JP2016056019A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a gap between a paper feeding casette and a main body of an image forming device as much as possible without providing a movable member and an elastic member, downsize the main body, reduce costs and allow reduction of noise while maintaining proper operability.SOLUTION: A division line between a wall surface 60 of a paper feeding cassette 30 and a protruding portion 63 of a main body is inclined relative to an insertion/removal direction of the paper feeding cassette 30. As the division line is inclined, a gap S between the wall surface and the protruding portion widens when removing the paper feeding cassette 30. This can maintain proper operability. The division line functions as a guide when inserting the paper feeding cassette 30, and can minimize the gap when the paper feeding cassette 30 is set at a constant position, so as to prevent noise from leaking, which results in noise reduction. When an inclined part of the line is arranged across the whole length of a paper storage portion of the paper feeding cassette 30, regions may generate gaps can be further reduced, preventing sound from leaking.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of reducing noise while ensuring operability.

  Driving sounds of motors and gears generated during image formation and rubbing sounds during paper conveyance are recognized by the user as noise. In recent years, image forming apparatuses have been reduced in size, weight, and cost, and are increasingly installed in the vicinity of users. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for reducing noise. In order to reduce the noise, there are a method of identifying a noise source and suppressing the generation amount, and a method of closing a path leaking from the generation source to the outside of the main body. The latter method is particularly effective when the amount of noise sources generated cannot be suppressed.

  Further, in an image forming apparatus, in order to replace a sheet as an image forming body, it is common to provide a paper feed cassette configured to be drawable. However, in order to secure the detachability of the paper feed cassette, it is necessary to provide a certain gap between the image forming apparatus main body and the paper feed cassette. However, since noise leaks from the gap to the outside of the main body, it is important to close the gap as much as possible in order to reduce noise, and a configuration in which this gap is closed with an elastic member or a movable member is already known. .

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, if the gap between the paper feeding cassette and the image forming apparatus main body is made small, there is a problem that the paper feeding cassette comes into contact with the image forming apparatus main body when the paper feeding cassette is attached or detached, and the operability is deteriorated. Further, when the gap between the sheet feeding cassette and the image forming apparatus main body is closed with an elastic member, there is a problem that a shearing force acts on the elastic member when the sheet feeding cassette is attached or detached, resulting in wear or damage. Furthermore, when the gap between the paper feed cassette and the image forming apparatus main body is closed with a movable member, it is necessary to separately provide a movable part, which increases the number of parts and increases the cost, and further requires a space for installing the movable member. Therefore, there is a problem that this may hinder downsizing of the apparatus.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a movable convex portion (convex) provided in the image forming apparatus main body in a concave portion provided in the paper feeding cassette for the purpose of reducing sound leakage from a gap between the image forming apparatus main body and the paper feeding cassette. A configuration is disclosed in which a gap between the sheet feeding cassette and the main body is hermetically sealed by fitting an elastic member at the front end of the section. However, the above-described problems such as high operability and high cost due to an increase in parts and wear and breakage of the elastic member cannot be solved.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce noise while ensuring operability while minimizing a gap between a paper feed cassette and an image forming apparatus main body without providing a movable member or an elastic member.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes: an image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet; and a sheet feeding cassette that is detachably disposed in the image forming unit and supplies the sheet to the image forming unit. A dividing line of the side wall is formed on the side wall of the paper storage unit of the cassette, and the dividing line is inclined with respect to the insertion / extraction direction of the paper feeding cassette.

  According to the present invention, the gap between the paper feed cassette and the image forming apparatus main body is made as small as possible without providing a movable member or an elastic member, and the main body is reduced in size and cost, while maintaining good operability and noise. Can be reduced.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main body viewed from the sheet feeding cassette side in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating when a paper feed cassette is inserted and removed from the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating when a paper feed cassette is inserted and removed from the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus main body according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a sheet feeding cassette side, and a perspective view of the sheet feeding cassette. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating when a paper feed cassette is inserted and removed from the image forming apparatus main body of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating when a paper feed cassette is inserted and removed from the image forming apparatus main body of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of configurations of an image forming unit and a paper feed cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of configurations of an image forming unit and a paper feed cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of configurations of an image forming unit and a paper feed cassette according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of configurations of an image forming apparatus main body and a paper feed cassette according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present invention has the following characteristics in an image forming apparatus having a paper feed cassette in order to prevent noise leaking from a gap between the paper feed cassette and the image forming apparatus main body. In short, the dividing line between the outer periphery of the paper cassette and the image forming unit is an inclined part, and when the paper cassette is set at a fixed position, the gap between both inclined parts is minimized to reduce noise leakage. To do. Further, when inserting and removing the paper feed cassette, the gap between the two inclined portions is widened, and both the inclined portions maintain good operability without interference. These are the features.

  The features of the present invention described above will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably. Further, in this description, it is described as paper, but it is not limited to paper (paper), but also includes OHP sheets, fabrics, and the like, a medium to which a developer or ink can be attached, a recording medium, a recording medium, and a recording medium. It shall represent a sheet material including what is called paper, recording paper and the like. Furthermore, dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like in the description of each component are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described as a laser printer as an example.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes four process units 1K, 1Y, 1M, and 1C in an image forming unit. Then, this process unit outputs an image on a sheet by a developer of each color of black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) corresponding to the color separation component of the color image. Form.

Each process unit 1K, 1Y, 1M, and 1C has the same configuration except that it includes toner bottles 6K, 6Y, 6M, and 6C that store unused toners of different colors, and thus has one process unit 1K. The other process units 1Y, 1M, and 1C will not be described below.
The process unit 1K includes an image carrier 2K (for example, a photosensitive drum), a drum cleaning device 3K, a static eliminator (not shown), a charging device 4K, a developing device 5K, and the like. The process unit 1K is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 so that consumable parts can be replaced at the same time. The exposure device 7 is disposed above the process units 1K, 1Y, 1M, and 1C installed in the image forming apparatus 1. The exposure unit 7 is configured to emit laser light from the laser diode based on the image data.

  The transfer device 15 is disposed below the process units 1K, 1Y, 1M, and 1C installed in the image forming apparatus 1. The primary transfer rollers 19K, 19Y, 19M, and 19C are disposed in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 16 so as to face the image carriers 2K, 2Y, 2M, and 2C.

  The intermediate transfer belt 16 is looped around the primary transfer rollers 19K, 19Y, 19M, and 19C, the driving roller 18, and the driven roller 17.

  The secondary transfer roller 20 is disposed so as to face the driving roller 18 and contact the intermediate transfer belt 16. If the image carriers 2K, 2Y, 2M, and 2C are the first image carriers of the respective colors, the intermediate transfer belt 16 is a second image carrier that combines these images.

  The belt cleaning device 21 is installed on the downstream side of the secondary transfer roller 20 in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 16. Here, a cleaning backup roller (not shown) is provided on the side opposite to the belt cleaning device 21 with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 16.

  The paper feed cassette 30 is installed below the image forming apparatus 1 and can accommodate a large number of sheets P. The paper feed cassette 30 is detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus 1 for replenishing paper. The paper feed roller 30 a is provided above the paper feed cassette 30 installed in the image forming apparatus 1 and feeds the paper P from the paper feed cassette 30 toward the paper feed path 31.

  The timing roller pair 14 is disposed immediately upstream of the secondary transfer roller 20 with respect to the intermediate transfer belt 16 and can temporarily stop the paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 30. Then, the paper P once stopped by the timing roller pair 14 forms a slack. The sheet P on which the slackness is formed is sent to the secondary transfer nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 20 and the drive roller 18 in accordance with the timing at which the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 is suitably transferred. . Then, the fed paper P is configured such that the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 at the secondary transfer nip portion is transferred to a desired transfer position with high accuracy.

  The post-transfer conveyance path 33 is disposed above the secondary transfer nip portion of the secondary transfer roller 20 and the driving roller 18.

  The fixing device 34 is installed in the vicinity of the upper end of the post-transfer conveyance path 33. The fixing device 34 includes a fixing roller 34a containing a heat source such as a halogen lamp (not shown), and a pressure roller 34b that rotates while contacting the fixing roller 34a with a predetermined pressure. The post-fixing conveyance path 35 is disposed above the fixing device 34 and branches into a paper discharge path 36 and a reverse conveyance path 41 at the upper end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35. The switching member 42 is disposed at the branch portion and is driven to swing around the swing shaft 42a. The paper discharge roller pair 37 is disposed in the vicinity of the opening end of the paper discharge path 36. The reverse conveying path 41 merges with the sheet feeding path 31 at the other end with the branch portion. A reverse conveyance roller pair 43 is disposed in the middle of the reverse conveyance path 41. The paper discharge tray 44 on which the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit is discharged is installed in the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1 so as to form a concave shape inward of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The powder container 10 (for example, toner container) is disposed between the transfer device 15 and the paper feed cassette 30. The powder container 10 is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment requires a predetermined distance from the paper feed roller 30a to the secondary transfer roller 20 due to transfer paper conveyance. The powder container 10 is installed in the dead space generated at this distance to reduce the size of the entire image forming apparatus.

  The transfer cover 8 is installed above the paper feed cassette 30 and in front of the paper feed cassette in the drawing direction. The inside of the image forming apparatus 1 can be inspected by opening the transfer cover 8. The transfer cover 8 is provided with a manual paper feed roller 45 for manual paper feed and a manual tray 46 for manual paper feed. Further, a friction pad (not shown), a friction pad receiving base (not shown), a first biasing means (not shown), and a structure (not shown) which will be described later are provided in the vicinity of the manual feed roller 45. Is provided.

  Although the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention describes a laser printer, the present invention is not limited to this form, and any one of a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, a printing machine, and an inkjet recording apparatus, Alternatively, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus in which at least two of these are combined.

Next, the basic operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.
First, the case of performing single-sided printing will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed roller 30 a rotates in response to a paper feed signal from a control unit (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1. Then, the paper feed roller 30 a separates only the topmost paper P of the paper P stacked in the paper feed cassette 30 and sends it to the paper feed path 31. When the leading edge of the paper P delivered by the paper feed roller 30a reaches the secondary transfer nip portion of the timing roller pair 14, it forms a slack and waits in that state. Then, the optimum timing (synchronization) for transferring the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 to this sheet is achieved, and the leading edge skew of the sheet P is corrected. In the case of manual sheet feeding, the sheets stacked on the manual tray 46 of the manual sheet feeding cassette pass through a part of the reverse conveyance path 41 by the manual sheet feeding roller 45 to the secondary transfer nip portion of the timing roller pair 14. Be transported. Subsequent operations are the same as the paper feeding from the paper feeding cassette 30.

Here, regarding the image forming operation, one process unit 1K will be described, and description of the other process units 1Y, 1M, and 1C will be omitted.
First, the charging device 4K uniformly charges the surface of the image carrier 2K to a high potential. The exposure device 7 irradiates the surface of the image carrier 2K with a laser beam L based on the image data. Then, on the surface of the image carrier 2K irradiated with the laser beam L, the potential of the irradiated portion is lowered to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, the developing device 5K transfers the unused black toner supplied from the toner bottle 6K to the surface portion of the image carrier 2K on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The image carrier 2K to which the toner has been transferred forms (develops) a black toner image on the surface thereof. Then, the toner image formed on the image carrier 2K is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 16.

  The drum cleaning device 3K removes residual toner adhering to the surface of the image carrier 2K after the intermediate transfer process. The removed residual toner is sent to a waste toner container (not shown) in the process unit 1K and collected by a waste toner conveying means (not shown). Further, the static eliminator (not shown) neutralizes the residual charge of the image carrier 2K from which the residual toner has been removed by the drum cleaning device 3K.

  In the process units 1Y, 1M, and 1C for the respective colors, toner images are similarly formed on the image carriers 2Y, 2M, and 2C, and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 16 so as to overlap the color toner images.

  When the intermediate transfer belt 16 to which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred so as to overlap each other travels to the secondary transfer nip portion of the secondary transfer roller 20 and the driving roller 18, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16 is transferred to the timing roller pair 14. The image is transferred to the paper P sent out by. Here, the sheet P is sent to the secondary transfer nip portion in accordance with the timing at which the toner image formed by being superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 16 is suitably transferred. Then, on the fed paper P, the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 at the secondary transfer nip portion is transferred with high accuracy to a desired transfer position.

  The paper P on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 34 through the post-transfer conveyance path 33. The sheet P conveyed to the fixing device 34 is sandwiched between the fixing roller 34a and the pressure roller 34b, and the unfixed toner image is fixed by heating and pressing. The sheet P on which the toner image is fixed is sent out from the fixing device 34 to the post-fixing conveyance path 35.

  The switching member 42 is in a position where the vicinity of the upper end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35 is opened as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 at the timing when the paper P is sent out from the fixing device 34. The paper P sent out from the fixing device 34 is sent out to the paper discharge path 36 via the post-fixing conveyance path 35. The paper discharge roller pair 37 sandwiches the paper P sent to the paper discharge path 36 and rotates to discharge the paper P to the paper discharge tray 44, thereby completing single-sided printing.

Next, a case where duplex printing is performed will be described.
As in the case of single-sided printing, the fixing device 34 sends the paper P to the paper discharge path 36. When performing duplex printing, the paper discharge roller pair 37 conveys a part of the paper P to the outside of the image forming apparatus by rotational driving. When the rear end of the paper P passes through the paper discharge path 36, the switching member 42 swings about the swing shaft 42a as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1 and closes the upper end of the post-fixing transport path 35. To do. Then, almost simultaneously with the closing of the upper end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35, the paper discharge roller pair 37 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction in which the paper P is conveyed to the outside of the image forming apparatus and is sent to the reverse conveyance path 41.

  The sheet P sent to the reverse conveyance path 41 reaches the timing roller pair 14 through the reverse conveyance roller pair 43. Then, the timing roller pair 14 achieves the optimal timing (synchronization) for transferring the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 16 to the toner image non-transfer surface of the paper P, and sends the paper P to the secondary transfer nip portion. .

  The secondary transfer roller 20 and the driving roller 18 transfer the toner image to the toner image non-transfer surface of the paper P when the paper passes through the secondary transfer nip portion. Then, the paper P on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 34 through the post-transfer conveyance path 33. The fixing device 34 fixes the unfixed toner image on the paper P by sandwiching the conveyed paper P between the fixing roller 34a and the pressure roller 34b and applying heat and pressure. Then, the paper P on which the toner image is fixed is sent out from the fixing device 34 to the post-fixing conveyance path 35.

The switching member 42 is in a position where the vicinity of the upper end of the post-fixing conveyance path 35 is opened as shown by the solid line in FIG. The paper P sent out from the fixing device 34 is sent out to the paper discharge path 36 via the fixing conveyance path. The paper discharge roller pair 37 sandwiches the paper P sent to the paper discharge path 36, rotates and discharges it to the paper discharge tray 44, thereby completing double-sided printing. Further, after the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16 is transferred to the paper P, residual toner adheres on the intermediate transfer belt 16. Then, the belt cleaning device 21 removes the residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt 16.
The toner removed from the intermediate transfer belt 16 is transported to the powder container 10 by a waste toner transport unit (not shown) and collected in the powder container 10.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the paper feed cassette 30 of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The paper feed cassette 30 has a bottom plate 51 for bringing the paper P into contact with a paper feed roller 30a (not shown), a friction pad 52 for separating the stacked paper P one by one, and for aligning the positions of the paper P in the width direction. Side fences 53L and 53R and an end fence 54 for aligning the position of the paper P in the depth direction are provided. Side walls 60R and 60L are provided on the side surfaces of the paper feed cassette 30, and guides 61L and 61R and the like for inserting and removing and positioning the paper feed cassette 30 in the image forming apparatus 1 are provided on the side walls 60R and 60L. .

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main body 1a as viewed from the sheet feeding cassette 30 side. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing when the paper feed cassette 30 is inserted and removed. The paper feed cassette 30 can be inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow Q. An upper end line 62 (hereinafter referred to as a dividing line) of the side wall 60 of the sheet feeding cassette 30 is provided so as to ensure a certain gap S from the convex portion 63 of the image forming apparatus 1 in terms of operability and component tolerance. It has been. In general, the upper end line 62 and the protrusion 63 of the side wall 60 are configured in the same direction as the insertion / extraction direction.

  The main noises generated from the paper feed cassette 30 and the vicinity thereof are a crumbling sound when the paper feed roller sends out the topmost paper in the stack of paper, and when rubbing against the paper immediately below when sending the topmost paper. There are rubbing noises, rubbing noises when the fed paper comes into contact with the transport ribs of the transport path, and the like. Further, driving sounds of the motor and gears of the image forming apparatus main body are transmitted to the sheet feeding cassette 30 side through the sheet conveying path. Such noise leaks to the outside through a gap between the paper feed cassette 30 and the image forming apparatus unit and the exterior cover. As a means for preventing noise, it is effective to minimize the gap S between the paper feed cassette 30 and the image forming apparatus. However, as described above, since it is necessary to always secure a certain distance due to the insertion / extraction of the paper feed cassette 30 and component tolerances as described above, it is impossible to prevent noise leakage. If the gap is excessively narrow, both come into contact with each other when the paper feed cassette 30 is inserted and removed, causing wear and damage, and the operability is deteriorated. Further, although the gap can be closed by arranging an elastic member such as a malt plane on the end face of the portion constituting the gap, a shearing force is applied to the elastic member when the paper feeding cassette 30 is inserted and removed, and the elastic member There are problems such as not only causing wear and damage, but also worsening the operating force when the paper cassette 30 is inserted and removed.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main body 1a according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the sheet feeding cassette 30 side, and a perspective view of the sheet feeding cassette 30. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views showing when the paper feed cassette 30 is inserted and removed. As shown in FIG. 6, the wall surface of the side wall 60 of the paper feed cassette 30 and the dividing line of the main body convex portion 63 are inclined with respect to the insertion / extraction direction Q of the paper feed cassette 30. Since the dividing line is inclined, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the gap S between the two is widened when the paper cassette 30 is removed, so that the operability can be kept good. A guide function is provided at the time of insertion, and the gap can be minimized when the paper feed cassette 30 is set at a fixed position, so that noise can be prevented from leaking and noise can be reduced. Further, it is desirable that the inclined portion is continuously arranged over the entire length of the paper storage portion of the paper feed cassette 30, and sound leakage can be prevented by reducing the area where the gap is generated. The inclined portion of the dividing line is preferably provided on the upstream side (handle side) on the drawer side of the paper feed cassette 30 to prevent sound leakage from the drawer side of the paper feed cassette 30 and is one of the noise sources. By being in the vicinity of the paper roller, sound leakage can be prevented efficiently. If the inclined portion of the dividing line is provided on the upper surface side of the paper feed cassette 30, sound leakage can be prevented while securing the rigidity of the paper feed cassette 30.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are configuration diagrams schematically showing configurations of an image forming unit and a paper feed cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The inclined portion shown in FIG. 6 is arranged over the entire length of the paper feed cassette 30 in the insertion / extraction direction. However, when the inclined portion cannot be arranged over the entire length due to the configuration, or noise generated only in a specific direction is reduced. If desired, the position of the inclined portion may be moved. As shown in FIG. 9, it is desirable that the inclined portion is disposed in the vicinity of the paper feed roller that is the main noise generation source of the paper feed cassette 30, but for example, noise to the rear side of the paper feed cassette 30 is reduced. If desired, an inclined portion may be provided on the rear side as shown in FIG. That is, if the inclined portion of the dividing line is provided on the downstream side (the opposite side to the handle side) of the paper feed cassette 30, the sound from the rear side of the image forming apparatus main body 1a serves as a guide when the paper feed cassette 30 is inserted. Prevent leakage.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the image forming unit and the paper feed cassette according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3, the inclined portion is configured on the upper surface side of the side wall 60 of the sheet feeding cassette 30. However, when it is difficult to configure the inclined portion on the upper surface side due to the layout configuration, the side surface side 64 of the side wall 60 is used. It may be installed in. Further, a pair of inclined surface portions 65 is also provided on the image forming apparatus main body 1a side. If the inclined portion of the dividing line is provided on the side surface side 64 of the sheet feeding cassette 30, sound leakage can be prevented while ensuring the rigidity of the side surface of the sheet feeding cassette 30.

<Embodiment 4>
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the image forming apparatus main body and the paper feed cassette according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, an elastic member 66 is disposed on the convex portion 63. Not only can the gap S be further reduced by the elastic member, but when the thickness T of the elastic member is made thicker than the gap S and the paper feed cassette 30 is set at a fixed position, the elastic member is elastically deformed (ie, crushed in the thickness direction). Thus, the gap S can be closed, and noise can be further reduced. If the gap can be completely sealed with the elastic member, sound leakage can be effectively prevented. Further, if an elastic member is provided on the inclined portion of the paper feed cassette 30 and a surface orthogonal to the insertion / extraction direction, the gap in all directions of the paper feed cassette 30 can be sealed, and sound leakage can be further prevented. Since the elastic member is fixed to the inclined portion by sticking or the like, the shearing force that is applied when the paper feeding cassette 30 is inserted / extracted can be released. . It is possible to arrange the elastic member only on the image forming apparatus main body 1a, or only on the paper feeding cassette 30 side, or on both the image forming apparatus main body 1a and the paper feeding cassette 30. It is.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and many variations are possible by those having ordinary knowledge in the art within the technical idea of the present invention.

1: Image forming apparatuses 1C, 1K, 1M, 1Y: Process unit 1a: Image forming apparatus main bodies 2C, 2K, 2M, 2Y: Image carrier 3: Drum cleaning device 4: Charging device 5: Developing devices 6C, 6K, 6M 6Y: Toner bottle 7: Exposure device 8: Transfer cover 10: Powder container 14: Timing roller pair 15: Transfer device 16: Intermediate transfer belt 17: Driven roller 18: Drive rollers 19C, 19K, 19M, 19Y: Primary Transfer roller 20: Secondary transfer roller 21: Belt cleaning device 30: Paper feed cassette 30a: Paper feed roller 31: Paper feed path 33: Post transfer transfer path 34: Fixing device 34a: Fixing roller 34b: Pressure roller 35: Fixing Rear transport path 36: paper discharge path 37: paper discharge roller pair 41: reverse transport path 42: switching member 42a: swing shaft 43: reverse transport roll La pair 44: Paper discharge tray 45: Manual feed roller 46: Manual feed tray 51: Bottom plate 52: Friction pad 53L: Side fence 54: End fence 60, 60R: Side wall 62: Top end line 63: Main body convex part 64: Side surface 65: Slope portion 66: Elastic member L: Laser beam P: Paper Q: Insertion / extraction direction S: Gap T: Thickness

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-188946

Claims (9)

An image forming unit for outputting an image on paper;
A paper feed cassette that is detachably disposed in the image forming unit and supplies paper to the image forming unit;
With
A side wall dividing line is formed on the side wall of the paper storage portion of the paper feeding cassette,
The dividing line is inclined with respect to the insertion / extraction direction of the paper feed cassette,
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The dividing line is continuously inclined over the entire length of the paper storage portion of the paper feed cassette.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
The inclination of the dividing line is provided on the upstream side (the handle side) of the paper feeding cassette,
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
The inclination of the dividing line is provided on the downstream side of the paper feeding drawer (opposite to the handle side),
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The inclination of the dividing line is provided on the upper surface side of the paper feed cassette.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The inclination of the dividing line is provided on the side surface side of the paper feed cassette.
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An elastic member is provided on the inclined end surface of at least one of the paper feed cassette or the image forming unit,
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
An elastic member is provided on a surface orthogonal to the inclination and the insertion / extraction direction of the paper feed cassette,
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 or 8,
The elastic member is thicker than a gap between the inclination of the paper feed cassette and the image forming unit,
An image forming apparatus.