JP2719366B2 - Tester for paper cassette size detector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, which is provided in an image forming apparatus to detect the size of a sheet cassette mounted in the apparatus main body. The present invention relates to a sheet cassette size detector tester used to simulate an installed sheet cassette size detector.

(Prior Art) Recently, electrophotographic copying machines have been developed which have a variable-magnification function for enlarging or reducing an original image and copying. In such an electrophotographic copying machine, the copy magnification is calculated based on the size of the document placed on the document placing table and the size of the transfer paper in the sheet cassette mounted on the copying machine body.
A copy magnification display function for displaying the copy magnification has been provided. Normally, the size of the transfer paper in the paper cassette required for calculating the copy magnification is determined by detecting the size of the paper cassette provided inside the paper feed port of the copier body where the paper cassette is mounted. Is detected by the detector. A paper feed cassette containing transfer paper of a predetermined size is mounted in the paper feed port. The sheet cassette size detector is configured by arranging a plurality of switching elements in parallel. Each paper feed cassette is provided with a switch operating member so as to face a predetermined switching element of the paper feed cassette size detector when the paper feed cassette is mounted in a paper feed port of the copying machine main body. The switch operation members provided in each paper cassette are:
A predetermined switching element of the sheet cassette size detector is operated in accordance with the size of the transfer sheet accommodated in the sheet cassette, and the sheet cassette size detector is configured to operate the switching element. The transfer paper size in the paper feed cassette is determined based on the combination. The copy magnification display function obtains a copy magnification based on the detection result of the sheet cassette size detector and the size of the document on the document table, and digitally displays the magnification, for example.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In an electrophotographic copying machine having such a copy magnification display function, it is confirmed that the copy magnification display function normally operates.
It is necessary to confirm at the time of factory shipment. Traditionally, this check was
This is performed by sequentially mounting each paper feed cassette in the paper feed port of the copying machine main body and checking whether the copy magnification is normally displayed. Therefore, in order to confirm the operation of the copy magnification display function, a paper cassette in which sheets of a predetermined size are stored is attached to the paper supply port of the copying machine main body, and after the display of the copy magnification is confirmed, the paper cassette is displayed. Is removed from the paper feed port, a paper feed cassette accommodating transfer paper of a different size is newly installed in the paper feed port, and the operation of checking the display of the copy magnification is sequentially repeated.

Recently, transfer papers used in electrophotographic copying machines have been diversified, and transfer papers of A size, B size, inch size, and the like have been used. As a result, in order to check the copy magnification, paper feed cassettes corresponding to all the transfer paper sizes used in the electrophotographic copying machine must be sequentially installed in the paper feed ports. In many cases, it is necessary to mount 15 or more types of paper feed cassettes in the paper feed port, and there is a problem that the operation of confirming the operation of the copy magnification display function is inefficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a test for a paper feed cassette size detector in an image forming apparatus in which a copy magnification display function operation in a copying machine can be extremely easily confirmed. To provide equipment.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, the size of a paper feed cassette disposed in a paper feed port of an image forming apparatus main body and mounted on the paper feed port based on the respective operations of a plurality of switching elements is determined. A tester mounted on the paper feed port and used to operate the paper feed cassette size detector to be detected. A plurality of switch operating members for operating the respective switching elements of the paper cassette size detector, a plurality of drive members for selectively setting the respective switch operating members to the operation positions via the movers, and an outer peripheral surface circulatingly movable. A driving member support is provided, and the driving member combined with a predetermined switch actuating member on the outer peripheral surface of the driving member supporting member through the mover so as to be in an operative position is provided in a circumferential movement direction. The drive is An operating member for selectively moving a predetermined combination of driving members by orbiting the outer peripheral surface of the moving member support to a predetermined position, thereby achieving the above object.

Preferably, for example, the driving member is configured by a magnet,
The switching element is constituted by a reed switch.

(Operation) According to the above configuration, with the tester attached to the paper feed port, the operating member is operated to move the outer peripheral surface of the driving member support member to the predetermined position to select a predetermined combination of driving members. Function. Each of the selected driving members sets a predetermined switch operation member via the moving element as an operation position. Each of the switch operating members in the operation position selectively operates each switching element of the sheet cassette size detector. The paper cassette size detector determines the paper cassette size, calculates the copy magnification based on the paper cassette size and the document size obtained in advance, and displays the copy magnification on the display unit of the copier. As a result, it is possible to confirm the operation of the display function of the copy magnification in the copying machine simply by repeatedly performing the operation using the operation member in a state where the tester is attached to the paper feed port.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to examples.

The tester of the paper cassette size detector of the present invention is used, for example, by being mounted on a copying machine main body 70 of an electrophotographic copying machine shown in FIG. A paper feed cassette size detector 72 is provided in the inner part of the paper feed port 71 of the copying machine main body 70 where the paper feed cassette is mounted so as to face the paper feed side of the mounted paper feed cassette. Has been established. The paper feed cassette size detector 72 is provided with a plurality of switching elements. For example, four reed switches are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 5). I have. Tester A of paper cassette size detector 72 of the present invention
Is used by being attached to the paper feed port 71 of the copying machine body 70.

The tester A of the paper feed cassette size detector of the present invention has a cassette main body 10 as shown in FIGS. The cassette body 10 has a box shape with an open top, and can be attached to and detached from a paper feed port 71 of the copying machine body 70. When the cassette main body 10 is attached to the paper feed port 71 of the copying machine main body 70, a lower portion of the cassette main body 10 facing the paper feed cassette size As shown in FIG. 3, four through-holes 11a, 11a,... Are opened opposite to the respective reed switches of the sheet cassette size detector 72. Each through hole 11a is located on the bottom surface 1 of the cassette body 10.
2 and communicate with the respective engagement holes 12a. As shown in FIG. 1, buffer members 13 are provided at the outer peripheral edge of each through hole 11a.

In the cassette main body 10, four long plate-shaped movable members 21 are disposed so that one end faces each through hole 11a. Each mover 21 is disposed on the bottom surface 12 of the cassette body 10 so as to be orthogonal to the side surface 11 provided with each through hole 11a.
Are supported by a pair of support plates 22 attached thereto.

As shown in FIG. 4, each support plate 22 is erected on the bottom surface 12 of the cassette body 10 so as to be substantially parallel to the side surface 11 provided with each through hole 11a. At the upper part of 22, there are provided four concave grooves 22a, 22a,. Each pair of support plates 22
Are in a state where the respective grooves 22a face each other.

The movable member 21 supported by each support plate 22 has a main body 21a horizontally supported by opposed concave grooves 22a of the pair of support plates 22.
Having. The main body 21a has an L-shaped cross section, and a mounting portion bent downward from the main body 21a is provided on the side surface 11 side of the cassette main body 10 in which the through holes 11a are formed in the main body 21a. 21b is provided. The lower portion of the mounting portion 21b slightly protrudes toward the side surface 11 of the cassette body 10, and the lower portion of the mounting portion 21b faces each through hole 11a of the side surface 11.
The lower end is provided with an engagement hole 12 on the bottom of the cassette body 10.
Located within a. A switch member 30 using a magnet for operating each reed switch of the paper feed cassette size detector 72 attached to the copying machine body 70 is attached to the lower part of the attaching portion 21b of the moving member 21 opposite to each through hole 11a. Have been.

When the cassette main body 10 is mounted on the paper feed port 71 of the copier main body 70, each switch operation member 30 is set at an operation position where it enters into each through hole 11a of the side surface 11 of the cassette main body 10. The respective reed switches of the paper cassette size detector 72 are operated, and the reed switches are not operated in the non-operation position where the reed switches are retracted into the cassette main body 10 from the respective through holes 11a.

At the other end of the main body 21a of each mover 21, the main body 2
There is provided a vertical acting portion 21c which is bent downward from 1a. The lower end of the action section 21c is
It is located above the bottom surface 12 with a slight gap,
Magnets 24 are attached to the action portions 21c, respectively.

Each support plate 22 that supports each mover 21 has a corresponding groove 21a in which each mover 21 is fitted.
Each of the regulating plates 23 is attached to regulate the movement of the plate in the vertical direction.

On the side of the action portion 21c of each movable element 21, each movable element 21 is reciprocated in its longitudinal direction, and a switch operating member is provided.
An operation member 50 that is operated when the operation position is set to 30 is provided. The operating member 50 has a roller 51 as a driving member support having a decagonal cylindrical shape, for example. The rollers 51 are sufficiently longer than the parallel width of all the moving members 21. The roller 51
The roller shaft 51 a is supported on the bottom surface 12 of the cassette body 10 by a pair of bearings 52 and 52 so as to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction so as to be orthogonal to each of the movers 21. . The respective peripheral surfaces of the rollers 51 are sequentially opposed to the magnets 24 attached to the action portions 21c of the respective moving members 21 at a predetermined interval by the orbital movement due to the rotation of the rollers 51.

On each outer peripheral surface of the roller 51, for example, six magnets 40 are arranged in the axial direction as a driving member. Each magnet 40
Are mounted at an interval similar to the interval between adjacent movers 21. The magnet 40, which is a driving member, has a function of reciprocating each movable element 21 in the longitudinal direction and setting the switch operating member 30 at the tip thereof as an operating position, and each magnet 40 is attached to each movable element 21. When the driving position is opposed to the magnet 24, if the opposing surfaces have the same polarity, they repel each other and move the entire moving member 21 to which the magnet 24 is attached in a direction away from the roller 51. Thereby, the switch operating member 30 attached to the tip of the mover 21 is moved to the cassette main body 10.
The position of action has entered the through hole 11a on the side surface of
When the cassette body 10 is attached to the paper feed port 71 of the copying machine main body 70, the reed switch of the paper feed cassette size detector 72 is operated. Conversely, if the magnets 40 of the roller 51 and the facing surfaces of the magnets 24 attached to the respective moving elements 21 have different polarities, the magnets 40 and 24 attract each other and the moving elements 21
Is attracted to the roller 51, the switch operating member 30 at the tip of the movable member 21 is in the non-operation position, and the cassette body 10 is
When the paper cassette size detector 72 is
Are not operated.

The roller 51 has an axial length sufficiently longer than the parallel width of all the moving members 21, and one (right side in FIG. 1) peripheral surface of the end portion corresponds to each peripheral surface, Positioning hole 54,
54, ... are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction. Also, the positioning hole
54 is also provided on the outer peripheral surface adjacent to the position where the magnets 40 are arranged at an interval corresponding to the juxtaposed interval of the two magnets 40 arranged side by side on one outer peripheral surface of the roller 51 in the axial direction. The same positioning holes 55 are provided side by side in the circumferential direction. Then, when the other four magnets 40 except for the two magnets 40 adjacent to the positioning hole 55 on one outer peripheral surface of the roller 51 face the respective magnets 24 attached to the respective movers 21, the respective magnets 24 Positioning holes 55 are provided corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the roller 51 opposite to the outer peripheral surface of the cassette 51.
The roller 51 is locked by a positioning tool 56 juxtaposed to the bottom surface 12 of the roller 10, and the rotation and the movement in the axial direction of the roller 51 are restricted.
On the other hand, the roller 51 is moved in the axial direction, and the roller 51 is moved.
When the positioning tool 56 is engaged with the positioning hole 54 provided at the end of the roller 51, the four magnets 40 on the positioning hole 55 side out of the six magnets 40 provided on one surface of the outer peripheral surface of the roller 51. Faces the magnet 24 of each mover 21.

One end of the roller shaft 51a of the roller 51 extends outward beyond the cassette body 10, and a handle 57 is attached to one end thereof. Then, by rotating the handle 57, the roller 51 is rotated, and the outer peripheral surface moves orbitally, and each outer peripheral surface sequentially passes through the drive position, which is the opposing position of the magnets 40 and 24. Further, by pulling and pushing the handle 57 in the axial direction of the roller shaft 51a, the entire roller 51 is moved in the axial direction.

In the six magnets 40 juxtaposed in the axial direction on the respective outer peripheral surfaces juxtaposed in the circumferential movement direction of the roller 51, a positioning tool 56 is locked in one of the positioning holes 54 and 55, and The four magnets 40 at the driving positions of the through holes 11
The magnet 24 of the mover 21 to which the switch operating member 30 to be set as the operating position that has entered the inside of the a is configured so that the polarities of the opposing surfaces are equal to each other, and conversely, the non-operating position is set. The magnets 24 of the mover 21 to which the switch operating members 30 are attached have different polarities on their opposing surfaces. The respective combinations of the polarities of the four magnets 40 serving as the driving positions are set in accordance with the operation states of the respective reed switches corresponding to the sheet cassette size detected by the sheet cassette size detection decision 72. I have. Accordingly, in the six magnets 40 on the respective outer peripheral surfaces arranged in parallel in the direction of the circumferential movement of the roller 51, the combinations of the polarities on the outer peripheral surface side of the four magnets 40 that are the driving positions are all different.

The tester A of the paper cassette size detector having such a configuration is used, for example, to confirm that the copy magnification display function of the copier main body 70 operates normally. In the tester A, first, the cassette main body 10 is mounted on the paper feed port 71 of the copier main body 70, and the handle 57 is rotated and operated in the axial direction to rotate the roller 51 in the axial and axial directions. Then, the four magnets 40 on the outer peripheral surface of the roller 51 of the combination of the magnetic poles corresponding to the sheet cassette accommodating the transfer paper of the predetermined size are set as the driving positions facing the respective magnets 24 of the respective moving members 21. Thus, the positioning hole 54 or 55 of the roller 51 is locked by the positioning tool 56, and the rotation and the movement of the roller 51 in the axial direction are restricted.

Of the four magnets 40 at the drive position, only the magnets that are to have the predetermined switch operation member 30 attached to the tip of the movable element 21 as the operating position are different from the magnets 24 attached to the operating portion 21c of the movable element 21. Each facing surface has the same polarity,
The two magnets 40 and 24 repel each other, and the moving element 21 moves in a direction away from the magnet 40 of the roller 51. This allows
The switch operating member 30 provided at the tip of the mover 21 is in the operation position where it enters the through hole 11a in the side surface 11 of the cassette body 10, and the switch operation member 30 in the operation position
Then, a predetermined reed switch in the sheet cassette size detector 72 opposite to the above operates. At this time, the switch operating member 30
When the switch operating member 30 reaches the operating position in the through-hole 11a, the mounting portion 21b of the movable element 21 to which is mounted is abutted against the buffer member 13 and its movement is regulated.

Of the four magnets 40 in the driving position of the roller 51, the magnet 40 in which the switch operating member 30 is to be in the non-operating position
Is the magnet 24 attached to the action portion 21c of the mover 21;
The opposing surfaces have different polarities, the two magnets 40 and 24 are pulled together, and the entire moving element 21 approaches the roller 51, and the switch operating member 30 attached to the tip of the moving element 21 Is the inoperative position. As a result, the sheet cassette size detector 72 facing the switch operating member 30
Are inactive.

The paper cassette size detector 72 of the copying machine body 70 determines the paper cassette size based on the operation of each reed switch. Then, the copying machine main body 70 calculates a copy magnification based on the determined sheet cassette size and a previously obtained original size, and displays the copy magnification on a predetermined display unit. By examining whether or not the display is correct, it can be determined whether or not the copy magnification display function of the copier body 70 is operating correctly.

By the tester A of the present invention mounted on the copying machine main body 70,
When changing the detection result of the sheet cassette size detector, the handle 57 of the tester A may be operated to set the four magnets 40 of the combination corresponding to the predetermined sheet cassette size to the driving position. The handle 57 may be provided with an indication of the size of the paper feed cassette corresponding to the combination of the four magnets serving as the driving positions.

In the above embodiment, the roller 51 is used as the driving member support in the operating member 50. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. As a support, a pair of belts 59 wound around a pair of square tubular pulleys 58 and 58 and
59 may be used. In this case, by increasing the length of each belt 59, it is possible to arrange a large number of driving members combined so that the predetermined switch operation member 30 is set to the operation position, and the number of combinations can be increased. Therefore, there is no need to move each belt 59 in a direction orthogonal to the circling direction. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 56 'denotes a positioning tool made of, for example, a leaf spring, which functions in the same manner as in the above embodiment. Also,
In the figure, reference numeral 57 'denotes a handle, which is operated when rotating one pulley 58. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

(Effect of the Invention) Since the tester of the paper feed cassette size detector of the present invention can operate a plurality of switching elements of the paper feed cassette size detector in a predetermined combination, for example, It can be easily confirmed that the copy magnification display function of the photocopier operates correctly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tester of the paper feed cassette size detector of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional side view thereof, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an electrophotographic copying machine equipped with the tester, and FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of the tester of the present invention. It is a top view. A: Tester, 10: Cassette body, 21: Moving element,
24: Magnet, 30: Switch operating member, 40: Magnet, 50
... operating members, 51 ... rollers.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet cassette size detector disposed in a sheet feeding port of an image forming apparatus main body and detecting a size of a sheet feeding cassette mounted in the sheet feeding port based on an operation of each of a plurality of switching elements. A tester mounted on the paper feed port for use in operating the paper feed cassette, and each of the switching of the paper feed cassette size detector when the predetermined operation position is reached when the tester is mounted on the paper feed port. A plurality of switch operating members for operating the element, a plurality of driving members for selectively setting each of the switch operating members via a mover, and a driving member support having an outer peripheral surface disposed so as to be able to move around. On the outer peripheral surface of the driving member support, the driving members combined so that a predetermined switch operating member is set to an operative position via the mover are arranged side by side in the circling direction. Place the outer peripheral surface of the member support Tester sheet cassette size detector by revolving movement comprises an operating member for selectively function the driving member of predetermined combination position.