JP5041179B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a paper discharge tray and a plurality of paper feed trays arranged vertically.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a printer apparatus has a configuration in which a paper feed tray that accommodates a recording medium (paper or the like) before recording in a stacked state is detachable. Image forming apparatuses are often used not only at companies (business use) but also at small-scale offices and private homes (home use). As described above, since the area where the apparatus is installed is limited in use in a small-scale office or an individual's home, downsizing of the entire apparatus is required. Further, when the installation area is limited, the single image forming apparatus is required to be usable for various purposes. For this reason, it is required that various types of paper such as B5 to A3 sizes, L size, postcard size, legal size, and the like can be used.

  However, if a paper feed tray is prepared for each paper size, many types of paper feed trays are required. If multiple types of paper feed trays can be mounted on the image forming apparatus at the same time, the size of the image forming apparatus itself is increased. In addition, if many types of paper feed trays are used while being exchanged, a space for storing a spare paper feed tray is required.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus of a type provided with two paper feed trays at the top and bottom. Different sizes of paper can be stored in the upper and lower paper feed trays. Furthermore, the upper paper feed tray includes a slide tray, and as a result, the upper paper feed tray is configured to be extendable. In other words, the upper sheet feeding tray can accommodate sheets of different sizes in the expanded state and the contracted state.

  In Patent Document 2, the upper paper feed tray cover also serves as a paper discharge tray. The paper discharge tray is provided with an extendable auxiliary tray. In a state where the auxiliary tray is extended, that is, in a state where the placement area is widened, even when a large size sheet is discharged, it is supported by the discharge tray.

JP 2007-181933 A (see FIGS. 1 and 2) JP 2000-247456 A (see FIGS. 2 and 3)

  As in Patent Document 2, when a single paper feed tray is provided and an extendable paper discharge tray is provided, when paper is stored in the paper feed tray, paper is discharged accordingly. The expansion and contraction of the tray can be set.

  However, when a plurality of paper feed trays are provided and a plurality of types of paper can be fed as in Patent Document 1, the paper discharge tray is set to a size suitable for a small size paper. In such a state (a state where the paper discharge tray is contracted), a large size of paper may be discharged. For example, this is a case where the user has instructed recording on a large-sized sheet even though the sheet discharge tray is in a contracted state. Such a situation includes, for example, a plurality of paper feed trays, a large size (eg, A3 size) is accommodated in the lower paper feed tray, and a small size (eg, A4 size) is accommodated in the upper paper feed tray. This is likely to occur when

  If the placement area of the paper discharge tray is smaller than the discharged paper, the paper may drop from the paper discharge tray. If a plurality of sheets are dropped from the paper discharge tray, the order of discharge (stacking) will be scattered. If the sheets are stacked in the page order on the paper discharge tray, there is a problem that it takes time to rearrange the sheets in the page order.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem, and even when the size of the paper discharge tray does not correspond to the size of the discharged paper, it is possible to easily and quickly prevent the discharged paper from dropping out. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is disposed inside a housing, in a housing portion that can store a plurality of paper feed trays in the vertical direction, and above the housing portion. And an image forming device in which each of the paper feed trays is housed in the housing portion so as to be insertable / removable in an insertion / removal direction through an opening provided on one side surface of the housing. As the paper feed tray, at least an upper paper feed tray disposed at the uppermost portion of the storage unit and a lower paper feed tray disposed adjacent to the lower stage of the upper paper feed tray are provided, and the paper feed tray A paper discharge tray that can be expanded and contracted along the insertion / extraction direction and on which the recording medium discharged from the image forming unit can be placed in a stacked state is disposed above the upper sheet feeding tray. The recording medium fed to the image forming unit is stacked. Upper housing part is provided with a capacity in the state, the lower sheet tray, and the lower first paper feed tray which forms a lower housing part which can accommodate the recording medium in the deposition condition which is fed to the image forming section, A lower second paper feed tray that is movable in the insertion / removal direction to a contracted position and an extended position with respect to the lower first paper feed tray and forms the lower housing part together with the lower first paper feed tray; A lid provided above the storage unit, and an auxiliary paper discharge tray attached so as to protrude outward from the end of the lower second paper feed tray in the extending direction, and is provided at the extended position. The extended front end of the moved lower second paper feed tray protrudes outward from the opening side end of the shrunken paper discharge tray, and the lid part is the lower second paper feed tray in the extended position. The lower second paper feed tray to cover the top of The auxiliary discharge tray is provided so as to protrude from the lid in a state where the lower paper feed tray is stored in the storage portion, and protrudes outward from the opening side end of the discharge tray. When the lower second paper feed tray is in the extended position and the auxiliary paper discharge tray protrudes, the front end of the recording medium placed on the paper discharge tray in the paper discharge direction is moved to the auxiliary paper discharge tray. It is configured to be supported by a tray.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the lower paper feed tray is extended by sliding the lower second paper feed tray and the lid integrally in the insertion / extraction direction. It is provided so that the storage area can be expanded, and the lower paper feed tray is extended to accommodate a recording medium having a size larger than the recording medium contained in the upper paper feed tray. When the recording medium is fed from the lower paper feed tray and discharged from the image forming unit, the recording medium is ejected from the paper discharge tray, the lid of the lower paper storage unit, and the auxiliary paper discharge tray protruding. It is supported so that it may straddle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect , when the auxiliary paper discharge tray protrudes from the lower paper feed tray, the front end of the auxiliary paper discharge tray is closer to the base end. Is also provided so as to be positioned above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the upper paper feed tray has a smaller number of recording media that can be accommodated and is higher than the lower paper feed tray. It is characterized by a small size.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the auxiliary paper discharge tray is provided so as to be capable of advancing / retreating or rotating with respect to the lower paper feed tray. It is characterized by that.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the housing includes a housing portion capable of housing a plurality of paper feed trays in the top and bottom, and an image forming unit disposed above the housing portion, and the housing An image forming apparatus in which each of the paper feed trays is housed in the housing portion so as to be insertable / removable in the insertion / removal direction through an opening provided on one side surface of the housing. At least an upper sheet feeding tray disposed at the uppermost part and a lower sheet feeding tray disposed adjacent to the lower stage of the upper sheet feeding tray are provided. The upper sheet feeding tray extends and contracts along the insertion / extraction direction. A paper discharge tray capable of placing the recording medium discharged from the image forming unit in a stacked state is disposed, and the upper sheet feeding tray has a recording medium fed to the image forming unit Is provided with an upper storage portion that can be stored in a deposited state. The sheet feeding tray forms a lower first sheet feeding tray that forms a lower stage accommodating unit that can accommodate recording media fed to the image forming unit in a stacked state, and a lower stage accommodating unit together with the lower first sheet feeding tray. A lower second paper feed tray, and the lower second paper feed tray is formed to be movable in the insertion / removal direction between a contracted position and an extended position with respect to the lower first paper feed tray, The front end of the lower second paper feed tray moved to the extended position protrudes outward from the opening side end of the shrunk paper discharge tray, and from the end of the shrunk paper discharge tray on the opening side. Also has an auxiliary paper discharge tray that can protrude outwardly together with the lower second paper supply tray, and the recording medium placed on the paper discharge tray is discharged when the auxiliary paper discharge tray is protruded. So that the tip of the direction can be supported by the auxiliary discharge tray That has been made is characterized in.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the upper and lower paper feed trays arranged above and below are accommodated in the accommodating portion via the opening provided on one side surface of the housing, and above the accommodating portion. The image forming unit is disposed in the area. That is, since the image forming unit is provided above the upper sheet feed tray, the recording medium is discharged to a position closer to the opening than the position when the medium is stored in each sheet feed tray. For this reason, depending on the size of the recording medium, when the recording medium is ejected to the paper ejection tray, the leading end of the recording medium in the paper ejection direction may jump out from the opening.

In the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper discharge tray that is extendable along the insertion / extraction direction and is capable of placing the recording medium discharged from the image forming unit in a stacked state above the paper feed tray. The lower feed tray is disposed, and the lower feed tray forms a lower feed tray that forms a lower feed receiving portion that can store the recording medium fed to the image forming portion in a stacked state, and the lower first feed. A lower second paper feed tray that is movable in the insertion / extraction direction with respect to the tray in a contracted position and an extended position and forms the lower housing section together with the lower first paper feeding tray, and provided above the lower housing section And a lower discharge second tray that has been moved to the extended position, and is provided with an auxiliary discharge tray that is attached so as to protrude outward from the end of the lower second feed tray in the extending direction. The leading end of the paper feed tray is shrunk The paper tray protrudes outward from the opening side end of the paper tray, and the cover portion opens the discharge tray together with the lower second paper feed tray so as to cover the lower second paper feed tray in the extended position. The auxiliary paper discharge tray protrudes outward from the side edge, and the auxiliary paper discharge tray is provided so as to protrude from the lid in a state where the lower paper feed tray is housed in the housing portion, and the lower second paper feed tray is The auxiliary discharge tray is configured to support the front end portion of the recording medium placed on the discharge tray in the discharge direction at the extended position when the auxiliary discharge tray is protruded. Has been .
Accordingly, even if the leading end of the recording medium in the paper discharge direction protrudes from the paper discharge tray provided in the upper paper feed tray, the auxiliary paper discharge tray protrudes, so that the recording medium of the recording medium is The tip can be supported. That is, by projecting the auxiliary paper discharge tray, the recording medium can be prevented from falling off the paper discharge tray. Further, the auxiliary paper discharge tray is provided in the lower paper feed tray, and the auxiliary paper discharge tray can be protruded without touching the paper discharge tray, so that the convenience of operation is excellent.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary paper discharge tray is provided so as to be able to protrude from the lid portion provided above the lower-stage storage portion in a state where the lower-stage paper feed tray is stored in the storage portion. Therefore, when the auxiliary paper discharge tray is desired to be protruded, the auxiliary paper discharge tray can be easily protruded without having to bother to pull out the lower paper feed tray from the storage section, and the front end of the recording medium can be projected by the auxiliary paper discharge tray. Can be supported.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the lower paper feed tray disposed adjacent to the lower stage of the upper paper feed tray is extended and accommodated by sliding the lower second paper feed tray and the lid portion integrally in the insertion / extraction direction. It is provided so that the area can be expanded. Accordingly, when a recording medium having a size larger than the recording medium accommodated in the upper sheet feeding tray is ejected from the image forming unit, the recording medium is separated from the ejection tray and the lower accommodating unit lid below the recording tray. Can be stably supported across the section and the auxiliary paper discharge tray. Also, if the auxiliary paper discharge tray is used with the lower paper feed tray extended, the horizontal distance (interval) from the paper output tray to the auxiliary paper output tray becomes longer, so the leading edge of the discharged recording medium The inclination between the portion and the rear end portion is reduced, and the recording medium can be stably supported.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the auxiliary paper discharge tray protrudes from the lower paper feed tray, the front end of the auxiliary paper discharge tray is positioned above the base end. Thus, it is possible to reliably receive the leading end of the recording medium, and to stably support the recording medium while preventing the recording medium from falling off.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the upper paper feed tray is formed to be thinner and smaller in height than the lower paper feed tray by reducing the number of recordable recording media. By forming the upper paper feed tray thin, the paper discharge tray provided in the upper paper feed tray, the lid of the lower paper feed tray, and the auxiliary paper discharge tray are close to each other in the vertical direction. As a result, in a state where the recording medium is discharged, a difference in height (inclination) between the leading end side of the recording medium supported by the auxiliary discharge tray and the trailing end side of the recording medium supported by the discharge tray. Therefore, the recording medium can be stably supported.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the auxiliary paper discharge tray is provided so as to be capable of advancing / retracting or rotating with respect to the lower paper feed tray, so that it easily protrudes from the lower paper feed tray as necessary. Can be made. Further, when the auxiliary paper discharge tray is not used, the auxiliary paper discharge tray does not protrude from the lower paper supply tray, so that the aesthetics of the apparatus can be improved and the inconvenience of the user coming into contact with the auxiliary paper discharge tray can be prevented.

1 is an overview perspective view of a multifunction device as an embodiment of an image forming apparatus. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the opening part vicinity of a multi-function device. (A) is a plan view of a state in which the upper paper feed tray is contracted, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb in (a). (A) is a perspective view of a state in which the lower paper feed tray is pulled out and the auxiliary paper discharge tray is used, and (b) is a side view of the same state as (a). FIG. 6 is a schematic side sectional view of the multi-function device in a state corresponding to FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a schematic side sectional view of the multi-function device in a state where the lower paper feed tray is contracted and the auxiliary paper discharge tray is used. It is a side view of the state using the auxiliary paper discharge tray of the second embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a multi-function device (MFD: Multi Function Device) 1 having a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a facsimile function is exemplified as an image forming apparatus including a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray. Note that the image forming apparatus may be a single-function apparatus such as a copying apparatus or a facsimile apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a multi-function device 1 according to an embodiment. In the multi-function device 1, an image reading device (scanner unit) 3 for reading a document in a copy function or a facsimile function is disposed on an upper part of a synthetic resin body case (housing) 2 (see FIG. 2). ). The image reading device 3 reads an original and creates image data (including photographic data and document data) (scanner function).

  Using the copy function, the multi-function device 1 can record the image data created by the image reading device 3 as an image (photograph, document) on a sheet which is an example of a recording medium. The multi-function device 1 can transmit the image data created by the image reading device 3 through the telephone communication network using the facsimile function. Furthermore, the multi-function device 1 can also transmit the image data created by the image reading device 3 to a personal computer connected via a cable or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the image reading device 3 is configured as a so-called flat bed scanner. The multi-function device 1 is provided with a document reading glass 5 and an image sensor 6 on the lower side of a document cover 4 provided as a top plate so as to be freely opened and closed (see FIG. 3). The image sensor 6 employs a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) that is long in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 1), but a CCD (Charge Coupled Devise) may also be used. After a document for image reading is placed on the reading glass 5, the image sensor 6 reciprocates below the reading glass 5 in the Y-axis direction (see FIG. 1), thereby reading the image. Is done.

  The document cover 4 is provided with an auto document feeder (ADF) 7 that is an automatic document feeder. The ADF 7 transports the originals placed on the used document tray 8 (closed state in FIG. 1, that is, not used) one by one onto the reading glass 5, and below the reading glass 5. The original is read by the image sensor 6 that is left stationary. The read original is discharged to the original discharge tray 9.

  An operation panel 10 including operation buttons and a liquid crystal display unit is provided on one end side of the upper portion of the multi-function device 1 in order to command various operations. Further, below the operation panel 10, there is also disposed a slot portion 11 into which various small memory cards as storage media can be attached and detached. Hereinafter, the side of the main body case 2 on which the operation panel 10 is provided is referred to as the front (front), and the back (back), left and right of the apparatus with reference to this. As described above, the front-rear direction of the multi-function device 1 is the X-axis direction, and the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction.

  The internal configuration of the multi-function device 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, an image forming unit 12 is provided at the center of the main body case 2. An ink jet recording head 13 is disposed in the image forming unit 12, and each color of each color is supplied from an ink cartridge (not shown) accommodated in the main body case 2 through a flexible ink supply tube (tube). Ink is supplied to the recording head 13 independently.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an upper sheet feeding tray 20 that is a second sheet feeding tray and a lower sheet feeding tray 30 that is a first sheet feeding tray can be accommodated in the lower part of the multi-function device 1. A housing portion 16 is provided, and an opening 14 is formed on the front side of the housing portion 16. The upper paper feed tray 20 is disposed above the lower paper feed tray 30, and both are housed in the housing portion 16 through the opening 14. In effect, the upper paper feed tray 20 and the lower paper feed tray 30 are provided in the housing portion 16 through the opening 14 so as to be able to be taken in and out in the horizontal direction.

  Rail-shaped guides for inserting the upper and lower paper feed trays 20 and 30 into appropriate positions are provided on the left and right inner surfaces of the storage unit 16. FIG. 3 shows a part of the guide portion 15 for the upper paper feed tray 20. The guide portion 15 is disposed at a position that comes into contact with the upper surface of a paper discharge tray 40 described later.

  Each of the upper and lower feed trays 20 and 30 is formed so that a large number of sheets P, which are recording media, can be stacked and accommodated. The upper and lower feed trays 20 and 30 are provided so as to be able to be inserted into and removed from the multi-function device 1 so as to coincide with the feeding direction of the stored paper. A direction (insertion direction) in which the upper and lower sheet feeding trays 20 and 30 are inserted into the multi-function device 1 is a sheet feeding direction. The lower paper feed tray 30 is designed to accommodate more paper than the upper paper feed tray 20. In other words, the upper paper feed tray 20 is formed with a smaller height (thickness) than the lower paper feed tray 30.

  On the back side of the upper sheet feeding tray 20 and the lower sheet feeding tray 30, there are respectively provided conveying means for conveying the stored paper P one by one to the image forming unit 12, and this conveying means will be described. First, an upper inclined separation plate 21 is provided on the back side (the right side in FIG. 2) of the upper sheet feeding tray 20. Further, an upper feed roller 23 that is pivotally supported at the tip of the upper feed arm 22 is disposed so as to face a position closer to the back side of the bottom surface of the upper feed tray 20. The upper paper feed arm 22 is urged downward, and the upper paper feed roller 23 is brought into contact with the uppermost surface of the paper accumulated and stored in the upper paper feed tray 20. When a driving force is transmitted from a driving source (not shown) to the upper sheet feeding roller 23 and rotated, the uppermost sheet P is separated one by one by a known cooperative action with the upper inclined separating plate 21 and guided upward. Is done.

  The upper sheet conveyance path 24 is formed in a U-turn shape that turns upward from the upper inclined separation plate 21 and then turns to the front side of the multi-function device 1, and the sheet P is image-recorded by the image forming unit 12. After that, it is discharged to the paper discharge tray 40. The upper sheet feeding arm 22 is configured to move up and down in accordance with the operation of inserting and removing the upper sheet feeding tray 20 so that the upper sheet feeding roller 23 can avoid colliding with the upper inclined separation plate 21. ing.

  The lower paper feed tray 30 is also formed basically in the same manner as the upper paper feed tray 20, and a lower graded separation plate 31 is provided on the back side (right side in FIG. 2). In addition, a lower paper feed roller 33 that is pivotally supported at the tip of the lower paper feed arm 32 is disposed so as to face a position closer to the back side of the bottom surface of the lower paper feed tray 30. The lower paper feed arm 32 is urged downward, and the lower paper feed roller 33 comes into contact with the uppermost surface of the paper P stored in the lower paper feed tray 30. When a driving force is transmitted from a driving source (not shown) to the lower feed roller 33 and rotated, the uppermost sheet P is separated one by one by a known cooperative action with the lower inclined separation plate 31 and guided upward. Is done.

  The lower sheet conveyance path 34 is provided outside the upper sheet conveyance path 24 and is U-turned (upper sheet conveyance path) that curves upward from the lower inclined separation plate 31 and then turns to the front side of the multi-function device 1. (Arc shape larger than 24). The paper transported through the lower paper transport path 34 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 40 after image recording is performed by the image forming unit 12. The lower paper feed arm 32 is configured to move up and down in accordance with the operation of inserting and removing the lower paper feed tray 30 so that the lower paper feed roller 33 can avoid colliding with the lower inclined separation plate 31. ing.

  The above-described paper discharge tray 40 is provided so as to overlap the upper portion of the upper storage portion 25 that is the storage portion of the paper P in the upper paper supply tray 20. The paper P fed from the upper paper feed tray 20 and the paper P fed from the lower paper feed tray 30 are discharged to the paper discharge tray 40. On the paper discharge tray 40, the paper P is accumulated from the bottom to the top in the order of discharge.

  The upper storage portion 25 of the upper paper supply tray 20 is formed in a box shape with the upper surface substantially open, and the paper discharge tray 40 also serves as a dustproof cover for the paper stored in the upper storage portion 25. It has a substantially thin flat plate shape. Accordingly, the paper discharge tray 40 is formed so as to cover the upper opening of the upper storage portion 25 excluding the portion interfering with the upper paper supply arm 22 in a lid shape.

  The upper storage unit 25 of the upper paper supply tray 20 includes an upper first paper supply cassette unit 26 located on the back side (right side in FIG. 2) in the insertion / extraction direction (X-axis direction), and the upper first paper supply cassette unit 26. And an upper second sheet feeding cassette portion 27 that is slidable along the insertion / extraction direction and is provided so as to be extendable / contractable. The upper second sheet cassette portion 27 includes a front plate 27b having a handle portion 25a provided at a lower portion on the front side, and two side plates 27c parallel to the insertion / extraction direction.

  As will be described later, the upper second paper feed cassette unit 27 is provided so as to be held at least in a contracted position and an extended position with respect to the upper first paper feed cassette unit 26 (extended and contracted position). It may also be possible to hold it in the middle of the position). When the upper second paper feed cassette unit 27 is slid to extend most in the X-axis direction with respect to the upper first paper feed cassette unit 26, the upper paper feed tray 20 can accommodate sheets up to A3 size (A3 size). Is accommodated so that the longitudinal direction is along the X-axis direction). When the upper second sheet cassette unit 27 is contracted most with respect to the upper first sheet cassette unit 26, sheets up to A4 size can be accommodated such that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the X-axis direction.

  Further, the upper paper feed tray 20 is provided with a pair of side guides 28 for guiding the side edges of the paper along the X-axis direction, and the distance between the side guides 28 in the Y-axis direction is widened by a known interlocking mechanism. Adjustments can be made arbitrarily. By adjusting the distance between the side guides 28, the stored paper is centered with respect to the upper paper feed tray 20. By adjusting with the side guide 28 and by adjusting the expansion and contraction of the upper second sheet feeding cassette unit 27, the upper sheet feeding tray 20 is loaded with sheets from L size to A3 size, and the center of all the sheets is at the same position (center). Position). The upper paper feed tray 20 may be provided with a rear guide (not shown) for guiding the position of the rear end in the transport direction of the paper P.

On the other hand, the lower paper feed tray 30 also, the lower housing portion 35 is a housing portion of the sheet, the back side lower first sheet supply cassette portion 36 located on the (right side in FIG. 2) (claims insertion direction (X axis direction) it is an example of the lower first sheet feeding tray in the section. hereinafter the same) as, lower second paper feed cassette provided to telescopically slide along the insertion direction with respect to the lower first sheet cassette unit 36 Part 37 (an example of a lower second sheet feeding tray in the claims, the same applies hereinafter) . Similar to the upper second sheet cassette unit 27, the lower second sheet cassette unit 37 is provided so as to be changeable in two stages, at least a contracted position and an extended position with respect to the lower first sheet cassette unit 36. ing. Moreover, you may be comprised so that latching is possible also in the middle position of both positions.

  When the lower second paper feed cassette unit 37 is slid to extend most in the X-axis direction, A3-size paper can be accommodated (accommodated so that the longitudinal direction of the A3-size is along the X-axis direction). When the lower second sheet cassette unit 37 is contracted most, A4 size sheets can be accommodated such that the longitudinal direction is along the Y-axis direction.

  Similarly to the upper paper feed tray 20, the lower paper feed tray 30 can arbitrarily adjust the width of the side guides 38 (see FIG. 2) in the Y-axis direction. 30 can be centered. There may be a rear guide (not shown) for adjusting the position of the rear end of the paper P in the transport direction. Further, the lower second sheet cassette unit 37 is provided with a front plate 37b provided with a handle portion 35a at a lower portion on the front side, and two side plates 37c parallel to the insertion / removal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a lid 39 is provided as a dust-proof cover for the paper stored in the lower storage portion 35 of the lower paper feed tray 30. In order to avoid interference with the paper arm 32, it is arranged so as to cover the near side in the insertion / extraction direction of the lower stage accommodating portion 35. The lid portion 39 is formed in a U-shape facing downward as viewed from the side, and has a flat plate-like upper surface portion 39 a that covers the upper surface of the lower second paper feed cassette portion 37 and both left and right sides of the lower second paper feed cassette portion 37 A side portion 39b that overlaps the plate 37c is integrally formed.

  The portion of the side plate 37c of the lower second sheet cassette portion 37 that overlaps the side surface portion 39b of the lid portion 39 is formed in a thin shape in advance, and the surface is the surface when the side surface portion 39b overlaps the side plate 37c. It is configured to be one. In addition, through holes 39c are formed on the front side of the upper surface portion 39a of the lid portion 39 in the insertion / extraction direction and on both the left and right sides. The through holes 39c stand on the lower second sheet feeding cassette portion 37. The provided boss portion 37a is fitted. Thereby, the lid portion 39 is aligned with the lower second sheet feeding cassette portion 37.

  The paper discharge tray 40 is extended along the insertion / extraction direction with respect to the first paper discharge tray 41 that overlaps the upper portion of the upper first paper feed cassette unit 26 of the upper paper feed tray 20 and extends and retracts. A second paper discharge tray 42 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the first paper discharge tray 41 is assembled so as to overlap below the second paper discharge tray 42. A handle portion 45 is provided on the front side of the second paper discharge tray 42. A pair of left and right ribs 46 project in the X-axis direction on the upper surface of the second paper discharge tray 42, and the front end of the paper to be placed is inclined upward to drop the paper. I'm trying to prevent it.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the paper discharge tray 40 is pivotally supported with respect to the upper paper feed tray 20 by a hinge portion 43 provided on the back side. In other words, the discharge tray 40 pivots upward on the back side (side far from the opening portion 14) and the front side (side close to the opening portion 14). By gripping the part 45 and lifting it upward, it is possible to perform the operation of setting paper in the upper paper feed tray 20. As will be described later, the sheet discharge tray 40 can be rotated when the upper sheet feed tray 20 is removed from the multi-function device 1.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the engagement recesses 44 are opened downward at the left and right ends of the discharge tray 40 on the front side (the side close to the opening 14) in the insertion / extraction direction of the second discharge tray 42. Is formed. On the other hand, boss portions 29 project upward from the left and right ends of the upper second paper feed cassette portion 27 on the front side of the upper paper feed tray 20 so as to fit into the engaging recess 44. The second paper discharge tray 42 and the upper second paper feed cassette portion 27 can be expanded and contracted while the boss portion 29 and the engagement concave portion 44 are in the state where the male and female are fitted. That is, the slide of the second paper discharge tray 42 can be integrally performed in conjunction with the slide of the upper second paper feed cassette unit 27.

The guide portions 15 provided in the accommodating portion 16 of the multi-function device 1 are in contact with the left and right ends of the upper surface of the second discharge tray 42 in the discharge tray 40 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, when the second paper discharge tray 42 and the upper second paper feed cassette unit 27 are in a state where they slide integrally and extend, the rattling in the vertical direction is suppressed by the restraint by the guide unit 15. Further, when the upper paper feed tray 20 is inserted into the opening portion 14, the second paper discharge tray 42 cannot be rotated (opened) around the hinge portion 43. Is to be removed from the opening 14 to work.

  The upper paper feed tray 20 is provided with a locking means (not shown) for holding the expansion / contraction position (at least two stages) of the upper second paper feed cassette unit 27 with respect to the upper first paper feed cassette unit 26. . As shown in FIG. 4A, the second paper discharge tray 42 is provided with a penetrating portion 55 that allows a human finger to enter a portion on the front right side of the plate surface. However, it is exposed from the penetrating part 55.

  The locking means is configured to be able to release the engagement of the upper second paper feed cassette unit 27 with respect to the upper first paper feed cassette unit 26 by operating the operation unit 56. That is, when the user puts his / her fingers inside the through portion 55 and operates the operation portion 56 to release the lock, the upper second sheet cassette portion 27 is pulled out to the near side in the insertion / extraction direction, and a predetermined position is obtained. When the operation of the operation unit 56 is completed, the upper second sheet cassette unit 27 is held (locked) in the pulled-out state. Similarly, when the upper second paper cassette unit 27 is pushed into the upper first paper cassette unit 26, the locking means is operated in the same manner.

  As described above, since the upper second paper feed cassette unit 27 and the second paper discharge tray 42 are engaged by the engaging recess 44 and the boss portion 29, the upper unit is operated by operating the operation unit 56. The second paper discharge tray 42 is pulled out integrally with the second paper feed cassette unit 27, and the placement area of the paper discharge tray 40 is increased. In other words, when the second discharge tray 42 is pulled out to increase the placement area of the discharge tray 40, the upper second sheet feeding cassette unit is operated by operating the operation unit 56 of the lock means through the through portion 55. 27 and the second discharge tray 42 are pulled out.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is attached to the lower paper feed tray 30 so as to protrude outward from the end on the opening 14 side. The auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is formed in a flat plate shape as a whole, and the front plate 37 b of the lower second paper feed cassette unit 37 is horizontally long for pulling out the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 to the front side of the front plate 37. A hole portion 37d is formed. The auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is slidably attached to the upper surface portion 39a of the lid portion 39, and can be slid and pulled out from the hole portion 37d to the near side in the insertion / extraction direction. Yes. Since the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is attached to the upper surface portion 39a of the lid portion 39, the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 does not interfere with the paper P stored in the lower storage portion 35.

  The auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 has a base portion 61 positioned on the back side in the insertion / extraction direction, and a rotation portion 62 that is positioned on the near side in the insertion / extraction direction and is pivotally supported on the distal end side of the base portion 61. Yes. The base 61 is provided with a notch 63 into which the turning part 62 can be fitted. When the turning part 62 is fitted into the notch 63, the entire auxiliary discharge tray 60 has a flat plate shape. When the rotating unit 62 is rotated upward, the distal end of the rotating unit 62 is positioned on the upper side with respect to the base end pivotally supported by the base 61, and the rotating unit 62 is positioned on the front side in the insertion / extraction direction. Held in an inclined position.

  The auxiliary discharge tray 60 is formed with a recessed portion 64 that is recessed toward the back side on the near side in the insertion / extraction direction of the notch 63 when the rotating portion 62 is fitted into the notch 63 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the recess 64 can be used as a handle for putting a user's finger on when the auxiliary discharge tray 60 is pulled out. In addition to the depression 64, a knob for operation may be provided.

  In the multi-function device 1 configured as described above, for example, A3 size paper is previously stored in the lower paper feed tray 30, and A4 size paper is stored in the upper paper feed tray 20 with its longitudinal direction along the X-axis direction. Suppose you are. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, in the upper paper feed tray 20, the upper second paper feed cassette portion 27 is in the most contracted state with respect to the upper first paper feed cassette portion 26, and the second paper discharge tray 42 is also The first paper discharge tray 41 is in the most contracted state. On the other hand, the lower feed tray 30 is in a state where the lower second feed cassette unit 37 extends most with respect to the lower first feed cassette unit 36. Therefore, in this state, the lower paper feed tray 30 protrudes from the opening 14 of the multi-function device 1 to the near side.

  In such a multi-function device 1, when the upper paper feed tray 20 is designated and A4 size paper is fed and recording is performed, the paper P discharged from the image forming unit 12 is placed in the paper discharge tray 40. Placed. In the multi-function device 1 configured as described above, since the image forming unit 12 is disposed so as to overlap the storage unit 16, the discharged paper P is stored in the upper or lower paper feed trays 20 and 30. It is always discharged to a position closer to the outside than the position.

  Therefore, when the A4 size paper P is discharged in this state where the paper discharge tray 40 is located on the back side, the leading end of the paper P pops out from the paper discharge tray 40 to the front side. Is relatively small, and therefore hardly falls off the paper discharge tray 40.

However, in this state, there is a case where the lower paper feed tray 30 is designated and A3 size paper is fed for recording. That is, the user forgets that the paper discharge tray 40 has not been extended to a size corresponding to the A3 size. In such a case, if the paper discharge tray 40 is positioned on the back side, the leading end portion of the A3 size paper P will jump out from the paper discharge tray 40 to the front side. There is a risk of falling off.

However, in this embodiment, since the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is provided in the lower paper feed tray 30, even after the recording is started, the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is quickly pulled out to the near side and further rotated. The part 62 can be rotated. Therefore, even if the leading end of the A3 size paper P protrudes from the paper discharge tray 40, the paper P is covered with the paper discharge tray 40 and the lower paper feed tray 30 located below the front side. It is supported across the portion 39 and the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 positioned further on the front side of the lid portion 39.

In particular, since the auxiliary discharge tray 60 is rotated by the rotating portion 62, the front side portion of the auxiliary discharge tray 60 is maintained in an inclined posture in which it is higher than the back side. It is possible to improve the effect of preventing the sheet P from falling off by reliably contacting and receiving the leading end in the paper direction. Depending on the dimensions of the apparatus, the discharged paper P may not directly touch the lid 39 .

  Further, in the above embodiment, the lower paper feed tray 30 has a larger amount of paper P than the upper paper feed tray 20, and therefore the upper paper feed tray 20 has a thickness dimension ( The height dimension is small and thin. Accordingly, the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is provided in the lower paper feed tray 30, but is disposed close to the paper discharge tray 40 in the vertical direction. As a result, even if the paper P is supported across the paper discharge tray 40, the lid 39 of the lower paper feed tray 30, and the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60, the front and rear ends of the paper P The height difference (inclination angle) is reduced, and the effect of preventing the paper P from falling off is improved.

  Further, as described above, when A3 size paper is stored in the lower paper feed tray 30, the lower second paper feed cassette unit 37 is pulled out to the front side, so that the paper discharge tray 40 and the auxiliary paper discharge Since the horizontal distance (interval) with the tray 60 becomes longer (see FIG. 6), the height difference (downward tilt angle) between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the discharged paper P becomes small. That is, the paper P can be supported more stably than when the leading edge of the paper P suddenly faces downward.

  Of course, in the above-described configuration, as described above, the finger is inserted into the penetrating portion 55 and the operation portion 56 of the locking means is operated, and the second paper discharge tray 42 is pulled out together with the upper second paper feed cassette portion 27 to be discharged. It is also possible to increase the mounting area of the paper tray 40 itself. However, pulling out the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is simpler in terms of operation and has an advantage that it can quickly cope with prevention of the paper P from falling off.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is used even when the lower paper feed tray 30 is not extended to the near side, and drops out preliminarily (preventively) from the discharged paper P. It may be prevented.

  The structure of the auxiliary paper discharge tray 60 is not limited to the above-described form. For example, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a part of the upper surface portion 39 a of the lid portion 39 of the lower paper feed cassette portion 30 is formed as a rotatable auxiliary paper discharge tray 160. The auxiliary paper discharge tray 160 is pivotally supported on the front side in the insertion / extraction direction of the upper surface portion 39a of the lid portion 39, and the front end (front side) is moved upward by rotating the front end on the back side upward. It can be held in a highly inclined posture. In this form, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  As another modification, the slidable auxiliary discharge tray 60 according to the first embodiment is not provided in parallel below the upper surface portion 39a of the lid portion 30, but the upper surface portion as in the second embodiment. It may be provided as a part of 39a.

  Although the above embodiment has been described with respect to the configuration including the upper and lower two-stage paper feed trays, it can also be applied to a configuration including the upper and lower three-stage paper feed trays. In that case, the auxiliary paper discharge tray may be provided in the paper feed tray adjacent to the lower stage of the paper feed tray provided integrally with the paper discharge tray.

1 multi-function device 12 image forming unit 13 recording head 14 opening 20 upper paper feed tray 25 upper paper storage unit 26 upper first paper feed cassette unit 27 upper second paper feed cassette unit 30 lower paper feed tray 35 lower paper storage unit 36 lower product Lower first sheet feeding cassette section 37 Second sheet feeding cassette section 40 Paper discharge tray 41 First paper discharge tray 42 Second paper discharge tray 60 Auxiliary paper discharge tray 61 Base 62 Turning section 63 Notch section 64 Recessed section

Claims (6)

Inside the housing, there is a storage unit that can store a plurality of paper feed trays in the top and bottom, and an image forming unit disposed above the storage unit,
An image forming apparatus in which each of the paper feed trays is housed in the housing portion so as to be insertable / removable in an insertion / extraction direction through an opening provided on one side surface of the housing,
As the paper feed tray, there is provided at least an upper paper feed tray disposed at the uppermost portion of the storage unit and a lower paper feed tray disposed adjacent to the lower stage of the upper paper feed tray,
A paper discharge tray that is extendable along the insertion / extraction direction and on which the recording medium discharged from the image forming unit can be placed in a stacked state is disposed above the paper feed tray.
The upper paper feed tray is provided with an upper paper storage unit that can store recording media fed to the image forming unit in a stacked state.
The lower feed tray is
A lower first paper feed tray that forms a lower housing part capable of accommodating a recording medium fed to the image forming unit in a stacked state ; and a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the lower first paper feed tray. A lower second paper feed tray that is movable in the insertion / removal direction and forms the lower housing part together with the lower first paper feeding tray, a lid provided above the lower housing part, and the lower second paper feeding An auxiliary paper discharge tray attached so as to be able to protrude outward from the end on the leading end side of the tray extension ,
The extension-direction tip of the lower second sheet feeding tray moved to the extension position protrudes outward from the opening side end of the shrunk paper discharge tray,
The lid part protrudes outward from the opening side end of the paper discharge tray together with the lower second paper feed tray so as to cover the upper side of the lower second paper feed tray in the extended position,
The auxiliary paper discharge tray is provided so as to be able to project from the lid in a state where the lower paper feed tray is housed in the housing portion, and the lower second paper feed tray is in the extended position and the auxiliary paper discharge tray is provided. The image forming apparatus is configured such that when the tray is protruded, a leading end portion of a recording medium placed on the paper discharge tray in a paper discharge direction can be supported by the auxiliary paper discharge tray. apparatus. The lower paper feed tray is provided so that the lower second paper feed tray and the lid portion can be extended by sliding integrally in the insertion / extraction direction,
When the lower sheet feed tray is extended so that a recording medium having a size larger than the recording medium accommodated in the upper sheet feed tray is accommodated in the lower sheet feed tray, the lower sheet feed tray is fed. The recording medium fed and discharged from the image forming unit is supported so as to straddle the discharge tray, the lid of the lower storage unit, and the protruding auxiliary discharge tray. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the auxiliary paper discharge tray protrudes from the lower paper feed tray, the front end of the auxiliary paper discharge tray is positioned above the base end. The image forming apparatus described. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper paper feed tray has a smaller number of recordable recording media and a smaller height than the lower paper feed tray. 5. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary paper discharge tray is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat or rotate with respect to the lower paper supply tray. Inside the housing, there is a storage unit that can store a plurality of paper feed trays in the top and bottom, and an image forming unit disposed above the storage unit,
An image forming apparatus in which each of the paper feed trays is housed in the housing portion so as to be insertable / removable in the insertion / removal direction through an opening provided on one side surface of the housing.
As the paper feed tray, there is provided at least an upper paper feed tray disposed at the uppermost portion of the storage unit and a lower paper feed tray disposed adjacent to the lower stage of the upper paper feed tray,
A paper discharge tray that is extendable along the insertion / extraction direction and on which the recording medium discharged from the image forming unit can be placed in a stacked state is disposed above the paper feed tray.
The upper paper feed tray is provided with an upper paper storage unit that can store recording media fed to the image forming unit in a stacked state.
The lower feed tray is
A lower first sheet feed tray that forms a lower stage storage section that can store recording media fed to the image forming section in a stacked state, and a lower second feed section that forms a lower stage storage section together with the lower first sheet feed tray. A paper tray, and
The lower second paper feed tray is
The lower second paper feed tray is formed so as to be movable in the insertion / removal direction between a contracted position and an extended position with respect to the lower first paper feed tray, and the leading end of the lower second paper feed tray moved to the extended position Projecting outward from the opening side end of the
An auxiliary paper discharge tray that can protrude together with the lower second paper feed tray outward from the opening side end of the paper discharge tray in a contracted state;
The auxiliary discharge tray is configured such that when the auxiliary discharge tray is protruded, the front end portion of the recording medium placed on the discharge tray in the discharge direction can be supported by the auxiliary discharge tray. An image forming apparatus.

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