JP2022029696A - Sheet storage device, and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sheet storage device with which mis-mounting of retracted parts and engaged parts can be prevented while cost reduction through commonality of components is possible.SOLUTION: A frame part has a sheet storage part which can move to a drawer position drawn from a device main body and a mounting position mounted on the device main body, and can store sheets. A boss part 41 as an engaged part is fixedly arranged on the frame part, and positions the frame part at a mounting position by being engaged with an engaging part provided on the device main body. A locking pin 51 as a retracted part is fixedly arranged on the frame part and has an outer shape smaller than that of the engaged part, and positions the frame part at the mounting position by being pulled into a pull-in device provided in the device main body. The boss part 41 and the locking pin 51 are placed at different positions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet storage device for storing a sheet and an image forming device.

Generally, for a seat storage device such as a feed cassette for storing a sheet, the sheet is replenished at the drawer position pulled out from the device body of the image forming device, and then the sheet is slid and set at the mounting position mounted on the device body. Then, the sheet can be sent. The seat storage device needs to be positioned and fixed at the mounting position in order to stably feed and feed the seat.

As a device for fixing the seat storage device to the above mounting position, two finger members elastically deformed are arranged inside the image forming device, a head member is arranged in the seat storage device, and the seat storage device is fixed by engaging them. (See Patent Document 1). Further, it has been proposed that a retracting device is arranged inside the image forming apparatus, a locking pin is arranged in one of the seat accommodating devices, and the locking pin is retracted by the retracting device to fix the seat accommodating device. (See Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3381435 Japanese Patent No. 4612883

By the way, when designing an image forming apparatus or a sheet storage apparatus, it is possible to standardize parts by making it possible to easily select either the method of Patent Document 1 or the method of Patent Document 2. It is conceivable to reduce the cost. However, in the method of fixing the head member by elastic deformation with the above two finger members, if the outer diameter of the head member is small, the maintenance of fixing may become unstable. On the other hand, in the method of retracting the locking pin by the retracting device, if the outer shape of the locking pin is large, the retracting device becomes large and the image forming apparatus becomes large.

It is also conceivable to selectively and detachably attach the head member and the locking pin to the seat storage device. However, there is a risk that the locking pin may be mistakenly attached to the seat accommodating device for the image forming apparatus provided with the above two finger members. On the contrary, there is a possibility that the head member is erroneously attached to the seat accommodating device for the image forming apparatus provided with the retracting device. If the head member or the locking pin is attached to the seat accommodating device in an improper combination as described above, the image forming apparatus may be damaged.

Therefore, the present invention provides a seat storage device and an image forming device that can prevent a mounting error between a retracted portion and an engaged portion while reducing costs by standardizing parts. Is the purpose.

One aspect of the present invention is a frame portion having a seat storage portion that can be moved to a drawer position drawn from the device main body and a mounting position mounted on the device main body and can store a seat, and the frame. An engaged portion that is fixedly arranged on the portion and engages with an engaging portion provided on the main body of the apparatus to position the frame portion at the mounting position, and an engaged portion that is fixedly arranged on the frame portion and is engaged with the frame portion. The outer shape is smaller than that of the device, and the frame portion is provided with a retracted portion for positioning the frame portion at the mounting position by being drawn into the retracting device provided in the main body of the apparatus. Is a seat storage device characterized in that the seats are arranged at different positions.

One aspect of the present invention is a frame portion having a seat storage portion that can be moved to a drawer position drawn from the device main body and a mounting position mounted on the device main body and can store a seat, and the frame. The first mounting portion for mounting the engaged portion, which is fixedly arranged on the portion and engages with the engaging portion provided on the main body of the apparatus to position the frame portion at the mounting position, and the fixed arrangement on the frame portion. It is provided with a second mounting portion for mounting a retracted portion for positioning the frame portion at the mounting position by being pulled into a pulling device provided in the apparatus main body, and the engaged portion is engaged with the first mounting portion. It is a seat storage device characterized in that a portion is attached or the retracted portion is attached to the second attachment portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost by standardizing the parts, but it is possible to prevent damage due to an incorrect mounting between the retracted portion and the engaged portion.

The whole schematic which shows the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the feeding cassette. (A) is a diagram showing a state in which the feed cassette is not detected by the cassette detection sensor. (B) is a diagram showing a state in which a feed cassette is detected by a cassette detection sensor. (A) is a diagram showing a state in which the feed cassette is in the mounting position and the boss portion is engaged with the engaging member. (B) is a diagram showing a state before the boss portion engages with the engaging member. (C) is a diagram showing a state in which the center of the boss portion passes through the narrow portion of the engaging member. (A) is a diagram showing a state in which the feeding cassette is in the mounting position and the locking pin is pulled into the pulling device. (B) is a diagram showing a state in which the locking pin is in contact with the pull-in hook. (C) is a diagram showing a state in which the position of the toggle spring reaches the rotation axis which is the neutral position. The perspective view which shows the holding member which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) is an upper view showing a state in which the engaging member and the boss portion are engaged and the feeding cassette is fixed. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the engaging member and the boss portion are engaged and the feeding cassette is fixed. (A) is an upper view showing a state in which the locking pin is pulled in by the pull-in device and the feeding cassette is fixed. (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the locking pin is pulled in by the pull-in device and the feeding cassette is fixed. The figure explaining the difference in the outer diameter of the boss portion and the locking pin of the holding member which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) Top view showing a feed cassette according to a second embodiment. (B) is an upper view showing a state in which the boss portion of the feed cassette and the engaging member according to the second embodiment are engaged with each other. (C) is an upper view showing a state in which the locking pin of the feed cassette according to the second embodiment is pulled into the pull-in device.

<First Embodiment>
[overall structure]
Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an image forming apparatus 201 according to the first embodiment. For example, an image forming unit 201B for forming an image on a sheet is mounted on an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body) 201A of an image forming apparatus 201 made of a printer, and an image reading device 202 is mounted above the apparatus main body 201A. Is installed almost horizontally. A discharge space S for discharging a sheet is formed between the image reading device 202 and the device main body 201A.

At the lower part of the apparatus main body 201A, there are a plurality of seat feeding devices 230 including a feeding cassette 1 for storing the seat P as a seat storing device and a feeding unit 13 for feeding the seat P from the feeding cassette 1. Have been placed. Each feeding unit 13 includes a pickup roller 8 that feeds the sheet P from the feeding cassette 1, a feed roller 9 and a retard roller 10 that separate and convey the sheet P fed from the pickup roller 8. The sheet P used as a recording medium includes paper such as plain paper and thick paper, special paper such as coated paper, plastic film for overhead projectors, cloth, envelopes, and the like.

Further, the device main body 201A is provided with a manual feed feeding device 300, and the manual feed feeding device 300 is provided with a manual feed tray 14 to which the sheet P is manually fed and a pickup roller for feeding the sheet P loaded on the manual feed tray 14. 16 and. Further, the manual feed feeding device 300 has a feed roller 17 and a retard roller 18 that separate and convey the sheet P fed by the pickup roller 16. The manual feed tray 14 is rotatably supported with respect to the apparatus main body 201A around the rotation shaft 12.

The image forming unit 201B as an image forming means is a 4-drum full-color electrophotographic unit. That is, the image forming unit 201B includes a laser scanner 210 and four process cartridges PY, PM, which form four color toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Equipped with PC and PK. Each process cartridge PY to PK includes a photosensitive drum 212 which is a photoconductor, a charger 213 which is a charging means, and a developing device 214 which is a developing means. Further, the image forming unit 201B includes an intermediate transfer unit 201C arranged above the process cartridges PY to PK, and a fixing unit 220. A toner cartridge 215 for supplying toner to the developer 214 is mounted above the intermediate transfer unit 201C.

The intermediate transfer unit 201C includes an intermediate transfer belt 216 wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. Inside the intermediate transfer belt 216, a primary transfer roller 219 is provided that abuts on the intermediate transfer belt 216 at a position facing each photosensitive drum 212. The intermediate transfer belt 216 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a drive roller 216a driven by a drive unit (not shown), and the negative electrode toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 212 is sequentially transferred by the primary transfer roller 219. Multiple transfer is performed on the belt 216.

At a position facing the drive roller 216a of the intermediate transfer unit 201C, a secondary transfer roller 217 for transferring the color image supported on the intermediate transfer belt 216 to the sheet P is provided. The fixing portion 220 is arranged above the secondary transfer roller 217, and the first discharge roller pair 225a, the second discharge roller pair 225b, and the double-sided reversing portion 201D are arranged above the fixing portion 220. The double-sided reversing section 201D is provided with a reversing roller pair 222 capable of forward / reversing and a re-conveying passage R or the like for transporting the sheet having an image formed on one surface to the image forming section 201B again. Further, the image forming apparatus 201 is equipped with a control unit 260 as a control means for controlling an image forming operation, a sheet feeding operation, and the like.

Next, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 201 will be described. The image information of the original is read by the image reading device 202, processed by the control unit 260, converted into an electric signal, and transmitted to the laser scanner 210 of the image forming unit 201B. In the image forming unit 201B, the laser beam from the laser scanner 210 is irradiated to the photosensitive drum 212 whose surface is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charger 213, and the drum surface is exposed as the drum rotates. Will be done. As a result, electrostatic latent images corresponding to monochromatic images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 of each process cartridge PY to PK. These electrostatic latent images are developed and visualized by each color toner supplied from the developer 214, and then superposed on each other from the photosensitive drum 212 to the intermediate transfer belt 216 by the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roller 219. It is also primary transferred.

In parallel with such a toner image forming operation, one sheet P is fed from one of the sheet feeding devices 230 and the manual feeding feeding device 250 toward the registration roller pair 240. After correcting the skew of the sheet P, the registration roller pair 240 sends the sheet P toward the secondary transfer roller 217 in accordance with the progress of toner image formation by the image forming unit 201B. In the transfer portion formed between the secondary transfer roller 217 and the intermediate transfer belt 216, the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 217 causes a full-color toner image to be collectively generated with respect to the sheet P. Next is transcribed. The sheet P to which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 220, and the toner of each color is melt-mixed by the heat and pressure applied in the fixing unit 220, so that the toner image is fixed to the sheet P as a color image.

After that, the sheet P is discharged to the discharge space S by the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b provided downstream of the fixing portion 220, and is discharged to the loading portion 223 arranged at the bottom of the discharge space S. It will be loaded. When an image is formed on both sides of the sheet P, the sheet P on which the image is formed on the first surface is conveyed to the retransport passage R in a state of being inverted by the reversing roller pair 222, and is conveyed to the image forming unit 201B again. To. Then, the sheet P whose image is formed on the second surface by the image forming unit 201B is discharged to the loading unit 223 by the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b.

The above image forming unit 201B is an example of an image forming means, and an electrophotographic unit of a direct transfer method that directly transfers a toner image formed on a photoconductor to a sheet may be used, and an inkjet method or an offset printing method may be used. Image forming means may be used.

[Feeding cassette]
Next, the feed cassette 1 as the seat storage device will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding cassette 1 includes a cassette frame 2 as a frame portion. The cassette frame 2 is provided with a pair of side regulation plates 20F and 20R and a rear end regulation plate 19, and a seat storage portion 21 capable of storing a sheet is configured by these. The cassette frame 2 of the feed cassette 1 is inserted and removed in the direction of arrow A along a rail (not shown) provided on the apparatus main body 201A. That is, the feed cassette 1 (cassette frame 2) can be moved to a drawer position drawn from the device main body 201A and a mounting position mounted on the device main body 201A. The arrow A direction is the width direction of the sheet orthogonal to the arrow B direction, which is the sheet feeding direction.

Guide grooves 2b and 2c are formed in the bottom plate 2a of the cassette frame 2 of the feeding cassette 1. The rear end restricting plate 19 can move along the guide groove 2c in a direction orthogonal to the arrow A direction, and regulates the position of the rear end of the sheet supported by the feed cassette 1. That is, the rear end regulation plate 19 can come into contact with the upstream end portion of the seat in the seat feeding direction. The side regulation plates 20F and 20R can move in the direction of arrow A along the guide groove 2b. The side restricting plates 20F and 20R move in conjunction with each other in a direction toward each other or away from each other by a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown).

[Cassette detection sensor]
Next, a cassette detection sensor for detecting that the feed cassette 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body 201A will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the cassette detection sensor 30 as a detection unit is attached to the rear frame 100 on the back side of the feed cassette 1 mounted on the apparatus main body 201A. There is. The cassette detection sensor 30 is composed of a push switch, and is arranged so that the detection switch 30a protrudes from the rear frame 100.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the feeding cassette 1 is not attached, the cassette detection sensor 30 and the pressing portion 31 provided on the feeding cassette 1 are separated from each other. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the feeding cassette 1 is correctly mounted at the mounting position, the pressing portion 31 of the feeding cassette 1 presses the detection switch 30a of the cassette detection sensor 30. As a result, the signal of the cassette detection sensor 30 is output toward the control unit 260, and it is detected that the feed cassette 1 is mounted on the apparatus main body 201A.

In the present embodiment, the cassette detection sensor 30 is used to detect the mounting position of the feed cassette 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the feed cassette 1 has a size detection sensor (not shown) that detects the size, the output terminal of the feed cassette 1 that outputs the signal comes into contact with the input terminal provided in the device main body 201A, and the control unit is contacted. It is also possible to detect the mounting position by transmitting a signal. In this case, it can be said that the size detection sensor constitutes a detection unit that detects that the feed cassette 1 is in the mounting position.

[Engagement means]
Subsequently, the configuration of the engaging means 40 when the engaging member 42 is installed in the image forming apparatus 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c). As shown in FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), and 4 (c), the engaging means 40 fixes the feed cassette 1 to the apparatus main body 201A of the image forming apparatus 201 at the mounting position. Is a means for.

The engaging means 40 is composed of an engaging member 42 as an engaging portion provided on the apparatus main body 201A and a boss portion 41 as an engaged portion provided on the feed cassette 1. The boss portion 41 is provided so as to be fixedly arranged on the back side of the cassette frame 2 (see FIG. 2) of the feed cassette 1, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. On the other hand, the engaging member 42 is configured to have two claw portions 43.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a guide portion 44 for guiding the boss portion 41 in the insertion direction is provided at the tips of the two claw portions 43, and the feed cassette 1 is inserted into the apparatus main body 201A. Then, the boss portion 41 is guided between the two claw portions 43. A narrow portion 45 narrower than the guide portion 44 is formed at the tip of the guide portion 44, and a locking portion 46 is formed on the back side of the narrow portion 45. The locking portion 46 has substantially the same diameter as the cylindrical boss portion 41.

As shown in FIG. 4 (c), when the feeding cassette 1 is further inserted into the apparatus main body 201A, the boss portion 41 elastically deforms the two claw portions 43, so that the center of the boss portion 41 is displaced. It passes through the narrow portion 45. Then, the elastic force of the two claw portions 43 automatically guides the boss portion 41 to the locking portion 46. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, the feed cassette 1 is positioned and fixed at the mounting position of the apparatus main body 201A.

Here, the positional relationship between the engaging means 40 and the cassette detection sensor 30 will be described. It is necessary to prevent the cassette detection sensor 30 from detecting the mounting position of the feeding cassette 1 when the feeding cassette 1 is incompletely mounted. Therefore, the cassette detection sensor 30 arranges the position for detecting the mounting position of the feed cassette 1 on the back side of the position where the center of the boss portion 41 passes through the narrow portion 45 (see FIG. 4C). In other words, the detection switch 30a of the cassette detection sensor 30 is not pressed by the pressing portion 31 at the position where the center of the boss portion 41 tries to pass through the narrow portion 45. As a result, the feed cassette 1 automatically guides the boss portion 41 to the mounting position by the elastic force of the engaging member 42, so that the cassette detection sensor 30 detects the mounting position of the feed cassette 1.

[Means of attraction]
Next, the configuration of the retracting means 50 when the retracting device 52 is installed in the image forming apparatus 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c). As shown in FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b), and 5 (c), the pull-in means 50 is a means for pulling the feed cassette 1 into the mounting position with respect to the apparatus main body 201A.

The pull-in means 50 is composed of a pull-in device 52 provided in the device main body 201A and a locking pin 51 as a pull-in portion provided in the feed cassette 1 and drawn into the pull-in device 52. The locking pin 51 is provided so as to be fixedly arranged on the back side of the cassette frame 2 (see FIG. 2) of the feeding cassette 1, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. On the other hand, the retracting device 52 is attached to the rear frame 100 of the device main body 201A.

The retracting device 52 includes a case member 55 attached to the device main body 201A, a toggle arm 53 rotatably provided on the case member 55 and lockable to the locking pin 51 of the feed cassette 1, and a toggle spring 54. ,have. The toggle spring 54 is stretched between the toggle arm 53 and the case member 55. Further, the toggle arm 53 is supported around the rotation shaft 57 so as to be rotatable with respect to the case member 55.

As shown in FIG. 5B, in the retracting device 52, when the feeding cassette 1 is not completely attached to the apparatus main body 201A, the retracting hook 56 at the tip of the toggle arm 53 is located at the standby position. .. When the feeding cassette 1 is inserted into the apparatus main body 201A and the locking pin 51 reaches the retracting device 52, the locking pin 51 engages with the retracting hook 56. Further, as the feeding cassette 1 is inserted, the toggle arm 53 rotates counterclockwise in the figure. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), when the toggle spring 54 exceeds the rotation shaft 57 which is a neutral point, a pulling force is generated and the feeding cassette 1 is automatically pulled into the mounting position (FIG. 5 (a)). reference).

Here, it is necessary to prevent the cassette detection sensor 30 from detecting the mounting position of the feeding cassette 1 when the feeding cassette 1 is incompletely mounted. Therefore, the position where the feed cassette 1 is detected by the cassette detection sensor 30 is arranged behind the position where the toggle spring 54 exceeds the rotation shaft 57 and the pulling force is generated (see FIG. 5 (c)). In other words, the detection switch 30a of the cassette detection sensor 30 is not pressed by the pressing portion 31 at the position where the toggle spring 54 tends to cross the rotation shaft 57. As a result, the feeding cassette 1 automatically pulls the locking pin 51 to the mounting position by the urging force of the toggle spring 54 of the pulling device 52, so that the cassette detection sensor 30 detects the mounting position of the feeding cassette 1. It will be.

[Holding member]
Next, the configuration of the holding member 60 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The holding member 60 is fixed to the feed cassette 1 via a pedestal 61. The holding member 60 has the above-mentioned boss portion 41 coaxially with the vertical direction orthogonal to the arrow A direction which is the insertion / removal direction of the feeding cassette 1 and the arrow B direction (see FIG. 2) which is the sheet feeding direction as the axial direction. And the locking pin 51 are arranged so that the locking pin 51 is on the upper side. That is, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are configured by a holding member 60 which is the same member so as to be integrated.

[Fixing by engaging means or retracting means]
Subsequently, regarding the fixing of the feed cassette 1 by the engaging means 40 or the pulling-in means 50 described above, FIGS. 7 (a), 7 (b), 8 (a), 8 (b), and 9 are shown. It will be described in detail using.

Since the feeding cassette 1 according to the first embodiment is provided with the holding member 60 having the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51, the apparatus main body 201A includes the engaging member 42 and the pulling device 52. Selectively install either one of them. As a result, in the same feeding cassette 1, one of the engaging means 40 and the pulling-in means 50 can be selected for fixing at the mounting position.

7 (a) and 7 (b) show a state in which the feed cassette 1 is fixed to the mounting position by the engaging means 40. When the feeding cassette 1 is inserted into the device main body 201A to which the engaging member 42 is attached, as described above, the guide portion 44 and the narrow portion of the two claw portions 43 provided on the engaging member 42 are inserted. It passes through 45 in order, and the boss portion 41 engages with the locking portion 46. As a result, the feed cassette 1 is fixed at the mounting position.

8 (a) and 8 (b) show a state in which the feed cassette 1 is fixed at the mounting position by the retracting means 50. When the feed cassette 1 is inserted into the device main body 201A to which the pull-in device 52 is attached, the locking pin 51 is locked with the pull-in hook 56 provided in the pull-in device 52 as described above. Further, as the feeding cassette 1 is further inserted, the toggle spring 54 exceeds the rotation shaft 57, which is a neutral point, to generate a pulling force, and the feeding cassette 1 is automatically pulled into the mounting position. As a result, the feed cassette 1 is fixed at the mounting position.

As described above, the holding member 60 has the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 arranged in the vertical direction, and as shown in FIG. 9, the holding member 60 is formed so as to have a different outer diameter. Assuming that the outer diameter of the boss portion 41 is D1 and the outer diameter of the locking pin 51 is D2, the relationship between the outer diameter D1 and the outer diameter D2 is D1> D2. That is, the boss portion 41 is formed to have a larger outer diameter than the locking pin 51, in other words, the locking pin 51 is formed to have a smaller outer diameter than the boss portion 41.

That is, if the outer diameter of the boss portion 41 is small, for example, the outer diameter D2 of the locking pin 51, the engaging member 42 also needs to be inevitably small. Then, before the center of the boss portion 41 passes through the narrow portion 45 (see FIG. 4B), the cassette detection sensor 30 is pushed by the feeding cassette 1, and the feeding cassette 1 is in the mounting position. There is a risk of false detection. On the other hand, if the outer diameter of the locking pin 51 is large, for example, the outer diameter D1 of the boss portion 41, it is necessary to increase the size of the retracting device 52. Therefore, it is required that the outer diameter of the boss portion 41 is large and the outer diameter of the locking pin 51 is small. Therefore, by setting the relationship between the outer diameters to D1> D2, the cassette detection sensor 30 is erroneously detected. It is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus 201 from becoming large in size.

Further, by using the configuration of the present embodiment, for example, by adopting the retracting device 52 for a high-priced product and adopting the engaging member 42 for a low-priced product, the same supply can be achieved. The feed cassette 1 will be able to meet each specification. As a result, the feed cassette 1 can be standardized, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of types of feed cassettes 1, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are integrally formed on the holding member 60, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are not selectively attached to the feed cassette 1, and the attachment is incorrect. Does not occur. That is, when the specification is such that the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are selectively attached to the same position, the boss portion 41 is attached to the feed cassette 1 and the pull-in device 52 is attached to the apparatus main body 201A. The portion 41 may interfere with the retracting device 52 and cause damage. However, since the design positions of the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are different, the positions of the engaging member 42 and the retracting device 52 in the device main body 201A are also different, and they are prevented from interfering with each other.

Further, for example, when the feed cassette 1 of the image forming apparatus provided with the pull-in device 52 and the feed cassette 1 of the image forming apparatus provided with the engaging member 42 are replaced with each other, the boss portion. If the position of 41 and the position of the locking pin 51 are the same, it may lead to damage. However, by designing the image forming apparatus 201 so as to correspond to the feeding cassette 1 having the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 at different positions, the same feeding cassette 1 can be used with either image forming apparatus. I can handle it. As a result, even if the feed cassette 1 is replaced, there is no risk of damage.

In the first embodiment, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are integrally configured as the holding member 60, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, only the boss portion 41 may be attached to the position of the holding member 60 so that there is nothing at the position of the locking pin 51. In this case, even if the feed cassette 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 201 which has no engaging member 42 and is provided with the retracting device 52, it is not fixed at the mounting position, but the boss portion 41 interferes with the retracting device 52. That is, there is no risk of damage. On the other hand, only the locking pin 51 may be attached to the position of the holding member 60, that is, the position of the boss portion 41 may be configured to have the same outer diameter as the locking pin 51. In this case, even if the feeding cassette 1 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 201 without the retracting device 52 and the engaging member 42, the locking pin 51 is not fixed at the mounting position, but the engaging member 42 is attached. Does not interfere with, that is, there is no risk of damage.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment in which the first embodiment is partially modified will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b), and 10 (c). In the description of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the feed cassette 1 according to the first embodiment, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are provided in the same holding member 60. On the other hand, in the feed cassette 1 according to the second embodiment, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are provided as separate parts at different locations.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10A, the boss portion 41 is a pedestal 61 as a first mounting portion arranged on the back side of the feed cassette 1 substantially in the same manner as in the first embodiment (FIG. 10). 6) is attached. On the other hand, the locking pin 51 is fitted and mounted in the fitting hole 2A as the second mounting portion formed on the inner side of the cassette frame 2 (see FIG. 2) of the feeding cassette 1, and is mounted in the seat feeding direction. (Arrow B direction in FIG. 2) is arranged so as to be in the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 10B, it is assumed that the engaging member 42 is attached to the apparatus main body 201A of the image forming apparatus 201, and the retracting apparatus 52 is not attached. When the feeding cassette 1 is inserted into such an image forming apparatus 201 at the mounting position, the engaging member 42 and the boss portion 41 engage with each other, and the feeding cassette 1 is fixed at the mounting position.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), it is assumed that the retracting device 52 is attached to the apparatus main body 201A of the image forming apparatus 201, and the engaging member 42 is not attached. When the feeding cassette 1 is inserted into the mounting position in such an image forming apparatus 201, the locking pin 51 is pulled in by the pulling device 52, and the feeding cassette 1 is fixed at the mounting position.

As described above, also in the feed cassette 1 according to the second embodiment, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are arranged at different positions. Therefore, by designing the image forming apparatus 201 so as to correspond to such a feeding cassette 1, either image forming apparatus can correspond to the same feeding cassette 1. As a result, even if the feed cassette 1 is replaced, there is no risk of damage.

Further, in the feeding cassette 1 according to the second embodiment, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are made of separate parts. Therefore, either one of the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 may be selectively provided in the feed cassette 1. That is, the feed cassette 1 provided with the boss portion 41 can be used for the image forming apparatus 201 to which the engaging member 42 is attached. Further, the feed cassette 1 provided with the locking pin 51 can be used for the image forming apparatus 201 to which the retracting device 52 is attached. In this case, if the feed cassette 1 is replaced, it cannot be fixed at the mounting position, but since the positions of the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are different, it interferes with the engaging member 42 and the pulling device 52. No, that is, there is no risk of damage.

Since the configurations, actions, and effects of the other second embodiments are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the cassette frame 2 provided with the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 (holding member 60) as separate parts has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be integrally formed with the cassette frame 2.

Further, in the first embodiment, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 are integrally formed as the holding member 60, but this is the same as the one in which another component is integrally fixed. It includes the concept of being integrally formed of materials.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 have a cylindrical shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. The boss portion 41 may have an outer shape that can be engaged with the engaging member 42, and the locking pin 51 may have an outer shape that can be retracted by the retracting device 52. Further, the boss portion 41 and the locking pin 51 do not have to be coaxial.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the seat accommodating device is a feeding cassette provided in the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a feeding cassette provided in a feeding deck or the like capable of feeding a sheet to the image forming apparatus, or may be a feeding cassette provided in a feeding cassette stand or the like attached as an option to the image forming apparatus. ..

1 ... Sheet storage device (feed cassette) / 2 ... Frame part (cassette frame) / 2A ... Second mounting part (fitting hole) / 21 ... Sheet storage part / 30 ... Detection part (cassette detection sensor) / 41 ... Engagement part (boss part) / 42 ... Engagement part (engagement member) / 51 ... Engagement part (locking pin) / 52 ... Engagement device / 61 ... First mounting part (pedestal) / 201 ... Image formation Device / 201A ... Device body / 201B ... Image forming unit / P ... Sheet

Claims (8)

A frame portion having a seat storage portion that can be moved to a drawer position pulled out from the device main body and a mounting position mounted on the device main body and can store a seat, and a frame portion.
An engaged portion that is fixedly arranged on the frame portion and engages with an engaging portion provided on the main body of the apparatus to position the frame portion at the mounting position.
A retracted portion that is fixedly arranged on the frame portion, has a smaller outer shape than the engaged portion, and is retracted into a retracting device provided in the apparatus main body to position the frame portion at the mounting position. Prepare,
The engaged portion and the retracted portion are arranged at different positions.
A seat storage device characterized by this. The engaged portion and the retracted portion are each formed in a cylindrical shape.
The outer diameter of the retracted portion was formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the engaged portion.
The seat storage device according to claim 1. The engaged portion and the retracted portion are integrally formed.
The seat storage device according to claim 2, wherein the seat storage device is characterized by the above. The engaged portion and the retracted portion are arranged coaxially.
The seat storage device according to claim 3, wherein the seat storage device is characterized by the above. A frame portion having a seat storage portion that can be moved to a drawer position pulled out from the device main body and a mounting position mounted on the device main body and can store a seat, and a frame portion.
A first mounting portion for mounting an engaged portion that is fixedly arranged on the frame portion and engages with an engaging portion provided on the main body of the apparatus to position the frame portion at the mounting position.
A second mounting portion for mounting a retracted portion, which is fixedly arranged on the frame portion and is retracted into a retracting device provided in the apparatus main body to position the frame portion at the mounting position, is provided.
The engaged portion is attached to the first mounting portion, or the retracted portion is attached to the second mounting portion.
A seat storage device characterized by this. The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are arranged at different positions with respect to the seat storage portion.
The seat storage device according to claim 5. The seat storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet fed from the sheet storage device, and an image forming unit.
With the engaging portion or the retracting device,
An image forming apparatus characterized in that. A detection unit for detecting that the seat storage device is located at the mounting position is provided.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.

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