JP2003276867A - Fixing method for cassette intermediate plate during physical distribution - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an eco-friendly design emitting no wastes such as packing members after an installation by substituting a cassette size indicator necessary for the installation for a lifter plate fixing member necessary for a physical distribution and unnecessary for the installation. <P>SOLUTION: This fixing method is so constituted that the cassette size indicator is provided with a hook part, a cassette body is provided with a fitting hole in a part corresponding to the hook part, and, when the cassette size indicator is locked in the fitting hole, the movement of the lifter plate is suppressed. In the installation, the size indicator is inserted into a display window of a cassette outer cover so as to make the lifter plate movable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for fixing a cassette inner plate at the time of distribution in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a cassette for accommodating a recording material is universal (a recording material of various sizes can be switched and fed from one cassette). is there. In this case, a display window is provided on the outer cover of the cassette so that the user can recognize which size of the recording material is currently contained, and the size index included in the cassette at the time of installation is inserted and replaced.

On the other hand, in the structure in which the bottom surface of the cassette is tilted by its own weight and is rotatably provided as a separate body from the bottom surface of the cassette, and has the middle plate for lifting up the loaded recording material, the middle plate is used at the time of distribution. There was a problem that the paper could not be fed normally during the installation due to the rampage in the cassette.

Therefore, conventionally, a cushioning member or a dedicated fixing member was placed on the intermediate plate at the time of factory shipment, and was removed by a service person when the user installed the apparatus.

[0005]

In recent years, as a part of environmental measures, for example, from the viewpoint of resource saving and reduction of dust, environmentally friendly product design (Design For)
Ecology) is sought.

However, as mentioned in the above-mentioned conventional example, the tapes and vinyl bags required for packing the size index, and the intermediate plate fixing member required only for distribution are discarded as recycled dust. However, it requires a considerable cost to crush and melt these materials to return them to the raw materials and to manufacture processed products again.

On the other hand, the cost is also increased from the viewpoint of the labor cost required for the packing process at the time of shipment by the factory worker or the installation process by the service person, and resources are wasted in various aspects. .

Further, a paper surface height sensor for detecting the uppermost sheet of the recording material on the intermediate plate during the lift up operation, and a lift up for stopping the lift up operation when the ON of the paper surface height sensor is detected. In the image forming apparatus equipped with the control mechanism, when the fixing member mentioned above is forgotten to be installed and the main body power is turned on, if the fixing member is displaced from directly below the sensor during distribution, the lift-up operation starts, and the middle plate and There was a problem that the main unit was damaged and normal paper feeding operation could not be performed.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cassette for accommodating a recording material in an image forming apparatus and a cassette which is foldable by its own weight on the bottom face of the cassette and is rotated separately from the bottom face of the cassette. An intermediate plate that is movably provided to lift up the loaded recording materials, and a cassette size index that is detachably provided to the cassette outer cover or the like and that displays the recording material size in the cassette, etc. In the image forming apparatus, a hook portion is provided on the cassette size index, a fitting hole is provided on the cassette body, and when the cassette size index is locked in the fitting hole, the middle plate is sandwiched between the cassette size index and the bottom surface of the cassette. The fitting hole is provided at a position where the rotation of the is suppressed. Further, a paper surface height sensor for detecting the uppermost recording material on the intermediate plate during the lift up operation, and a lift up control mechanism for stopping the lift up operation when the ON of the paper surface height sensor is detected. And the fitting hole is provided at a position where the paper height sensor is turned on by a part of the cassette size index when the cassette size index is locked in the fitting hole.

[0010]

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate plate fixing member which is necessary at the time of distribution and unnecessary at the time of installation, and is a cassette size index necessary at the time of installation. By providing engaging means for each of the cassette body and the size index at a position where the movement of the intermediate plate is suppressed so that it can be used as a substitute, there is no need to worry about dust during installation.

Further, since the labor cost in the above two steps can be reduced, it becomes possible to provide a low-priced product in consideration of the environment.

Further, even if the fixing member mentioned above is forgotten at the time of installation and the main body power is turned on, the size index is engaged immediately below the paper surface height sensor, and therefore a lift-up operation is not performed and an accident occurs. Can be prevented.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cassette middle plate fixed during distribution according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cassette middle plate movable during installation.

In the figure, 1 is a copying machine main body, 2 is a cassette for accommodating recording materials, 3 is a cassette exterior cover, 4 is an intermediate plate movably arranged with respect to the cassette 2, and 5 is a cassette. It is a size index for displaying the paper size inside.

The cassette 2 is constructed so that it can be pulled out from the main body 1 of the copying machine, and in FIGS. 1 and 2 it is shown in a pulled out state.

Further, the cassette exterior cover 3 is provided with a size index inlet 3a for inserting the size index 5 and a display window 3b.

A rotary shaft 4a is provided on the left side surface of the middle plate 4 in the drawing, and the middle plate 4 is vertically moved with respect to the cassette 2 by a lift mechanism (not shown) about the rotary shaft 4a. It is configured to be movable.

Although FIG. 1 shows the state where the intermediate plate 4 is lowered by its own weight, the intermediate plate 4 is in this state during distribution.
A fitting hole 2a is arranged on the side surface of the cassette 2 near the free end of the right side surface of the middle plate 4 so that the sheet does not float up due to vibration during transportation.

A hook portion 5a is provided on the side surface of the size index 5 at a position corresponding to the fitting hole 2a, and the size index 5 is slid and dropped from the left side in the drawing, and is sandwiched between the size index 5 and the cassette 2. The middle plate 4 is engaged so as to suppress the rotation thereof.

Further, when the cassette 2 is mounted on the main body 1 of the copying machine, a fitting hole 2a is provided so that the upper surface of the engaged size indicator 5 is located at the paper surface height sensor (not shown) of the main body. There is.

As described above, the free end of the intermediate plate 4 is pressed from above by the size index 5 at the time of shipping, and by mounting the cassette 2 on the copying machine main body 1, the upward movement is also suppressed.

Next, although FIG. 2 shows a state at the time of installation, the size index 5 is removed from the cassette 2 and dropped from the size index inlet 3a of the cassette outer cover 3.

The size index 5 abuts on the bottom surface of the display window 3b and is fixed while being sandwiched by the slit of the size index inlet 3a.

Further, in the present embodiment, a fitting hole for engaging the size index 5 is provided on the right side surface of the cassette 2, but, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a fitting hole is provided on the bottom surface of the cassette 2, The size index may be prevented from coming off with a cassette side regulation plate or the like.

That is, it is possible that the size index can surely prevent the middle plate from swaying during distribution, the size index fixing position is arranged directly below the sensor for controlling the lift-up, and the size index can be inserted into the display window at the time of installation. Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Engaging means for the cassette body and size indicator at positions where the movement of the intermediate plate is suppressed, so that the intermediate plate fixing member that is required during distribution and unnecessary during installation can be replaced with the cassette size indicator required during installation. By providing the device, there is no need to worry about producing dust during installation.

Further, since the labor cost in the above two steps can be reduced, it becomes possible to provide a low-priced product in consideration of the environment.

Further, by engaging the size index directly below the sensor for stopping the lift-up operation,
Even if the user forgets to take the size index at the time of installation and turns on the power of the main body, the lift-up operation is not performed and an accident can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cassette middle plate fixed during distribution according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention when the cassette middle plate is movable.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cassette middle plate fixed during distribution according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cassette for accommodating a recording material in an image forming apparatus, and a cassette which is foldable by its own weight on the bottom surface of the cassette and rotatably provided separately from the bottom surface of the cassette to lift up the stacked recording materials. For an image forming apparatus having an intermediate plate for, and a cassette size index for displaying the recording material size in the cassette, which is detachably provided on the cassette outer cover, etc., a hooking portion is provided on the cassette size index, A fitting hole is provided in the cassette body, and when the cassette size index is locked in the fitting hole, the fitting hole is provided at a position where it is sandwiched between the cassette size index and the bottom surface of the cassette to prevent the middle plate from rotating. A method of fixing the middle plate of the cassette during distribution, which is characterized by the fact that 2. A paper height sensor for detecting the uppermost sheet of recording material on the middle plate during the lift-up operation, and a lift-up for stopping the lift-up operation when the ON of the paper height sensor is detected. And a control mechanism, wherein the fitting hole is provided at a position where the paper height sensor is turned on by a part of the cassette size index when the cassette size index is locked in the fitting hole. The method for fixing the middle plate of the cassette described in 1 during distribution.