JPH03186530A - Sheet feeder and recording device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely adjust sheet top edges which are set and prevent meandering of the sheet by installing a regulating means which is interlocked with a pressing means and regulates floating-up of the top edge of the sheets which are loaded on a loading separating means. CONSTITUTION:When a sheet 1 whose top edge is curled is set, the floating-up of the sheet top edge is regulated by a regulating means 6, and loaded surely on the loading part 2a of a loading separating means 2. Accordingly, the sheet top edge is adjusted, and the sheet is surely separation-transported free from skew by the drive of the transporting means. Accordingly, the sheet 1 can be separation-transported to a recording means by a sheet feeder, and correct recording can be carried out speedily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a sheet feeder that feeds cut sheets to a recording device and a recording device using the sheet feeder, and more particularly relates to a sheet feeder that feeds cut sheets to a recording device and a recording device that uses the sheet feeder. The present invention relates to a sheet feeder that can feed sheets without running them, and a recording apparatus using the sheet feeder.

<Prior Art> Word processors, personal computers, etc. have become widely used today, but these devices have a keyboard for inputting information, a screen for displaying input information, and a screen for outputting human-powered information Generally, it has a recording device.

When printing input information on cut sheets using the above device, there is a method of setting cut sheets one by one and recording by operating the recording start key each time, but this method requires a cumbersome sheet setting operation. It is. For this reason, a sheet feeder has been developed that sets a plurality of cut sheets and separates and feeds the cut sheets one by one to a recording device in accordance with the recording operation.

This sheet feeder stacks multiple cut sheets on a stacking section to align the leading edges, presses the sheets against a feed roller, and rotates the feed roller to separate and feed the sheets in order starting from the top layer. This is what you send.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, if the leading edge of the sheet set in the sheet feeder is curled, the leading edge of the sheet will lift up and not be loaded on the stacking section, and the leading edge of the sheet will be set unevenly. It ends up. If the feeding roller is rotated in this state, the sheets may be fed obliquely, or two or more sheets may be fed in duplicate without being completely separated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a sheet feeder capable of preventing skew feeding and double feeding, and a recording apparatus using the sheet feeder.

Means for Solving the Problems> A typical means according to the present invention for solving the problems described above includes a stacking section for stacking sheets and a section for separating a plurality of sheets set one by one. a loading/separating means having a separating section; a feeding means for applying a feeding force to the sheet; and a feeding means for pressing the sheet against the feeding means when feeding the sheet, and pressing the sheet against the feeding means when performing sheet safety. The sheet feeder is characterized in that the sheet feeder is provided with a pressing means that is configured to be able to release the pressing force, and a regulating means that works in conjunction with the pressing means to restrict lifting of the leading edge of the sheet loaded on the stacking and separating means. .

Further, a recording apparatus is constructed using the sheet feeder having the above configuration.

<Operation> In the above means, when a sheet with a curled leading edge is set, the leading edge of the sheet is prevented from lifting up by the regulating means, and the sheet is reliably loaded on the restricting section of the stacking/separating means. As a result, the leading edges of the sheets are aligned, and the sheets are reliably separated and fed without being skewed by the driving of the feeding means.

Therefore, by separately feeding the sheets to the recording means using the sheet feeder, accurate recording can be quickly performed.

<Example> Next, a recording device in which the above means is provided integrally with a word processor main body and a sheet feeder attached to this recording device will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view of a word processor having a recording device equipped with a sheet feeder, FIGS. 2 and 3 are illustrations of the configuration of the sheet feeder, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the recording device.

(Overall Configuration) First, the overall configuration of the device will be explained. As shown in Figure 1, this device has a keyboard A for inputting information.
, a display unit B made of a CRT for displaying the human input information, and a recording device C for recording the input information on a recording sheet 1, and a sheet feeder D is attached to this recording device C. ing.

In this device, when a user inputs character information or the like by typing on a keyboard A, the input information is displayed on a display section B. In order to output this information, record sheet l is placed in sheet feeder D.
When the recording sheet 1 is set and the recording start key is pressed, the feeder D and the recording device c are driven to separate and feed the set recording sheets 1 one by one and record the information.

The sheet feeder D is shown in the overall explanatory diagram in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 3.
As shown in the partial explanatory view of the figure, the leading edge of the recording sheet 1 is stacked and set on the stacking/separating means 2, the recording sheet 1 is pressed against the feeding means 4 by the pressing means 3, and this feeding means 4 is driven. The recording sheet 1 is separated and fed one by one.

When setting the recording sheet 1, the side guide means 5 guides both sides of the recording sheet 1, and the regulating means 6 prevents the leading edge of the sheet from lifting up.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the recording apparatus C, a recording head 8 serving as a recording means is mounted on a carriage 7 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow a by means of a solenoid (not shown), and an ink ribbon cassette 9 can be loaded onto the upper surface of the carriage 7. This cassette 9 accommodates an ink ribbon IO serving as a transfer medium.

During recording, this device moves the carriage 7 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Ink is heated in an image pattern, and the heated ink is transferred and recorded onto a recording sheet 1 whose back side is supported by a platen 1).

When one line of recording is completed as described above, the sheet conveying means 12 is driven to convey the recording sheet 1 by one line in the direction of arrow C in FIG. ing.

Next, the configurations of the sheet feeder D and the recording device C will be specifically explained.

(Sheet feeder) First, the configuration of each part of the sheet feeder D will be explained.

(Stacking Separation Means) The stacking and separating means 2 aligns the leading edges of a plurality of recording sheets 1 to be set, and separates the recording sheets 1 one by one in cooperation with the feeding means 4 during feeding. , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is a stacking section 2a on which the leading edge of the sheet l is stacked, and a separation slope section 2 continuous with this stacking section 2a.
It has b.

A plurality of the stacking and separating means 2 are arranged in the width direction of the recording sheets 1 to be set, and each stacking section 2a is arranged on a substantially horizontal straight line. As a result, by stacking the leading ends of a plurality of recording sheets 1 on the respective stacking sections 2a, the leading ends of the respective recording sheets 1 can be aligned substantially horizontally.

Further, the separating inclined portion 2b is continuous with the stacking portion 2a and is configured to be inclined downward in the sheet feeding direction.

When the feeding roller 4a constituting the feeding means 4 rotates, the plurality of recording sheets l whose leading ends are stacked and set on the stacking section 2a move from the stacking section 2a to the separation slope section 2b. and is separated from other recording sheets 1,
It is fed to recording device C.

(Pressing Means) The pressing means 3 is for pressing the recording sheet 1 against the feeding roller 4a, and the pressing plate 3a, which is wider than the recording sheet 1, has a pressure plate 3a as shown in FIG. axis 3b
It is rotatably attached to the feeder frame 13 by. Further, a plate spring 3C is attached between the pressing plate 3a and the frame 13, and the pressing plate 3a is biased toward the feeding roller 4a by this spring 3C.

Therefore, the recording sheets 1 whose leading ends are stacked on the stacking section 2a are pressed by the pressing plate 3a, and the uppermost sheet 1 comes into pressure contact with the feeding roller 4a.

(Feeding Means) Next, the feeding means 4 applies a feeding force to the set recording sheet 1, and in this embodiment is constituted by a feeding roller 4a which is driven and rotated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding roller 4a is provided at approximately the center position in the width direction of the recording sheet l to be set.
A conveyance motor is fixed to a shaft 4b rotatably attached to the frame I3, and is connected to this shaft 4b for driving a conveyance means 12 of a recording apparatus C, which will be described later, via a drive transmission means 14 (see FIG. 2). It is connected.

Therefore, when the conveyance motor is driven, the feed roller 4a rotates in the direction of the arrow d (in FIG. 5) to separate and feed the recording sheet 1.

(Side Guide Means) The side guide means 5 guides both sides of the set recording sheet 1, and is attached to an end of a slide plate 5a that is slidable in the sheet width direction against the pressure Fi3a. The upright plate 5b and the holding plate 5c are integrally formed, and the end of each slide plate 5a has a cross section 131.
It is formed into a letter shape.

In this embodiment, the slide plate 5a is configured to slide in a so-called center distribution manner with reference to the center in the width direction of the recording sheet 1 to be set. As a result, the recording sheet 1 is set with the center as a reference, and both sides are guided by the upright plates 5b, and the sheet 1 is held down by the press plate 5C to prevent it from falling forward.

(Restricting means) The restricting means 6 aia the leading end of the recording sheet 1 to the stacking section 2a.
This is to prevent the leading edge of the sheet from lifting up when setting. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this regulating means 6 is provided with an upright plate 6 at the lower end of each slide plate 5a.
a and the presser plate 6b are integrally formed to have a ``31'' cross section.

In addition, the pressing plate 6b is formed into a funnel shape with a wide upper part and a narrow lower part so that the recording sheet 1 can be easily inserted. It is configured.

Here, the relationship between the loading separating means 2 and the regulating means 6 will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), when the pressing plate 3a is pushed in the direction of arrow e against the leaf spring 3C to set the recording sheet 1, and the feeding roller 4a and the pressing plate 3a are separated from each other, ,
The length 1) from the end of the loading section 2a to the holding plate 6b is
shorter than the length 12 of the loading section 2a, and the length 121
is set to be shorter than the distance l between the slide plate 5a and the presser plate 5C.

As a result, when the recording sheet 1 is set in the state shown in FIG. Prevented. Therefore,
The leading edge of the recording sheet 1 is always stacked on the stacking section 2a, and the gap 15 between the feeding roller 4a and the inclined section 2b is
It never gets into.

If the leading edge of the recording sheet 1 is in a lifted state and enters the gap 15 during setting, the sheet 1 will not be set horizontally, causing skew feeding and further causing double feeding. In this respect, this embodiment prevents the above-mentioned disadvantages.

In this example, the length 1) shown in FIG. 5 Tal is
lOn, (22=14m, 13=15m, b=
20mm, 15 = 30 tuna.

As described above, place the leading edge of the recording sheet I on the stacking section 2a.
! When the pressure vi3a is released in the direction of the arrow e, the pressure plate 3a is rotated in the direction of the arrow f by the bias of the temporary spring 3c, and a plurality of sheets are set, as shown in FIG. The uppermost layer of the recording sheet 1 is brought into pressure contact with the feeding roller 4a and is in a feeding standby state.

The sheet feeder D configured as described above is connected to the recording device C.
When the conveyance motor is driven, recording sheet 1
As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet 1 is separated one by one and fed to a recording device, where it is conveyed in a U-turn to perform predetermined recording, and the sheet 1 after recording is discharged.

In FIG. 5(b), reference numeral 16 is a discharge roller for discharging the recording sheet 1 on which the predetermined recording has been performed to the discharge tray 17, which drives the feeding roller 4a as described later. It is connected to the same motor as the motor. 18 is a locking shaft 1 provided in the recording device C.
9 to fix the sheet feeder D.

(Recording Apparatus) Next, the configuration of each part of the recording apparatus C will be specifically explained with reference to FIG. 4.

(Carriage) The carriage 7 is slidably attached to a guide shaft 20, and both ends of the guide shaft 20 are fixed to a recording frame 21. In addition, the recording frame 21
A driving pulley and a driven pulley (not shown) connected to a carriage motor 22 are attached to the carriage 7, and a timing belt 23 stretched between these pulleys is connected to the carriage 7. As a result, when the carriage motor 22 rotates forward and backward, the carriage 7 moves toward the guide shaft 20.
It travels back and forth along the .

Further, at a predetermined position of the carriage 7, a winding is fitted into the winding core of the ink ribbon cassette 9, and is rotated as the carriage 7 moves in the direction of the arrow mark to wind the ink ribbon 10 onto the winding core. A shaft 24 is provided.

(Ink Ribbon Cassette) The ink ribbon cassette 9 has a supply core 9b and a take-up core 9c rotatably housed in a container 9a, and an ink ribbon 9d is wound around the supply core 9b. This ink ribbon IO is once exposed from the supply core 9b at a recess 9d formed in the container 9a, and is wound around the take-up core 9c.

The ink ribbon IO is a long film coated with thermally transferable (heat-melting, heat-softening, heat-sublimating, etc.) ink.

Further, the ink ribbon cassette 9 is locked by a locking protrusion 7a protruding from the carriage 7, so that it can be loaded onto the carriage 7.

Incidentally, when the cassette 9 is loaded into the carriage 7, the winding shaft 24 is fitted into the winding core 9c, and as the winding shaft 24 rotates, the winding core 9c is rotated.

(Recording means) In this embodiment, the recording means is composed of a thermal recording head.
A plurality of heating elements that generate heat when energized are arranged in a line on a head substrate. The recording head 8 is mounted on a carriage 7 as shown in FIG. 4, and is configured so as to be positioned in a container recess 9d when an ink ribbon cassette 9 is loaded into the carriage 7.

The recording head 8 is configured to move downward in the direction of arrow a by a biasing means such as a solenoid (not shown), and when the head is down, the ink-coated surface of the ink ribbon 10 is pressed against the recording sheet 1 whose back surface is supported by the platen 1). However, when the head is raised, the ink ribbon IO is separated from the recording sheet 1.

Therefore, when the carriage 7 is run in the direction indicated by the arrow with the head down of the rad 8 for recording, and the recording head 8 is selectively heated in synchronization with the running, the ink melted by the heat is transferred to the recording sheet. )l is transferred and recorded.

Incidentally, the ink ribbon 10 fed out from the supply core 9b during the recording is transferred to the take-up core 9c by the rotation of the take-up shaft 24.
It is wound up.

(Sheet Conveying Means) When one line of recording is completed as described above, the recording hand 8 moves forward, the carriage 7 returns to the home position, and the recording sheet 1 is conveyed by one line in the direction of arrow C in FIG. be done.

The conveyance means 12 for conveying the recording sheet 1 is composed of a conveyance roller 12a and a pinch roller 12b that is in pressure contact with the conveyance roller 12a, and a conveyance motor 12c is connected to the conveyance roller 12a via a drive transmission gear train.

Therefore, when the transport motor 12c is driven, the transport roller 12a rotates, and as shown in FIG. 6, the recording sheet l fed from the sheet feeder D is transferred to the transport roller 12a.
The ink ribbon is conveyed in a U-turn along the circumferential surface of the ink ribbon 1), is conveyed in the direction of arrow C through between the platen 1) and the ink ribbon 1o, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 17.

(Driving force transmitting means) Here, the driving force transmitting means 14 that drives the conveying roller 12a of the recording apparatus C, the feeding roller 4a of the sheet feeder D, and the ejection roller 16 will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 7, this transmits the driving force of the transport motor 12c to each roller by meshing a gear train. Specifically, a conveyance gear 14 attached to the shaft of the conveyance roller 12a is connected to a motor gear 14a attached to the conveyance motor 12c via a reduction gear 14b.
c is engaged. Further, a discharge gear 14e attached to the shaft of a discharge roller 16 meshes with the conveyance gear 14c via an intermediate gear 14d, and further meshes with an intermediate gear 14f and a feed gear 14g. The gears 14a-14c are attached to the recording frame 21, and the gears 14d-14g
is attached to the feeder frame 13, and when the sheet feeder D is attached to the recording apparatus C, the conveying gear 14c and the intermediate gear 14d mesh with each other.

When the conveyance motor 12c is thereby driven, the driving force is transmitted to the conveyance roller 12a, the feeding roller 4a, and the ejection roller 16 via the gear train.

A switching clutch 25 is attached to the feeding gear 14g, and the driving force of the conveyance motor 12c is connected to the clutch 2.
5 and selectively transmitted to the feeding roller 4a.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, this switching clutch 25 consists of a rook 25a attached to the shaft 4a+ of the feed roller 4a and a slip ring 25b.The rook 25a is integrally connected to the feed roller 4a. However, the slip ring 25b is rotatable independently of the feed roller 4a, and is provided so as to be located on the outer periphery of the rook 25a.

The slip ring 2Sb is pressed against the slip ring 25d in FIG. 8 (as shown in bl, a felt urged by a temporary spring 25c),
The braking action of the felt 25d prevents the slip ring 25b from rotating along with the shaft 4al. Furthermore, an eighth ring is provided on the outer periphery of the slip ring 25b.
As shown in FIG.
An opening 25f is formed between the path (2) and the path (2).

Further, a spring pawl 25g is attached to the side surface of the feed gear 14g, and the tip of this pawl 25g enters the circuit closing groove 25e.

The closed circuit groove 25e has a path ■ → path ■ → path ■ between each path.
A step is formed that becomes lower in the order of → route ■ → route ■. Therefore, the tip of the spring claw 25g moves along the groove 25e in the order of the above-mentioned paths (1) to (2) and cannot move in the opposite direction.

In addition, in FIG. 8, the direction of rotation of the feed gear 14g when the transport motor 12c is driven in the forward rotation is the direction of the arrow g, and the direction of rotation of the feed gear 14g when the motor 12c is driven in the reverse direction is the direction of the arrow. Then, when the feeding gear 14g rotates in the direction of arrow g while the tip of the spring pawl 25g is locked to the rook 25a through the opening 25f, the spring pawl 25g and the rook 25a become locked. The driving force is transmitted to the feeding roller 4a, but when the feeding gear 14g rotates in the direction of the arrow, the tip of the spring pawl 25g separates from the rook 25a, as shown in the dashed line in FIG. Closed circuit groove 2
It is configured so that it rides on top of 5e.

Therefore, as shown in Fig. 8, the tip of the spring claw 25g is connected to the rook 25a.
When the transport motor 12c is driven to rotate in the forward direction in the state where it is locked, the driving force is transmitted to the feeding roller 4a.

At this time, the conveyance roller 12a, the discharge roller 16, and the feed roller 4a rotate together.

On the other hand, when the transport motor 12c reverses from the above state, the tip of the spring claw 25g passes through the path ■ of the closing groove 25e and reaches the path ■.Next, when the transport motor 12c rotates forward, the spring claw 25g passes through the path ■ and the path ■. ■It remains located at the boundary with. At this time, even if the transport motor 12c continues to drive in normal rotation, the slip ring 25b only idles, and its driving force is not transmitted to the feeding roller 4a. Therefore, at this time, only the conveyance roller 12a and the discharge roller 16 are in a rotating state.

Next, the conveyor motor 12c is driven in the reverse direction to bring the tip of the spring claw 25g from the path ■ of the closing groove 25e to the path ■, and then when it is driven forward, the tip of the spring claw 25g is the boundary between the path ■ and the path ■. The rook 25a falls through the opening 25f in the
The transport roller 12a, the discharge roller 16, and the feed roller 4a rotate together again.

Therefore, by driving the transport motor 12c in the forward direction after driving it in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount, the feeding roller 4a can be rotated or the rotation of the roller 4a can be stopped.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, when feeding a sheet, the feeding roller 4a, the conveying roller 12a, and the ejecting roller 16 are rotated together to feed the recording sheet 1, and the recording operation is performed in synchronization with this. However, if the feeding roller 4a continues to rotate even after the rear end of the recording sheet 1 escapes from the feeding roller 4a, the recording sheet 1 fed earlier will be removed from the ejection tray 17.
The next recording sheet l will be fed before it is ejected to. Therefore, after the rear end of the recording sheet 1 escapes from the feed roller 4a, the switching clutch 25 is switched to
The transport roller 12a and the discharge roller I6 are stopped.
The recording sheet 1 is ejected by rotating only the recording sheet 1.

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which the regulating means 6 is attached to the side guide means 5 that slides with respect to the pressing plate 3a is as follows.
However, this may be attached so as to be linked to the movement of pressing and releasing the sheet by the press plate 3a, and does not necessarily need to be attached to the side guide means 5.

Further, as IjIe for selectively transmitting the driving force of the transport motor 12c to the feeding roller 4a, for example, an electromagnetic clutch is used instead of the switching clutch 25 described above, and the electromagnetic clutch is turned on and off. The driving force may be selectively transmitted to the feeding roller 4a.

Further, in the above embodiment, the feeding roller 4a and the conveying roller 12a were used as the feeding means and the conveying means for the recording sheet 1, but these need not be limited to roller-like ones.
For example, it may be composed of a rotating belt or the like.

Further, although the above-mentioned recording device is a serial type thermal transfer recording device, it is of course that the recording device using the sheet feeder D is not limited to this. For example, a line type recording device, a thermal recording method, an inkjet A wide variety of recording devices can be used, including the wire dot method and the wire dot method.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention is configured to prevent the leading edge of the set sheet from lifting up, so that the leading edge of the set sheet is reliably aligned, and sheet feeding is prevented from being skewed and is also ensured. They are fed separately.

Therefore, the recording apparatus using the sheet feeder of the present invention is capable of accurately recording on sheets.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of a word processor having a recording device with a sheet feeder attached, Fig. 2 is an overall perspective explanatory view of the sheet feeder, Fig. 3 is a partial perspective explanatory view of the sheet feeder, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory perspective view of the recording device. Configuration explanatory diagram, 5th
(al is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram when recording sheets are set, (bl is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram when setting is completed, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing the recording conveyance state, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the drive transmission means, Figure fal, (bl is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the switching clutch. A is the keyboard, B is the display section, C is the recording device, D is the sheet feeder, ■ is the recording sheet, 2 is the loading separation means, 2
a is the loading part, 2b is the oblique part, 3 is the pressing means,
3a is a pressing plate, 3b is a shaft, 3C is a temporary spring, 4 is a feeding means, 4a is a feeding roller, 4a+ is a roller shaft, 4'b is a shaft,
5 is a side guide means, 5a is a slide plate, 5b is an upright plate, 5c is a holding plate, 6 is a regulating means, 6a is an upright plate, 6
b is a holding plate, 7 is a carriage, 7a is a locking projection, 8 is a recording head, 9 is an ink ribbon cassette, 9a is a container,
9b is a supply core, 9C is a winding core, 9'+, 9dz are guide rollers, 9e is a recess, 10 is an ink ribbon, 1) is a platen, 12 is a sheet conveyance means, 12a is a conveyance roller,
12b is a pinch roller, 12c is a conveyance motor 13 is a feeder frame, 14 is a drive transmission means, 14a is a motor gear, 14b is a reduction gear, 14c is a conveyance gear, 14
d is an intermediate gear, 14e is a discharge gear, 14f is an intermediate gear,
14g is a feeding gear, 15 is a gap, 16 is a discharge roller, 1
7 is a discharge tray, 18 is a locking arm, 19 is a locking shaft, 20 is a guide shaft, 21 is a recording frame, 22
is the carriage motor, 23 is the timing belt, 24
is the winding shaft, 25 is the switching clutch, 25a is the rook, 25b
25c is a slip ring, 25c is a leaf spring, 25d is a felt, 25e is a closing groove, 25f is an opening, and 25g is a spring claw.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A loading and separating means having a stacking section for stacking sheets and a separating section for separating a plurality of sheets one by one; and a feeding section for applying feeding force to the sheets. means for pressing the sheet against the feeding means when feeding the sheet;
A sheet comprising: a pressing means configured to be able to release the pressure on the feeding means when setting the sheet; and a regulating means interlocking with the pressing means to restrict lifting of the leading edge of the sheet stacked on the stacking and separating means. feeder. (2) The seat according to claim (1), further comprising a side guide means that is slidably attached to the pressing means and for guiding the widthwise end portion of the sheet, and the regulating means is attached to the side guide means. feeder. (3) The sheet feeder according to claim (1), a conveying means for conveying the sheet fed from the sheet feeder, and a recording means for recording an image on the conveyed sheet. Recording device with.