JP4613845B2 - Paper cassette - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette, and more particularly to a paper feed cassette that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a paper feed cassette that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus, the paper cassette is pivotally attached to the cassette body and is rotated to press a sheet against a paper feed roller provided in the image forming apparatus. A paper feed cassette provided with a lifting member is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  The paper feed cassette disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a cassette body and a push-up plate (lifting member) that is rotatably attached to the cassette body. The cassette body includes a locking rib having a locking projection and a rib for preventing the push-up plate from coming off the cassette body. The push-up plate includes an attachment portion having a locking hole that engages with the locking projection of the cassette body. In this patent document 1, the engaging plate is engaged with the engaging projection of the engaging rib of the cassette body so that the pushing plate is rotatably attached to the cassette body, By sandwiching the attaching portion of the push-up plate between the locking ribs of the cassette body, the push-up plate is prevented from being detached from the cassette body.

JP 2000-247453 A

  However, in the paper feed cassette described in Patent Document 1, for example, when the user removes the paper feed cassette and cleans the paper feed cassette, when the paper feed cassette is turned upside down, the push-up plate is moved by its own weight. It rotates greatly. In that case, there is a problem that the push-up plate (lifting member) is detached from the cassette body when the attaching portion of the push-up plate (lifting member) is detached from the rib as a retaining member. In addition, when the paper cassette is dropped and is subjected to a large impact, there is a problem that the push-up plate is similarly rotated and the push-up plate is detached from the cassette body.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one object of the present invention is that even when a force (load) is applied in a direction in which the paper lifting member rotates largely, It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper feed cassette capable of suppressing the lifting member from being detached from the cassette body.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  A paper feed cassette according to a first aspect of the present invention is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed roller, and is rotatably attached to and rotated by a cassette main body in which paper is stored, and the cassette main body. In the sheet feeding cassette having a lifting member that lifts the sheet and contacts the sheet with the sheet feeding roller of the image forming apparatus, the cassette body includes a first engaging portion that engages the lifting member rotatably. The lifting member includes a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion of the cassette body, and is integrally formed so as to protrude so as to come into contact with the cassette body. When the pivoting angle reaches a predetermined angle when the engagement position between the engagement portion and the second engagement portion of the lifting member is pivoted, the lifting member comes into contact with the cassette body when the pivoting angle reaches a predetermined angle. Greater than A rotation restricting portion for restricting the rotation so as not to rotate, and an insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted at the bottom of the cassette body, and a resin made so as to be adjacent to the insertion hole An elastically deformable leaf spring portion provided integrally with the cassette body is provided, and the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted into the bottom portion of the cassette body by bending the leaf spring portion of the cassette body. When the lifting member is rotated by a predetermined angle, the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted into the insertion hole at the bottom of the cassette body. While being in contact with the inner surface, the rotation restricting portion is in contact with the upper surface of the bottom portion of the cassette body.

  In the paper feed cassette according to the first aspect, the lifting member that is rotatably engaged with the cassette body is provided with a rotation restricting portion that restricts the lifting member from rotating by an angle larger than a predetermined rotation angle. Thus, even when a load is applied in a direction in which the lifting member rotates by a predetermined angle larger than the rotation angle during normal paper feeding operation, the rotation of the lifting member is restricted by the rotation restricting portion. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the inconvenience that the lifting member falls off the cassette body due to the lifting member rotating by an angle larger than the predetermined rotation angle. In addition, when the lifting member rotates around the engagement position between the first engaging portion of the cassette body and the second engaging portion of the lifting member as a fulcrum, the rotation member rotates when the rotation angle becomes a predetermined angle. Since the movement restricting portion abuts on the cassette body and restricts the lifting member from turning by an angle larger than a predetermined turning angle, the turning of the lifting member can be easily restricted. In addition, the lifting member can be prevented from falling off the cassette body. Moreover, the lifting member having the rotation restricting part is easily formed by resin molding by integrally forming the turning restricting part on the resin lifting member so as to protrude so as to come into contact with the cassette body. be able to. In addition, an insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted and an elastically deformable leaf spring portion integrally provided in the cassette body so as to be adjacent to the insertion hole are provided at the bottom of the cassette body. The second engagement portion of the lifting member is easily inserted into the insertion hole of the first engagement portion of the cassette body by bending the leaf spring portion and engaged with the first engagement portion of the cassette body. In addition, since the first engaging portion of the cassette body and the second engaging portion of the lifting member can be engaged, the sheet feeding cassette can be easily assembled. Further, when the second engaging portion of the lifting member is formed so as to be engaged with the lower surface side of the first engaging portion through the insertion hole in the bottom of the cassette body, and the lifting member is rotated by a predetermined angle And the second engaging portion of the lifting member abuts on the inner surface of the insertion hole in the bottom portion of the cassette body, and the rotation restricting portion abuts on the upper surface of the bottom portion of the cassette body. If the second engagement portion comes into contact with the inner surface of the insertion hole and the rotation restricting portion comes into contact with the upper surface of the bottom portion of the cassette main body, By this contact, the movement of the lifting member can be more effectively regulated.

A paper feed cassette according to a second aspect of the present invention is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed roller, and is rotatably attached to and rotated by a cassette main body in which paper is stored, and the cassette main body. with contacting the paper feed roller of the image forming apparatus by lifting the sheet by Rukoto, and a member lifting with a rotation regulating portion for regulating not to angle larger partial rotation than the predetermined rotation angle, the cassette The main body includes a first engaging portion with which the lifting member is rotatably engaged, and the lifting member includes a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion of the cassette main body. Is provided with an insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted, and the second engaging portion of the lifting member is located on the lower surface side of the first engaging portion via the insertion hole at the bottom of the cassette body. Provided to engage When the lifting member rotates by a predetermined angle, the second engaging portion of the lifting member contacts the inner surface of the insertion hole at the bottom of the cassette body, and the rotation restricting portion contacts the upper surface of the bottom of the cassette body. .

In the paper feed cassette according to the second aspect, the lifting member that is rotatably engaged with the cassette body is provided with a rotation restricting portion that restricts the lifting member from rotating by an angle larger than a predetermined rotation angle. Thus, even when a load is applied in a direction in which the lifting member rotates by an angle larger than the rotation angle during normal paper feeding operation, the rotation of the lifting member is restricted by the rotation restricting portion. It is possible to suppress the inconvenience that the lifting member falls off the cassette body due to the lifting member rotating by an angle larger than a predetermined rotation angle. In the above-described configuration, when the rotation angle of the lifting member becomes a predetermined angle, the rotation restricting portion abuts on the cassette body and restricts the lifting member from rotating by an angle larger than the predetermined rotation angle. Preferably, the bottom of the cassette body is provided with an insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted, and includes an insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted. The second engaging portion is provided so as to engage with the lower surface side of the first engaging portion through the insertion hole in the bottom portion of the cassette body, and when the lifting member rotates by a predetermined angle, The two engaging portions abut on the inner surface of the insertion hole in the bottom portion of the cassette body, and the rotation restricting portion abuts on the upper surface of the bottom portion of the cassette body. With this configuration, when the lifting member tries to rotate by an angle larger than the predetermined rotation angle, the second engagement portion comes into contact with the inner surface of the insertion hole, and the rotation restricting portion is the bottom portion of the cassette body. Therefore, the movement of the lifting member can be more effectively regulated by two points of contact.

In the paper feed cassette according to the second aspect, preferably, when the lifting Chi up member is pivotally moved to the position where it engages with the second engagement portion of the member lifting the first engaging portion of the cassette body to a fulcrum When the rotation angle becomes a predetermined angle, the rotation restricting portion comes into contact with the cassette body and restricts the lifting member from rotating by an angle larger than the predetermined rotation angle. If comprised in this way, since rotation of a lifting member can be controlled easily, it can suppress that a lifting member falls from a cassette main body easily.

  In this case, it is preferable that the rotation restricting portion is integrally formed with the resin lifting member so as to protrude so as to come into contact with the cassette body. If comprised in this way, the lifting member which has a rotation control part can be easily formed by resin molding.

  In the above-described configuration, when the rotation angle of the lifting member becomes a predetermined angle, the rotation restricting portion abuts on the cassette body and restricts the lifting member from rotating by an angle larger than the predetermined rotation angle. Preferably, at the bottom of the cassette body, an insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted and an elastically deformable integrally provided in the resin cassette body so as to be adjacent to the insertion hole A leaf spring portion is provided, and the second engagement portion of the lifting member is inserted into the insertion hole of the cassette body by being bent by the leaf spring portion of the cassette body and engaged with the first engagement portion. . If comprised in this way, since the 1st engaging part of a cassette main body and the 2nd engaging part of a raising member can be easily engaged, a paper feed cassette can be assembled easily.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are perspective views showing the overall configuration of a paper feed cassette and a thermal transfer printer to which the paper feed cassette is mounted according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a paper feed cassette and a thermal transfer printer to which the paper feed cassette is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 to 10 are diagrams showing details of the structure of the paper feed cassette according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, the structure of a paper feed cassette and a thermal transfer printer to which the paper feed cassette is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, a thermal transfer printer will be described as an example of an image forming apparatus to which the paper feed cassette of the present invention is mounted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed cassette 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to be detachably mounted on the thermal transfer printer 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the paper feed cassette 10 includes a resin cassette body 11, a resin lifting member 12, and a resin lid member 13 (see FIG. 6). Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the resin lid member 13 is provided to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the paper 50 (see FIG. 3), and is slidable with respect to the cassette body 11. Attached to. 4 to 7, the cassette body 11 includes a pair of engaging portions 11a with which the lifting member 12 is rotatably engaged, and a pair of paper separating walls 22b described later. A notch 11b, a notch 11c for releasing a push-up member 25 described later, a pair of elastically deformable attachments 11d that engage with the thermal transfer printer 20 when the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted, and a sheet 50 (FIG. 3). 2) for aligning the position in the B direction (see FIG. 7), a paper urging portion 11 f for urging the paper 50 (see FIG. 3) to the convex 11 e, and the lid member 13. A guide portion 11g that slidably guides the cassette 50 with respect to the cassette body 11, and three ribs 11h extending in the paper feeding direction (A direction) for supporting the paper 50 (see FIG. 3). The pair of engaging portions 11a is an example of the “first engaging portion” in the present invention.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the pair of attachment portions 11 d are provided integrally with the cassette body 11 of the paper feed cassette 10 so as to have an outer protruding portion that protrudes from the outer side surface of the cassette body 11 of the paper feed cassette 10. It has been. When the paper feed cassette 10 is attached to the thermal transfer printer 20, the attachment portion 11 d engages with an attachment portion attachment portion 22 c of the thermal transfer printer 20 described later, thereby fixing the paper feed cassette 10 to the thermal transfer printer 20. It has a function. The three ribs 11h have a function as a guide when the paper 50 (see FIG. 3) is conveyed at the time of paper feeding, and the pair of engaging portions 11a of the cassette main body 11 from the rear end of the cassette main body 11. It is formed to extend to the vicinity.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4-8, the bottom part of the cassette main body 11 is adjacent to the insertion hole 11i into which the engaging part 12a of the lifting member 12 is inserted, respectively, and the insertion hole 11i. In this way, the plate body 11j is provided integrally with the cassette body. In the present embodiment, the lifting member 12 engages with the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11 through the insertion hole 11i by utilizing the bending of the leaf spring portion 11j. This point will be described later in detail.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, 9, and 10, the lifting member 12 includes a pair of engaging portions 12 a that engage with the pair of engaging portions 11 a of the cassette body 11, and the sheet feeding cassette 10. And a pair of notches 12b for allowing the pair of sheet separation walls 22b to escape when mounted on the thermal transfer printer 20. The engaging portion 12a is an example of the “second engaging portion” in the present invention. The engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 includes a shaft portion 12c serving as a rotation shaft when the lifting member 12 rotates, and a latch formed so as to protrude in parallel with the lifting member 12 from the shaft portion 12c. Part 12d. The locking portion 12d is inserted from the insertion hole 11i and engages with the lower surface side of the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11. Further, a width W2 (see FIG. 10) in a direction (B direction) orthogonal to the paper feeding direction of the shaft portion 12c of the lifting member 12 is a direction (B direction) perpendicular to the paper feeding direction of the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11. ) Having a width W1 (see FIG. 7). For this reason, the lifting member 12 is restrained from shifting in the direction (B direction) perpendicular to the paper feeding direction with respect to the cassette body 11.

  Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, 9, and 10, the lifting member 12 has two rotations that are integrally provided so as to protrude so as to come into contact with the cassette body 11. It has the movement control part 12e. In order to avoid interference with the three ribs 11h of the cassette body 11, the two rotation restricting portions 12e are, as shown in FIG. 7, viewed in plan with respect to the three ribs 11h. It is arrange | positioned in the position shifted in the direction (B direction) orthogonal to. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotation restricting portion 12 e is provided at a position along the axis of the rotation shaft of the lifting member 12, and the cassette 12 is attached to the cassette body 11 with the lifting member 12 attached. It is located above the upper surface of the bottom of the main body 11. That is, when the lifting member 12 rotates upward about the rotation shaft (shaft portion 12c), the rotation restricting portion 12e rotates downward about the rotation shaft (shaft portion 12c). As a result, when the lifting member 12 is rotated by a predetermined angle (an angle larger than the rotation angle necessary for normal paper feeding operation), the rotation restricting portion 12e comes into contact with the upper surface of the bottom portion of the cassette body 11. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the rotation restricting portion 12 e is formed so as to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the cassette body 11 in the vertical direction D <b> 1. Further, the length L of the rotation restricting portion 12e in the paper feeding direction (A direction) is determined in accordance with the distance D1, and a predetermined rotation angle of the lifting member 12 (for a normal paper feeding operation). The rotation restricting portion 12e is formed so as not to contact the upper surface of the bottom portion of the cassette body 11 at a rotation angle equal to or smaller than a necessary rotation angle. Thereby, in the normal paper feeding operation, the rotation restricting portion 12e does not come into contact with the cassette body 11 and does not affect the paper feeding operation. On the other hand, when the lifting member 12 tries to rotate by an angle larger than a predetermined angle (an angle larger than the rotation angle necessary for normal sheet feeding operation), the rotation restricting portion 12e is formed at the bottom of the cassette body 11. The abutment of the lifting member 12 is restricted by abutting on the upper surface. This point will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the lid member 13 has an attachment portion engaging portion 13 a that engages with the attachment portion 11 d of the cassette body 11 when the lid member 13 is attached to the cassette body 11. When the paper feed cassette 10 is not attached to the thermal transfer printer 20, the attachment portion engaging portion 13 a of the lid member 13 is engaged with the attachment portion 11 d of the cassette body 11. On the other hand, although not shown, when the paper feed cassette 10 is attached to the thermal transfer printer 20, the user removes the attachment portion engaging portion 13 a of the lid member 13 from the attachment portion 11 d of the cassette body 11. Then, the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the thermal transfer printer 20 in a state where the lid member 13 is slid along the guide portion 11g of the cassette main body 11 in the direction opposite to the paper feeding direction (A direction). . Thereby, the paper feed cassette 10 is configured such that the lid member 13 does not affect the paper feed operation.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal transfer printer 20 includes a metal chassis 21, a paper feed cassette mounting unit 22, and a rubber paper feed roller for transporting the paper 50 into the thermal transfer printer 20. 23, a paper feed roller gear 24, and a push-up member 25 that pushes up the lifting member 12 on which the paper 50 (see FIG. 3) is placed and presses the paper 50 (see FIG. 3) against the paper feed roller 23. A sensor unit 26 for detecting that the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the thermal transfer printer 20, a motor 27 for driving the paper feed roller 23 and the like, and a paper 50 (see FIG. 3) for printing an image. A print head 28, a motor 29 for driving a press member (not shown) that presses the print head 28 and a push-up member 25, and a motor 27 for attaching the motor 27 and the motor 29 , The ink sheet cartridge 31 with a built-in ink sheet (not shown), a take-up reel 32 for taking up the ink sheet, a swingable swing gear 33, and a paper feed roller gear 24. 27, a plurality of intermediate gears 34 for transmitting the driving force 27, a rubber paper discharge roller 35, and a paper discharge roller gear 36.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chassis 21 has one side surface 21a to which the motor bracket 30 is attached, the other side surface 21b, and a bottom surface 21c that connects the one side surface 21a and the other side surface 21b. Further, an ink sheet cartridge insertion hole 21d for attaching an ink sheet cartridge 31 containing an ink sheet (not shown) is provided on the other side surface 21b of the chassis 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed cassette mounting section 22 includes a pair of guide sections 22 a for mounting the paper feed cassette 10 on the thermal transfer printer 20 and a double sheet 50 (see FIG. 3). A pair of sheet separation walls 22b for preventing feeding and a pair of attachment portion mounting portions 22c that engage with the pair of attachment portions 11d of the cassette body 11 when the paper feed cassette 10 is attached to the thermal transfer printer 20 are provided. . As shown in FIG. 2, when the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the thermal transfer printer 20, the pair of notch portions 11b of the cassette body 11 and the pair of notch portions 12b of the lifting member 12 have a pair of paper separating walls 22b. Is located. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the thermal transfer printer 20, the paper feed roller 23 is positioned above the lifting member 12, and the pusher 12 is pushed below the lifting member 12. A raising member 25 is located. The paper feed roller 23 has a function of conveying the paper 50 (see FIG. 3) pushed up by the push-up member 25 to the inside of the thermal transfer printer 20 by rotating. A paper feed roller gear 24 is attached to one end of the paper feed roller 23, and the paper feed roller 23 rotates as the paper feed roller gear 24 rotates.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor unit 26 is disposed in the vicinity of one end of the paper feed cassette mounting unit 22. Moreover, the sensor part 26 has the projection part 26a. When the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the paper feed cassette mounting portion 22 of the thermal transfer printer 20, it is detected that the paper feed cassette 10 has been mounted by the sensor portion 26 when the protrusion 26 a is pushed in by the paper feed cassette 10. Is done.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the paper feeding cassette according to the embodiment of the present invention is turned upside down. Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the rotation restricting function of the rotation restricting portion of the sheet feeding cassette according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  When the paper feed cassette 10 according to the present embodiment is turned upside down, as shown in FIG. 11, the lifting member 12 is larger than a predetermined angle (an angle larger than the rotation angle necessary for normal paper feed operation). When the rotation is attempted, the engaging portion 12 a of the lifting member 12 contacts the inner surface of the insertion hole 11 i at the bottom of the cassette body 11, and the rotation restricting portion 12 e contacts the upper surface of the bottom of the cassette body 11. Touch. Due to the contact of the two points, the lifting member 12 is applied with force in two directions to stop the rotation, so that the rotation of the lifting member 12 is stopped. Thus, the cassette body 11 is effectively prevented from rotating the lifting member 12 by an angle larger than a predetermined rotation angle (an angle larger than the rotation angle necessary for the normal paper feeding operation). The engagement portion 11a and the engagement portion 12a of the lifting member 12 are not easily disengaged. For this reason, the lifting member 12 is prevented from falling off the cassette body 11.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14, a method of assembling a paper feed cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 12, the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 is positioned above the engaging portion 11a (leaf spring portion 11j) of the cassette body 11. Next, when the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 is pressed against the leaf spring portion 11j, the leaf spring portion 11j bends downward as shown in FIG. In this state, when the engaging portion 12d of the lifting member 12 is slid in the direction C of FIG. 13 to the engaging position with the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11 through the insertion hole 11i, the leaf spring portion 11j is lifted. It is released from the downward pressing force by the engaging portion 12a of the member 12. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 14, the bending of the leaf spring portion 11j is restored, and the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11 and the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 are engaged. After that, by rotating the lifting member 12 downward (D direction in FIG. 14), the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 is placed on the lower surface of the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11 as shown in FIG. The upper surface of the locking portion 12d is engaged. Thus, in the present embodiment, the lifting member 12 can be attached to the cassette body 11 so as to be easily rotatable.

  FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a paper feed cassette and a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 15, a paper feeding operation of the paper feeding cassette and the thermal transfer printer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  First, from the state shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted on the thermal transfer printer 20 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet 50 is placed on the upper surface of the lifting member 12 in the sheet feeding cassette 10. When the paper feed cassette 10 is attached to the thermal transfer printer 20, the paper feed roller 23 is positioned above the lifting member 12 on which the paper 50 is placed, as shown in FIG. Further, a push-up member 25 is located below the lifting member 12 (a position corresponding to the notch 11c of the cassette body 11). In this state, the motor 29 (see FIG. 2) is driven. The driving force of the motor 29 rotates the push-up member 25 in the E direction (upward) as shown in FIG. 15 via a driving force transmission mechanism (not shown). The push-up member 25 is positioned below the lifting member 12 when the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted. Therefore, when the push-up member 25 rotates in the E direction (upward), the lift member 12 is also engaged with the engaging portion 12a. Is rotated in the F direction shown in FIG. As a result, the paper 50 placed on the lifting member 12 is pushed upward until it contacts the paper feed roller 23.

  At this time, the motor 27 (see FIG. 2) is also driven, and the driving force of the motor 27 rotates the paper feed roller gear 24 in the G direction in FIG. As a result, the paper feed roller 23 is rotated in the G direction shown in FIG.

  The pushed-up paper 50 is pressed by the paper feed roller 23 rotating in the G direction as shown in FIG. Then, the paper 50 is conveyed to the inside of the thermal transfer printer 20 by the frictional force between the paper feed roller 23 and the paper 50. In this embodiment, since the rotation restricting portion 12e of the lifting member 12 is formed so as not to come into contact with the cassette body 11 when the lifting member 12 performs the rotating operation, the paper feeding operation has no problem. Done.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the lifting member 12 that is rotatably engaged with the cassette body 11 has a lifting member 12 that is larger than a predetermined turning angle (a turning angle necessary for a normal paper feeding operation). By providing the rotation restricting portion 12e that restricts the rotation by an angle larger than the angle), the lifting member 12 is larger than a predetermined rotation angle (an angle larger than the rotation angle necessary for the normal paper feeding operation). Even when a load is applied in the direction of rotation by a larger angle, the rotation of the lifting member 12 is restricted by the rotation restricting portion 12e, so that the lifting member 12 has a predetermined rotation angle (normal sheet feeding operation). It is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience that the lifting member 12 falls off the cassette body 11 due to the rotation by an angle larger than the rotation angle necessary for the movement of the cassette body 11.

  Further, when the lifting member 12 rotates about the engaging position of the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11 and the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12, the rotation angle is a predetermined angle (normal sheet feeding operation). The rotation restricting portion 12e comes into contact with the cassette body 11 and the lifting member 12 has a predetermined angle (the rotation angle necessary for normal sheet feeding operation). Since the rotation of the lifting member 12 can be easily controlled by restricting it from rotating by a larger angle than the larger angle), the lifting member 12 can easily fall off the cassette body 11. Can be suppressed.

  Further, by forming the rotation restricting portion 12e integrally with the resin lifting member 12 so as to protrude so as to come into contact with the cassette body 11, the lifting member 12 having the rotation restricting portion 12e can be easily formed. It can be formed by resin molding.

  In addition, an insertion hole 11 i into which the engaging portion 12 a of the lifting member 12 is inserted and a leaf spring portion 11 j integrally provided in the cassette body 11 so as to be adjacent to the insertion hole 11 i are formed at the bottom of the cassette body 11. By providing the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 with the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11 via the insertion hole 11i of the cassette body 11 by bending the leaf spring portion 11j, the cassette can be easily Since the engaging portion 11a of the main body 11 and the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 can be engaged, the paper feed cassette 10 can be easily assembled.

  Further, the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 is formed so as to be engaged with the lower surface side of the engaging portion 11a of the cassette body 11 through the insertion hole 11i at the bottom of the cassette body 11, and the lifting member 12 has a predetermined shape. , The engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 comes into contact with the inner side surface of the insertion hole 11i at the bottom of the cassette body 11, when the angle is turned (an angle larger than that required for normal paper feeding operation). In addition, since the rotation restricting portion 12e is configured to come into contact with the upper surface of the bottom portion of the cassette body 11, the lifting member 12 has a predetermined rotation angle (an angle larger than the rotation angle necessary for normal paper feeding operation). ) When rotating by a larger angle, the engaging portion 12a of the lifting member 12 contacts the inner surface of the insertion hole 11i, and the rotation restricting portion 12e contacts the upper surface of the bottom of the cassette body 11. , It can be by the contact of two points, to regulate the movement of more effectively lifting member 12.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

  For example, in the said embodiment, although the example which provided two rotation control parts in the lifting member was shown, this invention is not limited to this, You may provide one rotation control part in a lifting member, Three or more may be provided.

1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a paper feed cassette and a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a paper feed cassette and a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a paper feed cassette and a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the paper feed cassette by one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 50-50 in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the paper feed cassette by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the cassette main body of the paper feed cassette by one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing along the 100-100 line of FIG. It is a perspective view of a lifting member of a paper feed cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the lifting member of the paper feed cassette according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which turned upside down the paper feed cassette by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembly method of the paper feed cassette by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembly method of the paper feed cassette by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the assembly method of the paper feed cassette by one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the paper feeding operation | movement of the paper feeding cassette and thermal transfer printer by one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Paper cassette
11 cassette body 11a engaging portion 11i insertion hole 11j leaf spring portion
12 Lifting member 12a Engaging portion 12e Rotation restricting portion 20 Thermal transfer printer 23 Paper feed roller 50 Paper

Claims (5)

A cassette main body that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed roller and that stores paper, is rotatably attached to the cassette main body, and lifts the paper by rotating to form the image forming apparatus. In a paper feed cassette comprising a lifting member for bringing the paper into contact with a paper feed roller,
The cassette body includes a first engaging portion with which the lifting member is rotatably engaged,
The lifting member is integrally formed with a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion of the cassette main body, and protrudes so as to come into contact with the cassette main body, and the lifting member is formed with the cassette main body. When the pivoting angle reaches a predetermined angle when pivoting about the engagement position between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion of the lifting member, the cassette body comes into contact with the cassette body. A rotation restricting portion for restricting the lifting member from being rotated by an angle larger than a predetermined rotation angle,
An insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted at the bottom of the cassette body and an elastically deformable integrally provided in the resin cassette body so as to be adjacent to the insertion hole A leaf spring part is provided,
The second engaging portion of the lifting member is provided to be engaged with the lower surface side of the first engaging portion through the insertion hole in the bottom portion of the cassette body by bending the leaf spring portion of the cassette body. And
When the lifting member is rotated by a predetermined angle, the second engaging portion of the lifting member contacts the inner surface of the insertion hole in the bottom portion of the cassette body, and the rotation restricting portion is the bottom portion of the cassette body. Paper feed cassette that contacts the top surface of the paper. A cassette body that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed roller and stores paper;
The cassette is pivotally attached to the cassette body, and is rotated to lift the paper so that the paper contacts the paper feed roller of the image forming apparatus, and does not rotate by an angle larger than a predetermined rotation angle. A lifting member having a rotation restricting portion that restricts the
The cassette body includes a first engaging portion with which the lifting member is rotatably engaged,
The lifting member includes a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion of the cassette body,
The bottom of the cassette body is provided with an insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted,
The second engaging portion of the lifting member is provided so as to engage with the lower surface side of the first engaging portion through an insertion hole in the bottom of the cassette body.
When the lifting member is rotated by a predetermined angle, the second engaging portion of the lifting member contacts the inner surface of the insertion hole in the bottom portion of the cassette body, and the rotation restricting portion is the bottom portion of the cassette body. Paper feed cassette that contacts the top surface of the paper. If the previous SL lifting member, when pivoted to a fulcrum position of engagement with the second engagement portion of the lifting member and the first engagement portion of the cassette body, rotation angle becomes a predetermined angle The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 2, wherein the rotation restricting portion is in contact with the cassette body and restricts the lifting member from rotating by an angle larger than a predetermined rotation angle.   The paper feed cassette according to claim 3, wherein the rotation restricting portion is integrally formed with the lifting member made of resin so as to protrude so as to come into contact with the cassette body. An insertion hole into which the second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted at the bottom of the cassette body and an elastically deformable integrally provided in the resin cassette body so as to be adjacent to the insertion hole A leaf spring part is provided,
5. The second engaging portion of the lifting member is inserted into an insertion hole of the cassette body by bending a leaf spring portion of the cassette body and engaged with the first engaging portion. The paper cassette described in 1 .

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