JP4265767B2 - Paper cassette - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette that can lock a guide at a predetermined position to regulate a paper position.

  Conventionally, as such a paper feed cassette, one that performs paper guidance of a center reference system in which paper is guided based on the center regardless of the size of the paper is used (for example, (See Patent Document 1). Specifically, the sheet is sandwiched and guided by sheet guides that can move left and right. This is exemplified in Patent Document 1 as a configuration in which the left and right paper guides can be slid in synchronization with the width direction outside or the width direction inside.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional paper feeding cassette. In the figure, the paper feed cassette S has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a concave portion 7 in which paper is set is provided on the upper surface. A sheet guide 8 and a sheet guide 1 are provided at left and right positions orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction indicated by the arrow C in the recess 7 to guide the sheet sandwiched from the left and right. The position can be changed by sliding on a rail 2 (to be described later) in conjunction with the left-right direction orthogonal to the paper feeding direction, that is, the paper width direction, while maintaining the positional relationship with respect to each other. A rear guide 9 for aligning and setting the rear end of the paper is provided in the recess 7 at a position rearward of the paper feeding direction, and this slides on the rail 10 along the paper feeding direction. The position can be changed back and forth with respect to the paper feeding direction.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a sheet guide in an example of a conventional sheet feeding cassette. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a paper guide having a substantially L-shaped cross section. In the drawing, only the paper guide on the right side in the paper feeding direction is shown, and the paper guide on the left side is not shown. Reference numeral 2 denotes a rail for guiding the paper guide, which is arranged on the left and right sides in the paper feed cassette. The paper guide 1 can slide to the left and right on the rail 2 along the long hole 2a formed in the rail 2 in conjunction with the other paper guide (the paper guide 8) (not shown). Yes, this provides center-based paper guidance.

  A lever 4 pivotally supported by a shaft 3 is provided on the outer surface of the paper guide 1 and is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow A when viewed from the outside by an elastic body such as a spring (not shown). Is biased in the direction. The lever 4 includes an arm portion 4a operated by the user and a claw portion 4b on the opposite side through the shaft 3. On the other hand, a plurality of grooves 2b respectively corresponding to the size in the width direction of the paper are provided along the left-right direction of the paper feed cassette at the rear corner with respect to the paper feed direction of the rail 2.

  The groove 2b is provided at a position corresponding to both inch and centimeter paper sizes, and when the claw portion 4b of the lever 4 is engaged with the groove 2b, the paper 2 corresponds to the corresponding paper size. The guide 1 and the other paper guide (the paper guide 8) linked thereto are positioned in the paper width direction. With this configuration, the paper guide functions as a cassette cursor. The figure shows a state in which the claw portion 4b is engaged with the groove portion 2b corresponding to the A4 size.

When changing the paper size setting, the user rotates the lever 4 in the clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow B to release the engagement between the groove portion 2b and the claw portion 4b while moving the paper guide 1 on the rail 2. Slide with. Then, the lever 4 is released, and the claw 4b is engaged with the groove 2b corresponding to the desired paper size. Thereby, the paper guide is positioned so as to guide a paper of a predetermined size.
Japanese Patent No. 2971353

  However, in the configuration of the conventional paper feed cassette as described above, since the groove portion 2b is provided at a position corresponding to both the inch and centimeter paper sizes, for example, an inch letter size (8. In the case of 5 inches × 11 inches, that is, 216 mm × 279 mm) and the centimeter-based A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm), the positions of the corresponding groove portions 2b approach each other.

  Specifically, when the paper is placed horizontally, the letter size is only 3 mm larger on one side than the A4 size on the center side, so as shown in FIG. 7, just outside the groove 2b corresponding to the A4 size, Since the groove 2b corresponding to the letter size is arranged, there is a possibility that the user sets the position of the cassette cursor by mistake. For example, if A4 size paper is loaded into a paper feed cassette with the claw portion 4b engaged with the groove 2b corresponding to the letter size and is used as it is, the impact caused by mounting the cassette on the main body of the image forming apparatus will occur. As a result, the position of the stacked paper is shifted, and the image forming position and the paper position, specifically, for example, the image center on the photosensitive drum and the paper center do not coincide with each other. In the worst case, a paper jam occurs.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper feed cassette that has a simple configuration and prevents a user from erroneously setting the position of a cassette cursor.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding cassette that feeds a stored sheet, and includes a regulating member having a lever that is swingable and regulates the position of the stored sheet. The sheet feeding cassette is provided with a square-shaped positioning member for positioning the regulating member, and the positioning member can be switched between positioning corresponding to a centimeter type paper size and positioning corresponding to an inch type paper size. And a groove portion that engages with the claw portion provided on the lever is provided opposite the claw portion on the upper surface of the positioning member, and the positioning member is disposed at a position corresponding to a centimeter type paper size. A first surface having the groove portion and a second surface having the groove portion disposed at a position corresponding to an inch-based paper size, and the first surface and the second surface. Switchable Characterized in that fixed to the rail which way the.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the positioning member is fixed to the rail at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the positioning member.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper feed cassette that prevents the user from setting the position of the cassette cursor by mistake with a simple configuration.

  Specifically, the portion where the groove portion of the rail is formed is a separate member, and by changing the mounting direction of this member, it is possible to switch between the paper sizes of inch and centimeters.

  As a result, the groove portions corresponding to the centimeter-type and inch-type paper sizes do not approach each other, and the user can be prevented from setting the position of the cassette cursor by mistake.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is common in the said prior art, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. In the present invention, the portion of the rail where the groove is formed is a separate member, and by changing the mounting direction of this member, it is possible to switch the paper size between the inch and centimeters.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper feed cassette according to the present invention, and shows an example of a digital copying machine. In the figure, the surface of the photosensitive drum 70 is uniformly charged positively or negatively by a charging device 71. On the other hand, a document (not shown) is placed on a document placing table 90 covered with a lid 91, and the image data is read by a reading device (not shown). The read image data is written on the surface of the photosensitive drum 70 by a laser scanner (exposure device) 72, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 70.

  Specifically, in the case of the reverse development method, the charge corresponding to the image is removed, and in the case of the regular development method, the charge corresponding to the background is removed to form an electrostatic latent image. . Next, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 70 is visualized with toner by the developing device 73. At this time, the charging polarity of the toner is the same as the charging polarity of the photosensitive drum 70 in the case of the reversal development method, and is opposite to the charging polarity of the photosensitive drum 70 in the case of regular development.

  On the other hand, the paper P stored in the paper feed cassette S is pulled out by the pickup roller 82, sandwiched between the paper feed roller 83 and the separating roller 84, and sent to the conveyance path. Then, the registration roller pair 81 feeds the paper P to the transfer unit at the timing when the toner image on the photosensitive drum 70 reaches the transfer unit. In the transfer portion, the sheet P is sandwiched between the photosensitive drum 70 and the transfer roller 74, and a charge having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity is applied to the transfer roller 74. Toner image moves onto the paper P. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 70 without moving onto the paper P is removed and collected by the cleaning roller 75.

  On the other hand, the paper P on which the toner image is placed is conveyed to the fixing roller pair 85. Here, the toner image is heated and pressurized by the fixing roller pair 85 and fixed on the paper P. Then, the paper P is discharged to the paper discharge unit 87 by the discharge roller pair 86. The paper P placed on the manual feed tray 88 is sent to the registration roller pair 81 by the paper feed roller 89, and thereafter passes through the same path as the above-described transport path.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another member including a rail groove portion in the paper feed cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the portion of the rail 2 where the groove 2b is formed is used as the positioning member 5 which is a separate member. The positioning member 5 has a generally rectangular shape, and is symmetric with respect to a virtual axis X1 along the paper feeding direction indicated by the arrow C. And it is set as the structure which switches an up-and-down surface by rotating 180 degree | times regarding this axis | shaft. Grooves 2b corresponding to centimeter-type and inch-type paper sizes are provided at corners on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction on the upper surface before and after switching, respectively.

  FIG. 4A shows a state where the groove 2b corresponding to the centimeter type paper size is set, and FIG. 5B shows a state where the groove 2b corresponding to the inch type paper size is set. Yes. As a result, it is possible to switch between centimeter-type and inch-type paper sizes, so that the corresponding groove portions are prevented from approaching, and the user is prevented from setting the cassette cursor position by mistake. it can.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another member having a rail groove portion in the paper feed cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the portion of the rail 2 where the groove 2b is formed is used as a positioning member 6 which is a separate member. The positioning member 6 has a generally rectangular shape, and is symmetric with respect to a virtual axis X2 along the longitudinal direction indicated by the arrow D. And it is set as the structure which switches an up-and-down surface by rotating 180 degree | times regarding this axis | shaft. Grooves 2b corresponding to centimeter-type and inch-type paper sizes are provided at the corners on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction on the top surface before and after switching, respectively.

  FIG. 4A shows a state where the groove 2b corresponding to the centimeter type paper size is set, and FIG. 5B shows a state where the groove 2b corresponding to the inch type paper size is set. Yes. As a result, it is possible to switch between centimeter-type and inch-type paper sizes, so that the corresponding groove portions are prevented from approaching, and the user is prevented from setting the cassette cursor position by mistake. it can.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the sheet feeding cassette S shown in the figure, the positioning member 6 is fitted into a predetermined position of the rail 2 and fixed. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the paper guide in the paper feed cassette of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, a positioning member 6 is fitted into a predetermined position of the rail 2 and fixed by screws 11. As a result, a predetermined groove 2 b is disposed on the rail 2. The figure shows a state in which the groove 2b corresponding to the centimeter type paper size is set.

  When setting the groove portion 2b corresponding to the inch type paper size, the screw 11 is loosened and removed, the positioning member 6 is switched between the upper and lower surfaces and fitted into the rail 2, and the screw 11 is tightened again. This configuration makes it possible for the user to easily switch between centimeter and inch paper sizes as well as during maintenance, so that the corresponding grooves do not approach each other, and the user can move the cassette cursor. The position can be prevented from being set by mistake.

  The same applies to the paper feed cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the positioning member 5 may be inserted into a predetermined position of the rail 2 and fixed with screws or the like. In order to switch between the centimeter-based and inch-based paper sizes, the upper and lower surfaces of the positioning member 5 may be switched into the rail 2 and fixed again in the same manner as described above.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the paper guide that regulates the position of the paper in the left-right direction has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to apply the present invention to the rear guide. Specifically, the portion where the groove 10a is formed in the side corner portion of the rail 10 on which the rear guide 9 slides as shown in FIG. A configuration in which a centimeter-type paper size can be switched can be employed.

  Note that the restricting member in the claims corresponds to the paper guide and the rear guide in the embodiments.

  The paper feeding cassette of the present invention can be widely used in paper feeding devices such as copying machines, facsimiles, and printers.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper feed cassette according to the present invention. The perspective view of another member provided with the groove part of the rail in the paper feed cassette which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. The perspective view of another member provided with the groove part of the rail in the paper feed cassette which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a paper guide in a paper feed cassette according to a second embodiment. The perspective view of the paper feed cassette of a prior art example. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a sheet guide in an example of a conventional sheet cassette.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper guide 2 Rail 2a Elongate hole 2b Groove part 3 Axis 4 Lever 4a Arm part 4b Claw part 5,6 Positioning member 7 Recessed part 8 Paper guide 9 Rear part guide 10 Rail 11 Screw 70 Photosensitive drum 71 Charging device 72 Laser scanner 73 Developing device 74 Transfer Roller 75 Cleaning Roller 81 Registration Roller Pair 82 Pickup Roller 83 Paper Feed Roller 84 Rolling Roller 85 Fixing Roller Pair 86 Discharge Roller Pair 87 Paper Discharge Unit 88 Manual Tray 89 Paper Feed Roller 90 Document Placement Table 91 Lid P Paper S Paper Feed cassette

Claims (2)

A sheet feeding cassette that feeds a stored sheet, wherein the regulating member is positioned in a sheet feeding cassette that includes a regulating member that regulates a position of the stored sheet and has a lever that is swingable. A square-shaped positioning member is provided, and the positioning member can be switched between positioning corresponding to a centimeter type paper size and positioning corresponding to an inch type paper size,
A groove portion that engages with the claw portion provided on the lever is provided opposite to the claw portion on the upper surface of the positioning member, and the positioning member includes the groove portion disposed at a position corresponding to a centimeter-based paper size. A first surface having a groove and a second surface having the groove disposed at a position corresponding to an inch paper size, and the first surface and the second surface can be switched. A paper feed cassette characterized by being fixed to a rail.
The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member is fixed to the rail at both longitudinal ends of the positioning member.

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