JP2009249143A - Manual recording medium feeding device, and image forming device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manual recording medium feeding device capable of eliminating any troublesomeness or load in setting recording media with a simple constitution and preventing occurrence of non-feed of any recording medium, and an image forming device using the same. <P>SOLUTION: The manual recording medium feeding device 11 comprises a recording medium feeding stand 12, a flapper 13 which is supported in a vertically oscillating manner with a hinge pin 120 being a supporting point on a fore end side of the recording medium feeding direction of the recording medium feeding stand 12, and a recording medium feed roller 14 placed in a vicinity of an upper part on the oscillating end side of the flapper 13, and further comprises a driving unit 141 for oscillating the flapper upwardly and a drive transmission unit 17. A torque limiter mechanism 170 is interposed in the drive transmission unit. When the driving unit is driven, the flapper is oscillated upwardly. When the oscillating end of the flapper is interfered with the recording medium feed roller, the flapper is maintained in the interfered state by the effect of the torque limiter mechanism. When the driving unit is not driven, the oscillating end of the flapper is oscillated downwardly by its self weight, and stands still at the waiting position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a manual recording medium supply device and an image forming apparatus using the same, and more specifically, a manual recording medium supply including a flapper for pressing a front end portion of a manual recording medium against a recording medium supply roller. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an image forming apparatus that records an image on a recording medium supplied from the manual-feed-recording medium supply apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an example of the above-described manual feed medium supply device and an image forming apparatus including the same. The image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a conveyance path of a manual recording medium that communicates with an image recording section provided in the apparatus main body, and a manual recording medium supply apparatus that is installed at an entrance of the conveyance path. The image recording unit records an image on a recording medium supplied from a manual-feed recording medium supply device. Further, the manual recording medium supply device includes a flapper that is elastically applied upward by a spring. When the recording medium is set on the flapper, the flapper is pushed down against the elasticity of the spring to lock the flapper. It is made in the state locked to the member. Then, the release lever is operated, the flapper is raised by the elasticity of the spring, and the recording medium is pressed against the pickup roller to enter the standby state for supplying the recording medium (see column 0020 in FIGS. 2 and 5). . Thereafter, when the pickup roller rotates, the recording medium on the flapper is fed out one by one from the uppermost layer paper by the cooperative action with the flapper pad (separation pad), and passes through the conveyance path of the manual recording medium to the image recording unit. Be transported.

Patent Document 2 discloses a recording medium supply device using a cassette in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. In this recording medium supply device, a cassette plate (flapper) for placing the recording medium in the cassette is installed, and on the image forming apparatus side, a lift plate for lifting the cassette plate and the lift plate are rotated around a lift axis. Drive means and drive transmission means (gear means) are provided. When the cassette is mounted at a regular position in the image forming apparatus, the cassette plate is lifted by the rotation of the lift plate, the recording medium is pressed against the pickup roller, and the recording medium is fed out. And if the drive means is operated when the cassette is not mounted in the proper position, a torque limiter is interposed on the lift shaft to prevent the lift plate from hitting the cassette bottom plate and causing damage. The lift plate is not subjected to a large load.
JP 2006-298508 A JP-A-6-924805

  In the case of the manual recording medium supply apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the recording medium is not in a standby state unless the flapper is depressed to set the recording medium and then the release lever is operated. In this case, since the flapper is pressed against the spring force, it requires force on the fingertip, and it is necessary to insert the fingertip into the entrance of the transport path, which imposes bother and burden on the operator. . If the user forgets to operate the release lever, the recording medium cannot be pressed against the pickup roller, and no feed of the recording medium occurs. In the case of a cassette-type recording medium supply device, a mechanism for releasing the lock in conjunction with the cassette mounting operation and swinging the flapper upward can be incorporated. In the case of the medium supply device, manual operation of the release lever is unavoidable.

  The recording medium supply device of Patent Document 2 is a cassette type and is not a manual recording medium supply device. In this case, with the cassette mounted in the proper position, the driving means drives to lift the cassette plate in the cassette and press the recording medium placed on the cassette plate against the pickup roller. When the recording medium is pressed against the pickup roller, driving of the driving means is stopped and maintained in this state, and the recording medium is fed and supplied by the subsequent rotation of the pickup roller. In this way, after the recording medium is loaded into the cassette and the cassette is mounted at the regular position, the loading operation of the recording medium is unnecessary until the recording medium in the cassette is exhausted, and the manual-feed recording medium supply device As described above, the essential functions differ from those in which a recording medium is set whenever necessary. And in this patent document 2, although there is no description about the operation | movement at the time of extracting a cassette, the operation | movement sequence which permits the extraction of a cassette is carried out, after driving a drive means reversely and lowering a cassette board. It is thought that. In addition, there is no description on how to maintain the pressing relationship between the pickup roller and the recording medium in the process in which the recording medium placed on the cassette plate is reduced by feeding. Therefore, the lifting mechanism of the cassette plate disclosed in Patent Document 2 cannot be applied to the vertical movement of the flapper in the manual recording medium supply device of Patent Document 1 as it is, and even if it is applied temporarily, the above problem is solved. There is no guarantee that can be done.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a simple configuration, and can be set without bothering or burdening the recording medium, and there is no fear of causing no feed of the recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a differential recording medium supply device and an image forming apparatus using the same.

  A manual recording medium supply device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a recording medium supply base, a flapper supported on the recording medium supply direction front side of the recording medium supply base in a swingable manner with a hinge pin as a fulcrum, and the flapper A manual-feed recording medium supply device provided with a recording medium supply roller installed in the vicinity of the upper portion on the swing end side of the head, and includes a drive unit and a drive transmission unit for swinging the flapper upward, A torque limiter mechanism is interposed in the drive transmission unit. When the drive unit is driven, the flapper swings upward, and when the swinging end of the flapper interferes with the recording medium supply roller, the torque limiter mechanism operates. The flapper is maintained in the interference state, and when the drive unit is not driven, the swinging end of the flapper swings downward by its own weight and is stationary at the standby position.

  In the manual recording medium supply device of the present invention, the recording medium supply roller may be rotatable in contact with a separation pad provided on the front side of the manual recording medium supply base. In this case, the drive unit is used as a drive shaft of the recording medium supply roller, and the drive transmission unit is constituted by a gear train connected between the drive shaft and the hinge pin, and the drive shaft and the gear train The drive system may further include a one-way clutch mechanism that swings the flapper upward only when the drive shaft rotates.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention includes an apparatus main body, an image recording unit provided in the apparatus main body, a conveyance path for a manual recording medium that communicates with the image recording unit, and a side portion of the apparatus main body. And an entrance portion of the conveyance path that is open, and the manual feed medium supply device is installed at the entrance portion.
In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the recording medium supply table of the manual recording medium supply apparatus may be attached to the side of the apparatus main body so as to be opened and closed with the hinge pin as a fulcrum.

  According to the manual recording medium supply apparatus of the present invention, when the drive unit is driven, the flapper swings upward with the hinge pin as a fulcrum. When the swinging end of the flapper interferes with the recording medium supply roller, the flapper is maintained in the interference state by the action of the torque limiter mechanism. Accordingly, the recording medium placed on the recording medium supply base is in a state in which the front end portion is sandwiched between the recording medium supply roller and the flapper and pressed against the recording medium supply roller in this interference state. When the recording medium supply roller rotates in this state, the recording medium is fed from the uppermost layer paper by the action of the recording medium supply roller. When the driving of the drive unit stops, no upward swinging force is applied to the flapper, and the flapper swings downward with its own weight with the hinge pin as a fulcrum and stops at the standby position. In this standby state, since the swinging end of the flapper and the recording medium supply roller are separated from each other, there is no need to push down the flapper when supplying a new recording medium, and the recording medium is placed on the recording medium supply table. Can be done by simply placing and pushing. Therefore, the operator is not bothered or burdened. If the recording medium supply operation and the drive of the drive unit are linked, the drive unit is driven at the start of supply of the recording medium, and the flapper is swung upward, and the recording medium supply roller and the flapper Since the interference state is automatically maintained, there is no fear of no feed of the recording medium.

  If the recording medium supply roller can be rotated in contact with a separation pad provided on the front side of the manual-feed recording medium supply table, the recording medium supply roller and the separation pad can be supplied by the cooperative action of the recording medium supply roller and the separation pad. Recording media placed on the table are separated one by one and fed out. If the drive shaft of the recording medium supply roller is a drive unit for swinging the flapper upward, the flapper is swung upward in conjunction with the recording medium supply operation accompanying the rotation of the recording medium supply roller. In addition, the interference state between the recording medium supply roller and the flapper is automatically maintained. In this case, since the one-way clutch mechanism is interposed in the drive system by the drive shaft and the gear train, the upward swing of the flapper by the drive shaft and the interference state between the recording medium supply roller and the flapper can be maintained. Certainly done. In addition, when the drive shaft is stopped, the flapper can swing downward due to its own weight even though the recording medium supply roller receives contact resistance from the separation pad, and is stationary at the standby position. Is also made surely.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second invention, the recording medium supplied from any one of the manual-feed recording medium supply devices is introduced into the image recording section through the conveyance path of the manual-feed recording medium, and the image recording The image is recorded in the part. Since the manual-feed recording medium supply device is configured as described above, there is no burden or burden on the operator who handles the image forming apparatus when setting the manual-feed recording medium. If the drive unit for swinging the flapper upward is the drive shaft of the recording medium supply roller, the image forming apparatus automatically swings the flapper upward if a manual recording medium supply command is issued. And the maintenance of the interference state between the recording medium supply roller and the flapper is ensured. Therefore, there is no concern that no feeding of the recording medium due to forgetting to release the release lever or the like will occur.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the recording medium supply base of the manual recording medium supply apparatus is attached to the side of the apparatus main body so as to be freely opened and closed, the image recording is performed on the manual recording medium. Only when the recording medium supply base is opened and image recording of the manual recording medium is not performed, it can be closed. In addition, since the hinge pin serves as the opening / closing fulcrum of the recording medium supply base and the swing fulcrum of the flapper, the number of parts does not increase.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus provided with a manual recording medium supply apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual side view showing a main part of the manual recording medium supply apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the manual feeding medium supply apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called multi-function machine having a copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, but may be embodied as a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or a printer apparatus. In the figure, the apparatus main body 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a recording medium supply unit 2 for recording paper (recording medium), an electrophotographic image recording unit 3, a recording paper discharge unit 4 after image recording, and an image. The reading unit 5 is configured to be stacked in the height direction in this order. In the following, the recording medium includes a recording paper made of ordinary plain paper, a postcard, an envelope, or an OHP sheet.

  The recording paper recording medium supply unit 2 includes a recording paper (recording medium) supply cassette 21 that can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body 10 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. The recording paper supply cassette 21 is provided with a recording paper (recording medium) supply roller 22 at its front end and a separation pad 23 that elastically contacts the peripheral surface of the recording paper supply roller 22. In the cassette 21, a recording paper (recording medium) push-up plate 24 that pushes up the stacked recording paper 6 and a compression coil spring 25 that imparts upward elasticity to the push-up plate 24 are installed. The recording paper push-up plate 24 is supported by the support shaft 26 so as to be vertically swingable with the support shaft 26 as a fulcrum. An end guide 27 that regulates the rear end of the recording paper 6 is attached to the bottom of the cassette 21 so that the position thereof can be adjusted. Since the upward force is always applied to the push-up plate 24 by the compression coil spring 25, the front end portion of the recording paper 6 deposited on the push-up plate 24 is pressed against the peripheral surface of the recording paper supply roller 22. It is done. Therefore, when the recording paper supply roller 22 rotates, the recording paper 6 that has been deposited is separated one by one from the uppermost layer by the cooperative action of the recording paper supply roller 22 and the separation pad 23, and the recording paper described later It is fed toward the conveyance path 7.

  The image recording unit 3 includes a process unit in which a charger 31, an exposure unit 32, a developing device 33, a transfer roller 34, and a cleaning device 35 are arranged in this order around the photosensitive drum 30, and a fixing device 36 on the downstream side thereof. It is composed of. The photosensitive drum 30, the charger 31 and the cleaning device 35 are unitized as a drum unit, and the developing device 33 is unitized as a developing device unit. Both units are individually or coupled to the apparatus main body 10. Removably mounted. Since these units are consumables, they can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 10.

  A registration roller pair 71 is installed in the vicinity of the upstream side of the process section, and the recording paper 6 separated and fed out from the recording paper supply cassette 21 one by one by the action of the recording paper supply roller 22 and the separation pad 23. Then, it is registered by the registration roller pair 71 and introduced into the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 30 and the transfer roller 34. The surface of the photosensitive drum 30 is uniformly charged by the charger 31 while rotating in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and an optical image based on the image information is irradiated to the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 by the exposure unit 32. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 30.

  The electrostatic latent image is sequentially developed by the developing device 33 to be a toner image. The toner image is registered by the registration roller pair 71 and is introduced into the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 30 and the transfer roller 34. Transferred to paper 6. The recording paper 6 to which the toner image has been transferred is introduced into the fixing device 36 and fixed as a permanent image, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 42 by drawing the main conveyance pass line 61 by the discharge roller pair 41. This series of conveyance of the recording paper 6 rises in a substantially vertical (vertical) state immediately after feeding out from the recording paper supply cassette 21, and in the discharge unit 4, the feeding direction from the recording paper supply cassette 21 is about 180 degrees. It is made along a recording paper conveyance path (hereinafter referred to as a main conveyance path) 7 that turns, and with this layout configuration, the entire apparatus can be made compact.

The developing device 33 is a developing device using a two-component developer, and includes a developer storage chamber for storing a developer composed of toner and a carrier inside a resin-molded casing. A toner cartridge 330 including a replenishing toner hopper and a waste toner tank that collects transfer residual toner removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum 30 by the cleaning device 35 is installed at a position away from the developer storage chamber. ing. The toner cartridge 330 is appropriately replaced as a consumable item.
The developing device 33 is not limited to a system using a two-component developer, but a one-component system or other systems can also be employed.

  A first switching gate 72 is installed in the main conveyance path 7 on the downstream side of the fixing device 36, and switching between the recording paper discharge side and the switchback side for double-sided recording is possible. In the drawing, the solid line switching gate 72 is set on the switchback portion side, and the two-dot chain line switching gate 72 is set on the discharge side so that the recording paper 6 can be guided. The switchback side main transport path 7 for duplex recording joins a reverse recording medium transport path (hereinafter referred to as a reverse transport path) 8 via a second switching gate 73. The recording paper 6 guided to the switchback portion side by the first switching gate 72 pushes up the second switching gate 73 and is conveyed by the switchback roller pair 81. When the rear end of the recording paper 6 reaches the switchback roller pair 81, the switchback roller pair 81 temporarily stops with the rear end of the recording paper 6 being nipped. At this time, the front side of the recording paper 6 is held on the temporary tray 82.

  Thereafter, the switchback roller pair 81 reverses and the recording paper 6 is supplied to the reverse conveyance path 8. The reverse conveyance path 8 is configured to circulate to the main conveyance path 7 upstream of the registration roller pair 71 from the attachment position of the second switching gate 73 of the main conveyance path 7. Two pairs of conveying rollers 83 and 84 are provided along the line. The recording paper 6 that has been recorded on one side and transported along the main transport path 7 is introduced into the switchback unit and then supplied to the reverse transport path 8 by the reverse rotation of the switchback roller pair 81. The recording paper 6 supplied to the reverse conveyance path 8 is continuously conveyed along the reverse conveyance path 8 by a pair of conveyance rollers 83 and 84, joins the main conveyance path 7 along the reverse conveyance path line 62, and registration rollers. It reaches pair 71. Thereafter, the toner is introduced again into the nip portion between the photosensitive drum 30 and the transfer roller 34, and recording on the back surface is performed. The recording paper 6 recorded on both sides is discharged onto the discharge tray 42 of the discharge unit 4 along the main transport path 7 as described above.

  An image reading unit 5 is installed above the recording paper discharge unit. The image reading unit 5 is installed on an image reading scanning unit 50 including an ADF (automatic document feeder) reading unit 51 and an FBS unit (flat bed scanner unit) 52, and can be freely opened and closed on the image reading scanning unit 50. A document pressing plate 53 is included. A scanning carriage 54 equipped with a light source, a mirror, a lens, and a CCD is installed in the image reading scanning unit 50. The scanning carriage 54 can be reciprocated by the FBS unit 52, and is fixed by the ADF reading unit 51. Movement control is performed. On the upper surface of the document pressing plate 53, an ADF document supply tray 55, an ADF mechanism 56, and an ADF document discharge tray 57 are provided. The image reading unit 5 is used for copying a document image or transmitting a facsimile.

  A manual recording medium (recording paper) supply device 11 is installed on the side of the apparatus main body 10. The manual recording paper supply device 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. In the apparatus main body 10, a manual recording paper conveyance path (hereinafter referred to as a manual conveyance path) 9 that joins the main conveyance path 7 and leads to the image recording unit 3 is formed. Is provided with an inlet 90 of the manual feed path 9. The manual sheet feeding device 11 is installed at the entrance 90. The manual recording paper supply device 11 includes a recording paper supply base 12, a flapper 13 supported on the recording paper supply direction front side of the recording paper supply base 12 so as to swing up and down with a hinge pin 120 as a fulcrum, and the flapper 13 includes a recording medium (recording paper) supply roller and 14 installed in the vicinity of the upper portion on the swing end side of 13. The recording paper supply base 12 is attached to the inlet portion 90 of the apparatus main body 10 so as to be openable and closable with the hinge pin 120 as a fulcrum. On the upper surface of the recording paper supply base 12, a pair of side guides 121 for regulating the width of the recording paper are installed so as to be able to approach and separate from each other. In addition, an auxiliary supply table 122 that can be pulled out rearward is housed in the recording paper supply table 12. FIG. 1 shows a state where the auxiliary supply stand 122 is pulled out, and FIG. 3 shows a state where the auxiliary supply stand 122 is retracted.

  A guide wall portion 15 is formed on the swing end side of the flapper 13 in the apparatus main body 10, and the guide wall portion 15 has a pair of arm portions 151 and 151 extending toward the recording paper supply base 12 at both ends thereof. have. The hinge pin 120 is fixed to the arm portions 151 and 151. The upper surface of the guide wall 15 is a guide surface 152 that guides the recording paper fed from the recording paper supply base 12 to the transport path 9 and is inclined forward and upward. The separation pad 16 is installed in the center of the guide surface 152 in the longitudinal direction in a state in which elasticity is applied upward by the compression spring 161. The separation pad 16 is pressed against the circumferential surface of the recording paper supply roller 14 by the elastic force of the compression spring 161, thereby constituting a manual feeding paper feeding and separating mechanism. The surface of the guide wall 15 opposite to the flapper 13 is a substantially vertical guide wall 153 that guides recording paper from a lower cassette (not shown), and a plurality of guide ribs 154 are formed on the guide wall 153. ing. A filler-type optical sensor 18 is installed below the flapper 13, and the sensor filler 181 protrudes from the upper surface of the flapper 13 (see FIG. 3, not shown in FIG. 2). The sensor 18 detects the presence or absence of recording paper on the recording paper supply base 12.

  The recording paper supply roller 14 and the recording paper supply roller 14 are attached via a one-way clutch 142 to a drive shaft 141 that is driven and transmitted via an electromagnetic clutch 140 from a drive transmission mechanism (not shown) in the apparatus main body 10. When the electromagnetic clutch 140 is turned on and the drive shaft 141 rotates, the one-way clutch 142 is locked and the recording paper supply roller 14 rotates in the direction of the arrow 143. When the electromagnetic clutch 140 is off, the drive shaft 141 is free to rotate. However, since the separation pad 16 is pressed against the recording paper supply roller 14 by the elastic force of the compression spring 161, its resistance is reduced. The rotation of the receiving recording paper supply roller 14 is prevented. Accordingly, in this state, the drive shaft 141 can be freely rotated in the direction of the opposite arrow 143 by the action of the one-way clutch 142.

  A gear 171 is attached to both ends of the drive shaft 141 via a torque regulator 170, and three idler gears 172, 173, and 174 are meshed with and connected to the gear 171. Further, the idler gear 174 meshes with an arc gear 175 formed at the tip of the operating arm 131 integrated with the flapper 13. The center of curvature of the arc gear 175 is the center of the hinge pin 120. The gear train 17 including the drive shaft 141 and the gears 171 to 175 constitutes a drive system that swings the flapper 13 upward with the hinge pin 120 as a fulcrum. The drive shaft 141 serves as a drive unit, and the gear train 17 serves as a drive transmission unit. .

  An operation of forming an image on a manual feed paper using the manual feed paper feeder 11 having the above configuration will be described. When recording an image on the manual sheet, the operator opens the recording sheet supply base 12 as shown by the solid line position in FIG. At this time, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the flapper 13 is stationary at a standby position where the swing end is separated downward from the recording paper supply roller 14. The standstill at the standby position is made by a stopper (not shown). The recording paper 6 is set on the recording paper supply base 12, and the auxiliary base 122 is pulled out depending on the size of the recording paper 6. When the recording paper 6 is set on the recording paper supply base 12, the sensor 18 is turned on and a recording paper presence signal is transmitted. When the image recording mode is set on the manual recording paper by the image forming apparatus 1 or an external communication terminal device (such as a personal computer) and an image recording instruction is issued, the electromagnetic clutch 140 is turned on. As a result, the drive transmission mechanism in the apparatus main body 10 and the drive shaft 141 of the recording paper supply roller 14 are connected, and the drive shaft 141 is rotationally driven. As the drive shaft 141 rotates, the one-way clutch 142 is locked and the recording paper supply roller 14 rotates in the direction of the arrow 143.

  Further, along with the rotational drive of the drive shaft 141, this rotational driving force is transmitted and transmitted by the gear train 17, and the flapper 13 swings upward through the operating arm 131, and the swing end thereof passes through the recording paper 6. Pressed against the circumferential surface of the recording paper supply roller 14. Although the interference load is applied to the flapper 13 by this pressing, the torque transmission 170 is interposed between the drive shaft 141 and the gear 171, so that the drive transmission from the drive shaft 141 to the gear 171 is interrupted. During this time, since the drive shaft 141 is rotating, the rotation of the recording paper supply roller 14 is continued by the action of the one-way clutch 142 and the pressing state of the flapper 13 against the peripheral surface of the recording paper supply roller 14 is maintained. . Then, the recording paper 6 on the recording paper supply base 12 is fed out from the uppermost layer paper under the rotating action of the recording paper supply roller 14 in the direction of the arrow 143.

  When a plurality of recording papers 6 are set at the time of feeding, the lower layer paper is also fed simultaneously due to friction between the recording papers 6. In the vicinity of the downstream side of the feeding position, the separation pad 152 is pressed against the circumferential surface of the recording paper supply roller 14 by the elastic force of the compression spring 161. Accordingly, the recording paper 6 is separated one by one by the cooperative action of the recording paper supply roller 14 and the separation pad 152, and feeding of the overlapped state is prevented. The recording paper 6 separated and fed one by one by the recording paper supply roller 14 and the separation pad 152 is supplied to the manual feed path 9, draws a manual feed pass line 63, passes through the main transport path 7, and passes through the registration roller pair. 71 is registered and introduced into the image recording unit 3. The recording paper 6 on which the image is recorded by the image recording unit 3 is discharged to the discharge unit 4 as it is, or is recorded on both sides through the reverse conveyance path 8 and then discharged to the discharge unit 4.

  When a series of image recording operations on the manual sheet is completed, the electromagnetic clutch 140 is turned off and the drive transmission to the drive shaft 141 is interrupted. In this state, the drive shaft 141 is free to rotate with respect to the drive transmission mechanism in the apparatus main body 10. However, due to the resistance of the separation pad 152 pressed against the recording paper supply roller 14 and the locking action of the one-way clutch 142, the drive shaft 141 cannot be rotated in the direction of the arrow 143, and is free to rotate in the opposite direction of the arrow 143. Is possible. Since the flapper 13 has a downward moment due to gravity on its swing end side, the flapper 13 swings downward by its own weight when the drive shaft 141 is free to rotate in the opposite arrow 143 direction. Stand still at the standby position and wait until the next image recording.

  As described above, when the recording paper 6 is set prior to manual image recording on the manual paper, the flapper 13 is at a standby position away from the recording paper supply roller 14. No need to push down. Therefore, the recording paper 6 can be set only by placing the recording paper on the recording paper supply base 12 and pushing the recording paper forward, and there is no trouble or burden. In addition, it is not necessary to insert fingers into the entrance 90, and the mental burden (anxiety) is not imposed on the operator. Further, since the start of the image recording operation after the recording paper 6 is set, the flapper 13 automatically swings upward so that the recording paper 6 can be fed out by the recording paper supply roller 14. There is no concern that no feeding of the recording paper 6 occurs due to forgetting to release the release lever.

  In the embodiment, the one-way clutch 142 is interposed in the recording paper supply roller 14 and the torque limiter 170 is interposed in the gear 170. However, a hinge member having the functions of the one-way clutch and the torque limiter is interposed in the gear 170. You may let them. Further, although the separation method in which the recording paper supply roller 14 and the separation pad 16 are in elastic contact with each other has been described, a separation method using a half-moon roller and a separation pad, or a separation method using a separation claw method may be used. In the former case, since the half-moon roller is not subjected to resistance by the separation pad or the like when stopped, it is not necessary to interpose a one-way clutch for allowing downward swing due to the own weight of the flapper 13 when stopped. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus provided with the electrophotographic image recording unit has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus provided with an ink jet system and other image recording units. The layout configuration is not limited to that shown in FIG. The image recording unit is not limited to monochrome, and may be color. Furthermore, the electrophotographic image recording unit is not limited to the cleaning system, but may be a cleanerless system.

1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus provided with a manual recording medium supply device according to the present invention. It is a conceptual side sectional view showing the principal part of the manual difference recording medium supply device. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the manual difference recording medium supply apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 9 Manual feed path (transport path for manual recording media)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 90 Entrance part 10 Apparatus main body 11 Manual feed paper (recording medium) supply apparatus 12 Recording paper (recording medium) supply stand 120 Hinge pin 13 Flapper 14 Recording paper (recording medium) supply roller 141 Drive shaft (drive part)
142 One-way clutch (mechanism)
16 Separation pad 17 Gear train (drive transmission part)
170 Torque limiter (mechanism)

Claims (4)

A recording medium supply base, a flapper supported on the recording medium supply direction front side of the recording medium supply base in a swingable manner with a hinge pin as a fulcrum, and a recording medium installed in the vicinity of the upper part on the swing end side of the flapper A manual recording medium supply device comprising a supply roller,
A drive unit and a drive transmission unit for swinging the flapper upward, and a torque limiter mechanism interposed in the drive transmission unit,
When the driving unit is driven, the flapper swings upward, and when the swinging end of the flapper interferes with the recording medium supply roller, the flapper is maintained in the interference state by the action of the torque limiter mechanism, and the driving unit A manual-feed recording medium supply apparatus, wherein the swinging end of the flapper swings downward under its own weight and stops at a standby position when the drive is not driven. The manual-feed recording medium supply device according to claim 1,
The recording medium supply roller is rotatable in contact with a separation pad provided on the front side of the manual-feed recording medium supply table, the drive unit is a rotational drive shaft of the recording medium supply roller, and the drive transmission A one-way clutch that includes a gear train connected between the drive shaft and the hinge pin, and in which the drive system of the drive shaft and the gear train swings the flapper upward only when the drive shaft rotates. A manual recording medium supply apparatus, further comprising a mechanism.   An apparatus main body, an image recording unit provided in the apparatus main body, a manual recording medium conveyance path that communicates with the image recording unit, and an inlet portion of the conveyance path that opens to a side portion of the apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus, wherein the manual recording medium supply device according to claim 1 is installed at the entrance. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
An image forming apparatus, wherein a recording medium supply base of the manual recording medium supply apparatus is attached to a side portion of the apparatus main body so as to be opened and closed with the hinge pin as a fulcrum.

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