Sheet support device and image forming system

Abstract

To reduce the burden on the user when supplying seats to the seat loading area. [Solution] A sheet support device (8001) that supplies sheets (S) to a sheet loading section (410) provided on an image forming apparatus (100) and capable of loading sheets comprises a sheet support surface (801S) that supports the sheets to be supplied to the sheet loading section (410), and a rotating body (851) that protrudes at least a portion above a sheet guide surface (SP) to which the sheet (S) is guided when the sheet (S) is supplied from the sheet support surface (801S) to the sheet loading section (410), is arranged to be in contact with the lower surface of the guided sheet (S), and is rotatable as the sheet (S) moves.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet support device that supports a sheet supplied to a sheet loading unit, and an image forming system.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in image forming apparatuses, it has been required to perform image formation on sheets of various sizes. For example, some cassettes disposed inside the image forming apparatus can set A3-sized sheets, and some feeding devices such as large-capacity decks externally attached to the image forming apparatus can set long sheets with a length of 30 (762 mm) inches. And, for example, for a hanging curtain for sales promotion or a folded pamphlet, etc., there may also be a demand for image formation on a sheet having a length of more than 30 inches, which is longer than the sheets that can be set in the large-capacity deck.

[0003] Sheets having a length of, for example, 30 inches or more as described above are set in a so-called manual feed tray for image formation. However, such long sheets are longer than the length of the manual feed tray, and the rear end of the sheet protrudes. If the rear end of the sheet protrudes from the support surface of the sheet such as the manual feed tray, the rear end of the sheet may hang down, and the sheet may be folded or scratched at the corners, so it is required to support the entire sheet. For this reason, in the side paper deck unit (100), a manual sheet loading unit (102) is provided above the sheet storage and feeding unit (101), and a structure for supporting the sheet set in the manual feed tray (30e) together has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, as described in Patent Document 1 above, long sheets that are longer than the manual feed tray are heavy and difficult to handle, especially when there are many sheets, making it difficult to set them in the manual feed tray and causing a burden on the user.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a sheet support device and an image forming system that can reduce the burden on the user when supplying sheets to the sheet loading section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a sheet support device for supplying sheets to a sheet loading section provided in an image forming apparatus, the sheet support device comprising: a sheet support surface for supporting sheets to be supplied to the sheet loading section; and a rotating body that protrudes at least a portion above a sheet guide surface, through which sheets are guided when sheets are supplied from the sheet support surface to the sheet loading section, and is positioned to contact the lower surface of the guided sheet, and is rotatable in conjunction with the movement of the sheet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the burden on the user when supplying seats to the seat loading section can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing an image forming system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing a printer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view showing the rotating mechanism of the seat stand according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the rotating mechanism of the seat stand according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5](A) is a cross-sectional view showing the rotation mechanism in the sheet support according to the second embodiment, where the rollers are in contact position. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing the rotation mechanism in the sheet support according to the second embodiment, where the rollers are in retracted position. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the rotating mechanism of the seat stand according to the third embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the brake section of the seat stand's rotation mechanism according to the third embodiment. [Figure 8] (A) is a cross-sectional view showing a rotating mechanism in which the rollers in the sheet support stand according to the third embodiment are in a rotatable state. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a rotating mechanism in which the rollers in the sheet support stand according to the third embodiment are in a stationary state. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the rotating mechanism of the seat stand according to the fourth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. First, the schematic configuration of the image forming system 1, which comprises a sheet stand 8001 as a sheet support device, a printer 100 as an image forming device, and a large-capacity deck 700 as a sheet supply device according to this first embodiment, will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the image forming system according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the printer according to the first embodiment. In the printer 100, various sheets can be used as recording media, such as paper and envelopes, glossy paper, plastic films such as overhead projector sheets, and cloth. Furthermore, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to those.

[0011] [Printer Configuration Overview] First, the general configuration of the printer 100 provided in the image forming system 1 will be explained using Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the printer 100 is composed of a main unit 101, an image reading device 102 positioned on top of the main unit 101, and a pedestal 103 positioned below the main unit 101. The pedestal 103 is box-shaped and can store documents and small items inside. The bottom surface of the pedestal 103 is equipped with a number of casters 103a that are in contact with the floor surface 900, supporting the printer 100 against the floor surface 900 and allowing it to be easily moved on the floor surface 900.

[0012] (Image reading device) As shown in Figure 2, the image reading device 102 is configured to include an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") 300 and an image reading unit 200 that reads images from documents. The ADF 300 feeds documents one by one from among a plurality of documents D set facing upward on the document tray 301, starting with the uppermost document D, passes over the platen glass 201 of the image reading unit 200 via a curved path, and then discharges them into the output tray 302.

[0013] The image reading unit 200 performs image reading processing using a scanner unit 202 held in a predetermined position as the document D, transported by the ADF 300, passes over the platen glass 201. Specifically, the reading surface of the document D is illuminated with light from the lamp 203 of the scanner unit 202, and the reflected light from the document D is guided to the lens 207 via mirrors 204, 205, and 206. The light that passes through this lens 207 is formed into an image on the imaging surface of the image sensor 208, converted into an electrical digital signal, and transmitted.

[0014] In addition, the image reading unit 200 can also perform image reading processing by lifting the original document D directly onto the platen glass 201 without using the ADF 300 and scanning while moving the scanner unit 202 in the horizontal direction. That is, the image reading unit 200 does not necessarily have to be equipped with the ADF 300, and may be provided with an original document pressing member for pressing the original document D set on the platen glass 201.

[0015] (Printer main body) Inside the apparatus main body 101, there are an image forming unit 110, a feeding unit 120, a transfer unit 130, a fixing unit 140, a discharging unit 150, etc. The image forming unit 110 includes image forming process units for each color of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black). Since the configurations of each color are the same, only the yellow image forming process unit will be described. The photosensitive drum 11Y is uniformly charged on its surface by the charging roller 12Y and then a latent image is formed by the laser scanner 13 which is driven based on the signal of the transmitted image information. Note that the laser scanner 13 may receive the original document image read by the image reading device 102 converted into an electrical signal and transmitted, or image data transmitted from an electronic device such as an external computer.

[0016] The latent image on the photosensitive drum 11Y is visualized as a toner image by the developing device 14Y. The toner image visualized on the photosensitive drum 11Y is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 31 of the transfer unit 130 by applying a predetermined pressing force and an electrostatic negative load bias by the primary transfer roller 17Y. After primary transfer, the small amount of residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11Y is removed and recovered by the photosensitive drum cleaner 15Y and is prepared for the next image formation again.

[0017] On one hand, the feeding unit 120 includes a plurality of feeding cassettes 20 for storing the sheet S. The maximum size of the sheet that can be stored in these feeding cassettes 20 is generally the A3 size with a width of 297 mm and a length of 420 mm, which is a standard large size, or a size up to a width of 13 inches and a length of 19 inches. A sheet longer than the maximum size of the sheet that can be stored in these feeding cassettes 20 can be referred to as a long sheet.

[0018] The sheet S stored in the feeding cassette 20 is fed one by one by the sheet feeding unit 21 having a pickup roller 21a and a separation roller pair 21b, and is conveyed to the registration roller pair 24. The conveyed sheet S forms a loop by following the nip portion of the registration roller pair 24 at the tip, thereby correcting skewing. Thereafter, the registration roller pair 24 synchronizes with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 and conveys the sheet S to the secondary transfer portion 38 of the transfer portion 130 formed by the intermediate transfer belt 31 and the secondary transfer outer roller 35. The color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is transferred to the sheet S by applying a predetermined pressing force and an electrostatic load bias in the secondary transfer portion 38. After secondary transfer, the slight residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 31 is removed and recovered by the cleaning blade 36 and stored in the recovery agent container 37. Then, the intermediate transfer belt 31 is prepared for the next image formation again.

[0019] The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred in the secondary transfer portion 38 is conveyed to the fuser 40 of the fixing unit 140, and the toner image is fixed to the sheet S by heating and pressing by the fuser 40. The sheet S onto which the toner image has been fixed is conveyed to the discharge roller pair 51 of the discharge portion 150 by the fuser 40, and is discharged toward the paper discharge tray 50 formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 101 between the apparatus main body 101 and the image reading apparatus 102 by the discharge roller pair 51.

[0020] (Configuration of the manual unit and feeding of its sheet) Next, we will explain the manual feed unit 400 provided with printer 100. Note that the sheet sizes that can be printed using the manual feed unit 400 include long sheets (larger than 30 inches (762 mm) in length) that cannot be loaded into the feed cassette 20 or the high-capacity deck 700, which will be described in more detail later. In particular, by using the sheet holder 8001, which will be described later, it is possible to load sheets longer than the length of the manual feed unit 400. However, of course, sheets that can be loaded into the feed cassette 20 or the high-capacity deck 700 can also be loaded into the manual feed unit 400. In addition, it is possible to load special papers, etc., which are recommended to be loaded one sheet at a time into the manual feed unit 400.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the printer 100 is equipped with an opening / closing door 80 on its side (right side in the figure), and the manual feed unit 400 is configured to open and close by rotating vertically around an axis positioned to face forward and backward in the horizontal direction relative to the opening / closing door 80. The opening / closing door 80 may open and close by rotating around an axis positioned to face up and down, or by opening and closing around an axis positioned to face forward and backward. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the manual feed unit 400 is described as being supported by the opening / closing door 80, but the opening / closing door 80 and the manual feed unit 400 may be supported separately by the main body 101 of the device, and each may be able to open and close independently.

[0022] The manual feed unit 400 includes a manual feed tray 410 as a sheet loading section and a sheet feeding section 401. The opening / closing door 80 is provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) that engages with the closed manual feed tray 410 and locks the manual feed tray 410 in the closed position. By releasing this locking mechanism, the manual feed tray 410 can rotate around an axis (pivot point) positioned to face the front-rear direction and open to a position above the large-capacity deck 700 (see Figure 1). Then, a sheet S can be loaded and set on the sheet loading surface 410S of the open manual feed tray 410. For example, sheets up to 19 inches (483 mm) in length can be set in this manual feed tray 410.

[0023] The manual feed tray 410 has a pair of side restricting plates 402 that restrict the width direction of the sheet set on the sheet loading surface 410S, perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. These side restricting plates 402 move in conjunction with the sheet's transport center in the width direction by an interlocking mechanism (not shown), and contact the sheet's widthwise edge, thereby restricting the sheet's position in the width direction. This restricts the orientation of the sheet S and prevents the sheet S from slanting (moving diagonally) due to improper setting.

[0024] Sheets S, which are set (manually inserted) on the sheet loading surface 410S, are fed one by one by the sheet feeding unit 401. Specifically, the sheet feeding unit 401 has a pickup roller 401a that picks up the top sheet and a pair of separation rollers 401b that separates the double-fed sheets one by one. The sheets separated one by one by the separation roller pair 401b are pulled out by the pull-out roller pair 22 and transported, and at the merging unit 23 they merge with the transport path from the feed cassette 20 and are transported to the registration roller pair 24. The subsequent image forming operation is the same as when sheets are fed from the feed cassette 20, so the explanation is omitted.

[0025] (Configuration of a large-capacity deck and its sheet feeding) Next, the configuration of the large-capacity deck 700 and the sheet feeding using it will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the large-capacity deck 700 has a main unit 701, and inside the main unit 701 is a storage compartment (not shown) capable of storing multiple sheets (more than the feed cassette), and a sheet feeding unit (not shown) for feeding the sheets from the storage compartment. The maximum size (maximum length) of sheets that can be stored in the storage compartment (not shown) is generally 30 inches (762 mm) or less in length, meaning it is compatible with general long sheets. The bottom of the main unit 701 is equipped with multiple casters 701a, so that when the opening / closing door 80 (see Figure 2) is opened to open the transport path for the printer 100, the large-capacity deck 700 can be moved horizontally away from the printer 100.

[0026] The sheets S stored in the large-capacity deck 700 are fed one by one by a sheet feeding unit (not shown). This sheet feeding unit has the same configuration as, for example, the sheet feeding unit 401 of the manual feed unit 400. The sheets, separated and fed one by one from the large-capacity deck 700, are pulled out by the pair of pull-out rollers 25 and transported, joining the transport path from the feed cassette 20, and then transported to the pair of registration rollers 24. The subsequent image forming operation is the same as when the sheets are fed from the feed cassette 20, so its explanation is omitted.

[0027] [Seat stand configuration] Next, the configuration of the sheet support stand 8001 according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the sheet support stand 8001 broadly comprises a support plate portion 801 as a sheet support part whose upper surface is a sheet support surface 801S, and a frame portion 810 that supports the support plate portion 801.

[0028] When the sheet stand 8001 is positioned at the sheet supply position adjacent to the manual feed unit 400, the sheet support surface 801S of the support plate portion 801 of the sheet stand 8001 extends the sheet loading surface 410S of the manual feed unit 400. In other words, when the sheet stand 8001 is positioned at the sheet supply position, the sheet support surface 801S of the support plate portion 801 and the sheet loading surface 410S of the manual feed unit 400 are connected. The sheet support surface 801S of the support plate portion 801 and the sheet loading surface 410S of the manual feed unit 400 then form a sheet guide surface SP that guides the sheet S that was on the sheet stand 8001 to the sheet loading surface 410S. The sheet guide surface SP makes it possible to load and set long sheets S that are longer than the manual feed tray 410 from the manual feed unit 400 to the sheet stand 8001. In other words, the sheet guide surface SP can accommodate sheets longer than those that can be set in the manual feed unit 400 or the high-capacity deck 700, and the sheet guide surface SP can also be described as a sheet loading surface capable of accommodating long sheets. In short, by using the sheet support stand 8001, it becomes possible to print on the sheet guide surface SP sheets that are, for example, 19 inches (483 mm) or longer, especially special long sheets such as banners and foldable brochures that are longer than 30 inches (762 mm).

[0029] The frame section 810 is composed of an upper frame 815, two long legs 811 as first support legs, two long legs 812 as second support legs, two short legs 813 as third support legs, a first reinforcing frame 818, and a second reinforcing frame 819. The upper frame 815 is fixed so as to be connected to the upper ends of the two long legs 811, the upper ends of the two long legs 812, and the upper ends of the two short legs 813, and is arranged in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, with a support plate section 801 installed above it. The first reinforcing frame 818 is fixed slightly below the upper frame 305 so as to be connected between the long legs 812 and the short legs 813, and is arranged in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, reinforcing the entire frame section 810. Similarly, the second reinforcing frame 819 is fixed slightly above the floor surface 900 so as to be connected between the long legs 811 and 812, respectively, and is arranged in a rectangular shape when viewed from above to reinforce the entire frame section 810.

[0030] The long legs 811 are positioned horizontally on the opposite side of the printer 100 from the installation space 700S of the large-capacity deck 700, and are located at the upstream end (the end in the X2 direction) in the sheet feeding direction of the frame portion 810. The long legs 811 also have casters 811a as first casters at their lower ends. The long legs 811 support the support plate portion 801 relative to the floor surface 900 on which the printer 100 is supported by the casters 811a making contact with the floor surface 900. In other words, the sheet stand 8001 is movable in the X1-X2 direction horizontally by the rolling of the casters 811a.

[0031] The long legs 812 are positioned horizontally on the opposite side of the printer 100 from the installation space 700S of the large-capacity deck 700, and are positioned downstream (towards the X1 direction) in the sheet feeding direction from the long legs 811 in the frame portion 810. The long legs 812 also have casters 812a as second casters at their lower portions. The long legs 812 support the support plate portion 801 relative to the floor surface 900, where the casters 812a make contact with the floor surface 900 on which the printer 100 is supported. In other words, the sheet stand 8001 is movable in the X1-X2 direction horizontally by the rolling of the casters 812a. Furthermore, the long legs 812 are positioned so as not to interfere with the large-capacity deck 700 when the large-capacity deck 700 is moved away from the printer 100 so that the opening / closing door 80 can be opened when the sheet stand 8001 is positioned in the sheet supply position shown in Figure 1. In other words, in this state, the long legs 812 are located in a position (third position) opposite to the printer 100 in the horizontal direction, relative to the installation space 700S of the large-capacity deck 700 that supplies the sheet S to the printer 100.

[0032] Furthermore, the long legs 812 are configured to be movable horizontally relative to the first reinforcing frame 818. That is, the sheet stand 8001 can be used even when the large-capacity deck 700 is not connected to the printer 100. In this case, by positioning the long legs 812 in the direction of arrow A (fourth position), the horizontal distance with the long legs 811 can be increased, and the posture of the sheet stand 8001 can be stabilized. Note that if the large-capacity deck 700 is not provided in the image forming system 1, the long legs 812 in this state can be said to be located in the above-mentioned installation space 700S in the horizontal direction.

[0033] Furthermore, the sheet support stand 8001 can be used to transport long sheets S by loading them onto the sheet support surface 801S, for example, when there is a paper storage area located away from the printer 100. In this case, the sheet support stand 8001 is moved by rolling the casters 811a and 812a. At this time, the long legs 812 can be moved to increase the horizontal distance between them and the long legs 811, so that the posture of the sheet support stand 8001 can be stabilized even during this transport.

[0034] On the other hand, each of the short legs 813 has a contact portion 813a at its lower end. The contact portion 813a is configured to be extendable and retractable in the vertical direction, for example by a screw, and is configured to be able to move toward and away from the upper surface 702 of the main body 701 of the large-capacity deck 700. In other words, by retracting the contact portion 813a, the sheet stand 8001 can be moved in the horizontal direction X1-X2 relative to the large-capacity deck 700. Furthermore, when the large-capacity deck 700 is connected to the printer 100, the posture of the sheet stand 8001 can be stabilized by extending the contact portion 813a so that it comes into contact with the upper surface 702 of the large-capacity deck 700.

[0035] Furthermore, the sheet stand 8001, when positioned at the sheet supply location, is capable of moving horizontally independently of the large-capacity deck 700 and the printer 100. That is, when the large-capacity deck 700 is moved away from the printer 100 so that the opening / closing door 80 can be opened as described above, the casters allow the large-capacity deck 700 to move horizontally independently relative to the printer 100 and the sheet stand 8001. This makes it possible to open the opening / closing door 80 without moving the sheet stand 8001, enabling jam handling in the printer 100's transport path and maintenance of the printer 100's interior.

[0036] [Rotating mechanism for the seat stand] Next, the rotation mechanism 850 of the sheet stand 8001 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the rotation mechanism of the sheet stand according to the first embodiment.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the rotating mechanism 850 of the sheet support base 8001 according to the first embodiment is located at the downstream end of the support plate portion 801 of the sheet support base 8001 in the sheet feeding direction B and is fixedly supported below the support plate portion 801. Specifically, the rotating mechanism 850 is composed of a roller 851 as a rotating body fixed to a rotating shaft 851a, and a roller support member 852 that rotatably supports the roller 851 via the rotating shaft 851a and is fixedly supported on the support plate portion 801. One end of the roller support member 852, the fixed portion 852b, is fixed to the lower surface of the downstream end of the support plate portion 801 in the sheet feeding direction B. The other end of the roller support member 852, the arm portion 852a, rotatably supports the rotating shaft 851a of the roller 851. The fixed portion 852b of the roller support member 852 may also be fixed to the frame portion 810 (upper frame 815).

[0038] As described above, assume that the sheet holder 8001 is positioned adjacent to the manual feed unit 400 and in the sheet supply position (see Figure 1). In this state, let VL be the imaginary line connecting the upstream end 410a of the manual feed tray 410 of the manual feed unit 400 in the sheet feeding direction B and the upstream end 801a of the support plate portion 801 in the sheet feeding direction B. This imaginary line VL is, as described above, the sheet guide surface SP on which the sheet S is guided from the sheet holder 8001 to the manual feed unit 400, and is also the sheet loading surface when a sheet S longer than the manual feed unit 400 is loaded.

[0039] Furthermore, the roller 851 is positioned so that a portion of it protrudes upward from this imaginary line VL, that is, from the sheet guide surface SP. As a result, the roller 851 can contact the underside of the sheet S that is guided and loaded by the sheet guide surface SP, and can rotate as the sheet S moves. This allows the roller 851 to assist in the movement of the sheet S when, for example, a user transports a long sheet S on the sheet stand 8001, sets the sheet stand 8001 to the sheet supply position, and then sets the sheet S into the manual feed unit 400. In other words, a long sheet S that is longer than the manual feed unit 400, for example, can be heavy and difficult to carry, especially if there are many sheets, and there is a risk of dropping the sheet bundle. However, with the sheet stand 8001 according to this embodiment, when supplying the sheet S to the manual feed unit 400, the roller 851 makes it easy to move the sheet S, reducing the burden on the user and lowering the risk of dropping the sheet bundle.

[0040] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment, which is a modified version of the first embodiment described above, will be explained using Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the rotating mechanism of the sheet stand according to the second embodiment. Figure 5(A) is a cross-sectional view showing the rotating mechanism in the sheet stand according to the second embodiment where the rollers are in contact position. Figure 5(B) is a cross-sectional view showing the rotating mechanism in the sheet stand according to the second embodiment where the rollers are in retracted position. In this explanation of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for parts similar to those in the first embodiment, and their explanations are omitted.

[0041] The rotating mechanism 1850 of the sheet support base 8002 according to this second embodiment is modified compared to the rotating mechanism 850 of the sheet support base 8001 according to the first embodiment by allowing the roller 1851 to move up and down. That is, the rotating mechanism 1850 according to the second embodiment can switch the roller 1851 between a protruding position in which a part of it protrudes above the sheet guide surface SP and a retracted position in which it is retracted below the sheet guide surface SP.

[0042] (Configuration of the rotation mechanism) More specifically, the rotating mechanism 1850 includes a frame case 1855, as shown in Figures 4 and 5(A). Inside the frame case 1855, the rotating mechanism 1850 includes a roller support section 1852 that pivotably supports the roller 1851, and a position switching section 1860 that switches the position of the roller support section 1852 to switch the roller 1851 between a protruding position and a retracted position. The roller support section 1852 includes a roller 1851 as a rotating body, a roller support member 1853 as a first support member that supports the roller 1851, a pivot shaft 1854 that pivotably supports the roller support member 1853, and a spring 1856 as a first biasing member.

[0043] Specifically, the roller support member 1853 has a cylindrical portion 1853a formed in a cylindrical shape, and a pivot shaft 1854 supported by the frame case 1855 is positioned to pass through the cylindrical portion 1853a, so that the roller support member 1853 is configured to pivot. An arm portion 1853b is formed on one end of the roller support member 1853 relative to the cylindrical portion 1853a, and the rotation axis 1851a of the roller 1851 is rotatably supported on the arm portion 1853b, so that the roller 1851 is rotatably supported. On the other end of the roller support member 1853 relative to the cylindrical portion 1853a, a pressed portion 1853c is formed which is pressed by the position switching portion 1860. Furthermore, a spring attachment portion 1853d is formed below the cylindrical portion 1853a of the roller support member 1853, to which one end of the spring 1856 is connected, and a spring attachment portion 1855a is formed on the bottom surface of the frame case 1855 to which the other end of the spring 1856 is connected. In other words, the roller support member 1853 is biased by this spring 1856 in the direction of arrow H, which is the direction in which the roller 1851 rises around the pivot axis 1854. That is, the roller support member 1853 is biased toward the above-mentioned protruding position, and is biased so that the pressed portion 1853c is in constant contact with the cam 1858 of the position switching portion 1860, which will be described later.

[0044] On the other hand, the position switching unit 1860 has a rotating shaft 1857 that is rotatably supported by the frame case 1855, and a cam 1858, which serves as a position moving unit, is fixedly supported on the rotating shaft 1857. The cam 1858 is in constant contact with the pressed portion 1853c of the roller support member 1853 and presses the pressed portion 1853c against the biasing force of the spring 1856. In addition, a handle 1859, which serves as a first operating unit, is fixed to the rotating shaft 1857 outside the frame case 1855.

[0045] (Operation of the rotating mechanism) Next, the operation of the rotating mechanism 1850 will be explained. For example, the user can switch the rotating shaft 1857 and the cam 1858 between the first position shown in Figure 5(A) and the second position shown in Figure 5(B) by operating the handle 1859 shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 5(A), when the cam 1858 is switched to the first position, the spring 1856 biases the roller support member 1853 toward the protruding position (direction of arrow H), so that the pressed portion 1853c of the roller support member 1853 moves downward. In other words, the roller support member 1853 moves toward the direction in which the roller 1851 becomes the protruding position. As a result, a part of the roller 1851 protrudes above the sheet guide surface SP (dummy line VL) and becomes capable of contacting the loaded sheet S. As a result, similar to the first embodiment, when a user transports a long sheet S by placing it on the sheet stand 8002, sets the sheet stand 8002 to the sheet supply position, and then sets the sheet S into the manual feeding unit 400, the rollers 1851 assist in the movement of the sheet S.

[0046] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5(B), when the cam 1858 is switched to the second position, the spring 1856 biases the roller support member 1853 toward the protruding position (direction of arrow H), but against this biasing force, the pressed portion 1853c of the roller support member 1853 moves upward. In other words, the roller support member 1853 moves toward the direction in which the roller 1851 is in the retracted position (direction of arrow F). As a result, the roller 1851 is retracted below the sheet guide surface SP (dummy line VL) and does not come into contact with the loaded sheet S.

[0047] In other words, depending on the environment in which the sheet holder 8002 is installed and the type (paper type) of the long sheet S, the surface condition of the sheet changes, resulting in differences in the adhesion between sheets, or between sheets and the sheet guide surface SP. In particular, if the surface of the sheet S is rough, or conversely, if the surface of the sheet S is smooth and easily adheres, so-called bundle feeding (double feeding), where the sheet bundle is fed together when the sheet S is fed from the manual feed unit 400, is likely to occur. This is because when the friction between the sheet guide surface SP and the lowest sheet is reduced by the roller 1851, the entire sheet bundle is more easily fed.

[0048] Therefore, if there is concern about the occurrence of bundle feeding (double feeding) during the feeding of sheets S, the user operates the handle 1859 to move the cam 1858 to the second position, that is, to move the roller support member 1853 so that the roller 1851 is in the retracted position. This increases the friction between the sheet guide surface SP and the lowest sheet (returning to the original state as if the roller 1851 were not present), thereby reducing the occurrence of bundle feeding during the feeding of sheets S.

[0049] As described above, in the rotating mechanism 1850 of the sheet stand 8002 according to the second embodiment, the roller 1851 can be switched between a protruding position where it protrudes from the sheet guide surface SP and a retracted position where it is retracted from the sheet guide surface SP. This allows the roller 1851 to assist in the movement of the sheet S when the sheet S is transported by the sheet stand 8002 and set in the manual feeding unit 400 by setting it to the protruding position. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, when supplying the sheet S to the manual feeding unit 400, it is possible to easily move the sheet S with the roller 1851, reducing the burden on the user and reducing the risk of dropping the sheet bundle. Furthermore, if there is a concern that the bundle may be pushed in (double-fed) during the feeding of the sheet S after it has been set in the manual feeding unit 400, the occurrence of bundle pushing in (double-fed) can be reduced by setting the roller 1851 to the retracted position.

[0050] In this second embodiment, a method was described in which the roller 1851 is switched to the retracted position when there is a concern about the occurrence of bundle feeding. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the roller 1851 may be switched to the retracted position regardless of the environment or type of sheet after the sheet bundle has been set from the sheet stand 8002 to the manual feed unit 400.

[0051] Furthermore, in this second embodiment, a spring 1856 biases the roller 1851 to the protruding position, and a cam 1858 moves against the biasing force of the spring 1856 to switch the roller 1851 to the retracted position. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and a spring 1856 biases the roller 1851 to the retracted position, and a cam 1858 moves against the biasing force of the spring 1856 to switch the roller 1851 to the protruding position. In other words, the spring 1856 biases the roller support member 1853 in the direction that the roller 1851 is in either the protruding position or the retracted position. Furthermore, the cam 1858 should be configured to be switchable between a first position in which the roller support member 1853 moves in the direction in which the roller 1851 is in the other position between the protruding position and the retracted position, and a second position in which the roller support member 1853 moves in the direction in which the roller 1851 is in one of the positions between the protruding position and the retracted position.

[0052] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment, which is a modified version of the first embodiment described above, will be explained using Figures 6, 7, and 8. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the rotating mechanism of the seat stand according to the third embodiment. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the brake portion of the rotating mechanism of the seat stand according to the third embodiment. Figure 8(A) is a cross-sectional view showing the rotating mechanism in the seat stand according to the third embodiment with the rollers in a rotatable state. Figure 8(B) is a cross-sectional view showing the rotating mechanism in the seat stand according to the third embodiment with the rollers in a stopped state. Note that the rotating mechanism 2850 shown in Figure 7 is shown with the roller support portion 2852 removed. In the description of this third embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for parts similar to those in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0053] The rotating mechanism 2850 of the seat stand 8003 according to this third embodiment is modified to allow the rotation of the roller 2851 to be stopped, compared to the rotating mechanism 850 of the seat stand 8001 according to the first embodiment. Specifically, the rotating mechanism 2850 according to the third embodiment is equipped with a brake unit 2860 that can be switched between a stopped state in which the rotation of the roller 2851 is stopped and a rotatable state in which the roller 2851 is rotatable.

[0054] (Configuration of the rotation mechanism) In detail, the rotating mechanism 2850, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8(A), comprises a roller support portion 2852 and a frame case 2855 that covers the roller support portion 2852 from below. The rotating mechanism 2850 also includes a brake portion 2860 inside the frame case 2855 that can stop the rotation of the roller 2851.

[0055] In detail, the roller support portion 2852 is configured to include a roller 2851 as a rotating body fixed to the rotation shaft 2851a, and a roller support member 2853 that rotatably supports the roller 2851 via the rotation shaft 2851a and is fixedly supported to the support plate portion 801. The fixed portion 2852b, which is one end of the roller support member 2853, is fixed to the lower surface of the downstream end of the support plate portion 801 in the sheet feeding direction B. The arm portion 2853a, which is the other end of the roller support member 2853, rotatably supports the rotation shaft 2851a of the roller 2851. The roller 2851 is arranged such that a part of it protrudes beyond the sheet guide surface SP(VL), similar to the first embodiment. The fixed portion 2853b of the roller support member 2853 may also be fixed to the frame portion 810 (upper frame 815).

[0056] The brake section 2860 is made of a material with high frictional resistance, such as rubber, and includes a pad support member 2861 as a second support member that supports two brake pads 2862 that contact the roller 2851 and provide frictional resistance. The pad support member 2861 has a cylindrical portion 2861a formed in a cylindrical shape, and a pivot shaft 2863 supported by the frame case 2855 is disposed through the cylindrical portion 2861a, so that the pad support member 2861 can pivot. An arm portion 2861b is formed on one end of the pad support member 2861 relative to the cylindrical portion 2861a, and the brake pad 2862 is fixed to the arm portion 2861b. A pressed portion 2861c is formed on the other end of the pad support member 2861 relative to the cylindrical portion 2861a, and is pressed by the pressing portion 2870. Furthermore, a spring 2864, acting as a second biasing member, is positioned between the pad support member 2861 and the bottom surface of the frame case 2855, below the pressed portion 2861c of the pad support member 2861. That is, the pad support member 2861 is biased by this spring 2864 in the direction of arrow L, which is the direction in which the brake pad 2862 rises around the pivot axis 2863. In other words, the pad support member 2861 is biased so that the brake pad 2862 comes into contact with the roller 2851 and stops the rotation of the roller 2851, and at the same time, the pressed portion 2861c is constantly in contact with the cam 2872 of the pressing portion 2870.

[0057] On the other hand, the pressing part 2870 has a rotating shaft 2871 that is rotatably supported by the frame case 2855, and a cam 2872, which serves as a pressing part, is fixedly supported on the rotating shaft 2871. The cam 2872 is in constant contact with the pressed part 2861c of the pad support member 2861 and presses the pressed part 2861c against the biasing force of the spring 2864. In addition, a handle 2873, which serves as a second operating part, is fixed to the rotating shaft 2871 outside the frame case s855.

[0058] (Operation of the rotating mechanism) Next, the operation of the rotation mechanism 2850 will be explained. For example, the user can switch the rotation shaft 2871 and the cam 2872 between the rotatable state shown in Figure 8(A) and the stopped state shown in Figure 8(B) by operating the handle 2873 shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 8(A), the cam 2872 is rotated in the direction of arrow M to reduce the pressing force on the pressed portion 2861c of the pad support member 2861 by the cam 2872. As a result, the spring 2864 biases the arm portion 2861b of the pad support member 2861 downwards, causing the brake pad 2862 to move away from the roller 2851 in the direction of arrow N, and the roller 2851 becomes rotatable. As a result, similar to the first embodiment, when a user transports a long sheet S by placing it on the sheet stand 8003, sets the sheet stand 8003 to the sheet supply position, and then sets the sheet S into the manual feeding unit 400, the rollers 2851 assist in the movement of the sheet S.

[0059] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 8(B), the cam 2872 is rotated in the direction of arrow L to increase the pressing force on the pressed portion 2861c of the pad support member 2861 by the cam 2872. As a result, the arm portion 2861b of the pad support member 2861 is pressed upward in the direction of arrow L against the biasing force of the spring 2864, causing the brake pad 2862 to come into contact with the roller 2851 and be pressed, which stops the roller 2851.

[0060] As explained in the second embodiment above, when the friction between the sheet guide surface SP and the lowest sheet is reduced by the roller 2851, the entire sheet bundle is easier to feed, which raises concerns about the occurrence of bundle jamming (double feeding) during sheet feeding. Therefore, when there is concern about bundle jamming (double feeding) during sheet feeding, the user operates the handle 2873 to rotate the cam 2872, that is, to move the pad support member 2861 so that the roller 2851 is stopped. This increases the friction between the sheet guide surface SP and the lowest sheet, and reduces the occurrence of bundle jamming during sheet feeding.

[0061] As described above, in the rotating mechanism 2850 of the sheet stand 8003 according to the third embodiment, the roller 2851 can be switched between a rotatable state and a stopped state in which the rotation of the roller 2851 is stopped. This allows the roller 2851 to assist in the movement of the sheet S when the sheet S is transported by the sheet stand 8003 and set in the manual feeding unit 400 by making the roller 2851 rotatable. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, when supplying the sheet S to the manual feeding unit 400, it is possible to easily move the sheet S with the roller 2851, reducing the burden on the user and reducing the risk of dropping the sheet bundle. Furthermore, if there is a concern that the bundle may be jammed (double-fed) during the feeding of the sheet S after it has been set in the manual feeding unit 400, the occurrence of the bundle being jammed (double-fed) can be reduced by making the roller 2851 stopped.

[0062] In this third embodiment, a system was described in which the roller 2851 is switched to a stopped state when there is a concern about the occurrence of bundle feeding. However, the system is not limited to this, and the roller 2851 may be switched to a stopped state regardless of the environment or type of sheet after the sheet bundle has been set from the sheet holder 8003 to the manual feed unit 400.

[0063] Furthermore, in this third embodiment, a spring 2864 biases the roller 2851 to a rotatable state, and the cam 2872 moves against the biasing force of the spring 2864 to switch the roller 2851 to a stationary state. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and it is also possible for the spring 2864 to bias the roller 2851 to a stationary state, and the cam 2872 moves against the biasing force of the spring 2864 to switch the roller 2851 to a rotatable state. In other words, the spring 2864 biases the pad support member 2861 in the direction in which the roller 2851 is in one state, either stationary or rotatable. The cam 2872 is configured to be switchable between a pressing position in which it presses the pad support member 2861 in the direction in which the roller 2851 is in the other state, either stationary or rotatable, and a release position in which it releases the pressure on the pad support member 2861.

[0064] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment, which is a modified version of the first embodiment described above, will be explained with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the rotating mechanism of the seat stand according to the fourth embodiment. In this explanation of the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for parts similar to those in the first embodiment, and their explanations are omitted.

[0065] The rotating mechanism 3850 of the seat stand 8004 according to this fourth embodiment is modified from the rotating mechanism 850 of the seat stand 8001 according to the first embodiment by changing the rollers 851 to belts 3851.

[0066] In detail, the rotating mechanism 3850 has an endless belt 3851 as a rotating body and a belt support member 3852. The belt 3851 is wound around and stretched on two parallel rollers 3851a, 3851a. The belt support member 3852 rotatably supports the belt 3851 via the rollers 3851a and is fixedly supported to the support plate portion 801. That is, one end of the belt support member 3852, the fixed portion 3852b, is fixed to the lower surface of the downstream end of the support plate portion 801 in the sheet feeding direction B. The other end of the belt support member 3852, the arm portion 3852a, rotatably supports the rollers 3851a, and thus rotatably supports the belt 3851. The fixed portion 3852b of the belt support member 3852 may also be fixed to the frame portion 810 (upper frame 815).

[0067] Furthermore, the belt 3851 is positioned so that a portion of it protrudes above the sheet guide surface SP (virtual line VL), allowing it to contact the loaded sheets S. As a result, similar to the first embodiment, when a user transports a long sheet S by placing it on the sheet stand 8004, sets the sheet stand 8004 to the sheet supply position, and then sets the sheet S into the manual feeding unit 400, the belt 3851 assists in moving the sheet S. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, when supplying the sheet S to the manual feeding unit 400, the belt 3851 makes it easy to move the sheet S, reducing the burden on the user and lowering the risk of dropping the sheet bundle.

[0068] In addition, in the rotating mechanism 3850 according to this fourth embodiment, the belt 3851 may be made switchable between an extended position and a retracted position, as in the second embodiment, or the belt 3851 may be made switchable between a rotatable state and a stopped state, as in the third embodiment.

[0069] <Possibility of other embodiments> In the first to fourth embodiments described above, a configuration was described in which the roller 851, the protruding roller 1851, the roller 2851, and a portion of the belt 3851 protrude above the sheet guide surface SP (imaginary line VL). However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the entire roller or belt may protrude above the sheet guide surface SP; in other words, it is sufficient that at least a portion of the rotating body protrudes above the sheet guide surface SP.

[0070] Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, the rollers 851, 1851, 2851 and belt 3851 were described in which the sheet support base 800 is arranged outside the support plate portion 801. However, for example, the rollers and belt may be arranged above the support plate portion 801, or a slit or the like may be provided in the support plate portion 801 so that a part of them protrudes upward. In other words, for example, the rollers and belt may be arranged at any position on the sheet guide surface SP (sheet support surface 801S).

[0071] Furthermore, in the sheet support units of the first to fourth embodiments, we have described units equipped with one each of rollers 851, 1851, 2851, and belt 3851. However, we are not limited to these configurations, and multiple units may be arranged in the sheet feeding direction, or the units may be arranged in combination with rollers and belts.

[0072] Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, we described a system in which sheets up to 30 inches (762 mm) in length can be set in the large-capacity deck 700 and the manual feed tray 410. In other words, we described a system in which sheets longer than 30 inches can be set using the sheet support stand 800. However, the size of the sheets that can be set in each part is not limited to this. For example, if sheets up to 900 mm in length can be set in the large-capacity deck 700 and the manual feed tray 410, then a system in which sheets longer than 900 mm can be set using the sheet support stand 800 is also acceptable.

[0073] Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, a configuration was described in which the short legs 813 are provided with a contact portion 813a that can move toward and away from the large-capacity deck 700, thereby enabling relative movement between the seat base 800 and the large-capacity deck 700. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and for example, casters may be provided on the short legs 813, or a configuration such as rails and wheels may be adopted, or even a configuration that simply slides may be adopted. In other words, it is sufficient as long as the short legs 813 can be switched between a state in which they are in contact with the large-capacity deck 700 and support its weight, and a state in which relative movement is possible.

[0074] Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, a configuration was described in which casters 811a and 812a are provided on the long legs 811 and 812 to allow the sheet stand 800 to move on the floor surface 900. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and it is also acceptable to simply configure the sheet stand 800 to be installed on the floor surface 900. Even in this case, it is conceivable that the user would first place the sheet bundle on the sheet stand 800 before setting the sheet bundle in the manual feed unit 400, and then move it to the manual feed unit 400 to set it, and in this case, the movement can be assisted with rollers or belts.

[0075] Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, the sheet support surface 801S of the support plate portion 801 of the sheet stand 800 was described as a flat surface extending horizontally. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the sheet support surface 801S may be inclined at an angle of about 10 degrees with respect to the horizontal, for example, and may be slightly curved as long as it is a shape that can easily accommodate, for example, 100 to 250 sheets.

[0076] Furthermore, while the first to fourth embodiments described a seat support base 800 equipped with two long legs 811 and two long legs 812, the invention is not limited to this configuration; it is sufficient if the total number of long legs 811 and 812 is three or more. In other words, if there are two or more long legs 811, there may be one long leg 812, or vice versa.

[0077] Furthermore, in the first to fourth embodiments, an image forming system 1 equipped with a large-capacity deck 700 was described. However, the system is not limited to this configuration; even in an image forming system where a sheet holder 800 is attached to the printer 100 and the large-capacity deck 700 is not connected to the printer 100, long sheets can still be set in the manual feed unit 400.

[0078] Furthermore, the printer 100 and high-capacity deck 700 described in the first to fourth embodiments are merely examples, and any other type may be used. In particular, the printer as an image forming apparatus may have any type of image forming unit, such as a monochrome laser type or an inkjet type. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1…Image forming system / 100…Printer (image forming device) / 410…Manual feed tray (sheet loading section) / 700…High-capacity deck (sheet supply device) / 700S…Installation space / 800…Sheet stand (sheet support device) / 801…Support plate section (sheet support section) / 801S…Sheet support surface / 810…Frame section / 811…Long leg (first support leg) / 811a…First caster / 812…Long leg (second support leg) / 812a…Second caster / 813…Short leg (third support leg) / 813a…Contact section / 851…Roller (rotating body) / 900…Floor surface / 185 1...Roller (rotating body) / 1853...Roller support member (first support member) / 1856...Spring (first biasing member) / 1858...Cam (position movement part) / 1859...Handle (first operating part) / 1860...Position switching part / 2851...Roller (rotating body) / 2860...Brake part / 2861...Pad support member (second support member) / 2862...Brake pad / 2864...Spring (second biasing member) / 2872...Cam (pressing part) / 2873...Handle (second operating part) / 3851...Belt (rotating body) / 3851a...Roller / S...Seat / SP...Seat guide surface

Claims

1. In a sheet support device that supplies sheets to a sheet loading section provided in an image forming apparatus, A sheet support surface that supports the sheets to be supplied to the sheet loading section, The system includes a rotating body that protrudes at least a portion above the sheet guide surface, which guides the sheet when the sheet is supplied from the sheet support surface to the sheet loading section, and is positioned to contact the lower surface of the guided sheet, and is rotatable as the sheet moves. A sheet support device characterized by the following features.

2. The rotating body is equipped with a position switching unit that can switch between a protruding position in which at least a portion of it protrudes above the sheet guide surface and a retracted position in which it is retracted below the sheet guide surface. The sheet support device according to feature 1.

3. The position switching unit is, A first support member that supports the rotating body, A first biasing member biases the first support member toward the direction in which the rotating body is in one of the positions between the protruding position and the retracted position, A position-moving unit that can switch between a first position in which the rotating body moves the first support member in a direction that is the other position between the protruding position and the retracted position, and a second position in which the rotating body moves the first support member in a direction that is the other position between the protruding position and the retracted position, The system includes a first operating unit that can switch the position-moving unit between the first position and the second position. The sheet support device according to feature 2.

4. The system includes a brake unit that can switch between a stopped state, which stops the rotation of the rotating body, and a rotatable state, which allows the rotating body to rotate. The sheet support device according to feature 1.

5. The aforementioned brake unit is A second support member that supports a brake pad that contacts the rotating body and applies frictional resistance, A second biasing member biases the second support member in a direction that causes the rotating body to be in one of the states of the stopped state and the rotatable state, A pressing unit that can switch between a pressing position in which the rotating body presses the second support member in the direction of the other state between the stopped state and the rotatable state, and a release position in which the pressing on the second support member is released, The pressing portion has a second operating portion that can be switched between the pressing position and the release position. The sheet support device according to feature 4.

6. The rotating body is a roller. The sheet support device according to feature 1.

7. The rotating body is a belt stretched over a plurality of rollers arranged in a line in the sheet feeding direction. The sheet support device according to feature 1.

8. The sheet loading section is a manual feed tray for manually inserting sheets to be supplied to the image forming section of the image forming apparatus. The sheet support device according to feature 1.

9. A sheet support portion having the aforementioned sheet support surface, The frame portion comprises a support leg that supports the aforementioned seat support portion, The aforementioned support legs are The first support leg is in contact with the floor surface on which the image forming apparatus is installed, A sheet supply position for supplying sheets to the sheet loading section includes a second support leg positioned horizontally closer to the image forming apparatus than the first support leg and in contact with the floor surface, The sheet support device according to feature 1.

10. The first support leg has a first caster that rolls on the floor surface, The second support leg has a second caster that rolls on the floor surface. The sheet support device according to feature 9.

11. The second support leg is movable to a third position on the opposite side of the image forming apparatus from the installation space for the sheet supply device that supplies sheets to the image forming apparatus in the horizontal direction, and to a fourth position located in the installation space in the horizontal direction. The sheet support device according to feature 10.

12. The support legs include a third support leg that contacts the sheet supply device, which supplies sheets to the image forming apparatus, when the sheet supply device is connected to the image forming apparatus. The sheet support device according to feature 9.

13. The third support leg has a contact portion that can extend and retract so as to move toward and away from the sheet supply device. The sheet support device according to claim 12.

14. The image forming apparatus and, A sheet support device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising: An image forming system characterized by the following features.

15. The image forming apparatus is equipped with a sheet supply device, The image forming system according to feature 14.

Images