JP2018047970A - Sheet conveyance device and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet conveyance device and image formation apparatus which can stably push out a storage container that is pushed out from a device body in conjunction with pushing-in to the device body.SOLUTION: A sheet conveyance device includes: a storage container which stores a recording medium and is slide-movable between the sheet feeding position of feeding a recording medium and the drawn position drawn from the device body; a first engagement part which is provided in the storage container and engaged with an engagement object part provided in the device body at the sheet feeding position; a positioning recessed part which performs positioning of the storage container in the direction intersecting the slide movement direction; a second engagement part which is provided in the storage container and fitted to the positioning recessed part; a guide which guides the storage container to the sheet feeding position while performing the positioning of the storage container in the direction intersecting the slide movement direction; a third engagement part which is provided in the storage container and fitted to the guide; and a biasing member which biases the storage container so as to be pushed out from the device body. When a compression margin of the biasing means is defined as A and a guide length of the guide is defined as B, A≤B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet conveying device and an image forming apparatus.

  In a paper feeding device configured such that a paper feeding tray can be inserted and removed in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, the paper feeding tray is integrally attached to the paper feeding tray and is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus comprising: a lever that is operated in a substantially horizontal direction so that the paper feed tray can be inserted and removed; and a hook that is engaged with the lever and that can be rotated according to the operation of the lever. The main body includes a first biasing member that pressurizes the paper feed tray from the image forming apparatus main body, a positioning member that engages with a hook and positions the paper feed tray with respect to the image forming apparatus main body, There is known a paper feeding device including a second urging member that urges the positioning member to press against the hook (Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-206319 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet conveying apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can stably push out a container that is pushed out from the apparatus main body in conjunction with being pushed into the apparatus main body.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a paper transport device according to claim 1 is provided.
A storage container that houses a recording medium and is slidable between a paper feeding position for feeding out the recording medium and a drawing position pulled out from the apparatus body;
A first engaging portion that is provided in the receiving container and engages with an engaged portion provided in the apparatus main body at the paper feeding position;
A positioning recess for positioning the position in the direction intersecting the sliding movement direction of the container;
A second engagement portion provided in the storage container and fitted in the positioning recess;
A guide for guiding the storage container to the paper feeding position while positioning the position in a direction intersecting the sliding movement direction of the storage container;
A third engagement portion provided in the storage container and fitted into the guide guide;
A biasing member that biases the container so as to push out from the apparatus main body,
When the compression allowance of the biasing means is A and the guide length of the guide guide is B,
A ≦ B.
It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 2 is the paper conveying apparatus according to claim 1,
The biasing member and the guide guide are arranged on the same straight line in the slide movement direction,
It is characterized by that.

The invention according to claim 3 is the paper conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The guide guide is disposed on the back side in the slide movement direction of the apparatus body, and the positioning recess is disposed on the near side in the slide movement direction of the apparatus body.
It is characterized by that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the paper conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The engaged portion and the first engaging portion are locked by locking the storage container at the paper feed position and pushing the storage container locked at the paper feed position to the unlock position. Constitutes a push latch mechanism to release
It is characterized by that.

In order to solve the above problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 5,
A sheet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium conveyed from the paper conveying device,
It is characterized by that.

According to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, the storage container pushed out from the image forming apparatus main body can be stably pushed out in conjunction with being pushed into the image forming apparatus main body.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pushing force of the urging member can be reliably transmitted to the storage container.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sliding movement of the storage container can be stabilized.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the pulling operation force of the storage container can be reduced.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the paper transport device showing a state in which the paper tray is pulled out. (A) is a schematic plan view showing a state where the paper tray is locked at the paper feed position, and (b) is a schematic plan view showing a state where the lock of the paper tray is released. (A) is a perspective view showing a stop member, (b) is a top view showing a restriction stopper portion, (c) is a bottom view showing a latch cam portion, and (d) is a perspective view showing a latch pin. (A) is a perspective view which shows a control stopper and a positioning convex part, (b) is a partial cross section perspective view which shows a latch cam and a latch pin. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the state which the positioning convex part fitted in the control stopper part. 4A and 4B are partial cross-sectional plan views showing a guide guide and a spring, in which FIG. 5A is a state in which the paper tray is pushed inward when unlocking, FIG. 5B is a state in which the paper tray is pushed out by a spring, and FIG. A state in which the tray is pushed forward is shown. FIG. 6 is a partial plan view schematically illustrating a flow of a slide movement operation to a paper feed position of a paper tray in the paper transport device. FIG. 9 is a partial plan view schematically illustrating a flow of unlocking at a paper tray paper feed position in the paper transport device.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings with reference to embodiments and specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and specific examples.
Also, in the description using the following drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratio of each dimension and the like are different from the actual ones, and are necessary for the description for easy understanding. Illustrations other than the members are omitted as appropriate.

(1) Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus 1.
Hereinafter, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control device 10, a paper feeding device 20, a photosensitive unit 30, a developing device 40, a transfer device 50, a fixing device 60, and a paper transport device 70. On the upper surface (Z direction) of the image forming apparatus 1, there are formed paper discharge tray portions TR1 and TR2 for discharging and storing paper P on which an image is recorded.

The control device 10 includes a controller 11 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, an image processing unit 12 that is controlled by the controller 11, a power supply device 13, and the like. The power supply device 13 applies a voltage to the photoconductor unit 30, the developing device 40, the transfer device 50, and the like.
The image processing unit 12 converts print information input from an external information transmission apparatus (for example, a personal computer) into image information for forming a latent image, and outputs a drive signal to the exposure apparatus LH at a preset timing. To do.

A paper feeding device 20 having a paper tray 21 is provided at the bottom of the main body of the image forming apparatus 1, and the position of the paper P stacked on the paper tray 21 is determined by a regulating plate (not shown), and from the upper side. One sheet at a time is pulled forward (−X direction) by the sheet drawer 23.
The paper P drawn from the paper drawer 23 is transported to the nip portion of the registration roller pair 24 via the paper transport path S1.

  A sheet conveying device 70 is connected below the sheet feeding device 20. The paper transport device 70 is arranged in multiple stages (three stages in the present embodiment) in the vertical direction, and constitutes a tray module TM including paper trays T1, T2, and T3 as an example of a storage container that stores paper P. ing. The paper P sent out from the paper trays T1, T2, and T3 is transported from the paper transport path S1 toward the nip portion of the registration roller pair 24 via the paper transport path S2.

  The photoconductor unit 30 includes a photoconductor drum 31 that is provided in parallel above the sheet feeding device 20 (Z direction) and is driven to rotate. Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toner images are formed on the respective photosensitive drums 31 by the respective developing devices 40.

  Each color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 of each photosensitive unit 30 is sequentially electrostatically transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 51 of the transfer device 50 to form a superimposed toner image in which the respective color toners are superimposed. Is done. The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 51 is sent from the registration roller pair 24 and is collectively transferred by the secondary transfer roller 52 onto the paper P guided by the conveyance guide.

In the fixing device 60, a fixing nip portion (fixing region) is formed by a pressure contact region between the pair of heating modules 61 and the pressure module 62.
The paper P onto which the toner images are collectively transferred in the transfer device 50 is transported to the fixing nip portion of the fixing device 60 through the transport guide 53 in a state where the toner images are not fixed, and a pair of heating module 61 and pressure module 62 is transported. Thus, the toner image is fixed by the action of heating and pressure bonding.

  The sheet P on which the fixed toner image is formed is guided by the switching gate G1, and is discharged and accommodated from the first discharge roller pair 63 to the discharge tray portion TR1 on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 1. When the paper is reversed for double-sided printing or discharged with the image recording surface facing upward, the transport direction is switched toward the transport path 65 by the switching gate G1.

(2) Configuration of Paper Conveying Section FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paper conveying apparatus 70 showing a state in which the paper tray T1 is pulled out, and FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the paper tray T1 is locked at the paper feeding position. FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view showing a state where the paper tray T1 is unlocked, FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the stop member 100, and FIG. 4B is a top view showing the restriction stopper 130. FIG. 5C is a bottom view showing the latch cam portion 120, FIG. 5D is a perspective view showing the latch pin 80, FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the regulation stopper portion 130 and the positioning convex portion 90, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing the latch pin 80, FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which the positioning protrusion 90 is fitted in the restriction stopper 130, and FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing the guide guide 140 and the spring S. And (a ) Shows a state in which the paper tray T1 is pushed inward when the lock is released, (b) shows a state in which the paper tray T1 is pushed out by the spring S, and (c) shows a state in which the paper tray T1 is pushed out to the near side.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the paper transport unit will be described with reference to the drawings.

(2.1) Overall Configuration The paper transport unit includes a paper feed device 20 and a paper transport device 70 connected below the paper feed device 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper transport device 70 constitutes a tray module TM including paper trays T1, T2, and T3 that are arranged to be slidable with respect to the apparatus main body F and arranged in three stages in the vertical direction. The forming apparatus 1 is connected below the sheet feeding device 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the paper tray T1 accommodated in the apparatus main body F is locked at the paper feed position, and as shown in FIG. 3B, the locked paper tray T1 is pushed to the unlock position. Thus, the lock is released and the spring S as an urging member is pushed out from the apparatus main body F (see arrow R in FIG. 3B).

  On the apparatus main body F side, there is provided a stop member 100 formed integrally with a latch cam portion 120 as an engaged portion and a restriction stopper portion 130 as an example of a positioning recess, and on the drawer operation side of the paper tray T1, A latch pin 80 as an example of the first engagement portion and a positioning convex portion 90 as an example of the second engagement portion are provided.

A guide guide 140 that receives and guides a positioning protrusion 95 as an example of a third engagement portion provided on the paper tray T1 is provided on the back side in the slide movement direction of the paper tray T1 of the apparatus main body F. .
Further, a spring S is provided on the back side in the sliding movement direction of the paper tray T1 of the apparatus main body F, and the paper tray T1 is always urged in the push-out direction by the spring S when locked in the paper feeding position. When the lock is released, it is pushed out to the drawer operation side.

(2.2) Push Latch Mechanism The paper transport device 70 locks the paper tray T1 at the paper feed position and pushes the paper tray T1 locked at the paper feed position to the unlock position to release the lock. It has a latch mechanism.
The push latch mechanism includes a stop member 100, a latch pin 80, a positioning projection 90, a guide guide 140, a positioning projection 95, and a spring S.

As shown in FIG. 4, the stop member 100 is integrally formed with a restriction stopper 130 on one end side of a main body 110 having a rectangular frame structure. The restriction stopper portion 130 is formed with a U-shaped groove 131 that opens to the front end side.
The restriction stopper portion 130 is positioned on the near side in the sliding movement direction of the paper tray T1 in a state where the stop member 100 is attached to the apparatus main body F, and is a positioning protrusion provided on the paper tray T1 that slides to the paper feeding position. The part 90 is received and a direction intersecting the slide movement direction is positioned.

  A latch cam portion 120 is formed on the bottom surface side of the main body portion 110 as shown in FIG. The latch cam portion 120 is formed on the back side of the restriction stopper portion 130 in the slide movement direction of the paper tray T1, and includes an introduction portion 121, a first guide portion 122, a first guide groove 123, a holding portion 124, a second guide portion 125, The second guide groove 126, the third guide groove 127, and the third guide portion 128 are included.

  The latch cam portion 120 having such a cam structure receives a latch pin 80 which will be described later as the paper tray T1 slides, guides and holds it to a holding portion 124 that is in a locked position, and is pushed in from the locked position. The latch pin 80 is guided into the second guide groove 126 and unlocked.

The latch pin 80 includes a metal plate member 81, a pin 82 provided so as to protrude to one end side of the plate member 81, and a hole 83 provided on the other end side of the pin 82.
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the latch pin 80 is attached to the side of the paper tray T1 on the front side in the sliding movement direction so as to be rotatable about the hole 83 as a rotation center.

  As the paper tray T1 slides, the latch pin 80 enters from the introduction portion 121 of the latch cam portion 120 and rotates around the hole 83 as the center of rotation, and the first guide portion 122 and the first guide of the latch cam portion 120 are rotated. The paper tray T1 is locked at the paper feeding position by being guided by the groove 123 and held by the holding unit 124.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the positioning convex portion 90 protrudes in the direction intersecting the sliding movement direction to the front side of the latch pin 80 in the sliding movement direction at the side portion of the paper tray T1, and is integrally formed. Has been. As shown in FIG. 6, the positioning convex portion 90 is fitted into the U-shaped groove 131 of the restriction stopper portion 130 when the paper tray T1 slides toward the paper feeding position with respect to the apparatus main body F. Positioning is performed by regulating the movement of the paper tray T1 in the direction intersecting the sliding movement direction.

The guide guide 140 is disposed on the back side in the sliding movement direction of the apparatus main body F, and is formed with a U-shaped groove 141 that opens on one end side toward the sliding paper tray T1.
The guide 140 receives the positioning projection 95 provided on the paper tray T1 that slides to the paper feed position and guides the paper tray T1 to the paper feed position while positioning the direction intersecting the slide movement direction.

The spring S is provided on the back side in the sliding movement direction of the paper tray T1 of the apparatus main body F. The spring S is compressed in contact with one end of the paper tray T1 when the paper tray T1 slides to the paper feeding position, so that the pin of the latch pin 80 is in a state where the paper tray T1 is locked at the feeding position. 82 is pressed against the holding portion 124 of the latch cam portion 120 to maintain the locked state.
The spring S acts to push the paper tray T1 toward the front side of the apparatus main body F when the locked state of the paper tray T1 is released.

As shown in FIG. 7, the U-shaped groove 141 of the guide guide 140 has a guide length B along the sliding movement direction for receiving and guiding the positioning projection 95 of the paper tray T1, and the free length L1 of the spring S and the paper. The tray T1 is formed so as to be longer than the compression allowance A (= L1−L2), which is the difference from the compressed height L2 compressed by sliding movement of the tray T1 (B ≧ A).
Further, the guide guide 140 and the spring S are arranged on the same straight line in the sliding movement direction of the paper tray T1.

Thereby, when the locked state of the paper tray T1 is released, the urging force of the spring S that pushes the paper tray T1 to the front side in the sliding movement direction is regulated by the guide guide 140 and does not rotate. It acts in a state of being positioned along the slide movement direction.
As a result, the paper tray T1 to which the urging force of the spring S is pushed out acts on a substantially straight line along the sliding movement direction (refer to the alternate long and short dash line c1 in FIGS. 7A and 7B), and the paper tray T1 is stabilized. Can be extruded.

In the push latch mechanism configured as described above, the guide guide 140 is disposed on the back side in the sliding movement direction of the apparatus main body F, and the regulation stopper portion 130 is disposed on the near side in the sliding movement direction of the apparatus main body F. ing.
As a result, the paper tray T1 is positioned on both sides along the slide movement direction, and the paper tray T1 is smoothly pushed out by being locked and unlocked at the feeding position.

(3) Slide Movement Operation of Paper Tray FIG. 8 is a partial schematic plan view showing a flow of slide movement operation to the paper feed position of the paper tray T1 in the paper conveyance device 70, and FIG. 9 is a paper tray in the paper conveyance device 70. FIG. 6 is a partial plan view schematically showing a flow of unlocking at a paper feeding position at T1. Hereinafter, the locking and unlocking of the paper tray T1 at the paper feeding position will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 8, the restriction stopper portion 130 of the stop member 100 is indicated by a solid line, and the latch cam portion 120 is indicated by a broken line.
As shown in FIG. 8A, when the paper tray T1 is slid relative to the apparatus main body F toward the paper feeding position, the paper tray T1 is attached to the front side in the sliding direction at the side of the paper tray T1. The pin 82 of the latch pin 80 enters from the introduction portion 121 of the latch cam portion 120 (see the arrow in FIG. 8A).

When the paper tray T1 is further slid toward the paper feeding position, the pin 82 of the latch pin 80 is rotated toward the first guide groove 123 while being guided by the first guide portion 122 of the latch cam portion 120. (Refer to the arrow in FIG. 8B).
At this time, as shown in FIG. 8B, the positioning convex portion 90 formed on the front side of the latch pin 80 in the sliding movement direction on the side portion of the paper tray T1 constitutes the restriction stopper portion 130 of the stop member 100. It fits in the U-shaped groove 131.

  As a result, the movement in the direction intersecting with the sliding movement direction of the paper tray T1 (hereinafter referred to as the left-right direction) is restricted, so that the pin 82 of the latch pin 80 is guided by the first guide portion 122 without swinging in the left-right direction. While being done, it stably enters the first guide groove 123.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the paper tray T1 slides while the positioning convex portion 90 is positioned by the U-shaped groove 131 of the restriction stopper portion 130, and the pin 82 of the latch pin 80 is connected to the latch cam portion 120. The first guide groove 123 is guided toward the holding portion 124 (see the arrow in FIG. 8C).
Further, when the paper tray T1 is slid, the pin 82 of the latch pin 80 is pressed to the side opposite to the sliding direction by the urging force of the spring S as shown in FIG. And the paper tray T1 is locked at the paper feed position.

In the paper transport device 70 according to the present embodiment, when the paper tray T1 slides to the paper feed position, the positioning convex portion 90 provided on the paper tray T1 is regulated by the stop member 100 provided on the device main body side. After fitting in the stopper portion 130 and positioning in a lateral direction is restricted, the pin 82 of the latch pin 80 is engaged with the latch cam portion 120 and locked.
Therefore, the sliding paper tray T1 does not swing in the left-right direction, and the latch pin 80 and the latch cam portion 120 are stably engaged.

When the paper tray T1 locked at the paper feeding position is unlocked and pulled out from the apparatus main body F, first, the paper tray T1 is further pushed in from the locked state toward the back side in the sliding movement direction. The pin 82 is separated from the holding portion 124 of the latch cam portion 120 and contacts the second guide portion 125 (see FIG. 9A).
Then, the pin 82 of the latch pin 80 is guided by the second guide part 125 and rotates toward the second guide groove 126, and the lock is released (see FIG. 9B).

  When the lock is released, the paper tray T1 is further pushed in from the paper feed position on the back side in the slide movement direction of the apparatus main body F, so the spring S is compressed to the compression height L2 and the paper tray T1 is moved. It is in a state of being urged to push out (see FIG. 7A).

The unlocked paper tray T1 is pressed in the direction opposite to the sliding movement direction by the urging force of the spring S, and the pin 82 of the latch pin 80 moves toward the third guide groove 127 to move to the third guide groove 127. Is pushed out from the apparatus main body F along the slide movement direction (see FIG. 9C).
In such an unlocking operation, the paper tray T1 is swung in the left-right direction when the positioning projection 95 is pushed out in a state where the movement in the left-right direction is restricted by the U-shaped groove 141 of the guide guide 140. The paper tray T1 is pushed out smoothly by sliding.

  In the present embodiment, the paper tray T1 in the paper conveyance device 70 to which the push latch mechanism is applied has been described. However, the push latch mechanism according to the present embodiment is provided with the paper trays T2 and T3 and the paper feeding device 20 of the image forming apparatus 1. The same can be applied to the other paper tray 21.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus 10 ... Control apparatus 20 ... Paper feed apparatus 21 ... Paper tray 23 ... Paper drawer part 24 ... Registration roller pair 30 ... Photoconductor unit 40 ... Developing device 50 ... Transfer device 60 ... Fixing device 70 ... Paper transport device 80 ... Latch pin 90 ... Positioning projection 95 ... Positioning projection 100 ... Stopping member 110 ... Main body part 120 ... Latch cam part 130 ... Regulation stopper part 140 ... Guide guides T1, T2, T3 ... Paper tray (paper transport device 70)
S ... Spring

Claims (5)

A storage container that houses a recording medium and is slidable between a paper feeding position for feeding out the recording medium and a drawing position pulled out from the apparatus body;
A first engaging portion that is provided in the receiving container and engages with an engaged portion provided in the apparatus main body at the paper feeding position;
A positioning recess for positioning the position in the direction intersecting the sliding movement direction of the container;
A second engagement portion provided in the storage container and fitted in the positioning recess;
A guide for guiding the storage container to the paper feeding position while positioning the position in a direction intersecting the sliding movement direction of the storage container;
A third engagement portion provided in the storage container and fitted into the guide guide;
A biasing member that biases the container so as to push out from the apparatus main body,
When the compression allowance of the biasing means is A and the guide length of the guide guide is B,
A ≦ B.
A sheet conveying apparatus characterized by the above. The biasing member and the guide guide are arranged on the same straight line in the slide movement direction,
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1. The guide guide is disposed on the back side in the slide movement direction of the apparatus body, and the positioning recess is disposed on the near side in the slide movement direction of the apparatus body.
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying apparatus is a sheet conveying apparatus. The engaged portion and the first engaging portion are locked by locking the storage container at the paper feed position and pushing the storage container locked at the paper feed position to the unlock position. Constitutes a push latch mechanism to release
The sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveying apparatus is a sheet conveying apparatus.
Place. A sheet conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium conveyed from the paper conveying device,
An image forming apparatus.

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