Paper feeding device and image forming device including paper feeding device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9656818-B2
Application number	US-201514632378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2014
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A paper feeding device of an image forming device includes a flotation air blowing unit and a separation air blowing unit. The flotation air blowing unit floats stacked uppermost paper through air blowing. The separation air blowing unit blows an end of other paper floated together with the floated uppermost paper to separate the other paper from the uppermost paper, the end being on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. The flotation air blowing unit floats an end of the stacked uppermost paper, the end being on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction. The paper feeding device includes a resistance force applying mechanism which applies resistance force that gives a load against movement along the paper feeding direction to an end of stacked upper paper, the end being on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A paper feeding device of an image forming device for use with paper, the paper feeding device of the image forming device comprising:
a paper stacking plate on which the paper is stacked;
a flotation air blowing unit structured to float the stacked uppermost paper through air blowing;
a feeding mechanism structured to feed the floated uppermost paper in a paper feeding direction, wherein the flotation air blowing unit floats an end of the stacked uppermost paper, the end being on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction;
a separation air blowing unit structured to blow, toward the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, an end of other paper floated together with the floated uppermost paper to separate the other paper from the uppermost paper, the end being on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction;
a rear end regulating member which abuts on an end of the stacked paper to regulate a position of the end, the end being on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction; and
a load member structured to press the upstream side in the paper feeding direction of the stacked uppermost paper, wherein the load member is structured to prevent a movement of the paper by a blowing of the separation air blowing unit from the downstream side in the paper feeding direction to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, and the load member is spaced apart from the rear end regulating member,
wherein the load member is structured to apply pressure from above to the end of the stacked uppermost paper, the end being on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction,
wherein the load member comprises a flexible member which contacts with the uppermost paper, and
wherein flexibility of the flexible member applies pressure to the uppermost paper.

2. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the load member is structured to apply pressure to a certain range of the end of the stacked uppermost paper on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, the certain range being a part in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction.

3. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the load member is structured to apply pressure to portions of the end of the stacked uppermost paper on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, the portions being both ends in the paper width direction.

4. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the load member is structured to apply pressure to each of the both ends in the paper width direction in a range equal to or less than an eighth of a total width from each end of the paper.

5. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the load member is structured to apply pressure to a certain range from the end of the paper on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, the certain range being equal to or less than a fourth of a total length in the paper feeding direction.

6. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the load member comprises a pressurizing member, and
wherein the own weight of the pressurizing member applies pressure to the upper paper.

7. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 6 , wherein a value of the load by the load member is between a first value and a second value; and
wherein the first value corresponds to a value of the load at which the paper is moved to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction by the separation air when a paper pressing force is no more than the value; and
the second value corresponds to another value of the load at which the feeding mechanism cannot feed the paper when the paper pressing force reaches the another value.

8. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the load member comprises an elastic member, and
wherein elastic force of the elastic member applies pressure to the upper paper.

9. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
comprising a lifting drive unit structured to lift the paper stacking plate to a position where the stacked uppermost paper is at a certain upper limit stop position;
wherein the load member is structured to apply the resistance force when the uppermost paper is at the upper limit stop position.

10. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 , comprising a pair of side edge regulating members which abuts on both ends of the stacked paper in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction and regulates positions of the ends;
wherein the load member is individually and detachably provided on each of the pair of side edge regulating members.

11. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the load member comprises an inclined surface structured to guide the end of the paper on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction such that the end of the paper does not bend in relation to the paper feeding direction.

12. An image forming device which comprises the paper feeding device according to claim 1 .

13. The image forming device according to claim 12 , further comprising a control unit structured to execute specific control for using index paper as the paper,
wherein the load member comprises an actuator structured to switch between an operation state in which the upstream side in the paper feeding direction of the stacked uppermost paper is pressed, and a non-operation state in which the upstream side in the paper feeding direction of the stacked uppermost paper is not pressed, and
wherein the control unit is structured to control the actuator such that, when the specific control is executed, the load member is in the operation state.

14. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the load member is structured to press the upstream side in the paper feeding direction of the stacked uppermost paper so that a plurality of the stacked papers contact each other.

15. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the paper is an index paper comprising a tab; and
wherein the rear end regulating member is structured to regulate a position of a tab side of the index paper.

16. The paper feeding device of the image forming device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the separation air blowing unit is structured to blow, in response to pressing of the upstream side in the paper feeding direction of the stacked uppermost paper by the load member.

17. A paper feeding device of an image forming device for use with paper, the paper feeding device of the image forming device comprising:
a paper stacking plate on which the paper is stacked;
a lifting drive unit structured to lift the paper stacking plate to a position where stacked uppermost paper is at a certain upper limit stop position;
a flotation air blowing unit structured to float the stacked uppermost paper through air blowing;
a feeding mechanism structured to feed the floated uppermost paper in the paper feeding direction, wherein the flotation air blowing unit floats an end of the stacked uppermost paper, the end being on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction;
a separation air blowing unit structured to blow, toward the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, and end of other paper floated together with the

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Furuichi Wataru
• Kimura Kazuyoshi

Classifications

• B65H2405/13

  Elements acting on corner of sheet, e.g. snubber member · CPC title

• B65H2404/563

  Elastic, supple built-up surface · CPC title

• B65H1/14

  comprising positively-acting mechanical devices {(B65H1/025 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65H3/48

  Air blast acting on edges of, or under, articles · CPC title

• B65H3/54 Primary

  Pressing or holding devices · CPC title