JP2007126263A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device capable of restraining paper jamming even when a paper feeding tray is obliquely installed. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device has the paper feeding tray 10 detachably installed in a device body 20, an elastically deformable engaging part 11d for fixing the paper feeding tray 10 to a paper feeding tray installing part 22 by projecting to the outside surface side of the paper feeding tray 10 and a paper receiving part 12 for moving paper 50 to a paper feeding position; and is constituted so that in a state of elastically deforming the engaging part 11d inside by being pressed to the paper feeding tray installing part 22, the engaging part 11d is positioned on an upper surface of the paper receiving part 12, and the paper receiving part 12 includes an extension part 12c extending up to the vicinity of the engaging part 11d, and a sensor part 26 is arranged in the paper feeding tray installing part 22, and the paper feeding tray installing part 22 includes a paper feeding tray engaging part 22c engaging with the engaging part 11d. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed tray that is detachably attached to an apparatus main body.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus including a paper feed tray that is detachably attached to an apparatus main body is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  In the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a protrusion is provided on the upper surface of the central portion of a paper feed tray that is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body, and a plate spring that is an elastic body is provided on the apparatus main body. When the paper feed tray is mounted, the protrusion of the paper feed tray engages with the leaf spring of the apparatus main body. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus having a structure in which the sheet feeding tray is pressed and fixed to the apparatus main body, and as a result, the sheet feeding tray is prevented from being mounted obliquely is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, a paper holder (paper feed tray) is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and in the structure having a paper holder side guide on the apparatus main body, a recess is provided on the side surface of the paper holder. An image forming apparatus is disclosed that positions a paper holder in a paper feeding direction with respect to a side guide by providing a convex portion on the side guide.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, a pair of mounting grooves for mounting a sheet pack on the apparatus main body, a side of a sheet pack (paper feed tray) that is detachably mounted on the image forming apparatus, and a storage in the sheet pack. There is disclosed a sheet pack provided with a push-up plate for urging the sheet to be fed to the feeding roller of the apparatus main body and a biasing spring for biasing the stored sheet.

JP 2004-262607 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-148747 JP 2004-83175 A

  However, in the structure described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since one protrusion provided on the upper surface of the central portion of the paper feed tray is fixed by pressing it with a leaf spring of the apparatus main body, the paper feed tray is It is fixed to the apparatus main body only at one place on the upper surface of the central portion of the paper feed tray. For this reason, it is difficult to completely prevent the paper feed tray from being mounted at an angle, and the paper feed tray may be mounted at an angle. If paper is fed in that case, the paper is transported in an oblique state, which causes a problem of causing paper jam in the apparatus main body.

  In addition, the structure described in Patent Document 2 has a disadvantage that the engagement between the side guide and the paper holder (paper feed tray) becomes unstable because there is no mechanism for suppressing the movement of the side guide. For this reason, when this engagement is released, the paper holder may be disposed obliquely with respect to the apparatus main body. If paper is fed in that case, the paper is transported in an oblique state, which causes a problem of causing paper jam in the apparatus main body.

  Further, in the structure described in Patent Document 3, a pair of groove portions are provided in the sheet pack in order to position the sheet pack (paper feed tray) with respect to the apparatus main body, and only one of the pair of groove portions is provided. It may engage with the device body. In that case, there is an inconvenience that the seat pack is mounted obliquely with respect to the apparatus main body. If paper is fed in that case, the paper is transported in an oblique state, which causes a problem of causing paper jam in the apparatus main body.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one object of the present invention is to suppress a paper jam or the like even when the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely. An image forming apparatus is provided.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a paper feed tray that is detachably attached to a paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and a paper feed tray that protrudes toward an outer surface side of the paper feed tray. An integrally deformable engaging portion for fixing the paper feed tray to the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and a lower surface of the paper stored in the paper feed tray attached to the paper feed tray. An image forming apparatus including a sheet receiving unit that supports and lifts a sheet to a sheet feeding position, and the sheet receiving unit integrally includes an extension that extends to the vicinity of the engaging portion of the sheet tray. The engaging portion is configured to be positioned on the upper surface of the extension portion of the paper receiving portion in a state where the engaging portion of the paper feeding tray is pressed by the paper feeding tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body and elastically deformed inward. In the paper tray mounting part of the main unit, the paper tray A sensor unit is provided in a region corresponding to one end side of the front surface to detect that the paper feed tray is mounted on the paper tray mounting unit of the main body of the apparatus. It is arranged so as to extend to the vicinity of the engaging portion located on the other end side of the front surface of the tray, and the paper feed tray mounting portion of the main body of the apparatus is a concave feed that engages with the engaging portion of the paper feed tray. Includes a paper tray engaging portion.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, as described above, the paper feed tray that is detachably attached to the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and the paper feed so as to protrude from the outer side surface of the paper feed tray. An engaging portion for fixing the tray to the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body is provided, and a paper receiving portion for raising the paper stored in the paper feed tray and moving it to the paper feed position is provided. By configuring the engaging portion of the paper feed tray to be positioned on the upper surface of the paper receiving portion in a state where the engaging portion of the tray is pressed by the paper tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body and elastically deformed inward, When the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely, the paper receiving portion and the engaging portion that is elastically deformed inward contact when the paper receiving portion moves upward at the start of the paper feeding operation. The raising operation of the receiving part can be stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the sheet from coming into contact with the sheet feeding roller, and it is possible to prevent sheet feeding. As a result, paper jams can be suppressed. Further, the sheet receiving portion is configured to integrally include an extension portion extending to the vicinity of the engagement portion of the sheet tray, so that the sheet feeding tray is inclined with respect to the apparatus main body without increasing the number of parts. When the paper tray is mounted, the engaging portion of the paper feed tray can be positioned on the upper surface of the extension portion of the paper receiving portion. In addition, a sensor that detects that the paper feed tray has been installed in the paper tray mounting part of the apparatus main body in an area corresponding to one end of the front side of the paper feed tray is provided in the paper tray mounting part of the apparatus main body. The sheet feeding tray is inclined toward the sensor unit side by arranging the extending portion of the sheet receiving portion so as to extend to the vicinity of the engaging portion located on the other end side of the front surface of the sheet feeding tray. In the case where the paper tray is mounted obliquely, the sensor section detects the mounting of the paper feed tray and starts the paper feeding operation. On the other end side opposite to the sensor section, the paper tray is engaged. Since the joint portion is elastically deformed to the inside of the paper feed tray, even if the paper receiving portion is raised by the start of the paper feeding operation, the paper receiving portion and the engaging portion are brought into contact with each other on the other end side, The paper feeding operation can be stopped. In addition, when the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely in a state opposite to the sensor unit side, the sensor unit does not detect the mounting of the paper feed tray because the paper feed tray does not exist within the detection range of the sensor unit. As a result, the sheet feeding operation can be prevented from starting. In addition, the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body is configured to include a concave paper feed tray engaging portion that engages with an outer engaging portion of the paper feed tray engaging portion, so that the paper feed tray can be normally operated. Is attached, the outer engagement portion of the engaging portion of the paper feed tray and the paper feed tray engaging portion of the apparatus main body are engaged. It is possible to prevent elastic deformation of the inside. On the other hand, when the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely, the outer engagement portion of the paper feed tray engaging portion is not engaged because the position is shifted from the paper feed tray engaging portion of the apparatus main body. Since it is brought into contact with the inner side surface of the apparatus main body, the engaging portion can be easily elastically deformed inside the paper feed tray and positioned on the upper surface of the paper receiving portion.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a paper feed tray that is detachably attached to a paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and a paper feed tray that protrudes toward an outer surface side of the paper feed tray. An integrally deformable engaging portion for fixing the paper feed tray to the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and a lower surface of the paper stored in the paper feed tray attached to the paper feed tray. A paper receiving portion that supports and raises the paper to move to a paper feeding position, and the engaging portion of the paper feeding tray is pressed by the paper feeding tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body and elastically deformed inward, The engaging portion is configured to be positioned on the upper surface of the paper receiving portion.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, as described above, the paper feed tray that is detachably attached to the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and the paper feed so as to protrude from the outer side surface of the paper feed tray. An engaging portion for fixing the tray to the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body is provided, and a paper receiving portion that is stored in the paper feed tray and moves the paper up to the paper feed position is provided. By configuring the engaging portion of the paper feed tray to be positioned on the upper surface of the paper receiving portion in a state where the engaging portion of the tray is pressed by the paper tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body and elastically deformed inward, When the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely, the paper receiving portion and the engaging portion that is elastically deformed inward contact when the paper receiving portion moves upward at the start of the paper feeding operation. The raising operation of the receiving part can be stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the sheet from coming into contact with the sheet feeding roller, and it is possible to prevent sheet feeding. As a result, paper jams can be suppressed.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, preferably, the sheet receiving unit is configured to integrally include an extension portion that extends to the vicinity of the engaging portion of the sheet tray. With this configuration, when the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely with respect to the apparatus main body without increasing the number of parts, the engaging portion of the paper feed tray is placed on the upper surface of the extension portion of the paper receiving portion. Can be positioned.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, it is preferable that the paper feed tray is provided in a region corresponding to one end side of the front surface of the paper feed tray in the paper feed tray mounting portion of the device main body. A sensor unit is provided for detecting that the tray is mounted on the tray mounting unit, and the extension of the paper receiving unit extends to the vicinity of the engaging unit located on the other end side of the front surface of the paper feed tray. Has been placed. According to this configuration, when the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely in a state of being tilted toward the sensor unit, the sensor unit detects that the paper feed tray is mounted and starts the paper feed operation. Since the engaging portion of the paper feed tray is elastically deformed to the inside of the paper feed tray on the other end side opposite to the paper feed portion, even if the paper receiving portion is raised by the start of the paper feed operation, the other end portion The sheet receiving portion and the engaging portion are brought into contact with each other on the side, so that the sheet feeding operation can be stopped. In addition, when the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely in a state opposite to the sensor unit side, the sensor unit does not detect the mounting of the paper feed tray because the paper feed tray does not exist within the detection range of the sensor unit. As a result, the sheet feeding operation can be prevented from starting.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, preferably, the engaging portion of the paper feed tray protrudes from the outer side surface of the paper feed tray and is engaged with the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body. And an inner abutting portion that protrudes to the inner surface side of the paper feed tray and extends to the vicinity of the paper receiving portion. With this configuration, when the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely with respect to the apparatus main body, the inner contact portion of the paper feed tray engaging portion is not increased in the paper receiving portion without increasing the number of parts. It can be located on the upper surface of the extension.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, it is preferable that the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body includes a concave paper feed tray engaging portion that engages with an outer engaging portion of the paper tray engaging portion. . With this configuration, when the paper feed tray is normally mounted, the outer engagement portion of the paper feed tray engaging portion and the paper feed tray engaging portion of the apparatus main body are engaged. The engaging portion of the paper feed tray can be prevented from being elastically deformed inside the paper feed tray. On the other hand, when the paper feed tray is mounted obliquely, the outer engagement portion of the paper feed tray engaging portion is not engaged because the position is shifted from the paper feed tray engaging portion of the apparatus main body. Since it is brought into contact with the inner side surface of the apparatus main body, the engaging portion can be easily elastically deformed inside the paper feed tray and positioned on the upper surface of the paper receiving portion.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 are perspective views showing a correspondence relationship between a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention and a paper feed tray. 3 to 6 are diagrams showing details of the structure of the paper feed tray according to the embodiment of the present invention. 7 to 11 are diagrams showing details when the paper feed tray is attached to the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment. 12 and 13 are perspective views showing the structure of a lifting member for pressing the paper against the paper feed roller during the paper feeding operation. First, the structure of the apparatus main body 20 and the paper feed tray 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a thermal transfer printer will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed tray 10 according to the present embodiment is configured to be detachably attached to the apparatus main body 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the paper feed tray 10 includes a lid member 13 (for suppressing dust and the like from adhering to the tray main body 11, the paper receiving portion 12, and the paper 50 (see FIG. 16)). 3). Further, the tray body 11 includes a paper receiving portion mounting portion 11a, a cutout portion 11b for a paper separation wall 22b described later, a cutout portion 11c for a push-up member 23 described later, and mounting of the paper feed tray 10. A pair of elastically deformable engaging portions 11d that sometimes engage with the apparatus main body 20, two convex portions 11e for aligning the position of the paper 50 (see FIG. 16), and biasing the paper to the convex portions 11e 11f, a guide portion 11g when the lid member 13 is mounted, and three ribs 11h extending in the paper feeding direction for supporting the paper 50 (see FIG. 16). Further, the engaging portion 11 d is provided integrally with the tray main body 11 of the paper feeding tray 10 so as to have an outer engaging portion that protrudes from the outer side surface of the tray main body 11 of the paper feeding tray 10.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the paper receiving portion 12 includes a tray mounting portion 12a for mounting on the tray main body 11, a concave portion 12b for receiving the paper separating wall 22b, and an extension portion 12c. The extension portion 12 c extends to the vicinity of an engaging portion 11 d located on the opposite side of the later-described sensor portion 26 of the paper feed tray 10, and is formed integrally with the paper receiving portion 12. When the paper feed tray 10 is mounted obliquely with respect to the apparatus main body 20, the engaging portion 11 d of the paper feed tray 10 is elastically deformed inward by being pressed by the apparatus main body 20, and the paper It is comprised so that it may be located on the upper surface of the extension part 12c of the receiving part 12. FIG.

  The lid member 13 has a tray main body engaging portion 13a that engages with the engaging portion 11d when mounted on the tray main body 11.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus main body 20 according to the present embodiment has a paper tray on which a metal chassis 21, a paper feed tray mounting unit 22, and paper 50 (see FIG. 16) are placed. The paper push-up member 23 that pushes the section 12 upward and presses the paper 50 against the paper feed roller 24, the rubber paper feed roller 24 for transporting the paper 50 into the printer, the paper feed roller gear 25, A sensor unit 26 for detecting that the paper tray 10 is mounted on the apparatus main body, a motor 27 for driving the paper feed roller 24, a print head 28 for printing an image on the paper 50, and the print head 28 And a motor 29 for driving the paper push-up member 23, a motor 27 and a motor bracket 30 for mounting the motor 29, and an ink sheet (not shown) are incorporated. Sheet cartridge 31, take-up reel 32 for taking up the ink sheet, swingable swing gear 33, intermediate gear 34 for transmitting the driving force of motor 27 to paper feed roller gear 25, and rubber A paper discharge roller 35 and a paper discharge roller gear 36 are provided.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the apparatus main body 20 according to the present embodiment includes a drive gear 37 (see FIG. 13) provided with a cam groove 37 a for driving the paper lifting member 23, and a motor 29. An intermediate gear 38 for transmitting the driving force to the driving gear 37 and a platen roller 39 (see FIG. 13) arranged to face the print head 28 are provided. As shown in FIG. 13, the platen roller 39 is rotatably supported by platen roller bearings 39 a attached to both side surfaces of the chassis 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 12, and 13, the chassis 21 is connected to the one side surface 21a, the other side surface 21b, the one side surface 21a, and the other side surface 21b to which the motor bracket 30 is attached. 21c. Further, an ink sheet cartridge insertion hole 21d for attaching an ink sheet cartridge 31 containing an ink sheet (not shown) is provided on the other side surface 21b of the chassis 21. A platen roller bearing 39a (see FIG. 13) for rotatably supporting both ends of the platen roller 39 is attached to the platen roller bearing mounting hole 21e (see FIG. 12). A paper feed roller bearing 24a (see FIG. 13) for rotatably supporting both ends of the paper feed roller 24 is attached to the paper feed roller bearing mounting hole 21f (see FIG. 12). Moreover, as shown in FIG. 12, the bottom surface 21c of the chassis 21 is provided with a fitting hole 21g into which the rotation shaft portion 23a of the push-up member 23 is fitted.

  In addition, the paper feed tray mounting unit 22 includes a pair of guide portions 22a for mounting the paper feed tray 10 on the apparatus main body 20, a pair of paper separation walls 22b for preventing double feeding of the paper 50, and a paper feed tray. When the paper tray 10 is mounted on the apparatus main body 20, the paper tray 10 has a pair of paper feed tray engaging portions 22 c that engage with the pair of engaging portions 11 d of the tray main body 11 of the paper feed tray 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the push-up member 23 presses the two rotating shaft portions 23a, the cam engaging portion 23b engaged with the cam groove 37a of the drive gear 37, and the paper receiving portion 12 upward. The pressing part 23c to be inserted and an insertion hole 23d to be inserted into the platen roller bearing 39a are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the insertion hole 23d of the push-up member 23 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the platen roller bearing 39a so that it does not come into contact with the platen roller bearing 39a when the push-up member 23 rotates. Have. The paper feed roller 24 is rotatably supported by a paper feed roller bearing 24a attached to the one side surface 21a and the other side 21b of the chassis 21. A paper feed roller gear 25 is attached to one end of the paper feed roller 24, and the paper feed roller 24 rotates as the paper feed roller gear 25 rotates.

  Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensor unit 26 is disposed in the vicinity of one end of the paper feed tray mounting unit 22. Moreover, the sensor part 26 has the projection part 26a. The sensor unit 26 recognizes that the paper feed tray 10 is mounted when the protrusion 26 a is pushed by the paper feed tray 10 in a state where the paper feed tray 10 is mounted on the apparatus main body 20.

  14 to 20 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the thermal transfer printer according to the present embodiment. A paper feeding operation of the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the paper feed tray 10 is mounted on the paper feed tray mounting portion 22 of the apparatus main body 20. 7 and 8 show a case where the paper feed tray 10 is normally inserted into the paper feed tray mounting portion 22 of the apparatus main body 20. In this case, the pair of left and right engaging portions 11d of the sheet feeding tray 10 and the pair of left and right sheet feeding tray engaging portions 22c of the apparatus main body 20 are engaged with both left and right sides, and the engaging portion 11d is elastically deformed. Not. Further, the protruding portion 26a of the sensor unit 26 is pushed in by the paper feed tray 10, and in this state, the sensor unit 26 recognizes that the paper feed tray 10 is mounted. On the other hand, FIGS. 9 and 10 show a case where the paper feed tray 10 is mounted obliquely in a state of being inclined toward the sensor unit 26 side. In this case, the engaging portion 11d of the paper feed tray 10 on the sensor unit 26 side and the paper feed tray engaging portion 22c of the apparatus main body 20 are engaged. On the other hand, on the side opposite to the sensor portion 26, the engaging portion 11d and the paper feed tray engaging portion 22c are not engaged with each other because the positions of the engaging portion 11d and the sheet feeding tray engaging portion 22c are not engaged. It is pressed and elastically deformed inward. Even in this state, the protruding portion 26a of the sensor unit 26 is pushed in by the paper feed tray 10, and the sensor unit 26 recognizes that the paper feed tray 10 is mounted. Further, FIG. 11 shows a case where the paper feed tray 10 is mounted obliquely in a state of being inclined to the side opposite to the sensor unit 26. In this case, the protruding portion 26a of the sensor unit 26 is not in contact with the paper feed tray 10, and the sensor unit 26 recognizes that the paper feed tray 10 is not attached. Accordingly, in this case, the paper feeding operation is not performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 15, when the paper feed tray 10 is normally attached to the paper feed tray attaching portion 22 of the apparatus main body 20, the state shown in FIG. 16 is obtained. In this state, the motor 29 (see FIG. 14) is driven. The driving force of the motor 29 rotates the driving gear 37 via the intermediate gear 38 (see FIG. 13). The rotation of the drive gear 37 is transmitted as a swinging force to the push-up member 23 by the cam 37a of the drive gear 37 and the cam engaging portion 23b (see FIG. 12) of the push-up member 23. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 17, the push-up member 23 is rotated in the B direction (upward) shown in FIG. 17 around the rotation shaft portion 23a. Since the pressing portion 23c of the push-up member 23 is positioned below the paper receiving portion 12 when the paper feed tray 10 is mounted, the paper receiving portion 12 is also turned into the tray mounting portion 12a by rotating the push-up member 23 upward. Is rotated in the direction C shown in FIG. As a result, the paper 50 placed on the paper receiving portion 12 is pushed upward.

  At this time, the motor 27 (see FIG. 14) is also driven, and the driving force of the motor 27 rotates the paper feed roller gear 25 in the direction A in FIG. As a result, the paper feed roller 24 is rotated in the direction A shown in FIG.

  The pushed-up paper 50 is pressed by the paper feed roller 24 rotating in the A direction as shown in FIG. Then, the paper 50 is conveyed into the apparatus main body 20 by the frictional force between the paper feed roller 24 and the paper 50.

  Here, in the apparatus main body 20 according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10, and 18, the paper feed tray 10 is inclined to the sensor unit 26 side with respect to the paper feed tray mounting part 22 of the apparatus main body 20. , The engaging portion 11d elastically deformed inside the paper feed tray 10 comes into contact with the extended portion 12c of the paper receiving portion 12 pushed up by the push-up member 23 as shown in FIG. Then, the movement of the sheet receiving portion 12 stops. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19, the paper 50 does not contact the paper feed roller 24 and is not fed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiment but by the scope of claims for patent, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent are included.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the thermal transfer printer is shown as an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus includes a paper feed tray that is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. If so, the present invention can be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as an ink jet printer and a laser printer other than the thermal transfer printer.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the example in which the engaging portion 11d is positioned on the upper surface of the extending portion of the paper receiving portion 12 in the state where the engaging portion 11d is elastically deformed by extending the paper receiving portion 12 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and unlike the first modified example shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the paper receiving portion 12 is not extended, and the engaging portion 11d protrudes to the inside of the paper feed tray 10. The inner contact portion 11i may be provided integrally. As a result, the inner contact portion 11i is elastically deformed inward while the sheet feeding tray 10 is mounted obliquely with respect to the apparatus main body 20 toward the sensor unit 26, and on the upper surface of the sheet receiving unit 12. Can be positioned. Further, as in the second modification shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the paper receiving portion 12 is extended, and the inner contact portion 11j that protrudes to the inside of the paper feed tray 10 is integrated with the engaging portion 11d. You may make it provide in. Also in this state, the inner contact portion 11j is elastically deformed inward in a state where the paper feed tray 10 is inclined and attached to the sensor body 26 side with respect to the apparatus main body 20, and the extension portion of the paper receiving portion 12 is thereby formed. It can be located on the top surface of 12d.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a correspondence relationship between a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention and a paper feed tray. 1 is a perspective view of a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention with a paper feed tray mounted. FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the paper feed tray by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the paper feed tray by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the paper feed tray by one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view around the engaging portion of FIG. 4 taken along the line 100-100 shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the case where the paper feed tray by one Embodiment of this invention is normally mounted | worn with the apparatus main body. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the engaging portion in FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a case where the sheet feeding tray according to the embodiment of the present invention is obliquely attached to the apparatus main body in a state where the sheet feeding tray is inclined to the sensor unit side. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view around the engaging portion of FIG. 9. It is a top view which shows the case where the paper feed tray by one Embodiment of this invention inclines in the apparatus main body in the state inclined in the opposite side to the sensor part. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the thermal transfer printer by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the thermal transfer printer by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a gear. FIG. 8 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 7 when a sheet is placed on a sheet feed tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an initial state of a paper feeding operation of the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along line 200-200 illustrated in FIG. 13. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the paper feeding operation | movement when the paper feed tray is normally mounted | worn with the apparatus main body of the thermal transfer printer by one Embodiment of this invention along the 200-200 line | wire shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 9 when a sheet is placed on a sheet feed tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. A description will be given of a sheet feeding operation when the sheet feeding tray is tilted toward the sensor unit and is obliquely attached to the apparatus body along the line 200-200 shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing for doing. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the detail of the raising member of the thermal transfer printer by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the paper feed tray of the thermal transfer printer by the 1st modification of this invention. FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the engaging portion in FIG. 21. It is a figure which shows the paper feed tray of the thermal transfer printer by the 2nd modification of this invention. FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the engaging portion in FIG. 23.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Paper feed tray 11d Engagement part 12 Paper receiving part 12c Extension part 20 Apparatus main body 22 Paper feed tray mounting part 22c Paper feed tray engagement part 26 Sensor part 50 Paper

Claims (6)

A paper feed tray that is detachably attached to a paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and is provided integrally with the paper feed tray so as to protrude to the outer surface side of the paper feed tray. An elastically deformable engaging portion for fixing to the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and attached to the paper feed tray to support the lower surface of the paper stored in the paper feed tray, and the paper In an image forming apparatus including a paper receiving portion that is moved up and moved to a paper feeding position,
The paper receiving portion integrally includes an extension extending to the vicinity of the engaging portion of the paper tray,
The engaging portion is positioned on the upper surface of the extension portion of the paper receiving portion in a state where the engaging portion of the paper feeding tray is pressed by the paper feeding tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body and elastically deformed inward. Composed of
The paper tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body detects that the paper tray is mounted on the paper tray mounting section of the device main body in an area corresponding to one end side of the front surface of the paper tray. Sensor part to be provided,
The extension part of the paper receiving part is disposed so as to extend to the vicinity of the engaging part located on the other end side of the front surface of the paper feed tray,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body includes a concave paper feed tray engaging portion with which the paper feed tray engaging portion is engaged. A paper feed tray that is detachably attached to a paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body,
An elastically deformable engagement provided integrally with the paper feed tray so as to protrude to the outer surface side of the paper feed tray and for fixing the paper feed tray to a paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body And
A sheet receiving portion that is attached to the sheet feeding tray and supports a lower surface of the sheet stored in the sheet feeding tray, and moves the sheet to a sheet feeding position.
The engaging portion is positioned on the upper surface of the paper receiving portion in a state where the engaging portion of the paper feeding tray is pressed by the paper feeding tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body and elastically deformed inward. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sheet receiving portion integrally includes an extension portion extending to the vicinity of the engaging portion of the paper tray. The paper tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body detects that the paper tray is mounted on the paper tray mounting section of the device main body in an area corresponding to one end side of the front surface of the paper tray. Sensor part to be provided,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the extension portion of the sheet receiving portion is arranged to extend to the vicinity of the engagement portion located on the other end side of the front surface of the paper feed tray.   The engaging portion of the sheet feeding tray projects to the outer side surface of the sheet feeding tray, and is disposed on the outer side engaging portion that engages with the sheet feeding tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body, and on the inner surface side of the sheet feeding tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an inner abutting portion that protrudes and extends to the vicinity of the sheet receiving portion.   The paper feed tray mounting portion of the apparatus main body includes a concave paper feed tray engaging portion that engages with an outer engaging portion of the engaging portion of the paper feed tray. The image forming apparatus described.

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