JP3569403B2 - Paper tray for image forming equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paper feed tray used for an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a facsimile, and more particularly to a paper feed tray capable of placing sheets of a plurality of sizes on a single paper feed tray.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a conventional image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 has a detachable paper feed tray 1 that can be removed in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the paper 3 is stored in the paper feed tray 1.
[0003]
Inside the paper feed tray 1, there is a bottom plate 2, which is rotatable about a shaft 2a at the rear end in the transport direction, and whose front end is urged toward the paper feed roller 4 by spring means (not shown). ing. The leading end of the paper 3 rests on the bottom plate 2 and is pressed against the paper feed roller 4 by pressing means (not shown). Then, the paper 3 is fed to the left in the figure by the rotation of the paper feed roller 4, separated into one by a separating member 5 pressed by the paper feed roller 4, conveyed, and fed to the registration roller 6. The paper 3 whose skew of the paper 3 has been corrected by the registration roller 6 is sent in synchronization with the image written on the photoconductor 7, and the image written on the photoconductor 7 is transferred by the transfer roller 8, The image is sent to the fixing unit 9 and the image on the sheet 3 is fixed. The sheet 3 that has passed through the fixing unit 9 is sent to a sheet discharge roller 10 and stacked on a sheet discharge tray unit 11.
Reference numeral 12 denotes a registration sensor, 13 denotes a paper ejection sensor, 14 denotes an electrical unit, and 15 denotes an optical unit.
[0004]
The direction in which the paper feed tray 1 is removed is the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, which is opposite to the direction in which the paper 3 is conveyed. Further, the rear end portion of the paper feed tray 1 with respect to the sheet transport direction (in the illustrated example, the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 100) protrudes from the image forming apparatus main body 100.
[0005]
This is because the size of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is reduced, and the sheet 3 of the size (for example, A4 length) normally used by the sheet feeding tray 1 is stored. Due to growing.
[0006]
FIG. 4A shows the rear end of the sheet feed tray 1. An L-shaped paper cover 20 for protecting the paper 3 from external moisture, dust and the like is provided at a portion of the paper feed tray 1 protruding from the image forming apparatus main body 100.
When the paper tray 1 uses paper 3 (for example, B4, A3, etc.) of a size larger than the size normally used, as shown in FIG. By providing the auxiliary tray 21 on the rear side, it is possible to use a sheet 3 longer than the sheet 3 of a size that can be stored in the sheet feeding tray 1.
[0007]
The reason why the maximum size of the paper 3 (for example, B4, A3, etc.) that can be used by the image forming apparatus main body 100 in the paper feed tray 1 is not set even without the auxiliary tray 21 is that the size of the paper feed tray 1 is used frequently. This is because the installation area of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is reduced by reducing the size in accordance with the size of the paper 3 such as A4 portrait.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a paper feed tray, when the large-size paper 3 is stored in the paper feed tray, the paper 3 hits the paper cover 20 as shown in FIG. Become.
[0009]
Conventionally, when the same number of sheets 3 of a size that uses the auxiliary tray 21 are set in the sheet feed tray 1 as many as the sheets 3 of a size that does not use the auxiliary tray 21, the auxiliary tray 21 Causes insufficient strength.
Therefore, in order to solve the insufficient strength, the auxiliary tray 21 must be made firmly, and the apparatus becomes large.
[0010]
Further, since the large-size paper 3 and the small-size paper 3 have different weights, the pressing mechanism becomes complicated to press the paper feed roller 4 with the same pressing force when the same number is set. Problems.
Therefore, conventionally, it is necessary to regulate the settable number of sheets 3 of a large size that uses the auxiliary tray 21 to be smaller than that of the sheet 3 that does not use the auxiliary tray 21.
[0011]
However, in order to regulate the number of sheets that can be automatically set according to the size of the paper 3 to be used, the mechanism for that is complicated, and there are also manuals, labels, or the like that call attention to the user. In that case, it is difficult to ensure that the user is thorough.
[0012]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a paper feed tray of an image forming apparatus in which a cover does not interfere with the use of large-size paper. Further, the present invention provides a paper feed tray of an image forming apparatus that can reduce the number of sheets that can be automatically set with a simple configuration without using a strong structure when using large-size paper. It is intended to be.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a paper feed tray in which a rear end portion of a sheet in a conveying direction protrudes from an image forming apparatus main body, and is openable and closable to cover an upper portion and a rear end portion of the protruding portion. In a paper feed tray of an image forming apparatus having a cover, an auxiliary tray is provided on the bottom surface of the paper feed tray so as to be movable between a use state and a storage state, and a rear end portion of the cover is placed on the auxiliary tray. It is characterized in that it is shortened for passing the placed paper.
[0014]
Alternatively, the height from the bottom surface of the paper feed tray to the lower end of the rear end portion of the cover may be set to be equal to the height of the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded on the auxiliary tray.
It is preferable that the auxiliary tray is provided with a cover that covers the entire rear end of the sheet feeding tray together with the rear end of the cover when the auxiliary tray is in the storage state.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part of a paper feed tray 1 according to the present invention. The overall configuration of the paper feed tray is almost the same as the conventional one, and the differences are shown in FIG.
[0016]
An L-shaped auxiliary tray 21 is attached to the rear end of the bottom surface 1a of the paper feed tray 1 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 21a. When the auxiliary tray 21 is stored (when not in use), as shown in FIG. 1A, the long side 21b is stored so as to overlap the bottom surface 1a of the sheet feeding tray 1, and the cover having a vertical short side is provided. The portion 21c covers the rear end of the sheet feed tray 1 together with a rear end portion 20a that is a vertical short side of the cover 20.
[0017]
When the auxiliary tray 21 is used, that is, when the large-sized paper 3 is used, as shown in FIG. 1B, the auxiliary tray 21 is rotated clockwise so that the long side 21b is in contact with the bottom surface 1a. The extension surfaces are substantially the same, and a large-sized sheet 3 can be placed on the extension surface. At this time, the cover portion 21c comes into contact with the rear end surface 1b of the sheet feeding tray 1 to stop the rotation of the auxiliary tray 21.
[0018]
An opening 22 is formed between the bottom surface 1 a and the long side 21 b and the rear end portion 20 a of the cover 20, so that even if the large-sized paper 3 is placed, it does not interfere with the cover 20.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. When the auxiliary tray 21 is not used, as shown in FIG. 2A, the auxiliary tray 21 is stored in the paper feed tray 1 so as to be folded, and the paper 3 is stacked to a thickness that does not interfere with the paper cover 20. it can.
[0020]
On the other hand, when the auxiliary tray 21 is used, as shown in FIG. 2B, the auxiliary tray 21 moves to the use position by rotating and moving in the direction of the arrow. Is determined by the height of the rear end portion 20a of the cover 20. Therefore, if the height from the bottom surface 1a of the paper feed tray to the rear end portion 20a is set to the maximum value that can be stacked, the stacking amount of large-sized sheets can be automatically determined.
[0021]
That is, the number n of sheets that can be set without the sheet 3 hitting the sheet cover 20 is smaller than the number n ′ of sheets 3 of a size that can be stored in the sheet feeding tray 1 without requiring the auxiliary tray 22 (n <n). ').
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the rear end of the paper feed tray in the conveyance direction of the paper is provided so as to protrude from the image forming apparatus main body, and is openable and closable to cover the upper and rear ends of the protruding portion. In a paper feed tray of an image forming apparatus having a cover, an auxiliary tray is provided on the bottom surface of the paper feed tray so as to be movable between a use state and a storage state, and a rear end portion of the cover is placed on the auxiliary tray. Since the placed paper is shortened so as to pass through, even if a large-sized paper is placed on the auxiliary tray, it is possible to prevent the cover from interfering with the paper. Since the cover does not hit the sheet, it is not necessary to remove the sheet cover in the case of a large-sized sheet, or to evacuate the cover from the sheet, thereby improving the operability.
[0023]
In addition, if the height from the bottom of the paper feed tray to the lower end of the rear end portion of the cover is set to be equal to the height of the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded on the auxiliary tray, large-sized paper Can be automatically set to a small amount, and there is no need to make the device robust, and the device can be manufactured at low cost. At the same time, it is possible to easily press the large-sized paper and the small-sized paper against the paper feed roller with the same pressure, and it is possible to solve the problem that the pressing mechanism is complicated.
[0024]
When the auxiliary tray is in the storage state, a cover portion covering the entire rear end portion of the sheet feeding tray together with the rear end portion of the cover is provided on the auxiliary tray, so that a sheet of a normal size can be used. Can reliably cover the rear end of the sheet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a main part of a sheet feeding tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A illustrates a state when an auxiliary tray is not used, and FIG.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a main part of a sheet feeding tray according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A illustrates a state when an auxiliary tray is not used, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic structure of an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding tray.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are main part configuration diagrams of a conventional sheet feeding tray, in which FIG. 4A shows a state when an auxiliary tray is not used, and FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 paper feed tray 1 a bottom surface 3 paper 20 cover 20 a rear end portion 21 auxiliary tray 21 c cover portion

Claims (3)

In the paper feed tray of the image forming apparatus, the paper feed tray is provided such that the rear end of the paper in the conveyance direction protrudes from the image forming apparatus main body, and has an openable and closable cover that covers an upper part and a rear end of the protruding part.
An auxiliary tray is provided on the bottom surface of the paper feed tray so as to be movable between a used state and a stored state, and a rear end portion of the cover is shortened so that sheets placed on the auxiliary tray pass therethrough. A sheet feed tray for an image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein a height from a bottom surface of the paper feed tray to a lower end of a rear end portion of the cover is made equal to a height of a maximum number of sheets that can be loaded on the auxiliary tray. Paper feed tray for forming equipment. 3. The auxiliary tray according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary tray is provided with a cover that covers the entire rear end of the sheet feeding tray together with the rear end of the cover when the auxiliary tray is in the storage state. Feed tray of the image forming apparatus.

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