JP2019059610A - Sheet loading device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable attachment/detachment of a feeding tray without requiring an additional space for attaching/detaching the feeding tray to/from a device body.SOLUTION: Sheet loading means (11) is held by a holding member (27) movable with respect to a device body, and removed from the holding member (27) in a state where the holding member (27) is exposed to the outside of the device body. A move member (31) is provided to one of the sheet loading means (11) and the holding member (27), and an engaging part (27a) and a contact part (27d) are provided to the other. The engaging part (27a) engages with the move member (31) when the sheet loading means (11) is moved in a drawing direction to restrict that the sheet loading means (11) is removed from the holding member (27). The contact part (27d) is, when the sheet loading means (11) removed from the holding member (27) is inserted into the device body, made to retreat to a position to be brought into contact with the move member (31) and not to interfere with the engaging part (27a).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet stacking apparatus on which sheets are stacked, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet stacking apparatus.

  In a sheet stacking apparatus used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a member such as a feeding tray on which sheets used as a recording medium are stacked is mounted so as to be able to be drawn out to an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. There is a case. In addition, in order to enable replacement of the feeding tray and the members disposed behind the feeding tray in the apparatus main body, the feeding tray may be configured to be removable from the apparatus main body. In Patent Document 1, the amount of withdrawal of the sheet feeding cassette is limited by the stopper provided in the apparatus body, and the sheet feeding cassette passes over the stopper and is inclined from the apparatus body by tilting the drawn sheet feeding cassette in the vertical direction. A removable configuration is described.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2017-48009

  However, in the configuration described in the above document, when attaching and detaching the sheet feeding cassette to the apparatus main body, an operation to get over the stopper is necessary. Therefore, in addition to the space necessary for inserting and pulling out the sheet feeding cassette, it is necessary to secure the movement path of the sheet feeding cassette at the time of passing over the stopper in the apparatus main body. Could have been a hindrance.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet stacking apparatus capable of achieving miniaturization and an image forming apparatus provided with the sheet stacking apparatus.

  A sheet stacking apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an apparatus body, a sheet stacking unit capable of loading and extracting sheets with respect to the apparatus body, and the sheet stacking unit. And a holding member which moves in the pull-out direction along with the sheet stacking means and is exposed to the outside of the device main body when moving in the pull-out direction in which the sheet is pulled out from the apparatus main body; A moving member provided on one of the sheet stacking means and the holding member and movable in a moving direction intersecting the drawing direction, provided on the other of the sheet stacking means and the holding member, engaged with the moving member Engaging portion for restricting the release of the sheet stacking means from the holding member by the movement in the drawing-out direction, the sheet stacking means, and the holding member When the sheet stacking means provided on the other side and removed from the holding member is inserted into the apparatus main body in the insertion direction opposite to the drawing-out direction, the sheet stacking means abuts on the moving member to And a contact portion for retracting to a position not interfering with the joint portion.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the sheet stacking apparatus can be miniaturized.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment in a state in which the sheet feeding tray is stored (a) and in a state in which the sheet feeding tray is pulled out (b). FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a holding configuration of the feeding tray according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the feed tray according to the first embodiment. The enlarged view which shows the state (a) which the stopper which concerns on Example 1 protruded, and the state (b) which retracted | saved. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state (a) in which the sheet feeding tray according to the first embodiment is stored and a state (b) in the middle of the operation of pulling out the sheet feeding tray. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state (a) in which the sheet feeding tray according to the first embodiment is pulled out and a state (b) in the middle of the operation of removing the sheet feeding tray from the rail. FIG. 7 is a top view showing the shape of the stopper and the engagement portion of the rail according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of mounting the feeding tray according to the first embodiment to the apparatus main body. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view for explaining the operation (a, b) of the stopper when mounting the feed tray according to the first embodiment to the apparatus main body. The enlarged view which shows the state (a) which the stopper which concerns on Example 2 protruded, and the state (b) which retracted | saved. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the main parts of a feeding tray according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a top view showing a halfway state (a, b) of the operation of pulling out the feeding tray according to the second embodiment and a halfway state (c) of the operation of mounting the feeding tray on the apparatus body. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the main part of a feeding tray according to a third embodiment. The enlarged view which shows the state (a) which the stopper which concerns on Example 3 protrudes, and the state (b) which retracted | saved. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a rail according to a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a state (a) in which the sheet feeding tray according to the third embodiment is stored and a state (b) in the middle of the operation of pulling out the sheet feeding tray. FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a halfway state (a) of the operation of removing the feeding tray from the rail according to the third embodiment, and a halfway state (b, c) of the operation of mounting the feeding tray to the apparatus main body.

  Hereinafter, a sheet stacking apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus includes a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine, and forms an image on a sheet used as a recording medium based on image information input from an external PC and image information read from an original.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an electrophotographic color laser printer (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) 100 which is an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment (Example 1). The printer 100 includes an image forming unit 102 of a tandem type intermediate transfer system including four image forming units PY, PM, PC, PK and an intermediate transfer unit 120 for forming yellow, magenta, cyan and black toner images. ing. The printer 100 forms and outputs an image input from an external computer to the sheet S fed from the sheet storage unit 103 provided in the lower part of the apparatus main body 101. The sheet S used as a recording medium includes, in addition to paper such as plain paper and cardboard, special paper such as coated paper, specially shaped sheets such as envelopes, plastic sheets, cloth, and the like.

  The configuration of each of the image forming units PY to PK is the same except that the color of the toner used for development is different. Therefore, the configuration of the yellow image forming unit PY will be described as an example. The image forming unit PY includes a photosensitive drum 1 which is a drum-like photosensitive member. Around the photosensitive drum 1, in order along the rotational direction of the drum, a charging roller 2 as charging means, a developing unit 4 as developing means, a primary transfer roller 12 as primary transfer means, and a cleaning blade 8 as cleaning means Is provided. Further, a laser scanner 3 as an optical unit is provided below the image forming units PY to PK.

  The image forming unit PY is a process cartridge constituted by the replaceable developing unit 4 and the cleaner unit 5. The former developing unit 4 has a developing roller 21, a developer application roller 22, and a developing container. On the other hand, in the latter cleaner unit 5, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2 and the cleaning blade 8 are held. Both axial ends of the photosensitive drum 1 are rotatably supported by a flange member, and are rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 by transmitting a driving force from a drive motor (not shown) to one of the ends. .

  The charging roller 2 is a conductive roller in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 and applies a charging bias voltage from a power supply (not shown) to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. The laser scanner 3 irradiates the photosensitive drum 1 with laser light for exposure based on image data obtained by decomposing an image to be printed into monochromatic images of respective colors, and writes an electrostatic latent image on the drum surface. The developing unit 4 causes the developer accommodated in the developing container to be carried on the developing roller 21 facing the photosensitive drum 1 through the developer application roller 22. The developing roller 21 rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown) supplies a toner to the photosensitive drum 1 by applying a developing bias voltage from a power supply (not shown), and develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image.

  In the intermediate transfer unit 120, the intermediate transfer belt 121 as an intermediate transfer member is stretched around the driving roller 122 and the tension roller 123, and the tension roller 123 is pressed in the arrow direction by the elastic member. I am under tension. Further, a primary transfer roller 12 is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 121 so as to face the photosensitive drums 1 of the image forming units PY to PK, and a transfer bias is applied by a power supply (not shown). It has become.

  The toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 1 are sequentially rotated in the counterclockwise direction in the figure by applying a transfer bias having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner to the corresponding primary transfer roller 12. Primary transfer. As a result, a full color toner image in which toner images of four colors overlap is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 121, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion Nt as the belt rotates.

  At a lower portion of the apparatus main body 101, a sheet storage portion 103 provided with a feed tray 11 for storing the sheet S is provided. The sheet stored in the feeding tray 11 is fed by the feeding roller 9 and is supplied to the image forming unit 102 through the conveyance roller pair 10. The sheet S fed out from the feeding tray 11 in the sheet feeding direction (right direction in the figure) from the feeding tray 11 by the feeding roller 9 is separated from the other sheets by the separation pad 20 and the registration roller pair It is transported toward 17.

  The registration roller pair 17 corrects the skew of the sheet S, and conveys the sheet S to the secondary transfer portion Nt at a timing according to the progress of the toner image forming operation by the image forming portion 102. The secondary transfer portion Nt is configured as a nip portion formed between the intermediate transfer belt 121 and the secondary transfer roller 16 facing the drive roller 122. In the secondary transfer portion Nt, a bias having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner is applied to the secondary transfer roller 16, whereby the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 121 is secondarily transferred onto the sheet S.

  The fixing unit 14 as a fixing unit nips and conveys the sheet S in the nip portion (fixing nip Nf) of the fixing roller pair, applies heat and pressure to the toner image, and fixes the image on the sheet S. The sheet S on which the image is fixed is discharged by the discharge roller pair 18 to the discharge tray 23 provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 101. The attached substance such as toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the primary transfer is removed by the cleaning blade 8 and collected in a waste toner container provided in the cleaner unit 5. Further, the extraneous matter such as toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 121 after the secondary transfer is removed by the belt cleaning device 19 and collected into a collection container (not shown).

  The image forming unit 102 described above is an example of an image forming unit, and may use, for example, a direct transfer type electrophotographic unit which directly transfers a toner image formed on a photosensitive member onto a sheet. Further, not limited to the electrophotographic method, an image forming unit of an inkjet method or an offset printing method may be used.

(Sheet loading device)
Next, the sheet storage unit 103 as a sheet stacking apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the sheet storage unit 103 includes an apparatus main body 101 which also serves as the entire housing of the printer 100, and sheet loading means which can be pulled out and inserted into the apparatus main body 101. And a feed tray 11. The feeding tray 11 is pulled out in the pull-out direction D1 from the front surface 101F of the apparatus main body 101 toward the front side (lower right in the figure), and inserted in the insertion direction D2 opposite to the pull-out direction D1. Be done.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the feeding tray 11 includes a box-shaped tray main body 111 forming a space for storing sheets, and an intermediate plate 113 supported by the tray main body 111 so as to be able to move up and down. Further, the rear end regulating member 115 that regulates the position of the sheet stacked on the middle plate 113 in the sheet feeding direction and the position of the sheet in the direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction are regulated on the feeding tray 11. And side end regulating members 114, 114.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the feeding tray 11 is supported by the rail support member 28 fixed to the frame of the apparatus main body 101 via the rails 27. The rail 27 which is an example of the holding member can slide in the drawing direction D1 and the insertion direction D2 with respect to the rail support member 28 while holding the feeding tray 11. The feed tray 11 is provided on the side surface of the tray main body 111 in the width direction (horizontal direction orthogonal to the pull-out direction) so as to protrude, and is drawn by the rail 27 through the slider 30 extending along the pull-out direction D1. It is held slidably in the insertion direction D2. The rails 27 and the rail support members 28 are provided on both sides in the width direction with respect to the feeding tray 11.

  When the feeding tray 11 is accommodated in the apparatus main body 101, the rails 27 are accommodated inside the apparatus main body 101 (in the apparatus main body) (FIG. 2A). When the feed tray 11 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 101 in the pull-out direction D1, the rails 27 move in the pull-out direction D1 along with the feed tray 11, and at least a part of the rails 27 is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 101. It is configured as shown in FIG. 2 (b).

  As shown in FIG. 3, a rail urging spring 29 is stretched between the apparatus main body 101 and the rail 27. A rail biasing spring 29 provided as a biasing member for biasing the holding member directs the rail 27 to a predetermined position in the apparatus main body and biases the rail 27 in the insertion direction D2. The predetermined position of the rail 27 is a position at which the rail 27 is housed inside the apparatus main body 101, and for example, the position at which the entire rail 27 is on the downstream side of the front surface 101F of the apparatus main body 101 in the insertion direction D2.

  At the end of the pull-out direction D1 of the rail 27, an engagement portion 27a that engages with a stopper provided on the feeding tray 11 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, stoppers 31 which are an example of the moving member are movably supported by the tray main body 111 and provided on both sides in the width direction of the feeding tray 11. Further, the sliders 30 of the feeding tray 11 are provided with rollers 30 a and 30 b that rotate in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the rails 27.

  The detailed configuration of the stopper 31 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the stopper 31 has a direction A1 projecting outward of the slider 30 in the width direction and a recess 30d provided on the slider 30 about the axis 31a extending in the vertical direction. It can be pivoted in the direction A2 of retracting inward. The stopper 31 is urged by a stopper urging spring 32 in a direction A1 which protrudes from the slider 30. Therefore, the state shown in FIG. 5A is the home position, and when the stopper 31 is pushed against the urging force of the stopper urging spring 32, the stopper 31 becomes the state shown in FIG. 5B and is retracted. That is, the stopper biasing spring 32 is an example of biasing means for biasing the stopper 31 which is a moving member toward a position (home position) where it can be engaged with the engaging portion 27 a of the rail 27.

  The stopper 31 has an engaging surface 31b as a first surface that can be engaged with the engaging portion 27a, and an inclined surface as a second surface that abuts the engaging portion 27a in the mounting operation of the feed tray 11 described later. And 31c. When the stopper 31 is at the home position, the engagement surface 31 b and the inclined surface 31 c protrude outside the recess 30 d of the slider 30. When the inclined surface 31c is pressed by the engaging portion 27a, at least a part of the engaging surface 31b and the inclined surface 31c is configured to retract inside the recess 30d.

(Drawer operation)
The operation of pulling out the feeding tray 11 from the apparatus main body 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). 6A shows a state in which the feeding tray 11 is stored in the apparatus main body 101, that is, a state in which the front plate 112 of the feeding tray 11 is pushed in the insertion direction D2 to a position where the front plate 112 It corresponds to (a). When the user starts pulling out the feeding tray 11, the stopper 31 of the feeding tray 11 engages with the engaging portion 27a of the rail 27 as shown in FIG. 6B, and the feeding tray 11 and the rail 27 are integrated. Will move to When the rail 27 is pulled out in the pull-out direction D1 by a predetermined amount with respect to the apparatus main body 101, the movement of the rail 27 in the pull-out direction D1 is restricted by the configuration such as a stopper disposed on the rail support member. As a result, the feeding tray 11 is stopped at a position where the rail 27 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 by a predetermined amount and the stopper 31 engages with the engaging portion 27a of the rail 27 and further movement in the pulling direction D1. Is regulated. The predetermined amount defining the amount by which the rail 27 can be drawn is, for example, a position where the entire space in which the sheet feeding tray 11 can accommodate the sheet can be exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 101 (see FIG. It is set so that the feeding tray 11 can be pulled out up to 2 (b).

  That is, even if the user withdraws the feeding tray 11, the feeding tray 11 is configured not to be separated from the rail 27 by the movement in the pulling direction D1, so the user can easily perform the sheet replenishment and replacement work. . When it is not necessary to remove the feeding tray 11 from the rail 27, the feeding tray 11 is again stored in the apparatus main body 101 together with the rail 27 by pushing back the feeding tray 11 in the insertion direction D 2.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, in the state where the rail 27 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101, normally, there is no obstacle vertically above the feeding tray 11, so the feeding tray 11 should be lifted upward. Can. The rail 27 is provided with a notch 27b in which the upper portion of the rail 27 is notched upward, and the width L1 of the notch 27b is set to such a size that the stopper 31 can pass with ease. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the feeding tray 11 is lifted upward, the engagement between the feeding tray 11 and the rail 27 is released without the stopper 31 interfering with the engaging portion 27a, and the feeding tray 11 can be removed.

  The rail 27 is urged in the insertion direction D2 by the above-described rail urging spring 29. When the user lifts the feeding tray 11, the rail 27 moves in the insertion direction D2 to more reliably carry the rail 27 and the rail 27. The engagement of the feeding tray 11 is released. Thereafter, the rail 27 is housed inside the apparatus main body 101 by the biasing force of the rail biasing spring 29. By storing the rails 27 in the apparatus main body, the rails 27 are prevented from being left as they protrude outside the apparatus main body 101 in a state in which the feeding tray 11 is removed, and the workability such as sheet exchange is improved. Do. The rail urging spring 29 may be any type as long as the rail 27 can be stored in the apparatus main body 101 when the sheet feeding tray 11 is removed, and the sheet feeding tray with the sheet feeding tray 11 attached to the rail 27 It is not necessary to draw 11 into the device body 101. In other words, the spring constant of the rail urging spring 29 is sufficient, for example, to such an extent that the entire rail 27 is accommodated in the apparatus main body 101 in a state where the feeding tray 11 is detached from the rail 27.

  In the above configuration, for example, the height of the engaging portion 27a in the vertical direction is changed to easily adjust the amount of engagement between the stopper 31 and the engaging portion 27a, that is, the depth between the feed tray 11 and the rail 27. can do. Therefore, it is possible to arbitrarily adjust the balance between the difficulty of dropping the feeding tray 11 and the ease of the operation of removing the feeding tray 11.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the engaging surface 31b (first surface) of the stopper 31 is tapered with respect to the plane W perpendicular to the drawing direction D1, and the engaging portion 27a is formed. The engaging surface 27c of this is also formed in a tapered shape parallel to the engaging surface 31b. The inclination direction of the tapered shape is the direction toward the pull-out direction D1 as it extends outward (downward in the drawing) in the width direction which is the movement direction of the stopper 31. In other words, when the feeding tray 11 tries to move in the pull-out direction D1 with respect to the rail 27 with the stopper 31 engaged with the engaging portion 27a, the engagement portion in the engaging portions 31b and 27c engages. Forces f1 and f2 in the direction of maintaining the state are generated. The force f1 acts on the stopper 31, which is a moving member, as a force in the direction A1 opposite to the direction A2 retracted from the engaging portion 27a, and the engaging portion 27a is unintentionally moved by the stopper 31 from the outside. Can be prevented from leaving. In addition, the force f2 acts as a force urging the rails 27, 27 inward in the width direction, so that the rails 27 are prevented from opening (deflection from the feeding tray 11 in the width direction). It is broken.

(Mounting operation)
Next, an operation in the case of mounting the feeding tray 11 in a state of being removed from the apparatus main body 101 to the image forming apparatus main body will be described. When the feeding tray 11 is attached, as shown in FIG. 9, the feeding tray 11 is moved in the insertion direction D 2 in a substantially horizontal posture, and is inserted into the apparatus main body 101. By the action of the rail urging spring 29 described above, the rail 27 is usually drawn into a predetermined position inside the apparatus main body 101 at the time of mounting the feeding tray 11.

  When the feeding tray 11 is inserted as shown in FIG. 10A, an abutting portion 27 d which is an end on the upstream side in the insertion direction D 2 of the rail 27 abuts on the inclined surface 31 c of the stopper 31. Then, as shown in FIG. 10B, the inclined surface 31c is pressed by the contact portion 27d, so that it is rotated in the direction A2, and is retracted to a position not interfering with the engagement portion 27a. Then, when the stopper 31 passes through the engaging portion 27 a in the retracted state, the slider 30 of the feeding tray 11 is fitted to the rail 27, and the feeding tray 11 is held by the rail 27. By further moving the feeding tray 11 in the insertion direction D2, the mounting operation of the feeding tray 11 is completed. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 27d is provided at the end (see FIG. 8) of the plate-like member constituting the engagement portion 27a on the opposite side to the engagement surface 27c. 27a and contact part 27d may be separate members.

  Here, if the stopper 31 is a fixing member fixed to the feeding tray 11, the sheet is fed along a path such that the stopper 31 passes over the engaging portion 27a to avoid interference with the engaging portion 27a. The mounting operation of the tray 11 is performed. When the mounting operation is performed with the rails 27 housed in the apparatus main body 101 as in the present embodiment, for example, the feeding tray 11 is inserted in a posture in which the feeding tray 11 is inclined to the horizontal surface in the front of the apparatus main body 101 It needs space as much as possible. In this case, it is necessary to secure an extra space in the vertical direction as compared with the minimum space for pulling out the feeding tray 11, which hinders downsizing of the apparatus. Further, the larger the amount of vertical engagement between the stopper 31 and the engaging portion 27a, the larger the need to incline the feeding tray 11 in the mounting operation, so the size of the space where the amount of engagement can be secured in the apparatus It is limited by On the other hand, in the configuration of the present embodiment, since the stopper 31 is configured to be retracted in the mounting operation of the feeding tray 11, the feeding tray of the substantially horizontal posture is moved in parallel in the insertion direction D2. The mounting operation can be performed. In other words, it is not necessary to secure an extra space in the vicinity of the opening of the apparatus main body 101 other than the space for pulling out the feeding tray 11 in order to mount the feeding tray 11.

  In addition, as the configuration in which the stopper 31 is fixed to the feeding tray 11 and the engagement between the stopper 31 and the engaging portion 27 a is released and the feeding tray 11 is removed from the rail 27, the feeding tray 11 is not inclined. Methods are also conceivable. For example, it is conceivable that the stopper and the engaging portion are engaged and disengaged when the feeding tray 11 is slid in the direction crossing the drawing direction D1. Even with such a configuration, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, a space for sliding the feeding tray 11 is not necessary.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the feeding tray 11 is removed from the rail 27 with the rail 27 being pulled out of the apparatus main body 101, and the feeding tray is stored with the rail 27 stored in the device main body 101. 11. A mounting operation is performed. Then, when the feeding tray 11 is inserted in the insertion direction D2 opposite to the drawing-out direction D1, the stopper 31 which is a moving member abuts on the contact portion 27d (the end of the drawing-out direction D1 of the rail 27). To the position where it does not interfere with the engaging portion 27a. For this reason, the feeding tray 11 is moved in the inserting direction D2 to the apparatus main body 101 by moving the feeding tray 11 in the insertion direction D2 without impairing the function of the stopper 31 which prevents the feeding tray 11 from falling off due to the movement in the drawing direction D1. It can be worn. That is, there is no need to secure a movement path for removing and mounting the feeding tray 11 with respect to the apparatus main body 101 in addition to the space for inserting and pulling out the feeding tray 11 inside the apparatus main body. Can be In addition, since the mounting operation is completed in one operation of inserting the feeding tray 11 into the apparatus main body 101 without requiring the operation of inclining the feeding tray 11 in order to get over the engaging portion 27a, the usability can be improved. it can.

(Modification)
In this embodiment, the rail 27 from which the feeding tray 11 is removed is automatically stored in the apparatus main body 101 by the urging force of the rail urging spring 29. However, the user manually operates the rail 27 It may be configured to be housed in the main body 101. Further, for example, the drawing direction D1 may be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and the rail 27 from which the feeding tray 11 is removed may be stored in the apparatus main body 101 by its own weight. In such a configuration as well, by making the stopper 31 retractable from the engaging portion 27a in the mounting operation of the feeding tray 11, the device can be miniaturized.

  In the present embodiment, the feeding tray 11 is described as being held movably by the rail 27 serving as the holding member, but the feeding tray 11 attached to the holding member is always integrated with the holding member. It may be configured to move relative to the device body. Even with such a configuration, in the mounting operation of inserting the feeding tray 11 into the apparatus main body, the stopper 31 can be retracted from the engaging portion 27a, whereby the apparatus can be miniaturized.

  Next, a sheet stacking apparatus according to a second embodiment (Example 2) will be described with reference to FIGS. In the sheet stacking apparatus according to the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the stopper 33 corresponding to the moving member is provided on the rail 35 corresponding to the holding member, and the engaging portion 36 a is provided on the feeding tray 11. There is. Hereinafter, elements common to the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals as the first embodiment and the description will be omitted.

  The rails 35 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B are movably supported by the apparatus main body 101 of the printer 100, and movably hold the feeding tray 11 in the pull-out direction D1 and the insertion direction D2. The rail 35 is provided with a stopper 33 rotatable at an end position in the pull-out direction D1 about an axis 33a extending in the vertical direction. The stopper 33 is in contact with an engagement surface 33 b as a first surface that can be engaged with the engagement portion 36 a provided on the feeding tray 11 and a contact portion 30 c described later in the mounting operation of the feeding tray 11. And an inclined surface 33c as a second surface.

  The stopper 33 which is another example of the moving member is movable in a direction B1 of projecting inward in the rail 35 in the width direction and a direction B2 of retracting inward of a recess provided in the rail 35. The stopper biasing spring 34 as biasing means biases the stopper 33 in the direction B1 of projecting from the rail 35. The stopper 33 is in the home position shown in FIG. 11A, and when the stopper 33 is pushed against the urging force of the stopper urging spring 34, the stopper 33 is in the state shown in FIG. Evacuate to a position that does not interfere with 36a.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the slider 30 of the feeding tray 11 is provided with a groove 36b for receiving the stopper 33, and an engaging portion 36a is provided at the end of the groove 36b in the insertion direction D2. In the slider 30, the groove 36b is cut downward in the vertical direction at a position adjacent to the engaging portion 36a, and the stopper 33 is separated from the groove 36b when the feeding tray 11 moves upward. An acceptable notch 36c is provided.

  13 (a) to 13 (c) for the operation when the feeding tray 11 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 101 and when the feeding tray 11 in a state of being removed from the apparatus main body 101 is attached to the apparatus main body 101. Explain. Each of FIGS. 13A and 13B is a top view of the vicinity of the stopper 33 viewed from above in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, when the operation of pulling out the feeding tray 11 stored in the apparatus main body 101 in the pull-out direction D1 is started, the engaging portion 36a of the feeding tray 11 engages with the engaging surface 33b of the stopper 33. Approach to Then, as shown in FIG. 13, when the engaging portion 36a abuts on the engaging surface 33b, the feeding tray 11 and the rail 35 move integrally in the drawing direction D1. When the rail 35 is pulled out by a predetermined amount, the movement of the feeding tray 11 and the rail 35 is restricted. As in the first embodiment, when the rail 35 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 101, there is usually no obstacle above the feeding tray 11, so the feeding tray 11 can be lifted upward. In this case, since the stopper 33 is separated from the feeding tray 11 via the notch 36c, the feeding tray 11 can be removed from the rail 35.

  Also in the case where the feeding tray 11 in a state of being removed from the rail 35 is attached to the apparatus main body 101, as in FIG. 13C, if the feeding tray 11 is inserted in the insertion direction D2 as in FIG. Good. At this time, the abutment portion 30c (see FIG. 12) at the end of the insertion direction D2 of the slider 30 of the feeding tray 11 abuts on the inclined surface 33c of the stopper 33, whereby the stopper 33 is engaged with the engagement portion 36a. It turns in the B2 direction to a position where it does not interfere. Then, with the movement of the feeding tray 11, the feeding tray 11 is held by the rail 35 and is stored in the apparatus main body 101 by passing the stopper 33 in a state in which the engaging portion 36 a is retracted. Become.

  As described above, also in the present embodiment, when the feeding tray 11 is inserted in the insertion direction D2 opposite to the pulling-out direction D1, the stopper 33 which is a moving member is in contact with the contact portion 30c of the feeding tray 11. It is configured to be retracted to a position where it abuts and does not interfere with the engaging portion 36a. Therefore, the feeding tray 11 is moved to the apparatus main body 101 by the operation of moving the feeding tray 11 in the inserting direction D2 without impairing the function of the stopper 33 which prevents the feeding tray 11 from falling off due to the movement in the drawing direction D1. It can be worn. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to secure an extra space other than the space for inserting and drawing out the feeding tray 11, and the apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, since the mounting operation is completed by one operation of moving the feeding tray 11 in the insertion direction D2, usability can be improved.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in contrast to the first embodiment, the stopper 33 (moving member) is disposed on the rail 35 (holding member), and the engaging portion 36a and the abutting portion 30c are the sheet feeding tray 11 (sheet stacking Means) is disposed. That is, if the moving member is disposed on one of the sheet stacking means and the holding member, and the engaging portion and the abutting portion are disposed on the other of the sheet stacking means and the holding member, these arrangements can be interchanged. . In the case of the arrangement of this embodiment, since the movable stopper 33 is arranged on the rail 35, it is advantageous in achieving the downsizing and simplification of the feeding tray 11.

  Next, a sheet stacking apparatus according to a third embodiment (Example 3) will be described using FIGS. 14 to 18. The sheet stacking apparatus according to the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the moving direction of the stopper 37 corresponding to the moving member, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, elements common to the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals as the first embodiment and the description will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the stopper 37 as a moving member according to the present embodiment is disposed to project downward from the slider 30 of the feeding tray 11. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the stopper 37 has an engaging surface 37b as a first surface engageable with an engaging portion 39a described later, and an attaching surface 37b described later in the mounting operation of the feeding tray 11. And an inclined surface 37c as a second surface to be in contact with the contact portion 39c. Although the contact portion 39c in the present embodiment is provided at the end of the projection constituting the engagement portion 27a on the opposite side to the engagement surface to the stopper 37, the engagement portion and the contact portion And may be separate members.

  The stopper 33 is movable in a direction C1 projecting downward of the slider 30 and a direction C2 retreating inside the recess 30d provided on the slider 30, with an axis 37a extending in the width direction as a center. A stopper biasing spring 38 as biasing means biases the stopper 37 downward. When the stopper 37 is pushed in against the urging force of the stopper urging spring 38, the stopper 37 is in the state shown in FIG. 15 (b). Evacuate to a position where it does not interfere.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the rail 39 as a holding member for holding the feed tray 11 is provided with an engagement portion 39 a which engages with the engagement surface 37 b of the stopper 37. At a position adjacent to the engaging portion 39a, a notch 39b having a notch shape in which the upper portion of the rail 39 is opened upward is provided, and when the feeding tray 11 moves upward, the stopper 37 and the slider 30 is configured to allow it to disengage from the rail 39. Further, at the end of the pulling direction D1 of the rail 39, an abutting portion 39c is provided which abuts on the inclined surface 37c of the stopper 37 to retract the stopper 37 when the feeding tray 11 is mounted on the apparatus main body 101. There is.

  Next, the operation of pulling out the feeding tray 11 from the apparatus main body 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b). FIG. 17A corresponds to the state in which the feeding tray 11 is stored in the apparatus main body 101. When the user starts pulling out the feeding tray 11, the stopper 37 of the feeding tray 11 engages with the engaging portion 39a of the rail 39 as shown in FIG. 17B, and the feeding tray 11 and the rail 39 are integrated. Will move to When the rail 27 is pulled out by a predetermined amount in the pull-out direction D1 with respect to the apparatus main body 101, the movement of the feeding tray 11 and the rail 39 is stopped. Movement in the further drawing direction D1 is restricted.

  As shown in FIG. 18A, when the feed tray 11 is lifted upward with the rail 39 pulled out from the apparatus main body 101, the engagement surface 37b of the stopper 37 is disengaged from the engagement portion 39a of the rail 39. . Thus, the feeding tray 11 can be removed from the rail 39.

  When the feeding tray 11 removed from the apparatus main body 101 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the feeding tray 11 is moved in the insertion direction D2 in a substantially horizontal posture as shown in FIG. It is inserted into the device main body 101. Then, as shown in FIG. 18C, the contact portion 39c which is the end on the upstream side in the insertion direction D2 of the rail 39 abuts on the inclined surface 37c of the stopper 37 and retracts the stopper 37 from the engaging portion 39a. Rotate in the direction C2. Then, when the stopper 37 passes through the engagement portion 39 a in the retracted state, the slider 30 of the feeding tray 11 is fitted to the rail 39, and the feeding tray 11 is held by the rail 39. By further moving the feeding tray 11 in the insertion direction D2, the mounting operation of the feeding tray 11 is completed.

  As described above, also in the present embodiment, when the feeding tray 11 is inserted in the insertion direction D2 opposite to the pulling-out direction D1, the stopper 37 which is a moving member is in contact with the contact portion 39c of the feeding tray 11. It is configured to be retracted to a position where it abuts and does not interfere with the engaging portion 39a. Therefore, the feeding tray 11 is moved to the apparatus main body 101 by the operation of moving the feeding tray 11 in the inserting direction D2 without impairing the function of the stopper 37 which prevents the feeding tray 11 from falling off due to the movement in the drawing direction D1. It can be worn. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to secure an extra space other than the space for inserting and drawing out the feeding tray 11, and the apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, since the mounting operation is completed by one operation of moving the feeding tray 11 in the insertion direction D2, usability can be improved.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the stopper 37 is configured to be engageable with the engaging portion 39 a of the rail 39 by protruding below the slider 30. Therefore, even if the stopper biasing spring 38 is omitted, the stopper 37 tries to protrude below the slider 30 by its own weight, so that the same operation as that of this embodiment is realized. Therefore, for example, the spring constant of the stopper biasing spring 38 can be set smaller than in the first and second embodiments, and the resistance when the user inserts the feeding tray 11 can be reduced.

[Other embodiments]
In the first to third embodiments, the sheet stacking apparatus (sheet storage unit 103) incorporated in the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus has been described. However, the sheet stacking apparatus is provided separately from the apparatus main body having the printing function. It may be used as a sheet stacking device of a device for feeding a sheet.

11: Sheet stacking means (feed tray) / 27, 35, 39 ... Holding members (rails) / 27a, 36a, 39a ... Engaging portions / 27b, 36c, 39b ... Notched portions / 27d, 30c, 39c ... Contact part / 29 ... biasing member (rail biasing spring) / 31, 33, 37 ... moving member (stopper) / 31b, 33b, 37b ... first surface (engagement surface) / 31c, 33c, 37c ... first 2 surface (inclined surface) / 32, 34, 38 ... biasing means (stopper biasing spring) / 100 ... image forming apparatus (printer) / 101 ... apparatus main body / 102 ... image forming means (image forming unit) / 103 ... Sheet stacking device (sheet storage unit) / D1 ... pull-out direction / D2 ... insertion direction

Claims (11)

The device body,
A sheet stacking unit on which sheets can be stacked, which can be inserted into and withdrawn from the apparatus main body;
When the sheet stacking means is held and the sheet stacking means is moved in the drawing direction pulled out from the apparatus main body, it moves in the drawing direction along with the sheet stacking means and is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body; A holding member capable of removing the sheet loading means;
A movable member provided on one of the sheet stacking means and the holding member and movable in a movement direction intersecting the drawing direction;
An engaging portion which is provided on the other of the sheet stacking means and the holding member and which engages the moving member to restrict the sheet stacking means from being separated from the holding member by movement in the drawing direction;
When the sheet stacking means provided on the other of the sheet stacking means and the holding member and removed from the holding member is inserted into the apparatus main body in the insertion direction opposite to the drawing direction, And a contact portion for retracting to a position where the movement member does not interfere with the engaging portion.
A sheet loading device characterized by The moving member has a first surface inclined with respect to the insertion direction, and the first surface is pressed against the abutting portion when the sheet stacking unit is inserted into the apparatus main body. To move away from the engaging portion in the moving direction,
The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that The moving member has a second surface facing the engaging portion,
The second surface engages the force in the direction opposite to the direction in which it retracts from the engaging portion in the movement direction when the sheet stacking means is to move in the pull-out direction with respect to the holding member. Inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the drawing direction so as to be received from the joint,
The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet stacking apparatus is characterized in that: And a biasing unit configured to bias the moving member to a position engageable with the engaging portion in the moving direction.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: And a biasing member configured to move the holding member toward the inside of the apparatus main body when the holding member is urged in the insertion direction and the sheet stacking unit is removed from the holding member.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Provided from the other of the sheet stacking means and the holding member, the sheet stacking means is vertically movable with respect to the holding member so as to allow the sheet to be detached from the holding member by moving upward in the vertical direction. Equipped with a notched part that looks and is not
The holding member is movable to a position where at least the notch is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body when the sheet stacking unit is pulled out of the apparatus main body.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The holding member is a rail extending along the drawing direction,
The sheet stacking means is movably held by the rail.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The moving member is a member that rotates around an axis perpendicular to the drawing direction.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The moving member is provided to the sheet stacking unit,
The engagement portion and the contact portion are provided on the holding member.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The moving member is provided on the holding member,
The engagement portion and the contact portion are provided in the sheet stacking unit.
The sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: A sheet stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
An image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed from the sheet stacking apparatus;
An image forming apparatus characterized by

Images