JP7067579B2 - Manual paper feed device and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a manual paper feed device and an image forming device, and more particularly to a manual paper feed device in which a manual feed tray is provided on an opening / closing member of the main body of the device so that the manual feed tray can be opened and closed, and an image forming device equipped with the manual paper feed device.

An image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine is provided with a manual feeding device for supplying a recording sheet loaded on a manual feeding tray and a sheet such as an OHP film to a sheet transport path of the image forming apparatus main body. In this manual paper feeding device, there is known one in which a manual feed tray is provided in an opening / closing member that opens a sheet transport path of the image forming apparatus main body. The opening / closing member has a configuration in which the upper part is opened / closed with a rotation fulcrum at the lower part with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, and the opening / closing member is changed from the closed state in the upright posture to the open state in the inclined posture to open the seat transport path. By doing so, the jam sheet stuck in the sheet transport path can be easily removed. The bypass tray is configured to open and close the upper part with a rotation fulcrum at the lower part of the opening / closing member, and the sheet is loaded on the manual feed tray by changing the manual feed tray from the closed state in the upright posture to the open state in the inclined posture. Thereby, the sheet can be supplied to the sheet transport path.

In this type of manual paper feed device, if the opening / closing member is opened while the sheet is loaded on the manual feed tray in the open state, the upper part of the manual feed tray on the open / close side is lowered below the lower part on the rotation fulcrum side. , The sheet may slip off the manual feed tray.

Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for preventing such a sheet from slipping off. The technique of Patent Document 1 regulates the opening inclination angle of the manual feed tray from becoming too large by connecting the image forming apparatus main body and the manual feed tray with a connecting member, so that the sheet loaded on the manual feed tray can be used. I try not to fall.

However, since the technique of Patent Document 1 is configured to connect one end side of the connecting member to the image forming apparatus main body, various parts of the image forming apparatus main body are present in the middle of the connecting path in such a configuration. , There was a problem that the link mechanism became complicated.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a manual paper feed device and an image forming device that can prevent a problem that a sheet slips off a manual feed tray with a simple configuration. do.

The manual feed feed device according to the present invention is a manual feed feed device that supplies a sheet loaded on a manual feed tray to a sheet transport path of the device main body in order to solve the above problems, and is a manual feed feed device at a lower portion with respect to the device main body. The upper part opens and closes with the rotation fulcrum, and when viewed from the front of the device body, the opening / closing member provided on one side surface facing the width direction of the front and the opening / closing member are rotated downward with respect to the opening / closing member. The opening / closing member is provided with a manual feed tray whose upper portion is opened / closed with a moving fulcrum, and the opening / closing member has a first through hole through which a linear member penetrates and opens in the width direction of the one side surface, and the manual feed tray is provided. Has a second through hole through which the linear member penetrates from the inside to the outside and opens to the seat loading surface side, the linear member holds the manual feed tray, and the opening / closing member is closed to open the manual feed tray. In the open state and the opening / closing member opened and the manual feed tray open, the manual feed tray is in a horizontal state, a state in which the swing end of the manual feed tray is tilted upward from a horizontal state, or the above. The swing end is configured to be kept tilted downward by an angle of 10 degrees or less from the horizontal state .

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the sheet from slipping off the manual feed tray with a simple configuration, the linear member can be stored between the opening / closing member and the manual feed tray, and the manual paper feed device and the device can be made compact. An image forming apparatus can be provided .

It is a vertical sectional view seen from the front direction of the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment of the manual feeding apparatus and the image forming apparatus of this invention. It is a side view which shows the state which the opening / closing member of the manual paper feed device and the manual feed tray are closed in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a side view which shows by extracting the state which closed the opening / closing member of the manual paper feed device and opened the manual tray in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the state which opened the opening / closing member of the manual paper feed device, and closed the manual feed tray in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the state which opened the opening / closing member and the manual feed tray of the manual paper feed device in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the manual feed tray of the manual paper feed device in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the opening member in the state which the manual feed tray of the manual paper feed device is opened in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the manual feed tray of the manual paper feed device in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a part of FIG. 8 enlarged. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the manual feed tray of the manual paper feed device in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the inclination angle of a manual feed tray with respect to the horizontal, and the drop of a sheet in the copying machine which concerns on one Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments in which the manual paper feeding device and the image forming device according to the present invention are applied to a copying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. In addition, in order to make the drawings easier to see in FIGS. 4 and 5, the illustration of the sheet loaded on the manual feed tray, which will be described later, is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 has an image forming apparatus main body 2, an image reading device 3 arranged on the image forming apparatus main body 2, and a table shape arranged under the image forming apparatus main body 2. It is provided with a paper feeding device 4 and an automatic document transporting device 5 arranged on the image reading device 3 so as to be openable and closable. Further, the copying machine 1 includes a switchback device 42 and a manual paper feeding device 70.

The image forming apparatus main body 2 includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 10 as an image carrier inside the image forming apparatus main body 2. A charging device 11 is arranged around the photoconductor 10 on the left side in the drawing, and the developing device 12, the transfer device 13, and the cleaning device 14 are arranged along the rotation direction of the photoconductor 10 (counterclockwise direction: arrow A in the figure). Is placed. The transfer device 13 is configured by hanging a transfer belt 17 between the upper and lower rollers 15 and 16, and presses the transfer belt 17 against the peripheral surface of the photoconductor 10 at the transfer position B.

On the left side of the charging device 11 and the cleaning device 14, a toner replenishing device 20 for replenishing the developing device 12 with new toner is arranged. Further, inside the image forming apparatus main body 2, a sheet conveying device C that feeds out sheets such as paper and OHP sheets from a supply position described later and conveys them to a stack position via a transfer position B is arranged. The sheet transfer device C includes a supply path R1, a manual feed supply path R2, and a sheet transfer path R, which will be described later. The sheet transport path R has a substantially L-shape that passes between the photoconductor 10 and the transfer device 13 and extends from the bottom to the top in the drawing and then bends to the left.

A resist roller 21 is arranged upstream of the photoconductor 10 in the sheet transport path R. Further, a fixing device 22 is arranged at a downstream position of the photoconductor 10. The fixing device 22 includes a pair of fixing rollers (fixing roller rotating bodies) 31 and 32. A fixing heater (not shown) is arranged inside one fixing roller 31, and a pressure spring and a pressure arm are arranged around the other fixing roller 32. The pressure spring and the pressure arm press the other fixing roller 32 against one fixing roller 31. Further, a thermistor and a thermostat are arranged on one of the fixing rollers 31.

Then, the fixing heater keeps one fixing roller 31 at a predetermined temperature by turning on or off the fixing heater by the thermostat while measuring the temperature of the fixing roller 31 by the thermistor.

A discharge branch claw 34, a discharge roller 35, a first pressure roller 36, a second pressure roller 37, and a waist roller 38 are arranged further downstream of the fixing device 22, and an image-formed sheet is placed ahead of the discharge branch claw 34, a discharge roller 35, a second pressure roller 37, and a waist roller 38. A stacking discharge stack portion (discharge position) 39 is arranged.

A laser writing device 47 is arranged on the left side of the drawing of the developing device 12. The laser writing device 47 includes a laser light source (not shown), a rotating polymorphic mirror 48 for scanning, a polygon motor 49, a scanning optical system 50 such as an fθ lens, and the like.

The image reading device 3 includes a light source 53, a plurality of mirrors 54, an optical lens 55 for imaging, an image sensor 56 such as a CCD, and the like, and a contact glass 57 is arranged on the upper surface thereof.

One end of the automatic document transfer device 5 is connected to one end of the upper surface of the image reading device 3 by a connecting tool having a hinge structure. In the automatic document transfer device 5, the lower surface is in a horizontal state in which the original paper placed on the upper surface of the contact glass 57 is pressed from above, and the tilt angle with the upper surface of the contact glass 57 is opened by, for example, 90 degrees at the maximum. It is provided so that it can be opened and closed freely. The automatic document transfer device 5 is provided with a mounting table (not shown) at the mounting position of the document, a discharging table (not shown) at the discharging position, and a sheet such as a document can be transferred from the mounting table onto the contact glass 57 of the image reading device 3. It is provided with a sheet transfer device having a document transfer path (not shown) for transporting to a discharge table via a reading position of. The sheet transfer device includes a plurality of sheet transfer rollers (sheet transfer rotating bodies) (not shown) for transporting sheets such as original documents.

The paper feeding device 4 is provided with a multi-stage paper separating device 61, which is a supply position of the sheet S, inside. Each paper separating device 61 includes a pickup roller (feeding roller) 62, a feed roller (feeding roller) 63, and a reverse roller (separation roller) 64, respectively. A supply path R1 leading to the sheet transport path R of the image forming apparatus main body 2 is formed on the right side of the drawing of the paper separating devices 61 arranged in multiple stages. The supply path R1 includes several seat transport rollers (seat transport rotating bodies) 66 that transport the sheets.

The switchback device 42 is arranged on the right side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2 in the drawing. The switchback device 42 includes a seat transport device D that branches from the position of the discharge branch claw 34 of the seat transport path R. The sheet transfer device D has an inversion path R3 that leads to the switchback position 44 in which the pair of switchback rollers 43 are arranged, and a retransport path R4 that leads from the switchback position 44 to the resist roller 21 of the sheet transfer path R again. Have. Further, the sheet transfer device D has a plurality of sheet transfer rollers (seat transfer rotating bodies) 66 for transporting sheets. In the present embodiment, the switchback device 42 is configured to be attached to the opening / closing member 71 described later.

The manual paper feeding device 70 is arranged on the right side surface of the image forming apparatus main body 2 in the drawing. The manual paper feed device 70 includes a pickup roller (feed roller) 67A, a feed roller (feed roller) 67B, and a reverse roller (feed roller) 67C, and the sheet S loaded on the manual feed tray 72 is used as an image forming apparatus main body. It is supplied to the sheet transport path R of 2.

Next, the operation of the copying machine 1 will be described. First, in order to generate a copy using this copying machine 1, a main switch (not shown) is turned on, and a document is set in the document automatic transfer device 5. Alternatively, the automatic document transfer device 5 is opened, the document is set directly on the contact glass 57 of the image reading device 3, the document automatic transfer device 5 is closed, and the document is pressed by the automatic document transfer device 5.

Then, when the start switch (not shown) is pressed, when the document is set in the automatic document transfer device 5, the document is moved to the contact glass 57 through the document transfer path by the sheet transfer roller, and then the image reading device 3 is moved. It drives, reads the contents of the document, and ejects it on the ejection table. On the other hand, when the original is set directly on the contact glass 57, the image reading device 3 is immediately driven.

When the image reading device 3 starts driving, the light source 53 moves along the contact glass 57 while emitting light, and irradiates the document surface on the contact glass 57 with the light. The plurality of mirrors 54 receive the reflected light from the document surface and reflect it toward the imaging optical lens 55. The image forming optical lens 55 forms an image of this reflected light on the image sensor 56. As a result, the image sensor 56 reads the contents of the original.

At the same time, the photoconductor 10 is rotated by a photoconductor drive motor (not shown), and the surface of the photoconductor is uniformly charged by the charging device 11 using a charging roller, and then the laser writing device 47. Is written on the surface of the photoconductor by irradiating the surface of the photoconductor with a laser beam according to the content of the document read by the image reader 3 described above, whereby an electrostatic latent image is generated on the surface of the photoconductor 10. It is formed. After that, when the electrostatic latent image portion formed on the surface of the photoconductor corresponds to the developing device 12, the toner is adsorbed on the surface of the photoconductor, and the electrostatic latent image is made into a visible image.

Further, when the start switch is pressed, the corresponding paper separating device 61 is selected from among the plurality of paper separating devices 61 provided in the paper feeding device 4 in multiple stages based on the paper size selection signal. Then, the pickup roller 62 corresponding to the paper separating device 61 feeds out one sheet S in the paper separating device 61. The reverse roller 64 separates one sheet S on the uppermost surface when trying to send out a plurality of sheets S, and prevents the remaining sheets S from being conveyed. Subsequently, the feed roller 63 conveys the sheet S and puts it in the supply path R1, the sheet transfer roller 66 continuously conveys the sheet S and guides it to the sheet transfer path R, and the resist roller 21 abuts on the sheet S and the sheet S comes into contact with the sheet S. Stop transporting. Then, the resist roller 21 rotates in time with the rotation of the photoconductor 10 described above, and feeds the sheet S to the right side of the photoconductor 10.

When the manual paper feed device 70 performs manual paper feed, the manual paper feed device 70 shifts the manual feed tray 72 from the closed state in the upright posture to the open state in the tilted posture, and the sheet loading surface 72B of the manual feed tray 72. Set the sheet on top. When the start switch is pressed, the pickup roller 67A feeds out one sheet, and then the feed roller 67B takes over the sheet feeding. The reverse roller 67C separates one sheet on the uppermost surface when trying to send out a plurality of sheets, and prevents the remaining sheets from being conveyed. The sheet transfer roller 66 continuously conveys the sheet supplied to the manual feed supply path R2 and guides it to the sheet transfer path R. After that, similarly to the paper feeding device 4 described above, the resist roller 21 feeds the photoconductor 10 to the right side of the photoconductor 10 in time with the rotation of the photoconductor 10.

Next, when the sheet S sent to the right side of the photoconductor 10 comes to the transfer position B, the transfer device 13 transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 10 to the sheet S to form an image. The cleaning device 14 removes and cleans the residual toner on the photoconductor 10 after image transfer, and then the static elimination device (not shown) removes the residual potential on the photoconductor 10 and starts from the charging device 11. Prepare for formation.

Next, the fixing device 22 conveys the sheet S on which the above-mentioned toner image is transferred by the transfer belt 17, passes between the pair of fixing rollers 31 and 32, and applies heat and pressure at the fixing position to fix the transferred image. .. The fixed sheet S is then placed on a flat surface in the process of passing through the first pressure roller 36, the discharge roller 35, the second pressure roller 37, and the waist roller 38, and is seated on the flat surface, and the discharge stack portion is formed. It is ejected onto 39 and stacked there.

When the image is transferred to both sides of the sheet S, the discharge branch claw 34 is switched. Then, the sheet S on which the image is transferred on the surface is put into the inversion path R3 from the sheet transfer path R, transferred by the sheet transfer roller 66 to the switchback position 44, and switched back at the switchback position 44. After that, the sheet is put into the re-transport path R4, inverted, conveyed by the sheet transfer roller 66, guided to the sheet transfer path R again, and the image is transferred to the back surface of the sheet in the same manner as described above.

In FIGS. 2 to 5, the manual paper feed device 70 has a rotation fulcrum 71A at the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the opening / closing member 71 (see FIG. 3) that opens / closes at the upper part with respect to the opening / closing member 71. It is equipped with a manual feed tray 72 (see FIG. 4) that opens and closes the upper part with a rotation fulcrum 72A at the lower part.

Further, the manual feeding device 70 is fixed to a link member 73 that connects the opening / closing member 71 to the image forming apparatus main body 2 so as to be openable / closable, and one end side is fixed to the linear member fixing portion 80 of the link member 73, and the other end side is a manual feed tray. It is provided with a flexible linear member 81 fixed to 72. As the flexible linear member 81, a wire is used here.

In order to easily remove jams and sheets stuck in the sheet transport path R and the retransport path R4, and to easily perform maintenance inside the image forming apparatus main body 2, the opening / closing member 71 is in an open state in an inclined posture (see FIG. 3). Then, the sheet transport path R and the re-transport path R4 are opened. That is, the manual paper feed device 70 changes the opening / closing member 71 from the closed state in the upright posture (see FIG. 2) to the open state in the inclined posture (see FIG. 3) to open the sheet transport path R and the retransport path R4. , Jam sheets can be easily removed and maintenance can be performed easily.

Further, the manual paper feed device 70 sets the manual feed tray 72 from the closed state (see FIG. 2) in the upright posture to the open state (see FIG. 4) in the tilted posture, and loads the sheet on the sheet loading surface 72B of the manual feed tray 72. Therefore, the sheet for manual feeding can be supplied to the sheet transport path R.

The link member 73 is configured in an open leg link structure including two arms 74. One end of each of the two arms 74 is rotatably connected to each other at the rotation fulcrum 74A, the other end of one arm 74 is rotatably connected to the image forming apparatus main body 2 at the rotation fulcrum 74B, and the other end. The other end of the arm 74 is rotatably connected to the opening / closing member 71 at the rotation fulcrum 74C.

As shown in FIG. 7, the link member 73 is arranged on the side surface side of the opening / closing member 71 when the opening / closing member 71 is in the closed state, and the other end of the other arm 74 is on the side surface of the opening / closing member 71 at the rotation fulcrum 74C. It is rotatably connected.

The link member 73 can open and close the opening and closing member 71 by opening and closing the two arms 74. The position and tilt angle of the opening / closing member 71 in the open state shown in FIG. 3 are maintained by the two arms 74 being opened and stretched.

The linear member fixing portion 80 of the link member 73 is provided in the intermediate portion of one of the two arms 74, the arm 74. In the present embodiment, the linear member fixing portion 80 is provided in the intermediate portion of the other arm 74 whose other end side is rotatably connected to the opening / closing member 71.

In the manual feed feed device 70, when the manual feed tray 72 is in the tilted posture open state (see FIG. 4), the opening / closing member 71 shifts from the upright posture closed state (see FIG. 4) to the tilted posture open state (see FIG. 5). When this is done, the linear member fixing portion 80 of the link member 73 moves in the direction of pulling the linear member 81, and the manual feed tray 72 is horizontally aligned with the manual feed tray 72, and the sheet loaded on the sheet loading surface 72B of the manual feed tray 72 is the manual feed tray. It is configured to maintain a tilt angle that does not slip out of 72. The amount of movement of the linear member fixing portion 80 can be adjusted by the position where one end side of the linear member 81 is fixed to the link member 73.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the opening / closing member 71 has a through hole 71B through which the linear member 81 passes. The linear member 81 passes through the through hole 71B and one end side is fixed to the link member 73.

In the manual feed tray 72, a spring member 82 that pulls the linear member 81 is connected to the other end side of the linear member 81. One end side of the spring member 82 is fixed to the other end side of the linear member 81, and the other end side is fixed to the manual feed tray 72. As the spring member 82, for example, a coil spring that expands and contracts is used.

A position fixing fixing portion 83 is provided on the other end side of the linear member 81. Further, the manual feed tray 72 is provided with a stopper portion 84. Further, the manual feed tray 72 is provided with a pulley 85 that changes the extending direction of the linear member 81. The manual paper feed device 70 is configured to hold the tilt angle of the manual feed tray 72 with respect to the horizontal by abutting the position fixing fixing portion 83 with the stopper portion 84.

As shown in FIG. 8, the manual feed tray 72 has a rectangular flat surface. The manual feed tray 72 is provided with a through hole 86 as shown in FIG. 9 on either side of two sides that are separated from each other in a direction orthogonal to the supply direction of the sheet loaded on the sheet loading surface 72B. There is. The through hole 86 is for extending the linear member 81 from the inside to the outside of the manual feed tray 72, and the linear member 81 passes through the through hole 86.

As shown in FIG. 10, the spring member 82, the position fixing portion 83, the stopper portion 84, and the pulley 85 are arranged along one side of the manual feed tray 72, similarly to the through hole 86. ing.

Next, the relationship between the open / closed state of the opening / closing member 71 and the manual feed tray 72 and the linear member 81, the spring member 82, and the position fixing fixing portion 83 will be described.

In FIG. 2, the opening / closing member 71 is in an upright posture with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the manual feed tray 72 is in an upright posture with respect to the opening / closing member 71. At this time, the linear member 81 is in a loosened state, and the spring member 82 is in a contracted state. Further, the position fixing portion 83 of the linear member 81 is separated from the stopper portion 84 of the manual feed tray 72.

In FIG. 3, the opening / closing member 71 is in an inclined posture open state with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the manual feed tray 72 is in an upright posture closed state with respect to the opening / closing member 71. At this time, the linear member fixing portion 80 of the link member 73 moves in the direction of pulling the linear member 81 from the position when the opening / closing member 71 is in the closed state, but the linear member 81 does not stretch and loosens. It is in a state. Further, the spring member 82 is in a contracted state. Further, the position fixing portion 83 of the linear member 81 is separated from the stopper portion 84 of the manual feed tray 72. Further, the position and the tilt angle of the opening / closing member 71 with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 2 are held by the two arms 74 of the link member 73 being opened and stretched.

In FIG. 4, the opening / closing member 71 is in an upright posture with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the manual feed tray 72 is in an inclined posture with respect to the opening / closing member 71. At this time, the linear member fixing portion 80 of the link member 73 has not moved from the position when the opening / closing member 71 is in the closed state, but the slackening of the linear member 81 is caused by the spring member 82 pulling the linear member 81. It has been resolved. Further, the position fixing portion 83 of the linear member 81 is separated from the stopper portion 84 of the manual feed tray 72. Further, the manual feed tray 72 is held in the open state and the tilt angle by a positioning mechanism different from that of the linear member 81.

In FIG. 5, the opening / closing member 71 is in an inclined posture open state with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the manual feed tray 72 is in an inclined posture open state with respect to the opening / closing member 71. At this time, the linear member fixing portion 80 of the link member 73 is moving in the direction of pulling the linear member 81 from the position when the opening / closing member 71 is in the closed state. Further, the position fixing portion 83 of the linear member 81 abuts on the stopper portion 84 of the manual feed tray 72 by moving in the direction of pulling the linear member 81. By the contact of the position fixing fixing portion 83, the manual feed tray 72 is maintained in the open position and the tilt angle with respect to the horizontal.

Originally, the manual feed tray 72 can be opened to a predetermined tilt angle with respect to the opening / closing member 71 by a positioning mechanism different from that of the linear member 81. However, the manual feed tray 72 is configured to be supported by the link member 74 by the linear member 81, and the manual feed tray 72 is tilted to an inclination angle at which the position fixing fixing portion 83 of the linear member 81 abuts on the stopper portion 84 of the manual feed tray 72. When the 72 rotates, the linear member 81 is stretched and the rotation of the manual feed tray 72 stops. Therefore, the manual feed tray 72 stops at an intermediate position instead of the original stop position when only the manual feed tray 72 is in the open state.

At this time, the manual feed feeding device 70 is configured to keep the manual feed tray 72 at an inclination angle described later to the extent that the sheet does not slide out, so that the sheet does not slide off the manual feed tray 72.

That is, when the manual feed tray 72 is in the open state (see FIG. 4) and the opening / closing member 71 shifts from the closed state (see FIG. 4) to the open state (see FIG. 5), the linear member fixing portion 80 of the link member 73 is lined. The shape member 81 moves in the pulling direction. As a result, the linear member 81 is configured to keep the manual feed tray 72 in a horizontal state or in a state of being tilted to the extent that the sheet does not slide out, and to prevent a problem that the sheet slides off the manual feed tray 72.

Here, the tilt angle of the manual feed tray 72 with respect to the horizontal will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 11, the positive tilt angle is the case where the swing end of the manual feed tray 72 is located above the lower portion on the rotation fulcrum side with respect to the horizontal. The negative tilt angle is when the swing end of the manual feed tray 72 is located below the lower portion on the rotation fulcrum side with respect to the horizontal.

The tilt angle of the manual feed tray 72 is allowed to be -10 ° with respect to the horizontal because frictional force acts between the manual feed tray 72 and the sheet and between the sheet and the sheet, so that the sheet acts as a gravity force to allow the manual feed tray 72 to tilt. This is because it does not slip off from 72.

According to the data of FIG. 11, when the inclination angle is minus -12.5 ° or more, the sliding force due to the action of gravity is larger than the static force due to friction, so that the sheet slides down. Therefore, it is preferable that the manual feed tray 72 has an inclination angle of −10 ° or less so that the sheet loaded on the manual feed tray 72 does not slide out from the sheet loading surface 72B of the manual feed tray 72 with respect to the horizontal.

In the present embodiment, in the manual feeding device 70, one end side of the linear member 81 is fixed in the middle of the overhanging arm 74 of the two arms 74 of the link member 73. Therefore, in the manual feeding device 70, various parts of the image forming apparatus main body do not exist in the middle of the connecting path between the link member 73 and the manual feeding tray 72.

Further, the manual feeding device 70 has a configuration in which the link member 73 and the manual feeding tray 72 are connected by a simple connecting mechanism called a linear member 81. As a result, when the manual feed tray 72 is in the open state (see FIG. 4) and the opening / closing member 71 shifts from the closed state (see FIG. 4) to the open state (see FIG. 5), the linear member fixing portion 80 becomes the linear member. Move in the direction of pulling 81. Then, the linear member 81 keeps the manual feed tray 72 in a horizontal state or at the above-mentioned positive or negative tilt angle.

As described above, according to the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the manual feed feeding device 70, when the opening / closing member 71 shifts from the closed state to the open state while the manual feed tray 72 is in the open state, the linear member fixing portion 80 of the link member 73 pulls the linear member 81. It is configured to move and keep the manual feed tray 72 at a tilt angle to the extent that the sheet loaded on the manual feed tray 72 does not slide out of the manual feed tray 72 with respect to the horizontal. Therefore, even if the opening / closing member 71 shifts from the closed state to the open state when the manual feed tray 72 is open, the sheet loaded on the sheet loading surface 72B of the manual feed tray 72 does not slip off the manual feed tray 72.

Further, in the manual feeding device 70, various parts of the image forming apparatus main body 2 do not exist in the middle of the connecting path connecting the link member 73 and the manual feeding tray 72 by the linear member 81. Therefore, when the opening / closing member 71 shifts from the closed state to the open state while the manual feed tray 72 is open, the tilt angle can be maintained to the extent that the sheet does not slip out of the manual feed tray 72. This holding mechanism can be realized by a simple configuration as compared with the case where the image forming apparatus main body and the manual feed tray are connected by a conventional connecting member.

As a result, it is possible to provide the manual feeding device 70 and the copying machine 1 as an image forming device, which can prevent the sheet from slipping off from the sheet loading surface 72B of the manual feeding tray 72 with a simple configuration.

Further, in the manual feeding device 70, since one end side of the linear member 81 is fixed to the link member 73, the wire is compared with the case where one end side of the connecting member is fixed to the image forming apparatus main body as in the conventional case. The length of the shaped member 81 can be shortened. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost of the manual paper feed device 70 and the copying machine 1 equipped with the manual paper feed device 70.

(2) In the manual feeding device 70, the link member 73 has a direction in which the linear member fixing portion 80 pulls the linear member 81 when the opening / closing member 71 shifts from the closed state to the open state when the manual feed tray 72 is in the open state. Since it has an open leg structure that moves to, the manual feed tray 72 in the open state makes the manual feed tray 72 in the open state with respect to the open / close member 71 in the open state rather than the tilt angle made by the manual feed tray 72 in the open state with respect to the open / close member 71 in the closed state. The tilt angle can be reduced. As a result, the tilt angle formed by the manual feed tray 72 with respect to the horizontal can be maintained at a limit tilt angle at which the sheet loaded on the sheet loading surface 72B of the manual feed tray 72 does not slide out of the manual feed tray 72.

(3) In the manual feeding device 70, since the opening / closing member 71 has a through hole 71B through which the linear member 81 passes, the manual feeding tray 72 is closed in an upright position with respect to the opening / closing member 71. Then, the linear member 81 can be stored between the opening / closing member 71 and the manual feed tray 72. As a result, the manual paper feed device 70 and the copying machine 1 equipped with the manual paper feed device 70 can be made compact.

(4) In the manual paper feeding device 70, the spring member 82 that pulls the linear member 81 is connected to the other end side of the linear member 81, so that the slack of the linear member 81 can be reduced. Can be done.

(5) In the manual paper feed device 70, a position fixing fixing portion 83 is provided on the other end side of the linear member 81, and a stopper portion 84 is provided on the manual feed tray 72. Further, the tilt angle of the manual feed tray 72 is controlled by the position fixing fixing portion 83 coming into contact with the stopper portion 84. Therefore, the tilt angle of the manual feed tray 72 with respect to the opening / closing member 71 can be controlled.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the other end side of the linear member 81 is fixed to the manual feed tray 72 via the spring member 82 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the other end side of the linear member 81 may be directly fixed to the manual feed tray 72. In this case as well, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained, but when the opening / closing member 71 is in the closed state and the manual feed tray 72 is in the open state, the linear member 81 may loosen.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the copying machine 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, a printer.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the reversing path R3 and the reconveying path R4 are provided in the opening / closing member 71 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, a case where the reversal path R3 is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 2.

As described above, the manual paper feeding device and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention have an effect of preventing the sheet from slipping off from the manual feeding tray by a simple configuration, and have an effect of preventing an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copying machine and an image forming apparatus. It is useful for the manual paper feed device mounted on it.

1 Copier (image forming device)
2 Image forming device main body (device main body)
3 Image reader 4 Feeding device 5 Automatic document feeding device 70 Manual feeding device 71 Opening / closing member 71A Rotating fulcrum 71B Through hole 72 Manual feeding tray 72A Rotating fulcrum 72B Sheet loading surface 73 Link member 80 Linear member fixing part 81 lines Shape member 82 Spring member R Seat transport path

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-308329

Claims (18)

A manual paper feed device that supplies sheets loaded on the manual feed tray to the sheet transport path of the main body of the device.
An opening / closing member provided on one side surface facing the width direction of the front surface when the upper part is opened / closed with a rotation fulcrum at the lower portion with respect to the device body and is viewed from the front surface of the device body.
A manual feed tray that opens and closes the upper part with a rotation fulcrum at the lower part of the opening / closing member is provided.
The opening / closing member has a first through hole through which the linear member penetrates and opens in the width direction of the one side surface.
The manual feed tray has a second through hole through which the linear member penetrates from the inside to the outside and opens on the sheet loading surface side.
The linear member holds the manual feed tray, and the manual feed tray is in a horizontal state when the opening / closing member is closed and the manual feed tray is open and when the opening / closing member is open and the manual feed tray is open. It is characterized in that the swinging end of the manual feed tray is tilted upward from the horizontal state, or the swinging end is kept tilted downward by an angle of 10 degrees or less from the horizontal state. Manual paper feed device. A member that holds the position of the opening / closing member when the opening / closing member is opened with respect to the apparatus main body, and a member that holds the position of the manual feed tray when the manual feed tray is opened with respect to the opening / closing member. The manual feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the member is provided with a mechanism for holding the manual feed tray by a linear member. The length of the linear member from the first through hole of the opening / closing member to the second through hole of the manual feed tray when the opening / closing member is opened and the manual feed tray is open is the opening / closing length. It is characterized in that it is shorter than the length of the linear member from the first through hole of the opening / closing member to the second through hole of the manual feed tray when the member is closed and the manual feed tray is open. The manual paper feed device according to claim 1. The manual paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the linear member is pulled by a spring member, and the spring member is a coil spring that expands and contracts. The manual feed according to claim 4, wherein when the opening / closing member is open and the manual feed tray is open, the spring member is extended as compared with a state where the open / close member is closed and the manual feed tray is open. Paper feed device. The manual feed according to claim 4, wherein when the opening / closing member is closed and the manual feed tray is open, the spring member is extended as compared with a state where the open / close member is closed and the manual feed tray is closed. Paper feed device. The manual paper feed device according to claim 4, wherein when the opening / closing member is closed and the manual feed tray is open, the linear member is pulled by the spring member to eliminate slack. .. The manual feeding device according to claim 4, wherein the spring member is contracted when the opening / closing member is closed and the manual feed tray is closed. The manual paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the linear member is loose when the opening / closing member is closed and the manual feed tray is closed. The opening / closing member has a first through hole through which the linear member penetrates.
The manual paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the linear member penetrates the first through hole between one end side of the linear member and the other end side of the linear member. The manual paper feeding device according to claim 10, wherein the linear member is bent at the position of the first through hole. The member has a first arm and a second arm.
One end side of the first arm and one end side of the second arm are rotatably connected at a rotation fulcrum.
The other end side of the first arm is fixed to the device body and
The manual paper feeding device according to claim 2 , wherein the other end side of the second arm is fixed to the opening / closing member. The manual paper feeding device according to claim 12, wherein the one end side of the linear member is fixed to the second arm. The manual feeding tray according to claim 1, wherein when the opening / closing member is opened and the manual feeding tray is opened, the position and the tilt angle in the open state are held by the linear member. Paper device. The manual feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating fulcrum of the manual feed tray is located above the rotary fulcrum of the opening / closing member. The manual feed feeder according to claim 1, wherein when the manual feed tray is open, the sheets loaded on the manual feed tray are supplied to the sheet transport path of the main body of the device. The manual paper feeding device according to claim 16, wherein the sheet transport path is opened when the opening / closing member is open. An image forming apparatus comprising the manual paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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