JP2001253553A - Sheet storing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively avoid the misfeed or skew of sheets even if set in close contact with a sheet guide. SOLUTION: This sheet storing device storing sheets 2 in a sheet tray 1 while restricting the storage position thereof comprises the sheet guide 3 for restricting the storage position of the sheets 2, a guide holder 4 provided on the side of the sheet tray 1 for holding the sheet guide 3, a positioning mechanism 5 for positioning the sheet guide 3 with respect to the guide holder 4, and a temporarily moving mechanism 6 for temporarily moving the sheet guide 3 on condition that a load in the opposite direction to a sheet setting direction is applied to the sheet guide 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet accommodating apparatus used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., for accommodating an image forming sheet.
The present invention relates to an improvement in a sheet storage device in which a position of a sheet of various sizes is regulated by a sheet guide.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, etc., a sheet accommodating apparatus for accommodating an image forming sheet has been employed. In this type of sheet storage device, sheets are stored in a sheet tray, and a sheet storage position is regulated by a sheet guide. Here, the sheet guide includes an end guide that regulates an end portion (end) in the sheet supply direction and a side guide that regulates a width direction edge (side) orthogonal to the sheet supply direction. Then, the conventional sheet guides allow for dimensional errors of fixed-size sheets,
It is arranged at a position slightly larger than the sheet size set in the sheet tray. If the sheet and the sheet guide are in close contact with each other, for example, when the sheet tray is inserted and set in the tray receiver, the sheet is lifted to the supply position by the bottom plate. Due to the restraint, the sheet strongly abuts against the front wall of the sheet tray and bites, causing misfeet and skew. Therefore, conventionally, the sheet guide is arranged so as to secure a slight play (play) between the sheet and the sheet guide.

[0003]

However, as a sheet accommodating device which enables a guide to a sheet of an irregular size, a structure has been proposed in which a user can arrange and lock a sheet guide at a free position (for example, for example). JP-A-3-128823). In this type,
Since the user tends to set the sheet guide in close contact with the non-standard size sheet edge,
As described above, there is a technical problem that misfeed and skew are easily generated. On the other hand, proper play (play)
Therefore, there is a technical problem that the guideability of the sheet by the sheet guide is likely to be impaired because there is no indication of an appropriate position for setting the sheet guide. still,
Such a technical problem is not limited to the sheet storage device that holds the sheet in the inclined position by the bottom plate, but similarly occurs in a type in which the sheet is raised in a parallel position by an elevator system, for example. Things.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and effectively prevents misfeeding and skew even when a sheet is set in a state in which the sheet is in close contact with a sheet guide. It is intended to provide a sheet storage device capable of performing the above-mentioned operations.

[0005]

That is, according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, in a sheet storage apparatus which stores sheets 2 in a sheet tray 1 and regulates a storage position of the sheets 2, A sheet guide 3 for regulating the storage position of the sheet guide 2, a guide holder 4 provided on the sheet tray 1 side and holding the sheet guide 3,
A positioning mechanism 5 for positioning the sheet guide 3 with respect to the guide holder 4; and a sheet setting direction (an insertion direction when the sheets 2 are stored and set in the sheet tray 1; a normal sheet supply direction or a direction orthogonal to the direction). And a temporary moving mechanism 6 for temporarily moving the sheet guide 3 under the condition that a load directed to the opposite side of the sheet guide 3 acts on the sheet guide 3. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes, for example, the sheet tray 1.
A posture holding member, such as a bottom plate, provided at the bottom and keeping the sheets 2 in the sheet tray 1 in the supply posture, 9 denotes the sheets 2 kept in the supply posture by the posture holding member 8 (shown by phantom lines in FIG. ) To the image forming unit.

In such technical means, the seat guide 3 includes both a side guide and an end guide. Further, the guide holder 4 is not limited to the sheet tray 1 as long as it can guide and hold the sheet guide 3, but also includes an embodiment formed integrally with the sheet tray 1. Further, regarding the positioning mechanism 5, the guide holder 4
As long as the sheet guide 3 can be positioned with respect to the above, it may be appropriately selected. For example, a positioning pin is protruded from one of the sheet guide 3 and the guide holder 4, and a positioning hole is provided on the other of the positioning pin so that the positioning pin is engaged with the positioning hole. It may be appropriately selected, for example, such that a pawl is engaged or a positioning member of the sheet guide is engaged with the guide shaft of the sheet guide. Furthermore, the positioning mechanism 5 may be applied to only the fixed-size sheets 2 or may include non-standard-size sheets 2.

The temporary moving mechanism 6 may be provided on all the sheet guides 3 to be incorporated. However, at least an adverse effect caused by a change in the posture of the sheet 2 (the sheet 2 strongly abuts against the front wall of the sheet tray 1). Gnawing,
What is necessary is just to provide it in the sheet guide 3 which leads to misfeeding and skew) easily, ie, the sheet guide 3 located in the opposite side to the sheet supply direction.

Further, as an example of the structure of the temporary moving mechanism 6, any structure may be appropriately selected.
A mode in which the temporary moving mechanism 6 is interposed between the sheet guide 3 and the guide holder 4, or a mode in which the temporary moving mechanism 6 is incorporated on the guide holder 4 side. As the former temporary moving mechanism 6, for example, an intermediate member is interposed between the sheet guide 3 and the guide holder 4, and the sheet guide 3 is provided.
, The intermediate member is configured to be movable in the sheet setting direction and constantly biased in the direction opposite to the sheet setting direction, and a positioning mechanism 5 is provided between the intermediate member and the guide holder 4. Things. Further, as the latter temporary moving mechanism 6, a guide holder 4 is provided movably along the moving direction of the sheet guide 3 with respect to the sheet tray 1, and the guide holder 4 is constantly urged toward the sheet setting direction. Such a thing is mentioned.

Further, the movable range of the temporary moving mechanism 6 may be set to be constant beforehand, but the movable amount of the temporary moving mechanism 6 may be adjustable so that it can be corrected at the time of initial setting or maintenance. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of maintaining the supply of the sheet 2 with respect to the movable range of the temporary moving mechanism 6, the movable amount of the temporary moving mechanism 6 is such that the posture of the sheet is held at the supply position by the posture holding member 8. Under such conditions, it is preferable that the span be smaller than the span between the leading end of the sheet 2 and the contact portion of the sheet supply member 9 with the sheet 2. This is because if the movable amount of the temporary moving mechanism 6 is equal to or larger than the span, the sheet 2 moves excessively, and the contact state between the sheet supply member 9 and the sheet 2 is broken, and the supply of the sheet 2 by the sheet supply member 9 is performed. Due to concerns that the performance may be impaired.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 2 shows an outline of an image forming apparatus in which a first embodiment of a sheet storage device to which the present invention is applied is incorporated. In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus is an intermediate transfer type image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic method, and includes an image forming engine 11 for creating toner images of respective color components, and a sheet P such as paper after being conveyed to a transfer portion. A sheet conveying system 12 for discharging to a predetermined site,
The sheet P temporarily holds the toner image of each color component created by the image forming engine 11 and is conveyed by the sheet conveying system 12.
And a fixing device 14 for fixing each color component toner image held on the sheet P.

In this embodiment, the sheet transport system 12
Are a plurality of sheet storage devices 40 (specifically, 40a to 4a).
0c), the sheet P sent from any one of the sheet storage devices 40 is guided to a transfer portion of the belt module 13 along a predetermined transport path 44, and further, the fixing device 1
Then, the paper is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown) through the tray 4. Here, details of the sheet storage device 40 are shown in FIG. In the figure, a sheet storage device 40 includes a box-shaped sheet tray 5 for storing various sheets (not shown).
1, a sheet guide 52 for regulating the position of a sheet accommodated in the sheet tray 51, and a sheet guide 52
And a bottom plate 54 disposed at the bottom of the sheet tray 51 for raising the sheet to a supply position.

In this embodiment, the sheets in the sheet tray 51 are accommodated in a state of contacting the front wall and the side wall of the sheet tray 51, and the sheet guide 5
2 is an end guide 52a that regulates the rear edge (end) position of the sheet P in the sheet tray 51 in the sheet supply direction, and one side edge (side) in the direction orthogonal to the sheet P supply direction in the sheet tray 51. ) Side guide 52 for regulating the position
b. In FIG. 3, the guide plates 53 corresponding to the end guide 52a and the side guide 52b are indicated by 53a and 53b, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end guide 52a has a guide body 80 having an L-shaped cross section. The end body 52a protrudes below a part of the lateral wall portion of the guide body 80 beyond the lateral wall portion. The guide shoe 81 is integrally formed, and a stopper wall 82 is provided upright on both sides of the guide shoe 81. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide plate 53a (53) corresponding to the end guide 52a is provided inside the outer guide plate 91 with the inner guide plate 92 (the channel portion 9 having openings opposed to both sides).
21), the outer guide plate 91 slidably supports both sides of the side wall portion of the guide body 80 of the end guide 52a, and the inner guide plate 92
The guide shoe 81 is slidably disposed in the inner guide plate 92 so that the stopper wall 82 is accommodated in the channel portion 921 of the present embodiment.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a guide body 80 of the end guide 52a is provided.
An emboss 801 is formed on a part of the lateral wall portion of the, and a columnar intermediate block 100 is disposed below the emboss 801, for example, between the intermediate block 100 and the inner guide plate 92 (53a). A positioning mechanism is provided. This positioning mechanism includes, for example, positioning pins 60 projecting downward on the lower surface of the intermediate block 100, while a plurality of positioning holes 70 with which the positioning pins 60 engage are formed on the bottom wall of the inner guide plate 92. A communication path 71 is formed between the positioning holes 70 adjacent to each other, and a biasing spring 101 is disposed between the intermediate block 100 and the guide shoe 81. End guide 5
2a presses the intermediate block 100 against the side opposite to the direction in which the sheet P is regulated.

In the present embodiment, the positioning pin 60 has a cylindrical positioning part 61 longer than at least the thickness of the bottom wall of the guide plate 53, and a tapered cone at the tip end of the positioning part 61. And a non-positioning portion 62 formed in a trapezoidal shape. On the other hand, positioning holes 7
0 is the positioning pin 6 as shown in FIGS.
The positioning portion 61 has a hole diameter corresponding to the diameter D1 of the positioning portion 61, and the width dimension D2 of the communication passage 71 is set to be narrower than the positioning hole 70. Here, the width dimension D of the communication passage 71
If 2 is too close to the hole diameter (D1) of the positioning hole 70, even when the positioning portion 61 of the positioning pin 60 is fitted into the positioning hole 70, an impact force is exerted when the sheet tray 51 is inserted and set in the tray receiver. At this time, since there is a concern that the positioning pin 60 may get over the communication path 71, in order to avoid this, in the present embodiment, the width dimension D2 of the communication path 71 is 75% of the hole diameter (D1) of the positioning hole 70. It is set as follows.

Further, in the present embodiment, each positioning hole 7
0 is set in a positional relationship where they are overlapped with each other,
A boundary portion overlapping each other is formed as a communication path 71. Therefore, the pitch k between the positioning holes 70 (corresponding to the center-to-center pitch of the holes) is shorter and more constant than the hole diameter (D1) of the positioning holes 70, as shown in FIGS. Is set. In particular, in the present embodiment, the pitch k between the positioning holes 70 is determined by the allowable dimensional error (J
(A value determined by the IS standard or the ISO standard) or less, for example, about 2.0 to 2.5 mm.

In this embodiment, the positioning holes 70
Is formed as a through-hole in the guide plate 53, but in order to prevent a decrease in strength due to the communication of the positioning holes 70, the thickness of the guide plate 53 is increased to some extent, or a material having a reliable strength is used. Is preferred. Note that the positioning hole 70 does not necessarily need to be a through hole, and may be a bottomed hole. In particular, when the positioning holes 70 are formed of a resin material, if the positioning holes 70 are formed directly in the sheet tray 51, the number of components can be reduced and the strength is advantageous.

In particular, in this embodiment, the end guide 52a is provided with a temporary moving mechanism for temporarily moving the end guide 52a. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), this temporary moving mechanism allows the end guide 52a to be slightly movable relative to the intermediate block 100. The specific configuration thereof is that of the guide body 80 of the end guide 52a. An elongated slit 110 is formed in the embossed portion 801 along the moving direction of the end guide 52a.
11 is projected, and the locking pin 11 is formed in the locking slit 110.
1 is slidably locked, and a retaining ring 112 is attached to the tip of the locking pin 111.
At 12, the situation where the locking pin 111 is detached from the locking slit 110 is prevented.

The above-mentioned urging spring 101 is shown in FIG.
As shown by the arrows in FIG.
The intermediate block 100 is pressed against one end of the end block 10 (in the direction of movement of the end guide 52a when the sheet size becomes large). Here, with respect to the urging force of the urging spring 101, the viewpoint of maintaining the holding property of the end guide 52a with respect to the guide plate 53a and the viewpoint of securing the temporary movement operation of the end guide 52a within a range that does not impair the guiding property of the sheet P. Is selected as appropriate, but in this example, for example, 13 m
It is set to about N. Also, when the sheet in the sheet tray 51 is pushed up by the bottom plate 54,
Since the sheet feeding direction end is constrained by the front wall of the sheet tray 51, the sheet slightly moves in the direction of the end guide 52a with a change in the posture of the sheet.
The longitudinal dimension s of the locking slit 110 is
The movement range of 1 is the movement allowance of the sheet (usually about 2 mm)
Is set to an extent that allows.

Further, in the present embodiment, the locking slit 110 is formed to be constant in advance.
As shown in (b), an auxiliary cover 115 having a U-shaped cut groove 116 is prepared, and the auxiliary cover 115 is screwed or the like so that the cut groove 116 and the locking slit 110 overlap at an appropriate position. By fixing with the fastener 117, the longitudinal dimension s of the locking slit 110 may be adjusted, and the movable amount of the end guide 52a may be appropriately adjusted at the time of initial setting or maintenance.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7A and 7B, the side guide 52b has a guide body 120 having an L-shaped cross section in which a cutout is formed in a part of the lateral wall portion. On the other hand, a guide plate 53b (53) corresponding to the side guide 52b is attached to the bottom wall of the sheet tray 51. In the present embodiment, the side guide 52b is provided with a positioning mechanism, but is not provided with the above-described temporary moving mechanism. That is, the positioning mechanism of the side guide 52b is
A positioning rod 130 which moves up and down in an up and down direction is disposed at an appropriate position of the vertical wall portion, and a positioning pin 60 (positioning portion 61, non-positioning portion 6) is attached to the tip of the positioning rod 130.
2), an operation lever 131 having a rotation center 132 disposed at an intermediate portion is provided near the base end (upper end) of the positioning rod 130, and the operation lever 13
1 is connected to the base end of the positioning rod 130, and further, the positioning rod 130 is constantly urged downward by an urging spring 133.
The guide plate 53b is formed with a guide groove including a positioning hole 70 with which the positioning pin 60 is engaged and a communication passage 71.

Further, the positioning mechanism of the side guide 52b in the present embodiment forms a linear guide slit 135 in parallel with the positioning guide groove (positioning hole 70, communication passage 71). A guide pin 136 protrudes from the lower surface of the side wall portion of the guide body 120 of the corresponding side guide 52b, and the guide slit 135 is formed.
The guide pin 136 is slidably engaged with the
The movement stability of the side guide 52b is maintained. Reference numeral 137 denotes a spring that presses and holds the side guide 52b on the sheet tray 51.

Next, the sheet positioning operation of the sheet storage device according to the present embodiment will be described. Now, as shown in FIG. 3, the sheets are stored and arranged in the sheet tray 51,
In this state, the sheet guide 52 (the end guide 52a,
The side guide 52b) is moved so as to hit the end of the sheet P and one side. At this time, when moving the end guide 52a, the end guide 52a is lifted against the urging force of the urging spring 101, and in this state, the end guide 52a is moved along the guide groove for positioning of the inner guide plate 92. The end guide 52a may be moved to separate the end guide 52a at a predetermined position.

In this state, when the end guide 52a is lifted, the intermediate block 100 is lifted up integrally with the guide main body 80, and as shown in FIGS.
Positioning portion 6 of positioning pin 60 of intermediate block 100
1 is detached from the positioning hole 70 of the inner guide plate 92, and the non-positioning portion 62 of the positioning pin 60 is positioned in the positioning hole 70. When the end guide 52a is moved, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the positioning pin 60 moves through the positioning guide groove (the positioning hole 70 and the communication passage 71), and moves at a predetermined position. When the end guide 52a is released, the guide body 80 and the intermediate block 100 are lowered by their own weight and the urging force of the urging spring 101, the positioning portion 61 of the positioning pin 60 is fitted into the positioning hole 70, and the end guide 52a is positioned. You.

On the other hand, as for the side guide 52b, by pushing down the operating end of the operating lever 131, the positioning rod 130 is lifted, and the engagement between the positioning pin 60 and the positioning hole 70 is released. Move the guide 52b and reach the predetermined position,
The pressing operation of the operation lever 131 may be stopped. Then, the positioning rod 130 is pushed down by the urging force of the urging spring 133, the positioning pin 60 formed at the tip of the positioning rod 130 is fitted into the corresponding positioning hole 70, and the side guide 52b is positioned.

In the setting process, the positioning pins 60 are arbitrarily engaged with the positioning holes 70 arranged at every pitch interval k (in this example, set to be equal to or smaller than the allowable dimensional error of the sheet). The reference numeral 52 is not limited to a standard size, and can reliably guide a sheet of an irregular size. In the present embodiment, the side guide 52
Since the movement operation of b only needs to push down the operation lever 131, the operation of lifting the side guide 52b on the back side when the sheet tray 51 is pulled out becomes unnecessary,
The side guide 52b in the narrow operation space
This is preferable in that the moving operation of is easy.

In this embodiment, the support structure of the end guide 52a is such that the guide body 80 of the end guide 52a is positioned on the guide plate 53a via the intermediate block 100, as shown in FIG. like,
The end guide 52a has a temporary moving mechanism (a locking slit 1).
10, the locking pin 111, the retaining ring 112, and the biasing spring 101), so that the end guide 52a can move relative to the intermediate block 100 when a predetermined load is applied in the push-out direction. Has become.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9A, for example, when the sheet tray 51 is inserted and set in a tray receiver (not shown) and the bottom plate 54 lifts the sheet P to the supply position, the sheet is changed according to the change in the posture of the sheet. P tries to spread the end guide 52a.

At this time, since the positioning pin 60 is fitted in the positioning hole 70, the intermediate block 100 is restrained by the guide plate 53a, but the locking pin 111 can move slightly to the locking slit 110. , End guide 5
2a moves relative to the intermediate block 100 by δ, as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. For this reason,
When the sheet P applies a load to the end guide 52a, the end guide 52a slightly moves to absorb the load. Therefore, the sheet P is not unnecessarily strongly pressed against the front wall of the sheet tray 51 due to the change in the posture of the sheet P, and the sheet P is gnawed by the front wall of the sheet tray 51, which hinders the feeding operation of the sheet P. There are no concerns to come.

From the viewpoint of maintaining the supply operation of the sheets P in the sheet tray 51 in such an operation process, the movable range of the end guide 52a is such that the sheet supply from the leading end of the sheet P in the supply posture is performed. Is preferably set to be smaller than the span d of the nager roll 55 for use in contact with the sheet P.

In this regard, in the comparison mode (provided with the end guide 52a 'without a temporary moving mechanism), FIG.
When the sheet P is set at the supply position as shown in FIG.
The sheet P applies a load to the end guide 52a ', but since the end guide 52a' is in a fixed state, the sheet P is strongly abutted against the front wall of the sheet tray 51 and is gnawed, causing a phenomenon that misfeed or skew occurs. As a result, the effectiveness of the temporary movement mechanism was confirmed.

In this embodiment, the end guide 52
Although the relative movement structure (the guide body 80, the intermediate block 100, the locking slit 110, and the locking pin 111) when a load is applied is adopted only for “a”, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided on the side guide 52b. You may.

Second Embodiment FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of a sheet storage device to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, the sheet storage device includes a sheet tray 51 and a sheet guide 5 as in the first embodiment.
2. The sheet guide 52 includes a guide plate 53 and a bottom plate 54. The sheet guide 52 includes an end guide 52a that regulates a rear edge position (end) of a sheet supply direction (not shown) and one side edge of the sheet. Position (side)
And a side guide 52b that regulates the end guide 52a, but the support structure of the end guide 52a is different from that of the first embodiment.
Note that components similar to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the end guide 52a is substantially L-shaped.
A guide shoe 81 is further provided below the lateral wall portion of the V-shaped guide body 80, and the positioning pin 60 is arranged to project from the lower surface of the guide shoe 81. On the other hand, the guide plate 53a is fixed to the sheet tray 51 and has an outer guide plate 91 having a pair of guide walls 911 extending along the sheet supply direction.
An inner guide plate 92 slidably disposed along one pair of guide walls 911, and a plurality of positioning holes 70 with which the positioning pins 60 engage, and a bottom wall of the inner guide plate 92. The guide groove is formed by a communication path 71 that allows the positioning holes 70 to communicate with each other.

Particularly, in the present embodiment, a rectangular locking hole 922 is interposed on the bottom wall near the sheet supply side of the inner guide plate 92, and the outer guide plate corresponding to the locking hole 922 is provided. The locking hole 92
A stopper claw 912 that is locked to the sheet feeding side is formed between the sheet feeding side end of the inner guide plate 92 and the outer guide plate 91 (or the sheet tray 51). A biasing spring 150 for biasing is provided. On the other hand, when the inner guide plate 91 moves against the urging force of the urging spring 150, the channel portion 921 of the inner guide plate 92 is located on the opposite side of the guide wall 911 of the outer guide plate 91 from the sheet feeding direction. The stopper wall 913 that comes into contact with the inner guide plate 92 is in the normal position (the position shown in FIG.
(A position where is engaged)) by a predetermined dimension e.

Here, in the present embodiment, the mechanism for temporarily moving the end guide 52a includes a guide wall 911, a stopper claw 912, an outer guide plate 91 having a stopper wall 913, and a movable inner guide having a locking hole 922. It is composed of a plate 92 and a biasing spring 150.
The setting of the movable range of the end guide 52a is selected in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the movable range e of the inner guide plate 92 is set in consideration of the movable range of the end guide 52a. The inner guide plate 92
The movable range e of may be set in advance to be constant,
It may be set to be adjustable.

Next, the sheet positioning operation and the sheet feeding operation of the sheet storage apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. The sheet positioning operation is performed in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The sheet is accommodated and arranged in the
2 (the end guide 52a and the side guide 52b) may be moved so as to abut on the end and one side of the sheet P. At this time, when moving the end guide 52a, the end guide 52a is lifted, and the end guide 52a is lifted in this state, as in the first embodiment.
may be moved along the guide groove (positioning hole 70, communication passage 71) for positioning the inner guide plate 92, and the end guide 52a may be separated at a predetermined position.
The side guide 52b is the same as in the first embodiment.

The sheet supply operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, when the sheet is set at the supply position by the bottom plate 54, the sheet pushes the end guide 52a similarly to the first embodiment. Load in the direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, when a load is applied to the end guide 52a from the sheet, the positioning pin 60 is engaged with the positioning hole 70 of the inner guide plate 92.
The load on the inner guide plate 92 is transmitted to the inner guide plate 92 via the positioning mechanism (the positioning pin 60, the positioning hole 70, the communication passage 71), and the inner guide plate 92 attempts to move against the urging force of the urging spring 150. I do.

Therefore, the end guide 52a is slightly moved together with the inner guide plate 92 to the opposite side in the sheet setting direction within the range of the predetermined dimension e. Therefore, when the sheet P applies a load to the end guide 52a, the end guide 52a slightly moves to absorb the load. Therefore, the sheet P is not unnecessarily strongly pressed against the front wall of the sheet tray 51 due to the change in the posture of the sheet P, and the sheet P is gnawed by the front wall of the sheet tray 51.
There is no concern that the feeding operation of the sheet P will be hindered.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a temporary moving mechanism for temporarily moving the sheet guide under a condition in which a load directed to the opposite side of the sheet setting direction acts on the sheet guide. Therefore, even if the user sets the sheet guide close to the sheet,
When a load acts on the sheet guide from the seat side, the sheet guide can be temporarily moved. For this reason, even if a situation in which the sheet is pushed toward the sheet guide (for example, when the sheet tray is inserted and set) occurs due to a change in the posture of the sheet in the sheet tray, the sheet guide closely arranged to the sheet is temporarily moved. By doing so, it is possible to absorb the load, and accordingly, it is possible to effectively avoid a situation in which the sheet is strongly abutted against the sheet tray front wall and pressed.
Misfeed and skew can be effectively prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an outline of a sheet storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus in which Embodiment 1 of the sheet storage device to which the present invention is applied is incorporated.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view showing the sheet storage device according to the first embodiment;

4A is an explanatory view showing details of a support structure of a seat guide (end guide), FIG. 4B is an arrow view viewed from a direction B in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C is a view C in FIG. It is the arrow view seen from the direction.

FIG. 5A is a perspective explanatory view showing a relationship between a positioning pin, a positioning hole, and a communication path according to the embodiment, and FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing details of a temporary moving device and a positioning mechanism according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a structural example for variably adjusting the movable amount of the temporary moving mechanism according to the present embodiment. FIG.

7A is an explanatory plan view showing a support structure of a side guide, and FIG. 7B is an arrow view as viewed from a direction B in FIG. 7A.

8A is an explanatory view showing a relationship between a positioning pin and a positioning hole in the positioning mechanism, FIG. 8B is an explanatory view showing an engagement state of the positioning pin in the positioning hole, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the engagement state of a positioning pin.

FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a temporary moving mechanism according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a sheet storage device (without a temporary moving mechanism) according to a comparative embodiment. .

FIG. 10 is an explanatory plan view showing a sheet storage device according to a second embodiment.

11 is an explanatory cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sheet tray, 2 ... Sheet, 3 ... Sheet guide, 4
... Guide holder, 5 ... Positioning mechanism, 6 ... Temporary moving mechanism, 8 ... Position holding member, 9 ... Sheet feeding member

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sheet storage device that stores a sheet in a sheet tray and regulates a sheet storage position, comprising: a sheet guide for restricting a sheet storage position; and a sheet guide provided on a sheet tray side. A guide holder for holding the sheet guide; a positioning mechanism for positioning the sheet guide with respect to the guide holder; and a sheet guide that temporarily stops under a condition in which a load directed in the opposite direction to the sheet setting direction acts on the sheet guide. A sheet storage device, comprising: a temporary moving mechanism that can be moved. 2. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the temporary movement mechanism is provided for a sheet guide located on a side opposite to the sheet supply direction. 3. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the temporary moving mechanism has an intermediate member interposed between the sheet guide and the guide holder, and the intermediate member is movable in the sheet setting direction with respect to the sheet guide. The sheet accommodating device is configured to be constantly biased in a direction opposite to the sheet setting direction, and is provided with a positioning mechanism between the intermediate member and the guide holder. 4. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the temporary moving mechanism is provided with a guide holder movable with respect to the sheet tray along a moving direction of the sheet guide, and directs the guide holder in a sheet setting direction. Characterized in that the sheet accommodating device is always energized. 5. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of movement by the temporary movement mechanism is adjustable. 6. The sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of movement by the temporary movement mechanism is such that the leading end of the sheet and the sheet supply member are moved under a condition that the sheet posture is held at the supply position by the posture holding member. A sheet accommodating device, wherein the span is smaller than a span between the contact portion and the sheet.