Paper roll supporting and holding device with expansible end support member

A supporting and holding device in which end supporting members are coupled to both ends of a core of a roll of paper, and are then supported by holding members in the sheet supplying section of an image forming apparatus. Flanges of the end supporting members enable the roll of paper to roll with the aid of the holding member, so as to supply a sheet of paper from the roll of paper. Each end supporting members includes a main member which is inserted into the core of the roll of paper, and an auxiliary member which is inserted into the main member. The main member has a plurality of arm members which are inserted into the core of a roll of paper; and a first flange member integral with the arm members is to be and is to be positioned outside the roll of paper. The first flange includes an axial through-hole extending therethrough. The auxiliary member has a second flange; and a pipe-shaped member which is integral with the second flange. The pipe-shaped member includes a set of first protrusions and is configured to be inserted into the axial through-hole of the main member to push the arm members of the main member against an inner wall of the core when the auxiliary member is rotated through a predetermined angle, thereby securing the end supporting members to both ends of the roll of paper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a supporting and holding mechanism for use in an 
image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, which is adapted to 
hold a roll of paper with flange members connected to both ends of the 
roll of paper, and more particularly to a holding device which can be 
easily engaged with both ends of a roll of paper and which can positively 
support the roll of paper. 
In general, an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine or a 
printer, employs sheet supplying means in which a number of sheets of 
paper cut to a predetermined size are accommodated in a sheet 
accommodating means, such as a sheet supplying cassette or a sheet tray. 
On the other hand, an electronic copying machine or a facsimile system, 
which may require large sheets of paper, employs a cutting device together 
with a roll of paper so that a recording sheet can be formed freely 
according to the size of a given original. 
In a copying machine disclosed, for instance, by Japanese Patent 
Application (OPI) No. 220657/1989 (the term "OPI" as used herein means an 
"unexamined published application"), a plurality of rolls of paper are 
loaded in the sheet supplying section. The rolls thus loaded may be of 
tracing paper, ordinary paper, etc. In response to the kind of paper 
selected by the operator and the size of an original, one of the rolls of 
paper is selected, and a sheet of paper is supplied from the roll thus 
selected to the image transferring section. 
In addition, in the conventional copying machine, a cutter or the like is 
provided at the sheet supplying section, to cut the paper thus supplied to 
a necessary length. 
In the copying machine thus constructed, a roll of paper is set in the 
sheet supplying section, as follows. A supporting shaft is inserted into 
the roll of paper, and both ends of the supporting shaft are supported 
with supporting members provided on both sides of the sheet supporting 
section. 
Tensioning means is provided for the supporting shaft or the roll of paper 
at a predetermined part, so that the sheet supplying operation is carried 
out under a predetermined tension value irrespective of the amount of 
paper remaining in the roll. 
The above-described sheet supplying unit, which uses rolls of paper, is 
disadvantageous for the following reason. When it is required to insert 
the supporting shaft into a roll of paper which is larged in size, such as 
a roll of paper of A0 size, the work cannot be performed without a large 
space, and the work itself is troublesome. 
On the other hand, a method has been employed by a facsimile system or the 
like in which flange members are engaged with both ends of a roll of 
paper, and the flange members thus engaged are rotatably supported on 
supporting members. 
In this case, generally the flange members each comprise: a flange large in 
diameter; and a pipe-shaped portion extended from the flange. The 
pipe-shaped portions are inserted into the core of a roll of paper, and 
the flanges are rotatably positioned on the supporting members. In order 
to accurately position the flanges on the supporting members, it is 
necessary to provide supporting means corresponding to the size of paper; 
however, the provision of the supporting means may make the sheet 
supplying section intricate in construction. 
Furthermore, the employment of the above-mentioned members may suffer since 
the pipe-shaped portions are not always sufficiently engaged with the core 
of the roll of paper; that is, it is difficult for the pipe-shaped 
portions to positively support the roll of paper at all times. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of this invention is to eliminate the above-described 
difficulties accompanying a conventional holding means for a roll of 
paper. More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a 
supporting and holding device for a roll of paper comprising end 
supporting members relatively simple in construction which can be 
positively coupled to both ends of a roll of paper. 
According to the present invention, a supporting and holding device is 
provided wherein end supporting members are configured to be coupled to 
both ends of a core of a roll of paper. The end supporting member and are 
then capable of being supported by the holding member in a sheet supplying 
section, and flanges of the end supporting members enable the roll of 
paper to roll with the aid of the holding member to supply a sheet of 
paper from the roll of paper. Each of the end supporting members includes 
a main member which is configured to be inserted into the core of a roll 
of paper and an auxiliary member which is configured to be inserted into 
the main member. The main, member includes a plurality of arm members 
which are configured to be inserted into the core of a roll of paper; a 
first flange member integral with the arm members which is relatively 
large in diameter and is configured to be positioned outside the roll of 
paper; and an axial through-hole. The auxiliary member includes a second 
flange relatively large in diameter; and a pipe-shaped member which is 
integral with the second flange and is configured to be inserted into the 
axial through-hole of the main member, the pipe-shaped member having a set 
of first protrusion, members, provided thereon. In addition, the auxiliary 
members is configured to be turned through a predetermined angle so that 
the set of first protrusion members push the arm members against an inner 
wall of the core, thereby securing the end holding members to both ends of 
the roll of paper. 
This invention further concerns a supporting and holding device for a roll 
of paper in which end supporting members are coupled to both ends of the 
core of a roll of paper, and are then supported by holding means in a 
sheet supplying section, wherein the flanges of the end supporting members 
enable the roll of paper to roll with the aid of the supporting holding 
means to permit a sheet of paper to be drawn from the roll of paper. 
In the supporting and holding device of the present invention each of the 
end supporting members comprises a main member which is inserted into the 
core of a roll of paper; and an auxiliary member which is inserted into 
the main member. The main member comprises a plurality of arm members 
which are inserted into the core of a roll of paper. A first flange member 
integral with the arm members, the first flange member relatively large in 
diameter and positioned outside the roll of paper; and an axial 
through-hole. The auxiliary member is made up of a second flange 
relatively large in diameter, and a pipe-shaped member which is integral 
with the second flange and is inserted into the axial through-hole of the 
main member. 
To assemble the supporting device, the auxiliary members are each turned 
through a predetermined angle so that protrusion members formed on the 
pipe-shaped member push the arm members against the inner wall of the 
core, thereby securing the end supporting members to both ends of the roll 
of paper. 
Further in accordance with the present invention, locking means, namely 
pawl members, are formed on the bases of the main member and the auxiliary 
member. When the end supporting member releases the roll of paper, the 
main member and the auxiliary member are locked to each other by the 
locking means so that they may not be separated from each other. 
In the end supporting members thus constructed, the supporting means is 
relatively simple in construction. The end supporting members can be 
readily engaged with and disengaged from a roll of paper. 
With the supporting and holding device according to the invention, the end 
supporting members can be properly coupled to a roll of paper when the 
auxiliary members are turned to engage end supporting members engaged with 
both ends of the roll of paper. And the roll of paper thus supported can 
be properly loaded in the sheet supplying section of a copying machine or 
the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A supporting and holding device for a roll of paper, which constitutes one 
embodiment of this invention, will be described with reference to the 
accompanying drawings. 
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an end supporting member 1 is made up of 
a main member 2 and an auxiliary member 10. In operation, a pair of end 
supporting members 1 are inserted into the end portions of the core of a 
roll of paper P (hereinafter referred to merely as "a roll P", when 
applicable); that is, they are engaged with both end portions of the roll 
P through the core C. 
The main member 2 comprises a large diameter flange 3 which is positioned 
outside the roll P; a cylindrical barrel 4 which is inserted into the 
core; and a plurality of arm members 5. The main member 2 has a 
through-hole 2a extended along its central axis. 
The arm members 5 protrude from the barrel 4. In the embodiment, three arm 
members 5 are arranged at equal angular intervals as shown in FIG. 3. 
Each arm member 5 of the main member 2 has an end protrusion 6 and a 
protrusion member 7 on its surface which are configured to confront the 
core. More specifically, the end protrusion 6 is formed at the end of the 
arm member 5, and the protrusion member 7 is formed near the base of the 
arm member 5. When the arm members 5 are urged outwardly, the end 
protrusions 6 and the protrusion members 7 push against the inner wall of 
the core C strongly, thereby positioning the end supporting member. 
The auxiliary member 10 is inserted into the throughhole 2a of the main 
member 2. The auxiliary member 10 includes a flange 11 and a pipe-shaped 
member 15 integral with the flange 11. Protrusion members 16 are formed on 
the pipe-shaped member 15 at the end, and outer pawl members 19 are formed 
on the pipe-shaped member 15 near the base. 
The auxiliary member 10 is rotatably inserted into the through-hole 2a of 
the main member 2. By rotating the auxiliary member 10, the protrusion 
members 16 and the outer pawl members 19 may be positioned in phase with 
the arm members of the main member 2. 
FIG. 2 shows the main member 2 and the auxiliary member 10 engaged 
together. When the auxiliary member 10, after being inserted into the main 
member 2 as shown in FIG. 2, is turned until the protrusion members 16 of 
the pipe-shaped member 15 meet the arm members 5, the protrusion members 
16 push the arm members 5 radially outwardly. 
As the arm members 5 are pushed in this manner, the end protrusions 6 and 
the protrusion members 7 of the arm members 5 strongly push against the 
inner wall of the core C of the roll P, whereby the end supporting member 
1 is positively secured to the roll P. In the case of FIG. 2, the 
protrusion members 16 are engaged with the inner surfaces of the arm 
members 5 so as to push the latter 5 radially outwardly. 
Conversely, when the auxiliary member 10 is turned through a predetermined 
angle in the main member 2 to release the roll of paper P, the outer pawl 
members 19 formed on the pipe-shaped member 15 near the base engage the 
inner pawl members 9 formed on the inner wall of the barrel 4 of the main 
member 2, thus preventing the auxiliary member 10 from coming off the main 
member 2. 
For simplification in description, the arm members 5 and the inner pawl 
members 9 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as if they were on one and the same 
axial line; however, it should be noted that in practice they are arranged 
as shown in FIGS. 3(a)-(d). 
As shown in the FIGS. 3(a)-3(d), the end supporting members support the 
roll, and, when the roll is released by turning the auxiliary members, the 
auxiliary members are prevented from coming off the main members. 
More specifically, the FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are cross-sectional views taken 
along line 3a--3a in FIG. 2, showing operations of moving the arm members 
into and out of engagement with the inner wall of the core. In FIG. 3(a), 
the end supporting member is inserted into the core of the roll of paper; 
while in FIG. 3(b), the end supporting member is fixedly secured to the 
core of the roll of paper. 
As seen in FIG. 3(b), the main member has three arm members 5 which are 
arranged at angular intervals of 120.degree. C., and in correspondence 
with arm members, the pipe-shaped member 15 has three protrusion members 
16 which are also arranged at angular intervals of 120.degree. C. 
Each of the protrusion member 16 has a recess 18 at the middle. The arm 
members 5 have protrusions 8 in such a manner that the protrusions 8 are 
engageable with the recesses 18 in the protrusion members 16, 
respectively. As is seen in FIG. 3(b), the protrusions 8 and the recesses 
18 act to position the protrusion members 16 with respect to the arm 
members 5. 
The provision of the protrusions 8 and the recesses 18 ensures that, when 
the auxiliary member is turned, its stop position is accurately 
determined. Furthermore for the same reason, when the operator turns the 
auxiliary member, he can readily control the rotation of the auxiliary 
member. 
As is seen from FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), in securing the end supporting member 
to the core of the roll of paper, the auxiliary member held as shown in 
FIG. 3(a) is turned through a predetermined angle .theta.. In the 
embodiment of FIG. 3, the predetermined angle .theta. is 60.degree.; that 
is, the auxiliary member 10 is turned through 60.degree.. 
FIGS. 3(c) and 3(d) show a locking mechanism which, when the auxiliary 
member 10 is turned to disengage the arm members 5 of the main member 2 
from the core of the roll, operates to hold the auxiliary member 10 inside 
the main member 2. 
In order to hold the auxiliary member 10 inside the main member 2, use is 
made of the inner pawl members 9 protruding from the inner wall of the 
barrel 4 of the main member, and the outer pawl members 19 protruding from 
the base of the pipe-shaped member 15 of the auxiliary member 10. FIGS. 
3(c) and 3(d) are cross sectional views, taken along line 3c--3c in FIG. 
2. With respect to the X-axis and the Y-axis, the members shown in FIGS. 
3(c) and 3(d) are in phase, i.e., same angular position, as those shown in 
the FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), respectively. 
In the case of the FIG. 3(c), the arm members 5 are not in operation; that 
is they are not engaged with the core C as shown in the FIG. 3(a), and the 
inner pawl members 9 are overlapped with the outer pawl members 19. The 
inner pawl members 9, which are shifted in phase from the arm members 5, 
by the angle .theta., respectively, are engaged with the outer pawl 
members 19, in the axial direction, respectively, which are in alignment 
with the protrusion members 16 of the pipe-shaped member 15. 
When the auxiliary member is inserted into the main member, the inner pawl 
members 9 are positioned outside the outer pawl members 19, so as to 
prevent the auxiliary member from coming off the main member. 
FIG. 3(d) shows, the arm members are pushed against the core of the roll of 
paper. Under this condition, the auxiliary member will not come off the 
main member, and accordingly it is unnecessary to engage the inner pawl 
members with the outer pawl members. 
The end supporting member may be coupled to the core of the roll of paper, 
as follows; First, the auxiliary member is coupled to the main member as 
shown in FIG. 3(d), and then it is turned through the predetermined angle 
.theta. as shown in FIG. 3(c). This method facilitates the connection of 
the end supporting member to the core of the roll of paper. 
The end supporting members thus constructed are coupled to the roll of 
paper P as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the identical end 
supporting members 1 and 1a are inserted into both end potions of the 
paper P, respectively, and are then rotatably positioned on 
roll-of-holding means which is provided at the sheet supplying section of 
an image forming apparatus. In this positioning operation, the flanges 3 
and 3a are utilized which are larger in diameter than the roll of paper P. 
In order that, after the auxiliary member 10 is inserted into the main 
member 2, the arm members 5 are fixed by the protrusion members 16 of the 
pipe-shaped member 15, as shown in FIG. 4(b), a lock lever 12 provided for 
the flange of the auxiliary member 10 is turned to a predetermined 
position. A such, it can be visually confirmed that the end supporting 
member is in a locking condition. 
When, under this condition, the lock lever 12 is turned through the angle 8 
as shown in FIG. 4(c). It can be visually detected that the locking 
condition has been eliminated. 
The lock lever 12 may be provided for the flange 3 in various manners. For 
instance, the lock lever 12 may be protruded from the flange 3, or the 
flange 3 may be etched to form the lock lever 12. 
In the above-described embodiment, the pipe-shaped member 15 of the 
auxiliary member 10 is circular in section; however, it should be noted 
that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. That is, the 
pipe-shaped member 15 may be substantially triangular in section for 
instance. In this case, it goes without saying that the pipe-shaped member 
should have protrusions at the end which function in the same manner as 
those in the above-described embodiment, to move the arm members 
outwardly. It should be noted that, in this case, it is essential that the 
pipe-shaped member has a cylindrical base on the side of the flange so 
that the auxiliary member may be rotatably held in the main member. 
The supporting device thus constructed is positioned on a holding member 20 
provided in the sheet supplying section of the image forming apparatus as 
shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
The holding member 20 comprises two shafts 21 and 22 arranged in parallel 
with each other. The two shafts 21 and 22 are supported through bearing 
means comprising slide bearings 23 and ball bearings 24. The shafts thus 
supported are used to support a roll of paper. 
When the shaft 21 is rotated, the slide bearings 23 provides rotational 
resistance according to the weight of the roll of paper applied to the 
shaft 21. That is, the motion of drawing a sheet of paper Pa from the roll 
is resisted in proportion to the weight of the paper forming the roll. 
FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) show a table and a graphical representation, 
respectively, for a description of the relationships between the weights 
of rolls of paper and the resistances against the motion of drawing sheets 
of paper from the roll of paper. 
A positioning member 25 is disposed between the two shafts 21 and 22. More 
specifically, it is set according to the paper size of the roll of paper. 
The position member 25 is arranged so as to lock the flange 3a of the main 
member. A plurality of positioning members may be provided when a 
plurality of paper sizes are handled. 
The positioning member 25 may be provided with a sensor 26. In this case, 
means may be provided which, in response to the detection signal which the 
sensor outputs upon detection of the flange of the main member, causes the 
display section of the image forming apparatus to display the paper size 
of the roll of paper which is set in the sheet supplying section. 
As was described above, the roll of paper is supported with the two shafts, 
and the flange of one of the end supporting members is set with the 
positioning member. Hence, the sheet of paper drawn from the roll is 
forwarded to the paper conveying path while being correctly positioned. 
FIGS. 7 through 9 shows an example of an image forming apparatus with the 
above-described roll-of-paper supporting and holding mechanism. FIG. 7 
shows an external appearance of the image forming apparatus. Similarly, as 
in an ordinary copying machine, a control panel 32 is provided on the body 
31 of the image forming apparatus 30, to control the formation of copies. 
A toner supplying door 33 is provided in the upper portion of the 
apparatus, to supply toner to the fixing unit. 
A sheet supplying door 35, and a manual sheet supplying tray 37 are 
provided on one side of the image forming apparatus in such a manner that 
the former is located below and the latter is located above. In addition, 
a power switch 34, a lock lever 36, and a sheet cutting button 38 are 
provided on the same side. 
As shown in FIG. 8, electronic photography processing mechanisms are 
arranged inside the image forming apparatus. More specifically, a write 
unit 46, a fixing unit 47, a transfer corotron 48, and cleaning unit are 
arranged around a photo-sensitive drum 45. 
A sheet supplying unit 40 is provided in the lower portion of the apparatus 
body. A plurality of rolls of paper (two rolls of papers P and Pl in the 
embodiment) are provided in the sheet supplying unit 40. Cutters 41 and 42 
are provided for the rolls of paper P and Pl, respectively. When one of 
the rolls of paper is selected, and a sheet of paper is drawn therefrom 
towards the sheet conveying path 43, or when the respective sheet cutting 
button 38 is operated, the paper is cut with the respective cutter. 
In loading a roll of paper in the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 
9 the sheet supplying unit 40 is pulled out with the sheet supplying door 
35 opened. In this operation, the flange of the roll of paper can be 
positioned with respect to the shafts 21 and 22 of the holding member 20 
as shown in FIG. 3. 
Hence, in the image forming apparatus of the invention, the sheet supplying 
operation can be achieved with ease. That is, a roll of paper can be 
loaded merely by setting the end supporting members on the holding member 
in the sheet supplying section which are connected to both ends of the 
roll of paper. 
In the case of setting a plurality of rolls of paper in the sheet supplying 
unit in the image forming apparatus, the number of rolls of paper, the 
sizes of paper, and the kinds of paper thereof are not limited. For 
instance, in addition to a roll of paper large in size such as a roll of 
paper of A0 size, a roll of paper small in size such as a roll of paper of 
A3 may be employed. 
The above-described supporting and holding device is applicable to a 
variety of systems, such as facsimile systems using rolls of paper, as 
well as apparatuses, such as electronic copying machines and printers. 
The supporting and holding device of the invention comprises the 
above-described end supporting members. In each of the end supporting 
member, the main member and the auxiliary member can be made simple in 
construction. The end supporting members can be readily engaged with and 
disengaged from both ends of a roll of paper. 
When the auxiliary members are turned engage the end supporting members 
with both ends of a roll of paper, the end supporting members can be 
correctly coupled to the roll of paper. The roll of paper thus supported 
can be accurately loaded in the sheet supplying section of a copying 
machine or the like. 
The supporting and holding device of the invention can be accurately 
positioned with the aid of the flanges of its main members with respect to 
the sheet supplying unit of an image forming apparatus. 
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the 
art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention 
disclosed herein. It is intended hat the specification and examples be 
considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the 
invention being indicated by the following claims.