Sheet feeding device and image forming device

Abstract

To provide a lightweight and compact sheet feeding device that adjusts the position of a sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding device 100 that feeds sheets S includes a sheet tray 4 that can hold sheets S and that has side regulation members 10 that regulate movement of the sheets S in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction X, and an extension sheet tray 1 that is provided upstream of the sheet tray 4 in the feeding direction X. The extension sheet tray 1 includes a first display unit 7 that displays the position of the sheet S in the perpendicular direction according to its size. The sheet tray 4 includes second display units 8a and 8b that display the position of the sheet S in the perpendicular direction according to its size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds sheets and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine that is equipped with the sheet feeding device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when printing on long sheets of paper approximately 1000 mm long, such as those used in in-store POP displays, a configuration in which an extension sheet tray is attached to a manual feed device attached to a side wall of the image forming apparatus body is known (for example, Patent Document 1). Such an extension sheet tray includes a manual feed attachment section attached to the manual feed device and a sheet stacking section that supports the upstream side of the long sheets in the sheet feeding direction. In addition, the sheet stacking section is generally made of materials such as wire in order to reduce the weight of the extension sheet tray.

[0003] When loading long sheets of paper that are large in the sheet feeding direction into a sheet feeding device equipped with an expansion sheet tray, it is necessary to align the width of the sheet, which is perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, so that the sheet is not loaded at an angle relative to the feeding direction. At this time, it is necessary to align the width of the sheet not only in the manual feeder but also in the expansion sheet tray.

[0004] In this situation, Patent Document 2 discloses a mechanism for adjusting the widthwise position of long sheets by extending the widthwise regulating member of the main tray as needed. Patent Document 3 also discloses a configuration in which a regulating member for regulating the widthwise position of long sheets is provided on an extension tray in addition to the main tray. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6187440 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-362787 [Patent Document 3] Publication number 7-18664 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in Patent Documents 2 and 3, since regulating members are provided to regulate both ends of the long sheet in the width direction, there is a problem that the weight of the sheet feeding device increases and the size of the sheet feeding device also increases.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus that can adjust the position of a sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, and can be made lighter and smaller. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The sheet feeding device of the present invention is a sheet feeding device that feeds sheets, and includes a sheet tray that can load sheets and is equipped with a regulating member that regulates movement of the sheets in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, and an extension sheet tray that is provided upstream of the sheet tray in the sheet feeding direction and can load sheets, wherein the extension sheet tray has a first display unit that displays a position of the sheet in the perpendicular direction according to its size, and the sheet tray has a second display unit that displays a position of the sheet in the perpendicular direction according to its size. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to adjust the position of the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, and to reduce the weight and size of the device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]1 is a front view of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic plan view of a sheet feeding device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic plan view of a state in which sheets are normally stacked in the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic plan view of a state in which sheets are stacked at an angle with respect to a feeding direction of the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating an operation of the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second display unit of the sheet feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a sheet feeding device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) <Configuration of image forming device> The configuration of an image forming apparatus 201 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 201 includes a sheet feeding device 100, an apparatus main body 201A, an image forming section 201B, a double-sided reversing section 201D, and an image reading device 202. The image forming apparatus 201 also includes a first discharge roller pair 225a, a second discharge roller pair 225b, a stacking section 223, a feeding section 230, a registration roller 240, and a conveying roller 250. In the image forming apparatus 201, a discharge space V for discharging the sheet S is formed between the image reading device 202 and the apparatus main body 201A.

[0014] The sheet feeding device 100 is provided on a side wall of the apparatus main body 201A, and feeds the sheet S toward the registration rollers 240. The configuration of the sheet feeding device 100 will be described in detail later.

[0015] The apparatus main body 201A is provided below the image reading device 202 and houses the image forming unit 201B and the like.

[0016] Image forming section 201B forms images of four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), on sheet S fed by feeding section 230. Specifically, image forming section 201B includes an intermediate transfer unit 201C, a laser scanner 210, a process cartridge 211, a photosensitive drum 212, a charger 213, and a developing device 214. Image forming section 201B also includes a toner cartridge 215, a secondary transfer roller 217, a primary transfer roller 219, and a fixing section 220.

[0017] The intermediate transfer unit 201C is provided above the process cartridge 211. Specifically, the intermediate transfer unit 201C includes an intermediate transfer belt 216, a drive roller 216a, and a tension roller 216b.

[0018] The intermediate transfer belt 216 is wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. The intermediate transfer belt 216 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

[0019] The drive roller 216a, together with a tension roller 216b, stretches the intermediate transfer belt 216. The drive roller 216a is driven by a drive unit (not shown).

[0020] The tension roller 216b stretches the intermediate transfer belt 216 together with the drive roller 216a.

[0021] Based on an electrical signal transmitted from the image reading device 202, the laser scanner 210 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 212, which has been uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charger 213, with laser light, thereby sequentially exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 212. By sequentially exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 212, the laser scanner 210 sequentially forms electrostatic latent images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black on the photosensitive drum 212.

[0022] Four process cartridges 211 are provided corresponding to the four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Each process cartridge 211 forms a toner image of one of the four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

[0023] On the photosensitive drum 212, yellow, magenta, cyan and black electrostatic latent images are formed in sequence.

[0024] The charger 213 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 to a predetermined polarity and potential.

[0025] The developing device 214 develops the electrostatic latent image of each color formed on the photosensitive drum 212 with toner of the corresponding color to make it visible.

[0026] The toner cartridge 215 supplies toner to the developing device 214 .

[0027] The secondary transfer roller 217 is disposed at a position facing the drive roller 216a. When a secondary transfer bias is applied to the secondary transfer roller 217, the secondary transfer roller 217 transfers the color toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 216 all at once onto the sheet S fed by the feeding unit 230. The secondary transfer roller 217 transports the sheet S onto which the color toner images have been transferred to the fixing unit 220.

[0028] Primary transfer rollers 219 are provided at positions facing photosensitive drums 212 on the inside of intermediate transfer belt 216. Primary transfer rollers 219 abut against intermediate transfer belt 216. When a primary transfer bias is applied to primary transfer rollers 219, the primary transfer rollers 219 transfer the negative color toner images on each photosensitive drum 212 onto intermediate transfer belt 216 in succession, superimposing the images on top of each other.

[0029] The fixing unit 220 is provided above the secondary transfer roller 217. The fixing unit 220 applies heat and pressure to the sheet S conveyed by the secondary transfer roller 217, thereby melting and mixing the toners of each color of the toner image transferred onto the sheet S and fixing the toner image transferred onto the sheet S as a color image onto the sheet S. The fixing unit 220 conveys the sheet S on which the color image has been fixed to the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b.

[0030] The double-sided reversing unit 201D is provided above the fixing unit 220. The double-sided reversing unit 201D includes a pair of reversing rollers 222.

[0031] The image reading device 202 reads image information from the document, performs image processing on the read image information, converts the image-processed image information into an electrical signal, and transmits it to the laser scanner 210 of the image forming unit 201B.

[0032] The first discharge roller pair 225a is provided above the fixing unit 220 and downstream in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The first discharge roller pair 225a discharges the sheet S conveyed by the fixing unit 220 into the discharge space V.

[0033] The second discharge roller pair 225b is provided above the fixing unit 220 and downstream in the conveying direction of the sheet S. The second discharge roller pair 225b discharges the sheet S conveyed by the fixing unit 220 into the discharge space V.

[0034] The stacking portion 223 is provided so as to protrude into the discharge space V. The stacking portion 223 is configured to stack sheets S discharged by the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b.

[0035] The pair of reversing rollers 222 is rotatable forward and reverse, and transports the sheet S, which has an image formed on its surface and is transported from the fixing unit 220, to a re-transport path R so that the sheet S can be transported again to the image forming unit 201B.

[0036] The feeding section 230 is provided below the apparatus main body 201A. The feeding section 230 stores sheets S and feeds the stored sheets S to the image forming section 201B.

[0037] The registration rollers 240 correct the skew of the sheet S fed from the feeding unit 230 or the conveying rollers 250 , and convey the sheet S whose skew has been corrected to the secondary transfer rollers 217 .

[0038] The conveying rollers 250 convey the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding device 100 to the registration rollers 240 .

[0039] In the image forming apparatus 201 having the above configuration, the sheet feeding device 100 is provided with a pair of downstream side regulating plates (not shown) that regulate both ends of the sheet S in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet S. A rack (not shown) is formed below the pair of downstream side regulating plates. By operating one of the pair of downstream side regulating plates, the other can be moved via a pinion (not shown) that meshes with the rack.

[0040] In addition, the sheets S loaded in the sheet feeding device 100 are fed by a roller (not shown) that is in contact with the upper surface of the sheets S, and are separated one by one at a nip formed by a feed roller and a retard roller (not shown) and fed to the conveying roller 250.

[0041] <Configuration of Sheet Feeding Device> The configuration of the sheet feeding device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 7. FIG.

[0042] The sheet feeding device 100 includes an extension sheet tray 1 and a sheet tray 4.

[0043] The extension sheet tray 1 is attached to the upstream side of the sheet tray 4 in the feeding direction X of the sheets S, and includes a manual paper feed attachment section 2, a sheet stacking section 5, a wire section 6, and a first display section 7.

[0044] The manual paper feed attachment portion 2 is detachably attached to the sheet tray 4.

[0045] The sheet stacking section 5 is attached to the manual paper feed attachment section 2 and is capable of stacking sheets S thereon.

[0046] The wire portion 6 is attached to the sheet stacking portion 5 and is capable of stacking sheets S thereon.

[0047] The first display unit 7 is provided on the sheet stacking unit 5 along the width direction (hereinafter simply referred to as the "width direction") perpendicular to the feeding direction X, and has a single shape. The first display unit 7 indicates the position of the sheet S in the width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction X according to its size by an indicator 16a, an indicator 16b, or an indicator 16c. Specifically, the first display unit 7 is made up of label paper having an attachment portion (not shown) that is attached to the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking unit 5.

[0048] The indicator 16a, the indicator 16b, or the indicator 16c indicates a position in the width direction according to the size of a specified size sheet S. Specifically, the indicator 16a, the indicator 16b, or the indicator 16c is displayed on the first display unit 7, which is a label paper attached to the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking unit 5.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 7(a), the indicator 16a is a display of a combination of lines displayed symmetrically at regular intervals with respect to the center of the width direction of the first display unit 7 and numbers corresponding to each line. As shown in Fig. 7(b), the indicator 16b is a display of only lines displayed symmetrically at regular intervals with respect to the center of the width direction of the first display unit 7. As shown in Fig. 7(c), the indicator 16c is a display that indicates the standard sizes of the sheet S, such as B5, A4, B5R, A4R, B4, A3, and LTR, with respect to the center of the width direction of the first display unit 7.

[0050] The first display unit 7 is not limited to label paper, and may be configured to display the index 16a, index 16b, or index 16c by engraving on the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking unit 5. Alternatively, the first display unit 7 may be configured to display the index 16a, index 16b, or index 16c by silk-screen printing on the sheet stacking surface of the sheet stacking unit 5.

[0051] The sheet tray 4 is provided on a side wall of the apparatus main body 201A and is capable of stacking sheets S. The sheet tray 4 feeds the stacked sheets S to the image forming unit 201B via a conveying roller 250 and a registration roller 240.

[0052] The sheet tray 4 includes a second display unit 8, a side regulating member 10, and a main tray 11.

[0053] Second display unit 8a and second display unit 8b are provided on main tray 11 and indicate the position in the width direction according to the size of sheet S. Second display unit 8a and second display unit 8b indicate the position in the width direction according to the size of sheet S using an indicator similar to indicator 16a, indicator 16b, or indicator 16c. Specifically, second display unit 8a and second display unit 8b are made up of label paper with an attachment portion (not shown) that is attached to the sheet stacking surface of main tray 11.

[0054] The second display unit 8a and the second display unit 8b are separated from each other in the width direction. Note that the configuration is not limited to being divided into the second display unit 8a and the second display unit 8b, and may be a single continuous unit along the width direction, similar to the first display unit 7.

[0055] In addition, the second display unit 8a and the second display unit 8b are not limited to label paper, and may be configured to display indicators by engraving on the sheet stacking surface of the main tray 11, or may be configured to display indicators by silk printing on the sheet stacking surface of the main tray 11.

[0056] A pair of side regulating members 10 are provided on main tray 11, spaced apart in the width direction of sheets S. Side regulating members 10 are slidable in the width direction and regulate the movement of both ends of sheets S in the width direction.

[0057] Main tray 11 is provided on a side wall of apparatus main body 201A and is capable of stacking sheets S thereon.

[0058] <Operation of the sheet feeding device> The operation of the sheet feeding apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0059] The extension sheet tray 1 is not provided with a member for regulating the widthwise position of the sheet S, such as the side regulating member 10 of the main tray 11. Therefore, the extension sheet tray 1 needs a means for preventing the sheet S from being fed at an angle with respect to the feeding direction X.

[0060] If it is not possible to determine the positions of both widthwise ends of a long sheet S on the upstream side in the feeding direction X, the widthwise position of the sheet S will be regulated only by the side regulating member 10 on the downstream side in the feeding direction X. In this case, the inclination of the sheet S with respect to the feeding direction X cannot be corrected, and therefore it may not be possible to make parallel the imaginary line 15 parallel to the feeding direction X and the imaginary line 14 connecting the widthwise center positions of the sheet S (see FIG. 5). Therefore, in this case, the sheet S will be fed in a state inclined by an angle α with respect to the feeding direction X.

[0061] In contrast to this, in the sheet feeding device 100 of the present embodiment, in addition to the side regulating member 10 restricting the movement of the sheet S in the width direction, the second display unit 8a and the second display unit 8b can align the positions of both ends of the sheet S in the width direction. Also, in the sheet feeding device 100, on the upstream side in the feeding direction X, the positions of both ends of the sheet S in the width direction can be aligned according to the indicator 16a, the indicator 16b, or the indicator 16c of the first display unit 7.

[0062] In this way, the widthwise position of the sheet S is regulated by the side regulating member 10 on the downstream side in the feeding direction X, and is also adjusted by the second indicator 8a and the second indicator 8b, and is also adjusted by the first indicator 7 on the upstream side in the feeding direction X. Therefore, the tilt α of the sheet S can be suppressed, and stable feeding can be achieved. Furthermore, since the positions of both widthwise ends of the sheet S can be aligned according to the indicator 16a, the indicator 16b, or the indicator 16c on the first indicator 7 and the indicator on the second indicator 8b, the user can easily adjust the positions of both widthwise ends of the sheet S.

[0063] Furthermore, when feeding short sheets S of a specified size, the sheet S can be fed by regulating the widthwise position of the sheet S using side regulating members 10 provided on main tray 11. At this time, the sheet S can be fed by aligning the positions of both ends of the short sheet S in the widthwise direction according to the indicators on second display unit 8a and second display unit 8b, so that the inclination α of the sheet S can be reliably suppressed.

[0064] This embodiment includes a sheet tray 4 capable of stacking sheets S and having side regulating members 10 that regulate movement of the sheets S in the width direction, and an extension sheet tray 1 provided upstream of the sheet tray 4 in the feeding direction X. The extension sheet tray 1 also includes a first display unit 7 that displays the position of the sheets S in the width direction according to their size. The sheet tray 4 also includes second display units 8a and 8b that display the position of the sheets S in the width direction according to their size. This allows the position of the sheets S in the width direction to be adjusted, and also makes the device lighter and more compact.

[0065] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the second display unit 8a and the second display unit 8b are divided in the width direction, the second display unit 8a and the second display unit 8b can be provided in the minimum necessary range, thereby reducing costs.

[0066] (Embodiment 2) The configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0067] <Configuration of Sheet Feeding Device> The configuration of a sheet feeding device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0068] In FIG. 8, parts having the same configuration as those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0069] The sheet feeding device 200 includes an extension sheet tray 1 and a sheet tray 4.

[0070] The extension sheet tray 1 is attached to the upstream side of the sheet tray 4 in the sheet S feeding direction, and includes a manual paper feed attachment section 2, a sheet stacking section 5, a wire section 6, a first display section 7a, and a first display section 7b.

[0071] The first display unit 7a and the first display unit 7b are provided along the width direction on the sheet stacking unit 5. The first display unit 7a and the first display unit 7b indicate the position of the sheet S in the width direction according to the size thereof using an indicator 16a, an indicator 16b, or an indicator 16c. The first display unit 7a and the first display unit 7b have a configuration in which they are separated from each other in the width direction, similar to the second display unit 8a and the second display unit 8b.

[0072] The operation of the sheet feeding apparatus 200 according to this embodiment is the same as the operation of the sheet feeding apparatus 100, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0073] According to this embodiment, the first display unit 7a and the first display unit 7b are divided in the width direction, and therefore, in addition to the effects of the above-described embodiment 1, the first display unit 7a and the first display unit 7b can be provided within the minimum necessary range, thereby reducing costs.

[0074] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0075] Specifically, in the above-mentioned embodiments 1 and 2, the display is divided into the second display unit 8a and the second display unit 8b, but this is not limited to this, and the second display unit may be formed in a single shape similar to the first display unit 7. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1 Expandable Sheet Tray 2 Manual feeder attachment 4 sheet trays 5 Sheet stacking area 6 Wire part 7 First display 7a First display unit 7b First display unit 8a Second display unit 8b Second display section 10 Side regulation member 11 Main tray 16a indicators 16b indicators 16c indicator 100 sheet feeding device 200 Sheet feeding device 201A Device main body

Claims

1. A sheet feeding device that feeds sheets, a sheet tray capable of stacking sheets and having a regulating member that regulates movement of the sheets in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction; an extension sheet tray that is provided upstream of the sheet tray in the feeding direction and that can stack sheets; and The extendable sheet tray is a first display unit that displays a position in the orthogonal direction according to the size of the sheet; The sheet tray includes: a second display unit that displays a position of the sheet in the orthogonal direction according to the size of the sheet; A sheet feeding device characterized by:

2. The second display unit is divided in the orthogonal direction, 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is a sheet feeding device.

3. The first display unit divided in the orthogonal direction, 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding device is a sheet feeding device.

4. The first display unit and the second display unit are It is composed of label paper with an adhesive part, 2. The seat device according to claim 1.

5. a sheet feeding device according to claim 1 or 2; an image forming unit that forms an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding device; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images