JPH07106793B2 - Separate paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a separating / feeding device that separates and feeds a large number of stacked sheets by a feeding roller.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, from the viewpoint of labor saving, it has been required to automatically feed a large number of sheets stored in a separate sheet feeder to a printer, a copying machine or the like one by one.

As such a separate sheet feeding device, for example, JP-A-1-118466
The one shown in Japanese Patent Publication is known. This separating / feeding device separates the uppermost sheet of the sheets stacked on the sheet supporting plate into sheets by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller and sends the sheets to the printer.

FIG. 12 shows an example of this type of separating and feeding device.

In the figure, 1 is a box-shaped paper feeder main body, and on both left and right ends inside the main body 1, a left guide plate 2a also serving as a partition and a stopper 2b, which is inserted between a bottom plate 1a and a top plate 1b of the main body 1, A right guide plate is installed upright. Both ends of the paper support plate 3 are supported by the left guide plate 2a and the stopper 2b so that both ends of the paper support plate 3 can move up and down horizontally.
A large number of sheets of paper P of sizes and the like are stacked and placed with their leading ends in contact with the stopper 2b, and the paper P is formed by the left guide plate 2a, the stopper 2b, and the sheet support plate 3 between them. A stacker 4 for stacking and accommodating sheets is formed.

Cables 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d are wound around the winding drum 6 by the normal rotation or reverse rotation of a motor (not shown), or discharged to vertically move the paper support plate 3.

7 is located at the upper end of the stopper 2b, and is the paper support plate 3
The paper feed roller 7 is arranged in parallel with the upper paper P, and the paper feed roller 7 is fixed to a shaft 7a arranged in parallel with the paper P on the paper support plate 3 and is provided at a central position in the widthwise direction of the paper P. positioned.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a friction pad arranged so as to face and contact the sheet feeding roller 7, and separates the uppermost sheet P ₁ from the sheet supporting plate 3 by rotation of the sheet feeding roller 7.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a paper feed port formed on the top plate 1b of the paper feeder main body 1 so as to face the paper feed roller 7 and the friction pad 8. The printer 10 is mounted on the top plate 1b and the paper feed port 9 The paper P is sent to the printer 10.

In the main body 1 of the paper feeder, an upper limit position detection switch S1, an upper limit safety switch S2, and a PE switch 11 are provided near the bottom of the top plate 1b.
And a lower limit position detection switch S3 is provided in the stop member 12 provided on the bottom plate 1a.

Then, when the paper support plate 3 is lifted with a predetermined amount of paper P set on the paper support plate 3, the uppermost paper P ₁ of the stacked paper P is pressed against the paper feed roller 7. .

In this state, when the printer 10 starts printing, a motor (not shown) is rotated in the forward direction to rotate the paper feed roller 7. Along with this, the uppermost sheet P ₁ of the sheet P pressed against the sheet feeding roller 7 and several sheets P below the sheet P ₁ are sent toward the friction pad 8 by the frictional force with the sheet feeding roller 7. The uppermost paper P ₁ is inserted between the paper feed roller 7 and the friction pad 8 and sent out, and sent toward the printer 10 through the paper exit 9 of the top plate 1b.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the conventional separating / feeding device, the sheets P stacked on the sheet supporting plate 3 may curl inward or inward as a whole in a high temperature and high humidity environment.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 13, it is the cavity C of the arcuate between the lowest side sheet P _B and the sheet support plate 3 of the sheet P stacked curled middle convex. The gap amount between the sheet P _B on the lowest side and the sheet support plate 3 is δ ₁ .

Then, as shown in FIG. 14, when the paper support plate 3 is lifted and the uppermost paper P ₁ is in contact with the paper feed roller 7, the paper P is pushed by the paper feed roller 7 and is totally moved. Bending elastically downward, the lowest paper P _B and the paper support plate 3
The gap amount between and is smaller than δ ₁ and is δ ₂ . That is, the cavity C acts as a damper when the paper feed roller 7 is pressed. Therefore, the paper P vibrates in the vertical direction, the pressure contact force between the paper P and the paper feed roller 7 is not uniform, and the paper feeding becomes unstable.

Moreover, since the paper feed roller 7 is arranged at one position substantially in the center of the width of the paper P, in the uppermost paper P ₁ curled in the middle convex shape, the center middle convex portion P _C is Although it is fed to the paper feed roller 7 over the upper edge of the stopper 2b, both side portions P _S and P _S (both outer sides of the boundary point 2c) of the central convex portion P _C of the center are stoppers.
Temporarily blocked by 2b. Still, the top paper P ₁
When There is sent to the paper feed roller 7, first, one side P _S of the sheet P ₁ in the uppermost beyond the upper edge portion 2d of the stopper 2b, followed by the other side of the sheet P ₁ in the uppermost P _S exceeds the upper edge side 2d of the stopper 2b. In short, the top paper P ₁ is the stopper
It is caught on both sides 2d of the upper edge of 2b. Therefore, one side of the feeding of the sheet P ₁ in the uppermost delay and sent to a separation unit sheet P ₁ the uppermost slanted (parts feeding roller 7 and the friction pad 8 is pressed against).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, the paper P curled in a concave shape is formed.
When feeding the paper, both ends of the paper P are on both sides of the upper edge of the stopper 2b.
Since it is not caught by 2d and 2d, it is delivered smoothly without skewing.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to prevent both side portions of a sheet from being caught on the upper edge of a stopper when feeding a sheet that is curled and curled into a convex shape. It is an object of the present invention to provide a separation sheet feeding device capable of preventing skew of sheets.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a stacker having a sheet support plate on which sheets are stacked and a stopper provided at a front end of the sheet support plate and having a predetermined height for abutting the leading ends of the stacked sheets. A sheet feeding roller that is in pressure contact with the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets, and separates the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets by sheet rotation by rotation of the sheet feeding roller. At least a raised trapezoidal portion is provided on the front side corresponding to the roller, and a portion of the upper edge of the stopper corresponding to the paper feed roller is made higher than at least both side portions thereof.

[Action]

In the present invention, since at least a raised pedestal portion is provided on the front side of the sheet support plate of the stacker corresponding to the sheet feeding roller, it is the lowest side sheet among the sheets curled and curled in a convex shape. The cavity formed between the paper support plate is filled with the base of the paper support plate, the lowermost paper is supported by the base, and when the paper is delivered by pressure contact with the paper feed roller, The damper effect due to the cavity is prevented, and the paper does not escape into the cavity, and is stably and reliably delivered.

Moreover, in a situation where the paper is stably and reliably fed out, the portion of the upper edge of the stopper corresponding to the paper feed roller is made higher than at least both sides thereof, so that the paper is supported by the base portion of the paper support plate. The curl that is curled into a convex shape is low on both sides, but the side of the leading edge of the paper is always higher than both sides of the upper edge of the stopper when the paper is fed out by pressure contact with the paper feed roller. In the position.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 7 show a separating and feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The whole of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, and then the main part of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 20 denotes a box-shaped feeder main body, and the bottom plate 20a of the main body 20 is provided at both left and right ends inside the main body 20.
A right side guide plate composed of a left side guide plate 21a also serving as a partition and a stopper 21 is provided upright between the upper plate 20b and the top plate 20b. On the right side guide plate consisting of the left side guide plate 21a and the stopper 21,
Both ends of the paper support plate 22 are supported so as to be able to move up and down horizontally, and a large number of papers P of B4, A4 size or the like are stacked on the paper support plate 22 with their leading ends in contact with the stopper 21. The above-mentioned left guide plate 21a, the right guide plate composed of the stopper 21, and the paper support plate 22 between them constitute a stacker 23 for stacking and accommodating the paper P.

24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are cables, which are wound around the winding drum 25 by the normal rotation or reverse rotation of a motor (not shown) or discharged to raise and lower the paper support plate 22 horizontally.

26 is located at the upper end of the stopper 21, and the paper support plate 22
The paper feed roller 26 is arranged in parallel with the upper paper P, and the paper feed roller 26 is fixed to the shaft 26a arranged in parallel with the paper P on the paper support plate 22 and is located at a central portion in the widthwise direction of the paper P. Is located in. A motor M is connected to the shaft 26a via a paper feed roller drive gear 26b. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stopper 21 is provided with a gate-shaped guide plate 26c,
It is located on both sides of the paper feed roller 26. In addition, the stopper 21
Is provided with a Mylar film 26d.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a friction pad arranged so as to face and contact the paper feed roller 26, and separates the uppermost sheet P ₁ from the paper support plate 22 by rotation of the paper feed roller 26.

28 is a paper feed port formed on the top plate 20b of the paper feeder main body 20 so as to face the paper feed roller 26 and the friction pad 27,
A printer 29 is placed on the top plate 20b, and the paper P from the paper delivery port 28 is fed into the printer 29.

The upper limit position detection switch S1, the upper limit safety switch S2, and the PE (paper out detection) switch 30 are arranged near the bottom of the top plate 20b in the paper feeder main body 20 and a stop provided on the bottom plate 20a. A lower limit position detection switch S3 is arranged in the member 31. Further, a lower limit safety switch 35 is mounted on the bracket 34 in the machine room 33. The lower limit safety switch 35 operates by detecting looseness of the cables 24a and 24b, and stops the reverse rotation of the motor.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a raised trapezoidal portion 36 is provided at the center of the front side of the sheet supporting plate 22 corresponding to the sheet feeding roller 26. .
A thin cork member 36a is laid on the trapezoid 36, and the last one
It is possible to reliably send out the sheet of paper P.

Further, on the upper edge 37 of the stopper 21, a protruding portion 38 is formed at a position corresponding to the paper feed roller 26, and the escape portions 39 on both sides thereof are lower than the protruding portion 38 and become lower toward the outside. Is formed in a tapered shape.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the paper support plate 22 is set with a predetermined amount of paper P set thereon.
When 22 is raised, the uppermost sheet P ₁ of the stacked sheets P ₁
Has reached a predetermined position, the upper limit position detection switch S1 senses this, stops the forward rotation of a motor (not shown), stops the rise of the sheet support plate 22, and holds that position. At this time, the uppermost paper P ₁ is in pressure contact with the paper feed roller 26.

In this state, when the printing of the printer 29 is started, the motor is normally rotated to rotate the paper feed roller 26. Along with this, the uppermost sheet of the sheet P pressed against the sheet feed roller 26.
P ₁ and several sheets of paper P on the lower side of the sheet P ₁ are sent toward the friction pad 27 by the frictional force with the sheet feeding roller 26, and the uppermost sheet P ₁ is inserted between the sheet feeding roller 26 and the friction pad 27. And sent out to the printer 29 through the paper output port 28 of the top plate 20b.

Then, the uppermost sheet P ₁ of the stacked sheets P is sent out and its position is lowered, but this lowering is detected by the upper limit position detection switch S1, and the motor is again rotated in the forward direction to cause the sheet support plate 22 to rotate. Is raised and the position of the uppermost sheet P ₁ is held at a predetermined position.

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

As described above, since the raised pedestal portion 36 is provided on the front side of the paper support plate 22 corresponding to the paper feed roller 26, it is curled into a convex shape as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. The lowest paper P _{B of the} stacked paper P and the paper support plate
The central portion of the cavity C formed between the sheet supporting plate 22 and 22 is filled with the trapezoidal portion 36 of the sheet supporting plate 22, and the central portion of the lowermost sheet P _B is supported by the trapezoidal portion 36. Therefore, the paper feed roller
When the top paper P ₁ is sent out by pressure contact with 26, the paper P ₁
The whole thing doesn't escape downward.

Therefore, the vibration of the paper P due to the damper action unlike the conventional example is eliminated, and the position of the uppermost paper P ₁ is maintained at a constant height. As a result, the pressure contact force between the paper feed roller 26 and the paper P can be stably obtained, and the paper P is stably and reliably delivered.

Moreover, when the uppermost sheet P ₁ is stably and reliably fed out, the relief portions 39 on both sides of the protruding portion 38 corresponding to the sheet feeding roller 26 of the upper edge 37 of the stopper 21 are formed in the protruding shape. Since the height is lower than that of the portion 38, the uppermost sheet P ₁ curled in a convex shape by being supported by the table-like portion 36 of the sheet supporting plate 22 is in a state in which both side portions P _S , P _S at the leading end are low. However, when feeding the topmost paper P ₁ by pressure contact with the paper feed roller 26,
Both sides P _S , P _S of the leading edge of the uppermost sheet P ₁ are always located above the escape portions 39, 39 on both sides of the upper edge 37 of the stopper 21.

Therefore, both side portions P _S and P _S at the leading end of the uppermost sheet P ₁ are not temporarily blocked by the escape portions 39 and 39 on both sides of the upper edge 37 of the stopper 21, and the uppermost sheet P to be sent out. It is possible to prevent the skew of P ₁ .

FIG. 8 shows a main part of a separating and feeding apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the structure is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and only the illustrated portion is shown. This is different from the first embodiment.

As shown in the figure, two paper feed rollers 41A and 41B are supported by a shaft 41a. At the front center of the paper support plate 42,
A raised pedestal portion 43 is provided, and the pedestal portion 43 extends from the outside of one paper feed roller 41A to the outside of the other paper feed roller 41B in the width direction of the paper.

Further, a protrusion 46 is formed at the center of the upper edge 45 of the stopper 44, and the protrusion 46 is one of the paper feed rollers in the width direction of the sheet.
From the outside of 41A to the outside of the other paper feed roller 41B. Relief portions 47, 47 are formed on both sides of the protruding portion 46 of the upper edge 45. The escape portion 47 is formed to be lower than the protruding portion 46 and has a taper shape that becomes lower toward the outside.

According to the second embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment is obtained.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show the essential parts of a separation / feeding device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 51 is a stacker, and a paper support plate 52 is provided in the stacker 51 via a pressing spring 53, and the paper P is stacked on the paper support plate 52.

A stopper 54 is provided at the front end of the sheet support plate 52 to bring the leading edge of the sheet P into contact. A paper feed roller 55 is arranged close to the lower end of the stacker 51, and the paper feed roller 55 presses the uppermost paper P ₁ of the stacked papers P. The friction pad 56 is arranged in a state of being opposed to and in contact with the paper feed roller 55 and being pressed against the paper feed roller 55 by a biasing spring 57. The uppermost sheet P ₁ of the stacked sheets P is guided between the sheet feeding roller 55 and the friction pad 56 by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 55 and separated into sheets, and a printer (not shown) one by one from above. Is fed to.

In addition, a raised pedestal portion 58 is provided in the center portion of the front side of the sheet supporting plate 52 corresponding to the sheet feeding roller 55.

Further, a protrusion 60 is formed on the upper edge 59 of the stopper 54 at a position corresponding to the paper feed roller 55, and the relief portions 61, 61 on both sides thereof are formed.
Is formed in a taper shape that is lower than the protruding portion 60 and becomes lower toward the outside.

According to the second embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment is obtained.

FIG. 11 shows a main part of a separating and feeding apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 71 is a stacker arranged horizontally, and a paper support plate 72 is provided in the stacker 71 via a pressing spring 73, and the paper P is stacked on the paper support plate 72.

At the front end of the sheet support plate 72, a stopper 74 for contacting the leading end of the sheet P is provided. A paper feed roller 75 is arranged close to the upper end of the stopper 74, and the paper feed roller 75 presses the uppermost sheet P ₁ of the stacked sheets P together. A separation roller 76 and a registration roller 77 facing the separation roller 76 are arranged at a predetermined distance from the paper feeding roller 75.

Then, the uppermost sheet P ₁ and several sheets P below the uppermost sheet P ₁ are sent out by the rotation of the sheet feeding roller 75, and the uppermost sheet P ₁ of the laminated sheet P is separated between the separate roller 76 and the registration roller 77 opposed thereto. Only the upper paper P ₁ is guided and separated into sheets 1
The sheets are fed one by one to a printer (not shown).

In addition, a raised pedestal portion 78 is provided at the central portion on the front side of the sheet supporting plate 72 corresponding to the sheet feeding roller 75.

In addition, a protrusion 79 is formed on the upper edge of the stopper 74 corresponding to the paper feed roller 75, and the relief portions 80 on both sides thereof are lower than the protrusion 79 and taper toward the outside. It is formed into a shape.

According to the fourth embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since at least the raised trapezoidal portion is provided on the front side of the paper support plate corresponding to the paper feed roller, among the papers curled in the middle convex shape and stacked. The cavity formed between the paper on the lowest side and the paper support plate is filled with the base of the paper support plate, and the paper on the lowest side is supported by the base, and the paper is pressed by the paper feed roller. The paper does not escape downward when it is sent out.

Therefore, the sheet does not vibrate due to the damper action unlike the conventional example, and the position of the uppermost sheet is maintained at a constant height. As a result, the pressure contact force between the paper feed roller and the paper can be stably obtained, and the paper is reliably and reliably delivered.

Moreover, in a situation where the paper is stably and reliably fed out, the portion of the upper edge of the stopper corresponding to the paper feed roller is made higher than at least both sides thereof, so that the paper is supported by the base portion of the paper support plate. The curl that is curled into a convex shape is low on both sides, but the side of the leading edge of the paper is always higher than both sides of the upper edge of the stopper when the paper is fed out by pressure contact with the paper feed roller. In the position.

Therefore, the side portion of the leading edge of the sheet is not temporarily blocked by both side portions of the upper edge of the stopper, and the skew of the sheet to be fed can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a main portion of a separating / feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a main part of the separating and feeding apparatus. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the separating and feeding device. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the inside of the separating and feeding apparatus. FIG. 5 is a front view of the essential parts showing the operating state of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of essential parts showing the working state of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the main part showing the working state of this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a front view of the main parts according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a main portion of a separating / feeding device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a main portion of a separating / feeding device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of a conventional separating / feeding device. FIG. 13 is a front sectional view showing a state in which a curled sheet having a convex shape is placed on a sheet supporting plate of a conventional separating and feeding apparatus. FIG. 14 is a front cross-sectional view of a conventional separating and feeding device when feeding a curled sheet having a convex shape. FIG. 15 is a front sectional view of a conventional separation / feeding device when a curled sheet having a concave shape is delivered. [Explanation of symbols of main parts] 21 …… Stopper 22 …… Paper support plate 23 …… Stacker 26 …… Paper feed roller 36 …… Tubular portion 37 …… Upper edge 38 …… Projected portion 39 …… Escape Part P …… Paper P ₁ …… The highest paper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sheet support plate on which sheets of paper are stacked, a stacker having a stopper of a predetermined height provided at a front end portion of the sheet support plate to abut a tip of the stacked sheets of paper, and a stacker of stacked sheets of paper. In a separation sheet feeding device that includes a sheet feeding roller in pressure contact with the uppermost layer, and separates the uppermost sheet of the stacked sheets by rotation of the sheet feeding roller, in the front side corresponding to the sheet feeding roller of the sheet supporting plate, A separating and feeding device, wherein at least a raised pedestal portion is provided, and a portion of the upper edge of the stopper corresponding to the feeding roller is made higher than at least both side portions thereof.