JP2023176456A - Sheet feeding device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve an operability of a side end guide in a configuration in which blowing means moves integrally with the side end guide.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding device includes: a stacking member; feeding means; a first side end guide and a second side end guide regulating a position of a sheet in a sheet width direction; a first interlocking mechanism interlocking the first side end guide and the second side end guide; a second interlocking mechanism interlocking the first side end guide and the second side end guide, and disposed upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in a feeding direction; blowing means for blowing air to an edge of the sheet in the sheet width direction through an air outlet provided on the first side end guide, and configured to move integrally with the first side end guide; and an operating section provided on the first side end guide or the second side end guide, and receiving an operating force for moving the first side end guide and the second side end guide. The operating section and the blowing means are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds sheets, and an image forming device that forms images on sheets.

In recent years, even in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses used in offices, there has been a demand for high quality and high image quality products using special paper such as coated paper and cardboard. However, these special papers have a highly smooth surface and sheets tend to stick to each other, so compared to general office paper or recycled paper, it is difficult to make one sheet out of a stack of sheets. It is difficult to separate and feed the sheets one by one.

Patent Document 1 describes a technique for assisting sheet separation by blowing air to the side edges of a sheet bundle set on a manual feed tray. According to this document, the blower that blows air to the side edges of the sheet is arranged on the opposite side of the guide member that regulates the position of the side edges of the sheet.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-256819

By configuring the blowing means for blowing air onto the sheet so as to move together with the side edge guide, it becomes possible to handle sheets of various sizes. However, due to the weight of the air blowing means, the side end guide is likely to be twisted when the user operates the side end guide, which may reduce operability.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a configuration that can improve operability.

One aspect of the present invention is that a stacking member on which sheets are stacked, a feeding unit that feeds the sheets in a feeding direction, and a stacking member that faces each other in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, a first side edge guide and a second side edge guide that are movable in the sheet width direction and that regulate the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction; and a first side edge guide that interlocks the first side edge guide and the second side edge guide. an interlocking mechanism, and a second interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, the second interlocking mechanism being disposed upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction. and a blowing means for blowing air to the end of the sheet in the sheet width direction through an air outlet provided in the first side end guide, the blowing means being configured to move integrally with the first side end guide. an operating section that is provided on the first side guide or the second side guide and receives an operating force for moving the first side guide and the second side guide; The sheet feeding device is characterized in that the operation section and the air blowing means are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve operability.

1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the manual feeding unit according to the first embodiment, viewed from above. Schematic diagrams (a, b) showing a cross section of a manual feeding section according to Example 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of a manual feeding section according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the manual feeding unit according to the first embodiment, viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the manual feeding unit according to the first embodiment, viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the manual feeding unit according to the first embodiment, viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram showing the inside of the feeding tray according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram showing a cross section of the manual feeding section according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a manual feeding unit according to a second embodiment, viewed from above. Schematic diagrams (a, b) of a manual feeding section according to a modification seen from above.

Embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the present disclosure, an "image forming apparatus" refers to an apparatus that forms an image on a sheet as a recording material. Image forming apparatuses include printers, copiers, multifunction devices, commercial printing machines, and the like.

《Example 1》
(Image forming device)
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 201 according to an embodiment (Example 1). The image forming apparatus 201 is a tandem intermediate transfer type laser beam printer using an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 201 can form and output a full-color or monochrome image on the sheet S based on image data. Sheets S include paper such as plain paper and thick paper, plastic films, cloth, sheet materials with surface treatments such as coated paper, sheet materials with special shapes such as envelopes and index paper, etc., with different sizes and materials. A variety of sheets can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 201 includes an apparatus main body 201A that houses an image forming section 201B, an image reading apparatus 300 that is placed above the apparatus main body 201A and reads image information from a document, and controls the operation of the entire apparatus. A control unit 100 (FIG. 2) is provided. The image forming section 201B, which is an example of an image forming means, includes four process units PY, PM, PC, and PK, an exposure device 210, a transfer belt 216, and a fixing device 201E. A discharge space V for sheet discharge is formed between the image reading device 202 and the device main body 201A.

Each of the process units PY, PM, PC, and PK includes a photosensitive drum 212 as an image carrier, a charging device 213 as a process means that acts on the photosensitive drum 212, a developing device 214, a cleaning device, and the like. The photosensitive drum 212 is an electrophotographic photosensitive member formed in a drum shape. The developing device 214 stores any one of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner as a developer. An exposure device 210 as a process means (exposure means) is arranged below the process units PY, PM, PC, and PK.

Transfer belt 216 is an example of an intermediate transfer body. The transfer belt 216 is wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. Four primary transfer rollers 219 are arranged inside the transfer belt 216 at positions facing the photosensitive drums 212 with the transfer belt 216 in between. The transfer belt 216 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure by a drive roller 216a driven by a drive unit (not shown). A secondary transfer roller 217 is arranged outside the transfer belt 216 at a position facing the drive roller 216a with the transfer belt 216 in between. A transfer portion 201D (secondary transfer portion) is formed as a nip portion between the secondary transfer roller 217 and the transfer belt 216.

A fixing device 201E is arranged above the transfer section 201D. The fixing device 201E is of a thermal fixing type and includes a heating roller 220b that is heated by a heating means such as a halogen lamp, and a pressure roller 220a that is pressed against the heating roller 220b. Further above the fixing device 201E, a first ejection roller pair 225a, a second ejection roller pair 225b, and a double-sided reversing section 201F are arranged. The double-sided reversing unit 201F includes a pair of reversing rollers 222 capable of forward and reverse rotation, and a re-conveying path R.

An operation unit 730 is provided at the top of the image forming apparatus 201 to receive operations from a user. The operation unit 730 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel that displays images, and input devices such as a numeric keypad and a print execution button. For example, the user can input setting information (type, basis weight, size, brand, etc.) of the sheet S set in the cassette feeding section 230 and the manual feeding section 235 via the operation section 730.

A cassette feeding section 230 is arranged at the bottom of the apparatus main body 201A. A manual feeding section 235 is arranged on the side surface of the apparatus main body 201A. The cassette feeding section 230 and the manual feeding section 235 are examples of sheet feeding devices that feed sheets.

The cassette feeding section 230 includes a cassette 1 as a sheet storage means for storing sheets S, and a pickup roller 2 as a feeding means for feeding the sheets S from the cassette 1. Further, the cassette feeding section 230 includes a separation roller pair including a feed roller 3 and a retard roller 4 as a separation conveyance section for separating the sheets P sent out from the pickup roller 2. The retard roller 4 applies a frictional force in the opposite direction to the feeding direction to the sheet S at the nip between it and the feed roller 3, so that only one sheet S in contact with the feed roller 3 passes through the nip. allow it to pass.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image forming apparatus 201. As shown in FIG. The control unit 100 is a control unit that centrally controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 201 and exchanges information with the host device 900 and the operation unit 730. The control unit 100 also controls the operation of the image forming unit 201B, sheet feeding and conveyance, and the like. Here, the host device 900 is a personal computer, an image scanner, a facsimile, or the like. The storage unit 101 stores programs executed by the control unit 100 and data necessary for executing the programs. Furthermore, the storage unit 101 provides a work space when the control unit 100 executes a program.

The control unit 100 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 201 based on setting information input by the user via the operation unit 730 and image data received from the host device 900. For example, the control unit 100 controls the sheet feeding operation by driving an actuator (such as a motor) of the manual feeding unit 235. Further, when the control unit 100 determines that separation by blowing air is necessary based on the sheet setting information (for example, in the case of coated paper), the control unit 100 operates the blower fans 15a and 15b, which will be described later.

(Image forming operation)
The control unit of the image forming apparatus 201 starts an image forming operation when image data is received from the outside, or when an instruction to perform a copying operation is given and the image reading apparatus 300 receives image data read from a document. . In the image forming operation, each of the process units PY, PM, PC, and PK forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 by an electrophotographic process. That is, when the process units PY, PM, PC, and PK are requested to form a toner image, the photosensitive drum 212 is rotationally driven, and the charging device 213 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 212. The exposure device 210 irradiates the photosensitive drum 212 with laser light based on image data received from the outside by the control unit or image data read from the document by the image reading device 300. As a result, the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 is exposed to light and an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device 214 supplies a developer containing toner to the photosensitive drum 212 and develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image.

The toner images formed by the process units PY, PM, PC, and PK are primarily transferred onto the transfer belt 216 by the primary transfer roller 219. When forming a full-color image, primary transfer is performed such that toner images of each color overlap on the transfer belt 216, thereby forming a color image on the transfer belt 216. Adherents such as toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 151 are removed by cleaning devices of each process unit PY, PM, PC, and PK.

In parallel with the operation of the image forming section 201B, the sheets S are fed one by one from the cassette feeding section 230 or the manual feeding section 235 and conveyed to the registration roller pair 240. After correcting the skew of the sheet S, the registration roller pair 240 conveys the sheet S to the transfer section 201D at a timing synchronized with the operation of the image forming section 201B. Then, in the transfer unit 201D, the toner image is secondarily transferred from the transfer belt 216 to the sheet S by the secondary transfer roller 217 to which a transfer voltage is applied.

The sheet S that has passed through the transfer section 201D is sent to the fixing device 201E. The fixing device 201E heats and presses the toner image on the sheet S while sandwiching and conveying the sheet S between a heating roller 220b and a pressure roller 220a. As a result, an image fixed on the sheet S is obtained. Note that due to the adhesive force of the melted toner, a force that sticks to the heating roller 220b is generated in the sheet S. If the rigidity of the sheet S is low (weak stiffness), there is a possibility that the sheet S will be wound up by the rotating heating roller 220b. Therefore, a separation plate 221 for separating the sheets is provided downstream of the heating roller 220b. ing.

In the case of single-sided printing, the sheet S that has passed through the fixing device 201E is discharged into the discharge space V by the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b, and is stacked on the discharge tray 223. In the case of double-sided printing, the sheet S on which an image has been formed on the first side by passing through the transfer unit 201D and the fixing device 201E is reversed by the reversing roller pair 222, and sent to the image forming unit again via the re-conveying path R. It is transported to 201B. Then, the sheet S passes through the transfer unit 201D and the fixing device 201E again to form an image on the second surface, and is then discharged to the discharge space V by the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b. , are stacked on the discharge tray 223.

In the above description, the image forming unit 201B is an example of an image forming unit, and an electrophotographic unit using a direct transfer method, an image forming unit using an inkjet method, or an offset printing method may be used.

(Manual feeding section)
The manual feeding section 235 having an air blowing section will be explained using FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the manual feeding section 235 viewed from above. The manual feeding section 235 is different from the cassette feeding section 230 which can store a large amount of sheets, and is configured to set as many sheets as the user needs when using the image forming apparatus 201. Therefore, the cassette feeding section 230 is suitable for using frequently used plain paper and standard size sheets, and the manual feeding section 235 is suitable for using sheets that are used less frequently, such as coated paper and long paper. suitable for.

In the following description, "feeding direction Y" refers to the direction in which the sheet is fed out from the feeding tray 5 by the pickup roller 502. “Sheet width direction X” refers to a direction along the sheets stacked on the feeding tray 5 and perpendicular to the feeding direction Y.

The manual feeding section 235 includes a feeding tray 5, a pickup roller 502, a feed roller 503, a retard roller 504, side edge guides 14a, 14b, and blowing fans 15a, 15b.

The feeding tray 5 is a stacking member on which sheets are stacked. The feeding tray 5 has a support surface 5a (loading surface, placing surface) that supports the lower surface of the sheet. The feeding tray 5 is movable (openable and closable) between a position where it is housed in a side surface of the apparatus main body 201A of the image forming apparatus 201 and a position where it protrudes to the outside of the apparatus main body 201A. With the feed tray 5 open, the user can set sheets on the feed tray 5. The feed tray 5 is also called a manual feed tray or a multipurpose tray.

The pickup roller 502 is an example of a feeding unit that feeds the sheet. The pickup roller 502 is arranged above the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5. The pickup roller 502 is rotatably supported by a roller holder serving as a holding member. The roller holder is swingable around the rotational axis of the feed roller 503. As the roller holder swings, the pickup roller 502 moves between a feeding position (contact position, lower position) where it contacts the top surface of the sheets loaded on the feeding tray 5, and a standby position (separated) where it is spaced upward from the sheets. position, upper position). By rotating the pickup roller 502 at the feeding position, the sheet is sent out from the feeding tray 5 in the feeding direction Y. Instead of the pickup roller 502, for example, a mechanism may be used that attracts the sheet to a belt using negative pressure generated by a fan and conveys the sheet by rotating the belt.

The feed roller 503 further conveys the sheet received from the pickup roller 502 in the feeding direction Y. A pair of conveying rollers 506 is arranged downstream of the feed roller 503 to convey the sheet received from the feed roller 503 toward the pair of registration rollers 240 (FIG. 1).

The retard roller 504 is pressed against the feed roller 503 and forms a separation nip therebetween. Furthermore, a driving force in a direction opposite to the rotation of the feed roller 503 is input to the retard roller 504 via a torque limiter. The retard roller 504 is an example of a separation member that separates sheets by frictional force, and is, for example, a roller member connected to a fixed shaft via a torque limiter, or a pad-shaped elastic member that comes into contact with the feed roller 503. It's okay.

The side edge guides 14a and 14b are regulating members (regulating plates) that regulate the sheet position in the sheet width direction X. In this embodiment, a pair of side end guides 14a and 14b facing each other in the sheet width direction X is used. The side edge guide 14b on the back side is a second side edge guide that faces the side edge guide 14a as a first side edge guide in the sheet width direction X. The side end guides 14a, 14b have regulating surfaces 14a1, 14b1 as inner surfaces in the sheet width direction X. Regarding one side edge guide, the "inside" in the sheet width direction X is the side where the other side edge guide is arranged and the side on which sheets are stacked, and the "outside" in the sheet width direction X is the other side edge. This is the side opposite to the side on which the guide is placed. The regulating surfaces 14a1 and 14b1 are surfaces that extend in the feeding direction Y and stand up substantially perpendicularly to the feeding tray 5 when viewed in the feeding direction Y. The regulating surfaces 14a1 and 14b1 regulate the sheet position in the sheet width direction X by coming into contact with the ends (side edges of the sheets) in the sheet width direction X of the sheets stacked on the feed tray 5.

The side edge guides 14a and 14b are movable in the sheet width direction X with respect to the feed tray 5. The side end guides 14a and 14b are connected by an interlocking mechanism such as a rack and pinion mechanism, and move in conjunction so that the distances from the center position X0 in the seat width direction X are equal to each other. The center position X0 is a reference position in the sheet width direction X of the sheet fed by the manual feeding section 235.

One of the side edge guides 14a, 14b (the side edge guide 14a on the front side of the image forming apparatus 201) is provided with an operation knob serving as an operation section 18 (grip section) for moving the side edge guides 14a, 14b. . By operating the operating unit 18, the user can release the locking of the side end guides 14a, 14b from the feeding tray 5 and move the side end guides 14a, 14b. A known locking and unlocking mechanism can be used. Note that the operating section 18 may have a function that does not have the function of releasing the side end guides 14a, 14b from the feeding tray 5 (for example, a concave shape on which a finger can be placed). The user can prevent the sheet from being skewed and misaligned by moving the side guides 14a and 14b to positions that match the size of the sheet to be used.

The blowing fans 15a and 15b are examples of blowing means for blowing air to help separate the sheets stacked on the feeding tray 5. The ventilation fans 15a and 15b take in outside air from, for example, an intake port provided on the bottom surface of the feeding tray 5 to generate an airflow. The blower fans 15a and 15b of this embodiment are arranged below the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5. The blowing fans 15a and 15b are fan motors in which a fan body that generates airflow through rotation and a motor that drives the fan body are integrated.

Although sirocco fans are used as the ventilation fans 15a and 15b in this embodiment, for example, propeller fans (axial fans) may be used as the ventilation means. Further, the air blowing means may be placed above the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5.

The side edge guides 14a, 14b have air outlets 16a, 16b for blowing air from the air blowing fans 15a, 15b onto the side edges of the sheets on the feeding tray 5. The air outlets 16a, 16b are openings formed in the regulating surfaces 14a1, 14b1 of the side end guides 14a, 14b. Further, the air outlet ports 16a, 16b are connected to the exhaust portions of the blower fans 15a, 15b via ducts (air passages) formed inside the side end guides 14a, 14b.

When the blowing fans 15a and 15b operate, air is blown inward in the sheet width direction X from the blow-off ports 16a and 16b, as shown by streamlines A1 and A2.

Note that the opening height of the air outlets 16a and 16b is set higher than the maximum stacking height of sheets on the feeding tray 5. The maximum stacking height of the sheets is displayed, for example, by pasting a sticker indicating the maximum stacking height on the regulating surfaces 14a1, 14b1 of the side end guides 14a, 14b.

In addition, when changing whether or not air is blown depending on the type of sheet, the maximum loading height of the sheet to which air is blown (for example, coated paper) is the same as that of the sheet to which air is not blown (for example, coated paper) For example, it may be set lower than the maximum stacking height of plain paper. Further, when coated paper is selected on the operation unit 730, a message may be displayed to warn about the maximum stacking height.

(Feeding operation of manual feeding section)
Next, a feeding operation in which the manual feeding unit 235 feeds sheets will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The user sets sheets on the feed tray 5 in advance, and inputs setting information for the set sheets via the operation unit 730.

When the user presses the print execution button, the blower fans 15a and 15b operate to start blowing air, and air is blown onto the side edges of the sheet from the blower ports 16a and 16b. This air enters the gaps between the sheets, causing the sheets to float and reducing the adhesion between the sheets. As a result, the manual feed section 235 can stably separate and feed sheets one by one, even when using sheets such as coated paper, which have highly smooth surfaces and tend to stick together. can be sent. Note that the control unit 100 of the image forming apparatus 201 operates the blower fans 15a and 15b only when it determines that separation by blowing air is necessary (for example, in the case of coated paper) based on sheet setting information. You may also do so.

After that, when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the start of air blowing by the air blowing fans 15a and 15b, rotational driving of the pickup roller 502, feed roller 503, etc. is started, the roller holder swings, and the pickup roller 502 moves from the standby position to the feeding position. Moving. Then, the uppermost sheet in contact with the pickup roller 502 is sent to the feed roller 503, separated from other sheets in the separation nip and further conveyed, and transferred to the registration roller pair 240 (FIG. 1) by the conveyance roller pair 506. Sent. The subsequent flow of sheet conveyance and image formation is as described above. Note that the sheet sensor 505 (FIG. 1) detects the sheet between the feed roller 503 and the pair of conveyance rollers 506, thereby monitoring the conveyance timing of the sheet.

(Details of air blowing configuration)
The details of the configuration for blowing air onto the sheet in Example 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 10.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the manual feeding section 235 viewed from above. FIG. 4(a) is a sectional view taken along the line IVA-IVA in FIG. FIG. 4(b) is a sectional view taken along the line IVB-IVB in FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side edge guides 14a and 14b have been moved to the outermost position (the side edge position of the largest size sheet that can be fed from the manual feeding section 235). FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side edge guides 14a and 14b have been moved to the innermost position (the side edge position of the smallest size sheet that can be fed from the manual feeding section 235). FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the manual feeding section 235 viewed from above. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5 in FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and FIG. 5, the blower fans 15a and 15b are arranged below the support surface 5a (loading surface) of the feeding tray 5. With this configuration, it is possible to save space in the manual feeding section 235 equipped with an air blowing configuration. That is, if it is attempted to arrange the blower fan 15a above the support surface 5a, the blower fan will be placed avoiding the sheet stacking area of the support surface 5a. In this case, the space occupied by the manual feeding section 235 increases, as the blowing fan protrudes to the outside of the feeding tray 5 in the sheet width direction X, which in turn leads to an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the space below the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5 is used to arrange the blowing fans 15a and 15b as the blowing means, so that the space of the manual feeding section 235 can be saved. This also makes it possible to downsize the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, since the blowing fans 15a and 15b do not protrude above the feeding tray 5, the feeding tray 5 is easily accessible, improving usability, and is advantageous in terms of noise reduction.

When viewed from above the feed tray 5, it is preferable to arrange the blower fans 15a, 15b so that at least a portion thereof overlaps the sheet stacking area of the feed tray 5 (FIG. 3). This allows for further space saving. The sheet stacking area of the feeding tray 5 is an area where the largest size sheet among the sheets that can be fed from the manual feeding section 235 is stacked.

It is preferable that the blowing fans 15a and 15b are housed within the housing of the feeding tray 5. That is, the blowing fans 15a and 15b are preferably accommodated in the internal space of the feeding tray 5 that extends between the support surface 5a (top surface) and the bottom surface 5b of the feeding tray 5, as shown in FIG. According to this configuration, the blowing fans 15a and 15b are not exposed to the outside, so there are advantages such as improved safety, aesthetic appearance, and reduced noise. Furthermore, the feeding tray 5 can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body 201A of the image forming apparatus 201 without worrying about interference between the blower fans 15a, 15b and the apparatus main body 201A. Therefore, compared to, for example, securing a space for receiving the blower fans 15a and 15b when the feeding tray 5 is closed in the apparatus main body 201A, there are advantages such as miniaturization of the apparatus and improvement in design freedom.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, the blower fan 15a is attached to a side edge guide 14a that is movable in the sheet width direction X with respect to the feed tray 5, and moves integrally with the side edge guide 14a. . Similarly, the blower fan 15b is attached to a side edge guide 14b that is movable in the sheet width direction X with respect to the feeding tray 5, and moves integrally with the side edge guide 14b. By configuring the blower fans 15a, 15b to move together with the side end guides 14a, 14b, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the duct (air path) that guides the air from the blower fans 15a, 15b to the air outlets 16a, 16b. .

An intake port is provided on the wall surface of the feeding tray 5 facing the intake side openings of the blower fans 15a and 15b (FIG. 9). In this embodiment, the bottom surface 5b of the feed tray 5 is provided with intake ports 19a and 19b in which a plurality of slits extending in the sheet width direction X are lined up. When the side guides 14a, 14b move from one end of the moving range to the other end, at least a part of the openings 15a2 (FIG. 10) on the intake side of the blower fans 15a, 15b are connected to the intake ports 19a, 19b. , 19b may be maintained in such a length that it is maintained in a state opposite to . This can prevent pressure loss from increasing due to the blowing fans 15a, 15b being far away from the air intake ports 19a, 19b. The length of the air intake ports 19a, 19b in the sheet width direction X may be longer than the diameter of the air intake side openings 15a2 (FIG. 10) of the blower fans 15a, 15b.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the front-side blower fan 15a takes in air (outside air) from outside the feeding tray 5 through the intake port 19a (stream line E1). A duct 141a is formed inside the side end guide 14a. Air (streamline D1) exhausted from the blower fan 15a is guided to the outlet 16a by the duct 141a. In this embodiment, the duct 141a extends in the feeding direction Y inside the side end guide 14a, and the duct 141a distributes air to the two air outlets 16a (a first air outlet and a second air outlet). (stream line B1). Then, the air is blown from the air outlet 16a toward the inner side of the sheet S in the sheet width direction X (streamline A1; see also FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 4(b), the ventilation path on the back side is the same as that on the front side except that the position of the ventilation fan 15b is different. That is, the blower fan 15b takes in air (outside air) from outside the feeding tray 5 via the intake port 19b (streamline E1). A duct 141b is formed inside the side end guide 14b. The air (streamline D1) exhausted from the blower fan 15b is guided to the outlet 16b by the duct 141b. In this embodiment, the duct 141b extends in the feeding direction Y inside the side end guide 14b, and the duct 141b distributes air to the two air outlets 16b (streamlines B1, C1). Then, air is blown from the air outlet 16b toward the inner side of the sheet S in the sheet width direction X (streamline A2 in FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 5, when viewed in the feeding direction Y, the exhaust direction of the blower fan 15a and the direction of air blowing from the air outlet 16a are arranged to be opposite to each other with respect to the sheet width direction X. That is, the blower fan 15a is arranged so as to exhaust air outward in the seat width direction X (streamline F1). The air outlet 16a is arranged so as to blow air inward in the sheet width direction X (streamline A1). In this configuration, in which the blower fan 15a is provided integrally with the side edge guide 14a, the blower fan 15a as a blowing means is arranged by utilizing the space inside the side edge guide 14a in the sheet width direction X. . With this configuration, the space of the manual feeding section 235 in the sheet width direction X can be saved. Further, it is preferable that the entire rotary blade, which is the main body of the blower fan 15a, is located inside the regulating surface 14a1 of the side end guide 14a in the sheet width direction X.

Although FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the front side blower fan 15a, the arrangement of the rear side blower fan 15b is the same except that the positional relationship in the sheet width direction X is reversed. That is, when viewed in the feeding direction Y, the exhaust direction of the blower fan 15b and the direction of air blowing out from the air outlet 16b are arranged to be opposite to each other with respect to the sheet width direction X (see FIG. 3). With this configuration, the space of the manual feeding section 235 in the sheet width direction X can be saved.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in this embodiment, sirocco fans, which are a type of centrifugal fan, are used as the ventilation fans 15a and 15b, and the rotation axes 15a1 and 15b1 of the rotary blades are aligned with the support surface of the feeding tray 5. 5a. Preferably, the rotational axes 15a1 and 15b1 are arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the support surface 5a (substantially parallel to the normal direction Z of the support surface 5a). Thereby, it is possible to reduce the size of the feeding tray 5 in the thickness direction.

Note that the centrifugal fan is a fan that takes in air from one side of a rotary blade in the axial direction and exhausts air in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction (centrifugal direction), and is, for example, a sirocco fan or a turbo fan. Among centrifugal fans, the sirocco fan is excellent in that it satisfies a good balance of quietness, durability, static pressure necessary for sheet separation, etc., and is used in this embodiment. However, it is also possible to use a centrifugal fan or an axial fan other than the sirocco fan as the ventilation means.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 5, the duct 141a connects the blower fan 15a arranged below the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5 and the air outlet 16a arranged above the support surface 5a. It penetrates the support surface 5a from the bottom to the top. The same applies to the duct 141b on the back side. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the support surface 5a has a notch 5d (slit, opening) that allows the ducts 141a, 141b to move in the sheet width direction X as the side end guides 14a, 14b move. is formed. The position and shape of the notch 5d can be changed according to the ducts 141a and 141b. In addition, a notch is formed in the support surface 5a near an interlocking mechanism M1, which will be described later, through which a portion of the side end guides 14a, 14b vertically penetrates.

The configuration regarding movement of the side end guides 14a, 14b and the blower fans 15a, 15b, and the positional relationship between the blower fans 15a, 15b will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pair of side end guides 14a and 14b move in the sheet width direction X in conjunction with each other.

As shown in FIG. 9, the side guides 14a and 14b are connected to each other inside the feed tray 5 by interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2. In this embodiment, the interlocking mechanism M1 is a rack and pinion having a rack 143a (first rack), a rack 143b (second rack), and a pinion gear 142 (first pinion gear) that meshes with the racks 143a and 143b. Use mechanisms. Further, as the interlocking mechanism M2, a rack and pinion mechanism including a rack 145a (third rack), a rack 145b (fourth rack), and a pinion gear 144 (second pinion gear) that meshes with the racks 145a and 145b is used. use The interlocking mechanism M2 (second interlocking mechanism) is arranged upstream of the interlocking mechanism M1 (first interlocking mechanism) in the feeding direction Y.

As shown in FIG. 6, the blower fans 15a, 15b that move together with the side edge guides 14a, 14b are arranged inside the side edge guides 14a, 14b in the sheet width direction X. Thereby, the size of the manual feeding section 235 in the sheet width direction X is reduced.

In this embodiment, the position of the blowing fan 15a (first blowing means) and the position of the blowing fan 15b (second blowing means) in the feeding direction Y are different from each other. Thereby, even when the side edge guides 14a, 14b are moved in the sheet width direction X, interference between the blower fans 15a, 15b is less likely to occur, and narrow sheets can be regulated by the side edge guides 14a, 14b.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 7, when the side edge guides 14a, 14b are moved to positions corresponding to the smallest size sheet, the positions of the blower fans 15a, 15b overlap when viewed in the feeding direction Y. In other words, when the first side edge guide and the second side edge guide are moved to the innermost position in the sheet width direction, the first air blower and the second air blower are The means overlap. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the space inside the feed tray 5 to accommodate narrower sheets.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the side edge guides 14a and 14b are moved to the position corresponding to the smallest size sheet, the side edge guide 14a on the front side overlaps with the ventilation fan 15b on the back side when viewed from above. do. Further, the side end guide 14b on the back side overlaps the blower fan 15a on the front side. That is, when the first side edge guide and the second side edge guide are moved to the innermost position in the sheet width direction, the first side edge guide and the second air blowing means are seen from above. The second side end guide and the first air blowing means overlap. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the space inside the feed tray 5 to accommodate narrower sheets.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10, the blower fans 15a and 15b are guided by slide shafts 17a and 17b held by the feeding tray 5. As shown in FIGS. The slide shafts 17a and 17b are shaft-like members extending in the seat width direction X. The blower fan 15a has a fitting portion 15a3 that fits into the slide shaft 17a, and moves in the seat width direction X while being guided by the slide shaft 17a. The blower fan 15b has a fitting portion 15b3 that fits into the slide shaft 17b. Thereby, the weight of the blower fans 15a, 15b is supported by the slide shafts 17a, 17b, and the operability of the side end guides 14a, 14b is improved.

The position of the operating portion 18 provided on the side end guide 14a in the feeding direction Y may be made to overlap the position of the slide shaft 17a in the feeding direction Y. Thereby, when moving the side end guide 14a, it becomes difficult to apply rotational force to the side end guide 14a with respect to the slide shaft 17a, and the movement of the side end guide 14a becomes smooth, improving operability.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation axis 15a1 of the front side blower fan 15a is located near the air outlet 16a, while the rotation axis 15b1 of the back side air blower fan 15b is located near the air outlet 16b of the side end guide 14b. It is separated upstream in the feeding direction Y from . In this case, the blower fan 15b is arranged in such a direction that the exhaust port 15b2 is positioned downstream in the feeding direction Y with respect to the rotation axis 15b1. Thereby, the air path from the exhaust port 15b2 to the blowout port 16b can be shortened, pressure loss can be reduced, and air can be efficiently blown onto the sheet.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a door 601, which is an opening/closing member for removing a jam in the cassette feeding section 230 (FIG. 1), is provided below the manual feeding section 235. The door 601 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 201A (FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 201 by a hinge 602, and is rotatable about an axis extending in the sheet width direction X. A trajectory 603 in the figure is a trajectory drawn by the tip of the door 601 (the end farthest from the hinge 602) when the door 601 opens and closes.

In this embodiment, the bottom surface 5b of the feeding tray 5 has an inclined portion 5c formed in a tapered shape so as to approach the support surface 5a (loading surface) as it goes downstream in the feeding direction Y (see also FIG. 10). ). Thereby, the thick ventilation fans 15a and 15b can be housed inside the feeding tray 5 while avoiding interference with the door 601. If the arrangement is such that interference with the door 601 can be avoided, for example, the blower fan 15b may be arranged at a position that overlaps the locus 603 when viewed in the seat width direction X and is different from the tip of the door 601 in the seat width direction X. It's okay.

(Twisting when operating the side end guide)
By the way, in this embodiment, a heavy ventilation fan 15a is attached to the side end guide 14a, and the ventilation fan 15a is configured to move together with the side end guide 14a. In such a configuration, there is a concern that the side end guide 14a may be twisted due to the weight of the blower fan 15a when the user moves the side end guide 14a.

Assume that the operating unit 18 that receives an operating force from the user and the heavy blower fan 15a are placed apart from each other in the feeding direction Y. Normally, when the side end guide 14a moves, the point of action of the resistance force (the resultant force of the frictional resistance that the side end guide 14a receives from the feeding tray 5 and the slide shaft 17a) is near the center of gravity of the blower fan 15a, which is a heavy object. Therefore, the position is remote from the operation section 18. As a result, when the user attempts to move the side edge guide 14a, the operating force that the side edge guide 14a receives via the operation unit 18 and the resistance force that it receives from the feed tray 5 etc. cause the side edge guide 14a to move when viewed from above. A moment of force is generated which tends to rotate 14a.

If the side end guide 14a is twisted or tilted due to the moment of this force, the operability of the side end guide 14a may be reduced. Further, in order to increase the rigidity of the side end guide 14a to suppress twisting, it is possible to reinforce the side end guide 14a with a metal member or the like or increase the thickness of the side end guide 14a when molded with resin. However, this leads to an increase in weight and size.

In contrast, in this embodiment, the operating section 18 and the blowing fan 15a (air blowing means) that moves together with the side end guide 14a are arranged between the two interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the feeding direction Y. (Figure 9). In other words, the operating section and the air blowing means of this embodiment are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism (M1) and the second interlocking mechanism (M2) in the feeding direction Y.

With this configuration, the operating unit 18 that receives operating force from the user and the heavy blower fan 15a are arranged close to each other in the feeding direction Y, so that when the user moves the side guides 14a and 14b, Therefore, twisting of the side end guide 14a is less likely to occur. As a result, the operability when moving the side end guides 14a, 14b is improved.

Further, since measures such as reinforcement with metal members or increase in wall thickness during resin molding are not taken, it is possible to improve operability without hindering weight reduction and size reduction.

In order to make the manual feed section 235 compatible with long sheets of paper, the side end guides 14a and 14b are required to have a certain length in the feeding direction Y in order to suppress oblique feeding of the long sheets. The long paper in this embodiment refers to a sheet that is longer in the feeding direction Y than the maximum size of the standard size, which is 13 inches (sheet width direction) x 19 inches (feeding direction). If the side end guides 14a, 14b are made longer to match the length of the paper, twisting tends to occur, but according to this embodiment, twisting can be reduced, and operability can be improved.

The position of the operation part 18 in the feeding direction Y is preferably such that it overlaps with a range Yr (FIG. 9) corresponding to the diameter of the rotary blade Rt (FIG. 10) of the blower fan 15a, and the rotation axis of the rotary blade Rt. It is more preferable to overlap the position of 15a1. Thereby, the position of the operation part 18 can be brought closer to the center of gravity of the blower fan 15a, which is a heavy object, and the twisting of the side end guide 14a can be made more difficult to occur.

Further, in this embodiment, the blower fan 15a and the interlocking mechanisms M1, M2 are both arranged below the support surface 5a (loading surface) of the feeding tray 5. As a result, the blower fan 15a, which is an electrical component, and the interlocking mechanisms M1, M2, which are movable members, are not exposed above the feeding tray 5, so that advantages such as improved safety and aesthetics, and reduced noise can be obtained. Note that it is more preferable to arrange the blower fan 15a and the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in an internal space extending between the support surface 5a and the bottom surface 5b of the feeding tray 5 (FIG. 10).

Further, in this embodiment, the feeding tray 5 is provided with a slide shaft 17a as a guide member, and the blower fan 15a is provided with a fitting portion 15a3 that fits with the slide shaft 17a (FIG. 10). Further, the slide shaft 17a is arranged between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the feeding direction Y. As a result, part of the weight of the blower fan 15a is supported by the slide shaft 17a between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2, so that twisting of the side end guide 14a can be further suppressed. Note that the slide shaft 17a is an example of a guide member, and for example, a rail-shaped guide member may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the blower fan 15a and the operation unit 18 are arranged between the racks 143a and 145a in the feeding direction Y (FIG. 9). These racks 143a, 145a are parts (first force receiving part, second force receiving part) where the side end guide 14a receives the load from the opposite side end guide 14b, so the blower fan 15a and the operation part 18 By arranging this between them, twisting of the side end guide 14a can be further suppressed.

In this embodiment, the rear side blower fan 15b is arranged upstream of the interlocking mechanism M2 in the feeding direction Y, but both the blowing fans 15a and 15b are arranged between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the feeding direction Y. It's okay. Furthermore, as an advantage of this embodiment, since the positions of the blower fans 15a and 15b are different in the feeding direction, as described above, the blower fans 15a and 15b can be moved to the side up to the position where the blower fans 15a and 15b overlap when viewed in the feeding direction Y. The end guides 14a, 14b can be moved (FIG. 7). This makes it easier to handle narrow sheets.

《Example 2》
In the first embodiment described above, a configuration in which a rack and pinion mechanism is used as the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 is exemplified. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 including belts 242 and 245 are used.

The interlocking mechanism M1 includes pulleys 243 and 244 that are rotatably supported by the feed tray 5, respectively, and a belt 242 that is stretched in the sheet width direction X by the pulleys 243 and 244. The belt 242 is connected to the side end guide 14a on the front side at a connecting portion 242a, and connected to the side end guide 14b on the back side at a connecting portion 242b.

The interlocking mechanism M2 includes pulleys 246 and 247 that are rotatably supported by the feed tray 5, respectively, and a belt 245 that is stretched in the sheet width direction X by the pulleys 246 and 247. The belt 245 is connected to the side end guide 14a on the front side at a connecting portion 245a, and connected to the side end guide 14b on the back side at a connecting portion 245b.

When the user operates the operation unit 18 to move the side edge guide 14a in the sheet width direction X, the belts 242, 245 rotate in conjunction with the side edge guide 14a by the connecting portions 242a, 245a. Further, the opposite side end guide 14b moves in the sheet width direction X in conjunction with the rotation of the belts 242 and 245 by the connecting portions 242b and 245b. The moving directions of the side end guides 14a and 14b are opposite to each other.

Also in this embodiment, the operating section 18 and the blower fan 15a are arranged between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the side end guide 14a is less likely to be twisted and the operability can be improved.

Further, the connecting portions 242a and 245a of this embodiment are portions (first force receiving portion, second force receiving portion) where the side end guide 14a receives a load from the opposite side end guide 14b. Therefore, by arranging the blower fan 15a and the operation part 18 between these connecting parts 242a and 245a, it is possible to suppress the side end guide 14a from being twisted due to the load from the opposite side end guide 14b.

《Modified example》
As shown in FIG. 12(a), the blower fan 25b attached to the side end guide 24b on the opposite side to the side end guide 24a where the operating section 18 is provided is placed between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the feeding direction Y. May be placed. In this case, the movement resistance of the side end guide 24b caused by the weight of the blower fan 25b is transmitted to the side end guide 24a through the upstream interlocking mechanism M1 and the downstream interlocking mechanism M2. Therefore, by arranging the operating section 18 in addition to the blower fan 25b between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2, it is possible to prevent the side end guide 24a from twisting and improve operability.

In this modification, unlike Embodiments 1 and 2, the side edge guide 24b on the back side becomes the first side edge guide, the side edge guide 24a on the front side becomes the second side edge guide, and the blower fan 25b on the back side becomes the first side edge guide. Serves as a means of blowing air. In other words, if the operating section and the air blowing means provided on the first side end guide are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism, the operating section is arranged between the first side end guide and the second side end guide. It may be provided on any of the end guides. Further, the operating section may be provided on both the first side end guide and the second side end guide.

As shown in FIG. 12(b), the blower fans 35a and 35b may be arranged above the feeding tray 5 and on the back surface of the side end guides 14a and 14b (on the side opposite to the regulating surface). Here, an example is shown in which axial fans are used as the ventilation fans 35a and 35b. Even in this case, by arranging the operating section 18 and the blower fans 35a and 35b between the interlocking mechanisms M1 and M2 in the feeding direction Y, it is possible to prevent the side end guide 14a from twisting and improve operability. can.

《Other embodiments》
In each of the embodiments described above, one side end guide 14a is provided with two air outlets 16a. The volume of air blown from each outlet 16a may be the same, or the volume of one air may be stronger than the other. Furthermore, the air blowing may be turned on or off depending on the type and size of the sheet. For example, the blowing means may be operated to turn on the air blowing only when the sheet size is equal to or larger than a predetermined size. The number of air outlets 16a may be one, or three or more in one side end guide 14a.

In each of the embodiments described above, a configuration is illustrated in which the pair of side end guides 14a, 14b are each provided with a corresponding air blowing means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the blowing means may be arranged only on one side end guide.

In each of the embodiments described above, the support surface 5a of the feeding tray 5 does not move up and down, and the pickup roller 502 moves up and down (so-called lifterless structure). good. For example, in the cassette 1 (FIG. 1), a support plate (middle plate) that is swingable with respect to the bottom of the cassette 1 and a lifter plate that raises and lowers the support plate may be arranged. Further, in a sheet feeding device equipped with a storage with a larger capacity, a lifter mechanism may be used in which a support plate suspended from a wire is vertically raised and lowered by winding and feeding out the wire.

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, a manual sheet feeding device provided on a side surface of an image forming apparatus mainly used in an office has been described. The present technology is not limited to this, and the present technology may be applied to the cassette feeding section 230 (FIG. 1). In addition, the present technology may be applied to a manual sheet feeding device or a sheet feeding device (optional feeder) used in conjunction with the main body of the image forming device in a larger commercial image forming device. .

(Summary of this disclosure)
The present disclosure includes at least the following configurations.

(Configuration 1)
a loading member on which sheets are loaded;
feeding means for feeding the sheet in a feeding direction;
a first side edge guide and a second side edge guide that face each other in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, are movable in the sheet width direction, and regulate the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction;
a first interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide;
a second interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, the second interlocking mechanism being disposed upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction;
A blowing means for blowing air to an end of the sheet in the sheet width direction through an air outlet provided in the first side end guide, the blowing means being configured to move integrally with the first side end guide. a blowing means;
an operating section provided on the first side edge guide or the second side edge guide and receiving an operating force for moving the first side edge guide and the second side edge guide;
Equipped with
The operation section and the air blowing means are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.
A sheet feeding device characterized by:

(Configuration 2)
The blowing means, the first interlocking mechanism, and the second interlocking mechanism are arranged below a loading surface on which the sheets of the loading member are loaded.
The sheet feeding device according to configuration 1, characterized in that:

(Configuration 3)
The blowing means, the first interlocking mechanism, and the second interlocking mechanism are housed in an internal space of the loading member that extends between the loading surface and the bottom surface of the loading member.
The sheet feeding device according to configuration 2, characterized in that:

(Configuration 4)
The air blowing means has a rotating blade that generates airflow by rotating,
The position of the operating part in the feeding direction overlaps with a range corresponding to the diameter of the rotary blade in the feeding direction.
4. The sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that:

(Configuration 5)
The air blowing means has a rotating blade that generates airflow by rotating,
The position of the operating part in the feeding direction overlaps the position of the rotation axis of the rotary blade in the feeding direction.
5. The sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, characterized in that:

(Configuration 6)
further comprising a guide member supported by the stacking member and extending in the sheet width direction,
The air blowing means has a fitting portion that fits into the guide member so as to be guided in the sheet width direction by the guide member,
The guide member is arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.
6. The sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that:

(Configuration 7)
The air blowing means is a first air blowing means,
A blowing means for blowing air to an end of the sheet in the sheet width direction through an air outlet provided in the second side end guide, the blowing means being configured to move integrally with the second side end guide. further comprising a second blowing means,
7. The sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that:

(Configuration 8)
The second air blowing means is arranged downstream of the first interlocking mechanism or upstream of the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to configuration 7, characterized in that:

(Configuration 9)
When the sheet is moved to the innermost position in the sheet width direction, the first air blowing means and the second air blowing means overlap when viewed in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to configuration 8, characterized in that:

(Configuration 10)
The first interlocking mechanism includes a first rack that is provided integrally with the first side edge guide and extends in the seat width direction, and a second rack that is provided integrally with the second side edge guide and extends in the seat width direction. , a first pinion gear that meshes with the first rack and the second rack,
The second interlocking mechanism includes a third rack provided integrally with the first side edge guide and extending in the seat width direction, and a fourth rack provided integrally with the second side edge guide and extending in the seat width direction. , a second pinion gear that meshes with the third rack and the fourth rack,
10. The sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, characterized in that:

(Configuration 11)
The first side end guide includes a first force receiving portion that receives the load of the second side end guide via the first interlocking mechanism, and a first force receiving portion that receives the load of the second side end guide via the second interlocking mechanism. a second force receiving part that receives the force;
The operation section and the air blowing means are arranged between the first force receiving section and the second force receiving section in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to any one of Structures 1 to 10, characterized in that:

(Configuration 12)
The air blowing means is a sirocco fan.
12. The sheet feeding device according to any one of Structures 1 to 11, characterized in that:

(Configuration 13)
The loading member is a manual feed tray provided on a side surface of the image forming apparatus.
13. The sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12, characterized in that:

(Configuration 14)
The sheet feeding device according to any one of configurations 1 to 13;
an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding device;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

5... Loading member (feeding tray) / 14a... First side edge guide (side edge guide) / 14b... Second side edge guide (side edge guide) / 15a... Air blowing means (air blowing fan) / 16a... Air outlet / 18...Operation unit/502...Feeding means (pickup roller)/M1...First interlocking mechanism (interlocking mechanism)/M2...Second interlocking mechanism (interlocking mechanism)/Y...Feeding direction

Claims (14)

a loading member on which sheets are loaded;
feeding means for feeding the sheet in a feeding direction;
a first side edge guide and a second side edge guide that face each other in a sheet width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, are movable in the sheet width direction, and regulate the position of the sheet in the sheet width direction;
a first interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide;
a second interlocking mechanism that interlocks the first side end guide and the second side end guide, the second interlocking mechanism being disposed upstream of the first interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction;
A blowing means for blowing air to an end of the sheet in the sheet width direction through an air outlet provided in the first side end guide, the blowing means being configured to move integrally with the first side end guide. a blowing means;
an operating section provided on the first side edge guide or the second side edge guide and receiving an operating force for moving the first side edge guide and the second side edge guide;
Equipped with
The operation section and the air blowing means are arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.
A sheet feeding device characterized by: The blowing means, the first interlocking mechanism, and the second interlocking mechanism are arranged below a loading surface on which the sheets of the loading member are loaded.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The blowing means, the first interlocking mechanism, and the second interlocking mechanism are housed in an internal space of the loading member that extends between the loading surface and the bottom surface of the loading member.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air blowing means has a rotating blade that generates airflow by rotating,
The position of the operating part in the feeding direction overlaps with a range corresponding to the diameter of the rotary blade in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air blowing means has a rotating blade that generates airflow by rotating,
The position of the operating part in the feeding direction overlaps the position of the rotation axis of the rotary blade in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: further comprising a guide member supported by the stacking member and extending in the sheet width direction,
The air blowing means has a fitting portion that fits into the guide member so as to be guided in the sheet width direction by the guide member,
The guide member is arranged between the first interlocking mechanism and the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air blowing means is a first air blowing means,
A blowing means for blowing air to an end of the sheet in the sheet width direction through an air outlet provided in the second side end guide, the blowing means being configured to move integrally with the second side end guide. further comprising a second blowing means,
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second air blowing means is arranged downstream of the first interlocking mechanism or upstream of the second interlocking mechanism in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 7, characterized in that: When the sheet is moved to the innermost position in the sheet width direction, the first air blowing means and the second air blowing means overlap when viewed in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first interlocking mechanism includes a first rack that is provided integrally with the first side edge guide and extends in the seat width direction, and a second rack that is provided integrally with the second side edge guide and extends in the seat width direction. , a first pinion gear that meshes with the first rack and the second rack,
The second interlocking mechanism includes a third rack provided integrally with the first side edge guide and extending in the seat width direction, and a fourth rack provided integrally with the second side edge guide and extending in the seat width direction. , a second pinion gear that meshes with the third rack and the fourth rack,
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first side end guide includes a first force receiving portion that receives the load of the second side end guide via the first interlocking mechanism, and a first force receiving portion that receives the load of the second side end guide via the second interlocking mechanism. a second force receiving part that receives the force;
The operation section and the air blowing means are arranged between the first force receiving section and the second force receiving section in the feeding direction.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air blowing means is a sirocco fan.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The loading member is a manual feed tray provided on a side surface of the image forming apparatus.
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding device;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images