Patent Application
20240067469
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sheet supply device.
An image forming apparatus disposed in a workplace forms an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet supply device that supplies the sheet. The sheet supply device includes a cassette and a housing. The cassette is capable of storing sheets. The housing supports the cassette to be movable in a first direction. The cassette moves in the first direction to be housed in the housing. There has been a demand for a sheet supply device that can reduce a load at a cassette housing time when the cassette is housed in the housing.
A sheet supply device in an embodiment includes a cassette, a housing, a drawing-in device, a roller, and a guide member. The cassette is capable of storing sheets. The housing supports the cassette to be movable in a first direction. The drawing-in device draws the cassette into the housing. The roller is supported by one of the cassette and the housing. The roller is capable of rotating around a rotation axis parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The guide member is supported by another of the cassette and the housing. The guide member includes a groove having the first direction as a longitudinal direction and having a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction as a width direction. An inner surface in the third direction of the groove is capable of coming into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the roller. The roller is disposed in a first portion in the first direction of the groove in a state in which the cassette is housed in the housing. If the cassette moves in the third direction according to the drawing-in of the cassette in the first direction by the drawing-in device, a first inner surface on a first side in the third direction of the groove in contact with the roller extends in parallel to the first direction from the first portion. If the drawing-in device starts to draw in the cassette, the roller is disposed in a second portion in the first direction of the groove. A second inner surface on a second side, which is an opposite side of the first side, in the third direction in the second portion of the groove is disposed further on the second side in the third direction than the second inner surface in the first portion.
The sheet supply device in the embodiment is explained below with reference to the drawings.
The image forming apparatus 1 disposed in a workplace forms an image on a sheet. The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a multi function printer (MFP) or a copying machine. The image forming apparatus 1 may subject the image formed on the sheet to image processing. Examples of the image processing performed using the image forming apparatus 1 include processing for, for example, heating an image formed by decoloring toner to erase the image.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a display 2, a control panel unit 3, an image reading unit 4, an image forming unit 5, and a sheet supply device 10.
The display 2 and the control panel unit 3 are used by a user to perform operation input for causing the image forming apparatus 1 to operate. The display 2 displays operation content performed by the user and a message to the user.
The image reading unit 4 reads a document and forms an image signal of an image to be formed by the image forming unit 5.
The image forming unit 5 forms an image on a sheet based on the operation input or a signal from the outside.
The sheet supply device (a paper feeding device) 10 is disposed in a lower part of the image forming apparatus 1. The sheet supply device 10 supplies a sheet to the image forming unit 5.
The cassette 20 is formed in a box shape, the upper surface of which is opened. The cassette 20 includes a sheet storing unit 21 capable of storing sheets S. The sheets S are placed on a tray 24 of the sheet storing unit 21. The sheets S are picked up one by one by a pickup roller 12 and supplied to the image forming unit 5. The sheet S is supplied in the +Y direction from the sheet storing unit 21.
The housing 11 supports the cassette 20 to be movable in the X direction. The cassette 20 moves in the +X direction to be drawn out from the housing 11. The cassette 20 moves in the −X direction to be housed in the housing 11. The user of the image forming apparatus 1 draws out the cassette 20 from the housing 11 and fills the sheets S in the cassette 20. The user houses the cassette 20 in the housing 11 and causes the image forming apparatus 1 to start image formation.
The sheet supply device 10 includes a drawing-in device 18 for drawing the cassette 20 into the housing 11. The drawing-in device 18 is set in a corner of the −X direction and the −Y direction of the housing 11. The cassette 20 includes a pin 28 in the corner of the −X direction and the −Y direction. The pin 28 projects in the −Y direction from the cassette 20.
In housing the cassette 20, the user of the image forming apparatus 1 pushes in the cassette 20 in the −X direction. If the cassette 20 moves to near the end portion in the −X direction, the pin 28 enters the drawing-in device 18. The drawing-in device 18 draws in the pin 28 in the −X direction making use of a restoration force of an urging member. Consequently, the cassette 20 is housed in the housing 11. The drawing-in device 18 supports housing work for the cassette 20 by the user. The drawing-in device 18 houses the cassette 20 in a predetermined position of the housing 11. Consequently, supply accuracy of the sheet S is improved.
The cassette 20 includes contact sections 60. The contact sections 60 come into contact with the housing 11 according to the drawing-in of the cassette 20 by the drawing-in device 18. The contact sections 60 include an attenuation damper 61, a sheet size detecting mechanism 62, a tray moving mechanism 63, and a pickup roller moving mechanism (a paper feeding module) 64. The attenuation damper 61 attenuates vibration (relaxes a shock) at a housing time of the cassette 20. The sheet size detecting mechanism 62 detects a size of the sheets S stored in the cassette 20. The tray moving mechanism 63 raises the tray 24 on which the sheets S are placed. The pickup roller moving mechanism 64 lowers the pickup roller 12, which picks up the sheets S one by one from the cassette 20, and brings the pickup roller 12 into contact with the sheet S.
The contact sections 60 are disposed side by side on the end face in the −X direction of the cassette 20. The pickup roller moving mechanism 64, the tray moving mechanism 63, the sheet size detecting mechanism 62, and the attenuation damper 61 are disposed in this order from the +Y direction to the −Y direction. The drawing-in device 18 is disposed in the −Y direction of the cassette 20. The drawing-in device 18 is disposed in the −Y direction of the contact sections 60.
The drawing-in device 18 causes a force in the −X direction to act on the cassette 20 and draws in the cassette 20 in the −X direction. The housing 11 causes a force in the +X direction in the opposite direction of the drawing-in direction of the cassette 20 to act on the contact sections 60. The housing 11 causes the force in the +X direction to act on the cassette 20 via the contact sections 60.
The force acting on the contact sections 60 from the housing 11 increases in the order of the tray moving mechanism 63, the sheet size detecting mechanism 62, the attenuation damper 61, and the pickup roller moving mechanism 64. The sheet size detecting mechanism 62, the attenuation damper 61, and the pickup roller moving mechanism 64 receive a large force from the housing 11 because the sheet size detecting mechanism 62, the attenuation damper 61, and the pickup roller moving mechanism 64 make use of elastic forces of coil springs. The force acting on the attenuation damper 61 from the housing 11 greatly fluctuates because the force is proportional to a square of moving speed of the cassette 20.
If the cassette 20 is drawn into the housing 11, a force in the −X direction acts on the cassette 20 from the drawing-in device 18 and a force in the +X direction acts on the cassette 20 from the housing 11 and the contact sections 60. The drawing-in device 18 is disposed in the −Y direction of the contact sections 60. Consequently, if the cassette 20 is drawn into the housing 11, moment in the +θ direction acts on the cassette 20.
The sheet supply device 10 includes a guide mechanism 30. The guide mechanism 30 prevents the cassette 20 from turning in the +θ direction and guides the cassette 20 to move in the −X direction.
The guide mechanism 30 is disposed in a corner of the +X direction and the +Y direction of the cassette 20 and on the outer side of the sheet storing unit 21. The guide mechanism 30 includes a roller 32 and a guide member 35.
The roller 32 has a cylindrical shape. The roller 32 is supported by the cassette 20. As illustrated in
The guide member 35 is formed by a resin material or the like. The guide member 35 is supported by the housing 11. The guide member 35 is fixed to the housing 11 by a fixing member 38 such as a bolt and a nut.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
If the cassette 20 is housed in the housing 11, the cassette 20 moves in the −X direction. The roller 32 supported by the cassette 20 enters the groove 40 of the guide member 35 supported by the housing 11. The roller 32 enters the inner side of the groove 40 from the opening at the end portion in the +X direction of the groove 40. After the roller 32 enters the groove 40, the drawing-in device 18 starts to draw in the cassette 20. At a point in time of completion of the drawing-in of the cassette 20, the roller 32 is disposed near the end portion in the −X direction of the groove 40.
In a state in which the cassette 20 is housed in the housing 11, the roller 32 is disposed in a first portion 51 in the X direction of the groove 40. The first portion 51 is the vicinity of the end portion in the −X direction of the groove 40.
If the drawing-in device 18 starts to draw in the cassette 20, the roller 32 is disposed in a second portion 52 in the X direction of the groove 40. The second portion 52 is a position deeper in the −X direction from the opening at the end portion in the +X direction of the groove 40. A section from the second portion 52 to the first portion 51 in the X direction of the groove 40 is represented as an A section. If the drawing-in device 18 draws in the cassette 20, the roller 32 is located in the A section of the groove 40.
As illustrated in
If the cassette 20 moves in the −Y direction, the roller 32 supported by the cassette 20 comes into contact with the first inner surface 41 in the −Y direction of the groove 40 illustrated in
The first inner surface 41 in the −Y direction of the groove 40 extends in the +X direction in parallel to the X direction from the first portion 51. The first inner surface 41 of the groove 40 comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the roller 32 and restricts movement of the roller 32 in the −Y direction. Movement of the cassette 20, which supports the roller 32, in the −Y direction is restricted. The roller 32 is capable of moving in the −X direction while rotating. Sliding resistance between the roller 32 and the groove 40 is reduced. Consequently, the load in housing the cassette 20 is reduced. According to the reduction in the load, a drawing-in force of the drawing-in device 18 can be set small. If the cassette 20 is drawn out, the cassette 20 can be drawn out with a small force resisting the drawing-in force of the drawing-in device 18.
The second inner surface 42 in the +Y direction in the second portion 52 of the groove 40 is disposed further in the +Y direction than the second inner surface 42 in the first portion 51. The width in the Y direction of the groove 40 in the first portion 51 is equivalent to the diameter of the roller 32. If the roller 32 is disposed in the first portion 51 at the completion time of the drawing-in of the cassette 20 by the drawing-in device 18, the cassette 20 is positioned in the Y direction with respect to the housing 11. The width in the Y direction of the groove 40 in the second portion 52 is larger than the diameter of the roller 32. Even if the roller 32 irregularly moves in the +Y direction at a start time of the drawing-in of the cassette 20 by the drawing-in device 18, the roller 32 less easily comes into contact with the second inner surface 42. Consequently, the load in housing the cassette 20 is reduced.
The groove 40 extends to the opposite side of the first portion 51 across the second portion 52 in the X direction. The groove 40 includes a third portion 53 in the +X direction of the second portion 52. The first inner surface 41 and the second inner surface 42 between the second portion 52 and the third portion 53 are parallel to the X direction. The movement of the roller 32 in the Y direction is restricted in the same manner from before the start to the start time of the drawing-in of the cassette 20 by the drawing-in device 18. Therefore, the cassette 20 is smoothly started to be drawn in by the drawing-in device 18.
The groove 40 includes a fourth portion 54 at the end portion on the opposite side of the first portion 51 across the second portion 52 in the X direction. The fourth portion 54 is present in the +X direction of the third portion 53. The fourth portion 54 is the end portion in the +X direction of the groove 40. The groove 40 includes a widened section 43 increased in the width in the Y direction from the third portion 53 to the fourth portion 54. The inner surface of the widened section 43 is a plane but may be a curved surface. Since an opening width of the end portion in the +X direction of the groove 40 is large, the roller 32 easily enters the groove 40. Since the roller 32 is guided to the second portion 52 by the widened section 43, the load in housing the cassette 20 is reduced.
The groove 40 includes a fifth portion 55 between the first portion 51 and the second portion 52 in the X direction. A first distance D1 between the first portion 51 and the fifth portion 55 in the X direction is shorter than a second distance D2 between the fifth portion 55 and the second portion 52. The fifth portion 55 is present near the first portion 51. The second inner surface 42 between the fifth portion 55 and the second portion 52 is parallel to the X direction. The width in the Y direction of the groove 40 between the fifth portion 55 and the second portion 52 is larger than the diameter of the roller 32. Even if the roller 32 irregularly moves in the +Y direction while the cassette 20 is drawn in by the drawing-in device 18, the roller 32 less easily comes into contact with the second inner surface 42. The width in the Y direction of the groove 40 decreases from the fifth portion 55 to the first portion 51. The roller 32 is positioned in the Y direction immediately before the completion of the drawing-in of the cassette 20 by the drawing-in device 18. Consequently, the load in housing the cassette 20 is reduced.
The guide member 35 includes the connecting section 45 that connects both the sides in the Y direction of the groove 40. Deformation of the groove 40 is suppressed by the connecting section 45. Accuracy of movement restriction in the Y direction for the roller 32 by the groove 40 is improved. Consequently, the load in housing the cassette 20 is reduced.
The cassette 20 includes the contact sections 60 that come into contact with the housing 11 according to the drawing-in of the cassette 20 by the drawing-in device 18. The contact sections 60 receive a force in the opposite direction of the drawing-in direction of the cassette 20 from the housing 11. The drawing-in device 18 is disposed in the −Y direction of the contact sections 60.
If the drawing-in device 18 draws in the cassette 20 in the −X direction, moment in the +θ direction acts on the cassette 20. The cassette 20 moves in the −Y direction in the position of the guide mechanism 30. The roller 32 supported by the cassette 20 comes into contact with the first inner surface 41 in the −Y direction of the groove 40. The first inner surface 41 in the −Y direction of the groove 40 extends in the +X direction in parallel to the X direction from the first portion 51. Movement of the cassette 20 in the −Y direction is restricted. Consequently, the load in housing the cassette 20 is reduced.
One of the contact sections 60 is the pickup roller moving mechanism 64 that brings the pickup roller 12, which picks up the sheets S one by one from the cassette 20, into contact with the sheet S.
One of the contact sections 60 is the attenuation damper 61 that attenuates vibration at the housing time of the cassette 20.
One of the contact sections 60 is the sheet size detecting mechanism 62 that detects a size of the sheets S stored in the cassette 20.
One of the contact sections 60 is the tray moving mechanism 63 that raises the tray 24 on which the sheets S are placed.
The contact sections 60 receive a force in the opposite direction of the drawing-in direction of the cassette 20 from the housing 11. In this case as well, in the sheet supply device 10 in the embodiment, the load in housing the cassette 20 is reduced.
In the embodiment, the roller 32 is supported by the cassette 20 and the guide member 35 is supported by the housing 11. In this case, if the cassette 20 moves in the −Y direction, the roller 32 comes into contact with the inner surface in the −Y direction of the groove 40 of the guide member 35. In contrast, the roller 32 may be supported by the housing 11 and the guide member 35 may be supported by the cassette 20. In this case, If the cassette 20 moves in the −Y direction, the inner surface in the +Y direction of the groove 40 of the guide member 35 comes into contact with the roller 32. The groove 40 in this case is obtained by inverting the groove 40 in the embodiment by 180° in the θ direction.
In the embodiment, the drawing-in device 18 is disposed in the −Y direction of the contact sections 60. In this case, if the cassette 20 is drawn in, the roller 32 comes into contact with the inner surface in the −Y direction of the groove 40. In contrast, the drawing-in device 18 may be disposed in the +Y direction of the contact sections 60. In this case, if the cassette 20 is drawn in, the roller 32 comes into contact with the inner surface in the +Y direction of the groove 40. The groove 40 in this case is obtained by mirror-inverting the groove 40 in the embodiment with an XZ plane passing the center in the Y direction as a plane of symmetry.
According to the at least one embodiment explained above, the first inner surface 41 in the −Y direction of the groove 40 extends in parallel to the X direction from the first portion 51. The second inner surface 42 in the +Y direction in the second portion 52 of the groove 40 is disposed further in the +Y direction than the second inner surface 42 in the first portion 51. Consequently, the load in housing the cassette 20 can be reduced.
While certain embodiments have been described these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms: furthermore various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and there equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
