Media regulation component, and media supply device and media processing device using the same

Abstract

To provide a medium regulation component capable of easily rotationally retreating upward / downward when regulating excessive floating-up of the medium stored in storing means, and stably setting an initial position for the medium regulation.SOLUTION: A medium regulation component has: a regulation member 2 horizontally protruding from a circumference of storing means 11 so as to come into contact with a floating up medium S1; a holding member 3 holding the regulation member 2 in a non-contact state with the medium S1; a first rotary shaft 4 rotatably supporting the regulation member 2 in relation to the holding member 3; and a second rotary shaft 5 rotatably supporting the holding member 3 in relation to the storing means 11. The regulation member 2, when receiving a pressing force from below in a gravity direction, rotates around the first rotary shaft 4 in a suppressed state of movement of the holding member 3, as shown by Mu in Fig. 1(c). The regulation member 2, when receiving a pressing force from above in the gravity direction, rotates around the second rotary shaft 5, by pressing the holding member 3, as shown by Md in Fig. 1 (c).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a media regulation component, and a media supply device and a media processing device that use the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a configuration in which the bottom plate of the paper feed tray is extended to allow long paper to be loaded, and air is blown into the side of the paper feed tray to lift the paper, and the lifted paper is then attracted to a conveying belt and sent out. Patent document 2 also discloses an air paper feeding device that includes a flotation and separation means that blows air onto the upper front surface of the paper stored in a paper storage section, thereby flotating the upper layer of paper and separating the top layer of paper from the papers below, a suction and conveying means on the upper paper feed side of the paper storage section that sucks in the top layer of paper and conveys it to a paper conveying section, and a pressing member that presses downwardly against the center of the rear of the top layer of paper stored in the paper storage section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-653 A (Form for carrying out the invention, FIG. 17) [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3653502 (Embodiment of the invention

[0017] ,

[0018] , Figure 2) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To provide a media regulation part which can be easily rotated to either the upper or lower side to regulate excessive floating of media contained in a storage means and can stabilize an initial position for regulating the media. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A first technical feature of the present invention is a media regulating component used in a media supplying device that supplies single-sheet media stored in a storage means and that regulates excessive floating of the media stored in the storage means, the media regulating component comprising a regulating member that protrudes horizontally from the periphery of the storage means and contacts the floating media, a holding member that holds the regulating member without contacting the media, a first rotating shaft that rotatably supports the regulating member relative to the holding member, and a second rotating shaft that rotatably supports the holding member relative to the storage means, wherein when the regulating member receives a pressing force from below in the direction of gravity, it rotates around the first rotating shaft with the movement of the holding member suppressed, and when the regulating member receives a pressing force from above in the direction of gravity, it rotates around the second rotating shaft by pushing the holding member.

[0006] A second technical feature of the present invention is a media regulating component used in a media supplying device that supplies single-sheet media stored in a storage means, and that regulates excessive floating of the media stored in the storage means, comprising: a regulating member that protrudes horizontally from the periphery of the storage means and contacts the floating media; a holding member that holds the regulating member without contacting the media; a first rotating shaft that rotatably supports the regulating member relative to the holding member; a second rotating shaft that rotatably supports the holding member relative to the storage means; a limiting means that limits the movement of the holding member when the regulating member rotates upward due to a pressing force from below in the direction of gravity; a restraining means that restrains the regulating member relative to the holding member when the regulating member rotates downward due to a pressing force from above in the direction of gravity; and a biasing means that biases the regulating member to return to its initial position when the regulating member rotates in an upward rotation direction or a downward rotation direction from an initial position in which it protrudes horizontally.

[0007] A third technical feature of the present invention is a media regulating component having the first or second technical feature, characterized in that the second rotation axis is positioned above the first rotation axis. A fourth technical feature of the present invention is a media regulating component having the third technical feature, characterized in that the first rotation axis is positioned approximately directly below the second rotation axis. A fifth technical feature of the present invention is a medium regulation component having the second technical feature, 、 The media regulating component is characterized in that the biasing means is provided around the first rotation axis and has a first biasing means that biases the regulating member in a direction returning it to its initial position when the regulating member rotates in the upward rotation direction. A sixth technical feature of the present invention is a media regulating component having the second or fifth technical feature, characterized in that the biasing means is provided around the second rotation axis and is equipped with a second biasing means for biasing the regulating member in a direction returning it to its initial position when the regulating member rotates in a downward rotation direction while being restrained by the holding member.

[0008] A seventh technical feature of the present invention is a media regulating component having the second technical feature, characterized in that the limiting means is a rotation prevention portion that prevents the holding member from rotating relative to the accommodating means when the regulating member rotates in an upward rotation direction. The eighth technical feature of the present invention is 2 In the medium regulating component having the technical features of the above, the restraining means holds the regulating member against the holding member when the regulating member rotates in the downward rotation direction. , and constrain both to rotate together The media regulation component is characterized by the above. A ninth technical feature of the present invention is a media regulating component having the first or second technical feature, characterized in that the regulating member is capable of being retracted to a retract position past the vertical direction passing through the second rotation axis when rotating in a downward rotation direction.

[0009] A tenth technical feature of the present invention is a media supplying device comprising: a storage means for storing sheets of media; a sending means provided on the sending direction side of the media stored in the storage means for sending out the media one sheet at a time; a transfer means provided above the storage means for transferring the media stored in the storage means to the sending means; and a media regulating component provided around the storage means and having any of the first to ninth technical features for regulating excessive floating of the stored media. The eleventh technical feature of the present invention is, in the medium supplying device having the tenth technical feature, a rotation trajectory of the protruding end of the regulating member with the second rotation shaft as a rotation center. Circular locus line including is a medium supplying device characterized in that it is selected to be located above a maximum load line of the medium stored in the storage means. A twelfth technical feature of the present invention is, in the medium supplying device having the eleventh technical feature, a rotation trajectory of the protruding end of the regulating member with the first rotation shaft as a rotation center. Circular locus line including is a medium supplying device characterized in that the position is selected to reach a position below a maximum load line of the medium stored in the storage means. A thirteenth technical feature of the present invention is a media supplying device having the tenth technical feature, characterized in that it further comprises a levitation means provided on a side intersecting the direction of delivery of the medium stored in the storage means, and blowing air against the side of the medium to levitate an upper area of ​​the medium in a separated state, and the transfer means adsorbs the medium levitated by the levitation means and transfers it to the delivery means. A fourteenth technical feature of the present invention is a media supplying device having the thirteenth technical feature, characterized in that the media regulating part is installed on a side portion of the storage means, near the air outlet of the flotation means. A fifteenth technical feature of the present invention is a media supplying device having the tenth technical feature, wherein the storage means has a standard storage section capable of storing normal-sized media and an extended storage section that extends adjacent to the standard storage section when storing long media whose dimension in the media feed direction is longer than the normal length dimension, and the media regulating component is provided in both the standard storage section and the extended storage section.

[0010] The sixteenth technical feature of the present invention is 10 A media processing device comprising a media supplying device having any of the technical features to 15, and a processing means for performing a predetermined processing on the medium supplied from the media supplying device. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to a first technical feature of the present invention, in order to regulate excessive floating of the media contained in the storage means, the media can be easily rotated to either the upper or lower side, and the initial position for regulating the media can be stabilized. According to a second technical feature of the present invention, it is possible to easily construct a configuration that can easily rotate the media stored in the storage means to either the upper or lower side in order to regulate excessive floating of the media, and that can stabilize the initial position for regulating the media. According to the third technical feature of the present invention, when the regulating member is rotated in the downward rotation direction, the lowest point of the rotation trajectory of the regulating member can be set toward the upper side. According to a fourth technical feature of the present invention, when the regulating member is rotated in the downward rotation direction, the lowest point position of the rotational trajectory of the regulating member can be set upward, compared to a case in which the first rotation axis is not substantially directly below the second rotation axis. According to the fifth technical feature of the present invention, when the regulating member is rotated in the upward rotation direction, the regulating member can be returned to its initial position more stably than when the regulating member is returned to its initial position by rotation under its own weight. According to the sixth technical feature of the present invention, when the regulating member is rotated in the downward rotation direction, the regulating member can be stably returned to the initial position.。 The present invention 7 According to this technical feature, when the regulating member is rotated in the upward rotation direction, the regulating member can be rotated stably around the first rotation shaft as the center of rotation. The present invention 8 According to the technical feature, when the regulating member is rotated in the downward rotation direction, the regulating member can be retracted to a predetermined retracted position. The present invention 9 According to the technical feature, when the regulating member is rotated in the downward rotation direction, the regulating member protruding from the periphery of the containing means can be substantially completely retracted. The present invention 10 According to the technical features, it is possible to construct a media supplying device that includes a media regulating part that can be easily rotated to either the upper or lower side to regulate excessive floating of the media stored in the storage means, and that can stabilize the initial position for regulating the media. According to the eleventh technical feature of the present invention, when the regulating member is rotated in the downward rotation direction, it is possible to avoid interference between the regulating member and the maximum load of media contained in the containing means. According to a twelfth technical feature of the present invention, the gap between the maximum load of media stored in the storage means and the regulating member can be reduced, thereby effectively regulating excessive floating of the media from the regulating member in the initial position. According to the thirteenth technical feature of the present invention, even in a media supplying device equipped with a levitation means, when inserting or removing a medium into or from the storage means, the media regulating component can be easily rotated to either the upper or lower side, and the initial position for media regulation can be stabilized. According to the fourteenth technical feature of the present invention, the regulating operation of the medium by the medium regulating component can be made more stable compared to a case where the medium regulating component is installed away from the air outlet of the flotation means. According to the 15th technical feature of the present invention, even in a media supplying device equipped with a long-length option, when inserting or removing long media into or from the storage means, the media regulating component can be easily rotated to either the upper or lower side, and the initial position for media regulation can be stabilized. According to the 16th technical feature of the present invention, it is possible to construct a media processing device that includes a media supply device that can easily rotate and retract the media regulating component to either the upper or lower side when inserting or removing media from a storage means, and that can stabilize the initial position for media regulation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of an embodiment of a media supplying device to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the media supplying device shown in FIG. 1A from the direction B, and FIG. 1C is an explanatory diagram showing the main parts of the media regulating component shown in FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of a media processing device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a medium supplying device used in the medium processing device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a control system of the medium supplying device according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a medium container of the medium supplying device according to the first embodiment; FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing details of a vacuum head as a delivery means according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view taken along the arrow VII in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the air handling mechanism shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 9] 5(a) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the levitation mechanism shown in FIG. 4, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the suction mechanism for the vacuum head shown in FIG. 4, and (c) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an air supply system for the air handling mechanism shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 10] FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the lifting mechanism shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is a perspective explanatory diagram showing a main part of the lifting mechanism shown in FIG. [Figure 11] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic behavior of the medium regulating part used in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 3 is a perspective explanatory view showing details of a medium regulating component used in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is an explanatory view taken along the arrow XIII direction in FIG. 12. [Figure 14]13A to 13C are explanatory diagrams showing behavior of the regulating arm when a pressing force is applied from below in the direction of gravity. [Figure 15] 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams showing behavior of the regulating arm when a pressing force is applied from above in the direction of gravity. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a preferred layout of the restraining arms. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view showing the appearance of a medium supplying device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 18] 18 is a front view illustrating a main part of the internal structure of the medium supplying device shown in FIG. 17. [Figure 19] 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the long medium storage section in FIG. 18. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Overview of the embodiment FIG. 1(a) is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an embodiment of a medium supplying device to which the present invention is applied. The medium supplying device 150 shown in the figure supplies sheets of medium S one by one, and may be used alone or may be embodied as a medium processing device by being used in combination with, for example, a processing means (not shown in FIG. 1) that performs a predetermined process on the supplied medium S. The processing means referred to here includes any means such as an image forming means that forms an image on the medium or a painting means that paints the medium. In this example, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the medium supplying device 150 comprises a storage means 151 for storing sheets of medium S, a sending means 152 provided on the sending direction side of the medium S stored in the storage means 151 and sending out the medium S one sheet at a time, a transfer means 153 provided above the storage means 151 and transferring the medium S stored in the storage means 151 to the sending means 152, and a media regulating part 1 provided around the storage means 151 for regulating excessive floating of the stored medium S.

[0014] In such technical means, the storage means 151 generally has a loading section for loading the medium S, and in a mode for storing media S of various sizes, a mode is adopted in which a side guide section for positioning and guiding the medium S on the side intersecting the feeding direction of the medium S, or a rear guide section for positioning and guiding the medium S at the rear located on the opposite side of the feeding direction of the medium S, is used. 151 In order to allow for the refilling of media S, the medium feeder is often configured to be removable from the medium feeder housing. The delivery means 152 broadly includes those having the function of delivering the medium S, and is typically, for example, a pair of delivery rolls or a combination of a delivery roll and a delivery belt. In this case, it is sufficient to embody the function of sandwiching and delivering the medium S1 to be delivered in the nip area between the pair of delivery members. For example, if the delivery means 152 is a pair of rolls, the medium S1 may be sandwiched in the area where the pair of rolls contact (nip area), and one of the rolls may transport the belt, and the pair of rolls may sandwich the belt.

[0015] In this example, the delivery means 153 broadly includes any means that is provided above the storage means 151 to receive the medium S stored in the storage means 151 from above and deliver it to the sending means 152. In particular, in a configuration in which the storage means 151 stores a large volume of medium S or a long medium, as shown in Figures 1(a) and (b), it is preferable that the storage means 151 is provided with levitation means 154, which is provided on the side intersecting the direction of delivery of the medium S stored in the storage means 151 and blows air against the side of the medium to levitate the upper region of the medium S in a separated state, and that the delivery means 153 adsorbs the medium S1 levitated by the levitation means 154 and delivers it to the delivery means 152. In addition, in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), reference numeral 154a denotes an air outlet provided in the containing means 151.

[0016] Also, in this example, the medium S stored in the storage means 151 is transferred to the sending means 152 by the delivery means 153 located above the storage means 151, but the medium S1 to be transferred needs to be separated from the medium S located below it, and is usually transferred to the delivery means 153 in a floating state. 1(b), the buoyancy of the air acts, and this further increases the force with which the medium S floats, making it easier for the medium S to float excessively. In this case, if the delivery means 153 receives the medium S1 in an excessively floated state, the delivery posture of the medium S1 by the delivery means 153 may be disrupted, and the medium may be delivered to the sending means 152 in a significantly skewed state.

[0017] For this reason, in this embodiment, the medium regulation component 1 is employed to prevent the medium from floating up too much as described above. In this example, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c), the medium regulation component 1 includes a regulation member 2 that protrudes horizontally from the periphery of the storage means 151 and comes into contact with the floating medium S1, a holding member 3 that holds the regulation member 2 without contacting the medium S1, a first rotating shaft 4 that rotatably supports the regulation member 2 relative to the holding member 3, and a second rotating shaft 5 that rotatably supports the holding member 3 relative to the storage means 151. When the regulation member 2 receives a pressing force from below in the direction of gravity, it rotates around the first rotating shaft 4 with the movement of the holding member 3 restricted, as shown by Mu in FIG. 1(c), and when the regulation member 2 receives a pressing force from above in the direction of gravity, it rotates around the first rotating shaft 4 with the movement of the holding member 3 restricted, as shown by Md in FIG. 1(c). in As shown, by pushing the holding member 3, it rotates around the second rotation axis 5. In FIG. 1(c), the regulating member 2 shown by the solid line is located in the initial position, and the regulating member 2 shown by the dotted line is the rotation trajectory when rotated in the Mu direction (corresponding to the upward rotation direction), and further, the regulating member 2 shown by the two-dot chain line is the rotation trajectory when rotated in the Md direction (corresponding to the downward rotation direction).

[0018] In such technical means, the regulating member 2 may protrude horizontally from the periphery of the storage means 151, including not only the lateral side in the width direction intersecting the feed direction of the medium S stored in the storage means 151, but also the horizontal protrusion from the rear on the opposite side to the feed direction of the medium S. The cross-sectional shape of the regulating member 2 may be any shape such as a plate or a rod, and the constituent pieces of the regulating member 2 may include not only a single piece, but also a multiple piece integral structure or a separate structure. Furthermore, the length of the regulating member 2 may be selected arbitrarily, but if the horizontal protrusion is too short, the contact area with the medium S1 becomes too small to regulate the excessive lifting. but Too little is a concern, and too much horizontal overhang can impair the lifting action of the media. R Since there are some concerns, it is preferable to select an optimum range. Furthermore, the holding member 3 may be appropriately selected as long as it realizes the function of holding the regulating member 2, and the cross-sectional shape, length dimension, number of constituent pieces, etc. may be appropriately selected. Furthermore, the first rotating shaft 4 and the second rotating shaft 5 are of course configured to have rotatable support shafts, but are not limited to this and widely include configurations in which they rotate around a virtual rotating shaft as the center of rotation.

[0019] A representative embodiment of the medium regulation component 1 that realizes such a function is a regulation member 2 that protrudes horizontally from the periphery of the storage means 151 and contacts the raised medium S1, a holding member 3 that holds the regulation member 2 in a non-contact state with the medium S1, and a holding member 3 that is Regulating member 2the regulating member 2 being rotated upwards by a pressing force from above in the direction of gravity; and a biasing means 8 for biasing the regulating member 2 back to the initial position HP when the regulating member 2 is rotated downwards by a pressing force from above in the direction of gravity.

[0020] In such technical means, the limiting means 6 limits the movement of the retaining member 3 when the regulating member 2 rotates in the upward rotation direction (Mu direction) to keep the retaining member 3 in a predetermined position, thereby enabling rotational movement of the regulating member 2 around the first rotation axis 4. In addition, the restraining means 7 restrains the regulating member 2 relative to the holding member 3 when the regulating member 2 rotates in the downward rotation direction (Md direction), thereby enabling the regulating member 2 to rotate around the second rotation axis 5 while the positional relationship between the regulating member 2 and the holding member 3 is restrained. Furthermore, the biasing means 8 biases the regulating member 2 so as to return it to the initial position HP when the regulating member 2 rotates from the initial position HP in an upward rotation direction (Mu direction) or a downward rotation direction (Md direction). do Anything is fine. Here, in the case of the upward rotation direction (Mu direction), the regulating member 2 may return to the initial position HP due to its own weight rotation, so a biasing force in a direction against the upward rotation direction is not necessarily required. Therefore, the biasing means 8 needs to have a biasing force that returns the regulating member 2 to the initial position HP when it rotates at least in the downward rotation direction (Md direction).

[0021] Next, a representative or preferred embodiment of the medium regulation component 1 will be described. The second rotating shaft 5 may be disposed above the first rotating shaft 4. In this example, the lowest point of the rotation locus of the regulating member 2 in the downward rotation direction (Md direction) is set to the upper position. Close It is preferable to place In particular, a mode in which the first rotating shaft 4 is disposed approximately directly below the second rotating shaft 5 is preferable. A preferred embodiment of the biasing means 8 is provided with a first biasing means that is provided around the first rotation shaft 4 and biases the regulating member 2 in a direction returning it to the initial position HP when the regulating member 2 rotates in the upward rotation direction (Mu direction). In this example, when the first biasing means is not provided, a return force due to the weight is present, but in an embodiment where the first biasing means is provided, the regulating member 2 is returned to the initial position as the biasing force increases. HP It is easy to return to the original state. In addition, the biasing means 8 may be provided around the second rotation axis 5 and may be equipped with a second biasing means that biases the regulating member 2 in a direction returning it to the initial position HP when the regulating member 2 rotates in the downward rotation direction (Md direction) while being restrained by the holding member 3.

[0022] Furthermore, as a preferable layout of the regulating member 2 and the first rotating shaft 4, the rotation trajectory of the protruding end of the regulating member 2 with the second rotating shaft 5 as the center of rotation is as follows: Circular locus line including is selected so as to be positioned above the maximum load line of the media S stored in the storage unit 151. Furthermore, as a preferable layout of the regulating member 2 and the second rotating shaft 5, the rotation trajectory of the protruding end of the regulating member 2 with the first rotating shaft 4 as the center of rotation is as follows: Circular locus line including is selected so as to reach a position below the maximum load line of the media S stored in the storage unit 151. Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the retracted position when the regulating member 2 is rotated in the downward rotation direction (Md direction) is to enable the regulating member 2 to be retracted to a retracted position past the vertical direction passing through the second rotation shaft 5. This is preferable because it makes it possible to set the medium S in the storage means 151 with the regulating member 2 completely retracted.

[0023] A preferred embodiment of the restricting means 6 is a rotation-stopper that stops the holding member 3 from rotating relative to the containing means 151 when the regulating member 2 rotates in the upward rotation direction (Mu direction). Furthermore, as a preferred embodiment of the restraining means 7, when the regulating member 2 rotates in the downward rotation direction (Md direction), the restraining member 2 is held against the holding member 3. , and a mode in which both are constrained to rotate together Examples include: Furthermore, in a medium supplying device equipped with flotation means 154, a mode in which the medium regulating component 1 is installed on the side portion of the containing means 151, near the air outlet 154a of the flotation means 154, is preferable. In addition, in an embodiment equipped with a long-length option, when storing long-length media whose dimension in the feed direction of the medium S is longer than the normal length dimension, the storage means 151 has a standard storage section capable of storing normal-sized media, and an extended storage section that is adjacent to and extends from the standard storage section, and it is preferable that the media regulating part 1 is provided in both the standard storage section and the extended storage section.

[0024] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. First embodiment FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the media processing device according to the first embodiment. - Overall configuration of media processing device - In the figure, a media processing device 10 includes a media supply device 11 that supplies media one by one, and a processing unit 20 as processing means that performs a predetermined process on the media supplied from the media supply device 11. In this example, the processing unit 20 includes an image forming section 21 that forms an image on a medium, and the image forming section 21 employs various image forming methods, such as electrophotography and inkjet recording. The processing unit 20 includes an input transport path 22 that transports the medium supplied from the medium supply device 11 to the image forming section 21, and an output transport path 23 that transports the medium on which an image has been formed by the image forming section 21 out of the processing unit 20. Furthermore, in this example, a built-in medium supply section 24 is separately provided below the image forming section 21 in the processing unit 20, and the medium from the medium supply section 24 is also supplied to the image forming section 21 via a supply transport path 25. Reference numeral 26 denotes an input roll provided at the entrance of the input transport path 22. in Yes, carrying-in conveyor 22, carrying-out Transport path The supply and conveying path 23 and the supply and conveying path 25 are provided with an appropriate number of conveying members.

[0025] -Overall configuration of the media supply device- In this example, the medium supplying device 11 has a housing 12 for accommodating media, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the housing 12 is provided with a two-stage pull-out type upper drawer 13 and lower drawer 14 that can be pulled out, and a manual feed section 15 that can manually feed media is provided on the upper part of the housing 12. The upper drawer 13 is provided on the processing unit 20 side of the housing 12. 、 A relay unit 16 is provided to relay media supplied from the lower drawer 14 and the manual supply section 15 to the processing unit 20 for discharge. In this example, both the upper drawer 13 and the lower drawer 14 are configured to store a large volume of media and supply them one by one. The relay unit 16 has a first outlet path 17a for carrying out media supplied from the upper drawer 13, a second outlet path 17b for carrying out media supplied from the lower drawer 14, and a third outlet path 17c for carrying out media supplied from the manual feed section 15. An appropriate number of transport rolls 18 are provided on the first to third outlet paths 17a to 17c, and a junction transport path 17d is formed on the outlet side of the first to third outlet paths 17a to 17c, which is connected to an outlet 17e to the processing unit 20, and a discharge roll 19 is provided on this junction transport path 17d. 、The lower drawer 14 is provided with handles 13a, 14a so that it can be pulled out toward the front.

[0026] -Upper drawer (lower drawer) configuration example- In this example, the upper drawer 13 and the lower drawer 14 have substantially the same configuration, and the following description will be given taking the upper drawer 13 as an example. In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper drawer 13 is equipped with a storage section 30 as a storage means for storing sheets of media, a feed roll 40 as a feed means provided on the side of the media stored in the storage section 30 in the feed direction and for feeding the media one by one, a vacuum head 50 provided above the storage section 30 as a delivery means for adsorbing the media stored in the storage section 30 one by one and transferring them to the feed roll 40, a levitation mechanism 70 as a levitation means provided on the side intersecting the feed direction of the media stored in the storage section 30 and blowing air to the side of the media to levitate the upper region of the media in a separated state, and an air handling mechanism 80 provided on the side of the media stored in the storage section 30 in the feed direction and for blowing air between the upper medium levitated by the levitation mechanism 70 and the medium located below it to handle the levitated media.

[0027] <Containment Unit> In this example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the storage section 30 has a loading bottom plate 31 on which media of various sizes are loaded, and is equipped with side guides 32 (specifically, 32a, 32b) which are provided on the sides in the width direction intersecting the feed direction of media of various sizes loaded on the loading bottom plate 31 and serve as lateral guide means for positioning and guiding the lateral position of the media, an end guide 33 which is provided on the rear side opposite the feed direction of the media loaded on the loading bottom plate 31 and serves as rear guide means for positioning and guiding the rear position of the media, and a partition plate 34 which separates the feed direction side position of the media loaded on the loading bottom plate 31. In this example, the storage section 30 may be designed according to the size of the media to be used, but from the viewpoint of versatility, it is preferable to use it mainly for normal-sized media. A normal-sized medium here is, for example, a medium with a longitudinal length of up to 488 mm, and an example of such a size medium is a medium of A3 size or smaller according to the JIS standard.

[0028] In this example, the side guides 32 are provided movably along the width direction of the stacking bottom plate 31 and are positioned at predetermined positioning positions, and the end guides 33 are provided movably along the media sending direction of the stacking bottom plate 31 and are positioned at predetermined positioning positions. In this example, the partition plate 34 is provided with a plurality of (two in this example) stopper pieces 35 (see FIG. 8) protruding upward from the upper edge of the partition plate 34, and the stopper pieces 35 are provided with a levitation mechanism. 70 A stopper wall 36 that blocks the upper area of ​​the media stack when not in use (See Figure 8) It is designed to function as such. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom loading plate 31 is supported so as to be movable up and down by a lifting mechanism 90 (see FIG. 10) which will be described later.

[0029] <Sending role> In this example, the delivery roll 40 is shown in FIG. Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of divided roll bodies are attached to a drive shaft 41a which is driven to rotate. 41b A driving roll 41 having a rotation of the driving roll 41 and a driven roller 42 having a rotation of the driving roll 41. , rotation axis not shown Multiple split roll bodies 42b The driven roll 42 has a contact portion NP between the driving roll 41 and the driven roll 42 (specifically, a divided roll body 41b, 42b The medium is conveyed by being sandwiched between the rollers in the nip area (corresponding to the nip area between the rollers). 。

[0030] <Vacuum head> In this example, the vacuum head 50 is as shown in FIGS.、 The head frame 60 is supported via a guide mechanism 58 (using a guide rod, for example) on a head frame 60 fixed to the housing 12 above the storage section 30, and is provided so as to be movable back and forth along the medium delivery direction. In this example, the vacuum head 50 has a hollow box-shaped head body 51, and a number of vacuum holes 52 are formed on the surface of the head body 51 that faces the medium contained in the container 30, and a suction mechanism 53 is connected to the head body 51. Here, the suction mechanism 53 is configured to connect a suction blower 54 and the head body 51 with a vacuum duct 55, and to have a vacuum valve 56 that opens and closes the flow path interposed in the middle of the vacuum duct 55, and to open and close the vacuum valve 56 with a valve motor 57.

[0031] The head frame 60 is provided with an advancing / retreating mechanism 61 for moving the vacuum head 50 back and forth. In this example, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the advancing / retreating mechanism 61 has a stepping motor 62 fixed to the head frame 60, a drive pulley 63 connected to the stepping motor 62, and an appropriate number of transmission pulleys 64 provided at appropriate locations on the head frame 60, with a wire 65 stretched across the drive pulleys 63 and the transmission pulleys 64 and part of the wire 65 fixed to the vacuum head 50. In this example, the drive pulley 63 rotates in accordance with the forward and reverse rotation of the stepping motor 62, and the wire 65 moves a predetermined amount in accordance with this, so that the vacuum head 50 moves back and forth in the medium delivery direction.

[0032] <Levitation mechanism> In this example, the levitation mechanism 70 is 、5 and 9(b), for example, the side guide 32 (32a, 32b) is configured in a hollow box shape, multiple air outlets 71 are opened above the part of the side guide 32 facing the side of the medium, and an air duct 72 is arranged in the hollow part of the side guide 32, one end of which communicates with the air outlet 71, and the other end of the air duct 72 communicates with a blower 73 for blowing air. The blower 73 may be installed inside the side guide 32 or may be installed externally to the side guide 32. Furthermore, in this example, a media regulation part 100 is provided near the air outlet 71 of the side guide 32. The media regulation part 100 in this example is provided to the side of the media loaded on the bottom stacking plate 31, protrudes into the media storage area, and functions to regulate excessive floating of the media that floats when the levitation mechanism 70 is in use.

[0033] <Air handling mechanism> In this example, as shown in Figures 4, 8 and 9(c), the air handling mechanism 80 has an air nozzle 81 which blows knife-shaped air diagonally backward from below toward the end of the medium levitated by the levitation mechanism 70 in the feed direction, and the air blown out from the air nozzle 81 is redirected by an air guide plate 82, and air is blown between the upper medium levitated by the levitation mechanism 70 and the medium located below it, thereby handling the levitated medium. In this example, an air duct 83 is connected to the air nozzle 81, and a blower 84 for blowing out air is connected to this air duct 83. An opening / closing valve 85 for opening and closing the flow path is provided midway through the air duct 83, and this opening / closing valve 85 is opened and closed by a valve motor 86.

[0034] <Lifting mechanism> 4 and 10(a) and (b), the lifting mechanism 90 is provided with hanging parts 91 at four locations on both sides of the width direction of the stacking bottom plate 31 that intersects with the media sending direction, and four wires 92-95 are provided with respective ends that are distributed and connected to each hanging part 91. After each of the wires 92-95 is hung on one or more guide pulleys 96, one end side of each of the wires 92-95 is fixed to a coaxially connected take-up pulley 97 (97a, 97b in this example), and the take-up pulley 97 is rotated by a drive motor 98 that can rotate forward and backward, and each of the wires 92-95 is moved a predetermined amount, thereby lifting and lowering the stacking bottom plate 31 while maintaining a parallel posture. Note that the reference numeral 99 denotes a height sensor for setting the surface of the media among the media loaded on the stacking bottom plate 31 to a predetermined height position.

[0035] - Position Sensor - In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a front-stage position sensor 120 is provided on the upstream side of the delivery roll 40 in the delivery direction of the medium. sending out A rear stage position sensor 130 is provided downstream in the flow direction. Multiple upstream position sensors 120 (two in this example: specifically 120a and 120b) are installed in the area on the feed roll 40 side of the feed direction end position of the medium stored in the storage section 30, just before reaching the nip area NP of the feed roll 40. The upstream position sensors 120 are installed at intervals in the width direction intersecting the medium sending direction, in other words, in the axial direction of the send-out roll 40, and are adapted to detect the position of the end of the medium in the sending direction. For this reason, the upstream position sensors 120 are used as information to determine whether the medium has passed, as well as the degree of skewness of the medium. On the other hand, the rear stage position sensor 130 detects that the medium has passed through the nip area NP of the delivery roll 40, and one is provided within the area through which the medium passes. The front-stage position sensor 120 is, for example, a sensor housing having a light-emitting element that irradiates light toward the medium being fed and a light-receiving element that receives reflected light from the medium, and the front-stage position sensor 120 detects when the end of the medium in the feeding direction reaches the front-stage position sensor 120 at the timing when the light-receiving element receives light. 120The rear stage position sensor 130 has a configuration substantially similar to that of the front stage position sensor 120.

[0036] -Control system- In this example, as shown in Fig. 4, a control device 200 is provided to control the medium supply device 11. This control device 200 is composed of a microcomputer having, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O port, and takes in various information associated with job designation and the like and signals from various sensors (for example, the front stage position sensor 120 and the rear stage position sensor 130) into the CPU, performs calculations according to a program pre-installed in the ROM, and sends out predetermined control signals to each controlled object. In this example, the objects to be controlled include the delivery roll 40, the vacuum head 50 (the suction mechanism 53, the advance / retract mechanism 61), the levitation mechanism 70, the air handling mechanism 80, and the lift mechanism 90. The control device 200 also includes a progress status of the medium supply job. or A display 210 is provided to display warnings regarding abnormalities in the supply state of the media, etc.

[0037] -Media control parts- <Basic behavior of media control parts> In this embodiment, the medium regulation component 100 is shown in FIG. 、 As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the side guides 32 (32a, 32b) are provided with three spaced apart positions on the inner surface that positions and guides the medium S. In particular, in this example, an aspect including a floating mechanism 70 is adopted, and the medium regulating component 100 is disposed in the vicinity of the air outlet 71 of the floating mechanism 70 in the medium delivery direction. In this example, the medium regulation component 100 includes a plate-shaped regulation arm 101 as a regulation member extending horizontally from the inner surface of the side guide 32 (32a, 32b). This restraining arm 101 fulfills three functions. The first function is that the regulating arm 101 is arranged to maintain a horizontal posture as the initial position HP, and contacts the side of the medium that has risen up in the storage section 30 to prevent the medium from falling down. floatingIt is intended to prevent excessive increases. The second function is that when the regulating arm 101 receives a pressing force from below toward above in the direction of gravity, the regulating arm 101 is in the state shown in FIG. Shown in The horizontal projection dimension is reduced compared to when the restricting arm 101 rotates in the direction of the arrow Mu and is located at the initial position HP. This makes it possible to temporarily retract the restricting arm 101 upward from the initial position HP, for example, when temporarily removing the medium S contained in the container 30. The third function is that when the regulating arm 101 receives a pressing force from above toward the bottom in the direction of gravity, the regulating arm 101 is in the state shown in FIG. Shown in It rotates in the direction of the arrow Md and is placed in a retracted position where the horizontal protrusion dimension is reduced compared to when it is at the initial position HP. Therefore, for example, when refilling media into the storage section 30, it is possible to temporarily retract the regulating arm 101 downward from the initial position HP.

[0038] -Example of media control part configuration- In this example, the media control part 100 As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the restrictor 102 includes the aforementioned restricting arm 101, a holding arm 111 used to hold the restricting arm 101 and arranged so as to extend substantially perpendicular to the restricting arm 101 and in the vertical direction, a first rotating shaft 102 that rotatably supports the restricting arm 101 at the lower end side of the holding arm 111, and a second rotating shaft 112 that rotatably supports the upper end side of the holding arm 111 relative to the side guide 32. In this example, the first rotating shaft 102 is disposed substantially directly below the second rotating shaft 112. 。 Furthermore, this example ToIn the present invention, a first biasing spring 103 as a biasing means is attached around the first rotating shaft 102, and this first biasing spring 103 applies a biasing force between the regulating arm 101 and the holding arm 111 so that they maintain an angular relationship of approximately 90°.When the regulating arm 101 rotates in a direction approaching the holding arm 111 around the first rotating shaft 102, the first biasing spring 103 biases the regulating arm 101 relative to the holding arm 111 so as to return it to the initial position HP. In addition, a second biasing spring 113 as a biasing means is attached around the second rotating shaft 112, and this second biasing spring 113 applies a biasing force between the holding arm 111 and the side guide 32 so that the holding arm 111 maintains an approximately vertical position relative to the side guide 32.When the holding arm 111 rotates counterclockwise from the vertical position, the second biasing spring 113 biases the holding arm 111 so as to return it to the vertical position.

[0039] <Restraint mechanism> Furthermore, in this embodiment, a restraining mechanism is provided around the first rotation shaft 102 of the regulating arm 101 and the holding arm 111 as a restraining means. 250 In this example, a restraining mechanism is provided. 250 is a stopper protrusion formed in the vicinity of the first rotating shaft 102 of the regulating arm 101 so as to protrude in the radial direction of the first rotating shaft 102. 251 and a stopper protrusion provided near the first rotation shaft 102 of the holding arm 111, which acts as a stopper protrusion when the regulating arm 101 is located at the initial position HP. 251 The stopper receiving part where the 252 It is equipped with the following: In other words, the restraining mechanism 250 When the regulating arm 101 is located at the initial position HP, the blocking protrusion on the regulating arm 101 251 The retaining arm 111 side receiving portion 252 Therefore, when the regulating arm 101 tries to rotate in the downward rotation direction (Md direction), the holding arm 111 and the regulating arm 101 are restrained by the restraining mechanism. 250 The two components rotate together around the second rotating shaft 112 while maintaining the restrained state.

[0040] <Rotation prevention mechanism> In this example, a rotation-stop mechanism 160 is provided around the second rotation shaft 112 as a limiting means for limiting the rotation of the holding arm 111 in the counterclockwise direction from the vertical position. The rotation prevention mechanism 160 of this example prevents the holding arm 111 from rotating around the second rotation shaft 112. A protrusion 161 is formed so as to protrude in the radial direction of the second rotating shaft 112, and a plate-shaped anti-rotation receiver 162 against which the anti-rotation protrusion 161 abuts is provided on the side guide 32 side. According to this example, when an external force is applied to the holding arm 111 in a counterclockwise direction from a vertical position, Even if The anti-rotation mechanism 160 restricts the counterclockwise rotation of the holding arm 111 .

[0041] <Stopper mechanism> Furthermore, in this embodiment, a stopper mechanism 170 is provided that stops the rotation of the holding arm 111 at a predetermined position when the holding arm 111 rotates clockwise around the second rotation shaft 112. The stopper mechanism 170 is provided at a position on the holding arm 111 opposite to the regulating arm 101, and is connected between the first rotating shaft 102 and the second rotating shaft 112. center A stopper projection 171 is provided in a direction intersecting with the line connecting the above and the side guide 32, and a plate-shaped stopper receiver 172 is provided on the side of the side guide 32 against which the stopper projection 171 abuts. In this example, the stopper receiver 172 is made of the same material as the anti-rotation receiver 162. composition Of course, Materials It may be configured as follows. According to this example, the holding arm 111 rotates clockwise from the vertical position, but the stopper mechanism 170 stops the clockwise rotation of the holding arm 111 when it reaches a predetermined position.

[0042] - Operation of the media control part - (1) Initial position of the control arm The restricting arm 101 is shown in FIG. 142, if no pressure is applied from above or below in the direction of gravity, the image forming apparatus is disposed at a predetermined initial position HP. The initial position HP of the regulating arm 101 is a position protruding in the horizontal direction, and the holding arm 111 is held in a vertical position by the second biasing spring 113 and the rotation prevention mechanism 160. Also, the first biasing spring 103 of the regulating arm 101 and the restraining mechanism 250 Since the projection 114 is maintained at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the holding arm 111 by the projection 114, the projection 114 is selected at a predetermined position. In this example, even if the medium in the storage unit 30 is levitated by the levitation mechanism 70, the side of the medium comes into contact with the regulating arm 101 located at the initial position HP. Excessive floating There is no concern that this will occur.

[0043] (2) Upper rotation of the control arm When the regulating arm 101 receives a pressing force from below toward above in the direction of gravity, a rotation moment acts on the regulating arm 101 in the counterclockwise direction about the first rotation shaft 102, and this rotation moment causes a rotation moment to act on the holding arm 111 in the counterclockwise direction about the second rotation shaft 112. However, since the holding arm 111 is prevented from rotating in the counterclockwise direction by the anti-rotation mechanism 160, the regulating arm 101 rotates in the Mu direction about the first rotation shaft 102. When the downward pressing force in the direction of gravity no longer acts on the regulating arm 101, the regulating arm 101 is returned from the initial position HP by the biasing force of the first biasing spring 103.

[0044] (3) Lower rotation of the control arm When the regulating arm 101 receives a downward pressure in the direction of gravity, as shown in FIG. 15, a rotation moment acts on the regulating arm 101 in the clockwise direction about the first rotation shaft 102. for A rotational moment acts in the clockwise direction around the second rotation shaft 112 . In this case, the regulating arm 101 and the holding arm 111 form a restraining mechanism. 250 Since the regulating arm 101 is constrained by the holding arm 111, the regulating arm 101 rotates clockwise about the second rotation shaft 112 while being constrained by the holding arm 111. As a result, the regulating arm 101 rotates downward in the direction of arrow Md. Then, the holding arm 111 rotates together with the regulating arm 101, and when the stopper mechanism 170 operates, the rotation of the holding arm 111 is stopped, so that the regulating arm 101 is retracted to a predetermined retracted position. In this example, the retracted position of the regulating arm 101 is set on the back side of the side guide 32 from the vertical line connecting the center of the first rotating shaft 102 and the center of the second rotating shaft 112, so the regulating arm 101 is kept completely retracted from the medium storage area. Therefore, there is no concern that the presence of the regulating arm 101 will get in the way when setting the medium in the storage section 30. The side guide 32 has a notch 115 (see FIG. 11) so that the regulating arm 101 can move to the retracted position. 、 See FIG. 12).

[0045] -Example of a good layout for media control parts- In this example, the second rotating shaft 112 is disposed above the first rotating shaft 102, as shown in FIG. 16, and the first rotating shaft 102 is disposed approximately directly below the second rotating shaft 112. In this example, the locus of the tip of the regulating arm 101 when the regulating arm 101 is rotated around the second rotation shaft 112 is Circular locus line including Since m2 is set to be located above the maximum load capacity Lmax of the media stored in the storage section 30, even if the regulating arm 101 is rotated in the downward rotation direction, it will not interfere with the media in the storage section 30. On the other hand, the trajectory of the tip of the regulating arm 101 when it is rotated around the first rotation shaft 102 Circular locus line includingSince m1 is set to reach a position lower than the maximum load amount Lmax of the media contained in the storage unit 30, there is no concern that the gap between the initial position HP of the regulating arm 101 and the maximum load amount Lmax of the media will become unnecessarily large, and excessive lifting of the media by the regulating arm 101 is effectively prevented. Restricted . In this example, the second rotating shaft 112 is set above the first rotating shaft 102, but if the second rotating shaft 112 is set below the first rotating shaft 102, there is a concern that the regulating arm 101 will interfere with the maximum load capacity Lmax of the media stored in the storage section 30.

[0046] ◎Embodiment 2 FIG. 17 shows a main part of a medium supplying device 11 according to the second embodiment. In the figure, the basic configuration of the medium supplying device 11 is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, it can also be used for long media that are longer in length than the normal size in addition to normal size media. 1 The same reference numerals are used and detailed description thereof will be omitted here. In this example, the media supplying device 11 has a main body 300 (having a configuration substantially similar to that of the media supplying device of embodiment 1) that loads and supplies normal-sized media, and a long-length option 400 can be added to this main body 300 to enable long-length media to be stacked and supplied.

[0047] In this example, the main body 300 has a configuration substantially similar to that of the medium supplying device 11 shown in the first embodiment. 1 Unlike the above, the side wall of the housing 12 located on the opposite side to the relay unit 16 is configured to have an opening to which the long option 400 can be connected. Chassis An opening / closing cover 301 is provided at the top of 12 adjacent to the manual feed unit 15 so as to be openable and closable with the manual feed unit 15 side as the rotation fulcrum, and a handle 302 provided on the opening / closing cover 301 is operated to open the opening / closing cover 301, thereby securing a working space for setting the long medium.

[0048] In this example, the long option 400 includes an additional device 401 connected to an opening in the side wall of the main body 300 opposite the relay unit 16, and a modification device 420 that modifies part of the configuration of the main body 300, as shown in Figures 17 to 19. In this example, the change device 420 is provided with a raising platform 421 as a raising section for raising the height of the loading bottom plate 31 which constitutes part of the storage section 30 of the upper drawer 13 in the main body 300, and the surface portion of the raising platform 421 is made into a dedicated loading section 422. The additional device 401 also has an additional loading section 403 installed in the external housing 402 at a position adjacent to the opposite side of the dedicated loading section 422 from the delivery roll 40, and functions as a long medium loading section 410 in which long media can be loaded, with the loading surface of the dedicated loading section 422 and the loading surface of the additional loading section 403 being approximately flush with each other. In particular, in this example, a configuration is adopted in which the loading surface for long media is raised above the loading surface for normal-sized media using a raising platform 421, with the aim of reducing the weight of the long media loaded on the long medium loading section 410 and reducing the load on the lifting mechanism 90.

[0049] Furthermore, in this example, in addition to the configuration for raising and lowering the loading bottom plate 31 in embodiment 1, the lifting mechanism 90 is equipped with a plurality of hanging parts 405, a plurality of wires 406, and a plurality of guide pulleys 407 for raising and lowering the additional loading part 403, and the additional loading part 403 is suspended and supported by the plurality of wires 406. Furthermore, after the plurality of wires 406 are hung around the guide pulley 96, which is an existing component of the lifting mechanism 90 on the main body part 300 side, one end of each wire 406 is fixed to the take-up pulley 97, which is an existing component, and the drive motor 98, which is an existing component, is rotated so that the additional loading part 403 and the dedicated loading part 422 are raised and lowered at the same time.

[0050] Furthermore, within the external housing 402 of the additional device 401, additional side guides 432 (specifically 432a, 432b) are provided around the additional stacking section 403 to position and guide both sides in the width direction intersecting the feed direction of the long medium, and the existing end guides 33 are also used for the additional stacking section 403. Furthermore, this additional side guide 432 is equipped with an additional floating mechanism 440, and an additional media regulation part 450 is installed to prevent the side edges from floating excessively when the long medium is floated. In addition, in Figure 19, reference numeral 441 denotes an air outlet of the additional floating mechanism 440, and the additional media regulation part 450 is provided near the air outlet 441.

[0051] In this manner, in the media supplying device 11 using the long length option 400, the long length media is stored in the long length stacking section 410, and the surface of the long length media is positioned at a predetermined position by the lifting mechanism 90, and in this state, an instruction to supply the media is awaited. When a medium supply command is issued, the levitation mechanism 70 and the additional levitation mechanism 440 but The vacuum head 50 sucks the top surface of the long medium in the feeding direction and transports it to the feed roll 40. The air handling mechanism 80 then sucks the top surface of the long medium in the feeding direction and transports it to the feed roll 40. Long A medium supplying operation is performed in which the end portion of the medium on the delivery direction side is separated one by one and handed over to the delivery roll 40. At this time, long media tend to be more prone to skewing than normal-sized media, but this example is extremely effective in that it detects the condition of the end of the long media in the sending direction and makes it easy to determine whether the supply condition of the long media is within an acceptable range or an abnormal range. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...medium regulation component, 2...regulation member, 3...holding member, 4...first rotating shaft, 5...second rotating shaft, 6...limiting means, 7...restraining means, 8...urging means, 150...medium supply Apparatus, 151... storage means, 152... sending means, 153... delivery means, 154... floating means, 154a... air blowing

Claims

1. A media regulation component used in a media supplying device that supplies a sheet of media contained in a storage means, the media regulation component regulating excessive lifting of the media contained in the storage means, a regulating member that protrudes horizontally from the periphery of the storage means and contacts the raised medium; a holding member that holds the regulating member in a non-contact state with the medium; a first rotation shaft that rotatably supports the regulating member relative to the holding member; a second rotating shaft that rotatably supports the holding member relative to the housing means; Equipped with when the regulating member receives a pressing force from below in the direction of gravity, the regulating member rotates about the first rotation axis in a state in which the movement of the holding member is restricted, The medium regulating component, wherein when a pressing force is applied from above in the direction of gravity, the regulating member presses the holding member, thereby rotating about the second rotation axis.

2. A media regulation component used in a media supplying device that supplies a sheet of media contained in a storage means, the media regulation component regulating excessive lifting of the media contained in the storage means, a regulating member that protrudes horizontally from the periphery of the storage means and contacts the raised medium; a holding member that holds the regulating member in a non-contact state with the medium; a first rotation shaft that rotatably supports the regulating member relative to the holding member; a second rotating shaft that rotatably supports the holding member relative to the housing means; a limiting means for limiting the movement of the holding member when the regulating member rotates upward under the application of a pressing force from below in the direction of gravity; a restraining means for restraining the regulating member with respect to the holding member when the regulating member is rotated downward by a pressing force from above in a gravity direction; a biasing means for biasing the regulating member so as to return to the initial position when the regulating member rotates in an upward rotation direction or a downward rotation direction from an initial position where the regulating member protrudes in a horizontal direction; A media regulating component comprising:

3. 3. The medium control component according to claim 1, The medium regulating component, wherein the second rotation shaft is disposed above the first rotation shaft.

4. The medium control component according to claim 3 , The medium regulating component, wherein the first rotation shaft is disposed substantially directly below the second rotation shaft.

5. 3. The medium regulation component according to claim 2, The media regulating component is characterized in that the biasing means is provided around the first rotation axis and has a first biasing means that biases the regulating member in a direction returning it to its initial position when the regulating member rotates in an upward rotation direction.

6. The medium control member according to claim 2 or 5, The media regulating component is characterized in that the biasing means is provided around the second rotation axis and is equipped with a second biasing means that biases the regulating member in a direction returning it to its initial position when the regulating member rotates in a downward rotation direction while being restrained by the holding member.

7. 3. The medium regulation component according to claim 2, The media regulation component, wherein the restricting means is a rotation preventing portion that prevents the holding member from rotating relative to the accommodation means when the regulating member rotates in an upward rotation direction.

8. 3. The medium regulation component according to claim 2, The medium regulating component is characterized in that the restraining means stops the regulating member against the holding member when the regulating member rotates in a downward rotation direction, restraining both of them and rotating them together.

9. 3. The medium control component according to claim 1, The medium regulating component, wherein the regulating member is retractable to a retracted position past a vertical direction passing through the second rotation axis when rotating in a downward rotation direction.

10. A storage means for storing a sheet of media; a sending means provided on the side of the medium in the sending direction of the medium stored in the storage means, the sending means configured to send out the medium one by one; a transfer means provided above the storage means for transferring the medium stored in the storage means to the sending means; a medium regulation component according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is provided around the storage means and regulates excessive lifting of the stored medium; A medium supplying device comprising:

11. 11. The medium supply device according to claim 10, A medium supplying device characterized in that a circular trajectory line including the rotational trajectory of the protruding end of the regulating member with the second rotation axis as the center of rotation is selected to be positioned above the maximum load line of the medium stored in the storage means.

12. 12. The media supply device according to claim 11, A medium supplying device characterized in that a circular trajectory line including the rotational trajectory of the protruding end of the regulating member with the first rotation axis as the center of rotation is selected so as to reach a position below the maximum load line of the medium stored in the storage means.

13. 11. The medium supply device according to claim 10, a levitation means provided on a side intersecting a direction in which the medium stored in the storage means is fed, the levitation means blowing air against the side of the medium to separate and levitate an upper region of the medium; The medium supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the delivery means adsorbs the medium levitated by the levitation means and delivers the medium to the sending means.

14. 14. The medium supply device according to claim 13, The medium supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the medium regulating component is installed on a side portion of the storage means, near an air outlet of the flotation means.

15. 11. The medium supply device according to claim 10, The storage means has a standard storage section capable of storing a medium of normal size when storing a long medium whose dimension in the medium sending direction is longer than a normal length dimension, and an extended storage section adjacent to and extending from the standard storage section, A medium supplying device, characterized in that the medium regulating component is provided in both the standard storage section and the extended storage section.

16. A medium supplying device according to any one of claims 10 to 15; a processing means for performing a predetermined process on the medium supplied from the medium supply device; A media processing device comprising:

Images