JPH0423742A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To change a large and a small containers by providing a driving motor and a driving coupled gear in a device main frame, and providing a driven coupled gear to be engaged with the driving coupled gear in a paper housing container, and elevating a bottom plate of the container with the rotation of the driven coupled gear. CONSTITUTION:A driving motor 13 and a driving coupled gear 17 to be driven by the driving motor 13 are provided in a device main frame side. An elevating mechanism 31 for elevating a bottom plate 30a, where a driven gear 32 to be engaged with the driving gear 17 at the time of installation is provided, is provided in a small capacity container 30, and the bottom plate 30a is elevated with turning of the driven gear 32. A driven gear 35 to be engaged with the driving coupled gear 17 at the time of installation is provided in a large capacity container 30', and a bottom plate 30'a is elevated along a long hole 37 with the rotation of the driven gear 35 through a wire 40. Consequently, a large and a small paper housing containers 30, 30' can be changed without damaging the elevating function of the bottom plates 30a, 30'a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimiles. Specifically, a paper storage container is attached to the main body of the apparatus in a replaceable manner, and a drive motor operates a bottom plate elevating mechanism to raise the bottom plate in the paper storage container to place the paper on the bottom plate at the paper feeding position, and the paper feeding mechanism is activated. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that operates to feed out paper and sequentially performs recording on the fed out paper.

In a conventional image forming apparatus, a paper storage container 50 as shown in FIG. It is considered possible.

A bottom plate elevating mechanism 52 in this device transmits the rotation of a drive motor 53 provided on the main body of the device from a partial gear 56 to a shaft 57 via a worm gear 54, an intermediate gear 55, etc., and moves a lever 58 fixed to the shaft 57 up and down. By swinging, the rear end side of the bottom plate 50a is raised and lowered, and the upper surface of the paper is moved to the paper feeding position.

However, in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, when the paper storage container 50 is removed from the apparatus main body, the lever 58 is provided in the apparatus main body, so the lever 58 is provided in the apparatus main body. When trying to attach a large-capacity paper storage container, the lever 58 gets in the way, making it impossible to attach it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be attached to either a normal paper storage container with a relatively shallow bottom or a large capacity paper storage container with a deep bottom. It is said that

Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention replaceably attaches the paper storage container 3o or 30'' to the main body 12 of the apparatus, and operates the bottom plate lifting mechanism 31 with the drive motor 13. lift up the bottom plate 30a or 30'a in the paper storage container 3o or 30' and remove the bottom plate 30a or 30'a.
'a In an image forming apparatus that sets the upper paper 2 at the paper feed position, operates the paper feed mechanism 1 to feed the paper 2, and sequentially records on the fed paper 2, the drive motor 13 Drive gear 17 driven by
A drive connecting gear such as the one shown in FIG.
2, the bottom plate elevating mechanism 31, which operates as the driven connecting gears rotate together with driven connecting gears such as the partial gear 32 and the driven gear 35 that mesh with the driving connecting gear, is attached to the paper storage container 30 or 30'. It is characterized by providing.

Normally, the drive motor 13 operates the bottom plate elevating mechanism 31 through the engagement of the drive connection gear and the driven connection gear, and lifts the bottom plate 30a in the paper storage container 30 to lift the bottom plate 30a.
The upper paper 2 is set as the paper feeding position, the paper feeding mechanism 1 is operated to feed out the paper 2, and recording is sequentially performed on the sent out paper 2.

When using a large amount of paper 2, use a regular paper storage container 3.
0 with a large-capacity paper storage container 30', its driven connection gear is engaged with the drive connection gear of the device main body 12, and the bottom plate elevator $31 is operated by the drive motor 13 through their engagement, Bottom plate 30 inside paper storage container 30″
'a' to the paper feed position, and paper feed mechanism 1.
Recording is performed sequentially on the paper 2 sent out.

1-1-5 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer that is an embodiment of the present invention,
Reference numeral 12 is the main body of the device. A paper storage container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 12 in a replaceable manner.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a paper feeding mechanism, and a paper 2 fed from the paper feeding mechanism 1 in the direction of the arrow is timed by registration rollers 3 and transported to an image carrier consisting of a photoreceptor 4 on a drum. It has become so.

The photoreceptor 4 is then rotated counterclockwise.

At this time, the surface is charged by the charging charger 5 and irradiated with laser light from the laser optical system 6 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 4 . When this latent image passes through the developing device 7, it is made visible by toner. This visible image is then transferred to the paper 2 conveyed to the photoreceptor 4 by the transfer/separation charger 8, and the paper 2 that is in close contact with the photoreceptor 4 is electrostatically separated. After that, the paper 2 is conveyed to the fixing device 9, and the visible image on the paper 2 is fixed by the fixing device 9.
It is discharged to the discharge section 10 in the direction of arrow B. On the other hand, after the visible image is transferred, residual toner is removed from the photoreceptor 4 by a cleaning device 11 having a cleaning blade, and the removed toner is collected by the cleaning device 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper storage container 30 installed in this printer has a bottom plate 30a that is swingable about the side opposite to the installation side of the paper storage container 30 as a fulcrum. A thin wall portion 30c is provided on the outer surface of the mounting side side wall 30b by cutting out an outer portion thereof, and a partial gear 32 is pivotally attached to this thin wall portion 30c with its teeth facing toward the mounting side. An arm 33 is provided facing downward in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the support shaft. The side wall 30b is provided with an arc-shaped hole 34 centered at the shaft attachment point of the partial gear 32, and a claw 33a projecting at right angles to the arm 33 is inserted through the hole 34 to allow the bottom plate 30a to swing. It supports the lower surface of the side. By rotating the driven connecting gear 32, the pawl 33a moves within the hole 34 and the bottom plate 30a is moved.
A bottom plate lifting/lowering mechanism 31 is constructed in which the bottom plate is lifted up by the claw 33a or returned to its original position.

- Worm gear 14 of the drive motor 13 of the blade device main body 12
meshes with an intermediate gear 15, drive gears 17, 17 are provided on the shaft 16 of the intermediate gear 15 near positions on both sides of the paper storage container 30 attached, and the two drive gears 17, 17 are rotated by the drive motor 13. It is designed to let you do so. When the paper storage container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 12, this driving gear 17 is attached to the paper storage container 3 attached to the apparatus main body 12.
It meshes with the partial gear 32 of 0.

Note that the bottom plate elevating mechanism 31 may also be provided on the other side of the paper storage container 30 on the attachment side, and in this case, the two drive gears 17, 17 and the partial gears 32,
32 are engaged with each other to move the bottom plate 30a up and down on both sides.

When a large amount of paper is used, the paper storage container 30 described above is replaced with a container configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example. This paper storage container 30' has both side walls 30'b on the mounting side and a driven gear 3 on the outer surface of 30'b.
5 and a pulley 36 integrated therewith are rotatably attached,
When installed, the driving gear 17 and the driven gear 35 of the device main body 12 mesh with each other. and both side walls 30'
b30′b has a pair of vertical long holes 37 and 37, respectively.
are provided at intervals, and the bottom plate 30'a of the paper storage container 30' engages protrusions 38 formed on both ends of the bottom plate 30'a of the paper storage container 30' in the elongated holes 37, thereby making it possible to move up and down. Also side wall 3
On the outer surfaces of 0'b and 30'b, boozes 39, 40, 41, and 42 are mounted above and below the elongated hole 37, and a tension pulley 43 is pivoted slightly above the pulley 39, respectively. A wire 44 or the like is wound between the pair of elongated holes 37 and 36 so that the portions along the pair of elongated holes 37 move in the same direction. And this wire 44 is connected to the bottom plate 30'a.
A protrusion 38 is fixed thereto, and constitutes a bottom plate elevating mechanism 31 that moves the bottom plate 30''a up and down as the wire 44 runs.

In the printer configured as described above, when the paper storage container 30 with a relatively small capacity is attached, the partial gear 32 and the drive gear 17 mesh with each other, and the partial gear 32 rotates due to the operation of the drive motor 13. 33a moves upward in an arc shape, lifts the bottom plate 30a, moves the paper 2 loaded thereon to the paper feeding position, presses it against the roller of the paper feeding mechanism 1, and also by reverse rotation of the drive motor 16. Release the pressure against the roller.

When a large-capacity paper storage container 30' is attached, the drive gears 17, 17 mesh with the driven gears 35, 35 on both sides of the paper storage container 30', and the drive motor 13 operates to drive the pulleys 36 and 35. Wire 4 hung from 39 to 42
4 travels, the bottom plate 30'a rises, and the paper 2 stacked thereon is pressed against the rollers of the paper feed mechanism 1. Then, the bottom plate 30'a is lowered by the reverse rotation of the drive motor 13,
Release the pressure against the roller.

31B Hair Seiko - The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above,
Particularly, the apparatus main body is provided with a drive connection gear that is driven by the drive motor together with the drive motor.

When the paper storage capacity is attached to the apparatus main body, the paper storage container is provided with a driven connection gear that meshes with the drive gear and a lifting mechanism that is operated by the driven connection gear, so that the paper storage container is not There is no lever protruding near the bottom, making it possible to install even large-capacity paper storage containers, making it possible to use the most suitable paper storage container according to usage conditions.

In addition, conventional paper storage containers that store large amounts of paper had a motor installed inside the container itself to drive the bottom plate, but this invention eliminates the need for a motor, resulting in significant cost reductions. There are some characteristics.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a printer that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts of the printer, and Fig. 3 is a large capacity paper storage container used in place of a normal paper storage container. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a conventional paper storage container and a bottom plate elevating mechanism provided in the main body of the apparatus. 1... Paper feeding mechanism, 2...
Paper, 12...Device body, 13...
... Drive motor, 17... Drive gear (drive connection gear), 30, 30'...
Paper storage container, 31...Bottom plate lifting mechanism
32... Partial gear (driven connection gear), 3
5.......Followed gear (driven connection gear).

Claims (1)

[Claims] A paper storage container is attached to the main body of the apparatus in a replaceable manner, and a drive motor operates a bottom plate elevating mechanism to raise the bottom plate in the paper storage container to place the paper on the bottom plate at a paper feeding position, and the paper feeding mechanism is activated. In an image forming apparatus that feeds paper and sequentially records on the fed paper, the drive motor and a drive connection gear driven by the drive motor are provided in the apparatus main body, and the paper storage container is attached to the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus, wherein the paper storage container is provided with a driven connecting gear that meshes with the driving connecting gear and the bottom plate lifting mechanism that operates as the driven connecting gear rotates.