JPH07196177A - Sheet material feeding device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the skew feed of sheet material and feed sheet material separatively sheet by sheet by moving a feeding member, having started its rotation for feeding, by the specified quantity toward the feeding reference face, and resetting the feeding member, having stopped the rotation for feeding, into a position before the movement. CONSTITUTION:Upon starting the rotation for feeding, a feeding member 3 is moved toward the feeding reference face along a supporting member 7 by a feeding member moving means 33. Sheet material S delivered by the feeding member 3 is therefore drawn toward the feeding reference face 12. At the time of non-feeding the sheet material S delivered by the feeding member 3, the feeding member 3 is returned by a return means 32 into a position before being moved by the feeding member moving means 33. When the feeding member 3 moves the sheet material S to the feeding reference face 12 side, the moving quantity of the feeding member 3 is regulated by a regulating member so as to prevent the sheet material S from being drawn excessively. The sheet material S can be thereby fed in a correct feed attitude without skew feed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material feeding device provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile is provided with a sheet material feeding device (conventional example 1) shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 or a sheet material feeding apparatus shown in FIGS. Some are equipped with a feeder (conventional example 2). <Description of Conventional Example 1>
A sheet material supporting member (hereinafter referred to as a cassette) 1 for stacking and storing sheets, and left and right half-moon shaped feeding rollers (as viewed from the sheet material feeding direction) for sequentially feeding the sheet material S in the cassette 1 from the uppermost sheet material And the feeding members 2 and 3 made of.

The cassette 1 is detachably mounted on the cassette mounting portion 4A of the image forming apparatus main body 4. Further, the paper feed rollers 2 and 3 are roller shafts 7 rotatably supported by left and right support plates 5 and 6 of the image forming apparatus body 4.
It is fixed on.

Inside the cassette body 1A of the cassette 1, the spindle 8 is rotatable in the up and down directions, and
An intermediate plate 10 that is biased upward by a push-up spring (coil spring) 9 is installed, and the sheet material S is stacked on the intermediate plate 10.

In the cassette body 1A, the intermediate plate 10
The one side end SA of the sheet material S stacked on the sheet in the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction (the width direction of the sheet material) is pressed, and the other side end SB is referred to the reference surface 11 in the cassette body 1A. Width-direction positioning member 1 to be brought into contact with the member (feed reference surface) 12
3 and a trailing edge positioning member 14 that regulates the trailing edge position of the sheet material S stacked on the intermediate plate 10. The width direction positioning member 13 is a pressing spring (leaf spring) 13
The sheet material S comes into contact with one side end SA through A.

As described above, the one side end SA of the sheet material S stacked on the middle plate 10 is pressed by the width direction positioning member 13, and the other side end SB of the sheet material S is set as the reference surface 11 and the reference member 12. By bringing them into contact with each other, the sheet materials S stacked on the intermediate plate 10 are brought into a posture in which they can be correctly fed.

In this case, the width direction positioning member 13 and the rear end positioning member 14 are installed at positions corresponding to the sheet material size. The width-direction positioning member 13 is located at a substantially central portion of the sheet material S in the sheet feeding direction (length direction), and the other side end SB of the sheet material S has the reference surface 11 and the reference member 1.
The one side end SA of the sheet material S is pressed so that the sheet material S comes into contact with the same pressure.

Left and right separating claws 1 for separating the sheet materials S fed by the feeding members 2 and 3 one by one at the positions corresponding to both ends of the sheet material S of the cassette body 1A.
5 and 16 are installed. The left and right separation claws 15 and 1
6 also regulates the upward movement of the leading edge of the sheet material S stacked on the intermediate plate 10.

On the roller shafts 7 of the feeding members 2 and 3, the rotation of the feeding motor 17 installed on the support plate 5 causes the gear 1 to rotate.
It is adapted to be transmitted via 8, 19, 20, 21, 22 and one-rotation clutch 23.

Before feeding the sheet material S, the feeding members 2 and 3 are
As shown in FIG. 12, the cutout portion is on the lower side, and is in the initial posture in which it does not come into contact with the sheet material (the uppermost sheet material) S stacked on the intermediate plate 10.

When the sheet material is fed, the one-rotation clutch 23 is energized (clutch on), and the rotation of the feeding motor 17 which is constantly driven is transmitted to the roller shaft 7. It makes one rotation and stops again at the initial position. During this one rotation, the feeding members 2 and 3 come into contact with the sheet material S at the uppermost position on the intermediate plate 10 and feed the sheet material S by frictional force.

Of the sheet material S fed by the feeding members 2 and 3, only the uppermost sheet material S is separated by the left and right separating claws 15 and 16, and as shown in FIG. It is sent to the pair of transport rollers 24 installed.

At this time, the sheet material S fed from the cassette 1 by the feeding members 2 and 3 is fed along the feeding reference member 12 and enters the nip of the conveying roller pair 24 without skew.

The driving roller 24 of the pair of conveying rollers 24
A and the driven roller 24B are rotatably attached to the support plates 5 and 6. The drive roller 24A is in contact with the driven roller 24B with a predetermined pressure. <Description of Conventional Example 2> In describing the present sheet material feeding device, the same members and the like as those of the sheet material feeding device of Conventional Example 1 will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the sheet material feeding device of the prior art example 1, the sheet material S stacked and stored in the cassette 1 is fed out by the left and right feeding members 2 and 3, and the left and right separating claws 1 are provided.
In the present sheet material feeding apparatus, the sheet materials S stacked in the cassette 1 are fed out by the feeding member 3 arranged only on the reference member 12 side, and separated by the reference member. Separation claws 16 arranged only on the 12 side are used for separation.

Then, the sheet material S separated by the separating claw 16 and sent to the conveying roller pair 24 is placed on the conveying reference surface 25 (on the same plane as the reference surface 11 and the reference member 12) by the conveying roller pair 24. It is transported while being moved.

Here, the axis 02 of the driven roller 24B to the conveying roller pair 24 is inclined by an angle θ with the axis 01 of the driving roller 24A orthogonal to the sheet material conveying direction. Therefore, the sheet material S that has entered the nip of the pair of transport rollers 24 is transported by the driven roller 24B to the transport reference surface 25
Sent to.

[0018]

However, the following problems may occur in the sheet material feeding devices of the above-mentioned conventional examples 1 and 2. That is, in the sheet material feeding devices of Conventional Examples 1 and 2, the intermediate plate 1
The sheet materials S stacked on top of the
3, the one side end SA is pressed and the other side end SB comes into contact with the reference surface 11 and the reference member 12 to be in the correct posture for feeding. However, the other side end SB has the reference surface 11 and the reference member 12. May or may not come into contact excessively, and in such a case, the correct posture for feeding cannot be obtained, and the sheet material S is fed in a skewed state, and the sheet material S is fed correctly. It becomes difficult to form an image on a position.

As described above, the other side end SB of the sheet material S may not properly contact the reference surface 11 and the reference member 12 due to an error in the assembly position of the width direction positioning member 13 and the sheet material. This is caused by a dimensional error in the processing of S and the like. In the sheet material feeding device of Conventional Example 2, the sheet material S
When the other side end SB is not properly in contact with the reference surface 11 and the reference member 12, the corner portion of the leading end of the sheet material S often enters under the separation claw 16 in a shallow state. In such a case, the uppermost sheet material S does not have a sufficient loop for separation, and thus double feeding is likely to occur. The condition that the uppermost sheet material S is correctly separated by the separating claw 16 is that the corner portion of the tip of the sheet material S is deeply inserted under the separating claw 16 and a sufficient loop is formed in the uppermost sheet material S. Is Rukoto. In the sheet material feeding device of the second conventional example, generally, the pickup point of the feeding member 3 and the separation point of the separating claw 16 are not in a straight line in the sheet material feeding direction. Therefore, the pickup of the sheet material S by the feeding member 3 is performed. Sometimes sheet material S
A rotation moment acts on the sheet material S, and the sheet material S is likely to skew. Further, when a rotational moment acts on the sheet material S,
The force for abutting the sheet material S on the conveyance reference surface 25 is concentrated on the tip corner portion, and the sheet material S is easily bent. Further, when a rotational moment acts on the sheet material S, if a seam exists between the feeding reference surface 12 and the conveyance reference surface 25, the tip corner portion of the sheet material S hits the seam portion, and the sheet material S
Buckling and corner breakage are likely to occur. The buckling or corner bending of the sheet material S causes a jam.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to reliably separate and feed the sheet materials stacked and accommodated in the cassette one by one without skewing. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet material feeding device that can be used.

[0021]

According to the present invention, there are provided a sheet material supporting means (1) for stacking and supporting the sheet material (S) and a sheet material (S) supported by the sheet material supporting means (1). Feeding reference plane (12) located corresponding to one side
And a feeding member (3) which engages with the uppermost sheet material (S) of the sheet material (S) supported by the sheet material supporting means (1) and feeds it, and the feeding member (3). A supporting means (7) for movably supporting the sheet material supporting means (1) along the uppermost surface of the sheet material (S) toward the feeding reference plane (12); When the sheet material (S) is fed by the feeding member (3), a moving means (3) for moving the feeding member (3) toward the feeding reference plane (12) by a predetermined amount.
3) and are included.

Further, when the sheet material (S) is not fed by the feeding member (3), the feeding member (3) is returned to the position before the movement by the moving means (33). Characterized in that it comprises means (32).

Further, it is characterized in that it has a regulating means (36) for regulating the moving amount of the feeding member (3) by the moving means (33).

[0024]

According to the sheet material feeding device of the present invention having the above-described structure, when the feeding member (3) starts to rotate for feeding, it is supported by the feeding member moving means (33). 7) and moves toward the feed reference plane (12). Therefore, the sheet material (S) delivered by the feeding member (3) is moved toward the feeding reference surface (12).

When the sheet material (S) is not fed by the feeding member (3), the feeding member (3) is returned to the position before the movement by the feeding member moving means (33) and returned to the returning means (3).
Returned by 2).

Further, when the feeding member (3) moves the sheet material (S) to the feeding reference surface (12) side, the feeding member (3)
The amount of movement of the sheet material (S) is regulated by the regulating member (36), which prevents the sheet material (S) from coming too close.

The reference numerals in parentheses refer to the drawings and do not limit the structure of the present invention.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. <Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a sheet material feeding apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of an invention portion in the sheet material feeding device.

In explaining the present sheet material feeding device, the sheet material feeding device of the conventional example 2 (see FIGS. 13 and 1).
4 and FIG. 15), the same members as those in FIG. The same applies to the sheet material feeding device of Example 2 described later.

In the present sheet material feeding device, the feeding member 3 which has started rotation for feeding moves in the direction of the reference member 12 (direction of arrow) by a predetermined amount, and rotation for feeding is stopped. Then, it is configured to return to the position before the movement.

Here, the roller moving member 30 attached to the support plate 5, the guide member 31 attached to the feeding member 3, and the return spring interposed between the roller moving member 30 and the guide member 31. The (coil spring) 32 constitutes a feeding member moving mechanism (feeding member moving means) 33 for moving the feeding member 3 toward the reference member 12 and returning it to the position before the movement.

The roller moving member 30 is for moving the feeding member 3, which has started to rotate for feeding, toward the reference member 12 via the guide member 31, and the roller moving member 30.
It is mounted via a bearing 34 on top. The roller moving member 30 is coupled to the guide member 31 via the claw 30B at the tip of the arm 30A.

The feeding member 3 is mounted on the roller shaft 7 so as to be movable in the axial direction and non-rotatable. The feeding member 3 is adapted to move on the roller shaft 7 from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the position shown by the phantom line.

The guide member 31 is for guiding the movement of the feeding member 3 in accordance with the rotational position of the feeding member 3, and is movable and non-rotatable in the axial direction with respect to the roller shaft 7. As described above, it is coupled to the axial center portion of the feeding member 3. Here, the guide member 31 includes the groove 31 provided in the axial center portion.
Since A is fitted into the detent pin 35 driven into the roller shaft 7, it is movable and non-rotatable on the roller shaft 7.

One end of the guide member 31 having the flange 31B is fitted into the recess 3A at the axial center of the feeding member 3, and is interposed between the spring retaining wall 3B of the feeding member 3 and the flange 31B. The feeding member 3 is biased by the biasing spring (coil spring) 36, and the inner end surface 3C of the recess 3A of the feeding member 3 is in contact with the end surface of the flange 31B of the guide member 31 with a predetermined pressure.

Thus, the flange 3 of the guide member 31
In a state where the end surface of 1B is in contact with the inner end surface 3C of the recess 3A of the feeding member 3, the feeding member 3 is guided by the guide member 31.
It moves integrally with the roller shaft 7 toward the reference member 12.

A guide groove 31C shown in FIG. 3 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the guide member 31 protruding from the feeding member 3, and the roller moving member 3 is formed in the guide groove 31C.
The 0 claw 30B is engaged.

Before the feeding member 3 starts to rotate for feeding (position of 0 degree), the claw 30B is guided by the guide groove 30B.
In the initial position. Then, when the feeding member 3 starts rotation for feeding (rotates counterclockwise), the claw 30B is
From the pickup start point to the separation point, the guide groove 31
C climbs the inclined portion 31C-1 and moves the flat portion 31C-2 from the separation point to the pickup end point, and the feeding member 3 completes one rotation for feeding and stops (position of 360 degrees). Then, it returns to the initial position again.

That is, when the feeding member 3 starts the rotation for feeding, it returns on the roller shaft 7 from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the position shown by the imaginary line between the pickup start point and the separation point. It moves against the biasing force of the spring 32. Then, after passing the separation point, the pickup remains at the position shown in the phantom line until it passes the pickup end point, and at the same time as the rotation is stopped, it returns to the position shown in the solid line by the biasing force of the return spring 32.

As described above, since the feeding member 3 which has started the rotation for feeding moves from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the imaginary line from the pickup start point to the separation point, The other side end SB of the uppermost sheet material S can be surely brought into contact with the reference member 12.

At this time, if the feeding member 3 moves the other end SB of the sheet material S too close to the reference member 12 side, the sheet material S
May buckle and bend. Therefore, a biasing spring 36 is provided to prevent the sheet material S from coming too close. Explaining this, when the sheet material S pushed by the feeding member 3 is pressed by the reference member 12 with a force of Fl, the drag force F2 is pushed back from the sheet material S to the feeding member 3 to the original position. work.

Here, the resistance force F2, that is, the force Fl for pressing the sheet material is set to the maximum force (buckling limit force) at which the sheet material S does not buckle, and the biasing spring 36 biases the guide member 31. If the force relationship is set so that F3 <F2 when the biasing force is F3, the sheet material S is optimally pressed against the reference member 12 without buckling. The setting of F2 needs to be appropriately set in consideration of the buckling limit force that changes depending on the thickness and material of the sheet material, the frictional force (sliding resistance) between the sheet materials S, and the like. It should be noted that instead of using the buckling limit force as a reference, a force smaller than that may be used as a reference.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sheet material S from being brought too close by the feeding member 3 and to properly bring the other end SB of the sheet material S into contact with the reference member 12.

In this way, the sheet material S being conveyed is brought closer to the reference member 12 by the feeding member 3, so that the sheet material S tentatively stacked on the intermediate plate 10 is placed in the correct posture for feeding. Even if it does not exist, feeding can be performed in the correct posture and without skew.

Further, since the tip corner portion of the sheet material S fed by the feeding member 3 also deeply enters under the separating claw 16, the separating claw 16 can surely separate the sheet material S and double feeding does not occur. .

Further, since the feeding member 3 moves toward the reference member 12 and comes close to the separating claw 16, the rotational moment acting on the sheet material S at the time of picking up the sheet material S can be suppressed to be small.

In this sheet material feeding device, the amount of movement of the feeding member 3 can be changed by the height difference of the inclined portion 31C-1 of the guide groove 31C formed on the outer peripheral surface of the guide member 31. it can.

Further, in the present sheet material feeding device, the structure (feeding member moving mechanism 33) for moving the feeding member 3 which has started the rotation for feeding toward the reference member 12 is the sheet of the prior art example 1 described above. The same can be applied to the feeding member 3 of the material feeding device. <Embodiment 2> FIG. 5 shows a detailed configuration of an invented portion of a sheet material feeding apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the R sheet material feeding device, the feeding member 3 that has started to rotate for feeding includes a roller moving member 40, a guide member 41, and a return spring (coil spring) 42. By the (feeding member moving means) 43, the reference member 12
When a predetermined amount is moved in the direction (arrow direction) and the rotation for feeding is stopped, the position before the movement is restored. FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the roller moving member 40 and the guide member 41.

The roller moving member 40, the guide member 41, and the return spring 42 are mounted on the support plate 5 in the casing 4.
It is mounted on the roller shaft 7 within 4.

The roller moving member 40 is mounted on the roller shaft 7 so as to be immovable and non-rotatable in the axial direction. Here, the roller moving member 40 is fixed on the roller shaft 7 by the rotation stop pin 45 which is driven through the roller shaft, so that the roller moving member 40 cannot move and cannot rotate on the roller shaft 7. .

The guide member 41 is attached to the roller shaft 7 so as to be movable in the axial direction and non-rotatable. Here, the guide member 41 has a notch portion 41A provided on the outer peripheral surface.
Is fitted into a guide portion (a ridge parallel to the axis of the roller shaft 7) 44A of the casing 44, so that it can move on the roller shaft 7 and cannot rotate.

This guide member 41 is the same as the guide member 41.
An urging spring (coil spring) 46 interposed between the support plate 5 and the support plate 5 urges the roller moving member 40 toward the roller moving member 40, and the stopper 44B of the casing 44 restricts the movement.

The return spring 42 is an end plate 44 of the casing 44.
The roller moving member 40, which is interposed between C and the roller moving member 40 and is integral with the roller shaft 7, urges the roller moving member 40 toward the guide member 41.

A sliding protrusion 40B is provided on the end surface of the roller moving member 40, which is biased by the return spring 42, facing the guide member 41. The sliding protrusion 40B is
The cam surface 41B formed on the end surface of the guide member 41 facing the roller moving member 40 is in contact with the cam surface 41B with a predetermined pressure.

The feeding member 3 is mounted on the roller shaft 7 immovably and non-rotatably in the axial direction.

The roller shaft 7 is supported by a shaft support member 47 attached to the support plate 5 via a bearing 48.

Next, the operation of the feeding member moving mechanism 43 will be described.

When the feeding member 3 starts to rotate for feeding, the roller moving member 40 that rotates integrally with the roller shaft 7
The sliding protrusion 40B moves while sliding on the cam surface 41B of the guide member 41. At this time, the roller moving member 40
Moves against the guide member 41 side against the biasing force of the return spring 42 integrally with the roller shaft 7. As a result, the feeding member 3 moves from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the phantom line.

The state of movement of the feeding member 3 depends on the cam surface 41.
Although depending on B, here, the cam surface 41B is formed so that the feeding member 3 moves as shown in FIG.

When the feeding member 3 completes one rotation for feeding, the roller moving member 40 that has moved to the side opposite to the guide member 41 against the urging force of the return spring 42 is restored by the urging force of the return spring 42. Position (the initial position of the cam surface 41B). Along with this, the feeding roll 3 also returns to the position shown by the solid line.

Normally, the guide member 41 is in contact with the stopper 44B by the biasing force of the biasing spring 46 while the feeding member 3 is rotating for feeding. Therefore, when the feeding member 3 starts to rotate for feeding, by the action of the sliding projection 40B that moves while sliding on the cam surface 41B of the guide member 41, the position shown from the solid line to the position shown in the phantom line is shown. Move to. As a result, the sheet material S
Are brought close to the reference member 12 side.

At this time, if the feeding member 3 pushes the other side end SB of the sheet material S too close to the reference member 12 side, the sheet material S
May buckle and bend. Therefore, a biasing spring 46 is provided to prevent the sheet material S from coming too close. Explaining this, when the sheet material S pushed by the feeding member 3 is pressed by the reference member 12 with a force of Fl, the drag force F2 is pushed back from the sheet material S to the feeding member 3 to the original position. work.

Here, the reaction force F2, that is, the force Fl for pressing the sheet material is set to the maximum force (buckling limit force) at which the sheet material S does not buckle, and the urging spring 46 urges the guide member 41. The biasing force of the return spring 42 is F5.
In this case, if the force relationship is set so that F4 <F5 + F5, the sheet material S is optimally pressed by the reference member 12 without buckling. The setting of F2 needs to be appropriately set in consideration of the buckling limit force that changes depending on the thickness and material of the sheet material, the frictional force (sliding resistance) between the sheet materials S, and the like. It should be noted that instead of using the buckling limit force as a reference, a force smaller than that may be used as a reference.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sheet material S from being excessively moved by the feeding member 3 and correctly bring the other end SB of the sheet material S into contact with the reference member 12. <Third Embodiment> FIG. 8 shows a detailed structure of an invented portion of a sheet material feeding apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In describing the present sheet material feeding device, the same members and the like as those of the sheet material feeding device of the first embodiment (FIG. 2) are designated by the same reference numerals and are structurally and functionally different. Descriptions of those not included will be omitted.

In this sheet material feeding device, the roller moving member 30, the return spring 32, the guide member 31, the feeding member 3, and the biasing spring 36 are sequentially mounted on the roller shaft 7 side by side. And the side end surface of the feeding member 3 is the guide member 3
The biasing spring 36 so that it comes into contact with the side end surface of 1 at a predetermined pressure.
Guide member 31 and feeding member 3 biased by
Is mounted on the roller shaft 7 so as to be movable in the axial direction and non-rotatable. Here, the guide member 31 and the feeding member 3 are provided with a groove 50 formed so as to penetrate along the shaft hole,
Detent pin 52, 5 in which 51 is driven into the roller shaft 7
By being fitted in 3, the roller shaft 7 is movable and non-rotatable.

The biasing spring 36 is interposed between the spring seats 54 and 55, and biases the feeding member 3 toward the guide member 31 side via the spring seat 54.

Even with this structure, the feeding member 3 which has started rotation for feeding is moved toward the reference member 12 and the feeding member 3 which has stopped rotation for feeding is not moved. Can be returned to the position. Further, when the feeding member 3 moved toward the reference member 12 moves the sheet material S too close, the feeding member 3 can be returned in the direction before the movement.

Next, the detailed structure of the one-rotation clutch (spring clutch) 23 for transmitting the rotation of the gear 22 to the roller shaft 7 will be described.

The gear 22 is rotatably mounted on the roller shaft 7. This gear 22 has an input boss 22A
Is provided.

An output member 56 is mounted on the roller shaft 7 side by side with the gear 22. The output member 56 is the roller shaft 7
It is mounted so that it cannot rotate. Here, since the output member 56 is fixed to the roller shaft 7 with the screw 57, it cannot rotate. This output member 56
The output boss 56A facing the input boss 22A
Is provided.

Input boss 22A and output boss 56A
Have the same diameter, and springs (coil springs) that connect the bosses 22A and 56A to the outer peripheral surfaces of the bosses 22A and 56A.
58 is wrapped around. Also, both bosses 22A, 56
A projection 59A is provided on the outer peripheral surface so as to cover the spring 58 on A.
Is attached to the control ring 59.

One end of the spring 58 is hooked on the control ring 59, and in a state where the rotation of the control ring 59 is not restrained, the tightening force of the spring 58 acts to mechanically connect both bosses 22A and 56A, The gear 22 and the output member 56 are integrated so that the rotation of the gear 22 is transmitted to the roller shaft 7. On the other hand, when the rotation of the control ring 59 is restrained, the tightening force of the spring 59 is released, and only the gear 22 rotates on the roller shaft 7. That is, the roller shaft 7 does not rotate.

The rotation of the control ring 59 is restrained by the actuator 60 engaging with the protrusion 59A. This actuator 60 has a protrusion 59A when the solenoid 61 is turned off.
When the solenoid 61 is turned on, it is separated from the protrusion 59A.

When a paper feed start command is issued, the solenoid 61 is turned on, the actuator 60 is separated from the protrusion 59A, and the rotation of the gear 22 is transmitted to the roller shaft 7. A few seconds after the actuator 60 is separated from the protrusion 59A, the solenoid 61 is turned off again, and the actuator 60 moves toward the control ring 59. When the protrusion 59A engages with the actuator 60 after one rotation, only the gear 22 rotates on the roller shaft 7. <Embodiment 4> In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
When the joint 62 exists between the feeding reference surface 12 (reference member) of the cassette 1 and the conveyance reference surface 25 in the image forming apparatus main body, the tip corner portion of the sheet material S reaching the conveyance reference surface 25 is The movement of the feeding member 3 that has started the rotation for feeding is controlled so that the sheet material S does not buckle or bend at the joint 62 and the like.

In many cases, the transport reference surface 25 in the image forming apparatus main body is located slightly inward (in the sheet material S direction) with respect to the feed reference surface 12 of the cassette 1.
In such a case, the tip corner portion of the sheet material S easily hits the seam 62 portion.

FIG. 10 shows a guide groove 31C of the guide member 31 for controlling the movement of the feeding member 3 in the feeding reference plane 12 direction.
Shows the configuration of.

The claw 30B of the roller moving member 30 moves in the guide groove 31C as follows when the feeding member starts rotation for feeding.

That is, when the rotation of the feeding member 3 reaches the pickup start point, the claw 30B climbs the inclined portion 31C-1 to the separation point and moves to the flat portion 31C-. At this point, the feeding member 3 moves from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the position shown by the phantom line, and brings the sheet material S closer to the paper feed reference surface 12 side (S1 in FIG. 9).

Then, the claw 30B which has moved the flat portion 31C-2 descends from the inclined portion 31C-3 and passes through the joint 62 of the feeding reference surface 12 and the conveyance reference surface 25 at the time of the flat portion 31C.
Move -4. At this point, the feeding member 3 moves from the position shown by the phantom line in FIG. 2 to the position shown by the solid line, and the sheet material S
Is separated from the feeding reference surface 12 and the conveyance reference surface 25 (S2 in FIG. 9).

Then, when the nail 30 is passed through the seam 62,
B climbs the inclined portion 31C-5 again and moves the flat portion 31C-6. At this point, the feeding member 3 moves from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the position shown by the phantom line, and moves the sheet material S to the conveyance reference surface 25 side (S3 in FIG. 9).

Then, the claw 30B returns to the initial position after moving the flat portion 31C-6 until it passes the pickup end point.

In the specification of the main body, the case where the present invention is applied to the sheet material feeding device of the type of the conventional example 2 has been described, but the present invention is the sheet material feeding device of the type of the conventional example 1 described above. Can also be applied to.

FIG. 16 shows a laser beam printer as an image forming apparatus to which the sheet material feeding device of the present invention can be applied.

As shown in FIG. 16, a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) 100 has a cassette 1 as a sheet material supporting means for accommodating a sheet material S, and a feeding member 3 is provided in the cassette 1. It is arranged. And
A registration roller pair 102 that synchronously conveys the sheet material S is disposed downstream of the cassette 1, and the roller pair 7 is composed of an upper roller 102a and a lower roller 102b that are pressed against each other by a spring (not shown). ing.

An image forming section 105 for forming an image by the laser light from the laser scanner section 103 is arranged downstream of the registration roller pair 102. further,
A fixing device 106 is provided downstream of the image forming unit 105, and a paper discharge sensor 107 is provided downstream of the fixing device 106.
Is provided. A transport roller pair 109 and a discharge roller 110 are arranged downstream of the discharge sensor 107, and the machine body 101 is arranged downstream of the discharge roller 110.
A paper discharge tray 111 having an upper portion is arranged.

The laser scanner section 103 is composed of a laser unit 112 for emitting a laser and a polygon mirror 113 for reflecting the laser light from the unit 112, and the image forming section 105 is further provided with a photosensitive drum. 115, a pre-exposure lamp 116, a primary charger 1017, a developing device 119, a transfer charger 120, and a cleaner 121. And L
An interface 29 is provided in the main controller (not shown) of BP1.
The external device 30 is connected via.

[0088]

As described above, in the sheet material feeding device of the present invention, the feeding member which has started rotation for feeding is moved by a predetermined amount in the feeding reference plane direction, and feeding is performed. Since the feeding member that has stopped its rotation for returning to the position before the movement was returned to the original position, even if the sheet materials stacked and stored in the supporting member are not in the correct feeding posture, the sheet materials in the cassette are skewed. It is possible to feed in a correct feeding posture with no line.

Further, in the sheet material feeding device of the present invention, since the movement amount of the feeding member moving in the feeding reference plane direction is regulated by the regulating means, the sheet material is moved by the movement of the feeding member. It is possible to prevent the sheet material from being excessively moved and the sheet material from being skewed.

Further, in the sheet material feeding device of the present invention, since the sheet material to be fed is brought closer to the feeding reference surface direction by the feeding member, the tip corner portion of the sheet material is separated for separation, for example. As it enters deeply under the nail, separation is reliably performed by the separation nail, and double feeding does not occur.

Further, in the sheet material feeding device of the present invention, since the feeding member moves in the feeding reference plane direction and approaches the separating claw, the rotational moment acting on the sheet material at the time of pickup can be suppressed to be small. It is possible to prevent skewing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a sheet material feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view showing a detailed configuration of an invented portion of the sheet material feeding device.

FIG. 3 is a development view showing a configuration of a guide groove of a guide member provided in the sheet material feeding device.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional front view for explaining the operation of the feeding member in the sheet material feeding device.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional front view showing a detailed configuration of an invented portion of the sheet material feeding device according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing configurations of a roller moving member and a guide member provided in the sheet material feeding device.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional front view for explaining the operation of the feeding member in the sheet material feeding device.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional front view showing a detailed configuration of an invented portion of a sheet material feeding device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a sheet material feeding method (Example 4) in the case where a seam exists between the feeding reference surface of the cassette and the conveyance reference surface in the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 10 is a configuration of the guide groove of the guide member that controls the movement of the feeding member when there is a seam between the feeding reference surface of the cassette and the conveyance reference surface in the main body of the image forming apparatus (Example 4). FIG.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a sheet material feeding device of Conventional Example 1.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of the sheet material feeding device.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a sheet material feeding device of Conventional Example 2.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the overall configuration of the sheet material feeding device.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the sheet material feeding device.

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional side view of an image forming apparatus (LBP) to which the sheet material feeding device of the invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cassette 1A Cassette Main Body 3 Feeding Member 7 Roller Shaft (Feeding Member Supporting Means) 12 Reference Member (Feeding Reference Surface) 33, 43 Feeding Member Moving Mechanism (Feeding Member Moving Means) 36, 46 Energizing Spring ( Restriction member as a means to prevent overcrowding S sheet material

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroaki Namiki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sheet material supporting means for stacking and supporting sheet materials, a feeding reference surface positioned corresponding to one side of the sheet material supported by the sheet material supporting means, and the sheet material supporting means. A feeding member that engages with and feeds the uppermost sheet material of the supported sheet material, and the feeding member along the uppermost surface of the sheet material supported by the sheet material supporting means. A supporting means for movably supporting in the reference plane direction, and a moving means for moving the feeding member by a predetermined amount in the feeding reference plane direction when the sheet material is fed by the feeding member. Sheet material feeding device. 2. A return means for returning the feeding member to the position before the movement by the moving means when the sheet material is not fed by the feeding member. The sheet material feeding device described. 3. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a regulation unit that regulates a moving amount of the feeding member by the moving unit. 4. The regulating means has an elastic member provided between the feeding member and the moving means, and the elastic member is in a state in which the feeding member is engaged with a sheet material. 4. When moving by the moving means, the feeding member is elastically deformed and the movement of the feeding member is stopped when the force received from the sheet material exceeds a predetermined value. The sheet material feeding device described. 5. Separation for separating the sheet material at the leading end side of the sheet material supported by the sheet material supporting means and at a biased position on the side where the feeding reference surface is located with respect to the sheet material. 2. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising means, wherein the feeding member is also arranged at a biased position on the side where the feeding reference surface is located. 6. The sheet material feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the feeding member is a feeding roller, and the feeding roller is cantilevered by a roller shaft. 7. A sheet material feeding device according to claim 1, and an image forming means for forming an image on the sheet material fed from the sheet material feeding device. An image forming apparatus characterized by.