JP3737632B2 - Paper feed tray and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper feeding tray used for a paper feeding device such as a copying machine or a printer.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention]
As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional paper feed tray is provided with a side fence 1 that is movable on the downstream side of the transport of the bundle of sheets 3 to be stacked. This is because the side fence 1 is moved by the rack and pinion method, and the paper can be efficiently pressed from a small size paper to a large size paper.
[0003]
However, in recent years, front loading has become commonplace for paper feed trays, and there is a tendency that a larger number of sheets is preferred. Accordingly, when a large number of large sized sheets are stacked in the sheet feeding tray configured as described above, the sheet bundle is exposed to the inertial force of the sheet bundle when the tray is set. The amount of movement on the upstream side of the conveyance, which is weak, is large, causing skew.
[0004]
On the other hand, there is a proposal to mount a fence integrally formed with the paper feed tray to hold only the upstream side of the largest size paper transport, but this causes A3 version and DLT version depending on the destination. There is a problem that mold management and component management become complicated. In addition, a product that has a fence that combines these two has been commercialized, but in the case of A4Y size paper, the extra paper that could not be stacked due to additional loading is temporarily placed upstream of the end fence. For users who have become a habit, the DLT fence would be in the way, and it was unpopular, and B4 size was not possible with integral molding. In addition, some analog copiers perform image horizontal registration adjustment by moving the fence position on the tray, and cannot be handled by an integrally formed fence. In addition, the user's tray setting force varies considerably, and in the case of an integrally formed fence, there is a problem that the sheet bundle may bounce depending on the setting force and induce skew in the reverse direction.
[0005]
Therefore, in view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention provides a paper feed tray that can respond to destinations and user needs at the subpart level, and a size that is larger than a size that can be skew-corrected by a conventional side fence and that is smaller than the maximum size ( For example, for B4 and LG), it is possible to provide a paper feed tray that can effectively perform skew correction, and even for analog copiers that perform horizontal registration adjustment of images by moving the fence position on the tray, it is effective to skew large-size paper An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feed tray that can be pressed down to a certain extent, and to provide a paper feed tray that can cope with variations in the tray setting force of a user to a certain extent and that can prevent a paper bundle from bouncing and causing reverse skew. And
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the paper feed tray according to claim 1 has a movable fence for supplying a plurality of sizes of transfer paper to the copying machine and is detachable from the copying machine. In the paper feed tray, a large-size fence that suppresses the tray setting direction of the maximum-size paper that can be loaded is provided separately from the movable fence, and the large-size fence can be attached and detached and the attachment direction can be changed to change the paper size below the maximum-size paper It is characterized by being able to handle size .
[0007]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the large size fence can be moved in a small amount in the tray setting direction .
[0008]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the large-size fence supports the fence surface with which the paper abuts by an elastic member .
[0009]
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 uses the sheet feeding tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in order to achieve the above object.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, common parts are denoted by common reference numerals.
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a first embodiment of a paper feed tray according to the present invention. The illustrated paper feed tray 2 has a movable fence 1 for supplying a plurality of sizes of transfer paper to the copying machine, and is detachable from the copying machine. The paper feed tray 2 is provided with a large-size fence 4 that holds down the tray setting direction of the maximum-size paper 3 that can be stacked separately from the movable side fence 1 as in the prior art. The large size fence 4 is detachable from the paper feed tray 2, and is fastened with screws 5 as shown in FIG. The fastening method may be snap-fit as long as it can withstand the impact during tray setting.
[0011]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the second embodiment of the paper feed tray according to the present invention. The large-size fence 4 of this embodiment can be attached in two directions as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. When the paper is A3 (DLT), it is set as shown in FIG. In the case of B4 (LG), it is turned over and set as shown in FIG. That is, by changing the projecting direction of the projecting portion 4a, the upstream side surface of the sheet is pressed at each size. In the illustrated embodiment, the stepped shape of the protrusion 4a is shown to be capable of supporting two types of paper. However, if the shape and attachment mode are changed, such as tilting it sideways, more sizes of paper are available. Can be supported.
[0012]
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the third embodiment of the paper feed tray according to the present invention. The large-size fence 4 of the present embodiment has a fastening hole 6 with a screw 5 as a long hole extending in the tray setting direction, and can be fastened at an arbitrary position in the tray setting direction by the length of the long hole, It is designed to be compatible with various sizes of paper. A scale 8 for adjusting the lateral registration is provided on the bottom surface of the paper feed tray 2. This scale 8 is the same as the scale 7 for adjusting the lateral registration of the movable side fence 1. These scales can be used as a guideline for keeping the amount of movement of each fence substantially constant when adjusting the horizontal registration.
[0013]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a fourth embodiment of a paper feed tray according to the present invention. In the large size fence 4 of the present embodiment, the fence surface 9 with which the paper abuts is supported by an elastic member 10 such as a sponge or a leaf spring. Moreover, the fence surface 9 can be formed of resin, and the elastic member can be integrally formed using resin elasticity. Thus, even when the sheet bundle collides with the fence surface 9 when the paper feed tray is set, the collision is mitigated by the elastic member 10 and the reverse skew due to the bound of the sheet bundle can be prevented. In the present embodiment, the large-size fence 4 does not have to be a separate body from the paper feed tray, but when using a sponge or the like, recyclability is improved by using a separate body.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the paper feed tray according to claim 1 is provided with a large-size fence that separates the movable fence from a movable fence that suppresses the tray setting direction of the maximum-size paper that can be stacked. In addition, this large size fence can be removed, so that the maximum size of each destination and the excess paper that could not be loaded by loading, for example when A4Y size paper is passed, are transported upstream from the end fence. It is possible to respond to user needs such as temporarily placing it on the side with child parts, and it is possible to share a sheet feeding tray which is a large part. In addition, if this large fence is made an option for individual users who are demanding skew performance and users who cannot control variation in set power due to use by many people, etc., the cost of the base model such as a copier can be reduced. There is an effect of becoming. In addition to changing the attachment direction of the large fence, it is possible to handle paper sizes below the maximum size paper. There is also an effect that the skew correction can be effectively performed on the size (for example, B4, LG).
[0015]
As described above, the paper feed tray according to the second aspect enables a small amount of the large-size fence to be moved in the tray setting direction . Even analog copiers that move by moving the fence position can effectively suppress the skew of large-size paper, and even when horizontal registration on the paper feed tray is unnecessary, as in digital copiers, Since the gap amount between the large fences can be adjusted, there is an effect that the degree of collision of the sheet bundle with the fence due to the setting force can be adjusted .
[0016]
Paper feed tray according to claim 3, as has been described above, by the paper of a large size fence supported the fence surface contact with the elastic member, in addition to the above common effect, variations in the tray set power of the user To some extent, and it is possible to prevent the sheet bundle from bouncing and inducing reverse skew .
[0017]
As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect starts with the fact that the skew of large size paper can be reduced by using the paper feed tray according to any one of the first to third aspects. from 1 to that Sosu common effects with any of the paper feed tray 3.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of a paper feed tray according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are a plan view illustrating a configuration of a paper feed tray according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a main part enlarged perspective view showing a configuration of a paper feed tray according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a configuration of a fourth embodiment of a paper feed tray according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional paper feed tray.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Movable fence 2 Paper feed tray 3 Paper 4 Large size fence 4a Protrusion part 5 Screw 6 Fastening hole 7, 8 Scale 9 Fence surface 10 Elastic member

Claims (4)

A large-size fence that holds the movable fence to supply multiple-size transfer paper to the copier and that can hold the tray in the direction of the maximum size paper that can be loaded is movable. A paper feed tray that is provided separately from a large fence and is capable of attaching / detaching the large-size fence and changing a mounting direction to cope with a paper size equal to or smaller than the maximum size paper . 2. The paper feed tray according to claim 1, wherein the large-size fence is movable by a minute amount in the tray setting direction . 3. The paper feed tray according to claim 1, wherein the large-size fence supports the fence surface with which the paper abuts by an elastic member . An image forming apparatus characterized by using any of the paper feed tray 請 Motomeko 1-3.

Images