JP2000302251A - Sheet feeding cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet feeding cassette offering the reduced number of parts and good workability for assembly. SOLUTION: A sheet feeding cassette which is detachably mounted on a device mainbody for storing recording sheet has a recording sheet push-up plate 2 with its fulcrum 2a energized upwardly to a rotating shaft for pushing up the stored recording sheets, a separating plate 3 locked to the tip of the recording sheet push-up plate 2 for locking the recording sheet push-up plate 2 at a lower limit position and pressure contacted with a separating roller provided on a device mainbody side for separating the recording sheets and a separating plate holder for holding the separating plate 3 and pressure contacted with the separating roller for displacing the separating plate 3 to unlock the recording sheet push-up plate 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette provided in an image forming apparatus for storing a plurality of recording sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, toner-type image forming apparatuses, such as laser printers, capable of forming clear images with excellent storability and resolution have become widespread. In such a toner-type image forming apparatus, a large amount of recording paper is stored in a paper feed cassette in advance, and a plurality of images are continuously output by an automatic paper feeder. In order to increase the mounting efficiency, the paper feed cassette is arranged at the bottom of the apparatus, and therefore, the recording paper taken out of the paper feed cassette is often U-turned from the front to the rear.

[0003] The configuration and operation of a conventional sheet cassette will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between a conventional paper feed cassette and a separation roller on the apparatus main body side, FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the paper feed cassette of FIG. 5, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the sheet feeding cassette of FIG. 5 in a set state,
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the sheet cassette of FIG. 5 is set in the apparatus main body.

In FIG. 5, a paper feed cassette 1 has a recording paper push-up plate 2 for pushing up the stored recording paper, and a separation plate 3 for separating one recording paper from another recording paper when feeding paper.
And a separation plate holder 4 holding the same. The paper feed cassette 1 is inserted into the apparatus main body in the direction of arrow A along a groove or a rail of the apparatus main body (not shown), and the separation roller 9 on the apparatus main body side located above the paper feed cassette 1 is pressed against the separation plate 3. Configuration.

The separation roller 9 is driven in the direction of arrow B by a driving device (not shown), and has a built-in one-way clutch so that it can rotate only in the direction B.

As shown in FIG. 6, the recording paper push-up plate 2 is urged upward by a compression coil spring 5 about a fulcrum 2a as a rotation axis. It is in the movable range. Recording paper push-up plate 2
Are locked by two lock claws 7 provided on the left and right sides of the sheet cassette 1. The lock claw 7 is urged in the direction of the recording paper push-up plate 2 by a compression coil spring 8 with the fulcrum 7a as a rotation axis, and as shown in FIG.
b protrudes to the left and right outside of the sheet cassette 1. The separation plate holder 4 is urged outward by a compression coil spring 6 with the fulcrum 4a as a rotation axis and the claw 4b as a stopper.

The operation of the paper cassette 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

When storing the recording paper 10 in the paper feed cassette 1, the recording paper 10 is placed on the recording paper push-up plate 2 in a predetermined position of the paper feed cassette 1, and is pressed down as it is. Thus, the leading end of the recording paper push-up plate 2 is locked by the lock claw 7 (FIG. 7).

In this state, when the paper cassette 1 is pushed into the apparatus main body, the separation roller 9 on the apparatus main body side comes into pressure contact with the separation plate 3, and a projection (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body side is an end of the lock claw 7. 7b to push up the recording paper push-up plate 2
Is released, and the recording paper 10 is pressed against the lower part of the separation roller 9 (FIG. 8). At the same time, the leaf spring 11 provided on the apparatus main body gets over the protrusion 1b located on the upper portion of the sheet feeding cassette 1, so that the sheet feeding cassette 1 does not come off due to the reaction force received from the separation roller 9.

When the paper feed cassette 1 is pushed into the apparatus main body in a state where the recording paper push-up plate 2 is not locked, the uppermost recording paper 10 hits the separation roller 9 and is displaced. Cause.

The recording paper 10 advances to the contact point between the separation plate 3 and the separation roller 9 by the rotation of the separation roller 9 in the direction of the arrow B, and the separation paper 9 and the recording paper 10 and the recording paper 10 and the recording paper 10 Sheets are separated and fed one by one due to the difference in friction coefficient.

The separation roller 9 has a built-in one-way clutch and can rotate only in the B direction.
Even if the paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out in a state where the recording paper remains, no load is applied to the recording paper 10 and no problems such as paper folding, paper wrinkling, and stains occur.

[0014]

However, in the conventional paper cassette having such a configuration, it is necessary to provide a lock claw release mechanism outside the width of the recording paper or below the paper cassette. There is a problem that the cost increases because the number of points increases and the workability of assembly deteriorates.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet cassette having a small number of parts and good assembling workability.

[0016]

In order to solve this problem, a paper feed cassette of the present invention is a paper feed cassette which is detachably attached to an apparatus main body and stores recording paper, and has a fulcrum. A recording paper push-up plate that is urged upward by the rotating shaft to push up the stored recording paper, a separation plate that presses against a separation roller provided on the apparatus main body side to separate the recording paper, and holds the separation plate. A separation plate holder that locks the leading end of the recording paper push-up plate, locks the recording paper push-up plate at the lower limit position, is displaced by being pushed by the separation roller, and releases the locking of the recording paper push-up plate. It is configured.

As a result, the recording paper push-up plate can be locked by the separation plate holder, so that there is no lock claw, so that it is possible to reduce costs and improve assemblability.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a paper feed cassette which is detachably mounted on an apparatus main body and stores recording paper, wherein a fulcrum is attached to a rotation shaft upward. A recording paper push-up plate for pushing up the contained recording paper, a separation plate for pressing the separation roller provided on the apparatus body side to separate the recording paper, and a recording paper push-up plate for holding the separation plate. A paper feed cassette having a separation plate holder that locks the leading end of the recording paper push-up plate at the lower limit position, is displaced by being pushed by the separation roller, and releases the lock of the recording paper push-up plate. Since the recording sheet push-up plate can be locked by the separation plate holder, there is no lock claw, so that it is possible to reduce the cost and improve the assemblability.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In these drawings, the same members as those of the related art already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between an embodiment of the present invention and a separation roller on the apparatus main body side, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the paper feed cassette of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the paper feed cassette of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the sheet feeding cassette of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette 1 has a recording paper push-up plate 2 for pushing up the stored recording paper, and a separation plate 3 for separating one recording paper from another recording paper when feeding paper.
And a separation plate holder 12 holding the same. The recording paper push-up plate 2 is urged upward by a compression coil spring 5 with a fulcrum 2a serving as a rotation axis, and a movable range up to the protrusion 1a provided on the paper feed cassette 1.

The separation plate holder 12 is urged outward by a compression coil spring 6 about a fulcrum 12a as a rotation axis, and the movable range is restricted by a claw 12b of the separation plate holder 12.
The lower end 12c of the separation plate holder 12 is formed to extend to a position where the leading end 2b of the recording paper push-up plate 2 can be locked.

Next, the operation of the sheet cassette 1 having such a configuration will be described.

When the recording paper 10 is stored in the paper feed cassette 1, the recording paper 10 is placed on the recording paper push-up plate 2 in a predetermined position of the paper feed cassette, and is pressed down as it is.
Thus, the leading end 2b of the recording paper push-up plate 2 is locked at the lower end 12c of the separation plate holder 12, and the recording paper push-up plate 2 is locked.
Is locked at the lower limit position (FIG. 3).

When the paper feed cassette 1 is pushed into the apparatus main body in this state, the separation roller 9 on the apparatus main body side is pressed against the separation plate 3, and the separation plate holder 12 is rotated to displace the recording paper push-up plate 2. As a result, the locking of the recording paper push-up plate 2 is released, and the recording paper 10 is pressed against the lower portion of the separation roller 9 (FIG. 4). At the same time, the leaf spring 11 provided on the apparatus main body is
b, the sheet cassette 1 does not come off due to the reaction force received from the separation roller 9.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the recording sheet push-up plate 2 can be locked by the separation plate holder 12, so that there is no lock claw, thereby reducing costs and improving the assemblability. Becomes possible.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the recording paper push-up plate can be locked by the separation plate holder, there is no lock claw, so that the cost can be reduced and the assemblability can be improved. An effective effect that it becomes possible is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between an embodiment of the present invention and a separation roller on the apparatus main body side.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the sheet cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the paper feed cassette of FIG. 1 in a state where recording paper is set.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the sheet cassette shown in FIG. 1 is set in the apparatus main body.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between a conventional paper feed cassette and a separation roller on the apparatus main body side.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the sheet cassette of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the sheet cassette of FIG. 5 in a state where recording paper is set.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state in which the sheet cassette shown in FIG. 5 is set in the apparatus main body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 paper feed cassette 2 recording paper push-up plate 2 a fulcrum 3 separation plate 4 separation plate holder 9 separation roller 10 recording paper

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A paper feed cassette detachably mounted on an apparatus main body and containing recording paper, the recording paper being pushed upwardly by a fulcrum about a fulcrum to push up the stored recording paper. A separation plate for separating the recording paper by pressing against a separation roller provided on the apparatus main body side; holding the separation plate, and locking the leading end of the recording paper push-up plate to perform recording. A sheet cassette, comprising: a separation plate holder that locks a paper push-up plate at a lower limit position, is displaced by being pushed by the separation roller, and releases the locking of the recording paper push-up plate.