This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-111199, filed on Jun. 2, 2016, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
This disclosure relates to a sheet feeding device, an image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet feeding device, and a device attachment body of the sheet feeding device.
Various types of electrophotographic image forming apparatuses are known to include a sheet feeding device to feed a sheet material to an image forming device of the image forming apparatus. Such sheet feeding devices include a sheet width regulator such as a side fence to regulate a position in a sheet width direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction in a sheet feed tray. Further, sheet feeding devices are known to include a frictional separator such as a separation pad to separate a sheet to which a sheet conveying force applier applies a conveying force, from other sheets.
For example, a sheet feeding device has a configuration in which an envelope that functions as a sheet material is set in a sheet feed tray.
At least one aspect of this disclosure provides a sheet feeding device including a sheet container, a support, a sheet width regulator, a conveying force applier, and a sheet guide. The sheet container is configured to accommodate a sheet. The support is configured to support a lower face of the sheet in the sheet container. The sheet width regulator is configured to regulate a position of the sheet in a sheet width direction. The conveying force applier is configured to apply a sheet conveying force in a sheet conveying direction to the sheet in the sheet container. The sheet guide is disposed above the sheet in the sheet container and is configured to regulate movement of the sheet in an upper direction.
Further, at least one aspect of this disclosure provides an image forming apparatus including the above-described sheet feeding device and an image forming device configured to form an image on the sheet.
Further, at least one aspect of this disclosure provides a device attachment body including at least one cut portion. The device attachment body is configured to be attached to the support configured to support the lower face of the sheet in the sheet container of the sheet feeding device. The device attachment body includes the device attachment body to be provided to the sheet feeding device.
It will be understood that if an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “against”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, then it can be directly on, against, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, if an element is referred to as being “directly on”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, then there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers referred to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements describes as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, term such as “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors herein interpreted accordingly.
Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, it should be understood that these elements, components, regions, layer and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
The terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments and examples and is not intended to be limiting of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Descriptions are given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of examples, exemplary embodiments, modification of exemplary embodiments, etc., of an image forming apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Elements having the same functions and shapes are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the specification and redundant descriptions are omitted. Elements that do not demand descriptions may be omitted from the drawings as a matter of convenience. Reference numerals of elements extracted from the patent publications are in parentheses so as to be distinguished from those of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.
This disclosure is applicable to any image forming apparatus, and is implemented in the most effective manner in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
In describing preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes any and all technical equivalents that have the same function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described.
A description is given of a configuration and functions of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of this disclosure, with reference to drawings.
It is to be noted that identical parts are given identical reference numerals and redundant descriptions are summarized or omitted accordingly.
Now, a description is given of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 for forming images by electrophotography according to an embodiment of this disclosure. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a color laser printer but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, a monochrome image forming apparatus, a copier, a multifunction peripheral and the like can be applied to the image forming apparatus 100.
At first, a description is given of a basic configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of this disclosure.
It is to be noted that identical parts are given identical reference numerals and redundant descriptions are summarized or omitted accordingly.
The image forming apparatus 100 may be a copier, a facsimile machine, a printer, a multifunction peripheral or a multifunction printer (MFP) having at least one of copying, printing, scanning, facsimile, and plotter functions, or the like. According to the present example, the image forming apparatus 100 is an electrophotographic color laser printer that forms toner images on recording media by electrophotography.
It is to be noted in the following examples that: the term “image forming apparatus” indicates an apparatus in which an image is formed on a recording medium such as paper, OHP (overhead projector) transparencies, OHP film sheet, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and/or ceramic by attracting developer or ink thereto; the term “image formation” indicates an action for providing (i.e., printing) not only an image having meanings such as texts and figures on a recording medium but also an image having no meaning such as patterns on a recording medium; and the term “sheet” is not limited to indicate a paper material but also includes the above-described plastic material (e.g., a OHP sheet), a fabric sheet and so forth, and is used to which the developer or ink is attracted. In addition, the “sheet” is not limited to a flexible sheet but is applicable to a rigid plate-shaped sheet and a relatively thick sheet.
Further, size (dimension), material, shape, and relative positions used to describe each of the components and units are examples, and the scope of this disclosure is not limited thereto unless otherwise specified.
Further, it is to be noted in the following examples that: the term “sheet conveying direction” indicates a direction in which a recording medium travels from an upstream side of a sheet conveying passage to a downstream side thereof; the term “width direction” indicates a direction basically perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The image forming unit 50 (i.e. the image forming units 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d) includes a photoconductor 1, a charging device 2, a light emitting diode (LED) 3, a developing device 4, and a developer cartridge 5. The photoconductor 1 functions as a rotatable image bearer. The charging device 2 uniformly charges a surface of the photoconductor 1. The LED 3 functions as a light source to emit a laser light beam onto the charged surface of the photoconductor 1 so as to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 1. The developing device 4 supplies toner onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1 so as to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image. The developer cartridge 5 contains developer to be supplied to the developing device 4.
The photoconductor 1 of the image forming unit 50 is disposed facing a primary transfer roller 601 that is disposed in a loop of the intermediate transfer belt 6. The photoconductor 1 and the primary transfer roller 601 hold the intermediate transfer belt 6, where a primary transfer nip region is formed. In the primary transfer nip region, a toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1 is transferred onto a surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6 as primary transfer. The respective toner images formed on the four image forming units 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d are sequentially transferred in layers onto the intermediate transfer belt 6. By so doing, a color toner image is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 6.
A secondary transfer roller 7 is disposed on the right side of the intermediate transfer belt 6 in
As illustrated in
The sheet feeding device 70 further includes a sheet feed roller 111 that feeds an uppermost sheet placed on top of the bundle of sheets P loaded on the sheet feed tray 11 and separates the uppermost sheet form other subsequent sheets. The sheet feed roller 111 then transfers the sheet P to a pair of sheet conveying rollers 12 that is disposed downstream from the sheet feed roller 111 in a sheet conveying direction.
A pair of registration rollers 14 is disposed above the pair of sheet conveying rollers 12 in the image forming device 60. The pair of registration rollers 14 causes the sheet P fed from the sheet feeding device 70 to temporarily slacken or warp, and then transfer the sheet P toward the secondary transfer nip region that is disposed downstream from the pair of registration rollers 14 in the sheet conveying direction, in synchronization with movement of the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 6, that is, in synchronization with a transfer timing.
The image forming device 60 further includes a fixing device 8 and a sheet output device 9. The fixing device 8 is disposed above the secondary transfer nip region to fix the color toner image transferred onto the sheet P to the sheet P. The sheet output device 9 is disposed above the fixing device 8 to eject or output the sheet P having the fixed color toner image thereon to an outside of the image forming apparatus 100.
A sheet stacking portion 15 that stacks the sheet P output by the sheet output device 9 is provided on an upper exterior face of the image forming device 60.
A sheet reversing device 10 is provided above the sheet output device 9. The sheet reversing device 10 guides the sheet P with an image formed on a first face thereof toward a duplex sheet conveyance passage 13 when the sheet P is processed in a duplex printing mode.
A separation claw 101 is provided above the fixing device 8 to switch a direction of conveyance of the sheet P that has passed the fixing device 8, between the sheet output device 9 and the sheet reversing device 10.
Further, the duplex sheet conveyance passage 13 is provided on the right side of the fixing device 8 of the image forming device 60 in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The sheet feed tray 11 includes a bottom plate 1105 that has a downstream side end (in the sheet conveying direction) movable in a vertical direction (i.e., a Z axis direction in
As illustrated in
Generally, the front face Pe1 and the back face Pe2 are joined by sealing and folding at three broken line edges (L1, L2, and L3) of four line edges in
The sheet feed tray 11 is pulled out from the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100. At this time, the first side fence 1101 and the second side fence 1102 are moved to a position at which the envelope Pe is regulated in the width direction. Then, the end fence 1103 is moved to a position at which the envelope Pe is regulated in the sheet conveying direction. Thereafter, the envelope Pe is set on the sheet feed tray 11. Accordingly, the position of the envelope Pe can be regulated both in the width direction and in the sheet conveying direction.
Alternatively, the envelope Pe may be set in the sheet feed tray 11 first. Then, the first side fence 1101 and the second side fence 1102 may be moved to regulate the position of the envelope Pe in the width direction and the end fence 1103 may be moved to regulate the position of the envelope Pe in the sheet conveying direction. One or more envelopes Pe can be set in the sheet feed tray 11.
In the image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in
Now, a description is given of the sheet feeding device 70 of the image forming apparatus 100 with reference to
The bottom plate 1105 is coupled to the link 1106 via a sheet feed spring 1110 and is biased upwardly by the sheet feed spring 1110 toward the link 1106 that is located at a position higher than the bottom plate 1105.
As illustrated in
When a print job is inputted, the sheet feed roller 111 rotates to feed the envelope Pe. The sheet feed roller 111 and a separation pad 1104 that is biased by a force of a separation spring 1108 form a sheet separation section. At the sheet separation section located downstream from a sheet feeding position facing a sheet feed pad 1109, an uppermost envelope Pe placed on top of the bundle of envelopes Pe is separated from the other envelopes Pe so as to be conveyed toward the downstream side of the sheet conveying direction.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In a region where the back face Pe2 of the envelope Pe is in contact with the separation pad 1104 (that is a side indicated as X2, which is a positive direction of the X axis direction), the back face Pe2 of the envelope Pe is being separated from the front face Pe1 of the envelope Pe. At this time, since the front face Pe1 and the back face Pe2 of the envelope Pe are joined by three line edges of four line edges that form the external form of the envelope Pe as described with reference to
As the envelope Pe is further conveyed from the state of
The cross section of the sheet separation section along the line B-B of
At the same time, since the flap fl remains on the upstream side of the sheet conveying direction, conveyance of the envelope Pe on the side in the width direction where the flap fl is provided delays, and therefore the envelope Pe rotates in a direction indicated by arrow E in
Consequently, when the envelope Pe is continuously conveyed while the width direction of the envelope Pe is not regulated and the envelope Pe is rotated in the direction E, failure in sheet conveyance such as skew (inclination) of the envelope Pe and diagonal folding of the flap fl can occur.
Accordingly, when a comparative sheet feeding device without a sheet upper face guide plate feeds an envelope with a flap, skew (inclination) of the envelope and diagonal folding of the flap occur due to rise of the envelope Pe.
The device attachment 200 is detachably attachable to the bottom plate 1105 and is used while being attached to the bottom plate 1105 when feeding and conveying the envelope Pe with the flap fl. As illustrated in
Positioning pins 205 and locking portions 206 are provided on the lower face side of the device attachment 200 on which the device attachment 200 is attached to the bottom plate 1105 illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the sheet feed tray 11 with the device attachment 200 attached thereto is inserted into the image forming apparatus 100, the bottom plate 1105 with the device attachment 200 elevates along with rise of the link 1106, as illustrated in
When a regular sheet P such as a plain paper copy sheet is conveyed, the device attachment 200 is not used as illustrated in
When the envelope Pe with the flap fl is conveyed, the device attachment 200 is used as illustrated in
Accordingly, whether the device attachment 200 is used or not is determined based on a sheet to be loaded on the bottom plate 1105. By so doing, a regular sheet such as the sheet P is used, the device attachment 200 is not used, and therefore a greater amount (number) of sheets can be loaded, as illustrated in
As described above with reference to
As described above, contact of the sheet upper face guide plate 300 to the envelope Pe can prevent the envelope Pe from rising, and therefore the position of the envelope Pe at the end in the width direction can be regulated by the first side fence 1101 and the second side fence 1102. Consequently, skew (inclination) of the envelope Pe and diagonal folding of the flap fl can be prevented.
Further, as illustrated in
As described above with reference to
As illustrated in
Even though the conveying force increases, the separation performance of the sheet P in the sheet separation section does not change. Therefore, when multiple sheets enter the sheet separation section, these sheets cannot be separated sufficiently, and therefore defects such as multi-feed can occur. Accordingly, the effective length N of the sheet feed spring 1110 does not change and stays the same even with or without the device attachment 200 to the bottom plate 1105, and therefore the biasing force of the sheet feed spring 1110 can also be the same with or without the device attachment 200. Since the same biasing force can be applied to press the sheet feed pad 1109 against the sheet P regardless of whether the device attachment 200 is provided to the bottom plate 1105 or not, the balance between the conveying force in the sheet feed section and the separation performance in the sheet separation section can be maintained. As a result, multi-feed of the sheets can be prevented when the device attachment 200 is provided.
As illustrated in
By setting as described above, the envelope Pe can be supported at the position upstream from the center of gravity of the envelope Pe in the sheet conveying direction. Therefore, a positional shift or deviation of the envelope Pe can be prevented from impact being generated when the sheet feed tray 11 is inserted into the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100. Accordingly, misfeed of sheets P caused by deviation of the envelope Pe in the sheet feed tray 11 can be prevented.
In recent years, a sheet feeding device that can be included in an image forming apparatus is generally designed to process regular sheets such as PPC sheets and special sheets such as envelopes with each flap. Such a sheet feeding device generally includes a frictional separation mechanism to separate and convey sheets one by one. However, when a general frictional separation mechanism conveys an envelope having a flap, a load on the envelope can be different on the left side and the right side (the right and left deviation in the width direction) depending on the side on which the flap is provided and on the direction to which the flap faces, and therefore the envelope can easily incline (skew).
By contrast, the sheet feeding device 70 according to the present embodiment of this disclosure can prevent rise of the part of the sheet in the width direction by the sheet upper face guide plate 300 and can maintain regulation of the position of the sheet P in the width direction by the side fences (i.e., the first side fence 1101 and the second side fence 1102). Accordingly, even when the load to the sheet P is different on the left side and the right side, the position of the sheet P in the width direction can be regulated. Therefore, even when a special sheet such as the envelope Pe having the flap fl is conveyed, occurrence of skew (inclination) of the sheet P (i.e., the envelope Pe) can be restrained and prevented.
In the image forming apparatus 100, the sheet feeding device 70 can restrain occurrence of skew (inclination) of the sheet P, thereby preventing an image forming failure in which an image formed on a special sheet such as the envelope Pe with the flap fl is inclined, for example. In addition, occurrence of a sheet conveying failure caused by skew (inclination) of the sheet P can be prevented.
The lower face of the sheet upper face guide plate 300 to which a sheet such as the envelope Pe contacts has a smooth, flat shape or a shape having ribs so as to guide the sheet contact thereto in the sheet conveying direction. Consequently, the sheet contacting the sheet upper face guide plate 300 can be conveyed smoothly.
Variation 1.
As illustrated in
Variation 2.
As illustrated in
When a regular sheet P such as a plain paper copy sheet is conveyed, the compact bottom plate 400 is not used, as illustrated in
Reference letter “M” in
Variation 3.
As illustrated in
The sheet upper face guide plates 300 of Variation 3 include respective guide plate pivots 301. The sheet upper face guide plates 300 are attached to the side fences (i.e., the first side fence 1101 and the second side fence 1102) so that each of the sheet upper face guide plates 300 rotates about the corresponding guide plate pivot 301. Therefore, when not being used, each of the sheet upper face guide plates 300 is rotated about the guide plate pivot 301 from the state of
Variation 4.
The sheet feeding device 70 of Variation 4 has a configuration basically identical to the sheet feeding device 70 of Variation 3, except that, different from the configuration of the sheet feeding device 70 of Variation 3, the sheet feeding device 70 of Variation 4 has the configuration in which the sheet upper face guide plate 300 to be used is lowered toward the upstream side of the sheet conveying direction.
By disposing the sheet upper face guide plate 300 with an angle according to the configuration of Variation 4, a distance T between the envelope Pe and the sheet upper face guide plate 300 can be regulated over the entire length of the envelope Pe in the sheet conveying direction. Due to this setting, the sheet upper face guide plate 300 contacts the envelope Pe over the entire length in the sheet conveying direction, and therefore prevention of skew (inclination) of the envelope Pe and prevention of diagonal folding of the flap fl can be enhanced.
Variation 5.
The sheet feeding device 70 of Variation 5 includes a sheet feed ceiling plate 310 that forms a ceiling of the sheet feed tray 11. The sheet upper face guide plate 300 is rotatable about the guide plate pivot 301 and is supported to the sheet feed ceiling plate 310.
In a case in which the envelope Pe with the flap fl is conveyed, after the sheet feed tray 11 has been inserted into the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100, the sheet upper face guide plate 300 is rotated in a direction indicated by arrow U illustrated in
In a case in which the sheet upper face guide plate 300 is not used, after the sheet feed tray 11 has been inserted into the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100, the envelope Pe is conveyed without moving the sheet upper face guide plate 300 as illustrated in
Variation 6.
Specifically,
In a case in which the envelope Pe with the flap fl is conveyed, before or after the sheet feed tray 11 has been inserted into the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100, the upper face guide attachment 320 is attached to the sheet feed ceiling plate 310. By disposing the upper face guide attachment 320 such that a lower face of the upper face guide attachment 320 is located along the inclined bottom plate 1105, the distance T between the envelope Pe and the upper face guide attachment 320 can be regulated over the entire length of the envelope Pe in the sheet conveying direction. Due to this setting, the upper face guide attachment 320 contacts the envelope Pe over the entire length in the sheet conveying direction, and therefore prevention of skew (inclination) of the envelope Pe and prevention of diagonal folding of the flap fl can be enhanced.
In a case in which the upper face guide attachment 320 is not used, after the sheet feed tray 11 has been inserted into the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100, the envelope Pe is conveyed without moving the upper face guide attachment 320 as illustrated in
As described above, the sheet feeding device 70 according to the present embodiment conveys a sheet such as the sheet P and the envelope Pe. However, a sheet that is fed and conveyed by the sheet feeding device according to this disclosure is not limited thereto but includes plain paper, coated paper, label paper, OHP sheet and film, and the like.
In the sheet feeding device 70 according to the present embodiment of this disclosure, a distance of closest approach between the sheet upper face guide plate 300 and the upper face of the envelope Pe that is located at a position to which a conveying force is applied by the sheet feed roller 111 is preferably set narrower or smaller than the width of the flap fl of the envelope Pe settable on the sheet feed tray 11. By so doing, the envelope Pe that is being elevated contacts the sheet upper face guide plate 300, so that rise of the envelope Pe beyond the contact position can be prevented. Therefore, conveyance of a skewed (inclined) envelope Pe due to the rise of the envelope Pe can be restrained.
The configurations according to the above-descried embodiments are not limited thereto. This disclosure can achieve the following aspects effectively.
Aspect A.
In Aspect A, a sheet feeding device (for example, the sheet feeding device 70) includes a sheet container (for example, the sheet feed tray 11), a support (for example, the bottom plate 1105 or the device attachment 200), a sheet width regulator (for example, the first side fence 1101 and the second side fence 1102), a conveying force applier (for example, the sheet feed roller 111), and a sheet guide (for example, the sheet upper face guide plate 300). The sheet container is configured to accommodate a sheet (for example, the envelope Pe). The support is configured to support a lower face of the sheet in the sheet container. The sheet width regulator is configured to regulate a position of the sheet in a sheet width direction. The conveying force applier is configured to apply a sheet conveying force in a sheet conveying direction to the sheet in the sheet container. The sheet guide is disposed above the sheet in the sheet container and is configured to regulate movement of the sheet in an upper direction.
As a result of intensive studies, when, a sheet is skewed (inclined) due to the following reasons have been found as a cause of skew (inclination) of an envelope when the envelope having a flap is fed and conveyed.
It is to be noted that a “back face” is on which a flap is provided to an envelope and a “front face” is on which no flap is provided. Generally, such the front face and the back face of such an envelope other than the flap are joined by sealing and folding at three line edges of four line edges that form an external form of the envelope and a line edge other than the three line edges of the four line edges is not joined. The other line edge other than the three edges of the four line edges of the envelope forms an opening of the envelope. The flap is joined with the front face of the envelope. By folding the other line edge on the front face of the envelope toward the back face of the envelope, the opening of the envelope is closed.
Next, the envelope is placed on the sheet container with the back face of the envelope facing down such that the other line edge that is folded as a joint of the flap and the front face of the envelope is disposed parallel to the sheet conveying direction. In this case, the envelope is conveyed as follows. As the conveyance of the envelope starts, the conveying force applier applies the conveying force to the front face of the envelope toward the sheet conveying direction. At the same time, a separator inhibits the back face of the envelope from moving in the sheet conveying direction. Due to the joint with the front face at the three line edges of the four line edges, the back face of the envelope other than the flap is not separated but the flap that is joined with the front face at the fold on the other line edge other than the three line edges is about to be separated. In a case in which such conveyance of the envelope is continued, the flap is continuously about to be separated from the front face of the envelope, and therefore, the back face of the envelope other than the flap is conveyed to the downstream side of the sheet conveying direction and the flap alone remains at the upstream side of the sheet conveying direction. Since an amount of movement of the front face of the envelope in the sheet conveying direction does not match with an amount of movement of the flap of the envelope in the sheet conveying direction, the front face of the envelope and the flap of the envelope are twisted, and therefore the fold joining the front face of the envelope and the flap are joint becomes swollen.
Consequently, the other line edge at the fold of the flap of the envelope in the width direction and the front face of the envelope rises, and the envelope becomes inclined. In this condition, the gap is formed between the sheet width regulator and the one end of the envelope in the width direction, and therefore the sheet width regulator cannot regulate the position of the envelope in the width direction. When a force to rotate the envelope is applied in this state for some reason, the sheet width regulator cannot stop the rotation, and therefore the envelope is conveyed in a skewed (inclined) state. Such conveyance of an envelope in the skewed (inclined) state occurs not only when a sheet to be conveyed is an envelope with a flap but also when one end of an envelope rises during conveyance to skew (incline). The conveyance of a skewed (inclined) envelope or sheet easily occurs not only when the separator inhibits movement of the envelope in the sheet conveying direction. Such conveyance also occurs in a case in which the sheet width regulator cannot regulate the position of the envelope or sheet in the width direction due to rise of part of the sheet or envelope in the width direction during the conveyance.
In Aspect A, the sheet guide regulates movement of the sheet in the upward direction, and therefore rise of part of the sheet in the width direction during the conveyance of the sheet can be prevented and regulation of the position of the sheet in the width direction can be maintained by the sheet width regulator. Accordingly, in a case in which a special sheet such as an envelope with a flap is conveyed, occurrence of skew (inclination) of the sheet during conveyance of the sheet is conveyed can be restrained.
Aspect B.
In Aspect A, the sheet guide (for example, the sheet upper face guide plate 300) regulates the movement of the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) in the upper direction at an upstream side of the sheet conveying direction relative to a position at which the conveying force applier (for example, the sheet feed roller 111) applies a conveying force to the sheet.
According to this configuration, as described in the embodiment above, elevation of part of the sheet in the width direction such as the rise of the flap fl at the upstream side from the sheet feeding position is prevented, and therefore occurrence of skew (inclination) of the sheet due to the rise of the sheet can be restrained.
Aspect C.
In Aspect A or Aspect B, a lower face of the sheet guide (for example, the sheet upper face guide plate 300 and e has a shape to guide the sheet in contact therewith to the sheet conveying direction.
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, the sheet that contacts the lower face of the sheet guide can be conveyed smoothly.
Aspect D.
In any one of Aspect A through Aspect C, the sheet feeding device (for example, the sheet feeding device 70) further includes a separator (for example, the separation pad 1104) configured to prevent a subsequent sheet other than the sheet to which the conveying force applier (for example, the sheet feed roller 111) applies the sheet conveying force, from moving in the sheet conveying direction and to separate the subsequent sheet from the sheet.
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, even when the force to rotate the sheet by the conveying force applier and the separator, the sheet width regulator can maintain regulation of the position of the sheet in the width direction. Accordingly, occurrence of conveyance of a skewed (inclined) sheet can be prevented.
Aspect E.
In any one of Aspect A through Aspect D, the support (for example, the bottom plate 1105 or the device attachment 200) includes a sheet loader (for example, the bottom plate 1105) and a device attachment body (for example, the device attachment 200). The sheet loader includes a first loading portion (for example, the bottom plate 1105) configured to support the sheet at a first position. The device attachment body includes a second loading portion (for example, the device attachment 200) disposed detachably attachable to the sheet loader and configured to support the sheet at a second position.
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, by providing the device attachment body, prevention of skew (inclination) of the sheet can be enhanced. Further, an operator such as a user selectively detaches the device attachment body from the sheet container (for example, the sheet feed tray 11), a greater amount (number) of sheet can be loaded on the sheet container. By so doing, when a regular sheet such as the sheet P (for example, a PPC sheet) other than a special sheet is used, the operator (the user) can select and determine the amount (number) of sheets to be loaded on the sheet container.
Aspect F.
In Aspect E, the device attachment body (for example, the device attachment 200) has a shape such that a distance (for example, the distance M) from a loading face of the sheet loader (for example, the bottom plate 1105) to the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) loaded on a loading face of the device attachment body with the device attachment body attached to the sheet loader increases toward an upstream side of the sheet conveying direction.
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, the sheet guide (for example, the sheet upper face guide plate 300) contacts the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) over the entire length in the sheet conveying direction. Accordingly, prevention of skew (inclination) of the sheet can be enhanced.
Aspect G.
In Aspect E or Aspect F, the sheet loader (for example, the bottom plate 1105) includes a friction body (for example, the sheet feed pad 1109) disposed facing the conveying force applier (for example, the sheet feed roller 111) and configured to hold the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) together with the conveying force applier. The friction body is exposed in a state in which the device attachment body (for example, the device attachment 200) is attached to the sheet loader.
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, since the same biasing force is applied to press the friction body against the sheet regardless of whether the device attachment body is provided to the sheet loader or not, the balance between the conveying force in the sheet feed section and the separation performance in the sheet separation section can be maintained. As a result, occurrence of multi-feed of the sheets can be prevented.
Aspect H.
In any one of Aspect E through Aspect G, the second loading portion (for example, the upper face of the device attachment 200) of the device attachment body (for example, the device attachment 200) includes an inclined flat loading face inclined relative to a loading face of the first loading portion (for example, the upper face of the bottom plate 1105) of the sheet loader (for example, the upper face of the bottom plate 1105).
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, by supporting the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) on the flat loading face of the sheet loader, the position of the sheet can be stabilized over the entire length of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction. Consequently, the sheet can be conveyed stably.
Aspect I.
In any one of Aspect E through Aspect H, the device attachment body (for example, the device attachment 200) is set such that a distance (for example, the distance Q) from a downstream end of the first loading portion (for example, the upper face of the bottom plate 1105) in the sheet conveying direction to an upstream end of the second loading portion (for example, the upper face of the device attachment 200) in the sheet conveying direction is equal to or greater than a half of a distance (for example, the distance R) of the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) loadable on the sheet loader (for example, the upper face of the bottom plate 1105).
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, misfeed of the sheet caused by the positional shift or deviation of the sheet in the sheet container (for example, the sheet feed tray 11) can be prevented.
Aspect J.
In any one of Aspect E through Aspect I, the device attachment body (for example, the device attachment 200) includes a cut portion (for example, the upstream side cut portion 201) at an upstream end thereof in the sheet conveying direction.
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, a sheet end regulator (for example, the end fence 1103) that regulates an upstream side end of the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) in the sheet conveying direction can be moved to the downstream side of the sheet conveying direction, than the upstream side end of the second loading portion (for example, the upper face of the device attachment 200). Accordingly, even when the device attachment body is attached, the position of the upstream side end of a small size sheet in the sheet conveying direction can be regulated, and therefore occurrence of misfeed of the small size sheet can be restrained and prevented.
Aspect K.
In any one of Aspect A through Aspect D, the support includes a sheet loader (for example, the bottom plate 1105) and a rotatable body (for example, the compact bottom plate 400). The sheet loader includes a first loading portion (for example, the bottom plate 1105) configured to support the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) at a first position (for example, the position illustrated in
According to this configuration, as described in Variation 2, by rotating the rotatable body to the second position at which the rotatable body supports the sheet, prevention of skew (inclination) of the sheet can be enhanced. Further, an operator such as a user selectively rotates the rotatable body, a greater amount (number) of sheet can be loaded on the sheet container (for example, the sheet feed tray 11). By so doing, when a regular sheet such as the sheet P (for example, a PPC sheet) other than a special sheet is used, the operator (the user) can select and determine the amount (number) of sheets to be loaded on the sheet container. Further, since this configuration does not include the device attachment body, the operator (the user) may not worry about a place to store the device attachment body that is detached from the sheet loader when not being used.
Aspect L.
In Aspect K, while the rotatable body (for example, the compact bottom plate 400) is supporting the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) at the second position (for example, the position illustrated in
According to this configuration, as described in Variation 2, the sheet guide (for example, the sheet upper face guide plate 300) contacts the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) over the entire length of the sheet in the sheet conveying direction. Accordingly, prevention of skew (inclination) of the sheet can be enhanced.
Aspect M.
In any one of Aspect A through Aspect D, the sheet guide (for example, the sheet upper face guide plate 300) is mounted on the sheet width regulator (for example, the first side fence 1101 and the second side fence 1102).
According to this configuration, as described in Variation 3, movement in the upper direction of the sheet (for example, the envelope Pe) that is conveyed by the sheet guide mounted on the sheet width regulator can be regulated. With this configuration, rise of part of the sheet in the width direction during conveyance of the sheet can be prevented, and regulation of the position of the sheet in the width direction by the sheet width regulator can be maintained. Accordingly, in a case in which a special sheet such as an envelope with a flap is conveyed, occurrence of skew (inclination) of the sheet during conveyance of the sheet is conveyed can be restrained. Further, the operator (the user) may not worry about a place to store the device attachment body.
Aspect N.
An image forming apparatus (for example, the image forming apparatus 100) includes an image forming device (for example, the image forming device 60) configured to form an image on a sheet (for example, the envelope Pe and the sheet P) and a sheet feeding device (for example, the sheet feeding device 70) configured to convey the sheet to the image forming device. The sheet feeding device includes the sheet feeding device according to any one of Aspect A through Aspect M.
According to this configuration, as described in the embodiment above, since occurrence of conveyance of the skewed (inclined) sheet can be restrained, an image forming failure in which a skewed (inclined) image is formed on a special sheet (for example, the envelope Pe with the flap fl) can be prevented.
Aspect O.
A device attachment body (for example, the device attachment 200) includes at least one cut portion (for example, the upstream side cut portion 201). The device attachment body is configured to be attached to the support (for example, the bottom plate 1105 or the device attachment 200) configured to support the lower face of the sheet container of the sheet feeding device. The device attachment body includes the device attachment body according to any one of Aspect E through Aspect J to be provided to the sheet feeding device (for example, the sheet feeding device 70).
According to this configuration, as described in the above-described embodiment, by providing the device attachment body to the support of the sheet feeding device, prevention of skew (inclination) of the sheet can be enhanced. Further, an operator such as a user selectively detaches the device attachment body of Aspect O from the sheet feeding device, a greater amount (number) of sheets can be loaded on the sheet container (for example, the sheet feed tray 11). By so doing, when a regular sheet such as the sheet P (for example, a PPC sheet) other than a special sheet is used, the operator (the user) can select and determine the amount (number) of sheets to be loaded on the sheet container.
The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit this disclosure. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements at least one of features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other at least one of substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims. Further, features of components of the embodiments, such as the number, the position, and the shape are not limited the embodiments and thus may be preferably set. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure of this disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016-111199 | Jun 2016 | JP | national |