JPH0790925B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Description: (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printing machine, a laser beam printer, and more specifically, a sheet containing a large number of sheets inside the machine body. Storage device (hereinafter referred to as cassette)
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine) in which a printer is detachably mounted.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, there is known a copying machine in which a cassette is detachably mounted inside the machine body.
There are a side loading type that pulls out in the paper feeding direction or the non-feeding direction and a front loading type that pulls out in the direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction. In the front loading type, the cassette is slidably supported by guide rails. ing. In recent years, especially, the installation space is small, and it is possible to replenish sheets without removing the cassette.
The number of front-loading type copying machines is increasing because they are easy to handle by front operation.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention By the way, in the above-mentioned front loading type copying machine, since a slidable guide rail for slidably supporting and guiding the cassette, a cassette mounting table, etc. are used, However, there is a drawback in that the cassette tends to be complicated and positioning of the cassette with respect to the apparatus main body becomes complicated.

Particularly, in an auto loading type copying machine in which a cassette is automatically attached and detached, positioning of the cassette becomes more complicated, it is difficult to separate the cassette from the driving means, and it is difficult to replace the cassette. .

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which the sheet storage device and the conveying means can be engaged and separated from each other, and thus the above-mentioned problems are solved.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and for example, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, inside the machine body (2),
An image forming apparatus comprising a sheet storage device (3) for storing a sheet and detachably mounted, comprising: an endless rotating member (20) (35) hung over in the attachment / detachment direction of the sheet storage device. A drive means (11) for driving the rotating member, a protrusion member (36) provided on the rotating member, and an engagement groove (37) provided on the sheet storage device, The engagement groove is provided with an opening (37c) provided at the front end in the insertion direction of the sheet storage device (3) into the machine body, and a guide portion (the end portion of which extends in the insertion direction of the sheet storage device into the machine body ( 37e) and an engagement portion (37f) provided at the other end of the guide portion, and when the sheet storage device is inserted into or removed from the machine body,
The protruding member (36) in the stopped state is connected to the opening (37
c) and the engaging portion (37b) to guide the guide portion (37e) to move the sheet storage device in the attachment / detachment direction, and the protrusion member (36) to the engaging portion (37f). By rotating the rotating members (20) (35) by the drive means (11) in the engaged state, a position for inserting or removing the sheet storage device (11) and a sheet for feeding The sheet storage device is moved to and from the sheet feeding position.

(E) Action Based on the above configuration, when the sheet storage device (3) is mounted, the sheet storage device (3) causes the protruding member (36) in the stopped state to extend from the opening (37c) to the guide portion (37e). The rotary member (20) (35) is rotated by the drive means (11) with the protruding member engaged with the engaging portion. The sheet storage device (3) is conveyed to the sheet feeding position and attached. When removing the sheet storage device (3), the sheet storage device (3) is conveyed to the removal (insertion) position by the rotation of the rotating members (20) (35), and the rotating member is stopped. Then, in this state, the protrusion member (36) is engaged with the engaging portion (37
The sheet storage device (3) is moved so that the sheet storage device (3) is guided from the f) through the guide portion (37e) to the opening (37c), and the sheet storage device is taken out.

The above-mentioned reference numerals are shown for reference and do not limit the configuration in any way.

(F) Example Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the copying machine 1 includes a carrier device 5 for automatically attaching and detaching the cassette 3 in the machine body 2.
Adjacent to the apparatus 5, there is provided a sheet feeding roller 6 which is a half-moon roller for feeding a sheet from the cassette 3 and which is rotatably supported by a shaft 6a. Further, in the machine body 2, a photosensitive drum 7 carrying a toner image is arranged so as to be axially supported by a shaft 7a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the carrier device 5 is provided with frame bodies 9 and 10, and in the frame body 9, a motor 11 capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions is arranged. Then, the shaft 11 of the motor 11
A gear 12 is fixed to a, and the gear 12 meshes with a gear 15 fixed to a shaft 13 rotatably supported by the frame 9. A sprocket 16 is fixed to one end of the shaft 13, and the sprocket 16 and a sprocket 19 fixed to a shaft 17 rotatably supported by the frame 9 constitute a rotating member. Twenty are stretched.
Further, a light shielding plate 21 is arranged on the predetermined link L of the chain 20, and the light shielding plate 21 turns on and off the sensors 22 and 23 arranged in the vicinity of the chain 20. ing. A guide roller 25 and a cassette detection sensor 26 are provided on the rail portions 9a and 10a of the frames 9 and 10. Further, the shaft 11a of the motor 11 is extended to the frame body 10,
A gear 27 is fixed to the tip of 1a. Furthermore, the gear 27
Engages with a gear 30 fixed to a shaft 29 rotatably supported by the frame 10, and a sprocket 31 is fixed to one end of the shaft 29. Then, the shaft 32 is formed by the frame 10.
Is rotatably supported, and the shaft 32 has a sprocket.
33 is fixed, and a chain 35 constituting a rotating member is stretched between the sprocket 33 and the sprocket 31. A pin 36 is provided on each of the chain 35 and the chain 20, and the pin 36 forming the protruding member moves integrally with the chain 20, 35 by the rotation of the chain 20, 35. (See Figure 2). Furthermore,
Engaging grooves 37 which are L-shaped in side view and which engage with the pins 36 are formed on both inner sides of the cassette 3. The engagement groove 37
Is an opening 37c provided at the tip of the sheet storage device 3 in the direction of insertion into the machine body, and a straight groove portion (guide portion) 37 that extends in the direction of insertion of the sheet storage device into the machine body 37 with the opening as one end.
e and an engaging portion 37f provided at the other end of the straight groove portion
When the sheet storage device 3 is inserted into or removed from the machine body, the pin 36 in the stopped state is inserted into the opening 37e and the engaging portion 3
By moving the sheet storage device in the attachment / detachment direction by guiding it to the straight groove portion 37e between itself and 7f, and rotating the chains 20 and 35 by the motor 11 with the pin 36 engaged with the engaging portion 37f, The sheet storage device is moved between a position for inserting or removing the sheet storage device 3 in the machine body and a sheet feeding position for feeding the sheet. In FIG. 3, G is a document table cover that can rotate in the B direction around the hinge H as an axis.

On the other hand, the copying machine 1 has a control section C as shown in FIG. 7, and the sensors 22, 23, the cassette detection sensor 26, and the cassette eject button 40 are connected to the input section of the control section C. The motor 11 is connected to the output section.

Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, the cassette 3
When the sheet S is loaded on the vehicle and mounted in the fuselage 2, the pin 36
Is located at a position facing the opening 37c of the groove 37 shown in FIG. 4, that is, at a position where the light shielding plate 21 is detected by the sensor 22 (see FIG. 1), and the cassette 3 is inserted along the rail portions 9a and 10a. Then, the pins 36, 36 are inserted into the engagement grooves 37. When the bottom surface of the cassette 3 is placed on the outer periphery of the roller 25, the pin
When the pin 36 passes through the straight groove portion 37e and is inserted to reach the engaging portion 37f, the bottom surface of the cassette 3 turns on the cassette detection sensor 36. Then, the control unit C receiving the ON signal from the sensor 26 drives the motor 11. The drive of the motor 11 is transmitted to the sprocket 16 via the gears 12 and 15, and is transmitted to the sprocket 31 via the shaft 11a and the gears 27 and 30. Then, the rotation of the sprocket 16 starts the right rotation of the chain 20, and the rotation of the sprocket 31 starts the rotation of the chain 35. When the chains 20 and 35 rotate, the pin 36 first makes an arc motion to abut and engage with one surface (vertical surface) 37a of the engaging portion 37f, and then the chains 20 and 35 rotate to make a straight motion to move the cassette 3 into the back. It moves to the side (D direction) (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the cassette 3 is automatically inserted from the middle. Further, when the cassette 3 is inserted and the light shielding plate 21 becomes the sensor 23.
When is turned off, the control unit C receiving the OFF signal from the sensor 23 stops the motor 11. At this time, the pin 36 is in contact with the one surface 37a of the engaging portion. As a result, the cassette 3 is positioned at the predetermined position (see FIG. 5). At this time,
Furthermore, the inverted trapezoidal protrusion 3e on the bottom fits into the hole 9b of the rail 9a,
Position in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction. Motor 11
Alternatively, it is more preferable to provide a braking means or a roller means for positioning and fixing the gear train on the way.

Also, when ejecting the cassette 3, the eject button 40 is turned on.
Then, the brake or lock means is released, and the control section C receiving the ON signal from the button 40 drives the motor 11 in the reverse direction to rotate the sprockets 16 and 31 in the F direction (see FIG. 5). As a result, the pin 36 comes into contact with one surface (a vertical surface facing the one surface 37a) 37b of the engaging portion 37f and moves the cassette 3 to the front side (F direction). After that, the pin 36 enters an upward arc motion, so that the rightward movement of the cassette 3 is stopped. Then, when the pin 36 moves to a position where the sensor 22 is turned off by the light shielding plate 21, the control unit C which receives the OFF signal from the sensor 22 turns off the motor 11 and the chain 20,
Finish moving 35. At this time, the braking means and the locking means act again, and the pin 36 is provided with the straight groove portion 3 which is substantially horizontal to the opening 37c of the engaging groove 37 above the one surface 37a.
Since it is located at 7e (see FIG. 4), it can be pulled out from the machine body 2 by pulling the cassette 3 to the right.

Although the claw separation method is shown as the cassette 3, the present invention is not limited to this.

(G) Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the projecting member provided with the rotating member and the engaging groove provided in the sheet storage device are configured to be detachably connected. The simplification can be achieved and the positioning of the sheet storage device can be facilitated. Further, there is an effect that the sheet storage device can be easily attached and detached.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conveying means according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a main part thereof. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are side sectional views showing the operation of the present invention. Further, FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the control unit. 1 ... Image forming device, 2 ... Airframe, 20, 35 ... Rotating member (chain), 36 ... Projection member (pin), 37 ... Engaging groove, 37c ... Opening, 37e ... Guide part ( Straight groove),
37f: Engagement part, S: Seat.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising a sheet storage device for removably mounting a sheet inside a body, wherein an endless rotary member is hung over in the attachment / detachment direction of the sheet storage device. A driving means for driving the rotating member, a protrusion member provided on the rotating member, and an engaging groove provided on the sheet storage device, wherein the engaging groove is the sheet. An opening provided at the tip of the storage device in the direction of insertion into the machine body, and a guide portion having the opening as one end and extending in the direction of insertion of the sheet storage device into the machine body,
An engaging portion provided at the other end of the guide portion, and when the sheet storage device is inserted into or removed from the machine body,
The protruding member in the stopped state is guided to the guide portion between the opening and the engaging portion to move the sheet storage device in the attachment / detachment direction, and the protruding member is engaged with the engaging portion. In this state, by rotating the rotating member by the driving means, the sheet storage device is moved between a position for inserting or removing the sheet storage device into a machine body and a sheet feeding position for feeding a sheet. An image forming apparatus comprising: