper, and a paper cutting means for cutting the continuous paper at a specified length. Paper feeding device. (2) a housing that is independent of the image forming apparatus main body, that stores continuous paper used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and has a structure that can be replaced with a single sheet supply device that stores single sheets; and A paper feeding device comprising: a feeding device that feeds the continuous paper; and a measuring device that measures the feeding amount of the continuous paper. (3) The feeding means for feeding the continuous paper and the measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of the continuous paper measure and feed the feeding amount based on a known feeding amount. The paper feeding device according to claims (1) to (2). (4) a housing that is independent of the image forming apparatus main body and that is capable of being replaced with a single sheet feeding device that stores single sheets of paper that is used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body; A paper feeding device comprising: a measuring means for measuring a feeding amount. (5) A housing that is independent of the image forming apparatus main body, that stores continuous paper used by being attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and has a structure that can be replaced with a single sheet supply device that stores single sheets. paper feeding device. (6) A single sheet feeding device that stores standardized single sheets of paper that is attached to the image forming apparatus main body and used, and a continuous paper feeding device that stores continuous paper that is used and attached to the image forming device main body. In the image forming apparatus, the single sheet feeding device and the continuous sheet feeding device are selectively installed in the image forming apparatus main body, and the single sheet or continuous sheet is fed from the single sheet feeding device or the continuous sheet feeding device to the image forming device. An image forming apparatus characterized by feeding paper into a main body.