Sheet feeding device for facsimile apparatus

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for use in facsimile apparatus, the device can select an appropriate sheet size to the size of a received message.

Description: The present invention relates to image recording apparatus such as facsimile apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to feeding of sheet within such apparatus and to automatically selecting a sheet size in accordance with a received message. The invention relates also to a sheet supply cassette for use in the apparatus. To clearly explain the background of the invention, reference will be made to Figure 2 in which facsimile apparatus in common use is shown. Facsimile apparatus are provided with one or two cassettes in which recording sheets are stacked. The illustrated example is a two-stage type which has one cassette arranged above another. Received messages are recorded on the sheet fed from the cassette, and the sheets bearing the message are discharged by means of a discharging means. The apparatus requires another discharging means which discharges an original from which a message is transmitted. In Figure 2, the facsimile apparatus is provided with cassettes 2, 3 and discharging trays 2a, 3a. The double-cassette apparatus can handle sheets of five or six sizes, such as A4, B4, B5, letter size, legal size which are stacked in the two cassettes. In use, a required size is automatically selected from the two cassettes. In Figure 2, the facsimile apparatus includes a transmitter 4, a receiver 5 and a developing section 6 in which the received message is developed. The known facsimile apparatus has the following disadvantages. When a long message is received, the single cassette type of facsimile must record it on two pages. As a result, the received message is divided into two pages. This consumes sheets and the reader must turn pages. This is troublesome. If the cassette contains no sheets of a size corresponding to a received message size such as A4 v. B4 size, the received message (B4 size) will be automatically contracted to the A4 size. With the double-cassette the same difficulty as pointed out above arises. An additional disadvantage is that the size of the facsimile apparatus as a whole is increased because of the provision of double cassettes. Likewise, the provision of double discharging trays enlarges the size of the apparatus, which reflects in the production cost, and requires a larger installation site. From EP-A-0 081 362, there is known a facsimile apparatus having two separate supplies of pre-cut sheets of respectively different sizes. From JP-A-58-205367, there is known a facsimile apparatus having separate supplies of cut paper and roll paper. In a first aspect, the invention provides an image recording apparatus comprising means for supplying sheet from a first sheet supply in the form of a sheet roll from which sheets of a required size can be cut and from a second sheet supply in the form of a stack of sheets, and control means for selecting the appropriate sheet supply in accordance with the size of the image to be recorded, characterised in that said means for supplying sheet comprises a housing which is removable from the body of the apparatus and adapted to house both the sheet roll and the sheet stack. In a second aspect, the invention provides a sheet supply cassette for use in image recording apparatus such as a facsimile, said cassette being removably mountable to the body of said apparatus, characterised in that said cassette comprises a housing adapted to house a first sheet supply in the form of a sheet roll from which sheets of a required size can be cut and a second sheet supply in the form of a stack of sheets. Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the objectives of (1) providing a facsimile apparatus which is compact in size and so does not require large installation space, (2) selecting sheet size from sheet roll and sheet stack in response to a received message size, and (3) enabling one of the sheet roll or the sheet stack to automatically replace the other which runs out of stock. This invention may be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to Figures 1, 3, 4a, 4b and 5 of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view showing a prior art two-stage type facsimile apparatus; Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a control section of the apparatus according to the embodiment of Figure 1 ; Figures 4a and 4b are diagrams showing the interrelations between a B4 size original and a legal size original; and Figure 5 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale showing a sheet feeding cassette. Referring to Figures 1, 4 and 5, a facsimile apparatus has a main body 11 which comprises halved portions 11a (upper) and 11b (lower). The main body 11 includes a transmitter section 12 and a receiver section 13 . The following embodiments use paper for a sheet. The transmitter section 12 is situated at a left-hand corner of the main body 11 , and comprises a feeding path 18 including a plurality of rollers 16 and 17 , the feeding path 18 for feeding an original from a platen 14 to a discharging tray 15 , and a reading section 20 for optically reading the original received, a transmitter/receiver-side control section 21 for electrically converting a word signal read at the reading section 20 into an electrical signal and transmitting the signal to a recipient, and an operation panel 22 for sending a signal to operate the control section 21 , which is disposed above the roll paper 9 . Hereinafter, the receiver/transmitter-side control section 21 will be referred to as the control section. The receiver section 13 has the same structure as that of an ordinary laser printer. In addition to the control section 21 , which converts electrical signals into optical signals, this section 13 has an optical system 28 , including a rotary reflector 27 , for injecting the optical signals from the control section 21 onto a photosensitive drum 26 through a lens 25 , a developing unit 29 for developing an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 26 into a visible toner image, a charger 30 for charging the photosensitive drum 26 , a transfer charger 32 for transferring the toner image onto the paper fed from a supplier section 31 , a fixing section 33 for fixing the toner image and the discharging tray 15 for receiving the image-bearing paper. The reference numeral 35 denotes a cleaning device for removing a developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 26 , and the reference numeral 36 denotes a feed path leading from the paper supplier section 31 . The paper supplier section 31 will be described in greater detail: The paper supplier section 31 includes an accommodation chamber 62 for housing a cassette 38 in which a roll paper 9 and cut sheets are stored. The cassette 38 is inserted into the accommodation chamber 62 through an opening 80 in like manner to a drawer. The cassette 38 has a recess 46 at one end in which cut sheets are stacked and a pocket 42 at the opposite end in which the roll paper 9 is placed. The reference numeral 45 denotes a raised plate. The cassette 38 includes feed rollers 44 adjacent to the pocket 42 . The feed rollers 44 are driven by power through a gear 43 . The roll paper 9 is fed by the feed rollers 44 and cut by a cutter 70 disposed in the feed path 36 , the cutter being operable in response to a signal from the control section 21 . There is disposed a pick-up roller 51 above the recess 46 , and the cut paper placed in the recess 46 is fed to the feed rollers 53 under the guidance of a curved wall 50 . The control section 21 includes an original width detecting means 51a , an original length detecting means 52a , a roll paper width detecting means 53a , a cut paper size detecting means 54a , a central processing unit (CPU) 55a for judging whether the roll paper 9 or the cut paper should be used in response to a signal from these detecting means 51a to 54a , a driving section 56a for driving the feed rollers 44 and a driving section 57a for operating the cutter 70 , both in response to a signal from the CPU 55a , and a driving section 58a for driving the pick-up roller 51 . The original width detecting means 51a detects the width of an original (message) sent from an outside transmitter 60 by a digital discriminating signal in the phase B. In general the image data is transmitted as line picture units, and is stored in the page memory in line pictures. The original length detecting means 52a counts the memory lines in the page memory and determines the length of an original sent from the transmitter 60 . Referring to Figure 3, the roll paper width detecting means 53a and the cut paper size detecting means 54a comprise optical sensors disposed in the recess 46 and the pocket 42 . Examples of the operation of the sheet feeding device will be described: CASE (1) In case (1), as shown in Figure 4a, the received original (message) is B4 size, and the cassette accommodates a B4 roll paper 9 and A4 cut papers 10 . The facsimile apparatus recognizes the width of the original by a digital signal issued in accordance with the original width, transmitted subsequently to a call signal from the transmitter. The control section 21 selects the B4 roll paper 9 in response to the signal indicating that the receiving original is B4 size, and drives the feed rollers 44 . The length of the received original (message) is recognized by counting the lines stored in the page memory, in response to which the cutter 70 is driven to cut the roll paper 9 to an appropriate length. If the received original is found to be A4 size, the A4 cut paper is selected and fed out by the pick-up roller 51 . In this way the receiving data is printed on the A4 cut paper 10 . To print the data on the paper, the photosensitive drum 26 is subjected to exposure by the optical system 28 in response to a character signal so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 26 , and the latent image is developed into a visible toner image by the developing unit 29 . Then the toner image is transferred onto the paper and fixed at the fixing section 33 . The printed paper is led to the discharging tray 15 . CASE (2) In case (2), as shown in Figure 4b, where a legal size (14 inches/35.6cm) original (message) is longitudinally received. Suppose that the cassette 38 accommodates a letter-size roll paper 9a (8.5 inches/20.6cm) and a letter-size cut paper 10a . The message is received on the letter-size roll paper 9a . If the roll paper 9a runs out of stock, the letter-size cut paper 10a replaces it. As is evident from the foregoing description, the present invention has many advantages as follows: The paper sizes are selected between the roll paper and the cut paper in accordance with a received message. In addition, if either roll paper or cut paper runs out of stock, the other automatically replaces it to receive the message. The roll paper and the stacked cut papers are accommodated in the cassette in a flat posture, thereby contributing to the compact size of the facsimile apparatus. In the illustrated embodiments paper is used as a recording material but the recording medium is not limited to ordinary paper. Instead of ordinary paper, a photo-sensitive sheet or any other pliable sheet can be used. Referring to Figure 5, the cassette 38 will be described in detail: As described above, the cassette 38 is mounted on the facsimile apparatus by being inserted into a housing chamber 62 through the opening 80 . The cassette 38 is shaped like a tray having a shallow bottom. The feed rollers 44 are disposed adjacent to the pocket 42 in which the roll paper 9 is accommodated. The raised plate 45 is provided with frictional members 45b and pawls 45a . The curved plate 50 guides cut papers toward the feed rollers 53 . When the roll paper and the cut papers run out of stock, the cassette 38 is pulled out of the housing chamber 62 , and fresh roll paper and/or cut papers are loaded therein. The discharging of paper will be more particularly described: The discharging tray 15 is disposed in a space 37 in an upper portion 11a of the main body 11 of the facsimile apparatus. The tray 15 has two discharge ports 38a and 39 at opposite terminating ends; the discharge port 38a is for discharging a recorded paper and the discharge port 39 is for discharging a transmitted original. More specifically, the discharging tray 15 is disposed on the extension of the main feeding path 18 . There is provided a change-over board 40 for determining either a position A at which a transmitting original is received or a position B at which a transmitting original is allowed to pass. The change-over board 40 comprises a base portion 40a and a rotary portion 40c which is pivotally connected to the base portion 40a by means of a pivot 40b . The position A is achieved by rotating the rotary portion 40c and maintaining it horizontal as shown by imaginary lines in Figure 1. The position B is achieved as shown in Figure 1 by folding the rotary portion 40c over the base portion 40a . It is understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention as claimed.

Claims: An image recording apparatus comprising means for supplying sheet from a first sheet supply in the form of a sheet roll (9) from which sheets of a required size can be cut and from a second sheet supply in the form of a stack of sheets (10), and control means (21) for selecting the appropriate sheet supply in accordance with the size of the image to be recorded, characterised in that said means for supplying sheet comprises a housing (38) which is removable from the body (11) of the apparatus and adapted to house both the sheet roll (9) and the sheet stack (10). An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a tray (38) having a pocket (42) for housing the sheet roll (9) and a recess (46) for housing the sheet stack (10), the pocket and the recess being formed in the tray in such a manner as to be adjacent to each other in the sheet feeding direction. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said housing is adapted to store the sheet stack (10) forwardly of the sheet roll (9) with respect to the sheet feeding direction. An image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said housing (38) includes first (44) and second (50) guide means for guiding sheet from said sheet roll (9) and said sheet stack (10) respectively to a sheet feeding path (36) of the apparatus. An image recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control means (21) is arranged to switch from one sheet supply to the other when either sheet supply runs out of stock of sheet. An image recording apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a feed path (18) for an original sheet to be transmitted by the apparatus, the feed path including an adjustable board (40) having a first position (A) for receiving the original sheet after transmission and a second position (B) for passing the original sheet after transmission to a discharge tray (15). A sheet supply cassette (38) for use in image recording apparatus such as a facsimile, said cassette being removably mountable to the body (11) of said apparatus, characterised in that said cassette comprises a housing adapted to house a first sheet supply in the form of a sheet roll (9) from which sheets of a required size can be cut and a second sheet supply in the form of a stack of sheets (10). A sheet supply cassette according to claim 7, wherein said housing comprises a tray (38) having a pocket (42) for housing the sheet roll (9) and a recess (46) for housing the sheet stack (10), the pocket and recess being formed in the tray in such a manner as to be adjacent to each other in the sheet feeding direction from the cassette. A sheet supply cassette according to claim 8, wherein said housing includes first (44) and second (50) guide means for guiding sheet out of the cassette from said sheet roll (9) and said sheet stack (10) respectively. A sheet supply cassette according to claim 9, wherein said first guide means comprises feed rollers (44) and said second guide means is a curved plate (50).

Inventors: MATSUMOTO MASAFUMI, MORIMOTO HIROSHI, MATSUMOTO, MASAFUMI, MORIMOTO, HIROSHI
Applicants: SHARP KK, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G03G15
IPC codes: B65H3, H04N1, G03G15