JPH062531B2 - Paper feed cassette - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an improvement of a sheet feeding device in a recording apparatus such as electrophotography, electrostatic recording, and electrostatic printing.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, for example, in a sheet feeding device such as an electrophotographic copying machine,
Each time the recording paper size is different, the paper cassettes attached to the paper feed unit are replaced to feed paper (the former), or paper feed cassettes of various sizes are arranged in multiple paper feed units, and the size designation signal is used The paper feed roller of the paper feed cassette is driven to feed paper (the latter). In the former paper feeding device, it is necessary to replace the paper feeding cassette each time, and copying work cannot be performed quickly and smoothly. In the latter paper feeding device, it corresponds to a plurality of paper feeding units and paper feeding units. Since it is necessary to dispose a paper feed cassette for this, the apparatus becomes complicated and a signal system is required, resulting in a complicated structure.

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-19427, there is known one in which the two types of paper feed cassettes are converted by two types of arm mechanisms which respectively support the two types of paper feed cassettes. That is, the arm is rotated about the axis provided in the main body of the copying machine,
A necessary paper feed cassette supported by the arm is moved to a paper feed position and an unnecessary paper feed cassette is retracted from the paper feed position. Moreover, JP-A-57-160838
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No.
There is also one in which individual paper feed rollers are moved and switched to feed each paper.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the paper feeding device described in the above publication, the mechanism for controlling the rotation of the arm and the mechanism by the operation lever are complicated, which not only increases the cost of the device but also reduces the reliability of paper feeding.

Further, in the above-described two-stage cassette, when the upper-stage sheet cassette is fitted to the lower-stage sheet cassette attached to the sheet feeder, the bottom of the upper-stage sheet cassette is in the path direction. In some cases, the recording paper may be damaged by sliding contact with the recording paper stored in the lower paper feed cassette, or the recording paper may not be fed properly.

Generally, in a type in which two paper feed cassettes can be simultaneously installed in the copying machine, the copying machine is provided with two upper and lower paper cassette loading devices and two upper and lower recording paper feeding devices.
Recording papers are sent out from the paper feed cassettes by the respective feeding devices and are conveyed to the recording unit. In such a paper feeding device, two or more sets of paper feeding cassette mounting device and recording paper feeding device are required. Therefore, the number of components, the number of steps required for assembly, adjustment and repair, the control circuit, etc. are all more than doubled, which is not preferable in terms of manufacturing cost and quality stability. In addition, the operability of replenishing and replacing the recording paper is troublesome.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances, and its object is not to increase the size of the device, and further, a complicated signal system for size switching is unnecessary,
An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feed cassette that can be easily and quickly changed in size. The above-mentioned object is provided with an intermediate plate which is axially supported by both side plates of the first housing, whose front end on the paper feed side is always urged upward, and which is provided with left and right recording paper width regulating plates and which can be moved up and down. Separation claw members are arranged at both corners on the paper feed side through supporting members pivotally supported by the left and right recording paper width regulation plates, and the recording paper is loaded by being constantly urged upward by elastic members or the like. A bottom plate for placement is provided above the middle plate, cam projections are formed on the upper surface of the left and right recording paper width regulating plates or the supporting member, and guide rails are provided on the inner surfaces of both side plates of the first housing. A first paper feed cassette, and the first paper feed cassette
A left and right recording paper width regulating plate is provided in a second housing in which grooves for engaging the guide rails of the paper feeding cassette are provided on the outer surfaces of both side plates, and the left and right recording paper width regulating plates are pivotally supported by the separation. The claw members are arranged at both corners on the paper feeding side, and are urged upward by elastic members at all times. The second paper feeding cassette is provided with a bottom plate on which recording paper is placed. The guide rail of the first paper feed cassette is fitted into the groove of the second paper feed cassette so that the second paper feed cassette is fitted and mounted in the first paper feed cassette. When the second sheet feeding cassette is inserted, the middle plate is pushed down by the contact between the cam protrusion in the first sheet feeding cassette and the bottom portion of the second sheet feeding cassette,
This is achieved by a paper feed cassette characterized in that the separation claw member and the leading edge of the middle plate of the paper feed cassette are retracted from the paper feed position, and the leading edge of the recording paper in the second paper feed cassette is arranged at the paper feed position. .

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

1 to 3 are views for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view of a first paper feed cassette (lower cassette) for forming a two-stage paper feed cassette, and FIG. 1 (b) is a perspective view of a second paper feed cassette (upper cassette). is there. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a process of fitting the upper cassette into the upper portion of the lower cassette. FIG. 3 (a) is A of FIG.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A ', and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the lower cassette.

In these drawings, 10 is a first paper feed cassette (hereinafter referred to as a lower cassette), and 20 is a second paper feed cassette (hereinafter referred to as an upper cassette). The lower cassette 10 is composed of a lower housing 1, an intermediate plate 2, a bottom plate 3, a separating claw member 4, and a lock member 5. The lower housing is installed on the paper feed tray 30 from the paper feed port of the main body of the copying machine. 1A is a front portion of the lower housing 1, 1B is a rear portion, 1C is a left and right side plate portion, and 1D is a bottom plate portion.

The middle plate 2 is a box-shaped member that is housed inside the lower housing 1, and accommodates recording paper inside. Middle plate 2
The inner side of the front plate portion 2A serves as a front stopper for the recording paper.
Since one end of each of the left and right side plate portions 2B of the middle plate 2 is rotatably supported by the shaft 6 vertically planted in the left and right side plate portions 1C of the lower housing 1, the middle plate 2 and the front plate portion 2A are It is formed so as to move up and down about the axis 6.

A shaft 7 is planted in each of the left and right side plate portions 2B of the middle plate 2, and the separation claw member 4 rotatable about the shaft 7 is provided.
Are provided on the left and right. The other end of the separating claw member 4 is bent and reaches near the inside of the front plate portion 2A of the middle plate 2, and a claw-shaped separating claw 4A is integrally provided on the upper portion thereof. The middle plate 2 is provided on the bottom portion 1 of the lower housing 1 via the support member 4C.
It is elastically held by a push-up member which is provided between the lower cassette 10 and D and which always has an elastic member interposed therebetween. Therefore, the vertical movement of the separation claw 4A when the recording sheet is fed from the lower cassette 10 is elastic. And it is done lightly.

A mountain-shaped cam portion 2D is provided on the upper surface of the left and right side plate portions 2B of the middle plate 2.
Are integrally formed. The cam portion 2D abuts when the upper cassette 20 to be described later is fitted into the lower cassette 10 so that the middle plate 2 is forcibly pushed down.

Next, in the lower housing 1, a recording paper loading bottom plate 3 is provided on the middle plate 2.
The bent portion 3B at one end of the bottom plate 3 is inserted into the slit of the bottom portion 1D of the lower housing 1, and the spring 8 is arranged between the bottom plate 3 and the bottom portion 1D of the middle plate 2. Is configured to rotate about the slit portion. The tip 2A at the other end of the bottom plate 3 has the separating claw 4
The length is set so as to contact the lower part of A.

Further, the bottom plate 3 is moved by the push-up plate 32 which moves through the opening 1E through the bottom 1D of the lower housing 1 in accordance with the rotation of the rotating shaft 31 provided on the paper feed table 30 of the copying machine body. It is rotated around the bent portion 3B.

Here, the rotation of the shaft 31 that rotates the push-up plate 32 is
As shown in the figure, the lower cassette 10 is driven by the displacement of the rollers 33 when the lower cassette 10 is inserted into the paper feed section of the main body of the copying machine. The roller 33 is rotatably fitted to the fixed shaft 35 of the arm 34 fixed to the rotating shaft 31, and the lower cassette 10 is inserted into the paper feeding section. At the start, the roller 33 is mounted on the side plate portion 1C of the lower housing 1.
Guide cam surface 1F-1G-1 formed on the outside of the
It is in the 1F position of H.

At this point, the front end of the push-up plate 32 faces upward and pushes up the bottom portion 1D of the middle plate 2, so that the front part 1 of the lower housing 1 is left as it is.
Although it interferes with A, the roller 33 is a spring as the lower housing 1 advances.
It displaces on the cam surface 1G against the tension of 36 to rotate the push-up plate 32 downward so that the lower housing 1 can be moved forward. Thus, when the lower housing 1 is completely inserted into the paper feeding section, the roller 33 shown in FIG. 2 is located on the cam surface 1H and the pushing plate 32 is again directed upward, and the bottom portion 1D of the middle plate 2 is pushed up to feed the half-moon type sheet. Paper can be fed by the roll 37.

3C is a non-slip when the recording sheet P ₁ is fed from the bottom plate 3, and a felt or the like is usually attached thereto. Further, 1J is a fitting groove for preventing looseness after the lower housing 1 is inserted into the paper feeding portion, and is engaged with the fitting claw of the copying machine body. 1K is a stepped portion of the front plate portion of the lower housing 1, which is a protrusion of the paper feeding table 30 of the copying machine body.
It is struck against 30A and lower housing 1 is set in a fixed position.

Next, 1L is a guide rail for fitting an upper cassette 20, which will be described later, provided on both side plate portions 1C of the lower housing, and 1M is fitted on the guide rail 1L and the upper cassette 20 is fitted.
Is a shelf to which both sides of its lower surface slide when it is fitted. Reference numeral 5 is a lock member, and similarly, in the process of fitting the upper cassette 20, its head is pressed and descends, and its tip is fitted into the recess of the main body of the copying machine to lock the lower housing 1 to the main body. To be done. The locking member 5 is supported by a supporting member 9 in a notch portion inside the cassette side plate portions 1C.

1 to 3, 20 is an upper cassette, 21 is an upper housing of the upper cassette 20, 21A is a front portion of the upper housing 21, 21B is a rear portion,
21C is the left and right side plate portions, and 21D is the bottom portion. Reference numeral 22 is a size regulating plate for the recording paper P ₂ , which is fixed to the bottom portion 21D of the upper housing by screws 23, but when the size is desired to be changed, one of the regulating plates 22 is moved. The regulating plate 22 is provided with a separating claw member 25 rotatable about a screw 24, and the other end of the separating claw member 25 is provided with a separating claw 25A. 26 is a bottom plate for placing recording paper, and one end of the bottom plate is a cassette bottom plate 21.
It is rotatably retained in the D slit 21E, and its length is determined so that the other end is in contact with the lower portion of the separation claw 25A. 27 is a spring that elastically pushes up the bottom portion 21D, and the bottom plate 26 is elastically moved up and down by the action of the spring 27 according to the weight of the recording paper. Reference numeral 21F is a groove that engages with the guide rail 1L of the lower housing 1, and 28 is a recording paper slip stopper attached on the bottom plate 26.

In the above-described upper cassette 20, the roller 23 is positioned at 1H of the guide cam surface and the push-up plate 32 is directed upward and the bottom portion 1D of the middle plate 2 is pushed up as described above with reference to FIG. bottom plate 3 is fitted to the lower casing 1 which is set in the paper feed ready though the recording sheet P ₁ pushed up from. The fitting direction at this time is the direction of the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1, the guide rail 1L of the lower housing 1 is engaged with the groove 54 of the upper housing 21, and the slides 1M on both sides of the lower housing 1 are slid. Be fitted. Further, the bottom portion 21D of the upper housing 21 to be fitted pushes down the heads of the lock members 5 provided on both sides of the lower housing 1 to lock the lower housing 1 to the main body of the copying machine. To reach. Even after this position, it is possible to feed paper from the lower housing 1 at the front point where the bottom portion 21D of the upper housing 21 contacts the recording paper P ₁ on the lower housing 1. 2 and 3 (a) show the fitted state of the lock member after locking.

Then, as the upper cassette 20 advances, the front portion 21 of the upper housing 21
The bottom portion of A contacts the inclined surface of the cam portion 2D formed in a convex shape on both side plate portions 2B of the middle plate 2 installed in the lower cassette 10. By moving the upper cassette 20 further forward, the upper housing 21
The contact point between the cam portion 2D and the cam portion 2D gradually moves upward. As a result, the bottom portion of the middle plate 2 is pushed down via the cam portion 2D of the side plate portion 2B against the pushing pressure of the pushing plate 32, that is, the elasticity of the spring 36 stretched on the rotary shaft 31, and the upper cassette is pushed. 20
Is fitted to the final position. This final second position is the third
It is shown in Figure (b). At this second position, recording paper P ₂ of different size is fed from the upper cassette 20 by the feed roller.

Change the size again during the paper feeding by the upper cassette 20,
If you want to feed paper from the lower cassette 10,
The object is achieved by pulling back to the position where it does not contact the recording paper P ₁ of the lower cassette 10 until the first position or before. That is, by pulling back the upper cassette 20 from the second position to the first position, the pressure contact between the bottom portion 21D of the upper housing 21 and the cam portion 2D of the lower cassette 10 is released, and the lower cassette is released.
The middle plate 2 and the bottom plate 3 of 10 rotate upward due to the pushing-up pressure of the spring 8 and the pushing-up plate 32, and the recording paper P ₁ placed on the bottom plate 3 is pressed against the paper feed roller 37. . At the first position, the recording paper P ₁ is fed from the lower cassette 10 to the paper feed roller 3
Paper is fed by 7.

In this way, recording sheets of different sizes can be changed very simply by simply moving the upper cassette 20 back and forth. Further, when the upper cassette 20 is fitted and moved forward to the paper feeding position, the cam portion 2D projects above the uppermost layer surface of the recording paper P ₁ stored in the lower cassette 10, so that the recording paper P ₁
Does not hit or slide against the upper cassette 20, and jamming is prevented. When pulling back the upper cassette 20 from the second position to the first position or the proper position before that,
Since the above-mentioned lock member 5 locks the lower cassette 10 to the main body of the copying machine, the lower cassette 10 is pulled by the upper cassette 20.
Do not move.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a first paper feed cassette showing another embodiment according to the present invention. This is the side plate portion 2B of the middle plate 2.
It is characterized in that a cam portion 4B is provided on the upper surface of the support member 4C instead of the cam portion 2D provided in the above. Since the separation claw member 4 is rotatably supported by the side plate portion 2B of the middle plate 2 by the shaft 7, when the upper cassette 20 is advanced, the tip portion of the bottom portion 21D of the upper casing 21 is moved by the cam portion 4.
When B is pressed, the middle plate 2 and the bottom plate 3 are pushed down via the separating claw member 4 and retracted, and the upper cassette 20 reaches the second position, so that the upper cassette 20 can feed paper.

As described above, in the two-stage paper feeding cassette of the present invention, the two-stage paper feeding is achieved by simply moving the upper cassette, which is formed separately from the lower cassette, into the lower cassette, and The recording paper is not damaged during the moving operation. In the two-stage sheet feeding cassette referred to in the present invention, for example, the lower cassette may be a sheet feeding table, and the upper cassette may be fitted on the sheet feeding table.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the two-stage paper feeding cassette of the present invention, the size change at the time of feeding a copying machine or the like does not cause the copying machine main body feeding section to become large and complicated.
Further, there is an effect that it can be achieved very easily without providing a complicated signal system. Further, since the separation claws and the push-up bottom plate are arranged in each of the paper feed cassettes, the paper can be reliably fed from the paper feed section, and malfunctions can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are perspective views of the first sheet feeding cassette and the second sheet feeding cassette, and FIG. 2 shows a process of fitting the second sheet feeding cassette on the upper stage portion of the first sheet feeding cassette. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of FIG. 2 and a cross-sectional view showing a state after fitting of the second paper feed cassette is completed, and FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the first paper feed cassette. It is a figure. FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a first sheet feeding cassette of another embodiment according to the present invention. 1 ... Lower housing, 2 ... Middle plate 2B ... Side plate part, 2D ... Cam part 3,26 ... Bottom plate, 4, 25 ... Separation claw member 4A, 25A ... Separation claw, 4B ... Cam part 5 …… Lock member, 8, 27 …… Spring 10 …… First paper feeding cassette (lower cassette) 20 …… Second paper feeding cassette (upper cassette) 21 …… Upper housing, 21A …… Front 22 …… Size control plate, 32 …… Pushing plate 37 …… Paper feed roller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vertically movable intermediate plate provided with left and right recording paper width regulating plates, which is axially supported by both side plates of the first housing and whose paper feed side end is always urged upward. Separation claw members are arranged at both corners on the paper feed side through supporting members pivotally supported by the left and right recording paper width regulation plates, and the recording paper is loaded by being constantly urged upward by elastic members or the like. A bottom plate for placement is provided above the middle plate, cam projections are formed on the upper surface of the left and right recording paper width regulating plates or the supporting member, and guide rails are provided on the inner surfaces of both side plates of the first housing. And a second paper feed cassette provided with a groove for engaging with the guide rail of the first paper feed cassette on the outer surface side of both side plates.
The left and right recording paper width restricting plates are provided in the housing, and the separating claw members pivotally supported by the left and right recording paper width restricting plates are arranged at both corners on the paper feeding side, and are always attached upward by elastic members. And a second paper feed cassette having a bottom plate on which the recording paper is placed, the guide rail of the first paper feed cassette is fitted in the groove of the second paper feed cassette. The second paper feed cassette is fitted and mounted in the first paper feed cassette, and
When the sheet cassette is inserted, the middle plate is pushed down by the contact between the cam projection in the first sheet cassette and the bottom of the second sheet cassette, and the separation claw member of the first sheet cassette and A paper feed cassette characterized in that the front end of the middle plate is retracted from the paper feed position, and the front end of the recording paper in the second paper feed cassette is arranged at the paper feed position.