JP2002173232A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device superior in usability for easily resupplying sheets to a feeding cassette in a space saving manner. SOLUTION: The image forming device for pulling the feeding cassette 1 storing sheets out of a device body and resupplying the sheets comprises a locking member A13 and a locking member B14 for locking the movement of the feeding cassette 1 if the longest sheets, which can be stored in the feeding cassette 1, are replenished in less pullout amount than predetermined, when pulled out.

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 provided with a paper feed cassette for storing sheets, and pulling out the paper feed cassette from an apparatus main body to supply sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a sheet cassette of this type of image forming apparatus, a sheet cassette having a structure capable of storing sheets of various sizes, for example, sheets of A3 size at a maximum to A6 size of a minimum is generally used. is there.

Generally, when the paper cassette is pulled out, a lock mechanism that locks the movement of the paper cassette in a state where the longest storable sheet can be set and pulled out is set. Some do not have such a lock mechanism.

When a user sets a sheet in a paper feed cassette, the user pulls out the paper feed cassette to the end and locks the paper feed cassette, or, if there is no lock mechanism, removes the paper feed cassette itself from the image forming apparatus. I was going on. In some cases, regardless of the presence or absence of the lock mechanism, the sheet cassette is stopped with the sheet cassette pulled out halfway and sheets are set.

[0005]

However, in the case of the above-described prior art, the following problems have occurred.

[0006] The sheet used by the user is not limited to the maximum size corresponding to the paper feed cassette. For example, there are many cases where a sheet having a size half the maximum size is used. Even in such a case, if the lock mechanism is provided, the user must uselessly pull out the sheet cassette and set sheets. Therefore,
A sufficient work space is required on the drawer side of the paper feed cassette, which is disadvantageous for saving space in the image forming apparatus.

On the other hand, in the case where there is no lock mechanism,
The user must remove the paper feed cassette from the image forming apparatus and set a sheet. Some paper cassettes are very large and heavy to accommodate large-sized sheets, such as A3. For example, the paper cassette is taken out, the sheets are set, and the paper cassette becomes heavier due to the weight of the sheets. It is very painful to insert the image into the image forming apparatus again. It can be said that it is a terrible task especially for elderly people and women.

Further, regardless of the presence or absence of the lock mechanism, it is possible to stop the sheet feeding cassette in a partially pulled-out state and set a sheet. However, since the sheet feeding cassette is not stable, the sheet cannot be set. It was hard to work because the paper cassette moved when setting. In addition, there is a possibility that the sheet cassette having no lock mechanism may fall and be damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an excellent usability capable of easily and space-saving replenishment of sheets to a paper feed cassette. To provide an image forming apparatus.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for replenishing a sheet by pulling out a sheet cassette accommodating sheets from an apparatus main body. When the sheet cassette is pulled out, the stopping means for stopping the movement of the sheet cassette with a drawer amount smaller than the drawer amount for replenishing the longest size sheet that can be stored in the sheet cassette is provided.

When replenishing sheets, the small draw-out amount described above is often sufficient depending on the size. In such a case, the sheet cassette is fixed by the stopping means.
Sheet supply can be performed easily and in a space-saving manner.

Preferably, the direction in which the sheet cassette is pulled out is the same as the direction in which sheets are fed from the sheet cassette.

Further, it is preferable that all of the sheets of a size that can be accommodated in the sheet cassette are accommodated in the regulating position provided on the drawing direction side of the sheet cassette with the sheet ends aligned.

[0014] The restraining means may restrain the movement of the sheet cassette in a drawer amount capable of replenishing a sheet having a length substantially half of the longest size.

The stopping means may comprise a stopping member provided on the apparatus main body, and a locking member provided on the sheet cassette and locked on the stopping member.

Further, it is preferable that the stopping member or the locking member is provided so as to be movable in a drawing direction of the sheet cassette.

Further, it is preferable that a plurality of the stopping members or the locking members are provided in a drawing direction of the sheet cassette.

The longest size is A3 size or LDR
Good size.

Further, according to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus for replenishing sheets by pulling out a sheet cassette for storing sheets from the apparatus main body, the sheet cassette is stored in the sheet cassette when the sheet cassette is pulled out. And a stopping means for stopping the movement of the sheet feeding cassette in a drawer amount corresponding to the size of the sheet being set.

Therefore, when replenishing the sheets, the sheet cassette is fixed in a state where the sheet is pulled out by a sufficient amount to replenish sheets of the same size as that currently stored in the sheet cassette.

The stopping means comprises a stopping member provided on the main body of the apparatus, and a locking member provided on the sheet feeding cassette for locking to the stopping member. It is good to be provided movably corresponding to the size of the sheet accommodated in the.

The paper feed cassette may include a regulating member for regulating a sheet end opposite to the pull-out direction, and the locking member may be interlocked with the regulating member.

[0023] The locking member may be formed integrally with the regulating member.

[0024]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, since the configuration and operation of a portion that feeds sheets from a paper feed cassette and forms an image are the same as those in the related art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted, and the characteristic portions of the embodiment will be mainly described. It shall be explained.

The dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them unless otherwise specified. Not a thing.

(First Embodiment) An image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a sheet feeding cassette 1 mounted on the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the configuration of the paper feed cassette 1, and FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1 as viewed from above.

The paper feed cassette 1 is a sheet feeding means which is detachably mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, and regulates a cassette orifice for stacking and storing sheets and a storage position of the sheets to be stacked on the cassette orchestra. Left and right side regulating plates 2 and a rear end regulating plate 3.

The left and right side regulating plates 2 are provided so as to face both side portions of the cassette orchestra, and are configured to interlock with each other so as to widen and narrow in the sheet width direction. By adjusting the distance between the side regulating plates 2 according to the width of the sheets to be accommodated and making contact with both side surfaces of the sheet bundle, the accommodation position in the sheet width direction is regulated, and feeding failure such as skew is prevented. I have.

The rear end regulating plate 3 is arranged at the rear end of the cassette orchestra and is slidably provided in a direction parallel to the cassette pulling-out direction. It constitutes a member. The position of the rear end regulating plate 3 is adjusted according to the length of the sheets to be accommodated in the cassette orch, and the rear end regulating plate 3 is brought into contact with the rear end surface of the sheet bundle to align the front end of the sheet with the abutting surface of the front end of the cassette orch.

The corresponding size that can be accommodated in the sheet cassette 1 of the present embodiment is L in the standard size in order from the longest size.
DR, A3, LGL, LTR side, A4 side, EXE side, B
5 sides and A5 side. Further, since the side regulating plate 2 and the rear end regulating plate 3 are free stop types that can be stopped at a free position, they can correspond to any sheet having a size between LDR and A5.

The sheet S set in the sheet cassette 1 by the side regulating plate 2 and the rear end regulating plate 3 is moved toward the main body of the image forming apparatus by a middle plate 4 and a middle plate spring 5 provided on the bottom of the cassette orch. It is pressed by a paper feed roller (not shown) disposed.

At the time of paper feeding, when the paper feeding roller makes one rotation,
The sheet S set in the sheet feeding cassette 1 is separated into one sheet by a separation claw 6 and a separation pad 7, fed in the direction of arrow 8, and conveyed into the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the sheet feeding cassette 1 is inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus, as viewed from above. In the figure, the image forming portion is omitted, and only the inserted portion of the sheet cassette 1 is shown.

The paper feed cassette 1 includes left and right frames 9 and 10.
And is positioned by positioning pins 11 caulked on a sheet metal (not shown).

When the sheet S is set in the sheet cassette 1, the sheet S can be pulled out of the image forming apparatus main body by moving the cassette in the direction of arrow 12. Therefore, in this paper feed cassette 1, the cassette pull-out direction and the sheet feeding method are the same.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

As shown in the figure, a lock member B14 as a stop member is provided on the frame 9 of the main body of the image forming apparatus, while a lock as a lock member which locks on the lock member B14 is provided on the sheet cassette 1. A member A13 is provided. Here, the lock member A13 and the lock member B14 constitute a lock mechanism as a stopping means.

When the sheet cassette 1 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body, the lock member A13 on the cassette side is engaged with the lock member B14 on the image forming apparatus main body side.
At the position shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed cassette 1 is stopped and enters the locked state.

In the present embodiment, the lock member A13 is provided substantially at the center of the cassette orchest in the cassette pull-out direction, and the lock member A14 is provided at the front end of the frame 9. The paper feed cassette 1 is locked in a state in which about half of the paper cassette 1 is opened. In this state, the user can supply a sheet shorter than the side of the LTR.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show details of the lock mechanism. FIG. 5 shows that the lock member A13 and the lock member B14 are in contact with each other in the same state as in FIG. The lock member B14 is pressed by the lock spring 15. When the sheet cassette 1 is further pulled from this state, the lock member B14 bends as shown in FIG. 6, and the sheet cassette 1 can be further pulled out.

A rear end locking member 16 is provided at the rear end of the sheet feeding cassette 1 so that the cassette orchestra is almost completely opened and the longest sized sheet that can be accommodated (the LDR size in this embodiment). ) Can be locked even in a state where it can be supplied. LTR
When replenishing a sheet longer than the side, pulling out to this state enables a stable operation.

As described above, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the sheet feeding cassette 1 can be locked while being pulled out. Just pull out the sheet S
Can be set, and the sheet supply operation can be simplified and space can be saved.

Further, since there is no need to remove the sheet cassette 1 from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the user does not need to lift the heavy sheet cassette 1.

The lock position does not need to be the position shown in the present embodiment. For example, the lock member A13 or the lock member B14 may be provided movably in the cassette pull-out direction, and may be moved according to the needs of the user.
The adjustment may be manually performed by the user.

Further, a plurality of lock members may be provided in the paper feed cassette 1. As a result, the sheet cassette 1 is gradually locked, and the user can select an appropriate lock position according to the size of the sheets to be stored. Of course, the same operation and effect can be obtained even if a plurality of lock members are provided on the image forming apparatus main body side.

Further, in this embodiment, only the movement in the cassette pull-out direction is restricted.
For example, if the lock member A13 is formed into a shape to be fitted to the lock member B14 so as to restrict movement in both the pull-out direction and the mounting direction, the stability is further increased.

The configuration of the lock mechanism is not limited to the one described in the present embodiment. For example, a fitting hole is fitted in one of the image forming apparatus main body or the paper feed cassette and the other is fitted in the fitting hole. It goes without saying that a well-known lock mechanism such as providing a fitting pin that fits can be applied.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description, only portions different from those of the first embodiment will be described, and detailed description of the same components will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the rear end regulating plate 3 and the lock member A13 are formed of the same member. That is, as shown in the drawing, one end of the rear end regulating plate 3 is extended to the side end of the sheet feed cassette 1, and a lock member A13 is integrally formed at the end.

Since the lock member A13 moves in conjunction with the rear end regulating plate 3, the sheet S
The lock position of the sheet cassette 1 can be changed according to the size of the sheet cassette. The lock member A13 is set so as to be locked when the sheet cassette 1 is pulled out to the minimum amount in which the sheet S can be set.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, when replenishing sheets, the sheet is pulled out by a sufficient amount to replenish sheets of the same size as that currently stored in the sheet cassette. Since the paper feed cassette is fixed in the first embodiment, it can be said that the operability and the flexibility are more excellent than those of the first embodiment, and it is convenient for many users.

Note that the lock member A13 does not necessarily need to be formed of the same member as the rear end regulating plate 3. For example, the lock member A13 is slidably assembled to the side surface of the sheet cassette 1, and The rear end regulating plate 3 may be configured to interlock with the lock member A13 by a rack, a pinion, or the like.
Any structure may be used as long as the lock member A13 moves in conjunction with the above.

[0055]

As described above, the present invention is provided with the stopping means for stopping the movement of the sheet feeding cassette with a drawer amount smaller than the drawer amount for replenishing the longest size sheet that can be accommodated in the sheet cassette. Therefore, when replenishing small-sized sheets, it is possible to replenish the sheets simply by pulling out the paper feed cassette halfway, thereby simplifying the sheet replenishing work and saving space.
An image forming apparatus excellent in usability was realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a sheet feeding cassette of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the sheet cassette shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet cassette illustrated in FIG. 1 is mounted on an image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where the sheet cassette illustrated in FIG. 1 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a lock mechanism of the sheet cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a lock mechanism of the sheet cassette of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a sheet cassette of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 paper feed cassette 2 side regulating plate 3 rear end regulating plate (regulating member) 9, 10 frame 13 lock member A (restricting means, retaining member) 14 lock member B (restricting means, restricting member) 15 lock spring 16 rear end lock Material S sheet

Claims (12)

[Claims] In an image forming apparatus for replenishing sheets by pulling out a sheet cassette for storing sheets from an apparatus main body, when the sheet cassette is pulled out, the longest sheet that can be stored in the sheet cassette is removed. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a stopping means for stopping the movement of the sheet feeding cassette in a drawer amount smaller than a drawer amount to be supplied. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which the sheet cassette is pulled out and a direction in which sheets are fed from the sheet cassette are the same. 3. A sheet storage device according to claim 1, wherein all of the sheets that can be accommodated in the sheet cassette are accommodated in a regulating position provided on the drawing direction side of the sheet cassette with their sheet ends aligned. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The paper feed cassette according to claim 1, wherein said restraining means restrains movement of said sheet feeding cassette at a drawer amount capable of replenishing a sheet having a length substantially half of said longest size. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stopping means comprises a stopping member provided on the apparatus main body, and a locking member provided on said sheet cassette to lock on said stopping member. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4. 6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said stopping member or said locking member is provided so as to be movable in a drawing direction of said sheet cassette. 7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of said stopping members or said locking members are provided in a drawing direction of said sheet cassette. 8. The longest size is A3 size or LDR
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus has a size. 9. An image forming apparatus for replenishing sheets by pulling out a sheet cassette for storing sheets from the apparatus main body, wherein when the sheet cassette is pulled out, the size of the sheets stored in the sheet cassette is reduced. An image forming apparatus comprising: a stopping means for stopping the movement of the sheet feeding cassette at a corresponding drawer amount. 10. The stopping means comprises a stopping member provided on the apparatus main body, and a locking member provided on the paper feed cassette and locking the stopping member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the image forming apparatus is movably provided in accordance with a size of a sheet stored in a paper cassette. 11. The paper feed cassette according to claim 10, further comprising a regulating member for regulating a sheet end opposite to the drawing direction, wherein the locking member is interlocked with the regulating member. Image forming apparatus. 12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said locking member is formed integrally with said regulating member.