JP2008222420A - Paper feeder in image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an easy and space-saving structure in a slide system of a cassette cover for preventing the generation of unnecessary resistance when attaching and detaching a paper feeding cassette by facilitating the maintenance work of the cassette cover by miniaturizing a body, in an image forming device using the slide system of the cassette cover. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device is provided with the cassette cover protrusively arranged so as to be retreative by interlocking with attachment-detachment of a paper feeding cassette. The interlocking structure by a shaft energized to the cassette cover side by a compression spring is arranged so as to be interlocked by the cassette cover and inner rails arranged on both side surfaces of the cassette cover and the paper feeding cassette as a guide when attaching and detaching the paper feeding cassette. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to the protruding portion of the paper feed cassette in the image forming apparatus that uses paper longer than the main body device such as a printer and a copying machine, and the exposed portion on the upper surface of the paper feed cassette in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the paper feed cassette. The present invention relates to a sheet feeding cassette having an easy and space-saving structure for completely covering, and an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a paper feeding cassette device that stores paper used in an image forming apparatus in the above-described removable paper feeding cassette has been widely used. In the paper feeding cassette device, when paper is replenished or replaced with paper of a different size, the paper feeding cassette is pulled out from the main body of the device, and paper is replenished or exchanged. In this type of paper feeding device, a cassette cover is provided on the paper feeding cassette side above the portion of the paper feeding cassette that protrudes from the main body of the image forming device in order to prevent moisture from the paper and prevent foreign matter from falling. It is attached.

  In a conventional paper feed cassette having a structure in which the cassette cover can completely cover the exposed portion of the upper surface of the paper feed cassette in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the paper feed cassette, There are springs that are always urged in the direction of immersion in the main body and protrusions that engage with the paper feed cassette (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Hereinafter, a conventional cassette cover will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 13, the cassette cover 9 covers the upper side of the portion of the paper feed cassette 8 that protrudes from the main body (not shown), and engages with the main body (not shown) in a position that covers the upper side of the paper feed cassette 8. And are biased by a spring 11 in a direction of immersing in a main body (not shown). At the front end of the cassette cover 9, there is provided an abutting portion 9-2 that abuts and engages with the front end of the paper feed cassette 8, and a stopper 10 on the main body side 10 is provided at the upper end of the base end. 1 is provided.

  In the above configuration, in a state where the paper feed cassette 8 is not inserted, the cassette cover 9 is pulled by the spring 11 and is inserted into a main body (not shown). When the paper feed cassette 8 is inserted into a main body (not shown), the front end of the paper feed cassette 8 abuts against the abutting portion 9-2 of the cassette cover 9 which is in a state of being immersed in the main body (not shown). The sheet cassette 8 is moved against the spring 11 in the protruding direction. The cassette cover 9 covers the upper side of a portion protruding from the main body (not shown) of the paper feed cassette 8 in the insertion end state. By pulling out the paper feed cassette 8, the cassette cover 9 is pulled by the spring 11 and immersed in a main body (not shown).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the cassette cover 9 is provided with protrusions 9-3a and 9-3b on the inner surfaces on both sides in the direction perpendicular to the protruding and retracting direction. On the other hand, concave portions 8-1a and 8-1b that engage with the projections 9-3a and 9-3b of the cassette cover 9 are provided on the outer surfaces on both sides in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 8.

  When the paper feed cassette 8 is inserted into a main body (not shown), the front end of the paper feed cassette 8 interferes with the projections 9-3a and 9-3b of the cassette cover 9, and the cassette cover 9 is pushed by the paper cassette. Move in the protruding direction. Then, the abutting stopper 9-1 provided on the cassette cover 9 shown in FIG. 13 abuts on a not-shown main body side projecting direction end positioning stopper, and further projection is stopped. When the cassette cover 9 abuts on a main body side protruding direction end positioning stopper (not shown) and stops further protruding, when the paper cassette 8 moves in the insertion direction, The cassette cover 9 is elastically deformed, and as shown in FIG. 15, the projections 9-3a and 9-3b provided on the cassette cover 9 are connected to the recesses 8-1a and 8-1b of the paper feed cassette. The paper cassette is engaged with the main body (not shown).

When the paper feed cassette 8 is pulled out, the cassette cover 9 is fixed to the projections 9-3a and 9-3b of the cassette cover 9 and the recesses 8-1a and 8-1b of the paper feed cassette 8 until the paper cassette 8 is pulled out. Is moved in the immersion direction following the paper feed cassette 8. Then, the contact stopper 9-1 provided on the cassette cover 9 shown in FIG. 13 contacts the stopper 10-1, which is the positioning in the immersion direction on the main body side 10, and further immersion is stopped. . Then, by further pulling out the paper feed cassette 8 from this state, the protrusions 9-3a and 9-3b from the recesses 8-1a and 8-1b of the paper feed cassette 8 become the paper feed cassette 8 and the cassette cover 9. The cassette cover 9 is in an immersive state and the paper feed cassette 8 is pulled out as it is.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-133498

  However, in the slide type of the cassette cover as in the conventional example, the cassette cover, a spring that urges the cassette cover in a direction to be immersed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and the cassette cover and the spring engage with each other. Depending on the configuration of the engaging portion for the purpose, the height of the image forming apparatus main body becomes higher and the size of the image forming apparatus increases. Not only that, but these structures are located inside the main unit and below the printing unit and transport unit, and are difficult to perform maintenance work. Problems also arise. In addition, since the method for engaging the paper feed cassette and the cassette cover is performed by elastic deformation, there is a problem that unnecessary resistance is generated when the paper feed cassette is attached or detached. In an image forming apparatus that employs such a cassette cover slide system, the main body can be downsized, the maintenance of the cassette cover can be simplified, and unnecessary resistance can be reduced when the paper cassette is attached or detached. In order to prevent the occurrence of this problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide an easy and space-saving structure in the slide method of the cassette cover.

  As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the image forming apparatus provided with a cassette cover that can be freely moved in and out in conjunction with attachment / detachment of the paper feed cassette according to the present invention, the cassette cover side is interlocked by a shaft biased by a compression spring. By providing the structure such that the cassette cover and the inner rail provided on both sides of the cassette cover and the paper feed cassette are interlocked with each other as a guide when the paper feed cassette is attached and detached. The forming apparatus main body is reduced in size, facilitates maintenance work, and does not cause unnecessary resistance to the cassette cover and the paper feed cassette when the paper feed cassette is attached / detached. .

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a portion of the paper feeding cassette that protrudes from the image forming apparatus main body when the paper feeding cassette having a sheet having a size longer than that of the image forming apparatus main body is inserted or pulled out. According to the paper feed device in which the cassette cover is provided with a structure that moves in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the paper feed cassette, a compression spring is provided on the shaft portion where the interlock structure of the cassette cover is arranged, and the shaft can slide. When the cassette cover is stored and pulled in conjunction with the paper feed cassette, there is no resistance to the cassette cover and the paper feed cassette, and an interlocking structure is arranged in the cassette cover. Maintenance work is simplified, and an increase in size of the image forming apparatus main body can be prevented. Furthermore, a guide is provided on the inner rail, and the movement of the cassette cover when interlocking with the paper feed cassette can be made smooth.

  Hereinafter, the mechanism in the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette that is longer than the main body of the image forming apparatus, in which an interlocking structure using a shaft biased by a compression spring is provided on the cassette cover of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of insertion of the paper feed cassette in the image forming apparatus in which the cassette cover according to the present invention is provided with an interlocking structure using the shaft biased by the compression spring. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main body shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state before the paper feed cassette and the cassette cover are engaged with each other during the insertion of the paper cassette having a long size from the image forming apparatus main body of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the details of the interlocking structure in the cassette cover of the present invention, taken along the line AA in the state of FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the paper feed cassette and the cassette cover are engaged in the middle of inserting the long paper feed cassette from the image forming apparatus main body of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing details of the paper feed cassette and the engaging portion of the cassette cover in the state of FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing details of the interlocking structure in the cassette cover of the present invention in the state of FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is an interlocking structure in the cassette cover of the present invention immediately after the state of FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the detail of. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the paper feed cassette and the cassette cover after the paper feed cassette having a longer size than that of the image forming apparatus main body in FIG. 3 is installed. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing details of the interlocking structure in the cassette cover of the present invention in the state of FIG. 3. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the image forming apparatus main body and when the paper cassette of the same or short size is mounted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed cassette 2 is composed of a cassette 2-1 and an extension cassette 2-2, and when paper having a size longer than that of the image forming apparatus main body (not shown) is set in the paper feed cassette 2. The extension cassette 2-2 slides and can be adapted to the paper size. When the paper feed cassette 2 having a paper size longer than that of the image forming apparatus main body (not shown) is attached to the image forming apparatus main body (not shown), the cassette cover 3 is illustrated with the paper feed cassette 2 being illustrated. It is possible to cover a range protruding outward from the main body of the image forming apparatus and to be interlocked with the paper feed cassette 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed cassette 2 is provided in the lower part of the image forming apparatus main body 1, and the paper feed cassette 2 is inserted by moving in the arrow X direction. In such an image forming apparatus, when the paper feed cassette 2 having a length longer than that of the image forming apparatus main body 1 is mounted, the paper feed cassette 2 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG. Projects outward.

  Next, in FIG. 4 to FIG. 11, the details of the interlocking structure with the paper feed cassette 2 provided on the cassette cover 3 and having a paper size longer than the image forming apparatus main body 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cassette placed in the extension cassette 2-2 in the middle of insertion in the direction of the arrow X of the paper feed cassette 2 provided with paper of a size longer than that of the image forming apparatus main body 1. In a state where the engaging portion 2-4 with the cover 3 is not engaged with the engaging portion 3-3 with the extension cassette 2-2 disposed on the cassette cover, the cassette cover 3 has the image. It is stored in the forming apparatus main body 1 and is in a stationary state. Details of the interlocking structure provided in the cassette cover 3 as viewed from the AA cross section in the above state will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft 5 includes shaft portions 5-3 and 5-4, and the shaft diameter of the shaft portion 5-3 is the same as the shaft diameter of the shaft hole 3-1 provided in the cassette cover 3. The shaft portion 5-4 has a smaller shaft diameter than that of the shaft hole 3-1 provided in the cassette cover 3. Furthermore, a shaft hole having the same shaft diameter as that of the shaft portion 5-4 (not shown) is also provided on the surface 3-2 of the shaft hole 3-1 provided in the cassette cover. By arranging the above structure and providing a compression spring 6 between the surface 5-3a of the shaft portion 5-3 and the surface 3-2 of the shaft hole 3-1 provided in the cassette cover 3, The shaft 5 is always urged in the direction of arrow V and is slidable. The shaft 5 that is constantly urged in the direction of the arrow V by the compression spring 6 is moved to an arrow by the urging force of the compression spring 6 by the E ring 7 provided in the shaft portion 5-4. The movement in the V direction is suppressed, and the contact portion 5-1 provided on the shaft portion 5-3 comes into contact with the concave portion 4-1 provided on the inner rail 4, so that the arrow X of the cassette cover 3 Movement in the direction is locked.

  As shown in FIG. 6, during the insertion of the paper feed cassette 2 having a paper size longer than that of the image forming apparatus main body 1 from the direction of the arrow X, and as shown in FIG. 2 at the moment when the engaging portion 2-4 with the cassette cover 3 and the engaging portion 3-3 with the extension cassette 2-2 disposed on the cassette cover 3 are engaged. In FIG. 6, the cassette cover 3 is housed in the image forming apparatus main body 1 as shown in FIG. The interlocking mechanism provided in the cassette cover 3 in the above state will be described below.

  8, the shaft 5 has a contact portion 5-1 provided on the shaft portion 5-3 in contact with a concave portion 4-1 provided on the inner rail 4, as in FIG. The movement of 3 is suppressed and locked. The cassette cage 2-1 has a contact portion 5 provided on the shaft portion 5-4 at a position on an extension line with respect to the normal direction of the shaft centers of the shaft 5-3 and the shaft 5-4. -2 is also provided with a recess 2-3 similar to the inner rail 4 so that -2 comes into contact with the cassette basket 2-1. After the extension cassette 2-2 and the cassette cover 3 are engaged as shown in FIG. 7, the cassette 2 is moved in the insertion direction in the direction of arrow X as shown in FIG. The cover 3 moves in conjunction with the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 2.

  An interlocking mechanism of the cassette cover 3 when the sheet feeding cassette 2 moves in conjunction with the cassette cover 3 will be described below.

  In FIG. 9, when the cassette cover 3 moves in conjunction with the paper feed cassette 2, the shaft 5 moves in the direction of the arrow X, whereby the shaft 5 is brought into contact with the shaft portion 5-3. -1 moves in the direction of the arrow X and the direction of the arrow V1 until it is completely pushed up by the slope of the recess 4-1 provided in the inner rail 4. When the abutting portion 5-1 provided on the shaft portion 5-3 is completely pushed up from the inclined surface of the concave portion 4-1 provided on the inner rail 4, the shaft 5 is shown in FIG. The contact surface 5-1b provided on the shaft portion 5-3 contacts the contact surface 4-2 provided on the inner rail 4, and the contact portion provided on the shaft portion 5-4. 5-2 comes into contact with the concave portion 2-3 provided in the cassette basket 2-1. As shown in FIG. 7, the extension cassette 2-2 and the cassette cover 3 are engaged with each other, and a contact portion 5-2 provided on the shaft 5 is provided on the cassette basket 2-1 as shown in FIG. The cassette cover 3 moves in the direction of arrow X in conjunction with the paper feed cassette 2 by abutting against the recessed portion 2-3. As shown in FIG. 11, in a state where the paper feed cassette 2 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 1, the cassette cover 3 is further moved by a contact stopper (not shown) provided on the inner rail 4. Protrusion is prevented.

  When the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out from the mounted state, the cassette cover 3 is moved to the movement of the paper feed cassette 2 while the shaft 5 and the cassette basket 2-1 are fitted to each other until the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out. In conjunction with this, the cassette cover 3 also moves in the immersion direction of the image forming apparatus main body 1. When the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out in the state of FIG. 6, the shaft 5 fitted to the cassette cage 2-1 is gradually moved by the biasing force of the compression spring 6 in the arrow V direction as shown in FIG. , Starts to move in the direction of the arrow Y, and as shown in FIG. 8, the shaft 5 is fitted into the concave portion 4-1 provided in the inner rail 4, and a positioning stopper (not shown) provided in the inner rail 4. This prevents the cassette cover 3 from moving in the immersion direction.

  After the movement of the cassette cover 3 is prevented, only the paper feed cassette 2 moves in the drawing direction, that is, the X direction, as shown in FIG.

  When the paper provided in the paper feed cassette 2 is the same size or short size as the image forming apparatus main body 1, the paper feed cassette 2 is formed by the cassette basket 2-1 and the extension cover 2-2. The length of the paper feed cassette 2 is substantially the same as that of the image forming apparatus main body 1, and even if the paper feed cassette 2 is completely attached to the image forming apparatus main body 1, as shown in FIG. There is no portion protruding from the main body, and the cassette cover 3 includes an engaging portion 2-4 provided on the extension cover 2-2 and an engaging portion 3 provided on the cassette cover 3 as shown in FIG. 3 is engaged with the image forming apparatus main body 1 only by engagement.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, when inserting or pulling out a paper feed cassette having a size longer than that of the image forming apparatus main body, The paper feed device provided with a structure that moves in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the paper feed cassette on the cassette cover that covers the portion protruding from the image forming apparatus main body is compressed to the shaft portion provided with the interlock structure of the cassette cover. By providing a spring and allowing the shaft to slide, there is no resistance to the cassette cover and the paper feed cassette when the cassette cover is stored and pulled in conjunction with the paper feed cassette, and an interlocking structure is provided. By arranging the cassette cover, the maintenance work is simplified, and the enlargement of the main body of the image forming apparatus can be prevented. Furthermore, a guide is provided on the inner rail, and the movement of the cassette cover when interlocking with the paper feed cassette can be made smooth.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette having a longer size than the image forming apparatus main body provided with the cassette cover of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of insertion of a paper feed cassette in an image forming apparatus in which a cassette cover according to the present invention is provided with an interlocking structure using a shaft biased by a compression spring. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a paper cassette having a long size is mounted from the image forming apparatus main body shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state before an engagement between a paper feed cassette and a cassette cover in the middle of insertion of a long-size paper feed cassette from the image forming apparatus main body of FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing which showed the detail of the interlocking | linkage structure in the cassette cover of this invention of the AA cross section in the state of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a paper feed cassette and a cassette cover are engaged when a long paper feed cassette is being inserted from the image forming apparatus main body of FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing details of a paper feed cassette and an engaging portion of a cassette cover in the state of FIG. 6. It is sectional drawing which showed the detail of the interlocking | linkage structure in the cassette cover of this invention in the state of FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the detail of the interlocking | linkage structure in the cassette cover of this invention immediately after the state of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of a paper feed cassette and a cassette cover after a long-size paper feed cassette is mounted from the image forming apparatus main body in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing which showed the detail of the interlocking | linkage structure in the cassette cover of this invention in the state of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the image forming apparatus main body and a paper cassette mounted with the same or short size. It is sectional drawing which shows the state after mounting | wearing with the long sized paper feeding cassette in a prior art example from a side surface. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in the middle of insertion of the long-sized paper feed cassette in a prior art example. It is sectional drawing which shows the state after mounting | wearing with the long-sized paper feed cassette in a prior art example from an upper surface.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus main body 2 Paper feed cassette 2-1 Cassette cage 2-2 Extension cassette 2-3 Recess 2-4 Engagement part 3 Cassette cover 3-1 Shaft hole 3-2 Surface 3-3 Engagement part 4 Inner rail 4-1 Concave portion 5 Axis 5-1 Contact portion 5-1a Contact surface 5-2 Contact portion 5-3 Shaft portion 5-3a surface 5-4 Shaft portion 6 Compression spring 7 E-ring 8 Paper feed cassette 8- DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a Recessed part 8-1b Recessed part 9 Cassette cover 9-1 Contact stopper 9-2 Abutting part 9-3a Projection 9-3b Projection 10 Main body side 10-1 Stopper 11 Spring

Claims (1)

  In an image forming apparatus capable of mounting a paper feed cassette loaded with paper longer than the main body device, the compression cassette is arranged on both side surfaces of a cassette cover that covers the paper feed cassette that protrudes from the main body device and covers the upper portion. When the shaft member urged to the outside of the both side surfaces by the engagement means is used as an engaging means, the cassette cover and the cassette cover serving as a guide when the paper cassette is attached to or detached from the main body and the paper cassette An image forming apparatus, wherein the cassette cover is arranged so as to be able to protrude and retract with respect to the main body device in conjunction with an unevenness provided on an inner rail provided in the vicinity of the outer sides of both sides.

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