JP2017019625A - Manual sheet supply device and image forming device comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manual sheet supply device that can simplify an initial operation procedure by a user and is improved in operability, and an image forming device comprising the same.SOLUTION: The manual sheet supply device comprises a sheet placement tray, an auxiliary tray, a pair of width-alignment cursors and a cursor movement mechanism. The auxiliary tray is annexed slidably to the sheet placement tray along a supplying direction of sheets. The cursor movement mechanism has a first rack part formed in each width-alignment cursor and a pinion gear with which is engaged a first rack tooth formed in the first rack part. The auxiliary tray is provided with a second rack part having a second rack tooth which engages with the pinion gear formed, where the auxiliary tray is moved along a sheet supplying direction, so that the pair of width-alignment cursors are moved in a direction in which the cursors separate or approach along a sheet width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a manual sheet feeding apparatus that is used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine and feeds a sheet-like recording medium.

  In general, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile includes a detachable paper feed cassette on which a sheet-like recording medium such as paper is stacked, and paper is supplied from the paper feed cassette to perform image formation. It is configured to be However, when a paper having a size different from that of the paper loaded on the paper cassette is used, the target paper must be reloaded on the paper cassette each time, and the work becomes complicated. For this reason, an image forming apparatus that includes a manual sheet feeding device (bypass unit) that can supply a sheet-like recording medium without using a sheet feeding cassette is known. Such a manual sheet feeding device is provided with a paper stacking tray and a width alignment cursor that regulates the position in the width direction of the paper stacked on the paper stacking tray.

  In addition, in the manual sheet feeding device, in order to cope with sheets of different sizes, a sheet stacking tray provided with an auxiliary tray that can be expanded and contracted along the sheet feeding direction is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a manual sheet feeding device that includes an expansion tray that can be expanded on the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction, and the expansion tray is configured integrally with a sheet trailing edge cursor that regulates the trailing edge position of the sheet feeding direction. It is disclosed.

JP 2010-215357 A

  Conventionally, when using a manual sheet feeder, it has been necessary to separately operate the width alignment cursor and the extendable auxiliary tray. In addition, due to the recent demand for downsizing and space saving of image forming apparatuses, the opening angle of the manual sheet feeder is also reduced, and the operation space for the width alignment cursor is also reduced. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult for a user with a large hand to operate the width alignment cursor.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a manual sheet feeding device that can simplify a user's initial operation procedure and that has improved operability, and an image forming apparatus including the same. .

  In order to achieve the above object, a first configuration of the present invention is a manual sheet feeding device including a sheet stacking tray, an auxiliary tray, a pair of width alignment cursors, and a cursor moving mechanism. The sheet stacking tray can stack sheets. The auxiliary tray is attached to the upstream side of the sheet stacking tray with respect to the sheet feeding direction so as to be slidable along the sheet feeding direction. The auxiliary tray overlaps the sheet stacking tray, and is pulled out from the storing position to remove the sheet. And a support position to be supported. The pair of width alignment cursors abut on the edge in the width direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking tray and perform positioning in the width direction of the sheets. The cursor moving mechanism has a first rack portion formed in each width alignment cursor and a pinion gear that meshes with the first rack teeth formed in the first rack portion, and the pair of width alignment cursors are arranged in the sheet width direction. Are moved back and forth in the direction of separating or approaching. The auxiliary tray is provided with a second rack portion formed with second rack teeth that mesh with the pinion gear. The pinion meshes with the second rack teeth by reciprocating the auxiliary tray along the sheet feeding direction. The gear rotates forward and backward, and the pair of width alignment cursors reciprocate in the direction of separating or approaching along the sheet width direction.

  According to the first configuration of the present invention, the operation of pulling out or storing the auxiliary tray and the positioning operation of the width alignment cursor can be performed at the same time, and the initial operation procedure of the user can be simplified. Further, even when the operation space for the width alignment cursor is not sufficiently large in the usage state of the manual sheet feeding device, the width alignment cursor can be easily operated by operating the auxiliary tray.

1 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of an image forming apparatus 100 including a manual sheet feeder 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which looked at the state where the manual sheet feeder 11 of the first embodiment of the present invention was opened from the inside. Side sectional view of the manual sheet feeder 11 according to the first embodiment. The perspective view which looked at the width alignment cursor 35 and the cursor cover 40 mounted in the manual sheet feeder 11 of the first embodiment from the front side. The perspective view which looked at the width alignment cursor 35 and the cursor cover 40 mounted in the manual sheet feeder 11 of the first embodiment from the back side. Perspective view of width alignment cursor 35 Enlarged view around the holding mechanism of the width alignment cursor 35 in FIG. The perspective view which shows the interlocking mechanism of the auxiliary | assistant tray 34 and the width alignment cursor 35 in the manual sheet feeder 11 of 1st Embodiment. The top view which looked at the interlocking mechanism of auxiliary tray 34 and width alignment cursor 35 from the back side of cursor cover 40 The side view which looked at the interlocking mechanism of auxiliary tray 34 and width alignment cursor 35 from auxiliary tray 34 direction The top view which looked at the interlocking mechanism of the auxiliary | assistant tray 34 and the width alignment cursor 35 in the manual sheet feeder 11 of 2nd Embodiment of this invention from the back surface side of the cursor cover 40. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus 100 provided with a manual sheet feeder 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the image forming apparatus (for example, a monochrome printer) 100, an image forming unit P that forms a monochrome image by each process of charging, exposure, development, and transfer is disposed. In the image forming portion P, along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 5 (clockwise direction in FIG. 1), the charging unit 4, the exposure unit (laser scanning unit, etc.) 7, the developing unit 8, the transfer roller 14, and the cleaning device 19 and a static eliminator (not shown) are disposed.

  When the image forming operation is performed, the photosensitive drum 5 rotating in the clockwise direction is uniformly charged by the charging unit 4, and the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 5 by the laser beam from the exposure unit 7 based on the document image data. An image is formed, and a developer (hereinafter referred to as toner) is attached to the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit 8 to form a toner image.

  The toner is supplied to the developing unit 8 from the toner container 9. The image data is transmitted from a personal computer (not shown) or the like. Further, a static elimination device (not shown) for removing residual charges on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning device 19 with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 5.

  A sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding cassette 10 or the manual sheet feeder 11 via the sheet conveying path 12 and the registration roller pair 13 toward the photosensitive drum 5 on which the toner image is formed as described above, and the transfer roller 14. The toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred onto the sheet by (image transfer unit). The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photosensitive drum 5 and conveyed to the fixing device 15 to fix the toner image. The sheet that has passed through the fixing device 15 is conveyed to the upper part of the apparatus through the sheet conveying path 16, and is discharged to the discharge tray 18 by the discharge roller pair 17 when an image is formed on only one side of the sheet (during single-sided printing).

  On the other hand, when images are formed on both sides of a sheet (during double-sided printing), the conveyance direction is reversed after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the branch portion 20 of the sheet conveyance path 16. As a result, the sheet is distributed to the reversal conveyance path 21 branched from the branching unit 20 and re-conveyed to the registration roller pair 13 with the image surface reversed. Then, the next toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 5 is transferred by the transfer roller 14 to the surface on which the sheet image is not formed. The sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 15 where the toner image is fixed, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 18 by the discharge roller pair 17.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the state in which the manual sheet feeder 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is opened, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the manual sheet feeder 11 according to the present embodiment. is there. The manual sheet feeder 11 includes a side cover 30, a sheet stacking tray 31, a width alignment cursor 35, a paper stack unit 39 including an auxiliary tray 34, a separation transport unit 32, a lifting plate 33, a sheet feeding clutch (not shown), and the like. A paper feed unit including a paper feed unit, a paper feed detection unit including a bypass feed substrate (not shown), and the like.

  The side cover 30 is rotatably supported on the main body side surface of the image forming apparatus 100 at two left and right fulcrums 30a. (Refer to FIG. 1) and is selectively disposed at a closed position that becomes a part of the side surface of the main body. A sheet stacking tray 31 and an auxiliary tray 34 to be described later slide on the upper surface of the side cover 30 individually.

  The sheet stacking tray 31 is connected to the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 by a link member (not shown). Specifically, one end portion and the other end portion of the link member are rotatably connected to the sheet stacking tray 31 and the main body side surface of the image forming apparatus 100, respectively, and the upstream end of the sheet stacking tray 31 with respect to the sheet feeding direction. The portion engages with guide grooves provided at both ends in the width direction of the side cover 30. As a result, the paper stacking tray 31 can slide with respect to the side cover 30. The paper stacking tray 31 is provided with a pair of width alignment cursors 35 that can move in the paper width direction. The paper width and the presence / absence of paper in the paper stack set on the paper stacking tray 31 are detected by a paper detection sensor (not shown) attached to the bypass feed board, and the vertical size of the paper stack is stored in the paper stacking tray 31. It is detected by a paper length sensor (not shown) provided. Note that the paper width may be detected by the interval of the width alignment cursor 35.

  An auxiliary tray 34 is attached to the upstream end of the paper stacking tray 31 with respect to the paper feeding direction. The auxiliary tray 34 is slidably engaged with a guide rail (not shown) provided on the inner side edge of the paper stacking tray 31. Further, on the upstream side of the guide rail with respect to the paper feeding direction, an engagement hole (not shown) is provided in which a boss portion (not shown) provided on the auxiliary tray 34 can be engaged. When the first auxiliary tray 34 is pulled out to a position where the engagement hole engages with the engagement hole, the auxiliary tray 34 is fixed to the paper stacking tray 31. In this manner, the auxiliary tray 34 has a storage position that overlaps the paper stacking tray 31 and a support position that supports the paper bundle that is pulled out of the paper stacking tray 31 and protrudes upstream from the paper stacking tray 31 in the feeding direction. Selected and placed. 2 shows a state where the auxiliary tray 34 is disposed at the support position, and FIG. 3 illustrates a state where the auxiliary tray 34 is disposed at the storage position.

  The elevating plate 33 is pivotally supported by the sheet stacking tray 31 at the end portion on the side away from the separating and conveying unit 32 (upper left in FIG. 2), and can be lifted and lowered by turning around this pivot. The elevating plate 33 is in a state of being lowered to a position substantially the same as the upper surface of the sheet stacking tray 31 unless an external force is applied from a cam and a cam actuator (not shown). In this state, the sheet stacking tray 31 is replenished or replaced.

  The width alignment cursor 35 is supported by a cursor cover 40 disposed at the downstream end of the paper stacking tray 31 with respect to the paper feeding direction, and is in the paper width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2) with respect to the cursor cover 40. Is slidable. The sliding mechanism of the width alignment cursor 35 will be described later.

  Next, the sheet feeding operation of the manual sheet feeder 11 will be described. When a user inputs a paper feed instruction from the manual paper feeder 11, a control signal is transmitted from a control unit (not shown) in the image forming apparatus 100, and the paper feed clutch is operated to feed the paper feed roller 32a. Start spinning. Then, the cam is rotated by a predetermined amount at a predetermined timing. Along with this, the pressing force acting on the lifting plate 33 via the cam actuator is released, and the lifting plate 33 is pushed up by the urging force of the compression spring, so that the uppermost sheet of the sheet bundle is fed by the paper feed roller 32a. The paper feeding operation is performed.

  Then, only the uppermost sheet in contact with the paper feed roller 32a is separated at the nip portion between the paper feed roller 32a and the separation pad 32b and transported to the paper transport path 16 (see FIG. 1) in the image forming apparatus 100. Is done.

  4 and 5 are perspective views of the width alignment cursor 35 and the cursor cover 40 mounted on the manual sheet feeding device 11 of the present embodiment as viewed from the front side and the back side, respectively, and FIG. 6 illustrates the width alignment cursor. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the holding mechanism for the width alignment cursor 35 in FIG. The configuration and operation of the width alignment cursor 35 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The cursor cover 40 is configured in a flat box shape with an open bottom surface, and can accommodate members such as a width alignment cursor 35 and a pinion gear 50 therein. The upper surface of the cursor cover 40 is a sheet stacking surface together with the sheet stacking tray 31. A pair of moving grooves 41 extending in the paper width direction are formed on the upper surface of the cursor cover 40.

  Two (one pair) width alignment cursors 35 are mounted on the upper surface of the cursor cover 40. The two width alignment cursors 35 are arranged side by side at positions symmetrical with respect to the center line in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction. Each width alignment cursor 35 is a movement groove of the cursor cover 40. 41 is slidable.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the width alignment cursor 35 includes a width restricting portion 36, a first rack portion 37, and a connecting portion 38 that connects the width restricting portion 36 and the first rack portion 37. The shape viewed from the feeding direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 6) is substantially L-shaped. When the sheet bundle is placed on the sheet stacking tray 31, the width restricting portion 36 contacts the side edge of the sheet bundle.

  The first rack portion 37 is a plate-like member extending in the paper width direction, and is accommodated in a cursor guide 43 formed on the back surface of the cursor cover 40. As the width regulating portion 36 slides in the paper width direction, the first rack portion 37 also moves in the paper width direction. Since the first rack portions 37 of the two width alignment cursors 35 are arranged with their positions shifted in the paper feeding direction, they do not collide with each other even if they are moved in the paper width direction.

  First rack teeth 37 a extending in the paper width direction are formed on the opposing surfaces of each first rack portion 37 in the paper feeding direction. In addition, on the upper surface of each first rack portion 37, an engaging convex portion 37 b that is slidably engaged with the moving groove 41 together with the connecting portion 38 is formed. Further, a first abutting portion 39a and a second abutting portion 39b project from the side end surfaces of each first rack portion 37 in the sheet feeding direction. The first abutting portion 39a is elastically deformable in a direction (paper feeding direction) orthogonal to the extending direction (paper width direction) of the first rack portion 37.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the pinion gear 50 is extrapolated to a bearing portion 45 formed at the center of the back surface of the cursor cover 40 and is supported rotatably with respect to the cursor cover 40. The pinion gear 50 is held so as not to drop from the bearing portion 45 by a locking claw (not shown) protruding from the bearing portion 45.

  The pinion gear 50 includes a first gear portion 50a that engages with the first rack teeth 37a of the pair of width alignment cursors 35 on the upstream side and the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, and a second rack portion provided on the auxiliary tray 34. It is a two-stage gear which has the 2nd gear part 50b with which the 2nd rack tooth | gear 51a (refer FIG. 9) of 51 engages coaxially. The pinion gear 50 has a built-in torque limiter (not shown) so that the first gear portion 50a and the second gear portion 50b rotate independently only when the rotational load (torque) exceeds a predetermined torque. It has become.

  When one of the width alignment cursors 35 is moved in the paper width direction by the rack and pinion mechanism constituted by the first gear portion 50a and the first rack teeth 37a, the other width alignment cursor 35 is also linked in the opposite direction. Move to. That is, each width alignment cursor 35 moves symmetrically with respect to the center line in the paper width direction. In addition, a cursor support projection 47 that protrudes inward from the inner side surface 43 a of the cursor guide 43 is formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the cursor cover 40 (in the vicinity of the pinion gear 50).

  The procedure for assembling the width alignment cursor 35 will be described. First, with the upper surface side of the cursor cover 40 facing upward, the first rack portion 37 of the pair of width alignment cursors 35 is respectively moved from the upper surface side of the cursor cover 40 to the moving groove 41. Then, the connecting portion 38 and the engaging convex portion 37 b are engaged with the moving groove 41. Then, in a state in which the cursor cover 40 is reversed and the back side is directed upward, the position adjustment cursors 35 are positioned so that the first rack portions 37 are symmetrical about the bearing portion 45 (for example, the outermost side in the paper width direction). To move.

  Next, the pinion gear 50 is attached to the bearing portion 45 so as to mesh with the first rack teeth 37 a formed in each first rack portion 37. Then, the cursor cover 40 is reversed again and mounted on the paper stacking tray 31 with the upper surface side facing upward. At this time, since the first rack portion 37 is sandwiched between the two cursor support protrusions 47 and the pinion gear 50 provided in the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the cursor cover 40, the width alignment cursor 35 falls from the back surface of the cursor cover 40. It is not. When the width alignment cursor 35 is removed from the cursor cover 40, the tip end of the first rack portion 37 can be rotated in the horizontal direction by removing the pinion gear 50 from the bearing portion 45. Therefore, the first rack portion 37 is rotated. Then, after the engagement with the cursor support protrusion 47 is released, the first rack portion 37 is pulled out from the moving groove 41.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an interlocking mechanism between the auxiliary tray 34 and the width alignment cursor 35 in the manual sheet feeder 11 of the present embodiment. FIG. 9 shows an interlocking mechanism between the auxiliary tray 34 and the width alignment cursor 35. FIG. 10 is a plan view seen from the back side of the cursor cover 40 (downward in FIG. 8). FIG. 10 shows the interlocking mechanism between the auxiliary tray 34 and the width alignment cursor 35 seen from the auxiliary tray 34 direction (downward in FIG. 9). It is a side view.

  A second rack portion 51 in which second rack teeth 51 a are formed protrudes from the downstream end portion of the auxiliary tray 34 with respect to the paper feeding direction. The second rack portion 51 is disposed so as to be orthogonal to the first rack portion 37 of the width alignment cursor 35, and the second rack teeth 51 a are engaged with the second gear portion 50 b of the pinion gear 50.

  When the auxiliary tray 34 is disposed at the storage position where it overlaps the paper stacking tray 31, each width alignment cursor 35 is disposed in a state in which the width restricting portion 36 is closest. When the auxiliary tray 34 is pulled out from the storage position to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, the second rack portion 51 provided on the auxiliary tray 34 also moves upstream in the paper feeding direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 9). As a result, the second gear portion 50b meshing with the second rack teeth 51a also rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG.

  Here, the torque limiter interposed between the first gear portion 50a and the second gear portion 50b of the pinion gear 50 is configured so that the first gear portion 50a and the second gear portion are in a state where no load is applied to the width alignment cursor 35. The load is adjusted so that 50b rotates. Therefore, the first gear portion 50a also rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 9 together with the second gear portion 50b in conjunction with the pulling out of the auxiliary tray 34, and each width alignment cursor 35 is in the direction of both end portions of the cursor cover 40 ( 9 (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 9), that is, the width restricting portion 36 moves away.

  When the auxiliary tray 34 is pulled out from the paper stacking tray 31 by a predetermined amount and disposed at the support position (for example, the maximum pulling position), each width alignment cursor 35 has a width regulating portion 36 with a predetermined interval (for example, the paper stacking tray 31). (The maximum paper width that can be loaded on the paper). In this state, the maximum size paper is stacked from the paper stacking tray 31 to the auxiliary tray 34, and the printing operation is started.

  When a standard size paper other than the maximum size or a paper other than a standard size such as a postcard, envelope, or invoice is loaded on the paper stacking tray 31, the interval of the width alignment cursor 35 (width regulating unit 36) is set according to the paper size. It needs to be adjusted. Here, since the pinion gear 50 has a built-in torque limiter, when the moving load of the auxiliary tray 34 is sufficiently larger than the rotational load of the torque limiter, the width is adjusted by applying a force exceeding the rotational load of the torque limiter. By moving the cursor 35, the interval of the width alignment cursor 35 can be arbitrarily adjusted in a state where the auxiliary tray 34 is disposed at the support position. Since the movement of the width alignment cursor 35 is regulated by the movement load of the auxiliary tray 34, there is no possibility that the width alignment cursor 35 easily moves due to vibration or impact.

  On the other hand, when the auxiliary tray 34 is inserted from the support position to the downstream side in the paper feeding direction when no paper is stacked on the paper stacking tray 31, the second rack portion 51 provided on the auxiliary tray 34 is also downstream in the paper feeding direction. To the side (in the direction of arrow A ′ in FIG. 9). As a result, the second gear portion 50b meshing with the second rack teeth 51a also rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 9, so the first gear portion 50a also rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 9 together with the second gear portion 50b. The width alignment cursor 35 moves in the direction of the center of the cursor cover 40 (in the direction of arrow B ′ in FIG. 9), that is, in the direction in which the width restricting portion 36 approaches.

  According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the width alignment cursor 35 is separated in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the auxiliary tray 34 from the paper stacking tray 31, and the width adjustment is performed in conjunction with the operation of inserting the auxiliary tray 34 into the paper stacking tray 31. The cursor 35 approaches. Therefore, the pull-out operation of the auxiliary tray 34 and the alignment operation of the width alignment cursor 35 can be performed at the same time, and the initial operation of the user can be simplified.

  Further, even when the distance between the side cover 30 and the side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 with the manual paper feeding device 11 opened is narrow and the operation space of the width alignment cursor 35 is not sufficiently wide, the auxiliary tray The width alignment cursor 35 can be easily operated by the operation 34.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view of the interlocking mechanism between the auxiliary tray 34 and the width alignment cursor 35 in the manual sheet feeder 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the back side of the cursor cover 40 (downward in FIG. 8). is there. In the present embodiment, the first gear portion 50a and the second gear portion 50b constituting the pinion gear 50 include a one-way mechanism (not shown) that can transmit a driving force only in one direction. Specifically, when the first gear portion 50a and the second gear portion 50b rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 11, the driving force is transmitted to each other, but the first gear portion 50a and the second gear portion 50b rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. Sometimes the driving force is not transmitted and can be rotated independently of each other.

  For example, when the second gear portion 50b rotates counterclockwise, the rotation is transmitted to the first gear portion 50a and the first gear portion 50a rotates counterclockwise. On the other hand, when the second gear portion 50b rotates in the clockwise direction, the rotation is not transmitted to the first gear portion 50a, and the first gear portion 50a does not rotate. In other words, when the auxiliary tray 34 is pulled out from the storage position to the support position, the second gear portion 50b that meshes with the second rack teeth 51b in conjunction with the movement of the second rack portion 51 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. The width alignment cursor 35 moves in the direction in which the interval of the width restricting portion 36 increases. On the other hand, when the auxiliary tray 34 is stored from the support position to the storage position, the second gear portion 50b that meshes with the second rack teeth 51b rotates in the clockwise direction in conjunction with the movement of the second rack portion 51. The alignment cursor 35 does not move.

  According to the configuration of the present embodiment, when the auxiliary tray 34 is pulled out from the storage position to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, the second rack portion 51 provided on the auxiliary tray 34 is also upstream in the paper feeding direction (the arrow in FIG. 11). A direction). Accordingly, the second gear portion 50b meshing with the second rack teeth 51a rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. It rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 11 together with the part 50b. As a result, each width alignment cursor 35 moves in the direction of both ends of the cursor cover 40 (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 11), that is, in the direction in which the width restricting portion 36 is separated.

  On the other hand, when the first gear portion 50a rotates in the clockwise direction, the driving force is not transmitted to the second gear portion 50b. Therefore, even if the width alignment cursor 35 is moved in the direction in which the width regulating portion 36 approaches, the auxiliary tray 34 does not move in the storage position direction. Thereby, the space | interval of the width alignment cursor 35 can be adjusted with a light force in the state which has arrange | positioned the auxiliary tray 34 in the support position.

  When the width adjusting cursor 35 is moved in the direction in which the width restricting portion 36 is separated, the driving force is transmitted from the first gear portion 50a to the second gear portion 50b, but the auxiliary tray 34 is disposed at the support position. Then, since the second gear portion 50b does not rotate, the width alignment cursor 35 does not move in the direction in which the width restricting portion 36 is separated. Therefore, there is no possibility that the position of the width adjustment cursor 35 once adjusted is shifted due to vibration or impact. As the one-way mechanism, a one-way clutch capable of transmitting a driving force only in one direction, a ratchet mechanism, or the like can be used.

  Here, the configuration in which the pinion gear 50 includes only the one-way mechanism has been described. However, the pinion gear 50 may be configured to include a torque limiter together with the one-way mechanism. According to this configuration, the width alignment cursor 35 can be moved independently by applying a force exceeding the rotational load of the torque limiter to the width alignment cursor 35. Accordingly, when the interval of the width alignment cursor 35 is accidentally narrowed more than necessary, the interval of the width alignment cursor 35 can be increased while the auxiliary tray 34 is placed at the support position, and the alignment of the paper width can be performed. It can be done reliably.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the separation conveyance unit 32 is configured by the paper feed roller 32a and the separation pad 32b. However, for example, a retard roller incorporating a torque limiter may be disposed instead of the separation pad 32b.

  The present invention is not limited to the monochrome printer as shown in FIG. 1, and may be applied to other types of image forming apparatuses including a manual sheet feeder such as a color printer, monochrome and color copier, digital multifunction peripheral, or facsimile. Of course, is also applicable.

  The present invention can be used in a sheet feeding apparatus that feeds a sheet-like recording medium. By utilizing the present invention, it is possible to provide a manual sheet feeding apparatus that can simplify the initial operation procedure of the user and that has improved operability, and an image forming apparatus including the same.

11 Manual sheet feeder (manual sheet feeder)
30 Side cover 30a Tip 31 Paper stacking tray (sheet stacking tray)
32 Separation / conveyance section 33 Lift plate 34 Auxiliary tray 35 Width alignment cursor 36 Width regulation section 37 First rack section 37a First rack teeth 38 Connection section 39a First contact section 39b Second contact section 40 Cursor cover 45 Bearing section 50 Pinion gear 50a First gear portion 50b Second gear portion 51 Second rack portion 51a Second rack teeth 100 Image forming apparatus

Claims (6)

A sheet stacking tray capable of stacking sheets;
Attached to the upstream side of the sheet stacking tray with respect to the sheet feeding direction so as to be slidable along the sheet feeding direction, a storage position overlapping the sheet stacking tray, and a sheet pulled out from the storage position to support the sheet A supporting position to be selected, and an auxiliary tray to be selectively arranged,
A pair of width alignment cursors for positioning in the width direction of the sheets in contact with the edges in the width direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking tray;
A first rack portion formed on each of the width alignment cursors; and a pinion gear meshed with the first rack teeth formed on the first rack portion; and the pair of width alignment cursors along the sheet width direction. A cursor movement mechanism that reciprocates in the direction of separating or approaching,
In the manual sheet feeder provided with
The auxiliary tray is provided with a second rack portion formed with second rack teeth that mesh with the pinion gear;
The manual sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary tray is moved along a sheet feeding direction, so that the pair of width alignment cursors moves in a direction separating or approaching along the sheet width direction.   The manual sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary tray is moved in a direction in which the pair of width alignment cursors are separated by moving the auxiliary tray from the storage position to the support position.   The pinion gear is a two-stage gear coaxially having a first gear portion with which the first rack teeth mesh and a second gear portion with which the second rack teeth mesh, and the first gear portion and the first gear portion The first gear part and the second gear part rotate independently only when the rotational load applied to the first gear part and the second gear part exceeds a predetermined value, interposed between the two gear parts. The manual sheet feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising a torque limiter.   The pinion gear is a two-stage gear coaxially having a first gear portion with which the first rack teeth mesh and a second gear portion with which the second rack teeth mesh, and the first gear portion and the first gear portion It is interposed between the two gear portions, and the driving force can be transmitted between the first gear portion and the second gear portion only when the first gear portion or the second gear portion rotates in a predetermined direction. The manual sheet feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising a one-way mechanism.   The one-way mechanism can transmit a driving force between the first gear portion and the second gear portion when the first gear portion rotates in a direction in which the pair of width alignment cursors are separated from each other. The transmission of driving force between the first gear portion and the second gear portion is interrupted when the first gear portion rotates in a direction in which the width alignment cursor approaches. The manual sheet feeding device described.   An image forming apparatus comprising the manual sheet feeding device according to claim 1.