JPH04292346A - Magazine for feeding sheet from sheet stack - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a magazine for feeding sheets from a stack, wherein a sheet separated from the upper side of the stack by a sheet remover is sent out via a recess in the end wall part of the sheet removed side of the feed magazine. CONSTITUTION: A press plate 4 rotatably attached to the open lower part 2 of a top side is pressed by a spring, the spring presses a sheet stack 8 disposed on the press plate 4 in a sheet removed area, and brings the same into contact with the press zone 3b of a closed cover 3. As a result of pressing the sheet stack 8 to the press zone 3b, the stack is clamped and fixed so as to be prevented from being slid. A movable contact part 13 is attached onto the end wall 2d of the lower part 2 of the magazine in the sheet removed area, and the contact part 13 closes a recess 2f and removes the sheet.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a supply magazine for stacked sheets. Each sheet is separated from the top of the stack by the copier's sheet removal device and delivered through a recess in the end wall on the removal side of the supply magazine.

0002

[Prior Art] Pending U.S. Patent Application No. 487.0
No. 82 (filed March 1, 1990) discloses a supply magazine having a cover associated with the upper portion of the sheet stack but not covering the engagement area of the sheet removal device. A pressure device acts on the underside of the sheet stack and biases the stack into contact with the sheet removal device under the force of a spring. The supply magazine further has a lower part. The top of this lower section is completely open to accept a stack of sheets. The supply magazine also has an openable cover. The distance between the inner surface of the cover and the pressing device is greater than the distance between the pressing device and the active area of the sheet removal device. In the case of the supply magazine according to the above-mentioned U.S. patent application Ser. The sheet stack remains in functionally correct position even if the

However, if the sheet stack loaded in the magazine is made of particularly smooth sheets, such as fine coated paper or plastic sheets, the coefficient of static friction is very small, so the sheet stack You cannot trust that it is in the correct functional position. In particular, if a magazine loaded with such low-friction sheet material is tilted or subjected to impact during handling, one or more sheets at the top of the sheet stack may be damaged. , it may slide out a certain length through the end wall on the sheet removal side.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that regardless of the characteristics of the loaded sheets, even when the magazine is tilted or subjected to impact, To provide a supply magazine that can maintain sheet stacks in the correct position.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a supply magazine according to the invention, a movable recess is provided in the end wall of the lower part of the magazine on the sheet removal side, through which the sheets are fed. A contact portion is provided. This abutment can at least partially close the recess.

In an embodiment of the invention, the abutment face of the movable abutment, ie the face facing the sheet stack, is in the same plane as the inner surface of the end wall on the sheet removal side. It is composed of With this configuration, the end sides of the sheet stack can always assume the same functionally correct position also in the upper region. According to a further embodiment, when the supply magazine is installed in a copier, said abutment engages an actuating device provided on the copier, said actuating device moving the abutment into an inoperative position. It is designed to move towards. With the configuration of such a movable abutment in the sheet removal area of the supply magazine,
Regardless of its characteristics, the sheet stack remains in the correct position during handling of the supply magazine, even if the supply magazine is tilted or subjected to shock when the sheet removal area is not installed in the copier. When the supply magazine is installed in the copier, the sheets can be removed without any hindrance.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The subject matter of the present invention is
No. 7,082 relates to the construction of the sheet removal area of a supply magazine, and that patent provides some information necessary for a full understanding of the present invention. The supply magazine shown in FIG. 1 (referred to as magazine 1 in the following description) is intended for use in any known type of electrostatic copier, such as an electrostatic copier (not shown). The copier includes sheet separating means (not shown in detail) and is adapted to enter the magazine 1 and remove one sheet at a time. Since such sheet separating means are not the subject of the present application, they are only shown in the form of rotatable rollers 9 which separate the sheets by friction. Roller 9 is fixedly mounted on the copier and selectively driven in rotation in the direction of the associated arrow. Magazine 1 has a lower part 2 and a cover 3. The lower part 2 is a rectangular container that can be freely taken in and out from above when the cover 3 is open. The lower part 2 includes a pressure plate 4 which is rotatable about a journal 5 and is biased by a spring 10. This supports the supplied copy paper (hereinafter referred to as sheet stack 8). Two guide bolts 2g, 2h arranged on the outer longitudinal sides of the lower part 2 serve for guiding and positioning the magazine 1 in the copier in a manner described below.

[0008] The lower part 2 is covered by a cover 3, which leaves open a cutout 3c needed for removing the sheet and for receiving the rollers 9 of the copier shown in the figure. The cover 3 is hinged around a journal 6 on the lower part 2 and comprises a control arm 3a which moves in a rotational path shown in dashed lines when the cover 3 is opened. A feature of the construction of the invention is two opposed control levers 11, one of which is shown. Control lever 1 with two arms movable about a journal 7 on the side wall of the lower part 2
The first protrusion 11a of 1 extends into its rotation path. The second protrusion 11b of the control lever 11 engages the rotatable pressure plate 4. A plurality of resilient pawls 2a formed in the lower part 2 are arranged on both sides of the pressure plate 4 and are provided with actuating arms 2b extending into the path of rotational movement of the projection 3d of the cover 3. The spring action of the pawl 2a is enhanced by a leaf spring 12 located between the pawl 2a and the side wall 2c. The pawl 2a is disposed within the movement range of a protrusion (not shown) that protrudes laterally from the pressing plate 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 3 is provided with the cutout 3c in the sheet removal area, which allows the roller 9 to engage the front end of the sheet stack 8 being urged in the magazine 1. Can be done. Lower part 2 of magazine 1
Where the sheet of end wall 2d of is removed, there is a recess 2
f (FIG. 3), through which the sheets separated by rollers 9 are taken out in the direction indicated by arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 2. The recess 2f is equipped with a safety device, which will be described later, to prevent the sheet from slipping out inadvertently.

At its end facing the sheet removal area, the lower side of the cover 3 is under a pressure on which the upper side of the sheet stack 8 is biased by a spring while the magazine 1 is not installed in the copier. Contains zone 3b. The pressure zone 3b has a surface characterized by a raised surface or raised portion, and is arranged so that the sheet stack 8 is supported uniformly and straight over its entire width inside the cover. It extends over the entire inner width of the. The pressure zone 3b of the closed cover 3 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 1, at a distance X above the underside of the stationary roller 9 of the copier in relation to the operating position of the magazine 1. The advantage of such an arrangement is that the sheet stack 8 is brought into contact with the pressing zone 3b of the cover 3 while not being pressed down by the rollers 9.

The spring-loaded contact of the sheet stack 8 against the pressure zone 3b of the cover 3 is sufficient in itself to hold the sheet stack in functionally correct position when ordinary paper is used and the magazine 1 is properly handled. It is enough. Ensuring that the sheet stack 8 is properly positioned within the magazine 1 when copying materials with low static friction, such as coated paper or plastic sheets, are used or when the magazine 1 is subjected to impacts. For this reason, the magazine 1 includes an additional protection device in the form of an abutment lever 13 in its sheet removal area. The abutment lever 13, which is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity, will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, in which only the parts necessary for an understanding of the invention are shown schematically.

FIG. 3 shows a partial view of the end of the magazine 1,
There, the seat is removed and the abutment lever 13 is arranged so as to be rotatable about a bearing 14 on the outer surface of the end wall 2d. The abutment levers 13 are mounted on the end wall such that the surface facing the sheet stack 8 is flush with the inner surface of the end wall 2d and is located at a distance of, for example, 0.2 mm from the end wall 2d. 2d and extends through the recess 2e. Due to this arrangement, the sheet stack 8 is not disturbed in its front contact area by a blocking step, and the sheet stack 8 does not interfere with the movement of the abutment lever 13. The abutting lever 1 is arranged so as to prevent the sheet stack 8 from sliding out through the recess 2f.
3 extends high above and beyond the recess 2f on the removal side of the end wall 2d. A resilient spring arm 13b is formed on the abutment lever 13 and supports the lever on the abutment 15 of the magazine. The abutment lever 13 has a projection 18 fixedly arranged on the copying machine, which is only depicted in FIG.
It has an actuating arm 13a co-operating with a.

FIG. 2 further shows that the transport rollers 16 cooperate with the guide elements 17 and 18 arranged in the copier and which cooperate directly with the magazine 1, the guide grooves 19 and the guide bolts 2g, 2h provided on both sides of the magazine. A guiding surface 20 is represented. Magazine 1 is used as follows. To load a stack of sheets 8 into the magazine 1 when removed from the copier, the cover 3 is moved by pivoting in the direction of arrow A into its open position, which is shown in phantom in FIG. During that movement, the control arm 3a of the cover 3 moves upwards in a counterclockwise direction and contacts the first projection 11a, causing the control lever 11 to rotate clockwise. As a result, the pressing plate 4 is moved by the second protrusion of the control lever 11 into the spring 1.
It is pressed downward against a force of 0. When the press plate 4 reaches its lowest loading position, indicated by the chain line, it is locked by the elastic pawl 2a. The sheet stack 8 is then loaded into the open lower part 2 of the magazine 1. Since the lower part 2 is completely open at the top, the sheet stack 8 can be easily and precisely positioned between limiting members (not shown) on the pressing plate 4 that can be adjusted to the size of the sheets to be loaded. .

When the sheet stack 8 is loaded, the cover 3
is closed again. During this cover closing operation, the pressure plate 4 initially remains locked in the lower loading position. Only immediately before the cover 3 reaches the closed position, the cover 3
The projection 3d contacts the drive arm 2b of the elastic pawl 2a and moves the pawl 2a in the direction of arrow "F". Under the action of the spring 10, the pressure plate 4 is released and pivots upwards together with the sheet stack 8 until the upper side of the sheet stack 8 springs up and comes into contact with the pressure zone 3b of the cover 3. As a result of this springing-up contact of the cover 3 with the pressure zone 3b, the sheet stack 8 is held in the operating position. Furthermore, the abutting lever 13 is also actuated. Contact lever 13
The recess 2f in the end wall 2d on the removal side is closed to prevent the sheet from sliding upward or forward.

The safety protection mechanism of this sheet stack 8 is as follows:
When the cover 3 is closed, it is in a sufficient operating state, and the sheets do not slip out of the magazine 1 when it is placed in an oblique position during handling or receives a shock. As mentioned above, the risk of such sheet slippage exists particularly when copying materials with low static friction are used.

After the magazine 1 has been loaded and closed, it can be loaded into a copier. As shown in FIG. 2, for the purpose of loading the magazine into a copying machine, the magazine 1 is inclined at an angle α of 30°, for example. The magazine is loaded onto the guide groove 19 and guide surface 20 of the copier by the guide bolts 2g, 2h, and then moved in the direction of arrow "C" to the end of the guide groove 19. At the end of this movement,
The rear guide bolt 2h slides onto the stepped portion 20a of the guide surface 20. The magazine 1 pivots slightly in the direction of arrow "D", and at this time, the front guide bolt 2g fits into the wide portion 19a of the guide groove 19.

When the magazine 1 moves in the direction of arrow "C", the open removal section 3c of the magazine 1 first moves below the roller 9. When the magazine 1 pivots in the direction of arrow "D", the front part of the sheet stack 8 then comes into contact with a fixed and drivable roller 9 and is pushed down slightly by said roller by a distance result,
The sheet stack 8 is separated from the pressure zone 3b of the cover 3. In this operating position of the magazine 1, only the upper side of the sheet stack 8 is spring-biased and in contact with the rollers 9, pushing the recess 2f provided in the end wall 2d of the lower part 2 without frictional contact with the magazine. The sheet can be removed by going through it.

When the magazine 1 is in the operating position described above, the abutment lever 13 is pivoted into the operating position in which the upper edge is below the recess 2f, and in this position the sheets are removed from the rollers 9 without any obstruction. Can be separated. The abutment lever 13 is pivoted just before the magazine 1 reaches the operating position, so that the arm 13a engages with the protrusion 18a on the guide member 18.
and pivot the abutment lever 13 against the action of the spring arm 13b, rotating the abutment lever counterclockwise to the inoperative position as shown in FIG. Magazine 1 is the arrow “
When the magazine 1 is moved in the direction of the arrow "C", the abutment lever 1
3 is initially pivoted somewhat lower than required. After the sheets have been separated by rollers 9, they are sent out of magazine 1 via guide members 17 and 18 and advanced to transport rollers 16 for transport into the copying machine.

When removing the magazine 1 from the copying machine, the magazine 1 must first be removed from the arrow "D" in order to remove the front guide bolt 2g from the expanded portion 19a of the guide groove 19.
Then the magazine 1 is removed from the copier in the direction opposite to the arrow "C". The arm 13a of the abutment lever 13 moves away from the protrusion 18a of the guide element 18; The contact lever 13 is the spring arm 1
3b allows it to rotate clockwise and pivot upward to a rocking position. The sheet stacks still attached to the magazine 1 are therefore immediately protected against slipping out of the recess 2f. Furthermore, the sheet stack 8 still attached to the magazine 1 is also protected from slipping out during removal of the magazine 1. As long as the rollers 9 and the sheet stack 8 are engaged, the rollers 9 on the sheet stack 8 will rotate in opposite directions on the surface of the stack. As soon as the rollers 9 are disengaged, the sheet stack 8 is biased by the spring into contact with the pressure zone 3d of the cover 3 and is protected against slippage by being clamped.

In contrast to the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the abutment lever 13 may be made into a single arm lever so that the protrusion of the copying machine engages with the upper side of the arm 13c. good. Regarding the operation, arrangement and design of its levers, this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

Another type of operating state of the abutment lever 13 is illustrated in FIG. This differs from the embodiment described above in that the abutment lever 13 of the magazine 1 is pivotable independently of the insertion movement of the magazine 1. For this purpose, a rod 22 with entrainment members 22a, 22b guides the sliding movement of the copier, and an electromagnet 21 causes the arrow "D" to
arm 3 of the contact lever 13.
1a extends into the path of movement of the entrainment members 22a, 22b. In the case of the device, the abutment lever 13 is pivoted directly only before the copying operation begins by the action of the electromagnet 21, and the magazine 1 is also protected while it is installed in the copier. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of magazines containing, for example, various paper formats, etc., operate simultaneously in this manner. An abutment lever 13 that is activated only immediately before the removal of the sheet and is stopped after the removal of the sheet
Due to this action, the sheet stack can be positioned more appropriately. This solution also prevents the sheet stack of the first magazine from sliding out if the first magazine is inadvertently impacted during installation of the second magazine.

In contrast to the embodiment shown, the abutment lever 13 is arranged wholly or partially under the end wall 2d of the magazine 1, so that only the arms 13a, 13b each protrude from the magazine 1. You can. The movable abutment, which prevents the sheet from sliding out, may be designed as a slider or as a component consisting of one or several elements that is electromagnetically biased when the magazine is installed.

Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a longitudinal side view of a magazine for feeding sheets from a sheet stack according to the invention; FIG.

FIG. 2 shows the supply magazine in FIG. 1 in the operating position.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion of the supply magazine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a portion of a specific example of the supply magazine.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a portion of a specific example of configuring multiple supply magazines.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Sheet supply magazine 2: Lower part 2d: End wall 2f: recess 3: Cover 3b: Pressure zone 4: Pressing plate 8: Sheet stack 9: Laura 11: Control lever 13: Contact lever

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A magazine for supplying sheets from a stack of sheets, the sheets of which are separated from the top side of the stack by a sheet removal device such as a copying machine and provided with a recess in an end wall (2d) on the removal side of the supply magazine. (2f
), the cover (3) is attached to the upper side of the sheet stack (8) and does not cover the engagement area of the sheet removal device (9), and the cover (3) is attached to the lower side of the sheet stack and does not cover the engagement area of the sheet removal device (9). a lower part (2) comprising a pressing device (4) biasing said stack into contact with said sheet removal device by means of a spring force, and further being fully released at the top to receive the sheet stack; , the cover is openable and the distance between the pressing device and the inside of the cover is greater than the distance between the pressing device and the operating area of the sheet removing device, and the cover is further arranged in the recess (2f). a movable abutment (13), through which a sheet is fed onto the removal side of the lower part (2) of the supply magazine (1) in the end wall (2d), Supply magazine, characterized in that a portion at least partially closes said recess (2f). 2. The supply magazine according to claim 1, wherein the abutment surface of the movable abutment part (13) facing the sheet stack is aligned with the plane of the inner surface of the end wall (2d) on the removal side. A sheet supply magazine characterized by being flush. 3. The supply magazine according to claim 1, wherein the abutment portion (13) is configured to be connected to an actuating device (18 respectively) of a copying machine when the magazine is installed in a copying machine.
a and 21 to 22b). 4. Sheet supply magazine according to claim 1, characterized in that said abutment is a pivotable two-armed spring-loaded lever (13). 5. Supply magazine according to claim 1, wherein the abutment is a pivotable spring-loaded lever (13) with two arms, the first lever arm (13) being pivotable and having two arms; 13) forms a movable abutment and whose second lever arm (13a) can be engaged with an actuation device (18 and 21 to 22b, respectively) of a copying machine. 6. Supply magazine according to claim 5, in which the resilient arm (13b) is connected to the pivotable lever (1).
3) A sheet supply magazine characterized by being formed as follows.