Paper feeder and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a paper feeder capable of eliminating unstable factors such as poor retraction by reliably returning a cover member to its original position during maintenance.SOLUTION: A paper feeder 10 includes: a pickup roller 15 that picks up paper stacked in a paper feed cassette 11 one by one; a paper feed roller 16 that sends paper picked up by the pickup roller 15 to a transport path 21; a separation roller 17 that comes into contact with the paper feed roller 16 to prevent double feeding of paper; a roller arrangement space 20 in which the pickup roller 15, the paper feed roller 16, and the separation roller 17 are arranged; a working space 19 communicating with the roller arrangement space 20 and for removing the pickup roller 15, the paper feed roller 16, or the separation roller 17; a guide section 18 that closes the working space 19 so that paper can pass through and guides paper loaded in the paper feed cassette 11 to the transport path 21; and a roller cover 22 that is disposed on the guide section 18 and exposes the working space 19. The roller cover 22 is arranged to be slidable in a direction in which the paper feed cassette 11 is inserted and removed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a paper feeder is provided with a paper feed unit including a paper feed roller, a separation roller, and a pickup roller to feed paper loaded in a paper feed cassette. In such a paper feeder, a working space is required in the axial direction of the rollers to replace the rollers that make up the paper feed unit during maintenance.

[0003] As such an example, a paper feeder is known that has a separation cover that guides the movement of paper passing through a separation roller and is movable between a cover position that covers the mounting groove and a retracted position that exposes the mounting groove (Patent Document 1). Also, a paper feeder is known that has a paper feed holder that can be slid to be attached and detached (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-062951 [Patent Document 2] JP 2017-065865 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional paper feeders are configured as described above to improve the ease of roller replacement during maintenance. When replacing rollers in the paper feeder, it is necessary to remove the cover member near the roller to provide a working space in the axial direction of the roller. Some of the rollers in the paper feeder are located at the bottom of the paper feeder, and it is difficult for the worker to visually check them, so the work must be done manually. Therefore, after replacing the rollers, it is necessary to return the cover member to its original position, but there are cases where the cover member is forgotten to be attached or is not returned to the original position accurately, which causes problems such as poor retraction.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to resolve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a paper feeding device and an image forming device that can reliably return a cover member to its original position during maintenance, thereby eliminating the unstable cause of poor retraction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The paper feeding device disclosed herein comprises a pickup roller that pulls out paper sheets loaded in a paper feed cassette one by one, a paper feed roller that sends the paper sheets pulled out by the pickup roller to a transport path, a separation roller that contacts the paper feed roller to prevent double feeding of paper sheets, a roller arrangement space in which the pickup roller, paper feed roller and separation roller are arranged, a working space that communicates with the roller arrangement space and is used to remove the pickup roller, paper feed roller or separation roller, a guide section that closes the working space to allow paper sheets to pass through and guides paper sheets loaded in the paper feed cassette to the transport path, and an opening / closing member that is arranged in the guide section to expose the working space, and the opening / closing member is arranged to be slidable in the direction of inserting and removing the paper feed cassette.

[0008] Preferably, the opening / closing member is disposed on the side of the paper feed roller or separation roller in the direction in which the paper feed cassette is pulled out, and extends from the paper feed roller or separation roller to an end of the papers loaded in the paper feed cassette.

[0009] More preferably, the opening / closing member has an end on a side different from the end exposing the space, and the end on the side different from the end exposing the space of the opening / closing member is slid to the outside of a process unit cover that covers a process unit that performs image formation.

[0010] The opening / closing member may have an abutment portion at an end different from the end exposing the working space, and may slide in a direction to close the working space when the paper feed cassette abuts against the abutment portion.

[0011] In another aspect of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus includes any one of the paper feeders described above. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, the guide portion has an opening / closing member that exposes a working space for removing the pickup roller, paper feed roller or separation roller, and the opening / closing member is arranged to be slidable in the direction of inserting and removing the paper feed cassette, so that the opening / closing member cannot be removed from its mounting portion.

[0013] As a result, it is possible to provide a paper feeder and an image forming apparatus in which the cover member can be reliably returned to its original position during maintenance and the cause of instability such as poor retraction can be eliminated.

[0014] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus including a paper feed device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed obliquely from above in the direction in which a paper feed cassette is inserted and removed; [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a paper feed device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from the side in the direction in which a paper feed cassette is inserted and removed. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view of the rear side of the paper feed cassette in the paper transport direction. FIG. [Figure 4]1 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the bottom, with a sheet feeding cassette pulled out. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the bottom, with a sheet feeding cassette pulled out. FIG. [Figure 6] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a configuration in which the operation of closing the roller cover is linked to the insertion of a paper feed cassette. [Figure 7] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a configuration in which the operation of closing the roller cover is linked to the insertion of a paper feed cassette. [Figure 8] 13 is a perspective view of a roller cover of a paper feeder according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from the insertion / removal direction of a paper feed cassette. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a sheet feeding device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from the bottom, with a sheet feeding cassette pulled out. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus 5 including a paper feeder 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed obliquely from above in the insertion / removal direction of a paper feed cassette 11. Here, one stage of the paper feed cassette 11 is accommodated in the paper feeder 10.

[0017] Here, a large arrow indicates the direction in which paper feed cassette 11 is inserted and removed. The upper part of paper feed cassette 11 is covered with process unit cover 12, and paper feed unit 14 (see FIG. 2) inside is not visible here.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of sheet feeding device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, seen from the side in the direction in which sheet feeding cassette 11 is inserted and removed, and sheet feeding unit 14 is provided in the upper right corner of sheet feeding cassette 11, surrounded by a circle.

[0019] The paper feed unit 14 includes a pickup roller 15 for pulling out paper sheets (not shown) one by one from the paper feed cassette 11, a paper feed roller 16 for sending the paper sheets pulled out by the pickup roller 15 to a transport path 21 downstream in the paper transport direction, and a separation roller 17 that abuts against the paper feed roller 16 to prevent double feeding of paper sheets.

[0020] The process unit arranged inside the process unit cover 12 has an exposure device and a toner cartridge. Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the center of the paper feed cassette 11 in the paper transport direction. A guide section is provided near the paper feed unit 14 to guide the paper (not shown) loaded in the paper feed cassette 11 to the transport path 21, which will be described later.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rear side of the paper feed cassette 11 in the paper transport direction, with a portion of the process unit cover 12 shown in Fig. 1 cut away. Fig. 3 shows only a portion of the end of the paper feed cassette 11 in the insertion / removal direction. The pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette 11 is indicated by a large arrow. In the figure, the paper feed roller 16 and separation roller 17 can be seen as part of the paper feed unit 14 on the rear side in the direction intersecting with the pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette 11. For ease of understanding, a roller cover (opening / closing member) 22, which will be described later, is also shown here.

[0022] Next, a configuration for exposing a working space for replacing the pickup roller 15, the paper feed roller 16, and the separation roller 17 that configure the paper feed unit 14 will be described.

[0023] [First embodiment] First, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the first embodiment, an opening / closing member that is manually operated to provide a space in order to expose the space will be described. Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the sheet feeding device 10 as viewed from the bottom with the sheet feeding cassette 11 pulled out of the sheet feeding device 10. Figure 4 shows the rollers 15-17 before replacement work begins, and Figure 5 shows the rollers 15-17 during replacement work.

[0024] In order to remove the pickup roller 15, the paper feed roller 16, and the separation roller 17, a working space 19 (shown by a circle in FIG. 5) is provided beside and in communication with the roller arrangement space 20 in which the rollers 15-17 are arranged in the removal direction of the rollers 15-17 (to the right of the rollers 15-17 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5). For this reason, roller covers 22 are installed slidably beside the rollers 15-17, and in FIG. 5, the sliding direction of the roller covers 22 is indicated by a large arrow.

[0025] The back surface of roller cover 22 shown in FIG. 4 (the surface of roller cover 22 when paper feeding device 10 is viewed diagonally from above in FIG. 3) serves as guide section 18 for transporting paper (not shown) to transport path 21.

[0026] The roller cover 22 is arranged in the pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette (not shown) (to the right in Figures 4 and 5), extending from the paper feed roller 16 or separation roller 17 provided in the pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette to the end of the paper that can be loaded in the paper feed cassette (not shown).

[0027] In this way, roller cover 22 (with guide portion 18 on the surface) can be slid in the direction in which a paper feed cassette (not shown) is pulled out, thereby providing working space 19 in guide portion 18 for removing each of rollers 15 to 17. Also, roller cover 22 is only slid along a groove (not shown) for sliding in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, and does not come out of the groove (not shown).

[0028] By sliding the roller cover 22 in this manner to provide a working space 19 in communication with the roller arrangement space 20, the working space 19 can be blocked to allow paper to pass through, and at least two or three of the pickup roller 15, the paper feed roller 16, and the separation roller 17 can be released and replaced simultaneously.

[0029] In addition, the roller cover 22 has an end portion (the right end portion in Figures 4 and 5) on a side different from the end portion exposing the working space 19, and the end portion of the roller cover 22 on the side different from the end portion exposing the working space 19 is slid to the outside of the process unit cover 12 that covers the process unit that performs image formation.

[0030] Next, a method for closing the work space 19 thus opened will be described. In this embodiment, the operation of closing the roller cover 22 is linked to the insertion of the paper feed cassette 11 into the paper feed device 10, and by closing the paper feed cassette 11, the roller cover 22 automatically slides in the direction in which the paper feed cassette 11 is inserted and returns to its original position. In this way, it is possible to prevent the roller cover 22 from being forgotten to be attached.

[0031] 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining a configuration in which the operation of closing the roller cover 22 is linked to the insertion of the paper feed cassette 11 into the paper feed device 10. Fig. 6 is a perspective view from above showing a state immediately before the paper feed cassette 11 is pushed in with the roller cover 22 open, and Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a state a little time has passed since Fig. 6, and is a perspective view from above showing a state immediately before the paper feed cassette 11 is pushed in with the roller cover 22 open.

[0032] 6 and 7, a protruding member 25 that protrudes in the insertion direction of the sheet feed cassette 11 is provided on the main body of the sheet feed cassette 11 or on the exterior of the sheet feed cassette 11, and a contact surface 25a is provided on the tip of the protruding member 25.

[0033] In this state, when closing the paper feed cassette 11, the abutment portion 24, which is the end face of the protrusion portion 23 provided on the end side of the flat roller cover 22 in the direction in which the paper feed cassette 11 is pulled out, is pressed by the abutment surface 25a provided on the paper feed cassette 11, and the roller cover 22 is slid in the direction of closing the working space 19 (see Figure 5).

[0034] 6 and 7, the abutment surface 25a of the protruding member 25 presses the abutment portion 24 provided on the roller cover 22. In Fig. 6, a large arrow indicates the direction in which the abutment surface 25a presses the abutment portion 24.

[0035] As described above, in the paper feeding device 10 of the image forming apparatus 5, during maintenance, the roller cover 22 is slid to form the working space 19 (see FIG. 5) and then the paper feeding cassette 11 is inserted, whereby the roller cover 22 is reliably returned to the original guiding portion 18, thereby preventing incorrect installation of the roller cover 22.

[0036] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the second embodiment, the roller cover can slide in the direction in which the paper feed cassette is pulled out, and by sliding it in the direction in which the paper feed cassette is pulled out, working spaces are provided beside each roller, and the roller cover is configured not to come off, just like the previous embodiment.

[0037] The second embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that the roller cover is spring-biased to return to its original closed position.

[0038] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of roller cover 32 of sheet feeding device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from the insertion / removal direction of sheet feeding cassette 11. Roller cover 32 shows only the side of process unit cover 12 from which sheet feeding cassette 11 is pulled out. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of sheet feeding device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, as viewed from the bottom with sheet feeding cassette 11 pulled out, and indicates working space 19 communicating with roller arrangement space 20 by a circle in the figure.

[0039] 8, the roller cover 32 is biased by a spring 35 in the direction opposite to the pull-out direction. After the roller cover 32 is slid, an engagement portion 37 such as a claw provided on the roller cover 32 engages with a portion of a frame 36 connected to the process unit cover 12, so that although the roller cover 32 is biased by the spring 35, the roller cover 32 maintains the open state.

[0040] Here, the engagement portion 37 is provided on one side of two parallel sides of a protrusion 33 that is convex in the direction of pulling out the paper feed cassette 11 when viewed from above, which is provided on the end side of the flat roller cover 32 in the direction in which the paper feed cassette 11 is pulled out, and the spring 35 is fixed at a position opposite the abutment portion 34 provided in the center of the convex protrusion 33.

[0041] By manually releasing this engaging portion 37, the roller cover 32 biased by the spring 35 returns to its original position.

[0042] In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the engagement portion is manually released, but this is not limited to the above. As in the previous embodiment, a configuration for releasing the engagement may be provided on the paper feed cassette side so that the roller cover is automatically closed when the paper feed cassette is inserted.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the roller cover is biased by a spring. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the roller cover may be biased by any member having an expandable function.

[0044] The present disclosure can be implemented in various other forms without departing from its spirit or main features. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be interpreted as being limited. All modifications and variations within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure are within the scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0045] According to the present disclosure, a paper feeding device can be provided in which opening and closing members such as roller covers can be reliably returned to their original positions during maintenance, thereby eliminating unstable factors such as poor retraction, and thus is useful as a paper feeding device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 5. Image forming device 10 Paper feeder 11 Paper feed cassette 12 Process unit cover 14 Paper feed unit 15 Pickup roller 16 Paper feed roller 17 Separation roller 18 Information Department 19 Working Space 20 Roller arrangement space 21 Transport Route 22, 32 Roller cover (opening / closing member) 23,33 Protrusion 24,34 Contact part 25 Protruding member 25a Contact surface 35 Spring 36 Frames 37 Engagement part

Claims

1. A pickup roller that pulls out the paper from the paper feed cassette one by one; a paper feed roller that feeds the paper picked up by the pickup roller to a transport path; a separation roller that contacts the paper feed roller to prevent double feeding of paper; a roller arrangement space in which the pickup roller, the paper feed roller and the separation roller are arranged; a working space communicating with the roller arrangement space for removing the pickup roller, the paper feed roller, or the separation roller; a guide section that closes the working space to allow the paper to pass therethrough and guides the paper loaded in the paper feed cassette to the transport path; an opening / closing member disposed on the guide portion and configured to expose the working space; The opening and closing member is arranged so as to be slidable in a direction in which the paper feed cassette is inserted and removed.

2. 2 . The paper feed device according to claim 1 , wherein the opening / closing member is disposed from the paper feed roller or the separation roller to an end of the papers loaded in the paper feed cassette in a direction in which the paper feed cassette is pulled out relative to the paper feed roller or the separation roller.

3. The opening / closing member has an end portion on a side different from an end portion exposing the working space, 2. The paper feed device according to claim 1, wherein an end of said opening / closing member other than the end exposing said working space is slid to the outside of a process unit cover which covers a process unit performing image formation.

4. 2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing member has an abutment portion at an end different from the end exposing the working space, and when the paper feeding cassette abuts against the abutment portion, the opening / closing member is slid in a direction to close the working space.

5. An image forming apparatus comprising the paper feeder according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images