JPH0585459B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a multi-stage sheet storage container device applied to image recording devices such as electrophotographic copying machines and facsimile machines, and particularly relates to a multi-stage sheet storage container device for each size. A large number of sheet storage containers each containing cut sheets can be stacked vertically in multiple tiers, and one of the top surfaces of the tips of the storage containers can be selectively exposed as necessary. The present invention relates to a sheet storage device.

[Prior Art] In a conventional image recording device, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, two or three paper storage containers are installed vertically in multiple tiers inside the machine, and a suitable paper storage container is selected from any of these paper storage containers. However, in the machine, a dedicated paper transport means is provided for each paper storage container at the installation position of each paper storage container, so a large space is required. Therefore, it was not possible to install only a relatively small number of paper storage containers as described above.

[Problem to be solved]

However, there are many sizes of manuscripts such as A ₄ , A ₅ , B ₄ , and B ₅ , so in order not to waste paper,
Since it is necessary to prepare many types of paper that correspond to the original size, if the paper size in the paper storage container installed in the machine does not match the original size,
The paper storage container had to be replaced, and the replacement work was complicated.

Particularly recently, electrophotographic copying machines capable of multi-step variable magnification copying have become widespread, requiring a wide variety of paper sizes. is high,
From the standpoint of copying efficiency, there is an increasing need to be able to store a large number of paper storage containers in a compact manner and to be able to transport paper from a desired container as needed.

[Means and effects for solving the problem]

The present invention relates to an improvement of a sheet storage device that can meet such demands, and includes a plurality of sheet storage containers oriented in a substantially horizontal direction and stacked in multiple stages in the vertical direction; A sheet transport mechanism in which an input end of a sheet transport mechanism is disposed on the output end side of a sheet storage container, and the sheet storage container is reciprocated along the transport direction of the sheet transport mechanism. In the image recording apparatus, the lowermost sheet storage container among the plurality of sheet storage containers is moved along a horizontal plane and in a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. The other sheets are supported by the image recording apparatus main body so as to be reciprocally movable along the longitudinal direction of the first sliding means through the oriented first sliding means, and are arranged above the lowermost sheet storage container. The leaf storage container is
the second along the horizontal plane and oriented in the sheet transport direction;
The second sliding means is supported on both sides of the sheet storage container immediately below and adjacent to the other sheet storage container, respectively, so as to be reciprocally movable along the longitudinal direction of the second sliding means via a sliding means. The sheet transport mechanism is a sheet transport mechanism that is constructed to extend between a transport point which is a predetermined distance away from the transport end of the sheet storage container in the sheet transport direction and a sheet transport end of the image recording device. It consists of a fixed conveyance means and a sheet rocking conveyance means which is pivotably supported vertically around the vicinity of the loading point of the sheet fixed conveyance means, and the sheet rocking conveyance means includes: A roll for feeding out sheets in a sheet storage container with an exposed delivery end, and a conveyor belt for conveying the sheets to an input end of the sheet fixed conveyance means in conjunction with the delivery roll. The container moving mechanism is disposed on the side opposite to the discharge end of the sheet storage container, and the container moving mechanism includes a prime mover capable of forward and reverse rotation, and a prime mover connected to the prime mover via a transmission to a vertically oriented moving post capable of reciprocating along the longitudinal direction of the second sliding means; and each of the other sheet storage containers above the lowermost sheet storage container and the moving post, respectively. The invention is characterized by comprising a coupling means for selectively coupling.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the plurality of sheet storage containers are located on the transport direction line of the sheet transport mechanism and are positioned above the bottom sheet storage container. When feeding sheets from a desired sheet storage container to the image recording device in a state in which all other sheet storage containers are stacked and the sheet swing conveyance means is swung upwards. In this step, each sheet storage means above the required sheet storage container and the moving post of the container moving mechanism are integrally connected to each other by a coupling means, and then the container moving mechanism is operated. By moving each of the upper sheet storage containers together with the moving post in a direction opposite to the sheet transport direction, the upper surface of the transport end of a desired sheet storage container can be exposed upward. After that, the sheet rocking conveyance means is swung downward, and the delivery roll at the tip of the sheet rocking conveyance means is placed on the upper surface of the sheet discharge end in the exposed sheet storage container, and then By operating the sheet transport mechanism, the sheets in the exposed sheet storage container can be fed one by one to the sheet input end of the image recording apparatus.

When attempting to remove sheets from a sheet storage container different from the exposed sheet storage container,
The prime mover of the container moving mechanism is reversed, and the moving post is moved in the sheet transport direction, so that the sheet storage container above the exposed sheet storage container is stacked on top of the exposed sheet storage container. Then, each sheet storage container above the other sheet storage container and the moving post are each integrally connected to each other by a connecting means, and moved in the opposite direction to the sheet conveyance direction in the same manner as described above. Just let it happen.

In this way, in the present invention, required sheets can be selectively carried out from the sheet storage container storing various types of sheets.

Further, in the present invention, since the feed roll is always pressed against the upper surface of the sheet in the exposed sheet storage container by the weight of the sheet rocking conveyance means, the sheets in the sheet storage container are Even if the number of sheets decreases, the delivery roll can follow this and always contact the upper surface of the sheets in the sheet storage container with a substantially constant force, and the sheet storage container Sheets can be reliably fed regardless of the decrease in the number of sheets in the container.

Furthermore, in the present invention, image recording is performed on the lowest sheet storage container among the plurality of sheet storage containers via the first sliding means oriented in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction. Since it is supported by the apparatus main body, all sheet storage containers can be pulled out to the front side of the image recording apparatus.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the other sheet storage containers above the bottom sheet storage container are moved through the second sliding means along the horizontal plane and oriented in the sheet transport direction. Since the sliding means is supported on both sides of the sheet storage container immediately below and adjacent to the other sheet storage container so as to be able to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction, all the sheets can be moved as described above. When the paper storage container is pulled out toward the front side of the image recording device, the sheet storage container above the sheet storage container in which sheets are to be replenished or replaced is moved either along the sheet transport direction. By simply moving it to one side, the top surface of the desired sheet storage container can be exposed to the outside, and sheet replenishment or replacement can be carried out easily and easily without any hindrance. .

Moreover, in the present invention, the sheet storage containers are not supported by side plates or the like, but are supported in a stacked state by the second sliding means, so that the container is perpendicular to the sheet transport direction within the image recording apparatus. Since the space in the sheet transport direction within the image recording apparatus can be narrowed and all the sheet storage containers can be pulled out by the first sliding means in a direction perpendicular to the sheet transport direction, the sheet transport direction within the image recording apparatus can be narrowed. The space can be narrowed, and as a result, the sheet storage device and the entire image recording device can be downsized.

Further, in the present invention, the container driving means is a prime mover,
A vertically oriented moving post that is connected via a transmission mechanism and can move back along the longitudinal direction of the second sliding means, and each sheet storage container above the bottom stage and the moving post are mutually attached and detached. Because it is constructed with a coupling means that can be coupled freely, there is no need for multiple motors or clutches to drive each sheet storage container, and the number of parts can be sufficiently reduced and the structure can be simplified. It is possible to achieve significant cost reduction and improved durability.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 will be described below.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a steel paper tray (hereinafter referred to as paper) which is a sheet storage container.The tray 1 has a structure as described later and is vertically movable in a casing 11 of a dry type electrophotographic copying machine 10. Paper trays 1 are stacked in multiple tiers, and each tray 1 contains A3,
Paper P of various sizes such as A4, A5, B4, B5 etc. is divided by size or the vertical and horizontal directions are changed,
Each is stored in a stacked manner.

Then, on each side of the other paper trays _{1 2 ,} 1 _{3 .} A slide rail 3a is integrally attached to the inner surface of the bracket 2, the upper and lower ends of which are curved inward in a semicircular arc shape.

In addition, on the outer surface of the main body of the paper trays 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , ... 1 _o-1 other than the lowest paper tray 1 _o , there is a slide rail whose vertical width is narrower than that of the slide rail 3 b and whose upper and lower ends are curved. 4b is integrally attached, and a ball 5b is attached between the slide rails 3b and 4b.
A large number of balls 5b are interposed in the front-rear direction, and a retainer 6 is provided to hold the balls 5b at regular intervals, and these slide rails 3b, 4b and balls 5b
The retainer 6b also constitutes a second sliding means, so that the other paper trays 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , . . . 1 _o-1 can be moved back and forth relative to the lowest paper tray 1 _o . It's summery.

Furthermore, at the bottom of the casing 11 of the copying machine 10,
A supporting plate 7 oriented in the left and right horizontal directions is vertically erected, and a receiving plate 8 is integrally provided at the bottom of the lowermost paper tray 1 _o so as to be adjacent to the supporting plate 7. Slide rails 3a and 4a are integrally attached to 8 and support plate 7, respectively, balls 5a and retainer 6a are interposed on the rails 3a and 4a in the same manner as described above, and a handle is provided on the side surface of the lowermost paper tray _1o . 9 is attached, and these slide rails 3a, 4a, balls 5a, retainer 6
a, the support plate 7, the receiving plate 8 and the handle 9 also have the first
A sliding means is constructed, and by pulling the handle 9 toward the front or pushing it toward the back, the paper trays 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , ... 1 _o can be pulled out or stored from the copying machine casing 11 while stacked. It is becoming possible to do so.

Furthermore, at the rear of the paper tray 1 (on the left side in FIG. 1), a tray moving post 12 is erected so as to be movable back and forth, and is screwed into a male thread 13 that can rotate while being fixed in the back and forth direction. The male screw 13 is connected to a tray moving motor 15 via a speed reduction mechanism 14, and the tray moving post 12 can be moved back and forth by forward and reverse rotation of the motor 15.

Moreover, the tray moving post 12 includes each paper tray 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , except the lowest paper tray 1 _o .
... ₁ . Connecting means 16 such as electromagnets that can be releasably connected to the tray moving post 12, the male screw 13, the deceleration mechanism 14, the tray moving motor 15, and the coupling means 16, such as electromagnets, are attached in the vertical direction and can be connected to the tray moving post 12, the male screw 13, the deceleration mechanism 14, the tray moving motor 15, and the The means 16 also constitutes a container moving mechanism, and after all the paper trays 1 are positioned forward, an appropriate number (j-1) of the coupling means 16 are operated from above, and then the tray moving motor 15 moves the paper trays 1 to the front. When the tray moving post 12 is moved backward, j-1 paper trays 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , . . . 1 _j-1 are connected to the coupling means 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , _.
is retracted, and the jth paper tray ₁ directly below it is
The top surface of the front end is exposed.

The paper tray ₁₁ on the top layer is a paper tray for double-sided copying that stores the paper Q that has undergone single-sided copying and copies the back side of the same paper Q in the next copying process to perform double-sided copying. Same double-sided copy tray 1
₁ is partitioned into upper and lower parts by a horizontal support plate 17, and below the support plate 17, a rocking plate 18 is pivoted to the tray ₁₁ so as to be able to swing up and down with the rear of the center (to the left in the drawing) as a fulcrum. A paper aligning piece 19 is fixed to the tip of the swinging plate 18 in a perpendicular manner, and a paper holding pawl 20 is integrally attached to the upper end of the paper aligning piece 19. When no external force is applied, the front part of the swing plate 18 swings downward due to its own weight, and the front end of the paper Q on the support plate 17 is pressed down by the paper presser claw 20.

Further, the base end of the guide rail 21 moves the tray so that the guide rail 21 having a T-shaped cross section horizontally projects below the support plate ₁₇ through the rear end plate of the uppermost double-sided copy paper tray 11. post 12
A cutout 22 parallel to the above guide rail 21 is cased in the support plate 17, and a paper ejecting lever 23 is fitted into the T-shaped guide rail 21 so as to be slidable back and forth. The upper end of a paper push-out arm 24 is pivotally supported above the paper push-out arm 24 so as to be able to slide back and forth, and the lower end of the arm 24 is connected to the paper push-out lever 23. When rocked back and forth, the paper pushing lever 23 is moved back and forth while being guided by the guide rail 21.

Furthermore, the rear part of the rocking plate 18 is curved downward, and when the paper pushing lever 23 is positioned rearward, the front part of the rocking plate 18 swings downward. When the lower end of the paper pushing lever 23 comes into contact with the rear curved portion of the plate 18 and the paper pushing lever 23 is moved forward, the lower end of the paper pushing lever 23 comes into pressure contact with the horizontal part of the rocking plate 18. As a result, the front end of the swing plate 18 is pivoted upward.

Further, a pivot portion 26 of a paper transport mechanism 25 is disposed at a predetermined distance in front of the paper tray 1, and a parallel link consisting of two pairs of upper and lower arms 27, 28 and a bracket 29 at the tip thereof is disposed on the pivot portion 26. The base end of the bracket 30 is pivotally supported so as to be slidable up and down, and the base end of the bracket 2
A delivery roll 31 is provided at the tip of the roller 9, and a conveyor belt 32 is provided on the parallel link 30.
9. The parallel link 30, the feed roll 31, and the conveyor belt 32 constitute a sheet rocking conveyance means, and the parallel link 30 is moved vertically by a rocking motor (not shown) connected to the base end of the arm 19. The delivery roll 31 is brought into contact with the paper P on the paper tray 1, and the delivery roll 31 and the transport belt 32 are driven by the transport motor connected to the base end of the arm 28, and the delivery roll 31 is brought into contact with the paper P on the paper tray 1. The paper P inside is conveyed to a transfer area 35 of the copying machine 1 via a curved guide chute 33 by the same delivery roll 31 and conveyance belt 32.

Note that the curved guide chute 33 and the conveyance roller attached thereto also constitute sheet fixed conveyance means.

Further, a platen glass 36 is provided on the top of the copying machine 1, a platen cover 37 is pivotally mounted so that the platen glass 36 can be opened and closed, and an exposure lamp 38 is mounted below the platen glass 36. An exposure system consisting of a mirror 39, a lens 40, and a fixed mirror 41 is provided, and the image of the document placed on the platen glass 36 is formed into a slit shape onto the exposure area 42 of the drum-shaped photoreceptor 34 by the exposure system. It is becoming possible to form an image.

Furthermore, various devices necessary for dry electrophotographic copying are sequentially arranged around the outer periphery of the drum-shaped photoreceptor 34, and a toner image is formed on the drum-shaped photoreceptor 34 and transported by the paper transport mechanism 25. The toner images are transferred to the sheets P and Q and fixed thereon.

Furthermore, the sheets P and Q on which copying has been completed are deflected diagonally upward by the sheet discharge switching guide 43 tilted diagonally upward as shown by the dotted line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet is deflected diagonally downward by a sheet discharge switching guide 43 tilted diagonally downward, and is fed onto the uppermost double-sided copy sheet tray ₁₁ .

Further, the copying machine 1 has a built-in microcomputer, and the operation of the microcomputer causes required operations to be performed according to the flow shown in FIG.

Since the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are configured as described above, the copy motor is set to the single-sided copy mode (M=0), and the j-th tray 1 _j counted from the top is selected. Then (step), the program advances to step 1, where the difference A between the previously selected tray number i and the newly set tray number j is calculated, and the step determines whether the value is zero, positive, or negative. If it is zero, proceed to step.

If A is positive, the process advances to step, the parallel link 30 is swung upward and stopped at a predetermined position, and then the tray movement motor 15 is rotated in the normal direction to move the tray movement post 12 forward (step).
Among the i-1 coupling means 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , . . . 16 _i-1 that have been coupled so far in the step, i-j-
One coupling means 16 _j , 16 _{j+ 1} , . Paper trays 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , ...
1 _j-1 is retracted to expose the top surface of the front end of the j-th paper tray 1 _j , and the parallel link 30 is
is swung downward, the delivery roll 31 comes into contact with the paper P in the j-th paper tray _1j , becomes ready to be conveyed, and is advanced to the step.

Furthermore, if A is negative, the same operation as in the step when A is positive is performed in the step, and in the step, the i-1 coupling means 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , ... 16 _i-1 that have been coupled so far are further outside j-i
- one coupling means 16 ₁ , 16 _{i +1} , . In contact with paper P in tray 1 _j ,
It is now ready for transport and is proceeding to the next step.

It is determined whether or not it is a single-sided copy (M=0) in the step, and if it is a single-sided copy, the paper ejection switching guide 4
3, after switching to the paper ejection side (step), when the copy start switch is turned on (step),
In the step, paper P is supplied and copies are made.
The value of j is placed in i (step) and the step in the program ends.

Next, when double-sided copying is set, it is determined in step that M is not 0, and after the paper ejection switching guide 43 is switched toward the double-sided copying paper tray ₁₁ in step, the copy start switch is turned on. (step), the paper P is supplied and copies are made, and the copied paper Q is pushed out to a predetermined position at the front of the double-sided copying paper tray ₁₁ by the push lever 23, and is used for the next double-sided copying. Preparation for paper supply is completed (step). The steps 〓〓〓 and 〓〓 perform the same operation as the step, the step 〓〓〓 separates the coupling means 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , 16 _j-1 , the steps 〓〓〓, 〓〓 perform the same operation as the step, and the step 〓 switches M and j to 0.

When step 〓〓 is completed, the program returns to step 〓, and it is determined again whether M = 0. However, since M = 0 in step 〓, the program proceeds to step 〓, and the single-sided copy is made. Copying is performed on the back side of paper Q, and double-sided copying is completed.

In this way, the required single-sided or double-sided copying can be accomplished.

Furthermore, since the paper trays 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , ... 1 _o-1 , 1 _o are vertically close to each other, the paper storage space may be small, and there are multiple paper trays 1 in the copying machine 1. can be stored.

Furthermore, each paper tray 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , ...1 _o-1 , 1 _o
are mutually supported so as to be movable back and forth, and a tray moving motor 15 moves the tray moving post 12 back and forth, and the paper trays 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , . . .
...1 _o is selectively coupled to the moving post 12 by the coupling means 16 ₁ , 16 ₂ , ... 16 _o-1 , so that the front upper surface of the desired paper tray 2 _j is exposed and the paper can be swung up and down. Paper sheets P and Q are supplied to the copying machine 1 by the transport mechanism 25 and can be copied.

Furthermore, since the sheet Q having been subjected to single-sided copying can be supplied to the uppermost paper tray ₁₁ and is turned over by the paper transport mechanism 25, double-sided copying can be easily performed without requiring a large space.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the paper trays 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , ... 1 _o-1 other than the lowest row are connected to the lower paper trays 1 ₂ , 1 ₃ , ... 1 _o, respectively. The paper tray 45 is supported so as to be movable back and forth via the slide rails 3, 4, balls 5 and retainer 6, but as shown in FIG. Then, the lower side plate 47 of the paper tray 45 is also bent outward at right angles, and the end thereof is folded inward into a U-shape, and the upper side plate 4
6 and the lower side plate 47 may be interposed with balls 48 to connect adjacent paper trays 45 so as to be movable with respect to each other.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a copying machine equipped with an embodiment of a sheet storage device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged cutaway perspective view of the main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a vertical side view thereof, FIG.
The figure is an enlarged cross-sectional front view of main parts of another embodiment. 1... Paper tray, 2... Bracket, 3, 4
... slide rail, 5 ... ball, 6 ... retainer, 7 ... support plate, 8 ... receiving plate, 9 ... handle,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Dry type electrophotographic copying machine, 11...Casing, 12...Tray moving post, 13...Male thread, 14...Reduction mechanism, 15...Tray moving motor, 16...Coupling means, 17...Support plate , 18...
... Swing plate, 19 ... Paper aligning piece, 20 ... Paper presser claw, 21 ... Guide rail, 22 ... Notch,
23... Paper push lever, 24... Paper push arm, 25... Paper transport mechanism, 26... Pivotal part, 27, 28... Arm, 29... Bracket, 30... Parallel link, 31... Feeding Roll, 32... Conveyance belt, 33... Curved guide chute, 34... Drum-shaped photoreceptor, 35... Transfer area, 36... Platen glass, 37... Platen cover, 38... Exposure lamp, 39... Movement Mirror, 40...Lens, 41...Fixed mirror, 42
...Exposure range, 43... Paper ejection switching guide, 44...
Paper discharge section, 45... paper tray, 46... upper side plate, 47... lower side plate, 48... ball.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of sheet storage containers oriented in a substantially horizontal direction and stacked in multiple stages in the vertical direction, and a sheet transport mechanism on the discharge end side of the sheet storage containers. In an image recording apparatus, the image recording apparatus includes a sheet conveyance mechanism provided with a carry-in end, and a container moving mechanism that reciprocates the sheet storage container along the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyance mechanism, The lowest sheet storage container among the sheet storage containers is moved by the first sliding means oriented along the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the sheet transport direction. Other sheet storage containers that are supported by the image recording apparatus main body so as to be able to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction and are located above the lowermost sheet storage container are:
the second along the horizontal plane and oriented in the sheet transport direction;
The second sliding means is supported on both sides of the sheet storage container immediately below and adjacent to the other sheet storage container so as to be able to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of the second sliding means via a sliding means, and The sheet transport mechanism is a sheet conveyance mechanism that is constructed to extend between an input point that is a predetermined distance away from the output end of the sheet storage container in the sheet conveyance direction and a sheet input end of the image recording device. It consists of a fixed conveyance means, and a sheet rocking conveyance means pivotably supported up and down around the vicinity of the loading point of the sheet fixed conveyance means, and the sheet rocking conveyance means: A roll for feeding out sheets in a sheet storage container with an exposed delivery end, and a conveyor belt for conveying the sheets to an input end of the sheet fixed conveyance means in conjunction with the delivery roll. The container moving mechanism is disposed on a side opposite to the discharge end of the sheet storage container, and the container moving mechanism includes a prime mover capable of forward and reverse rotation, and a prime mover connected to the prime mover via a transmission, and connected to the prime mover via a transmission. a vertically oriented moving post capable of reciprocating along the longitudinal direction of the second sliding means; and each of the other sheet storage containers above the lowermost sheet storage container and the moving post, respectively. A sheet storage device comprising a coupling means for selectively coupling the sheets.