Paper feeding mechanism
By using a first and second elastomer design in the paper feeding mechanism, the problem of overlapping sheet feeding was solved, achieving stable single sheet supply and cost reduction.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOSHIBA TEC KK
- Filing Date
- 2021-12-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-23
AI Technical Summary
The existing paper feeding mechanism lacks an effective pre-separation function when conveying overlapping sheets, resulting in unstable conveying.
The design employs first and second elastomers. The contact point between the first elastomer and the sheet and the roller gap forms an acute angle, while the angle between the second elastomer and the first elastomer is smaller. In conjunction with a torque limiter, this design enables the separation and stable conveying of the sheet.
It effectively suppressed the overlapping conveying of sheets, achieved a stable supply of single sheets, reduced costs, and improved the reliability of the paper feeding mechanism.
Smart Images
Figure CN114988158B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a paper feeding mechanism. Background Technology
[0002] Traditionally, image processing devices, such as MFPs (Multi-Function Peripherals), have paper feeding mechanisms. Multiple sheets of paper are stacked in the thickness direction of the sheet in the tray of the paper feeding mechanism. Problems arise when multiple sheets are fed from the paper feeding mechanism at once (hereinafter referred to as overlapping sheet feeding). Sometimes, the paper feeding mechanism lacks the function of allowing the top sheet to pass through while blocking sheets positioned below it (hereinafter referred to as a pre-separation function). On the other hand, paper feeding mechanisms are sometimes equipped with expensive rubber materials or specialized friction components to improve the pre-separation function in order to cope with overlapping sheet feeding. Summary of the Invention
[0003] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a paper feeding mechanism that can suppress the overlapping of sheet feeding.
[0004] The paper feeding mechanism of this embodiment includes: a reel, a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a first elastic body, and a second elastic body. The reel contains a sheet. The first roller removes the sheet from the reel and conveys it in a removal direction. The second roller conveys the sheet removed by the first roller. The third roller is opposite to the second roller and clamps the sheet between itself and the second roller. The first elastic body is located in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the second roller, between the roll gap formed by the second roller and the third roller and the first roller. The first elastic body blocks a first reference line along the removal direction and a second reference line connecting the contact position between the first roller and the sheet and the roll gap. The first angle between the first elastic body and the first reference line is an acute angle. The second elastic body is located between the roll gap and the first elastic body, and the second angle between the second elastic body and the first reference line is smaller than the first angle. Attached Figure Description
[0005] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an image processing apparatus having a paper feeding mechanism according to one embodiment.
[0006] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the same paper feeding mechanism.
[0007] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional view of the main parts of the same paper supply mechanism.
[0008] Figure 4 This is a hardware configuration diagram of the same image processing device.
[0009] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the paper feeding mechanism in the same image processing device.
[0010] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the first elastic body in the same image processing device.
[0011] Figure 7 This is a front view of the first elastic body in the paper feeding mechanism of a first variation of one embodiment.
[0012] Figure 8 This is a front view of the first elastic body in the paper feeding mechanism of a second variation of one embodiment.
[0013] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the same first elastic body.
[0014] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures
[0015] 6…paper feeding mechanism, 30…reel, 31…first roller, 32…second roller, 33…third roller, 37, 80, 85…first elastomer, 38…second elastomer, 45…support, 46…protrusion, 81…cutout, 86…plate, CB…rotating shaft, LA…first reference line, LB…second reference line, NB…roll gap, PA…contact position, S…sheet, θA…first angle, θB…second angle. Detailed Implementation
[0016] The paper feeding mechanism of the embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017] In this embodiment, an example of a paper feeding mechanism used in a manual paper feed tray of an image processing apparatus is described. The paper feeding mechanism can also be used in a paper feed box or similar component of an image processing apparatus.
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the image processing apparatus 1. The image processing apparatus 1 in this embodiment is an image forming apparatus. The image processing apparatus 1 performs the processing of forming an image on the sheet S.
[0019] The image processing apparatus 1 includes: a housing 15, a scanning unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet supply unit 4, a conveying unit 5, a paper feeding mechanism 6, a paper discharge tray 7, a flipping unit 8, a control panel 9, and a control unit 12.
[0020] The housing 15 forms the shape of the image processing device 1.
[0021] The scanning unit 2 reads the image information of the object to be copied as the brightness of light and darkness and generates an image signal. The scanning unit 2 outputs the generated image signal to the image forming unit 3.
[0022] The image forming unit 3 forms an output image using a recording agent such as a toner, based on an image signal received from the scanning unit 2 or an image signal received from an external source. Hereinafter, the output image is referred to as a toner image. The image forming unit 3 transfers the toner image onto the surface of the sheet S. The image forming unit 3 heats and presses the toner image on the surface of the sheet S to fix the toner image onto the sheet S.
[0023] The sheet supply unit 4 coordinates with the image forming unit 3 to form a toner image at a specific time, supplying sheets S one by one to the transport unit 5. The sheet supply unit 4 includes: a supply tray 20, a first supply roller 21, a second supply roller 22, and a third supply roller 23.
[0024] Supply tray 20 stores sheets S of specified size and type.
[0025] The first supply roller 21 picks up sheets S one by one from the supply tray 20. The second supply roller conveys the sheets S picked up by the first supply roller 21 downstream to the conveying section 5. The third supply roller 23 is opposite to the second supply roller 22. The third supply roller 23 holds the sheets S between itself and the second supply roller 22.
[0026] The conveying unit 5 conveys the sheet S supplied from the sheet supply unit 4 to the image forming unit 3. The conveying unit 5 has a conveying roller 26 and a positioning roller 27.
[0027] The conveying roller 26 conveys the sheet S supplied by the supply rollers 22 and 23 to the positioning roller 27. The conveying roller 26 brings the leading edge of the downstream side of the sheet S into contact with the roll gap NA of the positioning roller 27.
[0028] The positioning roller 27 adjusts the downstream front end position of the sheet S by flexing the sheet S through the roller gap NA. The positioning roller 27 transports the sheet S according to the timing of the toner image transfer onto the sheet S by the image forming unit 3.
[0029] Paper feeding mechanism 6 is a manual paper feeding tray. For example... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the paper feeding mechanism 6 includes: a disc 30, a first roller 31, a second roller 32, a third roller 33, a torque limiter 34, a lower guide 35, an upper guide 36, a first elastic body 37, and a second elastic body 38. Additionally, in Figure 2 and Figure 5 In the diagram, for ease of explanation, sheet S is shown in greater thickness compared to the actual sheet.
[0030] like Figure 2 As shown, the disk 30 is a container for holding multiple overlapping sheets S in the thickness direction. The bottom surface of the disk 30 is a support surface 29 for supporting the multiple sheets S. The disk 30 holds the multiple sheets S on the support surface 29. The upper part of the disk 30 has a first opening 39 for holding the multiple sheets S in the disk 30.
[0031] The downstream end of the disc 30 has an inclined portion 40 and a flat portion 41. The upper surface of the inclined portion 40 is inclined upwards gradually as it moves towards the downstream side. The flat portion 41 extends downstream from the downstream end of the inclined portion 40 along the support surface 29.
[0032] Above the downstream end of the flat portion 41 is a second opening 42 for removing multiple sheets S contained in the tray 30 from the tray 30. That is, the downstream opening in the tray 30 is for conveying the sheets S. The second opening 42 is connected to the first opening 39. The tray 30 is tilted downwards gradually towards the downstream side.
[0033] The disc 30 is supported by a lifting mechanism (not shown). The method by which the lifting mechanism supports the disc 30 will be described later.
[0034] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, rollers 31, 32, and 33 are cylindrical or tubular in shape, respectively. The first roller 31 is supported so that it can rotate about its axis of rotation CA. For example, the axis of rotation CA of the first roller 31 is along a horizontal plane. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the paper feeding mechanism 6 on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis CA. In other words, Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the paper feeding mechanism 6 viewed along the rotation axis CA.
[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, the rotating shaft CA is located above the connection between the inclined portion 40 and the flat portion 41 in the disk 30. The first roller 31 removes the sheet S from the disk 30.
[0036] Hereinafter, the position where the first roller 31 contacts the sheet S is referred to as the contact position PA. The reference line along the take-out direction of the sheet S taken out by the first roller 31 is referred to as the first reference line LA. The first reference line LA has a length along the support surface 29 from the sheet S taken out by the first roller 31. The first roller 31 conveys the sheet S from the contact position PA in the take-out direction, which is downstream of the first reference line LA.
[0037] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the second roller 32 is located downstream of the first roller 31. For example, the rotation axis CB of the second roller 32 is along a horizontal plane. The second roller 32 conveys the sheet S taken out by the first roller 31 downstream. The second roller 32 contacts the first surface SA of the sheet S.
[0038] The third roller 33 is located below and opposite the second roller 32. For example, the rotation axis CC of the third roller 33 is along a horizontal plane. The third roller 33 clamps the sheet S between itself and the second roller 32. The second roller 32 and the third roller 33 form a nip NB. The third roller 33 contacts the second surface SB, which is the back side of the first surface SA of the sheet S.
[0039] Rollers 31, 32, and 33 are arranged in a manner that their mutual rotation axes CA, CB, and CC are parallel.
[0040] Here, the reference line connecting the contact position PA and the roll gap NB is called the second reference line LB. The surface containing the center of the second roller 32 along the width direction of the rotation axis CB of the second roller 32 and orthogonal to the width direction is called the reference surface. Rollers 31, 32, and 33 are symmetrical with respect to the reference surface (surface symmetry).
[0041] For example, torque limiter 34 is located inside the third roller 33. Torque limiter 34 is coaxial with the third roller 33.
[0042] When a torque below a predetermined torque threshold is applied between the third roller 33 and the torque limiter 34, the torque limiter 34 and the third roller 33 become integrated and rotate about the rotation axis CC. When a torque exceeding the torque threshold is applied between the third roller 33 and the torque limiter 34, the torque limiter 34 slides relative to the third roller 33, thereby supporting the third roller 33 so that it can rotate about the rotation axis CC with a counter-torque equivalent to the torque threshold. That is, the torque limiter 34 imparts a counter-torque to the third roller 33 in order to generate a force on the upstream side of the conveying sheet S on the second surface SB of the sheet S.
[0043] In addition, rollers 31, 32, and 33 are controlled such that the linear speed of rollers 32 and 33 is faster than the linear speed of the first roller 31.
[0044] The lower guide 35 has a support portion 45 and a plurality of protrusions 46.
[0045] The support portion 45 includes: a first support plate 49, a second support plate 50, a third support plate 51, and a fourth support plate 52.
[0046] The first support plate 49 is located between the third roller 33 and the disc 30. The first support plate 49 has a length in the vertical direction. In the vertical direction, the upper end of the first support plate 49 and the rotation axis CC of the third roller 33 are located at the same position.
[0047] The lifting mechanism of the support plate 30 moves the plate 30 vertically along the first support plate 49 so that the sheet S contacts the first roller 31 at the contact position PA. That is, when the plate 30 contains a relatively large amount of sheet S, the lifting mechanism holds the plate 30 at a relatively low position. On the other hand, when the plate 30 contains a relatively small amount of sheet S, the lifting mechanism holds the plate 30 at a relatively high position.
[0048] The second support plate 50 extends upward from the upper end of the first support plate 49 as it approaches the third roller 33. The upper surface of the second support plate 50 has a recess 54 that gradually deepens towards the upstream side.
[0049] like Figure 2 As shown, the third support plate 51 has a length along the horizontal plane away from the third roller 33, starting from the downstream side of the third roller 33. The fourth support plate 52 has a length that gradually increases upward from the downstream end of the third support plate 51 as it moves towards the downstream side.
[0050] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a plurality of protrusions 46 are provided on the upstream-facing surface of the first support plate 49 of the support portion 45. The plurality of protrusions 46 have a length along the first support plate 49 in the vertical direction. The plurality of protrusions 46 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction.
[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, the upper guide 36 is located downstream of the second roller 32. The upper guide 36 gradually increases in length as it moves downstream. The upstream end of the upper guide 36 is located upstream of the third support plate 51 and the fourth support plate 52.
[0052] For example, the lower guide 35 and the upper guide 36 are fixed to the housing 15. The space between the lower guide 35 and the upper guide 36 faces the conveyor roller 26.
[0053] Elastomers 37 and 38 are sheet-like and rectangular when viewed in their respective thickness directions. Elastomers 37 and 38 are formed from polyester resin or similar materials. Elastomers 37 and 38 are capable of easy elastic deformation.
[0054] The thickness of the first elastic body 37 is thinner than the length of each of the protrusions 46. The first elastic body 37 is located between the roll gap NB and the first roll 31. Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, a first elastic body 37 is disposed on a first support plate 49 of a support portion 45 between adjacent protrusions 46 in the width direction. The first end of the first elastic body 37 is attached to the first support plate 49 by means of adhesive tape (hereinafter referred to as double-sided tape) having adhesive layers on both sides of the substrate layer. The first elastic body 37 does not protrude further upstream than the plurality of protrusions 46.
[0055] The second end of the first elastic body 37, opposite to the first end, has a length extending upwards beyond the first support plate 49. The lower end (the end on the side of the first end) of the first elastic body 37 is positioned downwards beyond the first reference line LA and the second reference line LB. The first elastic body 37 has a length extending upwards from its lower end.
[0056] like Figure 2 As shown, the first elastic body 37 blocks both the first reference line LA and the second reference line LB. In other words, the upstream-facing surface of the first elastic body 37 intersects both the first reference line LA and the second reference line LB. The first angle θA between the first elastic body 37 and the first reference line LA is an acute angle. The first angle θA is the angle formed between the upstream-facing surface of the first elastic body 37 and the first reference line LA on the lower (first end side of the first elastic body 37) and upstream side.
[0057] For example, the first angle θA is between 45° and 80°.
[0058] The upper end of the first elastic body 37 is preferably located on the second reference line LB, or has a length of about 1 mm above the second reference line LB. The rigidity of the first elastic body 37 is preferably adjusted based on the angle between the first reference line LA and the first support plate 49. The first elastic body 37 has a front separation function.
[0059] The second elastic body 38 is located between the roll gap NB and the first elastic body 37. The first end of the second elastic body 38 is located within the recess 54 of the second support plate 50. The first end of the second elastic body 38 is attached to the recess 54 by double-sided tape or the like. The second end of the second elastic body 38, opposite to the first end, has a length further downstream than the second support plate 50. The second support plate 50 of the support portion 45 supports the second elastic body 38.
[0060] The second elastic body 38 has a length further downstream than the second support plate 50. The second angle θB between the second elastic body 38 and the first reference line LA is smaller than the first angle θA. The second angle θB is the angle between the upstream-facing surface of the second elastic body 38 and the first reference line LA located below (on the first end side of the second elastic body 38) and upstream.
[0061] If the second elastic body 38 extends in the direction from the first end toward the second end, it reaches the roll gap NB. The second elastic body 38 then separates from the third roll 33.
[0062] Elastomers 37 and 38 are symmetrical with respect to the reference plane.
[0063] The image forming unit 3 will be described.
[0064] like Figure 1 As shown, the image forming unit 3 includes: multiple image forming sections 60, a laser scanning unit 61, an intermediate transfer belt 62, a transfer section 63, and a fixing device 64.
[0065] The image forming unit 60 includes a photosensitive drum 65. The image forming unit 60 forms a toner image corresponding to an image signal from the scanning unit 2 or an external source on the photosensitive drum 65. The multiple image forming units 60 respectively form toner images based on yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners.
[0066] A charge collector and a developer are arranged around the photosensitive drum 65. The charge collector charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 65. The developer contains a developer containing toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The developer develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 65. A toner image based on the toners of each color is formed on the photosensitive drum 65.
[0067] The laser scanning unit 61 scans the charged photosensitive drum 65 with laser L, thereby exposing the photosensitive drum 65. The laser scanning unit 61 uses different lasers LY, LM, LC, and LK to expose the photosensitive drum 65 of the image forming unit 60 of each color. The laser scanning unit 61 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 65.
[0068] The toner on the surface of the photosensitive drum 65 is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 62 in one step.
[0069] The transfer section 63 transfers the toner image that was previously transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 62 onto the surface of the sheet S at the secondary transfer position.
[0070] The fixing device 64 heats and pressurizes the toner image transferred to the sheet S, fixing the toner image onto the sheet S.
[0071] The flipping unit 8 flips the sheet S to form an image on the back side of the sheet S. The flipping unit 8 flips the sheet S discharged from the fixing device 64 by rotating back. The flipping unit 8 then conveys the flipped sheet S to the positioning roller 27.
[0072] The paper tray 7 carries the sheet S with the image formed and is discharged.
[0073] The control panel 9 is part of the input section for inputting information for the operator to operate the image processing device 1. The control panel 9 has a touch panel and various physical keys.
[0074] The control unit 12 controls each part of the image processing device 1.
[0075] Figure 4 This is a hardware configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus 1. The image processing apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 71, a memory 72, and an auxiliary storage device 73 connected by a bus, and executes a program. By executing the program, the image processing apparatus 1 functions as a device including a scanning unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a sheet supply unit 4, a transport unit 5, a paper feeding mechanism 6, a flipping unit 8, a control panel 9, and a communication unit 70.
[0076] CPU 71 functions as control unit 12 by executing programs stored in memory 72 and auxiliary storage device 73. Control unit 12 controls the operation of each functional unit of image processing device 1.
[0077] The auxiliary storage device 73 is constructed using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk drive or a semiconductor storage device. The auxiliary storage device 73 stores information.
[0078] The communication unit 70 is configured to include a communication interface for connecting the image processing device 1 to an external device. The communication unit 70 communicates with the external device via the communication interface.
[0079] Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 1 configured as described above will be explained, with particular emphasis on the operation of the paper feeding mechanism 6.
[0080] The operator places multiple sheets S into the tray 30 of the paper feeding mechanism 6. If the image processing device 1 is activated by the operator operating the control panel 9, the first roller 31 rotates in a predetermined direction about the rotation axis CA. At this time, as... Figure 5 As shown, multiple sheets S are taken out from reel 30 in the take-out direction (downstream side). Hereinafter, the topmost sheet S among the multiple sheets S will also be referred to as sheet SC. The sheets S other than sheet SC among the multiple sheets S will also be referred to as sheet SD.
[0081] The sheet SC is conveyed along the first reference line LA in the extraction direction. The sheet SC abuts against the second end of the first elastomer 37. Because the sheet SC is conveyed at high speed, it is subject to air resistance, etc. Figure 6 As shown, the end of sheet SC in the take-out direction is deformed into a wavy shape in the width direction. Figure 6 In the middle, the sheet SC and the first support plate 49 of the support part 45 are represented by double-dotted lines.
[0082] Since the first angle θA is acute, the second end of the first elastic body 37 against which the sheet SC abuts bends in the removal direction. The sheet SC passes over the first elastic body 37 in the removal direction. The sheet SC is guided into the roller gap NB by the second elastic body 38. Since the linear speed of rollers 32 and 33 is faster than the linear speed of the first roller 31, the sheet SC is conveyed in a taut state along the second reference line LB.
[0083] The sheet SD, conveyed along with the sheet SC, comes into contact with the first elastic body 37, and is thus enclosed above by the sheet SC. Air enters between the multiple sheets SC. The sheet SD is not conveyed further in the take-out direction than the first elastic body 37.
[0084] The sheet SC is conveyed in the take-out direction between the lower guide 35 and the upper guide 36. The sheet SC is then conveyed to the positioning roller 27.
[0085] Even if two sheets S are fed overlapping into the roll gap NB, the lower sheet S can be separated by the torque limiter 34. The first elastic body 37 can suppress the overlapping feeding of more than three sheets S into the roll gap NB.
[0086] As explained above, in the paper feeding mechanism 6 of this embodiment, since the first elastic body 37 blocks the first reference line LA, the sheet SC taken out from the reel 30 by the first roller 31 abuts against the first elastic body 37. Since the first angle θA is an acute angle, the first elastic body 37 against which the sheet SC abuts bends in the taking-out direction. Since the first elastic body 37 blocks the second reference line LB, the sheet SC conveyed along the second reference line LB in a tensioned state closes the top of the overlapping sheet SD that abuts against the first elastic body 37. Since the second angle θB is smaller than the first angle θA, the sheet SC is guided to the roll gap NB by the second elastic body 38. The sheet SC is conveyed in the taking-out direction by rollers 32 and 33.
[0087] As described above, the paper feeding mechanism 6 can suppress the overlapping transport of the sheet S. The pre-separation function can be achieved using an inexpensive component such as the first elastomer 37.
[0088] Rollers 31, 32, and 33, and elastomers 37 and 38 are symmetrical with respect to a reference plane. Various sizes of sheet S can be processed with the center in the width direction as a reference, and images can be formed on the sheet S.
[0089] A first elastic body 37 is disposed in a support portion 45 between adjacent protrusions 46 in the width direction, and the thickness of the first elastic body 37 is thinner than the length of the protrusions 46. Even when the sheet S is conveyed from the second opening 42 on the downstream side of the disc 30, the sheet S contacts the protrusions 46 but not the first elastic body 37. This ensures stable operation of the first elastic body 37 when conveying the sheet S.
[0090] The second elastic body 38 needs to have the function of guiding the sheet S into the roll gap NB and preventing the sheet S from colliding with the surface of the third roll 33 in the early stage. On the other hand, the first elastic body 37 contacts the downstream end of three or more overlapping sheets S, allowing an air layer to enter between the sheets S and separating the overlapping sheets S, that is, it needs to have a pre-separation function. Both elastic bodies 37 and 38 are required by the paper feeding mechanism 6, resulting in a synergistic effect of providing a paper feeding mechanism 6 that can stably and reliably feed one sheet S.
[0091] The first elastic body 37 of the paper feeding mechanism 6 in this embodiment can be configured in various ways as described below.
[0092] like Figure 7 As shown in the diagram, the first elastic body 80 may have a cutout 81 at its downstream end. The cutout 81 extends through the first elastic body 80 in the thickness direction. The cutout 81 opens towards the downstream side.
[0093] Through the cut 81, the second end of the first elastic body 80 is divided into a plurality of elastic sheets 82 in the width direction.
[0094] The notch 81 can suppress the strong external force generated by the contact of sheet SC from acting on the base end (upstream end) of the elastic sheet 82 that is not contacted by sheet SC.
[0095] exist Figure 7 In the first elastomer 80, there are multiple (two) cuts 81, but the first elastomer 80 may have one or more cuts 81.
[0096] like Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the first elastic body 85 can also be formed by overlapping multiple plates 86 along the first reference line LA. Among adjacent plates 86 in the direction along the first reference line LA, the downstream front end of the downstream plate 86 protrudes further downstream than the downstream front end of the upstream plate 86. That is, the downstream front end of the multiple plates 86 is further downstream, and the downstream plate 86 has more length on the downstream side.
[0097] The rigidity of each plate 86 is less than that of the first elastic body 37. The first ends of adjacent plates 86 along the first reference line LA are bonded to each other with double-sided adhesive tape 87. The plates 86 at the portions where the sheet SC abuts are not bonded to each other.
[0098] Since the first elastic body 85 is composed of multiple plates 86, when the sheet SC abuts against a single plate 86, it is easier to bend the single plate 86 compared to the case where the sheet SC abuts against multiple plates 86.
[0099] Furthermore, among adjacent plates 86 along the first reference line LA, the downstream front end of the downstream plate 86 protrudes further downstream than the downstream front end of the upstream plate 86. The downstream ends of a small number of overlapping plates 86 along the first reference line LA can be easily bent using the sheet SC.
[0100] In addition, the positions of the downstream front ends in multiple boards 86 can be the same.
[0101] Rollers 31, 32, and 33, and elastomers 37 and 38 may also be asymmetrical relative to the reference plane.
[0102] The lower guide 35 may also not have multiple protrusions 46.
[0103] According to at least one embodiment described above, the overlapping transport of sheet S can be suppressed by having first elastomers 37, 80, and 85.
[0104] While several embodiments have been described, these embodiments are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and likewise within the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents.
Claims
1. A paper feeding mechanism, comprising: A tray for holding sheets; The first roller removes the sheet from the disc and conveys it in the removal direction; The second roller conveys the sheet material taken out from the first roller; The third roller, opposite to the second roller, clamps the sheet between itself and the second roller; The first elastic body, in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the second roller, is located between the roll gap formed by the second roller and the third roller and the first roller, blocking the first reference line along the take-out direction, and the second reference line connecting the contact position between the first roller and the sheet and the roll gap, and the first angle formed between the first elastic body and the first reference line is an acute angle; as well as A second elastic body is located between the roll gap and the first elastic body, and the second angle formed between the second elastic body and the first reference line is smaller than the first angle. The first elastic body is formed by overlapping multiple plates along the first reference line. In adjacent plates along the first reference line, the front end of the downstream side of the plate conveying the sheet protrudes further downstream than the front end of the downstream side of the plate conveying the sheet.
2. The paper feeding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, The downstream end of the sheet in the first elastomer has a cutout.
3. The paper feeding mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The paper supply mechanism has the following features: Support portion, supporting the second elastic body; and Multiple protrusions are provided on the support portion and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction along the rotation axis of the second roller. The first elastomer is disposed in the support portion between adjacent protrusions in the width direction. The thickness of the first elastomer is thinner than the length of the plurality of protrusions.