JP2007238282A - Paper feed tray and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent rotation of a paper feed tray with recording paper placed on the paper feed tray, and damage of the recording paper, in an image forming device having the rotatable paper feed tray. <P>SOLUTION: The paper feed tray 2 is rotatably journaled to a lower part of an opening part 10a of the image forming device 1. On a placement face 5 of the paper feed tray 2, a lock lever 3 having an engagement part 3a and a resin spring 3d abutting on a stopper part 2e of the paper feed tray 2 is slidably arranged while energized toward the opening part 10a by the resin spring 3d. A lock boss 10b is formed in a position corresponding to the lock lever 3 in the lower part of the opening part 10a. When the paper feed tray 2 is in the opened state, the engagement part 3a of the lock lever 3 is engaged with the lock boss 10b by the energizing force of the resin spring 3d and the paper feed tray 2 is locked so as not to be rotated with respect to a casing 10. When the lock lever 3 is slid to the front side of the casing 10 and the engagement of the engagement part 3a with the lock boss 10b is released, rotation of the paper feed tray 2 is enabled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed tray rotatably attached to a housing.

  In an image forming apparatus that forms an image on recording paper, as described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, for example, a paper feed tray on which recording paper is placed is rotatably attached to a housing. There are things with different configurations. Such an image forming apparatus has an advantage that the apparatus can be stored compactly because, for example, when not in use, the sheet feeding tray can be stood against the housing. When the image forming apparatus is used, in order to feed the recording paper from the paper feeding tray, the paper feeding tray is rotated so that the recording paper can be placed. The recording paper is placed on the paper feed tray, for example, with one end inserted into the paper feed slot.

  However, in such an image forming apparatus having a paper feed tray that is rotatably attached, the paper feed tray rotates due to, for example, an erroneous operation by the user even when the recording paper is placed on the paper feed tray. There is a problem that the recording paper is damaged. In other words, when the paper feed tray rotates, it is folded with one end of the recording paper inserted into the paper feed slot, and the recording paper is creased or wrinkled, or is sandwiched between the housing and the paper feed tray. May be damaged. The damaged recording paper may cause troubles such as a paper jam at the time of image formation, and image formation cannot be performed satisfactorily, so that it cannot be used for image formation thereafter.

  Here, in Patent Document 1, in an image forming apparatus in which a manual tray is pivotally supported by a manual paper feed unit of a housing so as to be freely opened and closed, an engagement claw and an engaging claw are associated with a hinge mechanism that pivotally supports the manual tray. The thing provided with the lock mechanism comprised by the joint part is described. In this image forming apparatus, when the manual feed tray is in an open state, the engaging claw is engaged with the engaging portion, and the manual feed tray is prevented from rotating due to the frictional force of the recording paper to be fed. That is, since the engaging claw can be freely engaged with and disengaged from the engaging portion, the manual feed tray rotates when an external force is applied even when the recording paper is placed. Therefore, such a locking mechanism cannot solve the above-described problems.

In Patent Document 2, the width guide of the recording paper on the paper feed tray is moved to a predetermined position on the side of the paper feed tray by projecting an abutting member in the housing portion that houses the paper feed tray. An image forming apparatus that can store a paper feed tray only in a state is described. This image forming apparatus prevents the paper feed tray from being stored while the width guide is not in the proper position, and prevents troubles such as the paper feed tray being opened when the paper feed tray is not used. To do. Patent Document 3 describes an image forming apparatus in which a paper feed tray can be detached from a casing when an overload is applied to the paper feed tray. However, neither Patent Document 2 nor Patent Document 3 describes an effective solution for the above-described problems.
JP 2002-114410 A JP-A-2005-177892 JP 7-309454 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the recording paper from being damaged by rotating the paper feed tray in a state where the recording paper is placed. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing having an opening at a lower portion of the front surface and a front side of the opening, and the recording paper is placed substantially horizontally between the upper surface and the lower surface of the opening. A paper feed tray that constitutes the placement surface to be placed, a recording paper transport mechanism that transports the recording paper placed on the placement surface into the housing, and a recording paper transported by the recording paper transport mechanism An image forming unit for forming an image, and the paper feed tray is pivotally supported below the opening so that the rotation shaft is substantially horizontal, and the recording paper is placed on the placement surface. In the image forming apparatus, the upper surface is substantially horizontal and the upper surface is substantially vertical and the image forming apparatus is configured to be pivotable from a closed state to cover the opening. Slide in the direction that is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis on the part that will be the mounting surface on the upper surface of the tray. A resin plate-like lock lever arranged in a possible manner, and the housing includes a lock boss protruding at a position corresponding to the lock lever at a front end portion of the opening, The tray has a stopper portion integrally provided with the paper feed tray below the lock lever, and the lock lever is formed at an end near the opening so as to be engageable with the lock boss. And a resin spring molded integrally with the lock lever body on the lower surface of the lock lever body so as to abut against the stopper and urge the lock lever body toward the opening. A through hole provided above the spring so that the shape of the lock lever when viewed from above is substantially the same as the shape of the resin spring; and the resin spring has a width direction of the lock lever. Wires erected on A support part that is connected to the end of the through hole at both ends in the width direction, a contact part that is located at a substantially central part in the width direction and that contacts the stopper part, and the contact part and the support part A flexible portion formed so as to be connected to each other, and configured so that the lock lever main body can be biased by a restoring force of the flexible portion which is bent by the contact portion and the stopper portion being in contact with each other When the paper feed tray is in an open state, the lock lever is biased by the biasing force of the resin spring, and the engaging portion engages with the lock boss, thereby the paper tray is When the paper feed tray is locked, the abutment portion and the stopper portion abut against each other by sliding the lock lever toward the front of the housing. The engagement between the engagement portion and the lock boss is released while the bending portion is bent. The paper feed tray can be rotated in the closed state, and the paper feed tray can be prevented from rotating and being damaged in a state in which the recording paper is placed. The lock lever is configured to abut against the lock boss by a biasing force of a resin spring when the paper feed tray is in a closed state, and the paper feed tray is closed by a frictional force between the lock lever and the lock boss. It is configured to be held in a state.

  The invention of claim 2 is pivotally supported by the housing, and feeds the recording paper placed on the paper feeding tray and the recording paper placed on the paper feeding tray into the housing. In an image forming apparatus including a recording paper transport mechanism and an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording paper transported by the recording paper transport mechanism, recording is performed on a portion of the paper feed tray on which the recording paper is placed. A lock lever that is slidable in the paper feeding direction; and a biasing mechanism that biases the lock lever toward the housing. The housing is provided at a position corresponding to the lock lever. The lock lever has an engagement portion formed to be engageable with the lock boss, and the lock lever is urged by the urging mechanism to urge the paper feed tray. When the joint engages with the lock boss, When the paper feed tray is locked, the lock lever is slid in a direction opposite to the direction urged by the urging mechanism, thereby The engagement with the lock boss is released, and the paper feed tray is configured to be rotatable.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the urging mechanism includes a stopper portion integrally formed with the paper feed tray below the lock lever of the paper feed tray, and a lock lever body. When the lock lever is arranged on the paper feed tray, the resin spring is configured by a resin spring that abuts against the stopper portion and bends to generate an urging force.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the paper feed tray is in the open state, the engagement portion of the lock lever disposed on the recording paper placing surface engages with the lock boss of the housing, whereby the paper feed tray Is locked against rotation with respect to the housing. Since the paper feed tray cannot be rotated unless the recording lever is slid by releasing the engagement between the engaging portion and the lock boss when the recording paper is not placed, the recording paper is placed. It is possible to prevent the paper feed tray from rotating in the state. The lock lever is urged so that the engaging portion engages with the lock boss by a resin spring that contacts the stopper portion of the paper feed tray, so that the paper feed tray can be securely held in a locked state. It is. Since the paper feed tray can be automatically locked when the paper feed tray is opened, the image forming apparatus can be handled easily. As a result, the paper feed tray is not inadvertently closed while the recording paper is placed on the paper feed tray, so that the recording paper can be prevented from being damaged.

  Furthermore, since this resin spring is integrally molded with the lock lever body and the stopper portion is integrally provided on the paper feed tray, the number of parts is reduced, and an increase in manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus can be suppressed. Is possible. In addition, since the resin spring has substantially the same shape as the through hole, the lock lever can be formed using a simple mold, and an increase in the manufacturing cost of the lock lever can be suppressed. Further, when the paper feed tray is in the closed state, the lock lever abuts against the lock boss, and the paper feed tray is held in the closed state by the frictional force between the lock lever and the lock boss. It is possible to prevent the sheet feeding tray from rotating from the closed state without applying external force, and the image forming apparatus can be handled more easily.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the engagement portion of the lock lever disposed at the portion on which the recording paper is placed and the lock boss are engaged so that the paper feed tray is not rotated with respect to the housing. Since it can be locked, similarly to the above, it is possible to prevent the recording paper from being damaged by rotating the paper feed tray in a state where the recording paper is placed. Further, since the lock lever is urged by the urging mechanism so that the engaging portion engages with the lock boss, the lock lever can be reliably held in a locked state. Since the urging mechanism is configured to urge the lock lever, the paper feed tray can be automatically locked, and the image forming apparatus can be handled easily.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the urging mechanism is constituted by the stopper portion protruding integrally with the paper feed tray and the resin spring molded integrally with the lock lever body. It is possible to reduce the number of parts, and it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a laser beam printer, and includes a paper feed tray 2 on which a recording paper P is placed, to which a lock lever 3 is attached, and a paper discharge unit 15 provided in an upper portion of a housing 10. And. The image forming apparatus 1 is used by being connected to, for example, an external personal computer and the like, and a function of forming an image on the recording paper P based on the image data by transmitting image data or the like from the personal computer or the like. Etc.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has an opening 10a in the lower part of the front surface. The paper feed tray 2 is attached to the front lower portion of the opening 10a so as to open and close the opening 10a so as to be rotatable as indicated by an arrow B in the figure. When the sheet feeding tray 2 is in an open state as shown in the drawing, the upper surface thereof and the lower surface of the opening 10a constitute a substantially horizontal placing surface 5. A guide member 13 for restricting the position of the side end portion of the recording paper P is disposed on the lower surface of the opening 10 a so as to be slidable in the width direction of the housing 10. In other words, in the present embodiment, the recording paper P is placed on the placement surface 5 in a state of being guided substantially horizontally by the guide member 13 so as not to be displaced. The placement surface 5 may be configured only on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 2.

  An image forming unit 11 that forms an image on the recording paper P is disposed inside the housing 10. In addition, the recording paper P placed on the placement surface 5 is transported to the image forming unit 11 inside the housing 10 inside the housing 10, and the recording paper P on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 11. The recording paper transport mechanism 12 is disposed on the paper discharge unit 15. In FIG. 1, a dotted arrow A indicates an example of a recording paper conveyance path of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming unit 11 forms an image on the recording paper P by, for example, electrophotography. That is, the image forming unit 11 irradiates the photosensitive drum with a laser beam to form a toner image, transfers the toner image to the recording paper P, and then heats the recording paper P with a hot roller while pinching it. The toner image is fixed on the recording paper P to form an image. The image forming method of the image forming unit 11 is not limited to this. For example, ink is ejected from the carriage onto the recording paper P while the carriage is reciprocated in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P. Alternatively, the image may be formed on the recording paper P by a so-called inkjet method.

  For example, the recording paper transport mechanism 12 transports the recording paper P placed on the placement surface 5 one by one and the recording paper P fed by the paper feeding roller to the image forming unit 11. It comprises a conveying roller for driving and a motor for driving these rollers and the like. Since the configuration of the recording paper transport mechanism 12 is well known, illustration is omitted.

  Next, the configuration in the vicinity of the portion of the image forming apparatus 1 to which the paper feed tray 2 is attached will be described. FIG. 2 shows the paper feed tray 2 and the lock lever 3 in an open state. 3A and 3B show the lock lever 3. FIG. The paper feed tray 2 and the lock lever 3 are each formed by integral molding of resin. The paper feed tray 2 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above, and a shaft support portion 2 a that is supported by the housing 10 is formed in the vicinity of both ends in the width direction (left-right direction) of one side. That is, the paper feed tray 2 is pivotally supported below the opening 10a so that the rotation axis is substantially horizontal. In the open state as shown in the figure, the upper surface is substantially horizontal and the recording paper P can be placed. As will be described later, the sheet feed tray 2 can be rotated from an open state to a closed state in which the upper surface is substantially vertical and covers the opening 10a. 1 is configured to be compactly installed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of ribs 2b are erected on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 2, and a placement surface 5 on which the recording paper P is placed is configured above the ribs 2b. The paper feed tray 2 is configured to be lightweight and highly rigid by providing the rib 2b. A slide groove 2c in which the lock lever 3 is disposed is formed at the center in the width direction of the paper feed tray 2 as described later. Holding protrusions 2d for holding the lock lever 3 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the slide groove 2c. In addition, the stopper portion 2e is erected at the center portion of the slide groove 2c so that the side cross section has a substantially trapezoidal shape so as to support the force applied to the front of the housing 10 at the upper portion. And the finger hook part 2f which has the notch part 2g is formed in the front-end part of the housing | casing 10 of the slide groove 2c so that it may dent below the slide groove 2c. This facilitates the operation of the lock lever 3 and the opening / closing operation of the paper feed tray 2 as will be described later. In addition, the shape of the slide groove 2c and the stopper part 2e, the presence or absence of the rib 2b, the finger hook part 2f, etc. are not restricted to this.

  The lock lever 3 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), one end of the lock lever 3 in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular shape extends so as to be bent downward from the lock lever 3 main body by a semicircular cutout. An engaging portion 3a having a shape is formed. A finger hooking hole 3 b is formed at the other end of the lock lever 3 in the longitudinal direction so as to penetrate the upper surface of the lock lever 3. On the upper surface of the lock lever 3, as shown in FIG. 3A, a through-hole 3c having a symmetrical shape with respect to a substantially center line in the width direction is formed. As shown in FIG. 3B, a resin spring 3d is formed below the through hole 3c on the lower surface of the lock lever 3 main body.

  The resin spring 3d is a linear member installed in the width direction of the lock lever 3, and is provided so that the shape of the lock lever 3 when viewed from the top is substantially the same as the through hole 3c. As shown in FIG. 3B, the resin spring 3d has both end portions in the width direction serving as support portions 3e connected to the end portions in the width direction of the through holes 3c, and the substantially central portion in the width direction is the upper surface. The contact portion 3f is shaped so as to protrude toward the finger hooking hole 3b in the longitudinal direction when viewed from the side. And the flexible part 3g is provided in the shape which becomes convex at the engaging part 3a side of a longitudinal direction seeing from the upper surface so that this contact part 3f and the support part 3e may be connected. That is, the resin spring 3d is configured to have a spring property so that when the contact portion 3f is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the lock lever 3, the flexible portion 3g bends to generate a restoring force. In the present embodiment, the lock lever 3 can be molded using a mold having a simple configuration. That is, since the upper surface of the resin spring 3d can be molded by a mold that molds the upper surface of the lock lever 3 body through the through hole 3c, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the lock lever 3 can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lock lever 3 is disposed on a portion of the upper surface of the paper feed tray 2 that becomes the placement surface 5. That is, the lock lever 3 is configured so that the longitudinal direction of the rectangular shape is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the paper feed tray 2 so that the engaging portion 3a faces the opening 10a side of the housing 10. The slide groove 2c is arranged substantially parallel to the upper surface of the paper feed tray 2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, in the lock lever 3, the bottom surface of the engaging portion 3a is in sliding contact with the top surface of the slide groove 2c, and both side end portions of the top surface of the lock lever 3 main body are regulated by the holding projection 2d. It is in a state. Thereby, the lock lever 3 is arranged to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the housing 10, that is, in the feeding direction of the recording paper P as indicated by an arrow C in the figure. At this time, the contact portion 3 f of the resin spring 3 d is configured to contact the stopper portion 2 e of the paper feed tray 2. Thereby, when the lock lever 3 is slid toward the front of the housing 10, the resin spring 3 d is restored when the contact portion 3 f contacts the stopper portion 2 e and the flexible portion 3 g bends. The main body of the lock lever 3 is urged toward the opening 10a by force. That is, in the present embodiment, the stopper portion 2e and the resin spring 3d constitute a biasing mechanism that biases the lock lever 3.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the front end of the bottom surface of the opening 10 a of the housing 10 protrudes in a semi-cylindrical shape in the front-rear direction of the housing 10, and the front end is formed in a hemispherical shape. A lock boss 10b is formed. As shown in the drawing, the lock boss 10b protrudes at a position corresponding to the engaging portion 3a of the lock boss 10b arranged on the paper feed tray 2 as described above. Then, an engagement groove 10c having a depth of, for example, about 1 mm is formed in the lock boss 10b so that a cutout shape on the semicircle of the engagement portion 3a is engaged with a height corresponding to the engagement portion 3a. Has been. That is, the engagement groove 10c of the lock boss 10b is formed so that the engagement portion 3a can be engaged. As shown in the figure, when the paper feed tray 2 is in the open state, the lock lever 3 is urged by the urging force of the resin spring 3d as described above, thereby engaging the engaging portion 3a in the engaging groove 10c. Are engaged. Thus, in the state where the engaging portion 3a is engaged with the engaging groove 10c, the engaging portion 3a is configured not to drop from the engaging groove 10c due to the urging force of the resin spring 3d. By engaging the engaging portion 3 a with the engaging groove 10 c in this manner, the lock lever 3 is fixed to the housing 10 with the upper surface of the lock lever 3 being substantially parallel to the placement surface 5. Accordingly, at this time, the paper feed tray 2 is locked so as not to rotate with respect to the housing 10.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, an operation when the recording paper P is placed on the placement surface 5 by opening and closing the paper feed tray 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the paper feed tray 2 is in the open state, the lock lever 3 is urged toward the opening 10a by the urging force of the resin spring 3d as shown by the black arrow D in the figure. The engaging portion 3a is engaged with and locked in the engaging groove 10c. In other words, when the user rotates the paper feed tray 2 from the closed state to open the upper surface substantially horizontally, the engaging portion 3a can be engaged with the engaging groove 10c, and the paper feed tray 2 is Locked automatically. Thus, when the paper feed tray 2 is in the locked open state, the substantially horizontal placement surface 5 is configured as described above, and the recording paper P can be placed on the placement surface 5. When the recording paper P is placed on the placing surface 5, the lock lever 3 is positioned below the recording paper P and cannot be operated from the outside.

  On the other hand, to close the paper feed tray 2 when the image forming apparatus 1 is not used, the user first removes the recording paper P from the placement surface 5. When the recording paper P is removed, the lock lever 3 can be operated from the outside. Next, after the recording paper P is not placed as described above, the finger hooking hole 3b is operated to slide the lock lever 3 toward the front of the housing 10. As a result, the engagement between the engagement portion 3a and the engagement groove 10c of the lock boss 10b is released in a state where the contact portion 3f of the resin spring portion 3d and the stopper portion 2e are in contact and the flexible portion 3g is bent. Thus, the paper feed tray 2 can be rotated. Then, the user turns the paper feed tray 2 in the closed state as shown in FIG. 5B by rotating the paper feed tray 2 in the direction of the white arrow E in the figure while keeping the lock lever 3 as it is. Can be. That is, in this embodiment, by removing the recording paper P from the paper feed tray 2, the lock lever 3 can be operated and slid, and the paper feed tray 2 can be closed.

  When the paper feed tray 2 is closed as described above, the lock lever 3 is urged toward the lock boss 10b as indicated by the black arrow F in the figure by the urging force of the resin spring 3d. At this time, the engaging portion 3a of the lock lever 3 comes into contact with the upper portion of the lock boss 10b. The sheet feeding tray 2 is configured to be held in a closed state without rotating freely when not operated by the user due to the frictional force between the engaging portion 3a and the lock boss 10b that are in contact with each other in this way. Has been.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the paper feed tray 2 disengages the engagement portion 3a and the engagement groove 10c by sliding the lock lever 3 when the recording paper P is not placed. Otherwise, it will not be able to rotate. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the paper feed tray 2 from rotating in a state where the recording paper P is placed. Further, since the lock lever 3 is biased by the resin spring 3d so that the engaging portion 3a engages with the engaging groove 10c, the lock lever 3 can be reliably held in a locked state. . Since the paper feed tray 2 can be automatically locked when the paper feed tray 2 is opened, the image forming apparatus 1 can be handled easily. As a result, since the paper feed tray 2 is not inadvertently closed in a state where the recording paper P is placed on the paper feed tray 2, it is possible to prevent the recording paper P from being damaged.

  Further, since the resin spring 3d is integrally formed with the lock lever 3 main body and the stopper portion 2e is integrally protruded from the paper feed tray 2, the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing cost of the image forming apparatus 1 is increased. Can be suppressed. When the paper feed tray 2 is in the closed state, the paper feed tray 2 is held in the closed state by the frictional force between the engaging portion 3a and the lock boss 10b that are in contact with each other. It is possible to prevent the sheet feeding tray 2 from rotating from the closed state without being added, and the image forming apparatus 1 can be handled more easily.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible suitably in the range which does not change the meaning of invention. For example, the configuration, position, shape, and the like of the lock lever 3, the lock boss 10b, or the biasing mechanism are not limited to those described above. That is, the lock lever 3 may be provided on the part of the paper feed tray 2 where the recording paper P is placed so as to slide in the paper feeding direction of the recording paper P and engage with the lock boss 10b. Further, the urging mechanism may be such that, for example, a resin spring formed on the paper feed tray 2 is bent by the lock lever 3, or for example, the paper feed tray 2 and the lock lever 3 are separate. The spring member may be arranged so as to apply a biasing force to the lock lever 3. Regardless of the configuration, the paper feed tray 2 rotates with the recording paper P placed thereon by locking the paper feed tray 2 by engaging the lock lever 3 with the lock boss 10b. It is possible to prevent the recording paper P from being damaged.

1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which shows the paper feed tray and lock lever of an apparatus same as the above. (A) is the perspective view seen from the upper direction of the same lock lever, (b) is the perspective view seen from the downward direction of the lock lever. The perspective view which shows the side cross section of the paper feed tray of the same apparatus, a lock lever, and a lock boss | hub. (A) is a sectional side view showing when the paper feed tray of the above apparatus is in an open state, and (b) is a side sectional view showing when the paper feed tray is in a closed state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Paper feed tray 2a Shaft support part (rotating shaft)
2e Stopper part (biasing mechanism)
3 Lock lever 3a Engagement part 3c Through hole 3d Resin spring (biasing mechanism)
3e support part 3f contact part 3g flexible part 5 mounting surface 10 housing 10a opening 10b lock boss 11 image forming part 12 recording paper transport mechanism P recording paper

Claims (3)

A housing having an opening at the front lower portion;
A paper feed tray that is attached to the front of the opening and that constitutes a placement surface on which a recording paper is placed substantially horizontally by an upper surface and a lower surface of the opening;
A recording paper transport mechanism for transporting the recording paper placed on the placement surface into the housing;
An image forming unit that forms an image on the recording paper conveyed by the recording paper conveyance mechanism;
The paper feed tray is pivotally supported below the opening so that the rotation shaft is substantially horizontal. When the recording paper is not placed on the placement surface, the upper surface is substantially horizontal and the recording paper is In the image forming apparatus configured to be rotatable from an openable state to a closed state where the upper surface is substantially vertical and covers the opening,
A resin plate-like lock lever arranged to be slidable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation shaft at a portion to be the placement surface of the upper surface of the paper feed tray,
The housing has a lock boss protruding at a position corresponding to the lock lever at the front end of the opening,
The paper feed tray has a stopper portion that projects integrally with the paper feed tray below the lock lever.
The lock lever abuts the engaging portion formed to be engageable with the lock boss at the end near the opening and the stopper, and biases the lock lever body toward the opening. A resin spring molded integrally with the lock lever main body on the lower surface of the lock lever main body, and a shape when the lock lever is viewed from the upper surface above the resin spring is substantially the same shape as the resin spring. Having a through hole provided,
The resin spring is a linear member laid in the width direction of the lock lever, and has a support portion connected to an end portion of the through hole at both ends in the width direction, and the stopper located at a substantially central portion in the width direction. And a flexible part formed so as to connect the abutting part and the support part, and the abutting part and the stopper part are abutted and bent. The lock lever body is configured to be biased by the restoring force of the flexible portion,
When the paper feed tray is open, the lock lever is biased by the biasing force of the resin spring, and the engaging portion engages with the lock boss, thereby rotating the paper feed tray with respect to the housing. When the paper feed tray is locked, by sliding the lock lever toward the front of the housing, the contact portion and the stopper portion come into contact with each other, and the flexible portion bends. In this state, the engagement between the engaging portion and the lock boss is released, the paper feed tray can be turned to the closed state, and the paper feed tray can be turned with the recording paper loaded. It is possible to prevent the recording paper from being damaged,
When the paper feed tray is in a closed state, the lock lever is configured to abut against the lock boss by a biasing force of a resin spring, and the paper feed tray is caused by a frictional force between the lock lever and the lock boss. An image forming apparatus configured to be held in a closed state. A paper feed tray that is pivotally supported by the housing and on which recording paper is placed;
A recording paper transport mechanism for transporting the recording paper placed on the paper feed tray into the housing;
In an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet conveyed by the recording sheet conveying mechanism,
A lock lever arranged to be slidable in the paper feeding direction of the recording paper and a biasing mechanism for biasing the lock lever toward the housing at a portion where the recording paper of the paper feeding tray is placed Prepared,
The housing has a lock boss provided at a position corresponding to the lock lever,
The lock lever has an engaging portion formed to be engageable with the lock boss,
The paper feed tray can be locked so as not to rotate with respect to the housing by the lock lever being urged by the urging mechanism and the engaging portion engaging the lock boss.
When the paper feed tray is locked, the engagement between the engagement portion and the lock boss is released by sliding the lock lever in a direction opposite to the direction biased by the biasing mechanism. An image forming apparatus, wherein the paper feed tray is configured to be rotatable. The biasing mechanism is
A stopper portion integrally provided with the paper feed tray below the lock lever of the paper feed tray;
It is integrally formed with the lock lever body, and when the lock lever is arranged on the paper feed tray, it is composed of a resin spring that generates a biasing force by abutting and bending against the stopper portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

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