U.S. patent application number 12/363414 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-06 for paper feeding device for image forming apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba. Invention is credited to Toshihiro Matsushima.
Application Number | 20090194934 12/363414 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40930874 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090194934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matsushima; Toshihiro |
August 6, 2009 |
PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention relates to an image
forming apparatus including: a control panel for designating a size
of sheets fed by a paper feeding cassette; a sidewall motor that
opens a front sidewall and a rear sidewall to the maximum when the
paper feeding cassette is drawn out from an apparatus main body and
slides the front sidewall and the rear sidewall to both side
positions of the sheets of the designated size when the paper
feeding cassette is inserted into the apparatus main body; and an
end wall motor that opens an end wall to the maximum when the paper
feeding cassette is drawn out from the apparatus main body and
slides the end wall to a trailing end position of the sheets of the
designated size when the paper feeding cassette is inserted into
the apparatus main body.
Inventors: |
Matsushima; Toshihiro;
(Shizuoka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATTERSON & SHERIDAN, L.L.P.
3040 POST OAK BOULEVARD, SUITE 1500
HOUSTON
TX
77056
US
|
Assignee: |
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Tokyo
JP
Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
40930874 |
Appl. No.: |
12/363414 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61026681 |
Feb 6, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/162 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G 15/235 20130101;
G03G 15/6564 20130101; G03G 15/6508 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/162 |
International
Class: |
B65H 1/00 20060101
B65H001/00 |
Claims
1. A paper feeding device for an image forming apparatus
comprising: a housing member that is inserted into and removed from
an apparatus main body and stores recording media; a guide member
that is slidably provided in the housing member and regulates a
feeding position of the recording media to an image forming unit;
and a driving member that slides the guide member according to a
size of the recording median when the housing member is inserted
into the apparatus main body.
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting
member that detects the size of the recording media.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the detecting member
includes a pressure sensor that detects pressure to the guide
member by the recording media.
4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the detecting member
includes a photo-sensor.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the size of the
recording media is set by the apparatus main body.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the size of the
recording media is set by data input by from the apparatus main
body.
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the size of the
recording media is set according to an inserting position of the
housing member into the apparatus main body.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the driving member
slides the guide member to an open position when the housing member
is drawn out from the apparatus main body and slides the guide
member to the feeding position when the housing member is inserted
into the apparatus main body.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member
includes a side guide member that regulates a side of the recording
media and an end guide member that regulates a trailing end of the
recording media, and the driving member includes a first driving
member that drives the side guide member and a second driving
member that drives the end guide member.
10. An image forming apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body
including an image forming unit; and a paper feeding device
including a housing member that is inserted into and removed from
an apparatus main body and stores recording media to be fed to the
image forming unit, a guide member that is slidably provided in the
housing member and regulates a feeding position of the recording
media to the image forming unit and a driving member that slides
the guide member according to a size of the recording media when
the housing member is inserted into the apparatus main body.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the paper feeding
device further includes a detecting member that detects the size of
the recording media.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the detecting
member includes a pressure sensor that detects pressure to the
guide member by the recording media.
13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the detecting
member includes a photo-sensor.
14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus main
body further includes a setting member that sets the size of the
recording media.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the setting member
includes an input unit that inputs the size of the recording
media.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the size of the
recording media is set according to an inserting position of the
paper feeding device into the apparatus main body.
17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the driving member
slides the guide member to an open position when the housing member
is drawn out from the apparatus main body and slides the guide
member to the feeding position when the housing member is inserted
into the apparatus main body.
18. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the guide member
includes a side guide member that regulates a side of the recording
media and an end guide member that regulates a trailing end of the
recording media, and the driving member includes a first driving
member that drives the side guide member and a second driving
member that drives the end guide member.
19. A sheet storing method for an image forming apparatus
comprising: sliding a guide member to an open position by drawing
out a housing member from an apparatus main body; and sliding the
guide member to a storing position according to a size of a
recording media by inserting the housing member into the apparatus
main body.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the sliding the guide
member to the storing position includes sliding to a storing
position at a side of the recording media and sliding to a storing
position at a trailing end of the recording media.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Provisional U.S. Application 61/026,681 filed on Feb.
6, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a paper feeding device for
an image forming apparatus that stably feed sheets to an image
forming unit of a copying machine or a multi-function
peripheral.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There is a paper feeding cassette mounted on an image
forming apparatus to feed sheets to an image forming unit. In this
paper feeding cassette, both sides and trailing ends of sheets of
various sizes are regulated by guides to prevent a tilt of the
sheets.
[0004] In the paper feeding cassette in the past, after supplying
sheets, an operator manually moves the guides to regulating
positions according to a size of the sheets.
[0005] However, in the apparatus in the past in which the guides
are manually moved, after supplying sheets into the paper feeding
cassette, in some case, the operator forgets to move the guides or
fails to move the guides to accurate regulating positions. When the
sheets in the paper feeding cassette are not accurately regulated,
the sheets skew when the sheets are taken out from the paper
feeding cassette. As a result, it is likely that an image quality
is deteriorated and a sheet jam occurs.
[0006] Therefore, there is a demand for a paper feeding device for
an image forming apparatus that can surely move, when sheets are
set in a paper feeding cassette, guides to regulating positions
according to a size of the sheets, prevent the sheets from skewing,
prevent a sheet jam from occurring, and realize improvement of an
image quality.
SUMMARY
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, an image
quality is improved through improvement of performance for feeding
sheets to an apparatus main body and a sheet jam is prevent from
occurring.
[0008] According to the aspect, there is provided a paper feeding
device for an image forming apparatus including: a housing member
that is inserted into and removed from an apparatus main body and
stores recording media; a guide member that is slidably provided in
the housing member and regulates a feeding position of the
recording media to an image forming unit; and a driving member that
slides the guide member according to a size of the recording media
when the housing member is inserted into the apparatus main
body.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a copying machine according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a paper feeding cassette
according to the first embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining driving of
sidewalls and an end wall of the paper feeding cassette according
to the first embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of stop positions of the
sidewalls and the end wall of the paper feeding cassette according
to the first embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining supply of
sheets into the paper feeding cassette according to the first
embodiment; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of a paper feeding cassette
according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] A first embodiment of the present invention is explained
below.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a copying machine 1 as an
image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The
copying machine 1 includes a scanner unit 13 that scans an image, a
printer unit 14 that forms an image, a paper feeding unit 21 as a
paper feeding device including an upper paper feeding cassette 21a,
a lower paper feeding cassette 21b, and a large capacity cassette
21c for feeing sheets P as a recording medium, and a paper
discharging unit 70 including a first tray 71 and a second tray 72
for accumulating the sheets P discharged from the printer unit 14
as an image forming unit. A control panel 102 as an input unit
supported by a pole 101 is provided in an apparatus main body 11
that configures an outer hull of the copying machine 1. A manual
paper feeding unit 23 is provided on a side of the apparatus main
body 11. A conveying path 40 for the sheets P is provided in a
route leading from the paper feeding unit 21 or the manual paper
feeding unit 23 to the paper discharging unit 70 through the
printer unit 14 of the copying machine 1.
[0017] The scanner unit 13 scans an object having image information
(hereinafter referred to as original document) fed from an auto
document feeder (ADF) 35 and capture the image information as image
data. After the scanner unit 13 finishes scanning the image
information, the ADF 35 discharges the original document to a
document discharging unit 31.
[0018] The printer unit 14 forms, on the sheet P, an image
corresponding to inputted image information or the image
information scanned by the scanner unit 13. The printer unit 14
includes photoconductive drums 41, charging devices 48 that
uniformly charge the photoconductive drums 41, an exposing device
42 that forms electrostatic latent images on the photoconductive
drums 41, developing devices 43 that develop the electrostatic
latent images formed on the photoconductive drums 41, and a
transfer device 44 that transfers toner images developed on the
photoconductive drums 41 onto the sheets P of arbitrary sizes. The
transfer device 44 includes a transfer belt 44a and a secondary
transfer roller 44b. The printer unit 14 further includes a fixing
device 45 that fixes the toner images on the sheet P having the
toner images transferred thereon by the transfer device 44. The
fixing device 45 includes a fixing roller 46 and a press roller
47.
[0019] The conveying path 40 includes conveying rollers 24 and
registration rollers 16 for feeding the sheet P taken out from the
paper feeding unit 21 or the manual paper feeding unit 23 by a
pickup roller 22 to the transfer device 44. The conveying path 40
conveys the sheet P having the fixed toner images to the paper
discharging unit 70 through the transfer device 44 and the fixing
device 45.
[0020] The paper discharging unit 70 includes a paper discharging
and conveying path 60 that discharges the sheet P to the first tray
71 or the second tray 72 or reverses the sheet P. The paper
discharging and conveying path 60 includes a lower conveying path
61 and an upper conveying path 62. A first gate 63 divides the
lower conveying path 61 and the upper conveying path 62. The lower
conveying path 61 reaches the first tray 71 through a first paper
discharge roller 18. The upper conveying path 62 includes a second
conveying path 52 on an upper side and a third conveying path 53 on
a lower side. A second gate 67 divides the second conveying path 52
and the third conveying path 53.
[0021] The second conveying path 52 reaches the second tray 72
through a second paper discharge roller 19. The third conveying
path 53 is a reversing and retracting path for the sheet P. The
third conveying path 53 includes a reversing and conveying roller
68. When a trailing end of the sheet P conveyed to the third
conveying path 53 passes the first gate 66, the reversing and
conveying roller 68 rotates in the opposite direction. The
reversing and conveying roller 68 rotates in the opposite direction
to reversely convey the sheet P from the third conveying path 53 in
the direction of a circulating path 50. The circulating path 50
feeds the sheet P to the transfer device 44 again.
[0022] The upper paper feeding cassette 21a and the lower paper
feeding cassette 21b of the paper feeding unit 21 have the same
structure. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the upper paper feeding
cassette 21a and the lower paper feeding cassette 21b includes a
case 78 as a housing member that stores the various sheets P and is
inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 11 and a
front sidewall 80f and a rear sidewall 80r as side guide members
that are slidably provided in the case 78 and regulate both sides
of the various sheets P. Further, each of the upper paper feeding
cassette 21a and the lower paper feeding cassette 21b includes an
end wall 81 as an end guide member that is slidably provided in the
case 78 and regulates trailing ends of the various sheets P. The
case 78 can be drawn out to a front side relative to the apparatus
main body 11. The case 78 has on a rear side thereof a connector
78a for connecting the case 78 to an upper input and output
terminal 11a or a lower input and output terminal 11b of the
apparatus main body 11 when the case 78 is inserted into the
apparatus main body 11. A tray-up sheet metal 82 that supports the
sheets P is provided on a bottom surface of the case 78.
[0023] The front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r slide in an
arrow "m" direction or an arrow "n" direction along a guide shaft
78b fixed to the bottom surface of the case 78. The end wall 81
slides in an arrow "s" direction or an arrow "t" direction along a
slit 78c formed in the bottom surface of the case 78.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, a front ladder 83f is provided in the
front sidewall 80f. A rear ladder 83r is provided in the rear
sidewall 80r. The front ladder 83f and the rear ladder 83r engage
with a gear 87 driven by a sidewall motor 86. The front ladder 83f,
the rear ladder 83r, the sidewall motor 86, and the gear 87
configure a driving member. When the gear 87 rotates in an arrow
"v" direction, the front sidewall 80f is slid in the arrow "n"
direction by the front ladder 83f and the rear sidewall 80r is slid
in the arrow "m" direction by the rear ladder 83r. When the gear 87
rotates in an arrow "w" direction, the front sidewall 80f is slid
in the arrow "m" direction by the front ladder 83f and the rear
sidewall 80r is slid in the arrow "n" direction by the rear ladder
83r.
[0025] The end wall 81 is slid by an end wall driving mechanism 84
as a driving member. The end wall driving mechanism 84 includes a
conveyor belt 88 that reciprocatingly conveys the end wall 81 and
an end wall motor 90 that reciprocatingly rotates the conveyor belt
88. When the connector 78a is connected to the input and output
terminal 11a or the input and output terminal 11b, the sidewall
motor 86 and the end wall motor 90 are connected to a CPU 110 that
controls the entire copying machine 1. The sidewall motor 86 and
the end wall motor 90 are controlled to be driven by the CPU
110.
[0026] The paper feeding cassette 21a or the paper feeding cassette
21b is drawn out from the apparatus main body 11 to disconnect the
connector 78a from the input and output terminal 11a or the input
and output terminal 11b of the apparatus main body 11. The sidewall
motor 86 drives in the arrow "w" direction to slide the front
sidewall 80f in the arrow "m" direction and open the front sidewall
80f to the maximum and stops the front sidewall 80f in a sheet
supply position. Further, the sidewall motor 86 slides the rear
sidewall 80r in the arrow "n" direction to open the rear sidewall
80r to the maximum and stops the rear sidewall 80r in a sheet
supply position. When the front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall
80r are present in the sheet supply positions, a distance between
the sidewalls 80f and 80r is larger than the width of largest
sheets stored in the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b.
[0027] When the connector 78a is disconnected from the input and
output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body 11, the end wall
motor 90 rotates the conveyor belt 88 in the arrow "t" direction
and slides the end wall 81 in the arrow "t" direction. The end wall
motor 90 opens the end wall 81 to the maximum and stops the end
wall 81 in a sheet supply position on a rear end side of the case
78. When the end wall 81 is present in the sheet supply position, a
distance from a distal end 78d of the case 78 to the end wall 81 is
larger than the length of the largest sheets stored in the paper
feeding cassette 21a or 21b. Opening the front sidewall 80f, the
rear sidewall 80r, or the end sidewall 81 to the maximum, means the
sidewall is opened to a slide limit in the case 78.
[0028] When the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b is inserted into
the apparatus main body 11 and the connector 78a is connected to
the input and output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body 11,
the sidewall motor 86 drives in the arrow "v" direction to close
the front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r according to a
size of sheets in the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b. When the
number of revolutions of the sidewall motor 86 reaches the number
of revolutions set according to the size of the sheets in the paper
feeding cassette 21a or 21b, the sidewall motor 86 stops the
driving. When the sidewall motor 86 stops, the distance between the
front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r coincides with the
width of the sheets stored in the paper feeding cassette 21a or
21b. The front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r regulate both
sides in the width direction of the sheets P in the paper feeding
cassette 21a or 21b.
[0029] When the connector 78a is connected to the input and output
terminal 11a of the apparatus main body 11, the end wall motor 90
rotates the conveyor belt 88 in the arrow "s" direction to slide
the end wall 81 in the arrow "s" direction and closes the end wall
81 according to the size of the sheets in the paper feeding
cassette 21a or 21b. When the number of revolutions of the end wall
motor 90 reaches the number of revolutions set according to the
size of the sheets in the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b, the
end wall motor 90 stops the driving. When the end wall motor 90
stops, the end wall 81 regulates the trailing end of the sheets P
in the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b.
[0030] The control panel 102 includes a display unit 102a and a
keyboard 102b. The control panel 102 has an input function for
inputting conditions for image formation by the copying machine 1,
start of the image formation, start of image scanning by the
scanner unit 13, and the like to the CPU 110. The control panel 102
has a display function and the like for performing display of a
confirmation screen for inputted information and the like and
display of a down state and the like of the copying machine 1. The
control panel 102 displays insertion and removal of the paper
feeding cassettes 21a and 21b into and from the apparatus main body
11. A user designates, on the control panel 102, sizes of the
sheets P stored in the paper feeding cassettes 21a and 21b.
[0031] The user designates, on the control panel 102, a size of the
sheets P stored in the upper paper feeding cassette 21a as, for
example, the A4 landscape size in the JIS standard. The CPU 110
outputs a signal for storing the sheets P of the A4 landscape size
in a correct position to the upper input and output terminal 11a.
The sidewall motor 86 and the end wall motor 90 of the upper paper
feeding cassette 21a drive, according to the signal from the upper
input and output terminal 11a, to store the sheets P of the A4
landscape size in the correct position in the case 78. The user
designates, on the control panel 102, a size of the sheets P stored
in the lower paper feeding cassette 21b as, for example, the A3
size in the JIS standard. The CPU 110 outputs a signal for storing
the sheets P of the A3 size in a correct position to the lower
input and output terminal 11b. The sidewall motor 86 and the end
wall motor 90 of the lower paper feeding cassette 21b drive,
according to the signal from the lower input and output terminal
11b, to store the sheets P of the A3 size in the correct position
in the case 78.
[0032] The user instructs, on the control panel 102, the copying
machine 1 to form an image on the sheets P. The upper paper feeding
cassette 21a stores, for example, the sheets P of the A4 landscape
size in the JIS standard as shown in FIG. 4 according to the
instruction from the control panel 102. When the upper paper
feeding cassette 21a is inserted into the apparatus main body 11
(the connector 78a is connected to the upper input and output
terminal 11a), the sidewall motor 86 drives and the front sidewall
80f and the rear sidewall 80r slide to positions for regulating
both the sides of the sheets P and stop. The end wall motor 90
drives and the end wall 81 is slid to a position for regulating the
trailing end of the sheets P and stops (indicated by a solid line
in FIG. 4). The lower paper feeding cassette 21b stores, for
example, the sheets P of the A3 size in the JIS standard according
to the instruction from the control panel 102.
[0033] According to the instruction for image formation, the
charging device 48 charges the photoconductive drum 41. The
exposing device 42 outputs image light (exposure light)
corresponding to image data that should be formed as an image on
the charged photoconductive drum 41. The exposing device 42
irradiates the exposure light on the photoconductive drum 41 to
form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the exposure
light thereon. The electrostatic latent image formed on the
photoconductive drum 41 is developed with a toner by the developing
device 43 and visualized. A toner image obtained by visualizing the
electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum 41 is
transferred onto the sheet P by the transfer device 44. The sheet P
is fed from the paper feeding unit 21 or the manual paper feeding
unit 23 and conveyed through the conveying path 40 and reaches the
transfer device 44. The toner image transferred onto the sheet P is
fixed on the sheet P by the fixing device 45. The sheet P having
the toner image fixed thereon is conveyed to the paper discharging
and conveying path 60. The sheet P is discharged to the first tray
71 or the second tray 72 through the paper discharging and
conveying path 60 or conveyed to the transfer device 44 again
through the circulating path 50.
[0034] While the designated image formation is carried out, for
example, if the sheets P in the upper paper feeding cassette 21a
are exhausted, the control panel 102 displays, on the display panel
102a, a message for urging supply of the sheets P into the upper
paper feeding cassette 21a. For the supply of the sheets P, the
user draws out the upper paper feeding cassette 21a from the
apparatus main body 11. When the user draws out the upper paper
feeding cassette 21a and disconnects the connector 78a of the case
78 from the upper input and output terminal 11a of the apparatus
main body 11, the sidewall motor 86 drives in the arrow "w"
direction. The front sidewall 80f slides in the arrow "m" direction
to a position indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 4. The rear
sidewall 80r slides in the arrow "n" direction to a position
indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 4. The front sidewall 80f and
the rear sidewall 80r open to maximum positions. The end wall motor
90 rotates the conveyor belt 88 in the arrow "t" direction. The end
wall 81 slides in the arrow "t" direction to a position indicated
by a dotted line in FIG. 4 and opens to a maximum position.
[0035] In a state in which the front sidewall 80f, the rear
sidewall 80r, and the end wall 81 are open to the maximum, the user
supplies the sheets P of the A4 size into the case 78 of the upper
paper feeding cassette 21a. When the sheets P are supplied into the
case 78, the sheets P may out of alignment as shown in FIG. 5. Even
if some of the sheets P are not aligned, after supplying the sheets
P into the case 78, the user directly inserts the upper paper
feeding cassette 21a into the apparatus main body 11.
[0036] When the user inserts the upper paper feeding cassette 21a
into the apparatus main body 11 and connects the connector 78a of
the case 78 to the upper input and output terminal 11a of the
apparatus main body, the sidewall motor 86 drives in the arrow "v"
direction. The front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r slide
from the maximum open state to positions for regulating both the
sides of the sheets P of the A4 landscape size and stops in a
position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4. The sheets P that are
not aligned during the supply into the case 78 come into contact
with the front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r to be
regulated on both the sides thereof. Both the sides of the sheets P
in the case 78 are aligned in A4 landscape size positions.
[0037] When the user connects the connector 78a of the case 78 to
the upper input and output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body
11, the end wall motor 90 rotates the conveyor belt 88 in the arrow
"s" direction. The end wall 81 slides from the maximum open state
to a position for regulating the trailing end of the sheets P of
the A4 landscape size and stops in a position indicated by a solid
line in FIG. 4. The sheets P that are not aligned during the supply
into the case 78 come into contact with the end wall 81 to be
regulated at the trailing end thereof. The trailing end of the
sheets P in the case 78 is aligned in an A4 landscape size
position. The out of alignment of the sheets P is corrected in the
upper paper feeding cassette 21a. The sheets P are supplied in a
state aligned in a correct paper feeding position of the A4
landscape size.
[0038] When the user supplies the sheets P into the lower paper
feeding cassette 21b instructed to store the sheets P of the A3
size, the user supplies the sheets P in the same manner as the
supply of the sheets P into the upper paper feeding cassette 21a.
The user draws out the lower paper feeding cassette 21b from the
apparatus main body 11. When the user disconnects the connector 78a
of the case 78 from the lower input and output terminal 11b of the
apparatus main body 11, the sidewall motor 86 is drove to slide the
front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r from positions for
regulating the sheets P of the A3 size to the maximum open
positions. The end wall motor 90 drives to slide the end wall 81
from a position for regulating the sheets P of the A3 size to the
maximum open position.
[0039] The user supplies the sheets P of the A3 size into the lower
paper feeding cassette 21b. After supplying the sheets P, the user
inserts the lower paper feeding cassette 21b into the apparatus
main body 11. When the user connects the connector 78a of the case
78 to the lower input and output terminal 11b of the apparatus main
body 11, the sidewall motor 86 is drove. The front sidewall 80f and
the rear sidewall 80r slide from the maximum open state to
positions for regulating both the ends of the sheets P of the A3
size and stop. The end wall motor 90 is drove and the end wall 81
slides from the maximum open state to a position for regulating the
trailing end of the sheets P of the A3 size and stops.
[0040] In a state in which the lower paper feeding cassette 21b is
inserted in the apparatus main body 11, the front sidewall 80f and
the rear sidewall 80r are in contact with both the sides of the
sheets P of the A3 size. The sheets P that are not aligned during
the supply are regulated on both the sides by the front sidewall
80f and the rear sidewall 80r. Both the sides are aligned in A3
size positions. The end wall 81 comes into contact with the
trailing end of the sheets P. The sheets P that are not aligned
during the supply are regulated at the trailing end thereof by the
end wall 81. The trailing end is aligned in an A3 size position. In
the lower paper feeding cassette 21b, the sheets P are supplied in
a correct paper feeding position of the A3 size.
[0041] In this embodiment, a size of the sheet P designated by the
user on the control panel 102 is not limited. The size may be the
B4 size in the JIS standard, the Legal size, the Letter size, or
the Ledger size of the US standard, or the like. When the user
changes a size of the sheet P in the paper feeding cassette 21a or
21b, the user selects the upper paper feeding cassette 21a or the
lower paper feeding cassette 21b on the control panel 102. The user
inputs a size of the sheets P fed from the selected paper feeding
cassette 21a or 21b and determines the change of the size, on the
control panel 102. According to information inputted on the control
panel 102, the CPU 110 outputs a signal for storing the sheets P of
the changed size in a correct position to the upper input and
output terminal 11a or the lower input and output terminal 11b.
[0042] In this embodiment, the user disconnects the connector 78a
from the input and output terminal 11a or the input and output
terminal 11b of the apparatus main body 11 and opens the front
sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall 80r, or the end sidewall 81 to the
maximum. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The
front sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall 80r, or the end sidewall 81
may be opened in a range in which the user can easily supply the
sheets P.
[0043] According to the first embodiment, in supplying the sheets P
into the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b, the user draws out the
upper paper feeding cassette 21a or the lower paper feeding
cassette 21b from the apparatus main body 11. Then, the sidewall
motor 86 slides the front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r to
the maximum open positions. The end wall motor 90 slides the end
wall 81 to the maximum open position. When the user supplies the
sheets P into the case 78, the front sidewall 80f, the rear
sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 is not an obstacle. The user can
easily supply the sheets P.
[0044] According to the first embodiment, the sheets P are supplied
into the case 78 and the upper paper feeding cassette 21a or the
lower paper feeding cassette 21b is inserted in the apparatus main
body 11. Then, the sidewall motor 86 slides the front sidewall 80f
and the rear sidewall 80r to positions corresponding to the width
of the size designated by the user on the control panel 102. The
end wall motor 90 slides the end wall 81 to a position
corresponding to the trailing end of the sheets P of the size
designated by the user on the control panel 102. The out of
alignment of the sheets P that occurs during the supply is
corrected by inserting the upper paper feeding cassette 21a or the
lower paper feeding cassette 21b into the apparatus main body 11.
The sheets P can be stored in a correct paper feeding position. The
paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b can feed the sheets P in a proper
position. It is possible to easily align the leading end of the
sheets P in the position of the registration rollers 16, prevent a
positional shift of an image due to the out of alignment of the
sheet P, and improve an image quality.
[0045] According to the first embodiment, after supplying the
sheets P, the user does not have to operate the front sidewall 80f,
the rear sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81. The user can easily
supply the sheets P. After the supply of the sheets P into the case
78, the user does not forget to reset the front sidewall 80f, the
rear sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 to the position for
regulating the sheets P. It is possible to prevent a paper jam due
to the failure to reset the front sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall
80r, or the end wall 81.
[0046] According to the first embodiment, the user can change a
size of the sheets P in the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b on
the control panel 102. It is easy to change the size of the sheets
P in the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b.
[0047] A copying machine according to a second embodiment of the
present invention is explained below. In the second embodiment, a
size of sheets stored in the paper feeding cassette in the first
embodiment is designated for each of inserting positions in the
apparatus main body (e.g., when the paper feeding cassette is
inserted into an upper part of the apparatus main body, the size is
designated as the A4 landscape size and, when the paper feeding
cassette is inserted into a lower part thereof, the size is
designated as the A3 size) Otherwise, the second embodiment is the
same as the first embodiment. Concerning components same as those
in the first embodiment, the explanation in the first embodiment
applies in the second embodiment.
[0048] In the second embodiment, for example, the upper input and
output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body 11 is controlled by
the CPU 110 and outputs a signal for always storing the sheets P of
the A4 landscape size in a correct position. The lower input and
output terminal 11b is controlled by the CPU 110 and outputs a
signal for always storing the sheets P of the A3 size in a correct
position.
[0049] When the sheets P in the upper paper feeding cassette 21a or
the lower paper feeding cassette 21b are exhausted, for example,
the display panel 102a displays a message for urging supply of the
sheets P. To supply the sheets P, the user draws out the upper
paper feeding cassette 21a or the lower paper feeding cassette 21b
from the apparatus main body 11 according to the message. For
example, when the user draws out the upper paper feeding cassette
21a and disconnects the connector 78a of the case 78 from the upper
input and output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body 11, the
front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r are opened to the
maximum positions by the sidewall motor 86. The end wall 81 is
opened to the maximum position by the end wall motor 90.
[0050] The user supplies the sheets P of the A4 size into the case
78 of the upper paper feeding cassette 21a. Even if some of the
sheets P are not aligned in the case 78, the user directly inserts
the upper paper feeding cassette 21a into the apparatus main body
11. When the user connects the connector 78a of the case 78 to the
upper input and output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body, the
front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r are slid by the
sidewall motor 86. The front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r
slide from the maximum open state to the positions for regulating
both the ends of the sheets P of the A4-landscape size and stop.
Both the sides of the sheets P in the case 78 are aligned in the A4
landscape size positions.
[0051] The end wall 81 is slid by the end wall motor 90. The end
wall 81 slides from the maximum open state to the position for
regulating the trailing end of the sheets P of the A4 landscape
size and stops. The trailing end of the sheets P in the case 78 is
aligned in the A4 landscape size position. The out of alignment of
the sheets P is corrected in the upper paper feeding cassette 21a.
The sheets P are stored in a state aligned in the correct paper
feeding position of the A4 landscape size. Supply of the sheets P
into the lower paper feeding cassette 21b is performed in the same
manner as the supply of the sheets P into the upper paper feeding
cassette 21a.
[0052] In the second embodiment, a size of the sheets P designated
for each of inserting positions in the apparatus main body 11 is
not limited. The size of the sheets P for each of the inserting
positions in the apparatus main body 11 is changed, for example,
during maintenance by a serviceperson. An output signal from the
upper input and output terminal 11a or the lower input and output
terminal 11b is changed during the maintenance.
[0053] According to the second embodiment, when the user supplies
the sheets P into the case 78, the front sidewall 80f, the rear
sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 are open to the maximum. The front
sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 is not an
obstacle. The user can easily supply the sheets P.
[0054] According to the second embodiment, after the supply of the
sheets P, the out of alignment of the sheets P that occurs during
the supply is corrected by inserting the paper feeding cassette 21a
or 21b into the apparatus main body 11. The sheets P can be stored
in a correct paper feeding position. The paper feeding cassette 21a
or 21b can feed the sheets P in a proper position. It is possible
to prevent a positional shift of an image due to the out of
alignment of the sheet P and improve an image quality.
[0055] According to the second embodiment, after the supply of the
sheets P, the user does not forget to reset the front sidewall 80f,
the rear sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 to the position for
regulating the sheets P. It is possible to prevent a paper jam due
to the failure to reset the front sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall
80r, or the end wall 81.
[0056] A copying machine according to a third embodiment of the
present invention is explained below. In the third embodiment, a
size of sheets stored in the paper feeding cassette is detected and
the guide member is slid in the first embodiment. Otherwise, the
third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. Concerning
components same as those in the first embodiment, the explanation
in the first embodiment applies in the third embodiment.
[0057] In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, for example,
the rear sidewall 80r and the end wall 81 respectively include a
side pressure sensor 91 and an end pressure sensor 92 as detecting
members on surfaces that come into contact with the sheets P. The
side pressure sensor 91 or the end pressure sensor 92 detects
pressure caused by the contact with the sheets P on the rear
sidewall 80r or the end wall 81. Detection results of the side
pressure sensor 91 and the end pressure sensor 92 are inputted to
the CPU 110 from the connector 78a and the input and output
terminals 11a and 11b.
[0058] A first photo-sensor 93a and a second photo-sensor 93b as
detecting members that detect, for example, the rear sidewall 80r
are provided on the bottom surface of the case 78. The first
photo-sensor 93a detects that the rear sidewall 80r reaches the A4
landscape size position. The second photo-sensor 93b detects that
the rear sidewall 80r reaches the B4 size position.
[0059] Third to fifth photo-sensors 94a, 94b, and 94c as detecting
members that detect, for example, the end wall 81 are provided on
the bottom surface of the case 78. The third photo-sensor 94a
detects that the end wall 81 reaches the A4 landscape size
position. The fourth photo-sensor 94b detects that the end wall 81
reaches the B4 size position. The fifth photo-sensor 94c detects
that the end wall 81 reaches the A3 size position. Detection
results of the first to fifth photo-sensors 93a, 93b, 94a, 94b, and
94c are inputted to the CPU 110 from the connector 78a and the
input and output terminals 11a and 11b.
[0060] The CPU 110 stores, in a memory 110a, a pressure (.alpha.)
caused on the front sidewall 80f and a pressure (.beta.) caused on
the end wall 81 when, for example, the sheets P in 500 sheet units
are aligned in the case 78. The memory 110a stores size of the
sheets P correspond to driving times of the sidewall motor 86, when
a detection result (pressure) of the side pressure sensor 91 run to
the pressure (.alpha.). The memory 110a stores size of the sheets P
correspond to driving times of the end wall motor 90, when a
detection result (pressure) of the end pressure sensor 92 run to
the pressure (.beta.).
[0061] When the sheets P in the upper paper feeding cassette 21a or
the lower paper feeding cassette 21b are exhausted, for example,
the display panel 102a displays a message for urging supply of the
sheets P. To supply the sheets P, the user draws out the upper
paper feeding cassette 21a or the lower paper feeding cassette 21b
from the apparatus main body 11 according to the message. For
example, when the user draws out the upper paper feeding cassette
21a and disconnects the connector 78a of the case 78 from the upper
input and output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body 11, the
front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r are opened to the
maximum positions by the sidewall motor 86. The end wall 81 is
opened to the maximum position by the end wall motor 90.
[0062] For example, the user supplies 500 pieces of the sheets P of
the A4 size into the upper paper feeding cassette 21a. Even if some
of the sheets P are not aligned in the case 78, the user directly
inserts the upper paper feeding cassette 21a into the apparatus
main body 11. When the connector 78a of the case 78 is connected to
the upper input and output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body
11, the front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r are started to
slide by the sidewall motor 86. When the rear sidewall 80r slides
in the arrow "m" direction from the maximum open state, the rear
sidewall 80r comes into contact with the sheets P. The side
pressure sensor 91 inputs a detection result (pressure) caused by
the contact with the sheets P to the CPU 110. The CPU 110 detects
the driving times of the sidewall motor 86, when a detection result
of the side pressure sensor 91 coincide with the pressure
(.alpha.). The CPU 110 reads a size of sheets correspond to the
driving times of the sidewall motor 86 in the memory 110a.
[0063] When the user connects the connector 78a of the case 78 to
the upper input and output terminal 11a of the apparatus main body,
the end wall 81 is started to slide by the end wall motor 90. When
the end wall 81 slides in the arrow "s" direction from the maximum
open state, the end wall 81 comes into contact with the trailing
end of the sheets P. The end pressure sensor 92 inputs a detection
result (pressure) caused by the contact with the sheets P to the
CPU 110. The CPU 110 detects the driving times of the end wall
motor 90, when a detection result of the end pressure sensor 92
coincide with the pressure (.beta.) The CPU 110 reads a size of
sheets correspond to the driving times of the end wall motor 90 in
the memory 110a.
[0064] The CPU 110 performs matching of the size of the sheets
obtained from the detection result of the size pressure sensor 91
and the size of the sheets obtained from the detection result of
the end pressure sensor 92 and determines a size of the sheets P
supplied into the case 78. When the CPU 110 determines that the
sheet size is the A4 landscape size, the CPU 110 stops the sidewall
motor 86 according to detection of the rear sidewall 80r by the
first photo-sensor 93a. The CPU 110 stops the end wall motor 90
according to detection of the end wall 81 by the third photo-sensor
94a.
[0065] In the case 78, the sheets P come into contact with the
front sidewall 80f and the rear sidewall 80r stopped in a detection
position of the first photo-sensor 93a and the end wall 81 stopped
in a detection position of the third photo-sensor 94a. The sheets P
are regulated by the front sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall 80r, and
the end wall 81, whereby the out of alignment of the sheets P
caused during the supply is corrected. The sheets P are supplied in
a state aligned in the correct paper feeding position of the A4
landscape size in the upper paper feeding cassette 21a. Supply of
the sheets P into the lower paper feeding cassette 21b is performed
in the same manner as the supply of the sheets P into the upper
paper feeding cassette 21a.
[0066] In the third embodiment, a size of the sheets P supplied to
the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b is not limited.
[0067] After the size of the sheets P is determined, a photo-sensor
does not have to be used for detection of a stop position of the
front sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81.
Driving times to the stop position of the sidewall motor 86 and the
end wall motor 90 corresponding to sizes of the sheets P may be set
in advance to determine the stop position of the front sidewall
80f, the rear sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81.
[0068] In the third embodiment, a size of the sheets P designated
for each of the inserting positions of the apparatus main body 11
is not limited. When a size of the sheets P supplied into the paper
feeding cassette 21a or 21b is changed, the CPU 110 detects the
driving times of the sidewall motor 86, when a detection result of
the side pressure sensor 91 coincide with the pressure (.alpha.) or
the driving times of the end wall motor 90, when a detection result
of the end pressure sensor 92 coincide with the pressure (.beta.).
The CPU 110 reads a size of sheets correspond to the driving times
of the sidewall motor 86 and the end wall motor 90.
[0069] According to a size of sheets, when the first or the second
photo-sensors 93a, 93b detects the rear sidewall 80r reaches the
position for regulating the sheets P, the CPU 110 stops the
sidewall motor 86. According to a size of sheets, when any one of
the third to fifth photo-sensors 94a, 94b, and 94c detects the end
wall 81 reaches the position for regulating the sheets P, the CPU
110 stops the end wall motor 90. The front sidewall 80f, the rear
sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 can correct the out of alignment
of the sheets P of a size corresponding to the size of the sheets
and supply the sheets P into the paper feeding cassette 21a or 21b
in a state aligned in a correct paper feeding position.
[0070] According to the third embodiment, when the user supplies
the sheets P into the case 78, the front sidewall 80f, the rear
sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 are open to the maximum. The front
sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 is not an
obstacle. The user can easily supply the sheets P.
[0071] According to the third embodiment, after the supply of the
sheets P, the out of alignment of the sheets P that occurs during
the supply is corrected by inserting the paper feeding cassette 21a
or 21b into the apparatus main body 11. The sheets P can be stored
in a correct paper feeding position. The paper feeding cassette 21a
or 21b can feed the sheets P in a proper position. It is possible
to prevent a positional shift of an image due to the out of
alignment of the sheet P and improve an image quality.
[0072] According to the third embodiment, after the supply of the
sheets P, the user does not forget to reset the front sidewall 80f,
the rear sidewall 80r, or the end wall 81 to the position for
regulating the sheets P. It is possible to prevent a paper jam due
to the failure to reset the front sidewall 80f, the rear sidewall
80r, or the end wall 81.
[0073] According to the third embodiment, it is possible to
determine a size of the sheets P supplied into the case 78 using an
output of the side pressure sensor 91 and the end pressure sensor
92.
[0074] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
Various modifications are possible without departing from the
spirit of the present invention. For example, the number of paper
feeding devices mounted on and removed from the apparatus main body
of the image forming apparatus and a size of recording media are
not limited. A driving source on the apparatus main body side may
be used for the driving member that slides the guide member. The
image forming apparatus may be an image forming apparatus that
forms an image on the basis of data from a computer terminal. A
setting member may be an input unit of the computer terminal.
* * * * *