JP2906995B2 - Paper guide member of paper feeder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper guide member provided in a paper feeder for feeding a paper to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and the like. The present invention relates to a sheet guide member of a sheet feeding device that can be designed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a paper feeder provided in the above-mentioned image forming apparatus is movably mounted on a paper tray in order to store and feed paper of various sizes. A sheet guide member for guiding the side of the sheet. As this type of paper guide member, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-84730, a paper guide member provided on a paper mounting portion for fixing a paper guide member moved to a desired position is disclosed. There has been known one provided with a locking member for locking to a locking portion. As shown in FIG. 8, the paper guide member includes a main body member P13 having a vertical plate P11 for regulating the side surface of the paper and a bottom plate P12 provided substantially at right angles to the vertical plate P11.
A locking member P14 is attached to the side of 1. The locking member P14 has a knob portion P15 and a locking portion P16, and is assembled to the mounting portion P17 of the vertical plate P11 so as to be swingable about the axis P18. Locking member P14
A torsion coil spring P19 is interposed between the vertical plate P11 and the vertical plate P11.
16 is urged in the direction of arrow B to form a braking member (locked portion) P made of, for example, rubber having a large coefficient of friction or minute irregularities.
21 and is locked. Therefore, when the paper guide member is moved in the horizontal direction in the drawing according to the size of the paper, the knob P15 is pushed and the locking member P14 is swung as indicated by a broken line, and the locking portion P16 is braked. The engagement with the member P21 is released, and the paper guide member can be moved.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional paper guide member, the main body member P13 and the locking member P14 which are separately provided, and further, the coil spring P1 is provided.
9, and the increased number of components causes inconvenience, such as an increase in the time required for assembly, which has been a factor in increasing the cost of the product.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can reduce the number of parts by integrating members.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a guide member for a sheet feeding device that can greatly contribute to cost reduction of the apparatus.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a mounting portion movably mounted on a paper mounting portion of a paper feeding device; is set in the paper guide member of the sheet feeding apparatus and a guide portion for guiding the sides of the paper, Rutotomoni provided integrally with the attachment portion or guide portion, the distal end side, the paper placed
While facing the part opposite to be extending out in a direction opposite to the mounting portion
A resilient piece having a portion , the tip of the facing portion flexing in the direction of approaching and separating from the paper placement portion, and a pressing member provided integrally with the tip of the facing portion and extending substantially parallel to the guide portion. A lever provided on a tip end side of the opposing portion , and a locking portion configured to lock to a locked portion formed on the paper placing portion to restrict movement of the mounting portion. Features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding device.
The side of the paper is conveyed by a flat guide
In the paper guide member of the paper feeding device that guides in parallel with the direction, the locked portions provided in multiple rows in the paper width direction.
To prevent the guide member from moving in the paper width direction.
A locking portion to be controlled, and the locking portion is integrally provided on the distal end side.
And an opposing portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the guide portion.
Having the locking portion provided integrally with the guide portion.
Elastic piece that bends in the direction to release the lock with the locked part
And the guide provided integrally with the distal end side of the facing portion.
A pressing lever extending out substantially parallel to the part, characterized Rukoto equipped with.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the paper guide member of the paper feeder according to the first or second aspect, the pressing member is provided with
The thickness of the pressure lever is thicker than the elastic piece. Still further, the invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim
The paper guide member of the paper feeder according to any one of 1 to 3,
In this case, the tip of the pressing lever is inclined outward.
It is characterized by the following.

[0008]

In the paper guide member according to the first aspect of the present invention, the distal end side of the elastic piece provided integrally with the mounting portion or the guide portion (specifically, the paper placing portion on the distal end side of the elastic piece).
The tip of the facing part that extends in the opposite direction to the mounting part while facing
The locking portion provided on the end side) is locked to the locked portion on the paper placing portion side . Thus, the movement of the mounting portion is restricted , and the paper guide member is fixed at a desired position on the paper mounting plate.

When the position of the paper guide member is changed as required, for example, when the size of the paper is changed, the pressing lever provided integrally with the leading end of the facing portion is pressed. Then, the elastic piece bends in a direction in which the leading end side of the opposing portion is separated from the paper placing portion, and the locking between the locking portion and the locked portion on the paper placing portion is released. Can be moved to a desired position on the sheet placement unit. Then, when the pressing of the pressing lever is released, the elastic piece
The leading end side of the facing portion bends in a direction approaching the sheet placement portion, the locking portion and the locked portion are locked again, and the paper guide member is fixed at that position. That is, according to the present invention, the paper guide member can be moved to and fixed at a desired position on the paper placement unit according to the size of the paper and the like. And especially in the paper guide member of the present invention,
Since the elastic piece, the pressing lever, and the locking portion are provided integrally with the mounting portion or the guide portion, the cost can be reduced by integrating the members.

[0010] Also in the invention of claim 2, claim
As in the first aspect, when the pressing lever is pressed, the elastic piece
The deflection between the locking part and the locked part is released.
Then, the paper guide member can be moved to a desired position.
Wear. Then, when the pressing of the pressing lever is released, the engagement is resumed.
The stop portion and the locked portion are locked, and the paper guide member
Fixed to the position. Also, the elastic piece, the pressing lever, and the engaging
Since the stopper is provided integrally with the guide, the members are integrated.
As a result, cost can be reduced.

[0011]

Further, in the invention of claim 3, the pressing force
The thickness of the bar is thicker than the elastic piece. For this reason,
When the tip of the lever is pressed, the pressing lever itself
No. Furthermore, in the invention of claim 4, the pressing force
The tip of the bar is inclined outward. For this reason, the pressing
The angle of inclination when pressing the bar increases, which makes it elastic
The part and the opposing part can be largely bent, and the locking part
And the locked part can be released more securely.
You.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a main part of a sheet feeding device provided with a guide member 1 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view (a view taken in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 1) showing a sheet feeding cassette 3 of the sheet feeding device. is there.

The paper feeding device of the embodiment is provided in a laser printer as an image forming apparatus. A paper feeding cassette 3 is detachably mounted on one upper side of a main body case 2 of the printer. The paper feed roller 4 and the holder 5 having the separation pad body 5a separate and transport the sheets 32 stacked in the paper feed cassette 3 one by one. A sheet stacking plate 31 urged upward by a spring 30 is disposed in the sheet cassette 3 so as to approach the lower surface of the sheet feeding roller 4, and a large number of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking plate 31. 32, the upper surface on the lower end side of the uppermost sheet 32 is close to the peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 4. In the case of feeding paper, when the feed roller 4 is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, only the uppermost sheet 32 of the sheets 32 stacked in the sheet cassette 3 is rotated by the circle of the feed roller 4. The sheet 32 comes into contact with the arc-shaped contact surface 4a, is pressed and clamped between the separation pad body 5a and the sheet feeding roller 4, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow B.

The paper guide member 1 of this embodiment is
The paper placing plate 31 is mounted on the paper placing plate 31.
Side 32 parallel to the transport direction of the paper 32 stacked on the
a. Here, the configuration of the paper guide member 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 (A) is a perspective view of the paper guide member 1, FIG. 3 (B) is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 (C) is a front view thereof, FIG. 4 (A) is a right side view thereof, and FIG. 4 (B). Is the left side view of FIG.
(C) is an AA sectional view of the same.

The paper guide member 1 is integrally formed of an elastic material such as a synthetic resin, and has a rectangular flat plate-like mounting portion 41 movably mounted on a paper mounting plate 31; 41 is provided with a flat plate-like guide portion 43 protruding substantially at a right angle from one side edge portion.

At the center of the lower surface side of the mounting portion 41, a fitting portion 45 which is fitted into a mounting hole 31a (see FIG. 2) formed in the sheet mounting plate 31 is projected. Here, the mounting hole 31a
Is an elongated rectangular hole extending over a length M in a direction (paper width direction) substantially perpendicular to the transport direction as shown in FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG. The fitting part 45 is fitted on the sheet placing plate 31 by fitting the leaf spring 42 around the fitting part 45. The leaf spring 42 abuts against the back surface of the sheet placing plate 31 and urges the projecting portions 45 a projecting in L-shape on both right and left sides of the fitting portion 45 in a direction away from the sheet placing plate 31. Thereby, the paper guide member 1 is attached so as not to be detached from the paper placing plate 31, and is movable in a direction along the longitudinal direction of the mounting hole 31a, that is, in the direction of arrow C or C '. .

On the other hand, the guide portion 43 is provided on the side portion 3 of the sheet 32.
2a, and a pressing lever 6 to be described later is provided at a peripheral portion thereof so that the guide portion 43 itself does not bend.
Except for the position facing 1, a reinforcing flange 43 a is formed so as to protrude. In the paper feeding device of the present embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 2, one side 32 a of the sheet 32 is guided by a guide portion 43 in parallel with the transport direction, and a side 32 b on the opposite side protrudes substantially perpendicularly to the end of the sheet placing plate 31. Guided in the same direction by the guide wall portion 31d.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide portion 43 has two elongated grooves (notches) 47 extending from the middle in the vertical direction (the direction orthogonal to the sheet placing plate 31) to the lower end. 47 are formed in parallel, and a substantially L-shaped elastic piece 49 is formed between the two grooves 47, 47. That is, between the both sides of the elastic piece 49 and the guide portion 43,
The elastic pieces 49 are separated by grooves 47, 47 parallel to the extending direction. The elastic piece 49 is provided integrally with the guide portion 23 and extends in the form of a flat plate extending toward the paper mounting plate 31 side. The elastic piece 49 is provided integrally with the distal end side of the elastic portion 51 and provided on the paper mounting plate. An attachment portion 41 and an opposed portion 53 extending in the opposite direction to the attachment portion 41 are formed in a substantially L-shape. As shown in FIG. 4C, the elastic piece 49 is separated from the mounting part 41 by a groove at the lower end, and bends in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the guide part 43 with the upper end 51a of the elastic part 51 as a fulcrum. be able to.

On the lower surface on the distal end side of the opposing portion 53 (the surface on the mounting plate 31 side), a right-angled triangular locking projection 5 is provided as a locking portion.
5 are formed. As shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 5, the locking projections 55 are formed by a plurality of locking grooves 3 each having a right-angled triangular cross section and formed on the paper mounting plate 31 as locked portions.
1b to restrict the movement of the guide member 1 in the paper width direction (the directions of arrows C and C '). That is, the locking projection 55 has a surface opposite to the guide portion 43, and the locking groove 31b has a surface facing the guide wall portion 31b substantially perpendicular to the moving direction. In this state, the guide member 1 is fixed in a direction away from the guide wall 31d. Further, even when the other surface is inclined and both surfaces are locked, the guide member 1
Can move in the direction approaching the guide wall 31d against the elasticity of the elastic piece 49.

As shown in FIG. 2, the locking grooves 31b are provided in multiple rows on the paper mounting plate 31 over the length N in the paper width direction.
Can be fixed to a desired position on the paper placing plate 31. Further, a pressing lever 61 extending substantially in parallel with the guide portion 43 at an interval is provided integrally on the distal end side of the facing portion 53. An inclined portion 61 a that is inclined in a direction away from the guide portion 43 is formed on the tip side of the pressing lever 61. The height of the pressing lever 61 is substantially the same as the height of the guide portion 43, and the tip portion 61b
Is located higher than the upper end 51a of the elastic portion 51 (that is, the connection portion between the elastic portion 51 and the guide portion 43). The thickness of the pressing lever 61 is larger than that of the elastic piece 49 so that the pressing lever 61 itself does not bend when the tip of the lever is pressed in the direction of the arrow.

Next, the paper guide member 1 having the above configuration
Will be described. In a normal use state, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6A, the opposing portion 53 of the elastic piece 49 approaches the paper placing plate 31, and the locking projection 55 is locked in the locking groove 31 b of the paper mounting plate 31. ing. Therefore, the movement of the paper guide member 1 in the direction of the arrow C or C ′ is restricted, and the paper guide member 1 is fixed at the fixed position.

When changing the size of the sheet 32, the sheet guide member 1 is moved to the arrow C or C 'as necessary.
6B, the distal end portion 61b of the pressing lever 61 is pressed toward the guide portion 43. As shown in FIG. Then, the pressing lever 61 is inclined to the guide portion 43 side, and the elastic portion 51 of the substantially L-shaped elastic piece 49 is
3 and flexes in a direction (arrow E direction) rising from the guide portion 43 with the upper end portion 51a as a fulcrum, and the opposing portion 53 is also separated from the paper placing plate 31 with the L-shaped bent portion 53a as a fulcrum. In the direction (arrow F direction). Therefore, the locking projection 55 of the elastic piece 49 and the paper placing plate 3
The engagement with the first engagement groove 31b is released. At this time, since the distal end portion 61b of the pressing lever 61 is provided at a position higher than the upper end portion 51a of the elastic portion 51 as described above, by pressing the distal end portion 61b, the elastic portion 5 is pressed.
1 can be flexed with the upper end 51a as a fulcrum. Also, an inclined portion 61a is provided at the tip end of the pressing lever 61.
Is formed, the inclination angle α (see FIG. 6 (B)) when the pressing lever 61 is pressed becomes large, so that the elastic portion 51 and the facing portion 53 can be largely deflected, and the locking projection is formed. The locking between the locking groove 55 and the locking groove 31b can be released more reliably.

The locking projection 55 and the locking groove 3
After releasing the lock of 1b, the sheet guide member 1 can be moved to a desired position on the sheet placement plate 31 by pushing the sheet guide member 1 in the direction of arrow C or C 'while keeping the pushing lever 61 pressed. When the pressing lever 61 is released, the elastic piece 4 is released.
6A again by its own elasticity, the locking projection 55 and the locking groove 31b are locked, the movement of the paper guide member 1 is regulated, and the paper guide member 1 is fixed at a desired position. .

The paper guide member 1 has a guide portion 31.
In the direction of contact with the side portion 32a of the sheet 32, the push lever 61 is not operated, and only by pushing, the cam of the inclined surface of the locking projection 55 and the locking groove 31b opposes the elasticity of the elastic piece 49. Can be moved. And the guide part 31
Is pressed against the side 32a of the sheet 32, the sheet guide member 1 is firmly fixed in the direction away from the side of the sheet 32 as described above.

As described in detail above, the paper guide member 1 of this embodiment is provided integrally with the guide portion 23 and extends therefrom, and the leading end (that is, the portion where the locking projection 55 is provided) is placed on the paper mounting member. A substantially L-shaped elastic piece 49 which bends in a direction of approaching and separating from the plate 31; a pressing lever 61 provided integrally with the distal end of the elastic piece 49 and extending substantially parallel to the guide portion 23; Paper loading plate 3 provided on the leading end side of
1 and a locking projection 55 for locking the locking groove 31b on the upper surface of the paper mounting member 31. It can be moved to the position and fixed. In particular, in the paper guide member 1 of the present embodiment, the mounting portion 41, the guide portion 43, the elastic piece 49, the pressing lever 61, and the like are integrally formed of a material having elasticity. A remarkable effect that down can be achieved.

Further, in the paper guide member 1 of this embodiment, the elastic piece 49 is provided integrally with the guide portion 43 and extends toward the paper mounting plate 31; And an opposing portion 53 provided integrally with the sheet mounting plate 31 on the side thereof to form a substantially L-shape. By bending the elastic portion 51 extending toward the sheet mounting plate 31, Thus, the locking between the locking protrusion 55 and the locking groove 31b can be released. Therefore, the elastic portion 51 is provided on the sheet placing plate 31.
The elastic piece 49 is formed so as to extend toward
The distance (the distance L in FIG. 6) that the sheet guide member 43 protrudes laterally from the guide portion 43 is reduced, and the paper guide member 1 can be made compact. In addition, since the length of the elastic portion 51 can be set large, stress is not concentrated on a specific portion when the elastic portion 51 is bent, and the durability and life of the member are improved. There is.

In this embodiment, the opposing portion 53 of the elastic piece 49 is also configured to bend in the direction of arrow F as described above (ie, the opposing portion 53 has elasticity).
This is preferable because the locking projection 55 can be easily lifted from the locking groove 31b and the locking can be easily released.

Further, in the present embodiment, the grooves 47 are separated from both sides of the elastic piece 49 and the guide portion 43 in parallel with the direction in which the elastic piece 39 extends. Therefore, since the elastic portion 51 of the elastic piece 49 is provided on the same surface as the guide portion 43 and does not protrude outward from the guide portion 43, the above-described distance L can be shortened also in this regard, and the paper There is an effect that the guide member 1 can be made compact.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes. For example, in the paper guide member 1 of the above embodiment, when the opposing portion 53 of the elastic piece 49 has no elasticity,
For example, even when the thickness of the facing portion 53 is large and the portion does not bend, as long as the elastic portion 51 is configured to bend, the pressing lever 61 is pressed to lock the locking protrusion 55 and lock the locking projection 55. The locking of the groove 31b can be released. That is, the one in which the facing portion 53 does not have elasticity also falls within the scope of the present invention.

In the above-described paper guide member 1,
Without providing the grooves 47, 47 (that is, without providing the elastic portion 51), it is also possible to release the locking between the locking protrusion 55 and the locking groove 31b only by the elasticity of the facing portion 53. It is. That is, in this case, the opposing portion 53 plays a role as an elastic piece. However, in this case, the length of the facing portion 53 (that is, the distance L in FIG. 6) is used in order to make the facing portion 53 easily bendable by the amount that the elastic portion 51 is not provided.
Need to be longer. Therefore, the compactness is slightly inferior to the above-described guide member 1, but the effect of cost reduction by the integration of the members is the same as that of the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the elastic piece 49 is used.
Is provided integrally with the guide portion 43, but the elastic piece may be provided integrally with the mounting portion. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in a paper guide member 70 having substantially the same shape as the above-described paper guide member 1, two grooves 73, 73 are provided on the mounting portion 72 side without providing a groove in the guide portion 71. The elastic pieces 75 may be provided between the grooves 73, 73. That is, in this example, the elastic piece 75 is provided integrally with the mounting portion 71 and extends laterally, and a pressing lever 77 similar to that in the above embodiment is integrally provided at the tip end portion 75a of the elastic piece 75. Have been. Therefore, when the pressing lever 77 is pressed toward the guide portion 79, the distal end of the elastic piece 75 bends upward, that is, in a direction in which the elastic piece 75 is separated from the sheet mounting portion. The locking of the stop groove 31b can be released. And, such a paper guide member 7
In the case of 0, as in the case of the above-described paper guide member 1, the cost can be reduced by integrating the members. In addition, a space between both sides of the elastic piece 75 and the mounting portion 72 is
Are separated by the grooves 73, 73 parallel to the direction in which the elastic pieces 72 extend, so that the length of the elastic pieces 72 can be increased without greatly protruding the elastic pieces 72 outside the mounting portion 72. Therefore, there is an effect that the paper guide member 70 itself can be made compact.

In the above embodiment, the locking portion and the locked portion are formed by the right triangular locking projection 55 and the locking groove 31b. Can also be configured. The paper guide member of the present invention is not limited to the printer as in the above embodiment, but can be applied to a paper feeder of various image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a facsimile.

[0034]

As described in detail above, in the paper guide member according to the first aspect of the present invention, the front end opposing portion is provided integrally with the mounting portion or the guide portion with respect to the paper mounting portion. an elastic piece bent in a direction coming close isolated and pressing lever extending out substantially parallel to the guide portion is provided integrally on the front end side of the facing portion, provided at the tip end of the facing portion to be engaged on the sheet holding part Since the locking portion for locking to the locking portion is provided, a remarkable effect is achieved that the cost can be reduced by integrating the members.

Further, in the second aspect of the invention, claim
1 has almost the same effect.

Furthermore, in the invention of claim 3, claim
In addition to the effects of the invention described in 1 or 2, the tip of the lever
The effect that the pressing lever itself does not bend when pressing
There is fruit. Still further, in the invention of claim 4,
Item 1 or 2, in addition to the effect of the locking portion and the engaged
There is an effect that the engagement with the stop can be released more reliably .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part of a sheet feeding device including a guide member according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a paper feed cassette of the paper feed device.

3A and 3B are explanatory views showing a paper guide member, wherein FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the paper guide member, FIG. 3B is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3C is a front view thereof.

4A and 4B are explanatory views showing a paper guide member, wherein FIG. 4A is a right side view of the paper guide member, FIG.
(C) is an AA sectional view of the same.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and operation of a locking projection of a paper guide member and a locking groove of a paper mounting plate.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a paper guide member.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views showing a paper guide member of another embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is a plan view and FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line BB.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 70 paper guide member 3 paper feed cassette 31 paper loading plate 31a mounting hole 31b locking groove (locked portion) 32 paper 41, 72 mounting portion 43, 71 guide portion 47 73 ... groove 49, 77 ... elastic piece 51 ... elastic part 53 ... facing part 55 ... locking projection (locking part) 61, 77 ... pressing lever

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A paper feeding device comprising: a mounting portion movably mounted on a paper mounting portion of a paper feeding device; and a guide portion projecting above the mounting portion and guiding a side portion of the paper. in the paper guide member, Rutotomoni provided integrally with the attachment portion or guide portion,
On the leading end side, with the mounting section while facing the paper loading section
Has opposing portions to extend out in opposite directions, the elastic piece tip of the facing portion is bent in the direction toward isolation to the sheet holding part and, provided integrally on the front end side of the facing portion the guide portion A pressing lever extending substantially in parallel with the locking member, provided at a tip end side of the opposing portion , for locking to a locked portion formed on the paper placing portion to restrict movement of the mounting portion. And a sheet guide member of the sheet feeding device, comprising: 2. A flat guide portion provided in a sheet feeding device.
Guides the sides of the paper parallel to its transport direction
Locked by locked sections provided in multiple rows in the paper width direction on the paper guide member of the paper feeding device
To restrict the movement of the guide member in the paper width direction.
A locking portion, the locking portion being integrally provided on the distal end side and the guide
A facing portion that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the portion, and is provided integrally with the guide portion so that the locking portion and the locked portion
An elastic piece that bends in the direction to release the lock, and the guide portion that is provided integrally at the tip end of the facing portion.
Paper guide members of the sheet feeding device you comprising: a, a pressing lever extending out substantially in parallel. 3. The thickness of the pressing lever is equal to that of the elastic piece .
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the thickness is larger.
6. A paper guide member of the paper feeder according to 4. 4. A tip of the pressing lever is inclined outward.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
Paper guide member of the paper feeder.