EP2966015A1 - Dispositif de fermeture automatique et appareil de formation d'images - Google Patents

Dispositif de fermeture automatique et appareil de formation d'images Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2966015A1
EP2966015A1 EP15176110.3A EP15176110A EP2966015A1 EP 2966015 A1 EP2966015 A1 EP 2966015A1 EP 15176110 A EP15176110 A EP 15176110A EP 2966015 A1 EP2966015 A1 EP 2966015A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
retracting
sheet feeding
self
closing device
module
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP15176110.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Yoshio Sugishima
Hiroaki Takai
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Original Assignee
Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kyocera Document Solutions Inc filed Critical Kyocera Document Solutions Inc
Publication of EP2966015A1 publication Critical patent/EP2966015A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
    • B65H1/26—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with auxiliary supports to facilitate introduction or renewal of the pile
    • B65H1/266—Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
    • B65H1/02—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles on edge
    • B65H1/027—Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2402/00—Constructional details of the handling apparatus
    • B65H2402/30—Supports; Subassemblies; Mountings thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
    • B65H2405/10—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked substantially horizontally
    • B65H2405/11—Parts and details thereof
    • B65H2405/114—Side, i.e. portion parallel to the feeding / delivering direction
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2405/00—Parts for holding the handled material
    • B65H2405/20—Cassettes, holders, bins, decks, trays, supports or magazines for sheets stacked on edge
    • B65H2405/21—Parts and details thereof
    • B65H2405/214—Parts and details thereof sides

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a self-closing device which retracts a unit such as a sheet feeding cassette to an apparatus main body and an image forming apparatus including this self-closing device.
  • a sheet feeding cassette in which a sheet to be image-formed is housed is configured to be able to be pulled out with respect to an apparatus main body for replenishment of sheets or the like.
  • a self-closing device in which, when the sheet feeding cassette is pushed toward the apparatus main body to a certain extent, the sheet feeding cassette is automatically retracted into a sheet feeding position.
  • the self-closing device By using the self-closing device, a load required to push the sheet feeding cassette by a user is reduced and thus workability is improved, and the sheet feeding cassette is easily positioned at the sheet feeding position. Also, the self-closing device is provided with a buffering member to buffer a biasing force in a direction in which the paper feeding cassette is retracted.
  • a difference occurs in biasing force at a time of start of retracting and at a time of completion of the retracting.
  • the biasing force at the time of completion of the retracting is weaker than the biasing force at the time of start of retracting. If the biasing force at the time of completion of the retracting is weak, there may be a case in which a problem occurs in positioning precision of the sheet feeding cassette at the sheet feeding position and thus it is preferable that the biasing force at the time of completion of the retracting be as high as possible.
  • a self-closing device which retracts a sheet feeding cassette by using a self-weight of a weight.
  • This self-closing device is constructed such that, when the sheet feeding cassette is pushed up to a predetermined position, the sheet feeding cassette is coupled to the weight and then is retracted to the sheet feeding position by the self-weight of the weight, whereas if the sheet feeding cassette is pulled out to the predetermined position, the coupling to the plumb is released, and thus a load required to pull out is reduced.
  • a self-closing device is configured to retract a unit capable of being pulled out with respect to an apparatus main body, to the apparatus main body.
  • the self-closing device includes a plurality of retracting modules configured to retract the unit from a retracting start position towards a retracting end position.
  • the plurality of retracting modules are provided such that retracting strokes from the retracting start position to the retracting end position partially overlap each other and the retracting start positions are different from each other in the retracting direction.
  • an image forming apparatus includes a self-closing device.
  • the self-closing device is configured to retract a unit capable of being pulled out with respect to an apparatus main body, to the apparatus main body.
  • the self-closing device has a plurality of retracting modules configured to retract the unit from a retracting start position towards a retracting end position.
  • the plurality of retracting modules are provided such that retracting strokes from the retracting start position to the retracting end position partially overlap each other and the retracting start positions are different from each other in the retracting direction.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a structure of the printer.
  • the near side on a paper plane of FIG.1 indicates the front side of the printer 1
  • left and right directions are based on a direction in which the printer 1 is viewed from the front side.
  • the printer 1 includes an box-formed printer main body 2 (apparatus main body). On a top surface of the printer main body 2, a sheet ejected tray 3 is provided.
  • the printer main body 2 has a lower space 2a opened forward.
  • a pair of rails 4L, 4R are provided in parallel facing each other.
  • a sheet feeding cassette 5 stored sheets (not shown) is slidably engaged.
  • a self-closing device 6 is provided between the pair of rails 4L, 4R and the sheet feeding cassette 5.
  • the self-closing device 6 automatically retracts the sheet feeding cassette 5 to a sheet feeding position.
  • an exposure device 8 composed of a laser scanning unit (LSU) is arranged and, in the right part, an image forming part 9 is provided.
  • a photosensitive drum 10 as an image carrier is rotatably arranged.
  • a charger 11, a development unit 12, a transferring roller 13 and a cleaning device 14 are located along a rotating direction (refer to an arrow X in FIG. 1 ) of the photosensitive drum 10.
  • the development unit 12 is connected to a toner (developer) container 15.
  • a sheet conveying path 17 extending vertically from the sheet feeding cassette 5 to the sheet ejected tray 3 is provided.
  • a sheet feeding part 18 on a right side of the lower space 2 is provided at an upstream end
  • a transferring part 19 formed between the photosensitive drum 10 and transferring roller 13 is provided at an intermediate stream portion
  • a fixing device 20 is provided at a downstream part
  • a sheet ejecting part 21 is provided at an downstream end.
  • the sheet feeding part 18 is configured to be engaged with the sheet feeding cassette 5 and then to feed the sheet stored in the sheet feeding cassette 5 when the sheet feeding cassette 5 is retracted to the sheet feeding position by the self-closing device 6.
  • the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is electric-charged by the charger 11. Then, exposure corresponding to the image data on the photosensitive drum 10 is carried out by a laser light P from the exposure device 8, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10. Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the development unit 12 into a toner image.
  • a sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 5 by the sheet feeding part 18 is conveyed to the transferring part 19 in a suitable timing for the above-mentioned image forming operation, and then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred onto the sheet in the transferring part 19.
  • the sheet with the transferred toner image is conveyed to a downstream side in the conveying path 17 to go forward to the fixing device 20, and then, the toner image is fixed on the sheet in the fixing device 20.
  • the sheet with the fixed toner image is ejected to the sheet ejected tray 3 from the sheet ejecting part 21.
  • the toner remained on the photosensitive drum 10 is collected by the cleaning device 14.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a layout of the self-closing device.
  • the self-closing device 6 has left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R.
  • the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R respectively have: an engaged part 31 provided between a retracting start position P1 and a retracting end position P2 along a retracting direction of the sheet feeding cassette 5; and an engaging part 32 engaging with the engaged part 31 at the retracting start position P1 to be retracted to the retracting end position P2.
  • An interval between the retracting start position P1 and the retracting end position P2 is defined as a retracting stroke S.
  • the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R have the same retracting stroke S.
  • the engaged parts 31 are provided on the left and right rails 4L, 4R
  • the engaging parts 32 are provided on the left and right side faces of the sheet feeding cassette 5.
  • the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are arranged such that the respective retracting strokes partially overlap each other and the retracting start positions P1 are different from each other.
  • the retracting start position P1 of the right retracting module 30R is located on a down stream side in the retracting direction from the retracting start position P1 of the left retracting module 30L.
  • the engaged part 31 of the left retracting module 30L is arranged on a slightly rear side from a center of the left rail 4L, and the engaged part 31 of the right retracting module 30R is arranged near a rear end of the right rail 4R.
  • the left retracting module 30L is such arranged that when the engaging part 32 is engaged with the engaged part 31 and then retracted to close to the retracting end position P2 (the position indicated by double-dotted chain line of FIG. 2 ), the sheet feeding cassette 5 is positioned into the sheet feeding position.
  • the right retracting module 30R is such arranged that the engaging part 32 is positioned at the same position in the forward/rearward direction as that of the engaging part 32 of the left retracting module 30L.
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views showing the engaged part of the right retracting module seen from the left side
  • FIG. 3A shows the engaged part at the retracting start position
  • FIG. 3B shows the engaged part at the retracting end position.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view showing the engaging part of the right retracting module seen from the right side.
  • FIG. 5 is a front view showing the engaged part and the engaging part of the retracting module.
  • the engaged part 31 of the right retracting module 30R includes: a carriage pin 41 slidable along the right rail 4R in the length direction; a coil spring 42 to bias the carriage pin 41 rearward; and an oil damper (buffering member) 43 to buffer a biasing force of the coil spring 42.
  • the carriage pin 41, the coil spring 42 and the oil damper 43 are supported on a base member 44.
  • the left retracting module 30L also has a similar structure as that of the right retracting module 30R.
  • the base member 44 is a rectangular member elongated in the length direction of the right rail 4R and having a width equal to a width of the right rail 4R, and is secured to a bottom face of the right rail 4R by a screw B1.
  • the base member 44 has a central recessed part 44a and an upper recessed part 44b extending in the length direction of the right rail 4R at a center and an upper end in the width direction, respectively.
  • the center recessed part 44a and the upper recessed part 44b each are open toward the outside (outside of the lower space 2a of the printer 2), the center recessed part 44a has a wide rectangular sectional shape, and the upper recessed part 44b has a substantially square sectional shape.
  • hook portions 44c are formed at front and rear ends.
  • the center recessed part 44a is formed with a guide hole 51 along the length direction of the right rail 4R.
  • the guide hole 51 has : a linear portion 51a along the length direction of the right rail 4R; and an orthogonal portion 51b curving downward at an angle of 90 degrees from a front end of the linear portion 51a.
  • the carriage pin 41 is provided on a slider 54 slidably supported in the center recessed part 44a of the base member 44.
  • the slider 54 is a flat, rectangular solid-shaped member elongated in the length direction of the base member 44.
  • a stopper 54a extending in a direction crossing the length direction of the slider 54 is formed.
  • a supporting pin 55 extending in a horizontal direction is erected, and around the supporting pin 55, a piece 56 is turnably supported.
  • the carriage pin 41 is erected on an inner face of the piece 56.
  • the supporting pin 55 and the carriage pin 41 engage with the guide hole 51 with the carriage pin 41 on a front side from the supporting pin 55. Also, the carriage pin 41 protrudes inward from the guide hole 51. If the slider 54 is slid forward along the guide hole 51 with the supporting pin 55 and the carriage pin 41 engaged with the guide hole 51, the carriage pin 41 is engagingly locked with a curved face of the guide hole 51. Afterwards, the piece 56 turns in the clockwise direction of FIG.
  • the slider 54 slides in the length direction of the right rail 4R in the center recessed part 44a of the base member 44 between the retracting start position P1 (refer to FIG. 3A ) at which the carriage pin 41 engages with the orthogonal portion 51b of the guide hole 51 and the retracting end position P2 (refer to FIG. 3B ) at which the supporting pin 55 reaches a rear end of the linear part 51a of the guide hole 51.
  • An interval between the retracting start position P1 and the retracting position P2 is defined as a movement distance of the slider 54, that is, the retracting stroke S of the right retracting module 30R.
  • the stopper 54a of the slider 54 abuts against the front end of the base member 44.
  • the coil spring 42 is housed in the upper recessed part 44b of the base member 44.
  • a rear end 42a of the coil spring 42 is engagingly locked with a rear end of the upper recessed part 44b, and a front end 42b is engagingly locked with the stopper 54a of the slider 54.
  • the coil spring 42 biases the stopper 54a rearward. That is, the coil spring 42 biases the slider 54 to the retracting end position P2.
  • the oil damper 43 has a cylinder 43a and a piston 43b.
  • the cylinder 43a is supported by the hook portions 44c of the base member 44 with the piston 43b directing forward.
  • a tip end of the piston 43b is supported by the stopper 54a of the slider 54a.
  • an air damper may be used in place of the oil damper 43.
  • the engaging part 32 of the right retracting module 30R is provided at a main slider 61 secured to the right side face of the sheet feeding cassette 5.
  • the main slider 61 has a length equal to a length of the right rail 4R, and is secured to the right side face of the sheet feeding cassette 5 so as to correspond to the right rail 4R.
  • the main slider 61 as shown in FIG. 5 , slidably engages with a relay slider 62, and the relay slider 62 slidably engages with the right rail 4R on a front side of the engaged part 31 of the right retracting module 30R.
  • a relay slider 62 By providing such a relay slider 62, it is possible to increase a pulling out length of the sheet feeding cassette 5, and when the sheet feeding cassette 5 is pulled out, the sheet feeding cassette 5 can be maintained substantially in parallel to the left and right rails 4L, 4R.
  • the engaging part 32 is a plate piece-shaped member elongated in the length direction of the main slider 61, and is secured to an outer face of the main slider 61 (an opposite face to the sheet feeding cassette 5) by a screw B2.
  • the engaging part 32 has a recessed part 65 extending forward from a rear end face.
  • the recessed part 65 has a width slightly larger than a diameter of the carriage pin 41.
  • the recessed part 65 has: an opening 65a of which a width becomes wider toward a rear side; a horizontal portion 65b extending forward along the length direction of the right rail 4R from the opening 65a; and an inclined portion 65c inclined forward in an oblique upper direction from a front end of the horizontal portion 65b.
  • FIGS. 6A to 7B are plan views illustrating an operation of retracting the sheet feeding cassette by the self-closing device.
  • the engaging part 32 provided on the left side face of the sheet feeding cassette 5 engages with the engaged part 31 provided on the left rail 4L.
  • the carriage pin 41 of the engaged part 31 is inserted into the horizontal portion 65b from the opening 65a of the recessed part 65 of the engaging part 32 shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the inclined portion 65c of the recessed part 65 of the engaging part 32 abuts against the carriage pin 41, and the carriage pin 41 is guided upward along the inclined portion 65c so that the piece 56 turns in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 3A around the supporting pin 55.
  • the carriage pin 41 moves from the orthogonal portion 51b into the linear portion 51a in the guide hole 51, and the carriage pin 41 and the orthogonal part 51b are disengaged from each other. That is, the slider 54 and the base member 44 are disengaged from each other.
  • the slider 54 is biased by the coil spring 42, and the carriage pin 41 slides along the linear portion 51a of the guide hole 51 rearward while engaging with the inclined portion 65c of the engaging part 32. That is, the sheet feeding cassette 5 is retracted toward the sheet feeding position.
  • the right retracting module 30R in a middle of retracting of the sheet feeding cassette 5 by the left retracting module 30L, as shown in FIG. 7A , if the engaging part 32 reaches the retracting start position P1, the engaging part 32 engages with the engaged part 31, and then a retracting operation which is the same as the retracting operation in the left retracting module 30L is started. Then, the sheet feeding cassette 5 is retracted by the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R by a length of the overlap region S2 of the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R.
  • the engaging part 32 of the left retracting module 30L slides up close to the retracting end position P2, and the sheet feeding cassette 5 is positioned into the sheet feeding position.
  • a biasing force of the coil spring 42 is buffered by the oil damper 43. Accordingly, the slider 54 is slowly retracted and, furthermore, the impact at the time of completion of retracting can be restrained.
  • the stopper 54a of the slider 54 moves close to the front end of the base member 44 (refer to FIG. 3B ).
  • the engaging part 32 of the right retracting module 30R is retracted only up to the middle of the retracting stroke.
  • the engaging part 32 is separated away from the engaged part 31and the engaging part 32 and the engaged part 31 are therefore disengaged from each other.
  • the biasing force of the coil spring 42 of the right retracting module 30R does not act.
  • An operation of disengaging the engaging part 32 and the engaged part 31 from each other is a reverse operation of an engaging operation, and a detailed description is omitted.
  • the self-closing device 6 of an embodiment of the present disclosure in the middle of pulling out operation of the sheet feeding cassette 5 within a range of the retracting stroke S of the self-closing device 6, since the engaging part 32 and the engaged part 31 in the right retracting module 30R are disengaged from each other and thus the biasing force in the retracting direction does not act, a maximum value of the pulling out force can be reduced.
  • a retracting start timing of the right retracting module 30R arranged closer to the sheet feeding device 18 is configured to be later than a retracting start timing of the left retracting module 30L. In this manner, in the right retracting module 30R arranged closer to the sheet feeding device 18, since a retracting force required to retract the sheet feeding cassette 5 toward the sheet feeding position exhibits comparatively significantly at the retracting end position P2, the sheet feeding cassette 5 can be smoothly retracted to the sheet feeding position.
  • the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are not always provided with the oil damper 43.
  • the left retracting module 30L having a longer rectangle stroke is provided with the oil damper 43, an impact buffering effect at the retracting work can be enhanced.
  • an impact buffering member during the retracting operation it is preferable to use the oil damper 43 or an air damper which is inexpensive and versatile.
  • left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are incorporated in the left and right rails 4L, 4R with which the sheet feeding cassette 5 engages, an exclusive space for installing the self-closing device 6 is unrequired. Further, since the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are small in size and light in weight, the size and weight of the image forming apparatus 1 can be reduced.
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an arrangement of the self-closing device
  • FIGS. 9A to 10B are plan views illustrating an operation of retracting the sheet feeding cassette by the self-closing device.
  • the left retracting module 30L has a retracting stroke S longer in length than the retracting stroke S of the right retracting module 30R.
  • the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are respectively arranged on the left and right rails 4L, 4R such that the retracting start position P1 of the left retracting module 30L is located on the upstream side in the retracting direction from the retracting start position P1 of the right retracting module 30R, and the retracting end positions P2 of the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are positioned at the same position in the retracting direction (forward/rearward directions).
  • spring constants of the coil springs 42 of the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are set such that retracting forces of the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are substantially the same as each other at the respective retracting end positions P2.
  • the engaging part 32 of the left retracting module 30L is retracted toward the retracting end position P2.
  • the engaging part 32 of the right retracting module 30R engages with the engaged part 31 and then the retracting operation is started. Then, in a region in which the retracting strokes of the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R overlap each other, the retracting operations are performed simultaneously. At this time, in the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R, the engaging parts 32 are pulled out by the same stroke from the retracting end positions P2.
  • the engaging part 32 and the engaged part 31 in the right retracting module 30R are disengaged from each other and the biasing force in the retracting direction does not act so that a maximum value of pulling out force can be reduced.
  • At least the left retractingmodule 30L is preferably provided with the oil damper 43.
  • the oil damper 43 in the retracting module having a longer retracting stroke, an impact absorbing effect of the retracting operation is enhanced, and the sheet feeding cassette 5 can be smoothly retracted.
  • a spring constant of the coil springs 42 of the left retracting module 30L having a longer retracting stroke is the same as a spring constant of the coil spring 42 of the right retracting module 30R having a shorter retracting stroke.
  • the spring constant of the coil spring 42 of the left retracting module 30L is set to be smaller than the spring constant of the coil spring 42 of the left retracting module 30L in the second embodiment
  • the spring constant of the coil spring 42 of the right retracting module 30R is set to be larger than the spring constant of the coil spring 42 of the right retracting module 30R in the second embodiment.
  • a retracting force of the right retracting module 30R is larger than a retracting force of the left retracting module 30L.
  • FIG. 11A shows a self-closing device in the first embodiment
  • FIG. 11B shows a self-closing device in the second embodiment
  • FIG. 11C is a self-closing device in the third embodiment.
  • the horizontal axis shows a stroke (expansion of the coil spring) of the left and right retracting modules 30R, 30L
  • the vertical axis shows a retracting force acting on the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R and the sheet feeding cassette 5.
  • each graph shows a retracting force FL, FR of the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R and a retracting forces FA (FR + FL) acting on the sheet feeding cassette 5.
  • the dashed line shows a retracting force F0 acting on the sheet feeding cassette 5 in a case where the retracting start position P1 of the right retracting module 30R is the same as the retracting start position P1 of the left retracting module 30L.
  • the lower single-dotted chain line shows a minimum retracting force Fmin required to retract the sheet feeding cassette 5
  • the upper single-dotted chain line shows a maximum pulling out force Fmax of the sheet feeding cassette 5 specified under Section 508 of the United State Rehabilitation Act.
  • the retracting start positions P1 of the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are the same as each other, as indicated by the dashed lines of FIGS. 11A to 11C , the retracting force of the sheet feeding cassette 5 is close to the maximum pulling out force Fmax, and allowance in the retracting force is decreased.
  • the retracting start position P1R of the right retracting module 30R is positioned on the downstream side in the retracting direction from the retracting start position P1L of the left retracting module 30L, it is possible to reduce a maximum value of the pulling out force acting on the sheet feeding cassette 5. In this manner, a retracting force required to retract the sheet feeding cassette 5 is obtained, and it is also possible to prevent the maximum retracting force acting on the sheet feeding cassette 5 from being close to the maximum pulling out force Fmax. Also, since an entire stroke for retracting the sheet feeding cassette 5 is not reduced, operability at the time of insertion of the sheet feeding cassette 5 or a damper effect or the like is not degraded.
  • the spring constant of the coil spring 42 of the right retracting module 30R is set to be larger than the spring constant of the coil spring 42 of the left retracting module 30L, whereby the retracting force required to retract the sheet feeding cassette 5 can be appropriately distributed into the left and right retracting modules 30, 30R without increasing the maximum retracting force acting on the sheet feeding cassette 5. In this manner, it is possible to always smoothly retract the sheet feeding cassette 5.
  • the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are arranged between a lower face of the sheet feeding cassette 5 and a lower bottom face of the lower space 2a of the printer main body 2. That is, the engaged parts 31 of the left and right retracting modules 30L, 30R are arranged such that the retracting start positions are different from each other in the forward/rearward direction on the lower bottom face of the lower space 2a, and the engaging parts 32 are arranged so as to be at the same position in the forward/rearward direction on the lower face of the sheet feeding cassette 5.
  • upper and lower retracting modules 30T, 30B are arranged to be vertically arranged in parallel to each other between one side face of the sheet feeding cassette 5 and one side face of the lower space 2a of the printer main body 2. That is, the engaged parts 31 of the upper and lower retractingmodules 30T, 30B are arranged such that the retracting start positions are different from each other in the forward/rearward direction on the side face of the lower space 2a, and the engaging parts 32 are arranged at the same position in the forward/rearward direction on the side face of the sheet feeding cassette 5.
  • the retracting modules 30 do not always need to be provided on the left and right rails 4L, 4R, and can be provided at appropriate positions in consideration of precision of positioning into the sheet feeding position or a layout space or the like of the retracting modules 30. Also, three or more retracting modules 30 may be provided. In addition, a plurality of retracting modules 30 may be integrated into a unit so as to operate independently.
  • the self-closing device 6, in addition to the sheet feeding cassette 5, is applicable to a variety of units removably provided on the printer main body 2, such as a sheet feeding device 18, an image forming unit 9 (such as a developing device 12 or a transferring unit 19), or a fixing device 20.
  • the configuration of the disclosure may be applied to another image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a multifunction peripheral, except for the printer 1.
EP15176110.3A 2014-07-11 2015-07-09 Dispositif de fermeture automatique et appareil de formation d'images Withdrawn EP2966015A1 (fr)

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JP2014143445 2014-07-11

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JP2011020789A (ja) * 2009-07-15 2011-02-03 Ricoh Co Ltd 引き込み装置および画像形成装置
EP2281764A2 (fr) * 2009-08-07 2011-02-09 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Dispositif d'aide à la fixation et appareil de formation d'images l'utilisant

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WO2010143352A1 (fr) * 2009-06-12 2010-12-16 高千穂交易株式会社 Dispositif rentrant pour tiroir et dispositif de correction d'erreur
JP2011020789A (ja) * 2009-07-15 2011-02-03 Ricoh Co Ltd 引き込み装置および画像形成装置
EP2281764A2 (fr) * 2009-08-07 2011-02-09 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Dispositif d'aide à la fixation et appareil de formation d'images l'utilisant

Cited By (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11377315B1 (en) * 2021-03-05 2022-07-05 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Image processing apparatus
US11780691B2 (en) 2021-03-05 2023-10-10 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Image processing apparatus

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