JP2002128289A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of locking a sheet storing means by a locking means and positioning the sheet string means, even when performing a position adjustment of the sheet storing means. SOLUTION: When mounting the sheet storing means 30, the sheet storing means 30 energized in a drawing direction by an energizing means 106 is locked by a locking means 50A and the sheet storing means 30 is held at a position where a sheet S can be fed by a sheet feeding means 31. An operation means 60 for releasing the locking of the sheet storing means 30 by the locking means 50A by operating a releasing means 62 for releasing the locking of the sheet storing means 30 is provided on this side of the drawing direction of the sheet storing means 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus in which a sheet storage means is detachably mounted on an apparatus main body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, there is a type in which a sheet stored in a sheet storing unit is sent to an image forming unit by a sheet feeding unit. FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a copying machine which is an example of such a conventional image forming apparatus. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a copying machine main body, and 2 denotes a fixedly provided upper portion of the copying machine main body 1. An original plate 3 made of a transparent glass plate is an original pressing plate for pressing and fixing an original (not shown) placed at a predetermined position on the original plate 2 with the image surface facing downward.

An image forming section 1A includes a photosensitive drum 12 and the like. An image forming section 1B forms an image of a sheet S stored in a sheet feeding tray 30 which is a sheet storing means mounted on the copying machine main body 1 so as to be freely pulled out. This is a paper feeding unit that feeds to the unit 1A.

A lamp 4 for illuminating the original, a reflecting mirror 5 for guiding the illuminated light image of the original to the photosensitive drum 12, and a coupling 4 are provided below the original table 2. An optical system including the image lens 11 is provided. Also,
When reading the document image, the lamp 4 and the reflection mirrors 5, 6, and 7 move at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow a to scan the document.

Here, the image forming section 1A includes a photosensitive drum 1
2, a charger 13 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 12, and an electrostatic latent image formed by a light image irradiated from the optical system on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 charged by the charger 13. Developing unit 14 for developing the toner image to form a toner image, a transfer charger 19 for transferring the toner image developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 to the sheet S, and a toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum 12 And a cleaner 2 for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 12 after transferring the toner image.
6 is provided.

In a copying machine having such an image forming section 1A, for example, a sheet S
When a copy start button (not shown) is pressed, the pick-up roller 3 serving as sheet feeding means is pressed.
1 and the separation roller pair 32, 33 rotate to feed the sheet S. Thereafter, the sheet S is conveyed to the registration roller pair 45 by the conveyance roller 38. After the skew of the sheet S is corrected by the registration roller pair 45, the sheet S is sent out to the image forming unit 1A at a predetermined timing, and is transferred to the transfer charger 1A. 19 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 12.

[0007] A transport unit 21 for transporting the sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is located downstream of the image forming unit 1A.
And a fixing unit 22 for fixing an image on the sheet S conveyed by the conveying unit 21 as a permanent image, and the sheet S on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 22 by the conveying unit 21. The fixing device 22 fixes the toner image as a permanent image.

The sheet S on which the toner image has been fixed as a permanent image is discharged by a discharge roller pair 24 onto a discharge tray 25 provided outside the copying machine main body 1, and copying is completed.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a configuration of a sheet feeding device 36 for feeding the sheet S on the sheet feeding tray 30 to the image forming section 1A. A pickup roller 31 for sending out the uppermost sheet S1 of the sheets stored in the tray 30, a feed roller 32 for feeding the sheet S sent out by the pickup roller 31 in the direction of arrow a, and a feed roller 32
When a plurality of sheets S are conveyed from the sheet feed tray 30 and are opposed to the sheet feed tray 30, a separation roller 33 that rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the feed roller 32 and separates the sheet S is provided. Roller pairs 32 and 33 are provided.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 40 denotes a roller holder rotatably provided on a rotation shaft 32a of the feed roller 32 and rotatably holding the pickup roller 31 at one end. Reference numeral 41 denotes a solenoid, and a plunger 41 a of the solenoid 41 has a link arm 4 whose one end is in contact with the lower end of the rotation end of the roller holder 40.
2 are installed.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 34 denotes a lifter. The lifter 34 is rotatably supported by a paper feed tray 30. The right side in the figure is vertically moved about a shaft 34a by a lifter drive motor (not shown). It is being moved. When a predetermined number of sheets S are fed to the lifter 34 and the position of the uppermost surface of the sheet is lower than the predetermined position, the lifter driving motor operates according to a detection signal from a sheet detection sensor (not shown) that detects this. As a result, a certain amount is raised. Thereby, the uppermost sheet S
1 is always held in an area where the feeding by the pickup roller 31 is possible.

Next, such a pickup roller 31 will be described.
The operation of the lifter 34 will be described.

The pickup roller 31 is normally located at a position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, and is driven and rotated by a drive motor (not shown) at this position to feed the uppermost sheet S1 in the direction of arrow a. Then, before the trailing end of the fed sheet S1 passes through the pickup roller 31, the solenoid 41 is operated, and the link arm 42 swings counterclockwise about the fulcrum 42a.

As a result, the roller holder 40 rotates clockwise, and the pickup roller 31 is moved to the sheet S1.
Away from By thus separating the pickup roller 31 from the sheet S1, back tension is not generated on the sheet S1.

On the other hand, when a predetermined number of sheets S1 are fed by the pickup roller 31 and the position of the uppermost sheet S1 falls below a certain position, the lifter drive motor operates according to a detection signal from the sheet detection sensor that detects this. ,
The lifter 34 rises by a certain amount.

Note that the sheet feed tray 3 is
When pulling out the paper tray 0 from the copying machine body 1, the pickup roller 31 and the lifter drive system (not shown) are provided in the copying machine body 1, so that the pickup roller 31 does not interfere with the drawing operation of the paper feed tray 30. 31 is retracted upward and the lifter 32 is retracted downward to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure.

On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a plan sectional view of the copying machine main body 1 when the paper feed tray 30 is mounted. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 30a denotes a tray front cover of the paper feed tray 30, and 30b denotes a tray front cover. This is a handle provided on the tray front cover 30a. Reference numeral 35 denotes a positioning pin provided on the front end side of the paper feed tray 30.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a hook which is a locking means for locking the positioning pin 35 to hold the sheet feed tray 30 at the sheet feeding position by the pickup roller 31; 52, a hook base fixed to the front plate 109 of the main body; Reference numeral 51 denotes a position adjusting plate (hereinafter, referred to as a position adjusting plate) which is a movable member which is movably attached to the hook base 52 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction in the front-rear direction of the main body. And a shaft 51P provided on the position adjusting plate 51.
The hook 50 is rotatably supported by the position adjustment plate 51 via the.

Reference numeral 53 denotes a hook 50 and a position adjusting plate 51.
The hook urging spring 53 allows the hook 50 to be engaged with the positioning pin 35 of the paper feed tray 30 by the hook urging spring 53 so that the hook 50a provided at the rotation end is locked to the positioning pin 35 of the paper feed tray 30 in FIG. Energized clockwise. Also,
The paper feed tray 30 is urged in the forward direction, which is the pull-out direction, by the compression springs 106, which are two urging means provided on the rear plate 108 of the main body, on the back side. The action of the hook 50 and the compression spring 106 causes the paper feed tray 3
0 is fixedly supported on the copying machine main body 1.

Incidentally, the paper feed tray 30, the photosensitive drum 12 and the developing device 14 shown in FIG.
It is difficult to perform accurate positioning if each is simply fixed at a fixed position with respect to the copying machine main body 1 in the front-rear direction. The position can be adjusted in the front-rear direction so that it can be adjusted.

Here, FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing a configuration of a position adjusting unit that performs position adjustment in a front-rear direction of 0; In the figure, 542 is a step screw,
Reference numeral 541 denotes a fixing screw, and the step screw 542 and the fixing screw 541 are fixed to the hook base 52 with the position adjusting plate 51 interposed therebetween.

When the position adjusting plate 51 is moved forward and backward with respect to the hook base 52, for example, the position adjusting plate 51 is moved.
Is moved forward, the fixing screw 541 is loosened in the state shown in FIG. 7A, the position adjusting plate 51 is moved in the direction of the arrow to the position shown in FIG.
To tighten. Note that, as described above, the position adjusting plate 51
Is moved, the hook 50, the sheet feeding tray 30, and the sheet bundle S in the sheet feeding tray are moved in the front direction of the main body in accordance with the movement of the position adjusting plate 51.

By the way, the paper feed tray 30 whose position is adjusted in this way is replaced with the paper feed tray 30 for replenishing sheets, for example.
When the paper tray 30 is pulled out, a force is applied in the pulling-out direction when the paper feed tray 30 is pulled out as described above, so that the paper feed tray 30 is locked to the positioning pin 35 as shown in FIG. The hook 50 which has been subjected to the counterclockwise rotation force is released from the positioning pin 35 in due course.

When the hook 50 comes off in this way, the paper feed tray 30 is pulled forward by the force of the compression spring 106 on the back side as shown in FIG. When the paper feed tray 30 is pulled out in this manner, the hook 50 is held by the stopper member (not shown) and the spring 53 at the position shown in FIG. 5A or a position further rotated clockwise than this position. You.

On the other hand, when the paper feed tray 30 is pushed into the copying machine main body after the sheet S is supplied, when the paper feed tray 30 is pushed in, the positioning pin 35 first hits the front slope 50S of the hook 50, and When the user pushes the hook 30, the hook 50 is turned counterclockwise against the force of the hook urging spring 53.

Thereafter, when the positioning pin 35 passes through the hook 50a of the hook 50, the hook 50 is rotated clockwise by the hook biasing spring 53, and the hook 50 is again rotated as shown in FIG. Engage with the positioning pin 35,
As a result, the paper feed tray 30 is positioned with respect to the copying machine main body 1.

When the user replenishes the sheet S with the sheet tray 30, the sheet tray 30 needs to be pulled out while removing the hook 50 as described above. Power is needed.

Here, in order to reduce this force, a compression spring 106 for urging the rear side of the tray forward as shown in FIG.
If the urging force of the hook urging spring 53 is reduced, the paper tray 30 can be easily pulled out. However, if the paper tray 30 does not need to be pulled out, for example, even during the sheet feeding operation, the paper may be fed by a slight vibration or the like. The tray 30 may pop out.

If the paper feed tray 30 erroneously pops out as described above, the sheet S may be sheared, causing a paper jam, and furthermore, the copier body may be damaged. In order to prevent this, while the apparatus is in operation, the regulating member is operated electrically so that the sheet feeding tray 30 can be operated.
There is also a method of preventing the projection from jumping out, but in this case, the cost of the apparatus is increased.

Therefore, conventionally, a user does not directly pull out the paper feed tray 30 but uses a small force to feed the paper feed tray 30.
In order to prevent the paper tray 30 from jumping out when it is not necessary, for example, a push button 10B is provided on a front cover 10C provided on the front side of the main body as shown in FIG. There is an image forming apparatus configured so that the paper feed tray 30 can be pulled out by operating the button 10B.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus having such a configuration. In the figure, 10A is a button hole formed in the front (right) cover 10C of the main body,
The hole 10A has a portion 10a pressed by the user and a boss 1
The button 10B provided with 0b is mounted. The button 10B is urged forward by a compression spring 10D and is locked by a locking means (not shown) so as not to come off from the front (right) cover 10C.

Reference numeral 54 denotes a shaft 5 provided on the position adjusting plate 51.
The cam 54 is rotatably supported on the position adjustment plate 51 around the center 4P. The cam 54 has two cam slopes 54a, 54a.
b. In this case, the cam 54 is
0 is housed in the apparatus body, one cam slope 54a is at or near the position where the cam slope 54a contacts the boss portion of the button 10B, and the opposite slope 54b is integrated with the hook 50 as shown in FIG. It is located at or near the position where the pin 50P is formed. The hook 50 is
As described above with reference to FIG.
1, the position in the front-rear direction is supported so as to be adjustable.

In the image forming apparatus constructed as described above, the cam 54
The button 10B, which is the operating means for operating the
When pushed in the depth direction of the main body against the force of 0D, as shown in FIG. 13B, the boss 10b of the button 10B pushes the cam 54 to rotate clockwise about the shaft 54P. When the cam 54 rotates in this manner, the slope 54b of the cam 54 presses the hook pin 50P. As a result, the hook 50 is pressed against the hook biasing spring 53 by the shaft 51P.
Rotate counterclockwise around.

Thus, the locking of the sheet feeding tray 30 with respect to the positioning pin 35 is released. At this time, since the paper feed tray 30 is pushed forward by the compression spring 106 on the inner side (see FIG. 9), the paper feed tray 30 is instantly pushed forward. After the paper feed tray 30 is pushed forward in this way, the user grasps the handle 30b (see FIG. 9) provided on the paper feed tray 30 and
Is pulled out to a position sufficient to replenish the sheet.

[0035]

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus in which the paper feed tray 30 is pulled out by using such a button 10B, it is possible to prevent the paper feed tray 30 from being pulled out by mistake. But button 1
0B is provided on the main body side, so that when the position adjustment plate 51 is adjusted, not only the cam 54 but also the button 10 is used to maintain the positional relationship between the boss 10b of the button 10B and the cam 54.
The position in the front-rear direction of B must be similarly moved.

Here, since the button 10B is provided on the main body side, it is difficult to move the button 10B. Therefore,
Hook 5 to keep the button position
You have to keep the 0 position from moving,
If the position of the hook 50 is not moved in this way, the hook 50 can lock the paper feed tray 30 but cannot perform positioning.

That is, the hook 50, which also serves as the tray locking means and the positioning means, cannot serve as the tray locking means and the positioning means. In this case, the hook 50 cannot serve as the positioning means. Positioning means must be provided, which increases the number of parts and causes an increase in cost.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and even when the position of the sheet feeding tray (sheet storing means) is adjusted, the hooking (locking means) of the sheet feeding tray is not required. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of stopping and positioning.

[0039]

According to the present invention, a sheet is stored in a sheet storage means which is detachably mounted on an apparatus main body, and the sheet stored in the sheet storage means is transferred to an image forming section by a sheet feeding means. In the image forming apparatus for feeding, the urging means for urging the sheet storage means mounted on the apparatus main body in the pull-out direction, and the sheet storing means urged by the urging means for locking the sheet Locking means for holding the storage means at a position where sheet feeding by the sheet feeding means is possible, release means for releasing the locking of the sheet storage means by the locking means, and actuation means for operating the release means And the operating means is provided in the sheet storage means.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the actuating means is provided on the near side in the drawing direction of the sheet storage means.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the locking means is provided so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction of the sheet feeding means.

The present invention further comprises a position adjusting means having a moving member movable in a direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction so as to adjust a position of the sheet storage means in a direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction. A stopping means is provided on the moving member.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that there is provided a release restricting means for making it impossible for the releasing means to release the locking of the engaging means while the sheet is being fed by the sheet feeding means. is there.

Further, in the invention, it is preferable that the release restricting means inhibits the movement of the locking means so that the release by the releasing means becomes impossible while the sheet is being fed. It is.

Further, in the invention, it is preferable that the release restricting means includes a lever which is pressed by the sheet to be fed and moves, and a stopper which moves to a position where the movement of the locking means is prevented in conjunction with the movement of the lever. And characterized in that:

The present invention further comprises a blocking member for preventing the stopper from moving in the unlocking direction of the locking means when the stopper moves to a position where the locking means is prevented from moving. It is characterized by having.

[0047]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state in which a sheet feeding tray of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the sheet feeding tray of the image forming apparatus is mounted. It is a principal part side sectional view. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 9 and 10 indicate the same or corresponding parts.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 322 denotes a button hole formed in the tray front cover 30a constituting the front surface which is the side surface on the front side in the drawing direction of the sheet feeding tray 30. Part 60 pressed by the user
A button 60, which is an operating means composed of a and a boss portion 60b that presses a cam 62 described later, is mounted. The button 60 is urged forward by a compression spring 61, and is regulated so as not to come off the tray front cover 30a by locking means (not shown). That is, the button 60 is attached to the paper feed tray 30.

Reference numeral 50A denotes a hook which is a locking means for locking the sheet feeding tray 30 and holding the sheet feeding tray 30 at a position where the sheet can be fed out by the pickup roller 31. The hook 50A has a pressing wall. 501 is provided.

Reference numeral 62 denotes a button 60 and a hook 50A.
And a cam serving as a releasing means for releasing the lock by the hook 50A, and the cam 62 rotates about a shaft 62P provided on the tray front cover 30a. Here, a slope 62S for pressing the pressing wall 501 of the hook 50A is formed on the cam 62. When the button 60 is pressed and the cam 62 rotates as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The slope 62S of 62 presses the pressing wall 501 of the hook 50A.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3A, the hook 50A, which has locked the positioning pin 35, moves the pressing wall 501 along the inclined surface 62S of the cam 62 in the counterclockwise direction. Rotate. As a result, the locking of the positioning pin 35 by the hook 50A is released as shown in (b), and the paper feed tray 30 is pushed out by the compression spring 106.

As described above, when the user operates the button 60 provided on the front surface of the paper feed tray 30, the locking of the positioning pin 35 by the hook 50A can be released. The paper tray 30 can be pulled out.

By the way, as in the present embodiment, the button 6
0 and the cam 62 in the paper feed tray 30 (tray front cover 30).
a), the paper feed tray 3
When the position adjusting plate 51 is moved to adjust the front-rear direction of the hook 50A, even if the position of the hook 50A is moved together with the position adjusting plate 51, the push button 60 is also moved together with the sheet feeding tray 30. Even if the position is moved, the positional relationship between the button 60 and the hook 50A can be kept unchanged as shown in FIG.

That is, since the button 60 does not need to be moved even when the position of the sheet feed tray 30 is adjusted, the hook 50A can be moved together with the position adjusting plate 51. , Hook 5
0A can serve as both tray locking means and positioning means.

Further, by providing the button 60 on the front surface (tray front cover 30a) of the paper feed tray 30 as in the present embodiment, for example, when the button 10B is provided on the apparatus main body as shown in FIG. Button 1 compared to
OB can be provided at the center of the device. Thereby, the lateral dimension of the apparatus main body is reduced, and it is possible to prevent the apparatus from being enlarged.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of a sheet feeding section of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG.
FIG. 6 is a top view thereof. 4 to 6,
1, 2 and 8 denote the same or corresponding parts.

4 to 6, reference numeral 70 denotes a sheet feed tray 3;
0 and a pair of separation rollers 32 and 33, which is a lever which is pushed down by the sheet S sent out by the pickup roller 31 and falls down, and a shaft 70P of the lever 70 is integrated with the sheet feeding tray 30 as shown in FIG. And extends from the sheet conveying area to the near side and penetrates the main body front side plate 109. Further, an operating portion 70A is provided at a front end portion of the lever 70.

On the other hand, reference numeral 71 denotes a restricting lever which is a stopper rotatably supported by the hook base 52 or the position adjusting plate 51. The restricting lever 71 supports the rotation shaft 71P by a rotation of the operating portion 70A. As shown in FIG. 6, the hook 50A moves to the side of the pressing wall 501 of the hook 50A, and prevents the hook 50A from rotating counterclockwise. Note that the restriction lever 71 and the lever 7
With 0, a release restricting unit that makes it impossible to release the lock of the hook 50A is configured.

Incidentally, in FIG.
Alternatively, it is a backup member which is a blocking member provided on the position adjustment plate 51, and when the hook 50A moves to the side of the pressing wall 501, the backup member 73 and the pressing wall 5
01 and the regulating lever 71 is positioned.

As a result, a turning force is generated on the hook 50A by the action of the cam 62. Even if the regulating lever 71 is pressed by the turning force, the regulating member 71 is supported by the backup member 73. Is prevented from moving in the unlocking direction of the hook 50A. Thus, the operation of the hook 50A can be surely restricted without the restriction lever 71 being damaged.

When the sheet S is fed as described above, the lever 70 rotates (moves) clockwise in FIG.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG.
By moving between the 0A pressing wall 501 and the backup member 73 to prevent the hook 50A from rotating counterclockwise, the paper feed tray 30 can be prevented from being pulled out during sheet feeding.

In the case of this embodiment, since no electric parts are used for detecting the passage of the sheet and regulating the tray drawing operation, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be further reduced. Can be achieved.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operating means for operating the release means for releasing the locking of the sheet storage means by the locking means is provided in the sheet storage means, whereby the locking means is moved. Even in this case, the paper feed tray can be locked and positioned by the locking means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a state in which a sheet feeding tray of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a main part of the image forming apparatus in a state where a paper feed tray is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation of a hook and the like when pulling out and pushing in the paper feed tray.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a sheet feeding unit of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a sheet feeding unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a sheet feeding unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a copying machine as an example of a conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sheet feeding device provided in the conventional copying machine.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a state where a paper feed tray of the conventional copying machine is mounted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a position adjusting unit that adjusts a position of the sheet feeding tray in a front-rear direction.

FIG. 11 is a view for explaining the operation of a hook and the like when pulling out and pushing in the paper feed tray.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another conventional image forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the operation of a hook and the like when pulling out and pushing in a paper feed tray of another conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier main body 1A Image forming part 30 Feed tray 30a Tray front cover 31 Pickup roller 50A Hook 51 Position adjustment plate 60 Button 62 Cam 70 Lever 71 Restriction lever 73 Backup member 106 Compression spring

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for storing a sheet in a sheet storing means detachably mounted on an apparatus main body and feeding the sheet stored in the sheet storing means to an image forming unit by a sheet feeding means. Urging means for urging the sheet storage means mounted on the apparatus main body in the pull-out direction; and locking the sheet storage means urged by the urging means so that the sheet storage means is the sheet feeding means. Locking means for holding the sheet at a position where the sheet can be sent out, releasing means for releasing the locking of the sheet storage means by the locking means, and operating means for operating the releasing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means is provided on a front side of said sheet storage means in a drawing direction. 3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said locking means is movably provided in a direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction of said sheet feeding means. 4. A position adjusting means having a moving member movable in a direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction so as to adjust a position of the sheet storing means in a direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction, wherein the locking means is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided on the moving member. 5. A release control means for preventing release of the engagement means by the release means while the sheet is being fed by the sheet feeding means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The release control device according to claim 5, wherein, while feeding the sheet, the release control device prevents the locking device from moving so that the release device cannot release the lock. Image forming apparatus. 7. The release restricting means includes a lever which is moved by being pressed by the sheet to be fed, and a stopper which moves to a position where the movement of the locking means is stopped in conjunction with the movement of the lever. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: 8. A stopping member for preventing the stopper from moving in the unlocking direction of the locking means when the stopper moves to a position where the locking means is prevented from moving. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: