JPH04333433A - Hand operated paper feeding device for picture image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate providing a mechanism, for elevating sheets toward a paper feeding roller, on the part of a paper feeding device of a picture image forming device main body, and supply sheets to a hand operated tray at any time, by elevation-possibly providing a bottom plate on the hand operated tray. CONSTITUTION:Sheets placed on a tray 20 are made suppliable by mounting a hand operated tray 20 on the hand operated paper feeding part 10 of a picture image forming device 1. A bottom plate 25 is elevation-possibly provided on the hand operated tray 20, and a side protruded member 27 is located at the tip part of the bottom plate. A paper supply roller 15 and a cam 17 are provided on a shaft 12 in the hand operated paper feeding part, and pressing to the bottom plate with the cam 17 is released when the paper feeding roller 15 composed as a half moon roller makes paper feeding operation. When the hand operated tray is attached/detached, the action of pushing down the bottom plate is made with an insertion guide 9 provided on the upper part of a tray mounted part 8.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a manual feed tray provided in a manual paper feed section of an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and in particular, the present invention relates to a manual feed tray provided in a manual feed section of an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine. The present invention relates to a paper feeding device configured to press paper toward a paper feeding roller.

0002

[Prior Art] In an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, a paper storage device such as a paper feed tray or a paper feed cassette is attached to a paper feed section, and a paper feed device provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus is provided. A means such as a roller is used to feed the image toward the image transfer section. In addition, when feeding special paper such as OHP film or thick paper that cannot be fed using the paper storage device, or when feeding only one sheet of special size paper, the above-mentioned paper feed tray is used. Instead, a means for feeding paper is used using a manual tray provided integrally with the paper feeding section. For example, the manual feed trays used in general image forming apparatuses include those that only place one sheet of paper and guide it toward the paper feed section, and those that place multiple sheets of paper on the tray. There are types of manual feed trays that can be used, and the format of these manual feed trays can be arbitrarily selected depending on the image forming apparatus.

As the manual feed tray configured to be able to place a large number of sheets, for example, a device configured as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-49942 is used. The manual feed tray shown in the conventional example is configured to load and feed a large number of sheets of paper, and the tray member is swingably arranged on the side of the main body of the image forming apparatus. ing. Then, the tray is set in the paper feed position only when the tray is used, and the paper is fed one by one through the tray using the paper feed roller and paper handling mechanism provided in the paper feed device of the main body of the apparatus. That's what I do. In addition, in the manual paper feed device shown in the conventional example, the paper feed device of the main body is provided with an elevating mechanism that presses the paper toward the paper feed roller, and the tray is simply a place where the paper is placed. It is used as a means for guiding the paper toward the paper feed section.

[0004] In a paper feed device using a manual feed tray of a general image forming apparatus, an elevating mechanism or the like is provided for the paper feed device of the main body of the image forming apparatus to press the paper toward a paper feed roller. There is a problem in that the configuration of the paper feeding device becomes complicated due to the arrangement of the paper handling mechanism and the like. In addition, if the paper feeding device is constructed using a biasing means such as a spring as a lifting mechanism for swinging the paper as described above, the paper may be raised and lowered when replenishing paper to the manual feed tray. It is necessary to perform an operation such as pushing down the swinging member against a biasing means (spring) for replenishing paper. Therefore, when replenishing paper, it is required to release the biasing force of the elevating mechanism and replenish the paper at the same time, which poses a problem in that the operation is troublesome.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In order to solve the problem of the structure and operability of the paper feed device for the manual feed tray as described above, in the conventional example shown in the above publication, a cam is used to raise and lower the paper. Each time a sheet of paper is sent out, the elevating member is lowered to facilitate the operation of adding sheets. However, even when the elevating member is swung by a cam, it is necessary to provide an interlocking mechanism between the paper feeding device of the main body and the cam. The problem that the configuration of the paper device becomes complicated remains unsolved.

In addition to the above-mentioned problems, the paper feed device from the manual feed tray is not used all the time like the paper feed device using the paper feed tray, but it is difficult to use when using special paper such as thick paper. It is only used. However, there is a problem in that using a complicated mechanism similar to the paper feeding unit from the paper feed tray for the paper feed device from the manual feed tray is a major factor in increasing the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus. . Furthermore, in the apparatus shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, the manual feed tray itself is simply used as a sheet placement member, and a heavy burden is placed only on the paper feeder.

[0007]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the manual paper feeding device.The present invention provides a manual paper tray with paper support means that is biased upward by a spring, and a cam member provided on the paper feeding device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a manual paper feeding device for an image forming apparatus, which allows paper to be raised and lowered by using the above-described method, and which can simplify the configuration of a paper feeding device provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0008]

[Means and operations for solving the problems] A manual paper feeding device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a manual feeding tray on which a large number of sheets of paper are placed, which is removably attached to the paper feeding section of the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an apparatus configured to feed paper toward an image transfer section via a paper handling mechanism provided in a paper feed section of a forming apparatus main body. In the present invention, a paper support means (bottom plate) is provided at the end of the paper feed side of the manual feed tray so as to be swingable by being biased by a spring, and a paper support means (bottom plate) is provided on both sides of the paper feed side of the paper support means. A protruding member is disposed, and a paper feed roller and a pad member are disposed in the paper feed section of the image forming apparatus, and a cam member provided on the shaft of the paper feed roller is disposed, and the cam member is It is arranged at a position corresponding to a side protrusion member of the manual feed tray, and is configured to be stopped and held at a position where the side protrusion member is pressed between sheet feeding operations. Furthermore, in the present invention, when inserting the manual tray into the tray mounting section of the main body, the side projection member provided on the bottom plate is pushed down by the insertion guide of the tray mounting section, and then the bottom plate is pressed by the cam member. The configuration is such that the manual feed tray is set in the paper feed section in the state where the tray is set.

Therefore, with the configuration described above, in the manual paper feeding device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the configuration of the paper feeding device provided in the main body of the device can be improved by arranging the bottom plate with respect to the manual feeding tray. In addition to simplifying the process, the paper feeding operation can be performed accurately. Further, in the present invention, when the manual feed tray is attached to the paper feed section, there is no need to operate the elevating member, so that the task of attaching and detaching the manual feed tray can be easily performed.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A manual paper feeder for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. A printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured as an apparatus that forms an image using an electrophotographic method and transfers the toner image onto paper. In addition, although not shown in the figure, the printer shown in the figure has one or more paper feed trays or paper cassettes installed in its paper feed section, as in the case of general copiers, etc. It is configured so that it can be done. In the printer 1, a paper feed roller 15 and a retard pad 18 are disposed facing each other in the manual paper feed section 10,
The pad 18 is connected to the paper feed roller 15 by a spring 19.
The paper handling mechanism is configured by biasing toward the paper feed roller.
Paper is inserted from the manual feed tray 20 toward the area 15. Further, in the manual paper feed section 10, a cam 17 is connected to the shaft 12 of the paper feed roller 15.
is installed in a fixed manner.

The manual tray 20 attached to the manual paper feed section 10 has a bottom plate 25 swingably provided at the tip of a tray 21 on which paper is placed, and the bottom plate 25 is attached upward by a spring 26. It is set up in a state where it is strong. Furthermore, a side protrusion member 27 is provided at the tip of the bottom plate 25 to protrude upward, and the side protrusion member 27 will be explained in detail later. In the portion where the manual tray 20 is inserted into the manual paper feed section 10, an insertion guide 9 is disposed above the tray mounting section. When installing the manual tray 20, a side protrusion member 2 provided on the bottom plate of the tray is attached.
7 is swung downward by the insertion guide 9 to prevent the paper P placed on the bottom plate from hitting other members when the manual feed tray is attached to the paper feed section. Ru.

[0012] Printer 1 provided with the manual paper feed section 10
As in the case of an image forming apparatus using a general electrophotographic method, the printer is constructed by disposing means for forming a toner image (not shown) around the photoreceptor drum 2, and the paper path inside the printer is arranged around the photoreceptor drum 2. A conveying roller device 4 is provided in the conveyor roller device 4. Also,
In the printer 1, a transfer corotron 3 is disposed at the image transfer section of the photosensitive drum 2 along the paper path, a fixing device 5 is provided downstream of the image transfer section, and a copy is transferred to a discharge roller.
A mechanism is provided to send the paper toward the discharge tray 7 via the roller 6.

In the printer of the present invention constructed as described above, each member constituting the manual paper feed section 10 and the manual paper tray 20 is arranged in the relationship shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the printer The tray mounting section 8 of No. 1 is provided with insertion guides 9, 9a at the upper part of both sides thereof. Further, in the case of the present invention, a half-moon roller is used as the paper feed roller 15 constituting the paper feed device 11, and the paper feed roller 15,
Two free rollers 16 are arranged on the shaft 12 of 15, and two cams 17 and 17a are fixed to the shaft at both end portions of the shaft. Note that pads 18 are provided at positions corresponding to the two sets of paper feed rollers and free rollers.
The retard pad 18 is urged toward the paper feed roller by a spring 19. The shaft 12 includes
An input gear 14 and a spring clutch 13 are provided,
Drive force is transmitted via the gear 14 by a drive mechanism (not shown), and the spring clutch 13 is used to transfer the drive force to the shaft 12.
is rotated once, and the sheets placed on the manual feed tray are sent out one by one toward the paper path, and conveyed by the conveyance roller device 4 toward the image transfer section.

With respect to the manual feed tray 20 attached to the manual paper feed section 10 of the printer, a bottom plate 25 disposed at the tip in the paper feeding direction has side protrusions 27, 27a on both sides of the tip. A pad member 28 for setting a large frictional force is disposed at the tip of the bottom plate 25 at a position corresponding to the paper feed roller. Further, the side projection members 27, 27a are arranged at positions corresponding to the insertion guides 9, 9a provided on the main body and the cams 17, 17a, respectively. Furthermore, side guides 22, 22a are arranged on both sides of the tray 21 on which paper is placed in the manual feed tray 20, so as to regulate both sides of the paper placed on the manual feed tray.

In the manual paper feed section 10 of the present invention configured as described above, there are two cases in which a manual feed tray is installed;
The actions of each member during the paper feeding operation will be described below. Figure 4
In the example shown in , the cam 17 is fixedly held at the bottom, and the tip of the cam 17 presses the side projection member 27 of the bottom plate 25, so that the paper placed on the bottom plate 25 is moved to the paper feeder. -It is in a state where it is not in contact with Ra. Figure 5
The example shown in 2 shows a state in which the output tray is removed from the paper feed section. As seen in FIG. 5, when the bottom plate 25 of the manual feed tray 20 is not pressed by the cam member 17, the bottom plate 25 is biased by the spring 26, and the tip on the paper feeding side is pushed upward. It is in a swayed state. Further, since the cam 17 of the paper feeding section is held at the stop position, it is set in a state where it can press the bottom plate.

When inserting the manual tray 20 into the tray mounting section 8 from the state shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. The manual feed tray 20 is pushed in while the side protrusion member 27 provided on the bottom plate 25 is pressed. Even if the side protrusion member 27 moves out of the position where it is pressed by the insertion guide 9 during the operation of pushing in the manual tray, the side protrusion member 27 immediately moves to the lower part of the cam 17. Therefore, the bottom plate 25 is set in the paper feeder 11 while being pushed down, and the manual tray is set in the state shown in FIG. 4.

When the shaft 12 is driven from the condition shown in FIG. - roller comes into contact with the top surface of the paper, and the paper feeding roller starts feeding the paper. Then, the feeding action by the paper feed roller continues only while the half-moon-shaped surface of the paper feed roller 15 is in contact with the paper. Furthermore, after the half-moon-shaped surface of the paper feed roller is separated from the paper, a free roller 16 placed on the side of the paper feed roller presses the paper toward the retard pad 18. However, since the free roller 16 is configured as a free roller, the shaft 1
2 rotates as the paper is transported by the downstream transport roller device.

When the shaft 12 is rotated once through the spring clutch, the cam 17 is returned to the position shown, and the tip of the cam 17 pushes down the side projection member 27 of the bottom plate 25. , the paper supported by the bottom plate is held in a position where it does not come into contact with the roller device. As described above, each time the paper feed roller is rotated in response to a paper feed signal output from the control device of the printer main body, the paper is urged toward the paper feed roller; The action of pushing down the bottom plate is repeated to feed the paper toward the image transfer section. Further, in the manual feed tray shown in the above embodiment, it is possible to replenish paper with new paper while the tray is attached to the paper feed section. In other words, in the manual feed tray of the present invention, the bottom plate 25 is always held in a lowered position between paper feeding operations, so a space is formed above the bottom plate so that paper can be inserted. in a state. Therefore, it is easy to replenish paper at any time while feeding paper using the manual feed tray.

[0019] In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a manual feed tray provided for a printer has been described, but the manual feed tray in this embodiment can also be applied to devices such as electronic copying machines, and can be used in digital formats. The present invention can be easily used not only in image forming apparatuses but also in ordinary optical scanning type image forming apparatuses. Furthermore, any conventionally known means can be used as the means for biasing the bottom plate of the manual feed tray, and the shape of the side protrusion member disposed on the bottom plate, the insertion guide and cam provided on the main body, etc. ,
It can be set as appropriate.

[0020]

Effects of the Invention Since the manual paper feeding device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, by arranging the bottom plate with respect to the manual feeding tray, the paper feeding device provided in the main body of the device can be easily adjusted. It is possible to simplify the structure of the paper, and to perform the paper feeding operation accurately. Further, in the present invention, when the manual feed tray is attached to the paper feed section, there is no need to operate the elevating member, so that the work of attaching and detaching the manual feed tray can be easily performed. In addition, even if the tray is still supporting a large number of sheets of paper, the paper will not be damaged when the tray is attached or removed, and paper can be replenished at any time during paper feeding. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus to which a manual tray of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the relationship between a manual paper feed section and a manual tray.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the relationship between the manual paper feed section and the manual tray.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship of each member when a manual tray is attached to the manual paper feed section.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the manual tray is taken out from the manual paper feed section.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in the middle of inserting the manual tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Printer, 8 Tray mounting section, 9
Insertion guide, 10 Manual paper feed section, 12
shaft, 15 paper feed roller, 16 free roller, 17 cam, 20 manual feed tray, 25 bottom plate, 27 side projection member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A manual feed tray for placing a large number of sheets of paper is removably installed in the paper feed section of the image forming apparatus, and the paper is fed through a paper handling mechanism provided in the paper feed section of the main body of the image forming apparatus. In the apparatus configured to feed the paper toward the image transfer section, the paper support means is provided at the end of the paper feed side of the manual feed tray so as to be swingable by being biased by a spring; The paper feed section of the image forming apparatus includes a paper handling mechanism including a paper feed roller and a paper handling member, and a cam provided on the shaft of the paper feed roller. The cam member is arranged at a position corresponding to a side protrusion member of the manual feed tray, and presses the side protrusion member between paper feeding operations to stop and hold the paper in a lowered position. A manual paper feeder for an image forming apparatus characterized by: