JP3326107B2 - Sheet processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus such as an image forming apparatus for executing an image forming process on a sheet-shaped recording medium, and more particularly, to selectively configuring a sheet mounting portion outside the apparatus. The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus provided with a tray for performing processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some sheet processing apparatuses for executing a predetermined process on a sheet have a structure in which a sheet mounting portion can be selectively formed outside the apparatus. For example, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine that performs an image forming process on a sheet-shaped recording medium in a transport path from a paper feeding unit to a paper discharging unit via an image forming process unit, one of the devices is used. Some have a manual feed tray mounted on the side. The manual feed tray holds a recording medium to be guided from the outside of the apparatus to the upstream side of the image forming process section in the transport path. It is selectively used when performing image forming processing on recording media having different paper qualities.

However, the manual feed tray is mounted so as to protrude from one side of the image forming apparatus, and is used for a recording medium having a low use frequency which is different from a recording medium prepared in a paper feeding unit in the apparatus. There is a problem that an installation space of the image forming apparatus is increased due to the used one.

[0004] As a conventional image forming apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-278868 discloses a base-side mounting table in which a tray body for mounting sheets is fixedly mounted on a side surface of the apparatus. Disclosed is a tray constituted by a tip-side mounting table rotatably connected to a tip of a side-mounting table, and a receiving lever rotatably provided at a tip of the tip-side mounting table between a storage position and an exposure position. ing. With this configuration, when a large-size sheet is placed, the receiving lever is exposed from the tip of the leading-side mounting table, and the placing area can be enlarged. It is said that the amount of protrusion from the side surface of the apparatus can be reduced by rotating the distal-side mounting table above the base-side mounting table in the storage position.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-07102 discloses that
An auxiliary tray is slidably provided on the tray body,
There is disclosed a configuration in which a tray main body is housed in a recess formed on a side surface of the apparatus via a link mechanism. With this configuration, when a large-sized sheet is to be placed, the auxiliary tray can be pulled out from the tray main body exposed on the side of the apparatus to increase the mounting area. It is described that the tray can be prevented from protruding from the side surface of the apparatus by storing the tray body in the recess on the side surface of the apparatus while the tray is pushed into the tray body.

[0006]

However, according to the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-278868, when a sheet is not placed, the receiving lever is stored in the leading-side mounting table, and further the leading-side loading is performed. Even if the mounting table is folded above the base-side mounting table, the base-side mounting table remains in a protruding state from the side surface of the device, so that the problem that the expansion of the installation space of the device cannot be completely prevented. is there. Also,
The area of the large-sized sheet exposed from the front-side mounting table is only partially supported by the receiving lever, and there is a problem that the large-sized sheet cannot be held in a stable state.

[0007] In this respect, in the configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-97102, the entire surface of a large-sized sheet can be stably held by the tray body and the auxiliary tray, and the tray into which the auxiliary tray is pushed is pushed. By storing the main body in the concave portion formed on the side surface of the apparatus, the tray does not protrude from the side surface of the apparatus when sheets are not placed, and it is possible to prevent the installation space of the apparatus from expanding. Since it is moved between the position to be stored in the recess formed on the side of the device and the position protruding from the side of the device via a complicated link mechanism, the cost due to the increase in the number of parts and the complexity of the structure There is a problem that causes the rise.

The above-mentioned conventional tray is not limited to a manual tray of an image forming apparatus, and is generally used as a space for mounting sheets outside the apparatus near a sheet feeding section and a sheet discharging section of a sheet processing apparatus. The above-mentioned problem is a problem generally occurring in the sheet processing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to store a tray capable of enlarging and reducing a sheet mounting area in a side surface of an apparatus with a simple configuration and to expose the tray from the side of the apparatus, resulting in a remarkable cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet processing apparatus capable of surely preventing an increase in an installation space of the apparatus without ascending.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention described in claim 1 constitutes a tray to be placed sheets in a side of the apparatus main body, the tray main body and the auxiliary tray, the tray
The main body has one end pivotally supported by the side surface, and
A hole is formed in the tray mounting surface, and the auxiliary tray
A) supported by the other end of the
Slidable in the area, and the tray book
A projection extending beyond the other end of the body, wherein the projection is complementary
When the auxiliary tray is located in the first range of the predetermined range,
The tray book of the auxiliary tray that can penetrate freely through the recording hole
Allow the body to rotate, and the tray body and the auxiliary tray
When the auxiliary tray is in the same plane,
When sliding from the first area to the second area,
Engage to keep the tray body and the auxiliary tray flush.
And rotate the auxiliary tray with respect to the tray
When the back of the main body and the back of the auxiliary tray
The tray penetrates the hole and the tip fits into the side of the main unit.
It is characterized in that it can be engaged with a stopper provided to accommodate it .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the auxiliary tray is positioned in the first range of the predetermined range, the projection formed on the auxiliary tray faces the hole of the tray body,
In a state where the auxiliary tray is located in the second range of the predetermined range, the projection formed on the auxiliary tray faces the back surface of the tray main body (the surface opposite to the sheet mounting surface ) . Therefore, when the respective back surfaces of the auxiliary tray tray body and auxiliary tray in a state where the auxiliary tray was positioned in the first range of predetermined range is rotated in a direction approaching, protrusions formed on the auxiliary tray of the tray body through the hole from the back surface, the sliding of the auxiliary tray is regulated by the contact between the projection and the hole. On the other hand, the auxiliary tray is positioned in the second range of the predetermined range with the protrusion not penetrating the hole.
When is location, the protrusion comes into contact with the back surface of the tray main body, the tray main body and the rotation of the auxiliary tray in the direction in which each back surface approaches the auxiliary tray is restricted.

Further, when the tray body and each of the back surface of the auxiliary tray to collimate the tray body to the side of the apparatus body in the closest state, a part of the projection passing through the holes of the tray body, the apparatus main body The rotation of the tray main body with respect to the apparatus main body is restricted by contacting a stopper formed on the side surface.
Therefore, the rotation of the tray main body with respect to the apparatus main body is restricted by using the projection for restricting the rotation of the auxiliary tray with respect to the tray main body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a concave portion for accommodating a tray main body and an auxiliary tray parallel to the side surface of the apparatus main body is formed on the side surface of the apparatus main body, and the stopper is formed in the concave portion. It is characterized by the following.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tray main body and the auxiliary tray parallel to the side surface of the apparatus main body are housed in the recess formed on the side surface of the apparatus main body, and the hole of the tray main body is provided. The protrusion penetrating through the recess contacts the stopper in the recess. Therefore, the tray main body and the auxiliary tray are stored without protruding from the side surface of the apparatus main body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the tray book
Characterized in that a body and each of the biasing member back surface exerts a rotational force in a direction approaching each other of the tray main body and the auxiliary tray to the auxiliary tray.

[0016] In the invention according to claim 3, rotational force in a direction in which the tray main body and the respective back surfaces of the auxiliary tray approach each other are supplied from the biasing member to the tray main body and the auxiliary tray. Therefore, the auxiliary tray must be
When projection by positioning the first range is in a state of penetrating the hole, the auxiliary tray in a direction in which the tray body and the back surface of the auxiliary tray are close to each other to rotate.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the protrusion is
A part of the back side of the auxiliary tray
From the extension that extends parallel to the back of the
A connecting portion that is continuous in a direction orthogonal to the extension portion,
And the sheet placement surface of the tray body
Cantilever at the joint with a gap equal to the width of the back
Facing portions parallel to the extending portion to be supported, made, the bore
The portion of the auxiliary tray located in the first range of the predetermined range
A through hole through which the protrusion penetrates by rotation, and the predetermined range;
When moving the auxiliary tray from the first range to the second range
The extended portion and the opposing portion of the projection are
The connecting portion of the projection is in the axial direction in contact with the mounting surface.
The moving hole formed continuously with the through hole moving in the direction
It is characterized by becoming .

In the invention described in claim 4, the opposing portion and the connecting portion of the projection of the auxiliary tray are formed in the hole of the tray main body .
While it is through the through hole, an auxiliary tray in a predetermined range
When sliding from the first range to the second range , the connecting portion of the protrusion moves in the moving hole, and the opposing portion and the extending portion of the protrusion become the sheet mounting surface of the tray body and the opposite surface of the sheet mounting surface. on both sides This
Contact to. Therefore, the opposite portion of the projection of the auxiliary tray and the
By forming portion slides the auxiliary tray while you are through the through hole of the hole portion of the tray main body from a first range of predetermined range to the second range, the rotation of both the auxiliary tray against the tray body reliably Be regulated.

[0019] invention as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that a biasing member for applying a sliding force in the direction of movement from a first range of the predetermined range with respect to the auxiliary tray to the second range .

In the invention described in claim 5, the biasing member moves from the first range to the second range of the predetermined range in which the projection of the auxiliary tray faces the hole of the tray main body with respect to the auxiliary tray.
A sliding force acts in the direction of sliding toward the enclosure . Therefore, when no external force is applied to the auxiliary tray, the auxiliary tray has a protrusion that cannot pass through the hole.
The auxiliary tray is made rotatable only when the auxiliary tray is slid in a first range of a predetermined range in the axial direction against the sliding force. You.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the tray book
Body and auxiliary tray
Each of the back surfaces exerts a rotational force in the direction approaching each other.
At the same time as the predetermined range with respect to the auxiliary tray.
A single urging member for applying a sliding force in a direction of moving from the first range to the second range is provided.

In the present invention, the rotational force and the sliding force on the auxiliary tray are generated by a single urging member. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate urging member for applying a rotational force and a sliding force to the auxiliary tray, and the number of components is reduced.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, as a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus for executing an image forming process on a sheet-shaped recording medium will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus which is a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a paper feeding unit 2 containing a recording medium at a lower part,
A document reading unit 3 for reading an image of a document is provided at an upper part, an image forming unit 4 for forming an image by electrophotography at a central part, and a paper discharging unit 5 for discharging a recording medium after the image forming process are provided. It is configured.

A delivery path for transporting a recording medium is formed between the paper supply unit 2 and the paper discharge unit 5 via the image forming unit 4. The paper feeding unit 2 stores a plurality of recording media of a single size or a plurality of sizes, and feeds the recording media to the image forming unit 4 one by one.

The document reading section 3 includes a document table on which a document is placed, a light source for moving the lower surface of the document table horizontally, a photoelectric conversion element for outputting an electric signal corresponding to the amount of received light, and a photoelectric conversion from the image surface of the document. A mirror that forms an optical path to the element, and a lens that forms an image of reflected light on the image surface of the document on the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element, reads an image of the document placed on the document table, and outputs an image signal I do.

The image forming section 4 includes a laser irradiation unit for irradiating a laser beam corresponding to an image signal, a photoconductor having a photoconductive layer formed on the surface, a charger for uniformly applying a charge to the surface of the photoconductor, and a photoconductor. A developing device for supplying the toner to the surface of the recording medium, a transfer device for transferring the toner image carried on the surface of the photoreceptor to the surface of the recording medium, and a fixing device for heating and pressing the recording medium on which the toner image has been transferred. The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor by laser light irradiation is visualized as a toner image, transferred to the surface of the recording medium, melted by a fixing device, and fixed on the surface of the recording medium. The recording medium on which the toner image has been fixed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 5.

A manual tray 6 is mounted on one side of the image forming apparatus 1. The manual tray 6 includes a tray body 7 and an auxiliary tray 8. The tray body 7 is supported at one end by a shaft 9 supported on one side of the image forming apparatus 1, and the auxiliary tray 8 is supported at the other end of the tray body 7 via a shaft 10.
One side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 on which the manual feed tray 6 is mounted is connected to a transport path on the upstream side of the image forming unit 4 through an opening (not shown).

The manual feed tray 6 is stored on one side of the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the tray main body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 are vertically folded and folded, and the tray main body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 are substantially horizontal. And is extended to a continuous state. By extending the tray body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 in a continuous state, it is possible to place a recording medium having the largest size on which image forming processing can be performed in the image forming unit 4 on the manual feed tray 6. Therefore, by exposing the tray body 7 horizontally from the side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 in a state where the auxiliary tray 8 is folded or in a state where the auxiliary tray 8 is extended, according to the size of the recording medium to be loaded. Thus, the mounting area of the manual feed tray 6 can be reduced or enlarged. The recording medium placed on the manual feed tray 6 is conveyed to the image forming unit 4 in preference to the recording medium stored in the sheet feeding unit 2 during the image forming process.

[0030] Figure 2, Ri appearance view showing a structure of a main portion of a manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus, the tray present
Auxiliary tray is located at the forefront of the specified range in the axial direction.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where the sliding member is moved to (first range of the present invention).
You. FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a main part of the manual feed tray.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing the auxiliary tray with respect to the tray body.
At the rearmost side of the predetermined range in the direction (the second range of the present invention).
Ru Figure der showing a sliding state. As described above, one end of the auxiliary tray 8 is slidable in a predetermined range in the axial direction on the other end of the tray main body 7 having one end pivotally supported on one side surface of the image forming apparatus 1 via the shaft 10. It is pivoted. Projections 11 extending from one end of the auxiliary tray 8 are formed at two places on the back surface 8b of the auxiliary tray 8. This projection 1
In detail, an extension portion 11a protruding from the back surface 8b of the auxiliary tray 8 and a connecting portion 1 continuous with the tip of the extension portion 11a.
1b and an opposing portion 11c continuous with the connecting portion 11b.

At two locations near the other end of the tray main body 7, holes 12 each having a through hole 12a and a moving hole 12b are formed. When the auxiliary tray 8 is slid to the most front side, the through hole 12a is opposed to the extending portion 11a of the projection 11 and the facing portion 11c. The moving hole 12b is sized so that the connecting portion 11b of the protrusion 11 moves inside while the auxiliary tray 8 slides from the frontmost side to the rearmost side in a predetermined range.

Further, the auxiliary tray 8 is provided with a coil spring 16 which is fitted on the shaft 10 and whose both ends are engaged with the tray body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8, respectively. It is provided in each of. One end of the coil spring 16 is slidably engaged with the tray body 7 within a predetermined range. The coil spring 16 is a biasing member of the present invention, and generates a rotational force for biasing the auxiliary tray 8 in the direction of arrow A and a sliding force for biasing the auxiliary tray 8 in the direction of arrow B. That is, the auxiliary tray 8 is urged by the coil spring 16 in a direction in which the back surface 8b approaches the back surface 7b of the tray main body 7 and in a direction in which the auxiliary tray 8 slides to the rear surface side in a predetermined range. .

It should be noted that the coil spring 16 only needs to generate a rotational force for urging the auxiliary tray 8 at least in the direction of arrow A. When the coil spring 16 does not urge the auxiliary tray 8 toward the back side (the direction of arrow B), the auxiliary tray 8 is slid in the axial direction by manual operation with respect to the tray main body 7.

Further, apart from the coil spring 16 for generating a rotational force for urging the auxiliary tray 8 in the direction of arrow A, an elastic member for generating a sliding force for urging the auxiliary tray 8 in the direction of arrow B may be provided. Good. However, in this case, the number of components is increased as compared with a configuration in which a single coil spring 16 applies a rotational force and a sliding force to the auxiliary tray 8.

With the above configuration, the coil spring 16
2, when the auxiliary tray 8 is rotated in the direction of arrow C until the surface 8a of the auxiliary tray 8 is substantially flush with the surface 7a of the tray body 7, as shown in FIG. 11 is fitted into the moving hole 12b, and the opposing portion 11c of the projection 11 is attached to the surface 7a of the tray body 7.
Side, and the extension 11a of the projection 11 is
It is located on the back surface 7b side of the tray main body 7 without being fitted into the inside 2a. At this time, when no external force is applied to the auxiliary tray 8 in the axial direction, the auxiliary tray 8 slides rearward due to the sliding force of the coil spring 16.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
One extension portion 11a faces the back surface 7b of the tray body 7, and the facing portion 11c of the projection 11 faces the upper surface of the tray body 7. Therefore, the extending portion 11a and the facing portion 11
c, the tray main body 7 is sandwiched between the tray main body 7 and the rotation of the auxiliary tray 8 with respect to the tray main body 7 is reliably restricted, and the surface 7a of the tray main body 7 and the surface 8a of the auxiliary tray 8 are formed.
And the solid state is maintained robustly. As a result, a large-sized recording medium can be placed on the surface 7a of the tray body 7 and the surface 8a of the auxiliary tray 8.

On the other hand, from the state shown in FIG.
When the auxiliary tray 8 is slid in the direction of arrow D to the position shown in FIG. 2 against the sliding force of the coil spring 16 without applying external force in the rotating direction to the The auxiliary tray 8 has a back surface 8b
Rotates in a direction approaching the back surface 7b of the tray body 7.
As a result, as shown in FIG.
1a penetrates the through hole 12a from the back surface 7b side of the tray body 7 to the front surface 7a side, and the back surface 8b of the auxiliary tray 8 is in close contact with the back surface 7b of the tray body 7.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the storage state of the manual feed tray in the image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatus 1
1, the tray main body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 constituting the manual feed tray 6 are housed in a concave portion 14 formed on one side surface of the image forming apparatus 1. A hemispherical stopper 15 is formed on the upper surface in the concave portion 14 so as to protrude downward. Further, one end of the tray main body 7 is pivotally supported by a pivotal support (not shown) formed on the lower surface in the recess 14.

When the manual tray 6 is accommodated in the recess 14, the tray body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 are parallel to the side of the image forming apparatus 1 with the back surface 7b and the back surface 8b being in close contact with each other. When it is rotated to the position, the tip of the projection 11 penetrating through the through hole 12 a of the tray body 7 comes into contact with the inner surface of the stopper 15. At this time, the rotational force acting on the auxiliary tray 8 from the coil spring 16 acts in a direction in which the back surface 7b of the tray body 7 and the back surface 8b of the auxiliary tray 8 are kept in close contact with each other. Acts in the direction of contact. Therefore, the contact state between the tip of the projection 11 and the stopper 15 is maintained by the rotational force of the coil spring 16,
The manual feed tray 6 is securely housed inside. Thereby, the unused manual feed tray 6 can be stored without protruding from the side surface of the image forming apparatus 1, and the installation space of the image forming apparatus 1 can be prevented from expanding.

When the back surface 7b and the back surface 8b are in close contact with each other, the tray body 7 is
When the is rotated to a position parallel to the side surface of the image forming apparatus 1, the tip of the protrusion 11 contacts the outer surface of the stopper 15. Therefore, when the manual tray 6 is stored in the concave portion 14, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, the back surface 8 b of the auxiliary tray 8 is opposed to the back surface 7 b of the tray body 7 against the elastic force of the coil spring 16. Tray body 7 in the direction away from
By rotating the tray body 7 with respect to the auxiliary tray 8, the tray main body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 are moved in the direction of arrow E in a state where the position of the tip end of the projection 11 is positioned below the position of the stopper 15 projecting downward. To move the tip of the protrusion 11 to the inside of the stopper 15 in the recess 14. Thereafter, the auxiliary tray 8 is released from the back surface 7b of the tray main body 7 in a direction in which the back surface 8b of the auxiliary tray 8 is separated from the back surface 7b. 7 rotates in the direction in which it comes into close contact with the back surface 7 b, and the tip of the projection 11 contacts the inner surface of the stopper 15.

When the manual tray 6 is used,
By rotating the tray body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 in the direction of the arrow F against the elastic force of the coil spring 16 and pulling them out of the concave portion 14, the auxiliary tray 8 is
While rotating the backside 7b in the direction of the back surface 8b is spaced apart auxiliary tray 8, the leading end portion of the projection 11 slides outwardly of the surface of the stopper 1 5 from the inside. Thereby, the tray main body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 constituting the manual feed tray 6 are formed.
Can be exposed outside the recess 14. When the tray main body 7 rotates in the direction of arrow F to a position where the tip of the protrusion 11 does not contact the stopper 15, the back surface 8b of the auxiliary tray 8 comes into close contact with the back surface 7b of the tray main body 7 by the elastic force of the coil spring 16. Until the tray body 7
, The auxiliary tray 8 rotates.

As described above, when the manual tray 6 is not in use, the recess 11 of the image forming apparatus 1 is used when the manual tray 6 is not used, by using the projection 11 which is a member for restricting the rotation of the auxiliary tray 8 with respect to the tray body 7 when the manual tray 6 is used. The storage state of the tray body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8 in the inside can be reliably maintained.

In the above embodiment, the auxiliary tray 8
The protrusion 11 protruding from the back surface 8b of the base member 11 includes an extension 11a, a connecting portion 11b, and a facing portion 11c.
a part of the tray main body 7 is sandwiched between the tray main body 7a and the opposing portion 11c so that the surface 8a of the auxiliary tray 8 becomes substantially flush with the surface 7a of the tray main body 7 from the tray main body 7.
Although the rotation of the auxiliary tray 8 with respect to the vertical direction is restricted, the protrusion 11 may be constituted only by the extending portion 11a.

Also according to this configuration, the extension portion 11a abuts on the back surface 7b of the tray body 7 so that the surface 8a of the auxiliary tray 8 becomes substantially flush with the surface 7a of the tray body 7 at least. The rotation of the auxiliary tray 8 with respect to the downward direction of the auxiliary tray 8 can be restricted, and a large-sized recording medium can be reliably held on the tray main body 7 and the auxiliary tray 8.

In the case where the projection 11 is constituted only by the extension 11a, the hole 12 formed in the tray body 7 is formed.
Can be constituted only by the through holes 12a, and there is no need to form the moving holes 12b.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where the present invention is applied to a manual feed tray on which a recording medium before image forming processing is placed in an image forming apparatus as a sheet processing apparatus. The present invention can be similarly applied to a paper discharge tray on which the recording medium is placed. Further, the present invention can be similarly implemented in another sheet processing apparatus in which a tray on which sheets are placed is selectively exposed to the outside of the apparatus.

[0047]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the auxiliary tray is located in the first range of the predetermined range, the projection formed on the auxiliary tray is opposed to the hole of the tray body, and the predetermined range is set. tray body and the auxiliary tray in the state of the state of being slid to the other portion of the protrusion formed on the auxiliary tray by facing the back surface of the tray main body, sliding the auxiliary tray to a portion of the predetermined range auxiliary tray when the respective back surface is rotated in a direction approaching, by the contact of the auxiliary tray which is formed on a projection of the hole portion of the tray main body can be through the back surface, the projection and the hole of the it is possible to restrict the sliding, when the projection is to position the auxiliary tray while no through the hole in the second range of predetermined range, it is brought into contact with the projections on the back surface of the tray main body The tray body and The rotation of the auxiliary tray in the direction in which each back surface of the tray approaches to reliably regulated, the seat body can be reliably placed on the tray main body and the upper surface of the auxiliary tray.

[0048] Also, the tray main body and upon parallel to the side surface of the apparatus main tray body in each state in which the back surface is closest auxiliary tray, holes of the tray main body part of the penetrating projections the apparatus body The rotation of the tray main body with respect to the apparatus main body is restricted by the contact with the stopper formed on the side surface of the main body, so that the rotation of the tray main body with respect to the apparatus main body is restricted using the projection for restricting the rotation of the auxiliary tray with respect to the tray main body. be able to.

For these reasons, the tray main body and the auxiliary tray are extended from the side of the sheet processing apparatus when the sheets are placed, and the tray main body and the auxiliary tray are placed on the side of the sheet processing apparatus when the sheets are not placed. The state where the auxiliary tray is stored can be reliably maintained by an extremely simple configuration.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tray main body and the auxiliary tray parallel to the side surface of the apparatus main body are housed in the recess formed in the side surface of the apparatus main body, and the hole of the tray main body is provided. The tray body and the auxiliary tray can be housed without protruding from the side surface of the apparatus main body by making the protrusion penetrating into the concave portion abut on the stopper in the concave portion, and the installation space of the sheet processing apparatus is reliably prevented from expanding. be able to.

[0051] According to the invention described in claim 3, by the tray main body and each of the back surface of the auxiliary tray to provide rotational force in the direction from the biasing member to the tray main body and the auxiliary trays to close to each other, the auxiliary tray In the first range of the predetermined range
When projection by positioning the circumference is in a state of penetrating the hole, it is possible to tray body and the back surface of the auxiliary tray by the rotational force supplied from the urging member rotates the auxiliary tray toward each other, the tray The work of folding the auxiliary tray on the main body can be easily performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the opposing portion and the connecting portion of the projection of the auxiliary tray are formed through the hole of the tray main body.
Make sure that the auxiliary tray is
When the slide to a second range of the first range, the connecting portion of the projection moves within the moving hole, those on both sides of a sheet placing surface and the back surface of the facing portion and the extending portion tray body projections by configured to contact, it is possible to reliably restrict rotation in both directions of the auxiliary tray against the tray body by a very simple operation, auxiliary tray against the tray body when placing the sheet extending The state can be maintained more robustly.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, from the urging member to the auxiliary tray, the first range and the second range of the predetermined range in which the projection of the auxiliary tray faces the hole of the tray main body. by applying a sliding force in a direction to slide toward the>, in a state where external force auxiliary tray is not acting, it is possible to keep biasing the auxiliary tray to a position where rotation is restricted, the sliding Move the auxiliary tray against the power in the first range of the predetermined range .
The auxiliary tray can be made rotatable only when it is slid into the surrounding area , making it extremely easy to maintain the auxiliary tray extended with respect to the tray body when placing sheets. Can be done.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the rotational force and the sliding force on the auxiliary tray are generated by the single urging member. There is no need to provide an urging member, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus that is a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a configuration of a main part of a manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus, wherein an auxiliary tray slides toward the frontmost side which is a first range of a predetermined range in the axial direction with respect to the tray main body. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a configuration of a main part of a manual feed tray provided in the image forming apparatus, wherein an auxiliary tray slides with respect to a tray body to a rearmost side which is a second range of a predetermined range in the axial direction. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing a relationship between a tray main body and an auxiliary tray when the manual tray is used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of folding the auxiliary tray with respect to the tray body when the manual tray is stored.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the manual feed tray is stored.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-Image Forming Apparatus (Sheet Processing Apparatus) 6-Manual Tray 7-Tray Body 8-Auxiliary Tray 11-Protrusion 11a-Extending Section 11b-Connecting Section 11c-Opposing Section 12-Hole Section 12a-Through Hole 12b-Moving Hole 16-Coil spring (biasing member)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takahira 22-22, Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Minoru Toyo 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Sharp shares In-company (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65H 1/00-3/68 B65H 11/00-11/02

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A tray 1. A sheet in a side of the apparatus main body is placed, constructed from the tray main body and the auxiliary tray, the tray main body, the one end is axially supported on the side together
A hole is formed in the sheet mounting surface, and the auxiliary tray is pivotally supported by the other end of the tray body.
In addition, it is slidable in a predetermined range in the axial direction,
A projection extending beyond the other end of the tray body on the back surface
Wherein the projections are auxiliary tray position to the first range of the predetermined range
When it is placed, it can penetrate freely through the hole and
Allow the ray to rotate with respect to the tray body, and
With the auxiliary tray in the same plane as the auxiliary tray,
When sliding from the first range of the predetermined range to the second range
The tray body and the auxiliary tray are
Hold the flat tray and move the auxiliary tray to the tray body.
Rotate to connect the back of the tray body to the back of the auxiliary tray.
When approaching, the tray penetrates the hole and the tip
It can be engaged with a stopper provided to be stored on the side of the main unit.
Sheet processing apparatus characterized by being. 2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion for accommodating a tray main body and an auxiliary tray parallel to the side surface of the apparatus main body is formed on a side surface of the apparatus main body, and the stopper is formed in the concave portion. Processing equipment. 3. The sheet according to claim 1 or 2 each of the back surface of the tray main body and the auxiliary tray is provided with a biasing member for applying a rotational force in a direction approaching each other with respect to the tray main body and the auxiliary tray Processing equipment. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed from a part of the back surface of the auxiliary tray.
The extension extending parallel to the back surface beyond the one end of the auxiliary tray
The extension and the extension from the tip of the extension in the direction perpendicular to the extension
Between the connecting part to be extended and the extending part via the connecting part.
A gap equal to the width between the sheet
A pair parallel to the extension that is cantilevered by the connecting part
And a hole , wherein the hole is located in a first range of the predetermined range.
A through hole through which the protrusion penetrates by rotation of the ray,
Moves from the first range of predetermined range of the auxiliary tray to the second range
Occasionally, the protruding portion and the opposing portion of the projection
And the connecting portion of the projections
A moving hole formed continuously with a through hole that moves in the axial direction
When the sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 made of. 5. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined range of said auxiliary tray is within a predetermined range .
5. The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an urging member for applying a sliding force in a direction of moving from the first range to the second range . 6. A tray for the tray body and the auxiliary tray.
The back sides of the ray body and the auxiliary tray are close to each other
And a second range from the first range of the predetermined range in the axial direction to the auxiliary tray.
The sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 4 with a single biasing member that applies the direction sliding force of moving to the circumference.