Article support stand, supply device, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an article support stand that can properly support an article bundle consisting of multiple laminated plate-like articles with partially different thicknesses.SOLUTION: In a feeding device that sucks with air and feeds, by a feeding part, a plurality of laminated thin plate-like articles with partially different thicknesses at the top of an article bundle of the thin plate-like articles, an article support stand 5 supports the article bundle with a gap left between the thin plate-like article at the top and the feeding part, and includes a first support part 40 that supports a thin part of the thin plate-like article, a vertically movable second support part 50 that supports a thick part of the thin plate-like article, and an adjustment part 60 that adjusts the height of the second support part 50 so that the thin plate-like article at the top of the article bundle falls within a predetermined range in the vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an article support for supporting a thin plate-shaped article, a supply device including the article support, and an image forming device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a technique for detecting the rear end portion of an envelope to be an image forming target in a tray that houses the envelope in an image forming apparatus.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In such an image forming apparatus, the thin plate-shaped articles are housed in a tray as a bundle of articles in a stacked state. Therefore, when the thin plate-shaped articles are partially different in thickness, such as envelopes, the thin plate-shaped article at the uppermost part in the bundle of articles will have an inclined posture due to the stacking of the thickness differences. Such a thin plate-shaped article in an inclined posture may hinder the supply out of the tray, so the number of stacked sheets is limited to a small number.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an article support, a supply device, and an image forming device capable of suitably supporting a bundle of thin plate-shaped articles in which a plurality of thin plate-shaped articles having partially different thicknesses are stacked.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention for solving the above problems has the following configuration. 1. A supply device that feeds the uppermost thin plate-shaped article from a stack of articles, each consisting of multiple thin plate-shaped articles of partially different thicknesses, by using air suction from a feeding unit, comprising: an article support stand that supports the article stack with a gap between the uppermost thin plate-shaped article and the feeding unit, the support stand comprising: a first support part that supports the thin portion of the thin plate-shaped article; a second support part that is vertically movable and supports the thicker portion of the thin plate-shaped article; and an adjustment part that adjusts the height of the second support part so that the uppermost thin plate-shaped article in the article stack is within a predetermined range in the vertical direction. It also comprises a pair of the first support portion, the second support portion, and the adjustment portion, and the pair of the aforementioned combinations are arranged in the width direction of the bundle of articles. Article support stand. 2. The article support stand according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment part comprises a biasing part that biases the second support part upward. 3. The article support stand according to claim 1, wherein the second support portion is pivotally supported relative to the first support portion. 4. The article support stand according to claim 1, wherein the second support portion comprises a sensor holding portion capable of holding a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the thin plate-shaped article. 5. The article support stand according to paragraph 1, wherein the first support portion is capable of having a riser portion attached to the upper part of the first support portion. 6. The article support stand according to claim 1, further comprising a position restricting portion that restricts the position of the end of the article bundle that is on the second support portion side, at a position lower than the second support portion when the article bundle is not being supported. 7. The article support stand according to 6, wherein a rib extending in the vertical direction is formed on the surface of the position regulating portion that faces the bundle of articles. 8. The article support stand according to claim 1, further comprising a third support portion for supporting the bundle of articles on the side of the second support portion opposite to the first support portion. 9. The distance between the parts that support the bundle of articles in the pair of second support parts is smaller than the distance between the parts that support the bundle of articles in the pair of first support parts. The above 1 The item support stand described above. 10. It comprises a connecting portion for linking a pair of the aforementioned combinations, and a handle portion is formed on the connecting portion. The above 1 The item support stand described above. 11. The article support stand according to claim 1, wherein the thin plate-like article is an envelope. 12. Any of the above 1 to 11 A supply device comprising: an article support stand as described above; and a supply unit that uses air to suck and supply the uppermost thin plate-shaped article from the bundle of articles supported by the article support stand. 13. The bundle of articles supported by the article support base is provided with a floating section for levitating the uppermost thin plate-shaped article, and the feeding section feeds the levitated thin plate-shaped article. The aforementioned 12 The supply device described above. 14. The second support portion is positioned downstream of the first support portion in the feeding direction of the thin plate-shaped article. The aforementioned 12 The supply device described above. 15. The article support base is provided on the lifting plate, which is movable in the vertical direction. The aforementioned 12 The supply device described above. 16. The above 12 An image forming apparatus comprising a supply device as described above, and an image forming unit that forms an image on the thin plate-shaped article supplied from the supply device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a bundle of articles consisting of multiple stacked thin plate-like articles with partially different thicknesses can be suitably supported, and even when there are many stacked articles, the topmost thin plate-like article can be positioned in a suitable orientation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing a supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic side view (cross-sectional view along line II-II in Figure 1) of a supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a schematic perspective view showing an article support stand set used in a supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]It is a side view schematically showing an article support base set used in a supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a rear view schematically showing a square Japanese-style envelope as an example of a thin plate-like article. [Figure 6] It is a rear view schematically showing an inner-pasted long Japanese-style envelope as an example of a thin plate-like article. [Figure 7] It is a rear view schematically showing a stamped long Japanese-style envelope as an example of a thin plate-like article. [Figure 8] It is a plan view schematically showing an example of the support state of a square Japanese-style envelope by an article support base set according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a side view schematically showing an example of the support state of a square Japanese-style envelope by an article support base set according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a side view schematically showing an example of the support state of a square Japanese-style envelope by an article support base set according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a plan view schematically showing an example of the support state of an inner-pasted type long Japanese-style envelope by an article support base according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a side view schematically showing an example of the support state of an inner-pasted type long Japanese-style envelope by an article support base according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] It is a plan view schematically showing an example of the support state of a stamped type long Japanese-style envelope by an article support base according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] It is a rear view schematically showing an example of the support state of a stamped type long Japanese-style envelope by an article support base according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] It is a side view schematically showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the reference drawings, "front and rear" indicates the feeding direction of the thin plate-shaped article (downstream is front, upstream is rear), and "left and right" indicates the width direction of the thin plate-shaped article (directions perpendicular to the feeding direction and the vertical direction).

[0010] <Feeding device> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the supply device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an air separation type that separates thin plate-shaped articles 2 stacked vertically by blowing air onto them, and then transports the separated thin plate-shaped articles 2 to the outside. The supply device 1 has as its basic configuration a bottom wall section 201, a front wall section 202, a lifting plate section 203, a position regulating section 204, a pair of left and right floating sections 205, 205, a front floating section 206, and a feeding section 207. The supply device 1 also includes sensors 221, 222 and a control section 223.

[0011] ≪Bottom wall section≫ The bottom wall portion 201 extends horizontally (in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions) and constitutes the floor surface of the supply device 1.

[0012] ≪Front wall section≫ The front wall portion 202 extends upward from the front end of the bottom wall portion 201. The front wall portion 202 is a position regulating portion that restricts the position of the front end of the thin plate-like article 2 provided on the lifting plate portion 203 (i.e., the forward movement of the thin plate-like article 2).

[0013] ≪Lifting Plate Section≫ The lifting plate section 203 is a plate-shaped metal member provided on the upper side of the bottom wall section 201, extending horizontally and configured to be movable vertically. The lifting plate section 203 has holes, notches, etc., formed therein to allow movement of the position regulating section 204 and the floating section 205.

[0014] ≪Position regulation part≫ The position regulating section 204 is provided above the bottom wall section 201 so as to protrude upward from the lifting plate section 203, and regulates the position of the rear end of the thin plate-shaped article 2 provided on the lifting plate section 203 (i.e., the rearward movement of the thin plate-shaped article 2). The position regulating section 204 is configured to be manually movable in the front-rear direction relative to the bottom wall section 201, and can accommodate thin plate-shaped articles 2 of various sizes.

[0015] ≪Floating part≫ The floating section 205 is provided above the bottom wall section 201 so as to protrude upward from the lifting plate section 203, and is a fan that blows air from the side onto the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 among the thin plate-shaped articles 2 provided on the lifting plate section 203, thereby levitating the thin plate-shaped article 2. The floating section 205 is configured to be manually movable left and right relative to the bottom wall section 201, and can accommodate thin plate-shaped articles 2 of various sizes. The housing section in which the fans are housed in a pair of floating sections 205 also functions as a position regulating section that restricts the position of the widthwise end of the thin plate-shaped article 2 provided on the lifting plate section 203 (i.e., the movement of the thin plate-shaped article 2 in the widthwise direction).

[0016] ≪Floating part≫ The levitation section 206 is a fan that blows air from the front onto the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 among the thin plate-shaped articles 2 provided on the lifting plate section 203, thereby causing the thin plate-shaped article 2 to levitate.

[0017] ≪Feeding section≫ The feeding unit 210 is located above the front wall 202 and transports the thin plate-shaped article 2, which has been lifted by the floating part 206, by suction with air, and supplies it to the outside (front) of the supply device 1. The feeding unit 210 comprises a drive roller 211 and a driven roller 212, a suction belt 213 which is an endless belt with multiple holes that is wound around the drive roller 211 and the driven roller 212, and a suction unit 214 provided on the inner circumference of the suction belt 213.

[0018] ≪Sensor≫ Sensor 221 is provided on the lifting plate section 203 and detects the presence or absence of a thin plate-shaped article 2 located above it, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 223. Sensor 222 is provided on the upper part of the front wall section 202 and detects the presence or absence of a thin plate-shaped article 2 located at the same height as sensor 222, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 223.

[0019] ≪Control Unit≫ The control unit 223 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read-Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), input / output circuits, etc. When the thin plate-shaped article 2 is detected by the sensor 221, the control unit 223 raises the lifting plate section 203 by controlling a mechanism (motor, etc.) not shown. Here, when the thin plate-shaped article 2 is detected by the sensor 222, the control unit 223 sets the lifting plate section 203 (i.e., the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2) to a desired height by stopping a mechanism not shown. Here, the gap C between the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 and the feeding section 210 (the lower surface of the suction belt 213) is set to a predetermined value. In this state, the floating sections 205 and 206 are configured to blow air onto the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2. The suction belt 213 is positioned a predetermined height above the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2.

[0020] Next, the control unit 223 controls the floating parts 205 and 206 to make the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 float. The control unit 223 also controls the suction unit 214 to suck up the floated thin plate-shaped article 2 and attach it to the suction belt 213 (suction by air), and controls the motor for rotating the drive roller 211 to transport the thin plate-shaped article 2 attached to the suction belt 213 and supply it to the outside of the supply device 1.

[0021] <Item support stand set> As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the article support stand set 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided on a lifting plate section 203 when supplying thin plate-shaped articles 2 of varying thickness, such as envelopes, by a supply device 1, and is used to support an article bundle 3 which is a stack of multiple thin plate-shaped articles 2. The article support stand set 4 comprises an article support stand 5 and a pair of auxiliary article support stands 6, 6.

[0022] <Article support stand> The article support stand 5 comprises a pair of bases 10, 10, a position regulating part 20, and a connecting part 30. Furthermore, each base 10 of the article support stand 5 is provided with a first support part 40, a second support part 50, an adjustment part 60, a raising part 70, and a pair of front and rear third support parts 80, 80.

[0023] <Base> The base portion 10 is a long, plate-shaped metal member that extends in the feeding direction of the thin plate-shaped article 2, i.e., in the front-to-back direction. The base portion 10 can be fixed to the lifting plate portion 203 by magnetic force. The pair of base portions 10, 10 are provided parallel to each other with a predetermined distance between them in the width direction. In this embodiment, the pair of base portions 10, 10 are two opposing sides of a rectangular frame-shaped metal member. That is, the front ends of the pair of base portions 10, 10 are integrally connected by a front edge portion 11 that extends in the width direction, and the rear ends of the pair of base portions 10, 10 are integrally connected by a rear edge portion 12 that extends in the width direction.

[0024] <Position regulation part> The position regulating section 20 is a resin member that connects the front ends of a pair of bases 10, 10 to each other and regulates the position of the front end of the article bundle 3, which is a stack of multiple thin plate-shaped articles 2 supported by the article support base 5. The position regulating section 20 integrally comprises a bottom wall section 21, a front wall section 22 extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall section 21, and an extended wall section 23 extending upward from the widthwise middle portion of the upper end of the front wall section 22. The rear end of the bottom wall section 21 is fixed to the front ends and front edge sections 11 of the pair of bases 10, 10. The rear surfaces of the front wall section 22 and the extended wall section 23 have an arc shape centered on the pivot axes A1 and A2 when viewed from the side.

[0025] Furthermore, the position regulating section 20 includes a plurality of ribs 24 erected rearward from the rear surfaces of the front wall section 22 and the extended wall section 23. The ribs 24 extend in the vertical direction, and the plurality of ribs 24 are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction. The tip portions (rear end faces) of the ribs 24 have an arc shape centered on the pivot axes A1 and A2 when viewed from the side.

[0026] <Connection part> The connecting portion 30 is a resin member that connects the rear ends of a pair of base portions 10, 10 to each other. The connecting portion 30 integrally comprises a bottom wall portion 31 and a rear wall portion 32 extending upward from the rear end of the bottom wall portion 31. The front end of the bottom wall portion 31 is fixed to the rear ends and rear edge portions 12 of the pair of base portions 10, 10. A handle portion 33 is formed on the upper part of the rear wall portion 32. The handle portion 33 has a hole that penetrates the rear wall portion 32 in the front-rear direction and is configured to be grasped by the user.

[0027] The connecting portion 30 is provided with a downward projection extending from the bottom wall portion 31. The downward projection is fitted into a groove extending in the front-rear direction at the center of the width direction of the lifting plate portion 203, thereby restricting the movement of the connecting portion 30 in the width direction and positioning the article support base 5 in the width direction.

[0028] <First support section> The first support portion 40 is a resin member integrally comprising a bottom wall portion 41 and a pair of side wall portions 42, 42 extending upward from both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall portion 41. The bottom wall portion 41 is formed to have approximately the same width dimension as the base portion 10 and is attached to the longitudinal middle portion of the base portion 10. The first support portion 40 supports the portion of the bundle of articles 3 in which the thin parts 2X of the thin plate-like articles 2 are stacked on the upper surface of the side wall portions 42 (see Figure 8).

[0029] The side wall portion 42 integrally comprises a lower portion 42a which is wide in the front-rear direction, an inclined portion 42b which extends upward from the upper end of the lower portion 42a and narrows towards the rear as it goes upward, and an upper portion 42c which extends upward from the inclined portion 42b and is narrower in the front-rear direction than the lower portion 42a. The inclined portion 42b is a part that avoids interference with the intermediate portion 52 of the second support portion 50 which will be described later, and the upper portion 42c is the part to which the riser portion 70 which will be described later is attached.

[0030] <Second support point> The second support portion 50 extends in the front-rear direction and is a resin member integrally comprising a base portion 51, an intermediate portion 52, and a tip portion 53, in that order from rear to front. The base portion 51 is housed between a pair of side wall portions 42, 42 and is pivotally supported by the pair of side wall portions 42, 42 so as to be rotatable around a pivot axis A1. When the bundle of articles 3 is unsupported, the base portion 51 is inclined upward as it moves forward in a side view. The intermediate portion 52 is inclined upward as it moves forward in a side view when the bundle of articles 3 is unsupported. The intermediate portion 62 is also inclined inward in the width direction as it moves forward in a plan view. When the bundle of articles 3 is unsupported, the tip portion 53 extends substantially horizontally in a side view. The second support portion 50 supports the portion of the bundle of articles 3 where the thicker parts 2Y of the thin plate-like articles 2 are overlapped at the upper surface of the tip portion 53 (see Figure 8). Furthermore, the first support portion 40 and / or the second support portion 50 are provided with a rotation restricting portion that restricts the rotation of the second support portion 50 so as to cause the tip portion 53 to move above the horizontal when the bundle of articles 3 is not supported.

[0031] The tip portion 53 includes a sensor holding portion 53a, which is a recess capable of holding the sensor 221, and a through hole portion 53b formed on the bottom surface of the sensor holding portion 53a. The sensor 221 is detachable from both the lifting plate portion 203 and the sensor holding portion 53a of the tip portion 53. The sensor 221, housed and held in the sensor holding portion 53a, is connected to the control unit 223 by wiring passing through the through hole portion 53b.

[0032] <Adjustment part> The adjustment unit 60 adjusts the height of the tip 53 of the second support unit 50 so that the topmost thin plate-shaped article 2 of the bundle of articles 3 is within a predetermined range R (see Figure 9) in the vertical direction. That is, the topmost thin plate-shaped article 2 has a height difference of less than or equal to the predetermined range R at each position in its plane, and is in a substantially horizontal position. On the other hand, the bottommost thin plate-shaped article 2 is supported by the first support unit 40 (raising unit 70) and the second support unit 50, which are of different heights, so the height difference of each position in its plane exceeds the predetermined range R, and is in an inclined position. In this embodiment, the adjustment unit 60 is a biasing unit that elastically biases the second support unit 50 upward, and is, for example, a coil spring provided on the pivot axis A1 of the second support unit 50.

[0033] The predetermined range R is a value set in advance based on the thickness of the thin plate-like article 2 to be supplied, the vertical dimensions of the passage to which the thin plate-like article 2 is supplied, etc. In the article support base 5, the biasing force of the adjustment part 60, the distance between the side wall portion 42 of the first support portion 40 and the tip portion 53 of the second support portion 50, etc. are appropriately set so that the uppermost thin plate-like article 2 is within the predetermined range R.

[0034] The adjustment unit 60 adjusts the height of the tip 53 of the second support unit 50 so that the height difference between the thin part 2X and the thick part 2Y of the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 in the bundle of articles 3 is smaller than the height difference between the thin part 2X and the thick part 2Y of the lowermost thin plate-shaped article 2 in the bundle of articles 3.

[0035] <Raising section> The riser portion 70 is a resin member that can be attached to and detached from the upper ends of a pair of side wall portions 42, 42 of the first support portion 40. The riser portion 70 integrally comprises an upper wall portion 71, a front wall portion 72 extending downward from the front end of the upper wall portion 71, and a rear wall portion 73 extending downward from the rear end of the upper wall portion 71. The riser portion 70 is fitted to the side wall portions 42, 42 so as not to move in the front-rear direction.

[0036] <Third support point> The third support portion 80 is a resin member integrally comprising a bottom wall portion 81 and a pair of side wall portions 82, 82 extending upward from both ends in the width direction of the bottom wall portion 81. The bottom wall portion 81 is formed to have approximately the same width dimension as the base portion 10 and is detachably attached to the longitudinal rear of the base portion 10. The third support portion 80 is provided behind the first support portion 40 and supports the portion of the bundle of articles 3 in which the thin parts 2X of the thin plate-like articles 2 are stacked on the upper surface of the side wall portions 82 (see Figure 8).

[0037] <Auxiliary article support stand> The auxiliary article support base 6 is provided on the outside in the width direction of the article support base 5 and comprises a base portion 110, a support portion 120, and an adjustment portion 130.

[0038] <Base> The base portion 110 is a resin member integrally comprising a long plate-shaped bottom wall portion 111 extending in the front-rear direction, a pair of side wall portions 112, 112 extending upward from both ends in the width direction at the middle of the bottom wall portion 111 in the front-rear direction, and a handle portion 113 extending upward at the rear of the bottom wall portion 111. A metal piece or the like that which can be fixed to the lifting plate portion 203 by magnetic force may be attached to the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 111.

[0039] <Support part> The support portion 120 extends in the front-rear direction and integrally comprises a base portion 121 and a tip portion 122, in that order from rear to front. The rear end of the base portion 121 is housed between a pair of side wall portions 112, 112 and is pivotally supported on the pair of side wall portions 112, 112 so as to be rotatable around the pivot axis A2. In the unsupported state of the bundle of articles 3, the base portion 121, like the base end portion 51 and intermediate portion 52 of the second support portion 50, is inclined upward as it moves forward in a side view. In the unsupported state of the bundle of articles 3, the tip portion 122, like the tip portion 53 of the second support portion 50, extends in a substantially horizontal direction in a side view. The support portion 120 supports the portion of the bundle of articles 3 where the thicker portions 2Y of the thin plate-like articles 2 are stacked on the upper surface of the tip portion 122 (see Figure 8). Furthermore, the base 110 and / or support portion 120 are provided with a rotation restricting portion that restricts the rotation of the support portion 120 so that the tip portion 122 moves above the horizontal when the bundle of articles 3 is not supported.

[0040] <Adjustment part> The adjustment unit 130 adjusts the height of the tip 122 of the support unit 120 so that the thin plate-shaped article 2 at the top of the bundle of articles 3 is within a predetermined range R (see Figure 9) in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the adjustment unit 130 is a biasing unit that elastically biases the support unit 120 upward, and is, for example, a coil spring provided on the pivot axis A2 of the support unit 120.

[0041] <Relationship between the position and height of the support structure> In the unsupported state of the bundle of articles 3, the upper surface of the upper wall portion 71 of the riser portion 70 fitted onto the side wall portion 42 of the first support portion 40, the upper surface of the tip portion 53 of the second support portion 50, the upper surface of the side wall portion 82 of the third support portion 80, the upper surface of the tip portion 122 of the support portion 120, and the upper edge portion of the extension wall portion 43 are set to the same height. Furthermore, the tip portion 53 of the second support portion 50 and the tip portion 122 of the support portion 120 are located at the same position in the front-rear direction and are arranged in the width direction. The distance between the tip portions 53 of the pair of second support portions 50 is narrower than the distance between the inner side wall portions 42, 42 of the pair of first support portions 40, and the distance between the inner side wall portions 82, 82 of the pair of third support portions 80. In other words, the spacing between the pair of first support parts 40 and the spacing between the pair of third support parts 80 is set to a dimension that allows the position regulating part 204 to be placed.

[0042] <Square Japanese-style envelope> As shown in Figure 5, in a rectangular Japanese envelope 2A, which is an example of a thin plate-like article 2, the bottom part where the closure is formed by the overlap is a thick part 2Y in the direction perpendicular to the width direction, and the parts other than the bottom are thin parts 2X.

[0043] <Long, traditional Japanese envelope with a center seal> As shown in Figure 6, in the case of a long, center-sealed Japanese envelope 2B, which is an example of a thin plate-like article 2, the bottom portion where the closure is formed by the overlap is a thicker portion 2Y in the direction perpendicular to the width direction, and the parts other than the bottom are thin portions 2X. In addition, in the width direction of the long, center-sealed Japanese envelope 2B, the central part in the width direction where the closure is formed by the overlap is a thicker portion 2Y, and the other parts are thin portions 2X.

[0044] <Long, traditional Japanese envelope with corner seal> As shown in Figure 7, in the case of a long, corner-sealed Japanese envelope 2C, which is an example of a thin plate-like article 2, the bottom portion where the closure is formed by the overlap is a thick portion 2Y in the direction perpendicular to the width direction, and the parts other than the bottom are thin portions 2X. Also, in the width direction of the long, corner-sealed Japanese envelope 2C, one end in the width direction where the closure is formed by the overlap is a thick portion 2Y, and the other parts are thin portions 2X.

[0045] <Support method for Japanese-style envelopes (square)> As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the bundle of articles 3, in which the rectangular Japanese envelopes 2A are stacked, is supported by the article support base set 4 and positioned by the first support part 40, and the position regulating part 204 and floating part 205, 205, whose positions are adjusted according to the size of the Japanese envelopes 2A. In the bundle of articles 3, in which the rectangular Japanese envelopes 2A are stacked, the portion where the thin parts 2X are stacked is supported by being placed on the upper wall part 71 of the raising part 70 provided on the first support part 40 and on the side walls 82, 82 of the third support part 80. In addition, in the bundle of articles 3, in which the rectangular Japanese envelopes 2A are stacked, the portion where the thick parts 2Y are stacked is supported by being placed on the tip part 53 of the second support part 50 and on the tip part 122 of the support part 120. Here, the second support part 50 rotates around the pivot axis A1 so that the tip part 53 is lowered against the biasing force of the adjustment part 60 due to the weight of the thick part 2Y. Furthermore, the support portion 120 rotates around the pivot axis A2 so that the tip portion 122 is lowered, resisting the biasing force of the adjustment portion 130 due to the weight of the thick portion 2Y. In this state, the tip portions 53 and 122 (upper surfaces) are inclined downwards as they move forward in a side view, supporting the portion of the bundle of articles 3 where the thick portion 2Y is stacked.

[0046] In this state, the thicker portion 2Y of the bottommost Japanese envelope 2A in the bundle of items 3 is lower than the thinner portion 2X. Also, the thicker portion 2Y of the topmost Japanese envelope 2A in the bundle of items 3 is at approximately the same height as the thinner portion 2X. In other words, in the topmost Japanese envelope 2A, the thin portion 2X and the thicker portion 2Y are positioned within a predetermined range R (approximately horizontal) in the vertical direction. That is, when supported by the item support base set 4, the height difference between the thin portion 2X and the thicker portion 2Y of the topmost Japanese envelope 2A in the bundle of items 3 is smaller than the height difference between the thin portion 2X and the thicker portion 2Y of the bottommost Japanese envelope 2A in the bundle of items 3. Furthermore, the gap C between the topmost Japanese envelope 2A in the bundle of items 3 and the feeding unit 210 is set to a predetermined value.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, when the uppermost Japanese envelope 2A of the bundle of goods 3 is supplied to the outside and the bundle of goods 3 becomes thinner, the control unit 223 (see Figure 1) raises the lifting plate 203. Also, the second support unit 50 (see Figure 8) rotates around the pivot axis A1 so that its tip 53 rises as the bundle of goods 3 becomes lighter. Similarly, the support unit 120 rotates around the pivot axis A2 so that its tip 122 rises as the bundle of goods 3 becomes lighter. At this time, the front end of the Japanese envelope 2A slides against the rib 44. As a result, the gap C between the uppermost Japanese envelope 2A of the bundle of goods 3 and the feeding unit 210 is maintained at a predetermined value.

[0048] Furthermore, if the number of stacked articles in the bundle 3 is small, the left and right raising sections 70 may be removed. In this case, the portion of the bundle 3 where the thinner parts 2X are stacked is placed on and supported by the side walls 42, 42 of the first support section 40.

[0049] Furthermore, if all of the Japanese envelopes 2A in the bundle of goods 3 are supplied to the outside, the control unit 223 can stop the lifting plate 203 from rising when the sensor 222 detects the extended wall portion 43.

[0050] <Supporting methods for Japanese envelopes (long, with center closure)> Next, we will explain the method for supporting the long, sealed Japanese envelope 2B, focusing on the differences from the method for supporting the square Japanese envelope 2A. In the drawings referenced in the following explanation, the floating parts 205, 206 and the feeding part 210 are omitted as appropriate. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the stack of articles 3, on which the long, sealed Japanese envelopes 2B are stacked, is supported by the article support base 5 and positioned by the position regulating part 20, as well as the position regulating parts 204 and floating parts 205, 205, whose positions are adjusted according to the size of the Japanese envelopes 2B. In the long, sealed Japanese envelope 2B, the thick part 2Y in the center in the width direction is located between the pair of front ends 53, 53 in the width direction, so it has little effect on the posture of the uppermost Japanese envelope 2B. In the example shown in Figure 11, the pair of front and rear third support parts 80 on the right side are removed, but the pair of front and rear third support parts 80 on the right side may be provided on the base 10.

[0051] <Supporting methods for Japanese envelopes (long, corner-sealed)> Next, we will explain the method for supporting the corner-sealed long Japanese envelope 2C, focusing on the differences from the method for supporting the center-sealed long Japanese envelope 2B. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the stack of articles 3, in which the corner-sealed long Japanese envelopes 2C are stacked, is supported by the article support base 5 and positioned by the position regulating part 20, and the position regulating parts 204 and floating parts 205, 205 whose positions are adjusted according to the size of the Japanese envelopes 2C. Furthermore, in the article support base 5, the raising part 70 and the third support part 80 on the side corresponding to the thick part 2Y at one end in the width direction of the Japanese envelope 2C are removed. With this configuration, the article support base 5 can accommodate not only the difference in thickness of the Japanese envelopes 2C in the feeding direction, but also the thickness of the Japanese envelopes 2C in the width direction, and the orientation of the uppermost Japanese envelope 2C can be made approximately horizontal.

[0052] <Image forming apparatus> The aforementioned supply device 1 is suitably used as a device for supplying thin plate-shaped articles 2 to an image forming apparatus. Examples of such image forming apparatuses include photocopiers, printers, facsimile machines, printing presses, and multifunction devices. The following explanation will describe an example where an image forming apparatus equipped with the supply device 1 is applied to a photocopier.

[0053] As shown in Figure 15, the image forming apparatus 301 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an image forming apparatus main body 310, an image reading device 320, an automatic document feeder 330, and a supply device 1.

[0054] The image forming apparatus main body 310 includes, for example, a storage section 311, a supply section 312, an image forming section 313, and a discharge section 314. The storage section 311 stores a bundle of stacked thin plate-shaped articles 2. The supply section 312 takes the thin plate-shaped articles 2 stored in the storage section 311, removes them from the storage section 311, and transports them to the image forming section 313.

[0055] The image forming unit 313 is the part that forms an image on the thin plate-shaped article 2 transported from the supply unit 312 based on the image signal transmitted from the image reading device 320. For example, the image forming method in the image forming unit 313 can be an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, etc. For example, if the image forming unit 313 uses an electrophotographic method, it includes a toner image forming unit, an intermediate transfer belt, a fixing unit, etc., and forms a toner image on one main surface of the thin plate-shaped article 2. If the image forming unit 313 uses an inkjet method, it includes an inkjet head and forms an ink image on one main surface of the thin plate-shaped article 2.

[0056] The discharge unit 314 discharges the thin plate-shaped article 2, on which an image has been formed in the image forming unit 313, to the outside of the image forming apparatus body 310.

[0057] The image reading device 320 optically reads an image from a document transported by the automatic document feeder 330, processes the read image signal, and transmits it to the image forming unit 313.

[0058] The automatic document feeder 330 is equipped with a document tray and transports documents placed on the document tray to the image reading device 320.

[0059] The supply device 1 is connected to the main body 310 of the image forming apparatus and supplies the thin plate-shaped article 2 to the main body 310 of the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 301 is equipped with a plurality of supply devices 1, and each supply device 1 supplies the thin plate-shaped article 2 one by one to the supply section 312 of the main body 310 of the image forming apparatus.

[0060] The thin plate-shaped article 2, supported by the article support stand set 4 or article support stand 5, is supplied to the supply unit 312 in an orientation with the thicker portion 2Y facing forward. Supplying the thin plate-shaped article 2 in an orientation with the thicker portion 2Y facing forward is suitable for conveyance by rollers and detection by sensors in the supply unit 312.

[0061] An article support stand 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention supports an article bundle 3 in which a plurality of thin plate-shaped articles 2 of partially different thicknesses are stacked, and comprises a first support part 40 that supports the thin portion 2X of the thin plate-shaped article 2, a second support part 50 that is vertically movable and supports the thick portion 2Y of the thin plate-shaped article 2, and an adjustment part 60 that adjusts the height of the second support part 50 so that the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 of the article bundle 3 is within a predetermined range R in the vertical direction. Therefore, the article support base 5 can suitably support an article bundle 3 in which multiple thin plate-shaped articles 2 of partially different thicknesses are stacked, and even when there are many stacked articles, the topmost thin plate-shaped article 2 can be positioned in a suitable orientation.

[0062] In the article support base 5, the adjustment unit 60 includes a biasing unit that biases the second support unit 50 upward. Therefore, the article support base 5 can lower the second support portion 50 due to the weight of the article bundle 3, allowing the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 to be in a suitable position.

[0063] In the article support base 5, the second support portion 50 is pivotally supported relative to the first support portion 40. Therefore, the article support base 5 can suitably set the angle of the surface that supports the bundle of articles 3 in the second support portion 50.

[0064] In the article support base 5, the second support portion 50 includes a sensor holding portion 53a capable of holding a sensor 221 that detects the presence or absence of the thin plate-shaped article 2. Therefore, the article support stand 5 is capable of suitably detecting the presence or absence of the thin plate-shaped article 2 supported by the article support stand 5.

[0065] In the article support base 5, the first support portion 40 can be fitted with a riser portion 70 on its upper part. Therefore, the article support stand 5 can change the support height of the thin portion 2X according to the number of stacked articles in the bundle 3. Furthermore, if the article support base 5 is equipped with a pair of first support parts 40 in the width direction, it can also suitably support thin plate-shaped articles 2 that have different thicknesses in the width direction, such as a long Japanese envelope 2C with corner seals.

[0066] The article support base 5 includes a position restricting portion 20 that restricts the position of the end of the article bundle 3 that faces the second support portion 50, at a position lower than the second support portion 50 when the article bundle 3 is not being supported. Therefore, the article support base 5 can effectively prevent the thin plate-shaped articles 2 of the article bundle 3 from shifting downstream from the second support portion 50.

[0067] In the article support base 5, a rib 24 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the surface of the position regulating portion 20 that faces the bundle of articles 3. Therefore, the article support base 5 can reduce friction between the article bundle 3 and the position regulating part 20, and make the sliding of the article bundle 3 against the position regulating part 20 smoother.

[0068] The item support stand 5 is The first support portion 40 in The second support portion 50 On the opposite side, there is a third support portion 80 that supports the bundle of articles 3. Therefore, the article support stand 5 can suitably support a bundle of articles 3 made of thin plate-shaped articles 2 with a large dimension in the feeding direction.

[0069] The article support base 5 comprises a pair of combinations of the first support portion 40, the second support portion 50, and the adjustment portion 60, and the pair of these combinations are arranged in the width direction of the article bundle 3. Therefore, the article support base 5 can prevent interference with the position restricting portion 204 that restricts the position of the end of the article bundle 3 on the first support portion 40 side, while preventing the article bundle 3 from bending between the pair of second support portions 50, and thus can suitably support the article bundle 3.

[0070] In the article support base 5, the distance between the parts of the pair of second support parts 50 that support the bundle of articles 3 is smaller than the distance between the parts of the pair of first support parts 40 that support the bundle of articles 3. Therefore, the article support base 5 can increase the widthwise dimension of the position regulating portion 204, allowing for more favorable positioning of the article bundle 3.

[0071] The article support stand 5 is provided with a connecting portion 30 that connects a pair of the aforementioned combinations, and a handle portion 33 is formed on the connecting portion 30. Therefore, the article support stand 5 can be easily attached to and detached from the supply device 1 to which the article support stand 5 is applied.

[0072] In the article support base 5, the thin plate-shaped article 2 is an envelope. Therefore, the article support stand 5 can suitably support envelopes with partially different thicknesses.

[0073] Furthermore, the supply device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the article support base 5 and the supply unit 210 which uses air to suck and supply the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 from the bundle of articles 3 supported by the article support base 5. Therefore, the article support stand 5 can effectively supply the thin plate-shaped article 2 because it supports the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2, which is to be fed, in a suitable position.

[0074] The supply device 1 includes floating parts 205 and 206 that levitate the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 of the bundle of articles 3 supported by the article support base 5, and the feeding unit 210 feeds the levitated thin plate-shaped article 2. Therefore, since the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2 to be fed is supported in a suitable position on the article support stand 5, the thin plate-shaped article 2 can be supplied while floating appropriately.

[0075] In the supply device 1, the second support portion 50 is positioned downstream of the first support portion 40 in the feeding direction of the thin plate-shaped article 2. Therefore, the supply device 1 can supply the thin plate-shaped article 2 in a position where the thicker portion 2Y is facing forward.

[0076] The supply device 1 is equipped with a lifting plate section 203 that can move in the vertical direction, and the article support base 5 is provided on the lifting plate section 203. Therefore, the supply device 1 can position the topmost thin plate-shaped article 2 in a suitable position for feeding by moving the lifting plate section 203 according to the number of stacked articles in the bundle 3.

[0077] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 301 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the supply device 1 and an image forming unit 313 that forms an image on the thin plate-shaped article 2 supplied from the supply device 1. Therefore, since the uppermost thin plate-shaped article 2, which is the object of image formation, is supported in a suitable position, the image forming apparatus 301 can suitably supply the thin plate-shaped article 2 and suitably form an image on the thin plate-shaped article 2.

[0078] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 Feeding device 2 Thin plate articles 2A Japanese envelope (square) 2B Japanese envelope (long shape, inside sticker) 2C Japanese-style envelope (long, corner seal) 3 bundle of goods 4. Item support stand set 5 Article support stand 6 Auxiliary article support stand 20 Position regulation part 24 Ribs 30 Connecting part 33 Handle section 40 First support 50 Second support 60 Adjustment part (biasing part) 70 Raised section 80 Third support 203 Lifting plate section 204 Position regulation section 205 Surface 206 Floating section 210 Feeding section 221 Sensors 222 Sensors 223 Control Unit 301 Image forming apparatus 313 Image forming unit

Claims

1. In a supply device that feeds a bundle of articles, each consisting of multiple thin, plate-shaped articles of partially different thicknesses stacked on top of each other, by using air suction from a feeding unit, the uppermost thin, plate-shaped article is supported by an article support base that supports the bundle of articles with a gap between the uppermost thin, plate-shaped article and the feeding unit, A first support portion that supports the thin portion of the thin plate-like article, A second support portion that is vertically movable and supports the thicker portion of the thin plate-like article, An adjustment unit for adjusting the height of the second support unit so that the thin plate-shaped article at the top of the bundle of articles is within a predetermined range in the vertical direction, It is equipped with a pair of the first support part, the second support part, and the adjustment part, The pair of the aforementioned combinations are arranged in the width direction of the bundle of articles, Article support stand.

2. The adjustment unit includes a biasing unit that biases the second support unit upward. The article support stand according to claim 1.

3. The second support portion is pivotally supported relative to the first support portion. The article support stand according to claim 1.

4. The second support portion includes a sensor holding portion capable of holding a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the thin plate-shaped article. The article support stand according to claim 1.

5. The first support portion is capable of having a riser portion attached to its upper part. The article support stand according to claim 1.

6. The system includes a position regulating portion that restricts the position of the end of the bundle of articles that faces the second support portion, at a position lower than the second support portion when the bundle of articles is not being supported. The article support stand according to claim 1.

7. On the surface of the position regulating portion facing the bundle of articles, a rib extending in the vertical direction is formed. The article support stand according to claim 6.

8. The first support portion is provided with a third support portion on the side opposite to the second support portion for supporting the bundle of articles, The article support stand according to claim 1.

9. The distance between the parts that support the bundle of articles in the pair of second support parts is smaller than the distance between the parts that support the bundle of articles in the pair of first support parts. The article support stand according to claim 1.

10. It includes a connecting part that connects a pair of the aforementioned combinations, A handle portion is formed in the connecting portion. The article support stand according to claim 1.

11. The thin plate-like article is an envelope. The article support stand according to claim 1.

12. An article support stand according to any one of claims 1 to 11, The feeding unit feeds the uppermost thin plate-shaped article from the bundle of articles supported by the article support stand by using air to suck and feed it, A supply device equipped with the following features.

13. The bundle of articles supported by the article support base is provided with a floating section that levitates the uppermost thin plate-shaped article, The feeding unit feeds the floating thin plate-shaped article. The supply device according to claim 12.

14. The second support portion is positioned downstream of the first support portion in the feeding direction of the thin plate-shaped article. The supply device according to claim 12.

15. It is equipped with a lifting plate that can move vertically, The article support base is provided on the lifting plate section, The supply device according to claim 12.

16. The supply device according to claim 12, An image forming unit that forms an image on the thin plate-shaped article supplied from the supply device, An image forming apparatus equipped with the following features.

Images