Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – Multiple supplies
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-06
2004-02-24
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
Multiple supplies
C271S009130, C271S164000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06695303
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper feeder built in an image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer, facsimile machine or the like. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement of a paper feeder having a multiple number of paper feed cassettes arranged abreast at the same level.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, with concern to image forming apparatus such as copiers, printers facsimile machines and multifunctional machines consisting of these, there has been a demand of reducing the footprint of the apparatus to as small as possible. To meet this demand, so-called vertical feed type image forming apparatus have become widespread, in which paper is fed from the paper feed cassette arranged at the bottom of the image forming apparatus and conveyed along the paper feed path laid out vertically to the paper output tray located at the top.
Concerning the image forming apparatus of this type, there is also another demand for reducing the frequency of paper loading task by increasing the capacity of the stored amount of paper of sizes, which are frequently used (e.g., A4 size paper, etc.). To meet this demand, a paper feeder arrangement has been known as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei 10 No. 194486, for example, in which a multiple number of paper feed cassettes of an identical size are arranged abreast at the same level.
Now, this paper feeder arrangement will be described. As shown in
FIG. 1
(a side view showing an outline of the paper feeder arrangement), the paper feeder arrangement of this kind has a pair of paper feed cassettes a and b for paper of an identical size, arranged abreast at the same level. One paper feed cassette, designated at a, is located on the upstream side, the other paper feed cassette, designated at b, is located on the downstream side. A pickup roller c with a pair of feed rollers d is disposed on the paper delivery side of each of paper feed cassettes a and b. Formed over the downstream side paper feed cassette b is a paper delivery path f for delivering a sheet picked up from upstream side paper feed cassette a to paper feed path e. As one example of operation of this paper feed arrangement, upon image forming, sheets of paper are successively delivered first from the downstream side paper feed cassette b toward the image forming station, and when the paper in the downstream side paper feed cassette b is used up, the paper feed operation is shifted to the upstream side paper feed cassette a. In this way, the stored amount of paper of a size which is frequently used is increased so that the frequency of the paper loading task can be reduced.
In the paper feeder arrangement disclosed in the above publication, the upstream and downstream side paper cassettes g and h are adapted to be pulled out individually, as shown in
FIGS. 2A
to
2
C while the paper pickup path, designated at j, formed over the downstream side paper feed cassette h and upstream side paper feed cassette g are adapted to be pulled out integrally (see FIGS.
2
B and
2
C). In actual practice, when paper needs to be supplied to the downstream side paper feed cassette h or when paper jamming of a sheet delivered from this downstream side paper feed cassette h has occurred, the downstream side paper feed cassette h should be drawn out. On the other hand, when paper needs to be supplied to the upstream side paper feed cassette g or when paper jamming of a sheet delivered from the upstream side paper feed cassette g has occurred, the upstream side paper feed cassette g should be drawn out.
However, in the above paper feeder arrangement, both the upstream and downstream side paper feed cassettes need to be supplied with paper, it is necessary to pull out each of the paper feed cassettes individually. Particularly, in the configuration where paper feed is taken over from one cassette to another when the paper in the first paper feed cassette has been used up, paper loading task is usually carried out at the same time for both the paper feed cassettes. Though there has been a demand for paper loading to be done at the same time for both the paper feed cassettes, each paper feed cassette has to be drawn out individually, so that the task of paper loading has been complicated and time-consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in view of the above problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improvement in the operativity of paper loading in to each cassette of the paper feeder having multiple paper feed cassettes which are arranged abreast along the sheet feed direction at the same level.
In order to attain the above object, the present invention is configured so that the multiple paper feed cassettes arranged abreast are formed into a unibody structure and can be drawn out altogether from the image forming apparatus when they are pulled out.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows:
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, a paper feeder which is provided for an image forming apparatus having image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and feeds sheets to the image forming means, the paper feeder includes: a multiple number of paper feed cassettes arranged abreast at approximately the same level in the sheet feed direction, the paper feed cassettes being formed into a unibody structure so that they can be pulled out altogether from the feeder body; and feed paths formed over the feed cassettes excepting the one located on the most upstream side with respect to the sheet feed direction, for conveying sheets supplied from the paper feed cassettes located on the upstream side of each cassette, and is characterized in that the feed path is adapted to make wider the gap thereof when the paper cassettes are pulled out, so as to allow a sheet stuck therein to be removed therefrom.
In accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the paper feeder for use in an image forming apparatus having the above first feature is characterized in that the upper surfaces of the paper feed cassettes are arranged rising stepwise from the paper feed cassette located on the most downstream side toward the paper feed cassette located on the most upstream side with respect to the sheet feed direction.
In accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the paper feeder for use in an image forming apparatus having the above first feature is characterized in that the feed path is formed by a pair of upper and lower guide plates and the lower guide plate is moved downwards so as to make wider the gap thereof.
In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, the paper feeder for use in an image forming apparatus having the above third feature is characterized in that the level of the upper guide plate is set to be approximately equal to the upper edge of the cassette storage opening of the feeder body when the paper feed cassettes have been pulled out.
In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present invention, the paper feeder for use in an image forming apparatus having the above third feature is characterized in that the lower guide plate is pivotally supported at one end located on the interior side of the feeder body with respect to the direction of the paper feed cassettes being pulled out, and the gap of the paper feed path is made wider by rotating the lower guide plate downward about the pivot, and the rotational movement of the lower guide plate is achieved in linkage with the paper feed cassettes being pulled out from the feeder body and being pushed into the feeder body.
In accordance with the sixth aspect of the present invention, the paper feeder for use in an image forming apparatus having the above third feature is characterized in that when the paper feed cassettes have been pushed into the feeder body, the upper surface of the associated paper feed cassette abuts the underside of the lower guide plate so as to posi
Hayashi Shigeki
Nagata Jinichi
Nanba Toyoaki
Ogita Toshiki
Okada Naofumi
Deuble Mark A.
Ellis Christopher P.
Renner , Otto, Boisselle & Sklar, LLP
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
LandOfFree
Paper feeder for an image forming apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Paper feeder for an image forming apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Paper feeder for an image forming apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3338850