JP4992010B2 - Adapter and paper feeding system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an adapter used for a paper feeding device and a paper feeding system.

A post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing such as binding processing and bookbinding processing is supplied with paper on which image recording has been performed by printing, electrophotography, or inkjet. As a system including such a post-processing device and a paper feeding device that supplies paper to the post-processing device, for example, in Patent Document 1, a paper feeding operation is performed from a paper that has been image-recorded and stacked in a paper feeding unit. There has been proposed a multi-function document integration device that feeds a sheet to a section and performs post-processing on the sheet in a post-processing section.
JP-A-5-319669

  In consideration of the productivity of post-processing, it is desirable to load as many sheets as possible on the sheet feeding table of the sheet feeding device. For this reason, in recent years, a paper feeding device capable of loading a large number of papers on a paper feeding table has been developed. However, it is more difficult to transfer the image-recorded and stacked sheets to the sheet feeding table of the sheet feeding device as described in Patent Document 1, as the number of stacked sheets increases. For this reason, there is a strong demand for the development of a technology for simply stacking sheets on a sheet feeding table of a sheet feeding device.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to easily load sheets on a sheet feeding table of a sheet feeding device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an adapter according to an aspect of the present invention is an adapter used when transferring a sheet processed by a sheet processing apparatus to a sheet feeding apparatus, and the sheet processing apparatus performs predetermined processing on a sheet. The paper feeding device sequentially feeds the topmost paper among the paper stacked on the paper feeding tray, and the paper discharged from the paper processing device is When placing the paper feed tray above the paper tray so that it can be loaded on the paper tray instead of being stacked on the paper tray, the positioning of both is performed by interposing the paper tray and the paper feed tray. .

  According to this aspect, in the sheet processing apparatus that originally stacks sheets on the sheet receiving tray, the sheets can be stacked directly on the sheet feeding tray that has been removed from the sheet feeding device. For this reason, compared with the case where the paper loaded on the paper receiving tray of the paper processing device is transferred to the paper feeding tray of the paper feeding device, the paper can be easily stacked on the paper feeding tray.

  One of the paper feed base and the adapter has a positioning pin, and the other has a positioning hole. In the process of placing the adapter in the paper feed base, the paper feed base is positioned relative to the adapter by inserting the positioning pin into the positioning hole May be. The sheet feeding device has an arm to which the sheet feeding table is attached, and is formed so as to provide an arm insertion space into which the arm is inserted when the sheet feeding table is placed. May be. According to this aspect, the positioning of the paper feed table and the adapter can be easily released by moving the paper feed table upward using the arm.

  The adapter according to an aspect of the present invention may further include adapter positioning means for positioning the adapter with respect to the paper tray by contacting any side portion of the paper tray. According to this aspect, the adapter and the paper cradle can be positioned relative to each other without providing the paper cradle with a positioning hole or a positioning pin.

  The adapter according to an aspect of the present invention may further include a locking unit that locks the detachment from the paper tray in a state where the adapter is placed on the paper tray. According to this aspect, it is possible to prevent the adapter from being detached from the sheet receiving table in the step of moving the sheet feeding table upward and detaching the sheet feeding table from the adapter.

  The adapter according to an aspect of the present invention may further include a detected portion that is detected by a paper pedestal height sensor provided in the paper processing device when disposed above the paper cradle. The paper cradle height sensor detects a predetermined position on the upper surface of the paper cradle when the adapter and the paper feed pedestal are not disposed above the paper cradle. When the position detected by the height sensor rises to a predetermined height, the rise of the paper cradle is stopped, and the detected portion may be provided at the top of the adapter. According to this aspect, when the paper receiving tray is attached to the paper processing device without the paper supply stand above the adapter, it is possible to avoid a situation where the adapter contacts the paper processing device when the paper receiving tray is raised. It becomes possible to do.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a paper feed system. This paper feeding system sequentially attaches and detaches a paper feed tray on which paper is loaded, an arm that is attached with the paper feed base and raises and lowers the paper feed base, and the topmost paper among the paper loaded on the paper feed stand. An adapter used when a sheet processed by a sheet feeding device having a sheet feeding unit and a sheet processing device that performs predetermined processing on the sheet and sequentially discharges the sheet to a sheet receiving tray is transferred to the sheet feeding device. When the paper feed tray is placed above the paper tray so that the paper discharged from the paper processing device is stacked on the paper tray instead of being stacked on the paper tray, the paper tray and the paper tray And an adapter for positioning the two by interposing. The adapter is formed so that an arm insertion space is provided between the paper feed table and the arm when the paper feed table is placed. One of the paper feed table and the adapter is a positioning pin and the other is a positioning pin. In the process of having a hole and placing the adapter on the paper feed table, the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole, the paper feed table is positioned with respect to the adapter, and the adapter is interposed between the paper receiving table and the paper feed table. The paper feed base and the adapter are inserted into the main body of the paper feed device so that the arm is inserted into the arm insertion space, and the arm is raised, whereby the positioning pin is pulled out from the positioning hole and the paper feed base is detached from the adapter. According to this aspect, it is possible to easily cancel the mutual positioning of the paper feed table and the adapter by raising the arm provided in the paper feed device.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a paper feeding device. The sheet feeding device includes an arm that can be moved up and down, a sheet feeding table that is detachably supported by the arm, a storage unit that stores a plurality of waiting position information indicating a waiting position of the arm when the sheet feeding table is mounted, A standby position control unit that acquires standby position information selected by the user from the plurality of stored standby position information, and moves the arm to a standby position indicated by the acquired standby position information; According to this aspect, the user can select an appropriate arm standby position for mounting the sheet feed table. For this reason, it is possible to facilitate attachment of the paper feed table.

  The paper feeding device according to this aspect may further include an input information acquisition unit that acquires information according to an input operation performed by a user using the input device, and a display control unit that displays information on a display. The display control unit displays a plurality of stored standby position information on the display so as to be selectable by an input operation by the user, and the input information acquisition unit displays an input operation by the user among the plurality of standby position information displayed on the display. The identification information indicating the standby position information selected by (2) may be acquired, and the standby position control unit may acquire the standby position information indicated by the acquired identification information. According to this aspect, the user can select the arm standby position by a simple operation of selecting any one of the plurality of standby position information displayed on the display.

  The display control unit displays each standby position name of the plurality of standby position information on the display, and the input information acquisition unit indicates a new standby position name input by the user to change any of the standby position names. The character information is acquired, and the display control unit may display a new standby position name indicated by the acquired character information on the display instead of the standby position name that has been changed. According to this aspect, the user can change the standby position name displayed on the display to a name that is easy for the user to understand.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily stack sheets on the sheet feeding table of the sheet feeding device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a front view of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the paper feeding device 10 taken along the line P-P. In FIG. 1, for ease of understanding, an outer cover or the like is represented by a two-dot chain line so that the internal structure of the sheet feeding device 10 is represented.

  The paper feeding device 10 includes a device main body 12 and a paper feeding table 14. The paper feeding device 10 includes a paper feeding unit 16, an air blowing mechanism 57, a first air blowing member 52, a second air blowing member 54, a paper height sensor 20, and a buffer mechanism 22. Near the center of the apparatus main body 12, a paper storage unit 15 that is a space region that opens forward and downward is provided. Sheets are stacked on the sheet supply table 14, and a sheet storage unit 15 stores the sheet supply table 14 and sheets stacked thereon.

  The paper feed base 14 is detachable from the apparatus main body 12. The paper feed table 14 includes a paper feed plate 51 and casters 48. The sheet feeding plate 51 is formed in a flat plate shape having a rectangular outer shape. The sheet feeding plate 51 is attached to the apparatus main body 12 so that the upper surface is horizontal, and a sheet placement surface 50 on which sheets are stacked is provided on the upper surface of the sheet feeding plate 51. The caster 48 is provided below the sheet feeding plate 51. The caster 48 is grounded when the paper feed table 14 is detached from the apparatus main body 12 and allows the paper feed table 14 to move.

  When the user attaches the paper feed tray 14 to the apparatus main body 12, the user moves the sheets stacked on the paper feed stand 14 so as to abut against the frame 13 on the back side of the apparatus as necessary. Further, if necessary, the paper loaded on the paper feed tray 14 is moved in the paper feeding direction so as to abut against a predetermined abutting portion. Thus, the sheets stacked on the sheet feed table 14 are positioned at a position suitable for feeding out the sheets. Further, the sheet to be sent out is prevented from being inclined by the frame 13.

  The paper feed unit 16 is provided in the upper right part of the paper storage unit 15. The paper feed unit 16 includes a plurality (eight in the first embodiment) of paper feed belts 17 and two rollers 18. Each of the plurality of paper feeding belts 17 has the same width and the same circumferential length, and is mounted on the outer circumferences of the two rollers 18 so as to be arranged at equal intervals in the axial direction. The paper feed unit 16 is disposed on the upper side and the right side of the paper storage unit 15 so that the axial direction of the roller 18 faces in the front-rear direction and the two rollers are arranged in the left-right direction, and is fixed to the frame 13 of the apparatus main body 12. Is done.

  One of the rollers 18 is driven by a motor (not shown), and all the paper feed belts 17 are also driven by this. At this time, the motor drives the roller 18 so that the lower surface of the paper feeding belt 17 moves in the paper feeding direction. The paper feed unit 16 also has an air suction mechanism (not shown). The air suction mechanism sucks air from the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17. When the sheet feeding belt 17 is driven with the sheets stacked to a predetermined height and air is sucked from the lower surface of the sheet feeding belt 17, the uppermost sheet among the stacked sheets is placed on the sheet feeding belt 17. Adsorbed to the lower surface and sent out to the right of the device. In the first embodiment, the air suction mechanism has a fan, and an air flow for sucking air from the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17 is formed by the operation of the fan.

  The paper feeding device 10 has an electronic control unit (not shown). The electronic control unit includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and controls operations of various actuators such as a motor and a solenoid mounted on the sheet feeding device 10.

  A motor for driving the paper feed belt 17 is connected to an electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit controls on / off of the operation of the paper feed belt 17. The air suction mechanism is provided with a solenoid that drives a lid member that opens and closes an opening provided in the air flow path. When the solenoid is off, the opening is opened and the suction of the paper to the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17 is suppressed by weakening the suction of air from the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17. When the solenoid is on, the opening is closed and the suction of air from the lower surface of the paper feeding belt 17 is strengthened, so that the paper is adsorbed on the lower surface of the paper feeding belt 17. This solenoid is also connected to the electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit controls the adsorption of the paper to the paper feeding belt 17 by controlling the solenoid on and off. As described above, the electronic control unit controls the feeding of the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the sheet feeding table 14 by controlling the driving of the sheet feeding belt 17 and the adsorption of the sheet to the lower surface of the sheet feeding belt 17. .

  An air blowing mechanism 57 serving as an air blowing means is disposed below the paper feeding unit 16 and in the vicinity of the upper end on the downstream side of the stacked sheets. The air blowing mechanism 57 blows air to the upper end of the stacked paper from the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. When the air is blown out from the air blowing mechanism 57, the uppermost sheet is lifted with respect to the sheet below it, the frictional force between them is reduced, and it is possible to improve the sheet transportability. The air blowing mechanism 57 has a fan (not shown), and the electronic control unit controls the operation of the fan to control the air blowing by the air blowing mechanism 57. In addition, the air blowing mechanism 57 may blow out air using the air supplied from the air pump mentioned later.

  The paper height sensor 20 detects the height of the topmost paper among the papers stacked on the paper feed table 14. The paper height sensor 20 is disposed on the upstream side of the paper feeding unit 16 in the paper conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as “upstream side”). The paper height sensor 20 includes a rotating plate 20a, an optical sensor 20b, and a sensor frame 20c. The rotation plate 20a is rotatably supported by the sensor frame 20c. The optical sensor 20b is fixed to the sensor frame 20c and detects that the rotating plate 20a has been rotated to a predetermined angle. The paper height sensor 20 is disposed around the left side of the paper feed unit 16 and is fixed to the frame 13 so that the rotating plate 20 a protrudes slightly below the lower surface of the paper feed belt 17. As will be described later, the stacked sheets can be raised and lowered together with the sheet feed table 14, and the rotating plate 20a is stacked in a state where the uppermost sheet is in contact with the stacked sheets. The paper rotates as the paper rises. The optical sensor 20b and the rotation plate 20a detect the rotation of the rotation plate 20a to a predetermined angle when the uppermost sheet among the stacked sheets is lifted to a height suitable for feeding. Each is arranged.

  The first air blowing member 52 is disposed in the vicinity of the right side of the stacked sheets and in the vicinity of the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets, and blows air forward by supplying air. Therefore, the first air blowing member 52 functions as an air blowing means for blowing air to the upper end side surface of the stacked paper. The second air blowing member 54 is disposed in the vicinity of the front side on the left side of the stacked sheets and in the vicinity of the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets, and blows air backward when supplied with air. Therefore, the second air blowing member 54 also functions as an air blowing means for blowing air to the upper end side surface of the stacked paper. When air is blown out from the first air blowing member 52 and the second air blowing member 54, the uppermost sheet among the sheets stacked together with the air blowing by the air blowing mechanism 57 described above and the lower sheet thereof A layer of air is formed between the sheets. As a result, the frictional force between the sheets is reduced, and the uppermost sheet is easily fed out.

  A curved paper transport path that reverses the paper transport direction from the right to the left while moving up is provided at the paper delivery destination of the paper feed unit 16. In this curved sheet conveyance path, the sheet is conveyed by the roller 19.

  A roller unit 58 is provided on the left side, which is the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as “downstream side”) of the curved paper conveyance path. The roller unit 58 includes a conveyance belt 64, a roller 60, and a roller 62. The conveyor belt 64 is attached to the outer periphery of the roller 60 and the roller 62, and forms a sheet conveyance path that moves obliquely downward by the lower surface of the conveyor belt 64.

  A buffer mechanism 22 is provided on the downstream side of the roller unit 58. The buffer mechanism 22 includes a conveyance belt 26, a roller 24, and a stop roller 28. The conveyance belt 26 is attached to the outer periphery of the two rollers 24, and a sheet conveyance path that runs obliquely upward is formed by the upper surface of the conveyance belt 26.

  The stop roller 28 is in contact with the upper surface of the transport belt 26. Below the stop roller 28, a stop member (not shown) having a length similar to the length of the upper surface of the transport belt 26 in the sheet transport direction is attached to the frame 13 so as to be rotatable about the upstream side. When the paper is retained in the buffer mechanism 22, the retaining member is rotated so as to move upward and is brought into contact with the retaining roller 28. At this time, the stationary member is rotated until the upper surface of the stationary member is positioned above the upper surface of the conveying belt 26. As a result, the sheet can be stopped above the conveyor belt 26 while the conveyor belt 26 is driven.

  The third air blowing member 56 blows air along the upper surface of the conveyor belt 26 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the buffer mechanism 22. As a result, the leading edge of the paper entering the buffer mechanism 22 can be lifted upward. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the progress of the conveyed paper from being impeded by the rear end of the paper already stopped on the upper surface of the stop member and the front end of the paper to be stopped on the paper. The In addition, an air layer can be formed between the upper surface of the paper already retained on the upper surface of the retaining member and the lower surface of the paper to be retained on top of the paper, and the frictional force between the sheets is also reduced. Can be reduced. As described above, it is possible to realize the smooth stoppage of the sheet in the buffer mechanism 22 by blowing out the air from the third air blowing member 56.

  The paper conveyance path provided on the downstream side of the buffer mechanism 22 is formed so as to first proceed obliquely downward and then proceed in the horizontal direction. The paper transported to the paper transport path is transported by the roller 30 and discharged out of the apparatus main body 12. When sheets are stacked by the buffer mechanism 22 to form a sheet bundle, the sheet bundle is conveyed in the same manner. The paper discharged from the apparatus main body 12 is conveyed to a post-processing device such as a paper folding device, a paper binding device, or a paper punching device.

  The paper feeder 10 further includes an air pump 42, a first pipe 34, a second pipe 36, a third pipe 38, a second air valve 40, a first air valve 44, and a door 32. The door 32 is provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body 12 in the right direction from the paper storage unit 15.

  The air pump 42 is provided inside the apparatus main body 12 positioned to the right of the paper storage unit 15. A first air valve 44 is connected to the air pump 42. The first pipe 34, the second pipe 36, and the third pipe 38 are also provided inside the apparatus main body 12. The first pipe 34 is connected to the third air blowing member 56. The second pipe 36 is connected to the first air blowing member 52. The third pipe 38 is connected to the second air blowing member 54. The first pipe 34, the second pipe 36 and the third pipe 38 are all connected to a single second air valve 40. The air pump 42, the first air valve 44, and the second air valve 40 are disposed at positions that can be accessed by the user by opening the door 32.

  One end of a hose (not shown) is connected to the first air valve 44, and the other end of the hose is connected to the second air valve 40. When the air pump 42 is turned on, air is supplied to the first air blowing member 52, the second air blowing member 54, and the third air blowing member 56, respectively.

  FIG. 3 is a left side view of the sheet feeder 10 according to the first embodiment. The apparatus main body 12 further includes two arms 72, two chains 80, and a single motor 84. The two arms 72 have the same elongated plate shape.

  The two arms 72 are fixed to each other so as to extend in parallel while being separated from each other by a connecting shaft (not shown). Rollers 76 are arranged in the vertical direction behind the frame 13. A chain 80 is attached to the outer periphery of the roller 76. Two sets of such rollers 76 and chains 80 are juxtaposed in the left-right direction of the apparatus. Each of the two arms 72 is coupled to each of the two chains 80 via an arm support portion 74. At this time, the arm 72 is provided so as to protrude from the frame 13 toward the front of the apparatus in the paper storage unit 15. The paper feed table 14 is attached to the arm 72.

  A central axis of the upper roller 76 is connected to a motor 84 via a speed reducer 82. When the motor 84 operates, the chain 80 is driven, and the arm 72 moves in the vertical direction. The motor 84 is connected to an electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit controls the operation of the motor 84 by supplying a drive signal to the motor 84. Thus, the electronic control unit uses the detection result of the paper height sensor 20 so that the uppermost paper among the stacked papers becomes a height suitable for the paper feeding by the paper feeding unit 16. Is raised and lowered to control the height of the topmost sheet.

  In the sheet feeding device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, sheets on which image recording by printing, electrophotographic method, ink jet method, or the like is performed are stacked on a sheet feeding table 14. Normally, such an image recording apparatus itself or, if there is a stacker or the like connected to the image recording apparatus, stacks sheets on which image recording has been performed. Hereinafter, these apparatuses for stacking sheets on which image recording has been performed are collectively referred to as a sheet processing apparatus.

  A sheet processing apparatus generally has a sheet receiving tray, and stacks sheets on the sheet receiving tray. The paper loaded on the paper receiving tray is transferred to the paper feeding tray 14 by the user's manual work. However, there is a possibility that the loaded state changes, for example, the loaded paper collapses when it is replaced. Such a change in the stacking state may lead to problems such as double feeding and feeding failure when feeding from stacked sheets. In addition, from the viewpoint of improving productivity, it has become possible to load a large number of sheets on the sheet tray and the sheet feeding tray in recent years, and it has become increasingly difficult for users to replace sheets. Yes.

  For this reason, the paper feed tray 14 of the paper feed device 10 according to the first embodiment can be attached via the adapter 102 above the paper receiving tray of the paper processing device. It is possible to load paper directly on the paper placement surface 50. This will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the paper feed base 14, the adapter 102, and the paper receiving base 106 before being attached to each other. FIG. 4 shows the state seen from the left front.

  A positioning pin 110 is provided on the lower surface of the sheet feeding plate 51 so as to protrude vertically downward. A total of two positioning pins 110 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the front side when the paper feed base 14 is mounted on the paper feed device 10.

  The adapter 102 has a projection area when viewed in the vertical direction substantially the same as the paper feed table 14. The adapter 102 is formed in a shape in which the center of a plate-like member is bent into a convex shape when viewed from the front. As a result, caster accommodating spaces 102b are formed in the left and right recessed portions of the adapter 102, respectively.

  A positioning hole 102 a is provided in the upper surface of the convex mold at the center of the adapter 102. A total of two positioning holes 102 a are provided on both the left and right sides of the front side of the adapter 102.

  A locking member 104 is provided on the front side of the adapter 102. Although not shown in FIG. 4, a locking member 104 similar to the locking member 104 provided on the front side is also provided on the rear side of the adapter 102. The locking member 104 is formed by bending a plate-shaped spring material. The locking member 104 has a flat portion perpendicular to the front-rear direction, and an inclined portion that is inclined with respect to the flat portion is provided below the locking member 104. The inclined portions of the front and rear locking members 104 are inclined so as to expand in the downward direction.

  The paper receiving tray 106 also has a projected area when viewed in the vertical direction substantially the same as the paper feeding tray 14. The paper tray 106 is formed in a plate shape whose outer shape has a square thickness. A sheet receiving surface 106c on which sheets are stacked by the sheet processing apparatus is provided on the upper surface of the plate-like portion. Further, leg portions 106a extending in the front-rear direction are projected downward near the left and right end portions on the lower surface of the plate-like portion. A space 106b is formed by the lower surface of the plate-like portion and the two legs 106a.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the paper feed tray 14, the adapter 102, and the paper receiving tray 106 after being attached to each other. FIG. 5 also shows the state seen from the left front as in FIG.

  The paper feed table 14 is placed on the adapter 102 and assembled to the adapter 102. The paper feed table 14 is positioned relative to the adapter 102 in the horizontal direction by inserting the positioning pin 110 of the paper feed table 14 vertically downward into the positioning hole 102a of the adapter 102. Of course, the adapter 102 may be provided with a positioning pin, and the paper feed base 14 may be provided with a positioning hole. Thus, since the positioning pin 110 is vertically inserted into the positioning hole 102a and the paper feed table 14 is positioned on the adapter 102, when the paper feed table 14 is detached from the adapter 102, the paper feed table 14 is moved vertically upward. It is possible to easily remove the paper feed base 14 from the adapter 102 by moving the adapter 102 to the position.

  The adapter 102 is formed such that when the paper feed table 14 is placed on the upper surface, a space portion 108 as an arm insertion space into which the arm 72 can be inserted is provided between the lower surface of the paper feed table 14. . When the paper feed base 14 is attached to the arm 72, the arm 72 is inserted into the space portion 108.

  The adapter 102 is placed on the paper tray 106 and assembled to the paper tray 106. When the adapter 102 moves toward the lower paper tray 106, each of the inclined portions of the locking member 104 provided at the front and rear of the upper portion of the front side of the paper tray 106 and the rear It slides with the upper end part of the side part, and it deform | transforms so that the locking member 104 may mutually expand.

  When the adapter 102 is placed on the locking member 104, the locking members 104 that are spread out to each other are restored so as to be closed again by the elastic force of the spring. At this time, each of the inner side surfaces of the locking member 104 comes into contact with the front side portion and the rear side portion of the paper receiving tray 106, and the paper receiving tray 106 is held by the elastic force of the locking member 104. As a result, the adapter 102 is positioned in the horizontal direction with respect to the paper tray 106. Therefore, the locking member 104 functions as adapter positioning means for positioning the adapter 102 with respect to the paper tray 106.

  There are various forms of the paper cradle 106, and it may be designed and manufactured without the adapter 102 being originally attached. For this reason, there may be a case where the paper receiving tray 106 is not provided with positioning pins or positioning holes for positioning the adapter 102. By positioning the adapter 102 using the side portion of the paper tray 106 in this manner, the adapter 102 and the paper tray 106 can be positioned horizontally without providing positioning pins or positioning holes in the paper tray 106. Relative positioning of directions is possible.

  As described above, the paper feed table 14 and the adapter 102 are mutually positioned in the horizontal direction by the positioning pins 110 and the positioning holes 102a. Further, the locking member 104 positions the adapter 102 and the paper tray 106 in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the paper feed table 14 is positioned in the horizontal direction with respect to the paper receiving table 106. Accordingly, for example, the paper feed table 14 can be positioned with respect to the paper receiving tray 106 so that the paper is stacked at a position suitable for sending out the paper in the paper feed device 10 or a position close thereto.

  The locking member 104 is provided with a locking portion that protrudes inward. When the adapter 102 is placed on the paper receiving tray 106, the locking members 104 are restored so as to be closed with each other, whereby the locking portion of the locking member 104 advances below the paper receiving tray 106, and the paper receiving tray 104 is received. The detachment of the adapter 102 from the table 106 is suppressed.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6F, a process of supplying the paper stacked by the paper processing device 120 to the paper feeding device 10 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet feeding table 14, the adapter 102, and the sheet receiving table 106 are mounted on the sheet processing apparatus 120. The paper receiving tray 106 is attached at a position where it is normally attached in the paper processing apparatus 120 for stacking paper. In order to load paper directly on the paper placement surface 50 of the paper feed table 14, the paper feed table 14 is attached above the paper receiving table 106 via the adapter 102. The paper processing device 120 stacks paper directly on the paper placement surface 50 of the paper feed tray 14. FIG. 6A shows a state after the sheets 2 are stacked on the sheet feed table 14.

  The user inserts the transport vehicle 86 into the space 106 b below the paper receiving tray 106 and pulls it out of the paper processing apparatus 120, so that the paper 2 is loaded on the paper feeding tray 14 and the adapter 102. , And the paper tray 106 can be pulled out simultaneously. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet feeding device 14, the adapter 102, and the sheet receiving tray 106 are pulled out from the sheet processing apparatus 120 using the conveyance vehicle 86. The sheet feed table 14, the adapter 102, and the sheet receiving table 106 pulled out from the sheet processing apparatus 120 are conveyed to the sheet feed apparatus 10 by the conveyance vehicle 86.

  FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating a state before the paper feed table 14, the adapter 102, and the paper tray 106 are inserted into the paper supply device 10. The sheet feeding device 10 is provided with a control panel (not shown), and the user can input the height of the arm 72 on the control panel, or arbitrarily select from the height of the arm 72 displayed in advance so as to be selectable. By selecting the height of the arm 72, the height of the arm 72 can be designated. The control panel is connected to the electronic control unit, and the height of the arm 72 input or selected by the user is output to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit operates the motor 84 to move the arm 72 to the input or selected height.

  The user inputs or selects the height of the arm 72 using the control panel so that the arm 72 can be inserted into the space 108 formed below the paper feed table 14. When the arm 72 moves to a height at which the arm 72 can be inserted into the space portion 108, the user pushes the conveyance vehicle 86 toward the paper feeding device 10, and inserts the arm 72 into the space portion 108 while inserting the arm 72. , And the paper tray 106 are inserted into the paper storage unit 15 of the paper feeder 10. As shown in FIG. 6D, the user inserts these until the rear end portion of the paper feed table 14 comes into contact with the frame 13 behind the paper storage portion 15.

  The arm 72 is provided with a sensor (not shown) that detects that the paper feed table 14 has been inserted into an appropriate predetermined position. When the user inserts the paper feed tray 14, the adapter 102, and the paper receiving tray 106 into the paper storage unit 15 of the paper feed apparatus 10, and the sensor detects that the paper feed base 14 has been inserted into an appropriate predetermined position. The electronic control unit raises the arm 72 by a sufficient distance for the positioning pin 110 to be pulled out from the positioning hole 102a. As a result, the sheet feed table 14 is placed on the arm upper surface 72 a, and the sheet feed table 14 is mounted on the arm 72 so as to move up and down together with the arm 72.

  FIG. 6E is a diagram illustrating a state in which the arm 72 is lifted in a state where the paper feeding base 14, the adapter 102, and the paper receiving base 106 are inserted into the paper feeding device 10. The paper feed base 14 is positioned by inserting a positioning pin in the vertical direction into the positioning hole with respect to the adapter 102, and is not locked out of the adapter 102 by a locking member or the like. On the other hand, the adapter 102 is prevented from being detached from the paper tray 106 by the locking member 104. For this reason, when the arm 72 moves upward, the paper feed table 14 can be easily detached from the adapter 102 while preventing the adapter 102 from being detached from the paper receiving tray 106.

  The positioning pin 110 of the paper feed table 14 is pulled out from the positioning hole 102a of the adapter 102 in the process of moving the arm 72 upward. As a result, the restriction on the horizontal movement of the adapter 102 relative to the paper feed table 14 is released. When the raising of the arm 72 is completed, the user moves the transport vehicle 86 so as to be separated from the paper feeder 10. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6 (f), the adapter 102 and the paper tray 106 can be pulled out from the paper feeder 10 while the paper feeder 14 is attached to the paper feeder 10.

  When the adapter 102 and the paper tray 106 are pulled out, the user moves the paper 2 stacked on the paper feed tray 14 in the horizontal direction so that the paper 2 is placed on the paper placement surface 50 at a position suitable for paper feeding. Thereafter, when the user presses the start button, the sheet storage unit 15 is raised so that the uppermost sheet of the sheets 2 is in a position suitable for feeding, and the uppermost sheet of the sheets 2 is sequentially moved by the sheet feeding unit 16. Sent out.

  As described above, in the paper feeding system including the paper feeding device 10 and the adapter 102 according to the first embodiment, the paper stacked on the paper receiving tray 106 of the paper processing device 120 is fed to the paper feeding platform 14 of the paper feeding device 10. The sheets can be stacked on the sheet feeding table 14 of the sheet feeding device 10 without changing to the above. As a result, it is possible to easily stack sheets on the sheet feed table 14.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the paper feed table 14, the adapter 102, and the paper tray 106 before being attached to each other according to the second embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment.

  A rectangular parallelepiped convex portion 114 is provided on the lower surface of the paper feed plate 51 of the paper feed tray 14 so as to protrude downward. On the upper surface of the adapter 102, there is provided a rectangular parallelepiped accommodating portion 112 protruding upward. The accommodating part 112 has the recessed part 112a opened upwards. The concave portion 112 a is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is slightly larger than the convex portion 114.

  When the paper feed table 14 is placed on the adapter 102 so that the caster 48 is accommodated in the caster accommodating space 102 b and placed on the upper surface of the adapter 102, the convex portion 114 is inserted into the concave portion 112 a of the accommodating portion 112. As a result, the paper feed tray 14 and the adapter 102 are positioned relative to each other in the horizontal direction.

  Needless to say, the convex portion 114 may be provided on the adapter 102 and the accommodating portion 112 may be provided on the paper feed table 14. Of course, a plurality of combinations of the accommodating portion 112 and the convex portion 114 may be provided in the paper feed table 14 and the adapter 102.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the paper feed table 14, the adapter 122, and the paper tray 106 after being attached to each other according to the third embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment.

  The adapter 122 according to the third embodiment does not have the locking member 104 according to the first embodiment. The adapter 122 has side portions that extend in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction at both left and right ends. When the adapter 122 is placed on the paper tray 106, the adapter 122 holds the paper tray 106 between the left and right side portions. As a result, the accommodating portion 112 and the paper tray 106 are positioned relative to each other in the horizontal direction. The shape of other parts of the adapter 122 is the same as that of the adapter 102 according to the first embodiment.

  Each of the side surfaces of the adapter 122 is provided with two screw holes formed with female screw portions, and a thumb screw 124 is screwed into the screw holes. When the thumbscrew 124 is screwed into the screw hole, the paper tray 106 is clamped by the thumbscrew 124 from both sides, whereby the adapter 122 is fixed to the paper tray 106.

  Similar to the adapter 102 according to the first embodiment, the adapter 122 is provided with a positioning hole 122a. After the paper feed base 14 is inserted into the arm 72 of the apparatus main body 12, the positioning pin 110 is removed from the positioning hole 122 a by being raised by the arm 72, and the paper feed base 14 is removed from the paper receiving base 106. By fixing the accommodating portion 112 and the paper tray 106 with screws as described above, the adapter 122 is prevented from being removed from the paper tray 106 when the paper feed tray 14 is removed from the adapter 122.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the paper feed tray 14, the adapter 126, and the paper tray 106 after being attached to each other according to the fourth embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment.

  The adapter 126 has a bent portion that is bent so as to protrude inward from the lower ends of the left and right side portions. Other shapes of the adapter 126 are the same as those of the adapter 122 according to the third embodiment.

  The paper tray 106 is inserted into the space surrounded by the upper surface portion, the side surface portion, and the bent portion of the adapter 126 from the front or the rear, and is attached to the adapter 126. At this time, the upper surface of each bent portion of the adapter 126 comes into contact with the lower surface of the paper tray 106. One of the left and right bent portions (left bent portion in the present embodiment) is provided with a screw hole in which a female screw portion is formed, and a thumb screw 128 is screwed into this screw hole. Accordingly, the paper tray 106 is sandwiched between the upper surface portion of the adapter 126 and the thumbscrew 128, whereby the adapter 126 is fixed to the paper tray 106. Needless to say, screw holes are provided in both the left and right bent portions, and the thumbscrew 128 may be screwed into these screw holes.

  Similar to the adapter 102 according to the first embodiment, the adapter 126 is provided with a positioning hole 126a. After the paper feed base 14 is inserted into the arm 72 of the apparatus main body 12, the positioning pin 110 is removed from the positioning hole 126 a by being raised by the arm 72, and the paper feed base 14 is removed from the paper receiving base 106. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, the lower surface of the paper tray 106 and the upper surface of the bent portion of the adapter 126 are in contact. For this reason, when an upward external force is applied to the adapter 126, the upper surface of the bent portion of the adapter 126 is locked to the lower surface of the paper tray 106, and the adapter 126 is prevented from being removed from the paper tray 106. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the adapter 126 from being removed from the paper receiving tray 106 when the paper feeding platform 14 is removed from the adapter 126.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the paper feed tray 14, the adapter 130, and the paper tray 106 after being attached to each other according to the fifth embodiment. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the fifth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment.

  As with the adapter 102 according to the first embodiment, the adapter 130 is provided with a positioning hole 130a. After the paper feed base 14 is inserted into the arm 72 of the apparatus main body 12, the positioning pin 110 is removed from the positioning hole 130 a by being raised by the arm 72, and the paper feed base 14 is removed from the paper receiving base 106.

  The adapter 130 has a lower side surface that is bent further vertically downward from one of the left and right bent portions (the left bent portion in the fifth embodiment). The shape of the other part of the adapter 130 is the same as that of the adapter 126 according to the fourth embodiment.

  An eccentric cam mechanism 132 is provided on the lower surface of the adapter 130. The eccentric cam mechanism 132 prevents the adapter 130 and the paper tray 106 from moving in the front-rear direction. The configuration of the eccentric cam mechanism 132 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b). Of course, the adapter 130 may have lower side surfaces formed on both the left and right bent portions, and an eccentric cam mechanism 132 may be provided on both the left and right lower side surfaces.

  FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating a state of the eccentric cam mechanism 132 before the adapter 130 is fixed to the paper tray 106, and FIG. 11B is a diagram when the adapter 130 is fixed to the paper tray 106. It is a figure which shows the state of the eccentric cam mechanism. The eccentric cam mechanism 132 has an eccentric portion 132a, a lever 132b, and a rotation shaft 132c. The eccentric part 132a is formed in a disc shape, and the lever 132b is fixed to the eccentric part 132a. The eccentric portion 132a is inserted with a rotation shaft 132c at a position slightly deviated from the central portion thereof, and is thereby rotatable about the rotation shaft 132c. An escape hole for avoiding interference with the eccentric portion 132a is provided in the bent portion of the adapter 130 located above the portion where the eccentric cam mechanism 132 is provided.

  In a state where the lever 132b is not operated by the user, as shown in FIG. 11A, the eccentric portion 132a and the lower surface of the paper tray 106 are not in contact with each other while being separated. In this state, the adapter 130 and the paper tray 106 can move in the front-rear direction, and the adapter 130 and the paper tray 106 can be attached to and detached from each other.

  When the user operates the lever 132b, the eccentric portion 132a rotates and the eccentric portion 132a and the lower surface of the paper tray 106 come into contact with each other. As a result, the mutual movement of the adapter 130 and the paper tray 106 in the front-rear direction is restricted. Since the mutual movement of the adapter 130 and the paper tray 106 in the left-right direction is regulated by the side surface portion of the adapter 130 and the mutual movement in the vertical direction is regulated by the bent portion of the adapter 130, the eccentric cam mechanism 132 is operated. As a result, the adapter 130 is fixed to the paper tray 106. By using the eccentric cam mechanism 132 in this way, the user can fix the adapter 130 and the paper tray 106 to each other more simply than using a thumbscrew or the like.

  In addition, when the upper surface of the bent portion of the adapter 130 is in contact with the lower surface of the paper tray 106, the adapter 130 is prevented from being removed from the paper tray 106 when the paper feed tray 14 is removed from the adapter 130. The point is the same as in the fourth embodiment.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the adapter 142 according to the sixth embodiment is attached to the paper tray 140. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 to which these are attached is the same as the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment.

  The paper tray 140 is formed in a shape in which the front of the flat plate member is bent downward. A rising portion 140b having a shape bent upward is formed at the right end of the paper tray 140.

  The adapter 142 includes a spacer 144 and a detected member 150. The spacer 144 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and a U-shaped locking portion (not shown) is formed below the right end corresponding to the short side of the rectangle. The spacer 144 is inserted into the rising portion 140b of the paper tray 140, and the two manual screws 146 screwed into the right end from the inside of the spacer 144 are turned to the user, so that the right end The part is fixed to the rising part 140b. The adapter 142 is provided with a positioning member 148, and the adapter 142 can be positioned in the front-rear direction with respect to the paper tray 140 by bringing the positioning member 148 into contact with the front end portion of the rising portion 140b. Thus, the adapter 142 is positioned and fixed with respect to the paper tray 140. On the upper surface of the spacer 144, there are provided two positioning holes 144a for positioning the paper feed table 14 disposed above.

  The detected member 150 is attached to the left end of the spacer 144. The detected member 150 is formed by bending a flat plate, and a detected surface 150 a that is a horizontal upper surface is provided so as to be at the top of the adapter 142. The detected surface 150a of the detected member 150 is arranged such that its height is detected by a paper cradle height sensor (not shown) provided in the paper processing device when mounted on the paper cradle 140. Is done. This sheet receiving height sensor detects the height of the sheet receiving surface 140 a that is the upper surface of the sheet receiving stand 140 when the adapter 142 is not attached to the sheet receiving stand 140.

  Since the paper processing apparatus stacks paper on the paper receiving tray 140 while suppressing the fall distance of the discharged paper, the paper receiving surface 140a is disposed at a position close to the discharge outlet from which the paper is discharged. As the paper is discharged, the paper tray 140 is gradually lowered. For this reason, in a state where the paper is not stacked on the paper receiving surface 140a, the paper processing apparatus raises the paper receiving base 140 to the uppermost position. At this time, in order to avoid contact with the paper processing apparatus due to the paper receiving table 140 being raised too high, the paper processing apparatus raises the paper receiving table 140 when the paper receiving surface 140a is raised to a predetermined height. Stop. By providing the detected member 150 in the adapter 142 in this manner, the paper receiving tray 140 can be used when the paper receiving tray 140 is not attached although the paper receiving tray 140 is attached to the paper receiving tray 140. Ascending, it is possible to avoid the adapter 142 from contacting the paper processing apparatus.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper feed table 14 is further attached to the paper tray 140 and the adapter 142 shown in FIG. A support member 152 for fixing the casters 48 is attached below the sheet feed plate 51 of the sheet feed table 14. The support member 152 is formed by bending a plate-like member into a U shape, and the U-shaped opening is fixed below the sheet feeding plate 51 so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the apparatus. A positioning pin (not shown) is provided below the support member 152 so as to protrude downward. By inserting this positioning pin into the positioning hole 144a of the adapter 142, the spacer 144, the paper feed table 14, Are positioned relatively horizontally. In this way, the sheet feeding table 14, the adapter 142, and the sheet receiving table 140 can be combined and inserted into the sheet feeding device 10, and the sheet feeding table 14 can be attached to the arm 72. Note that the sheet receiving height sensor of the sheet processing apparatus determines the height of the sheet placing surface 50 that is the upper surface of the sheet supplying table 14 when the sheet supplying table 14 is mounted above the sheet receiving table 140. Detect. For this reason, the contact with the paper processing apparatus due to the raising of the paper feed table 14 is avoided.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which the adapter 161 according to the seventh embodiment is attached to the paper tray 160. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 to which these are attached is the same as the configuration of the paper feeding device 10 according to the first embodiment.

  The paper receiving tray 160 includes a paper receiving member 160a and leg portions 160b. A sheet receiving surface 160c is formed on the upper surface of the sheet receiving member 160a. These shapes of the paper tray 160 are the same as those of the paper tray 106 according to the first embodiment.

  The adapter 161 has a spacer 162 and a detected member 168. The spacer 162 is formed in a shape in which elongated flat plates are connected at right angles to each other at each end so as to be U-shaped. Two positioning holes 162 a are provided on the upper surface of the spacer 162. The detected member 168 is attached to the upper surface of the left end portion of the spacer 162. The detected member 168 is formed in a flat plate shape, and a detected surface 168 a that is a horizontal upper surface of the detected member 168 is at the top of the adapter 161. Similar to the sixth embodiment, the detected surface 168a of the detected member 168 is detected by a sheet receiving height sensor provided in the sheet processing apparatus when mounted on the sheet receiving table 160. It is arranged so that.

  The adapter 161 is disposed on a paper receiving surface 160c which is the upper surface of the paper receiving base 160 so that the U-shaped opening side of the spacer 162 faces rearward. A locking member 164 is provided at the right end of the spacer 162. The locking member 164 is formed in a U shape and is attached to the right end portion of the spacer 162 so that the U-shaped opening side faces downward.

  The paper receiving table 160 is provided with two openings 160d on the paper receiving surface 160c. The locking member 164 is disposed so as to fit a U-shaped opening in a portion between the two openings 160d. The locking member 164 is provided with a manual screw 166, and the locking member 164 is fixed to the paper tray 160 by manually turning the manual screw 166 by the user. In this way, the adapter 161 is attached to the paper tray 160.

  FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper feed table 14 is further attached to the paper tray 160 and the adapter 161 shown in FIG. The sheet feed table 14 is positioned in the horizontal direction with respect to the adapter 161 by inserting a positioning pin protruding downward into the positioning hole 162a. In this way, the sheet feeding table 14, the adapter 161, and the sheet receiving table 160 can be combined and inserted into the sheet feeding device 10, and the sheet feeding table 14 can be attached to the arm 72.

(Eighth embodiment)
FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram of the sheet feeding device 10 according to the eighth embodiment. The sheet feeding device 10 includes an electronic control unit 170 and a control panel 180. The electronic control unit 170 includes a CPU that executes various arithmetic processes, a ROM that stores various control programs, and a RAM that is used as a work area for data storage and program execution. In FIG. 16, the electronic control unit 170 depicts functional blocks realized by cooperation of hardware such as CPU, ROM, and RAM, and software. Therefore, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by a combination of hardware and software.

  The control panel 180 includes a display 182, a keyboard 184, and a mouse 186, which are connected to the electronic control unit 170. Instead of the keyboard 184 or the mouse 186, a touch panel display 182 that functions as an input device to the electronic control unit 170 may be employed.

  The electronic control unit 170 includes a standby position control unit 172, an input information acquisition unit 174, a display control unit 176, a standby position management unit 177, and a storage unit 178. The storage unit 178 is configured by a storage device such as a hard disk or a flash memory that retains the stored contents even when power supply is stopped. For example, “sheet feeding when the sheet placement surface 50 is located at −mm from the ground” A plurality of standby position information indicating the standby position of the arm 72 when the paper supply base 14 is mounted, such as “the standby position of the arm 72 suitable for the position of the base 14” is stored. In the eighth embodiment, the storage unit 178 stores four pieces of standby position information corresponding to each of the four standby positions of “Fixed Position”, “User Position 1”, “User Position 2”, and “User Position 3”. Is stored. “Fixed Position” is the lowest standby position of the arm 72, and is a standby position of the arm 72 that is suitable when the paper feed base 14 is attached to the arm 72 in a state of being grounded by its own caster 48. The user can change three standby positions “User Position 1”, “User Position 2”, and “User Position 3”, but cannot change “Fixed Position”.

  The standby position control unit 172 controls the raising and lowering of the arm 72 by supplying a drive signal to the motor 84. The input information acquisition unit 174 acquires information input by the user using an input device such as a keyboard 184 and a mouse 186. The display control unit 176 displays information on the display 182. The standby position management unit 177 manages the standby position information stored in the storage unit 178.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an arm position selection window 190 displayed on the display 182. When a predetermined input operation is performed by the user using the keyboard 184 or the mouse 186, the display control unit 176 displays the arm position selection window 190 on the display 182.

  In the arm position selection window 190, four option buttons 192, a setting button 194, an OK button 196, and a cancel button 198 are displayed. The display control unit 176 displays each of the four option buttons 192 on the display 182 in association with “Fixed Position”, “User Position 1”, “User Position 2”, and “User Position 3”. The user can select one of the four standby positions by clicking and selecting one of the four option buttons 192 with the mouse 186.

  When the option button 192 is clicked by the user, the input information acquisition unit 174 acquires identification information for identifying the standby position corresponding to the clicked option button 192. Next, when the user clicks the OK button 196, the input information acquisition unit 174 acquires the standby position information indicated by the acquired identification information from the standby position information stored in the storage unit 178. When the user further presses a start button (not shown), the standby position control unit 172 operates the motor 84 so as to move the arm 72 to the standby position indicated by the acquired standby position information. Thus, the user can select the standby position of the arm 72 in the arm position selection window 190. The user can close the arm position selection window 190 without moving the arm 72 by clicking the cancel button 198.

  The user can change the standby position of the arm 72 indicated by each of “User Position 1”, “User Position 2”, and “User Position 3” by clicking the setting button 194. FIG. 18 is a view showing a user position setting window 200 displayed on the display 182 when the setting button 194 in FIG. 17 is clicked. In the user position setting window 200, three option buttons 202, three name display fields 204, a handle 206, a numerical value setting field 208, a trial button 212, an OK button 214, and a cancel button 216 are displayed.

  Each of the three option buttons 202 is displayed corresponding to each of the three name display fields 204. The combinations of these three option buttons 202 and the name display field 204 correspond to the three standby positions “User Position 1”, “User Position 2”, and “User Position 3” that can be set by the user. In the initial state, “User Position 1”, “User Position 2”, and “User Position 3” are displayed in the three name display fields 204, respectively.

  The user clicks the name display field 204 to make the name display field 204 editable, and further inputs the desired name with the keyboard 184 to change the name of the standby position displayed in the name display field 204. be able to. The input information acquisition unit 174 acquires character information indicating the name of a new standby position input by the user using the keyboard 184 or the like. The display control unit 176 displays the name of the new standby position indicated by the acquired character information on the display 182 instead of the name of the standby position displayed in the clicked name display field 204.

  The user can select which standby position to change by clicking one of the three option buttons 202. When the option button 202 is clicked by the user, the display control unit 176 acquires the standby position information corresponding to the clicked option button 202 from the standby position information stored in the storage unit 178, and the acquired standby The standby position indicated by the position information is displayed in the numerical value setting field 208.

  Specifically, the display control unit 176 displays the ascent distance from the lowest home position of the arm 72 in the numerical value setting field 208. The user can input the standby position of the arm 72 by clicking on the numerical value setting field 208 to make it editable and inputting a desired numerical value with the keyboard 184. The numerical value setting field 208 may display the height of the paper placement surface 50 of the paper feed base 14 suitable for the standby position of the arm 72. Thus, by setting the height of the paper placement surface 50 of the paper feed table 14 instead of the height of the arm 72, the user can easily measure the height from the ground to the paper placement surface 50 by measuring the height from the ground. 72 optimum standby positions can be set. The user can change the standby position of the arm 72 by clicking the numerical value increase / decrease button 210 displayed in the numerical value setting field 208 to increase or decrease the numerical value in the numerical value setting field 208.

  Further, when any of the option buttons 202 is clicked, the display control unit 176 acquires standby position information of the standby position corresponding to the clicked option button 202 from the storage unit 178, and the acquired standby position information indicates The handle 206 is displayed at a height corresponding to the standby position. The user can change the standby position of the arm 72 by clicking on the handle 206 and dragging it in the vertical direction. The display control unit 176 also changes the numerical value in the numerical value setting field 208 as the handle 206 is dragged in the vertical direction.

  When the standby position of the arm 72 is changed by the user and the OK button 214 is clicked, the standby position management unit 177 stores the standby corresponding to the selected option button 202 among the standby position information stored in the storage unit 178. The position information is rewritten with the changed standby position information. The information to be rewritten at this time includes the name of the standby position input by the user in addition to the numerical value indicating the standby position of the arm 72. Note that the user can close the user position setting window 200 by clicking the cancel button 216 without changing the standby position of the arm 72.

  The user can move the arm 72 to the standby position changed by the numerical value setting field 208 or the handle 206 by clicking the trial button 212. When the trial button 212 is clicked by the user, the standby position control unit 172 acquires a numerical value indicating the standby position displayed in the numerical value setting field 208, and supplies a drive signal to the motor 84 based on this numerical value. 72 is moved. By using the trial button 212, the user can adjust the standby position of the arm 72 while confirming whether the standby position of the arm 72 after the change is adapted to the actual height of the paper feed table 14. .

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and an appropriate combination of the elements of each embodiment is also effective as an embodiment of the present invention. Various modifications such as design changes can be added to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and embodiments to which such modifications are added can also be included in the scope of the present invention. Here are some examples.

  In a modification, the adapter 102 can be replaced with a positioning member for positioning with the paper cradle, such as the locking member 104, so that the adapter 102 can be positioned on a plurality of types of paper cradles. Note that the position of the positioning member for positioning with the paper tray may be changeable according to a plurality of paper trays. For example, the locking member 104 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction of the apparatus, and can be fixed to the adapter 102 at a position corresponding to the size of the paper tray. As a result, the adapter 102 can be made to correspond to a plurality of types of paper receiving trays, so that even when there are a plurality of types of paper processing apparatuses, it is possible to load paper directly on the paper feeding tray 14.

  In another modification, the user presses a predetermined button for instructing ascending of the arm after inserting the paper feed table 14, the adapter 102, and the paper tray 106 into the paper storage unit 15 of the paper supply device 10. Alternatively, the rising distance of the arm 72 that is sufficient for the positioning pin 110 to be pulled out from the positioning hole 102a may be input or selected using the control panel. Even in this case, when such an operation is performed by the user, the electronic control unit raises the arm 72 by a sufficient distance for the positioning pin 110 to be pulled out from the positioning hole 102a.

1 is a front view of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment. It is PP sectional drawing of the paper feeder which concerns on 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the paper feed stand, adapter, and paper receiving stand before attaching mutually based on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the paper feed stand, adapter, and paper receiving stand after mutually attaching based on 1st Embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows the state by which the paper feed stand, the adapter, and the paper receiving stand were mounted | worn with the paper processing apparatus, (b) is a paper feed stand, an adapter, And (c) is a diagram showing a state before the paper feed table, the adapter, and the paper tray are inserted into the paper feeding device, and (d) It is a figure which shows the state after inserting a paper feed stand, an adapter, and a paper cradle into a paper feeder, (e) is a state with a paper feed pedestal, an adapter, and a paper cradle inserted in a paper feeder (F) is a diagram showing a state in which the adapter and the paper cradle are pulled out from the paper feeder using the transport vehicle. It is a perspective view which shows the paper feeder, adapter, and paper cradle before attaching mutually based on 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a paper feeding device, an adapter, and a paper receiving tray after being attached to each other according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a paper feeding device, an adapter, and a paper tray after being attached to each other according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a paper feeding device, an adapter, and a paper tray after being attached to each other according to a fifth embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows the state of the eccentric cam mechanism before fixing an adapter to a paper stand, (b) is a figure which shows the state of the eccentric cam mechanism when an adapter is fixed to a paper stand. is there. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the adapter which concerns on 6th Embodiment was attached to the paper stand. FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding table is further attached to the sheet receiving table and the adapter illustrated in FIG. 12. It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the adapter which concerns on 7th Embodiment was attached to the paper stand. FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding table is further attached to the sheet receiving table and the adapter illustrated in FIG. 14. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of a paper feeding device according to an eighth embodiment. It is a figure which shows the arm position selection window displayed on a display. It is a figure which shows the user position setting window displayed on a display.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper feeder, 14 Paper feed stand, 15 Paper storage part, 16 Paper feed part, 86 Carrier vehicle, 102 Adapter, 102a Positioning hole, 102b Caster storage space, 104 Locking member, 106 Paper receiving stand, 108 Space part, 110 Positioning pin, 120 Paper processing device.

Claims (7)

An adapter used when transferring paper processed by the paper processing device to the paper feeding device,
The paper processing device performs predetermined processing on the paper and sequentially discharges the paper to a paper receiving tray.
The paper feeder sequentially feeds the topmost paper among the papers stacked on the paper feed tray,
When the paper tray is disposed above the paper tray so that the paper discharged from the paper processing device is stacked on the paper tray instead of being stacked on the paper tray, An adapter characterized in that both are positioned by being interposed between a table and the sheet feeding table.   One of the paper feed base and the adapter has a positioning pin, and the other has a positioning hole. In the step of placing the adapter on the paper feed base, the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole to thereby attach the adapter to the adapter. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the paper feed base is positioned with respect to the adapter. The paper feeder has an arm to which the paper feeder is attached,
The adapter according to claim 1, wherein an arm insertion space into which the arm is inserted is provided between the paper feed table and the paper feed table.   4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising adapter positioning means for positioning the adapter with respect to the sheet receiving table by abutting against any one side portion of the sheet receiving table. 5. adapter.   5. The adapter according to claim 1, further comprising a locking unit configured to lock the detachment from the paper tray when placed on the paper tray. A detected portion that is detected by a paper cradle height sensor provided in the paper processing device when disposed above the paper cradle;
The paper cradle height sensor detects a predetermined location on the top surface of the paper cradle when the adapter and the paper feed pedestal are not arranged above the paper cradle.
The paper processing device is configured to stop the rise of the paper cradle when a portion detected by the paper cradle height sensor rises to a predetermined height,
The adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the detected part is provided so as to be the highest level of the adapter. A detachable paper feed table on which paper is stacked, an arm to which the paper feed table is attached and which raises and lowers the paper feed table, and a paper feeding means for sequentially feeding the top paper among the papers loaded on the paper feed table And a paper feeding device having
An adapter used for transferring a sheet processed by a sheet processing apparatus that performs predetermined processing to the sheet and sequentially discharging the sheet to a sheet receiving tray, to the sheet feeding apparatus, the sheet discharged from the sheet processing apparatus, When the paper feed table is disposed above the paper tray to be stacked on the paper tray instead of being loaded on the paper tray, the paper tray is interposed between the paper tray and the paper feed tray. An adapter for positioning both;
The adapter is formed to provide an arm insertion space into which the arm is inserted between the adapter and the paper supply table when the paper supply table is placed.
The paper feed table and the adapter have one positioning pin and the other has a positioning hole. In the step of placing the adapter on the paper feed table, the positioning pin is inserted into the positioning hole and The paper tray is positioned;
With the adapter interposed between the paper tray and the paper feed base, the paper feed base and the adapter are inserted into the main body of the paper feed device so that the arm is inserted into the arm insertion space, and the arm is The paper feed system is characterized in that the paper feed system is pulled out of the positioning hole and lifted out of the paper feed base from the adapter by being raised.

Images