JP3265851B2 - Paper cassette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet cassette applied to a cut sheet recording type image recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a paper feed cassette of this type, as a mechanism for separating and supplying recording paper one by one from the cassette, a push-up plate for placing the recording paper on the bottom of a front portion of the cassette is provided. A separation claw that locks both sides of the leading edge of the recording paper pushed up by the push-up plate on both sides of the recording paper so that the recording paper sent out from the upper surface by the feed roller is separated at the fulcrum so-called claw separation. Many adopt the method.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of the above. Reference numeral 3 denotes a push-up plate on which recording paper P is stacked and pushed upward.
5 is a claw member swingably provided on both sides of the push-up plate 3,
Separating claws 6 are provided inside the leading end to lock both sides of the front end of the recording paper P. Reference numeral 8 denotes a paper feed roller provided on the main body side above the cassette. The upper surface of the front end of the recording paper P is pressed against the roller surface in a state where the paper feed cassette is inserted into the main body. The recording paper P set on the push-up plate 3 in the cassette paper accommodating section is picked up one by one from the upper surface with the separation claws 6 on both sides as fulcrums and sent out as shown by the arrow b in the drawing.

[0004]

However, one of the problems in employing the above-described claw separation method is that so-called creases are likely to occur on both sides of the front end of the recording paper P sent out from the paper supply cassette. Can be As a cause of this, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, both sides of the front end portion of the recording paper P locked by the separation claw 6 during paper feeding are first sent out to some extent forward with the center part floating. At this stage, the separation claw 6 is released and comes out of the restraint, so that the portion may be bent downward and be easily bent inward.

[0005] When such an edge break is induced, not only does the appearance of the print recording paper discharged from the apparatus be damaged, but also a paper jam occurs in the recording paper transport path,
This may cause the recording paper to be skewed.

[0006] The present invention provides an improved paper feed cassette that accurately prevents such a break in the ear.

[0007]

According to the present invention, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problem in a paper feed cassette adopting a claw separation system, a paper guide provided in front of a cassette paper accommodating portion is provided on both sides of a paper guide. A film is attached to each of the nail positions.

At this time, it is desirable to provide a step on the paper guide where the film is to be affixed in advance so as to lower the site by one step, and that the front end of the affixed film extends forward from the paper guide. It is desirable to use a long one that is in contact with a paper guide formed on the inner surface of the front wall of the cassette.

[0009]

If the above-mentioned film sticking means is adopted, both sides of the front end of the recording paper which is sent out in a curved manner from the cassette paper storage section are attached to the front paper guide at the corresponding positions. Since the film is conveyed smoothly along the film surface on the upper side, the risk that the portion is bent inward is eliminated. Also, a step is provided in the paper guide so that the film surfaces on both sides are lower than the guide surface at the center, and the front end of the film is extended so as to be in contact with the paper guide formed on the inner surface of the cassette front wall. In this case, both sides of the front end of the recording paper, which is fed downward while being curved, are guided along the film surface by a paper guide formed on the inner surface of the front cassette front wall in a state of surface contact. In the meantime, the curvature on both sides of the front end of the recording paper is smoothly corrected.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an embodiment of a sheet feeding cassette according to the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a paper feed cassette formed of plastic, 2 denotes a cassette paper storage section in which a push-up plate 3 on which a recording paper P (not shown) is placed at the front end portion, and 4 denotes both sides of the push-up plate 3 The partition plate 5 attached to the cassette paper accommodating section 2 is a claw member swingably attached to the outside of the front end portion of the partition plate 4, and the separation claw 6 provided inside the front end portion of the claw member 5 includes: The both sides of the front end of the recording paper P stacked and lifted on the push-up plate 2 are locked (see FIG. 3).

The paper cassette 1 has a paper guide 7 whose front portion is inclined upward between a cassette front wall portion 1A having a handle 1a and a cassette paper storage portion 2 for setting a recording paper P. Have been. Then, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the recording paper separated from the cassette paper storage unit 2 by the separation claw 6 and sent forward by the rotation of the paper feed roller 8 provided on the main body side is As shown by an arrow P1 in FIG. 2, the paper passes between the paper guide 7 and the paper guide 9 attached to the main body, and is fed into an upper transport passage 10 provided in the main body. I have.

Further, as shown by the arrow P2 in FIG. 2, between the cassette front wall 1A and the paper guide 7 provided in front of the cassette
The recording paper P is transferred from the lower paper cassette to the transport path 1 on the main body side.
A transport passage 11 that penetrates up and down to lead to zero is provided. On the inner wall of the cassette front wall portion 1A forming the transport passage 11, a paper guide for guiding the recording paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 1 and the lower paper feed cassette smoothly along its inner surface. , Standing ribs 12 are equally spaced.

In the paper feed cassette 1 having the above-described configuration, an appropriate amount of paper is provided on both sides of the paper guide 7 provided in front of the cassette paper accommodating portion 2 in accordance with the position of the separation claw 6. A thick film (sheet) 13 having elasticity is attached. The film 13 is stuck on the sticking portion 7b which is one step lower than the center guide surface 7a on both sides of the paper guide 7, and its front end 13a extends beyond the front end of the paper guide 7, and A paper guide formed on the inner surface of the cassette front wall portion 1A, that is, the inner surface of the standing rib 12 is elastically contacted with the paper guide.

Thus, if the film 13 is added, it is possible to easily and reliably overcome the problem that the recording paper is likely to be creased due to claw separation at the time of paper feeding. This operation is primarily achieved by affixing the film 13 to the paper guide 7 in front of the separation claw, as shown in FIG. On both sides of the front end of the film 1
3 is smoothly conveyed along the film surface.

Further, such a film sticking effect is achieved by providing a step in the paper guide 7 so that the film surfaces on both sides are one step lower than the guide surface 7a at the center, and the film front end 13a is connected to the cassette front wall. By extending so as to be in contact with the standing rib 12 formed on the inner surface of the portion 1A, it becomes more effective. That is, according to the former means, both sides of the front end portion of the recording paper which is sent out while being bent downward from the cassette paper accommodating section 2 naturally fit along the film surface, and according to the latter means. Since the inner surface of the standing rib 12 which rises in a state where the both sides of the front end of the recording paper are kept in surface contact with the film 13 while being separated in front is guided, the breakage of the ear is only prevented. This is because, in the meantime, the curvature on both sides of the recording paper is smoothly corrected.

In addition, the paper feed cassette 1 shown in the embodiment having a transport path 11 for guiding the recording paper P from the lower feed cassette to the transport path 10 on the main body side inside the cassette front wall 1A. In such a case, the following improvement effect is further noted. That is, when the paper cassette 1 intended for multi-cassette paper feeding is used in a plurality of stages as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the paper is conveyed from the lower paper cassette. As shown by an arrow P2, the recording paper is conveyed through a conveyance path 11 provided inside the upper paper feed cassette 1 through a gap between the standing rib 12 and the back surface of the film front end 13a. The recording paper is not fluttered, and is subjected to a curving action on both sides of the recording paper by a light pressing action of the film 13. For this reason, the recording paper conveyance distance becomes longer, and the effect of stabilizing the paper feed from the lower paper cassette, which tends to cause a recording paper jam on the way, is also exerted.

[0018]

As described above, in the paper feed cassette of the present invention, separation can be performed by simply applying a film to the portion corresponding to the nail of the paper guide installed in front of the cassette paper storage section. It is possible to accurately prevent the ears from being bent or bent on both sides of the front end of the recording paper, which is likely to occur in the claw-type paper feed cassette.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a sheet feeding cassette according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to a cross section taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of FIG. 1 as viewed from the back side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feed cassette 1A Cassette front wall 1a Handle 2 Cassette paper storage part 3 Push-up plate 4 Partition plate 5 Claw member 6 Separation claw 7 Paper guide 7a Guide surface 7b Film sticking part 8 Paper feed roller 9 Main body side paper guide 10 Transport passage DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Conveyance path 12 Standing rib (paper guide) 13 Film 13 Film front end P, P1, P2 Recording paper

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A film is attached to both sides of a paper guide provided in front of a cassette paper accommodating portion in accordance with the position of a separation claw, and the front end of the film extends forward from the paper guide. A paper feed cassette adapted to be in contact with a paper guide formed on the inner surface of the front wall.