JP5306504B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus in which a paper feed cassette is removably mounted in a cassette housing portion provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Some image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines, copiers, and printers are configured such that a sheet feeding cassette that stores sheets is detachably mounted in a cassette housing portion provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus. In such an image forming apparatus, at the time of image formation, the sheets stored in the paper feed cassette are sequentially conveyed to the image forming unit, and the image forming unit forms an image on the sheet.

  By the way, such a conventional image forming apparatus is provided with a drawer device for detachably mounting the paper feed cassette, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of such a drawer device.

  This drawer device includes a frame rail 20 that is provided opposite to the inner wall surface of the cassette housing portion of the image forming apparatus main body (not shown) and serves as a guide when the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out. Further, this drawer device is provided with cassette rails 3 provided on both side walls of the paper feed cassette 2 so as to face the frame rails 20 and serve as a guide when the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out.

  The frame rail 20 is slidably held on the outer rail 7 fixed to the inner wall surface of the cassette housing portion, and is slidably held on the downstream end of the pulling direction (hereinafter referred to as the pulling direction) indicated by an arrow. It is comprised by the inner rail 8 in which the stop member 9 was provided. When the paper feed cassette 2 is moved, the cassette rail 3 as an engaging portion is engaged with the inner rail 8 as a rail member, so that the vertical movement of the paper feed cassette 2 is restricted to the inner rail 8. Move along.

  At the downstream end of the inner rail 8 in the pulling direction, a roller member 10 that rotates along the cassette rail 3 of the sheet feeding cassette 2 around the shaft 10a is provided so that the sheet feeding cassette 2 can be smoothly pulled out. Is provided. Also, roller members 4 and 5 that rotate along the upper guide surface 8a and the lower guide surface 8b of the inner rail 8 are provided on both side walls of the paper feed cassette 2 so that the paper feed cassette 2 can be pulled out smoothly. It has been.

  The roller members 4 and 5 are rotatably held by fixed shafts 4 a and 5 a provided on a roller support member 6 constituting a part of the cassette rail 3. Further, a locking claw 11 that is locked to the locking member 9 of the inner rail 8 when the paper feeding cassette 2 is pulled out is provided at the downstream end of the roller support member 6 in the pulling direction.

  In such a drawer device, for example, when the sheet feeding cassette 2 is pulled out for storing sheets, first, as shown in FIG. 7, the locking claw 11 which is a drawer stop portion provided on the roller support member 6 is connected to the inner rail 8. The locking member 9 is a stop provided on the lower guide surface 8b. When the sheet feeding cassette 2 is further pulled out, the sheet feeding cassette 2 slides with respect to the outer rail 7 integrally with the inner rail 8 in a state where the locking claw 11 is locked to the locking member 9.

  As a result, the paper cassette 2 is pulled out while pulling out the inner rail 8 integrally, and then a stopper (not shown) provided on the inner rail 8 is locked to the outer rail 7 to pull out the inner rail 8. In this state, the sheet cassette 2 stops. By pulling out the paper feed cassette 2 in this way, the sheet can be stored in the paper feed cassette without being separated from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

  When the paper feed cassette 2 is removed from the image forming apparatus main body, as shown in FIG. 8, the downstream side in the pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette 2 pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body is lifted upward. As a result, the locking claw 11 of the paper feeding cassette 2 and the locking member 9 of the inner rail 8 are unlocked, and the paper feeding cassette 2 is further pulled out in this state, whereby the paper feeding cassette 2 is removed from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Can be removed (pulled out).

  Here, the contact portion 11a of the locking claw 11 of the roller support member 6 with the locking member 9 and the contact portion 9a of the locking member 9 of the inner rail 8 shown in FIG. It is inclined so as to guide the movement of the sheet feeding cassette 2 in the take-out direction, that is, the oblique upward movement. As a result, when the paper cassette 2 is taken out, if the downstream side in the pulling direction of the paper cassette 2 is lifted, the paper cassette 2 is fed while being guided by the inclination of the contact portion 11a of the locking claw 11 and the contact portion 9a of the locking member 9. The paper cassette 2 is lifted obliquely upward.

  Further, when the sheet feeding cassette 2 is lifted in this way, a recess 6a is formed on the upper surface of the roller support member 6 (cassette rail 3) so that the roller support member 6 (cassette rail 3) does not contact the inner rail 8. Is formed.

  By the way, for example, when the image forming apparatus is installed at a low position, when the user wants to pull out the paper feed cassette 2, the user grasps the handle of the paper feed cassette 2 and tilts the paper feed cassette 2 out. Here, in the case of the drawer device having such a configuration, when the sheet feeding cassette 2 is inclined and pulled out in this manner, the latching claw 11 of the sheet feeding cassette 2 is locked by the latching member of the inner rail 8 as shown in FIG. 9 does not come into contact, and the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out.

  Therefore, as a configuration for solving such a problem, there is a configuration including a stop member that stops the paper feed cassette 2 at a predetermined drawing position without being pulled out when the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out (Patent Document). 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3571910

  However, in the case of a conventional image forming apparatus provided with such a stop member, when the user pulls out the paper feed cassette, the stop member is moved from the position where the paper feed cassette is stopped at the pull-out position. It must be moved to a position where it can be pulled out.

  Further, when the pulled-out paper cassette is mounted, the stop member must be moved from a position where the paper cassette can be pulled out to a position where the paper cassette is stopped at the pull-out position. For this reason, there has been a problem that the operation at the time of pulling out and mounting the paper feed cassette becomes complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and provides an image forming apparatus that can reliably pull out a paper feed cassette and easily pull out and attach the paper feed cassette. It is intended to do.

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a paper feed cassette that is detachably mounted in a cassette housing portion, the rail member provided on an inner wall surface of the cassette housing portion and having an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface; Provided on the side wall surface in a direction perpendicular to the paper cassette pull-out direction and engaged with the rail member to move the paper cassette along the rail member while being regulated by the upper guide surface and the lower guide surface And an engaging portion that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the engaging portion of the paper feed cassette and is rotatably provided, and comes into contact with the upper guide surface, thereby bringing the paper feed cassette along the rail member. A restricting member that restricts the vertical inclination of the sheet cassette relative to the rail member when the sheet cassette is moved, and the sheet cassette is stopped at a predetermined drawing position. A stop portion, and in a state where the paper feed cassette is stopped at the pull-out position by the stop portion, the restricting member is in a position pulled out from an end portion of the upper guide surface, and the drawer By applying a force in the direction in which the paper feed cassette is lifted upward to the paper feed cassette that is stopped at the position, the restricting member abuts on the end of the upper guide surface and rotates, The sheet feeding cassette can be pulled out and tilted.

  As in the present invention, when applying a force in the direction of lifting the paper feed cassette upward, the paper feed cassette can be reliably pulled out without being disturbed by the restriction member by turning the restriction member. The paper cassette can be easily pulled out and attached.

1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a drawer device provided in the image forming apparatus. The side view which shows the state in which the paper feed cassette of the said drawer | drawing-out apparatus is accommodated. The figure which shows a state when the paper feeding cassette of the said drawer | drawing-out apparatus is pulled out from the apparatus main body. The figure which shows a state when taking out the paper feed cassette of the said drawer | drawing-out apparatus from an apparatus main body. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a drawer device provided in a conventional image forming apparatus. The figure which shows a state when the paper feeding cassette of the said conventional drawer | drawing-out apparatus is pulled out from the apparatus main body. The figure which shows the state when taking out the paper feed cassette of the said conventional drawer | drawing-out apparatus from an apparatus main body.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 100 is an image forming apparatus, and 101 is an image forming apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main body). The apparatus main body 101 includes an image forming unit (not shown) and a sheet feeding device (not shown) that feeds sheets stored in the paper feed cassette 2 that is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 101 to the image forming unit. Is provided.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 102 denotes a cassette housing portion provided at the lower portion of the apparatus main body 101. When sheets are stored, replenished, etc., the sheet fed in the cassette housing portion 102 as shown in FIG. The cassette 2 is pulled out to the front near side of the apparatus main body 101.

  The inner wall surface 102a of the cassette housing portion 102 includes an outer rail 7 fixed to the inner wall surface 102a and an inner rail 8 that is slidably held on the outer rail 7, and guides the drawer and mounting of the sheet feeding cassette 2. A frame rail 20 serving as a guide is provided. Although not shown, the frame rail 20 is also provided on the other inner wall surface facing the one inner wall surface 102 a of the cassette housing portion 102.

  In addition, on both side wall surfaces in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out, there are provided cassette rails 3 that are opposed to the frame rails 20 and serve as a guide when the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out.

  The frame rail 20 provided on the inner wall surface 102 a of the cassette housing portion 102 and the cassette rail 3 provided on the paper feed cassette 2 constitute a drawer device for mounting the paper feed cassette 2 on the apparatus main body 101 so that it can be pulled out. Is done.

  When the sheet is stored in the sheet feeding cassette 2 by this drawer device, the sheet feeding cassette 2 can be pulled out to a position where the sheet can be stored. In this drawer device, when the paper cassette 2 is pulled out, the paper cassette 2 is pulled out, then the downstream side (front side) in the pulling direction of the paper cassette 2 is pulled upward, and then pulled diagonally upward. I have to.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of such a drawer device, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the paper feed cassette 2 of the drawer device is stored. 2 and 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7 described above indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  2 and 3, reference numeral 12 denotes a rotation lever that is a limiting member that restricts the vertical inclination of the paper feed cassette 2 with respect to the inner rail 8 when the paper feed cassette 2 is moved. The rotation lever 12 is held by a roller support member 6 provided in the paper feed cassette 2 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 12a.

  The upper end of the pivot lever 12 protrudes from a recess 6 a provided by denting the upper surface of the roller support member 6 toward the upper guide surface of the inner rail 8, and contacts the upper guide surface 8 a of the inner upper portion of the inner rail 8. A contact portion 13 that can contact is provided. The rotating lever 12 is integrally formed with an elastic portion 14 that urges the rotating lever 12 in a direction in which the contact portion 13 protrudes from the roller support member 6. In addition, you may connect and use elastic members, such as a coil spring, without forming an elastic part integrally.

  The rotating lever 12 is in pressure contact with an abutting wall (not shown) provided on the roller support member 6 due to the elasticity of the elastic portion 14. The first member is elastically held at the first position protruding from the upper surface of the member 6. In a state where the paper feed cassette 2 is mounted in the cassette housing portion 102, the turning lever 12 is in the first position. Therefore, even if a force to lift upward is applied to the sheet cassette 2, the contact portion 13 of the rotation lever 12 contacts the upper guide surface 8 a of the inner rail 8, and the sheet cassette 2 is moved upward. Movement (tilt) is limited.

  That is, since the upper plane of the contact portion 13 of the rotating lever 12 is located at the upper portion of the shaft 12a and is formed in parallel with the upper guide surface 8a, the upper plane of the contact portion 13 and the upper guide surface 8a. The rotating lever 12 cannot be rotated even if they come into contact with each other. Therefore, the turning lever 12 abuts on the upper guide surface 8a to limit the upward inclination of the paper feed cassette 2.

  Thus, by providing the paper feed cassette 2 with the rotating lever 12 in which the contact portion 13 protrudes from the upper surface of the roller support member 6, the paper cassette 2 is lifted upward when the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out. Even if force is applied, the upward movement (tilt) of the sheet feeding cassette 2 is limited.

  As will be described later, the rotation lever 12 rotates against the elastic force of the elastic portion 14 when the sheet feeding cassette 2 is pulled out to the pull-out position and then the sheet feeding cassette 2 is tilted and taken out. The contact portion 13 moves to the second position where it is retracted from the upper surface of the roller support member 6. Thereby, even if the rotation lever 12 is provided, the sheet feeding cassette 2 can be removed (extracted).

  Next, the operation of the rotating lever 12 when pulling out the paper feed cassette 2 will be described in detail.

  When the paper feed cassette 2 is moved in the direction in which the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 in order to pull out the paper feed cassette 2, that is, in the arrow direction shown in FIG. 3, the rotating lever 12 is held in the first position by the elastic portion 14.

  For this reason, even when an upward lifting force is applied to the paper cassette 2 while the paper cassette 2 is being pulled out, the contact portion 13 of the rotating lever 12 contacts the upper guide surface 8 a of the inner rail 8, The upward movement of the paper cassette 2 is restricted. As a result, even when an upward lifting force is applied, the sheet feeding cassette 2 moves along the inner rail 8 without being inclined in the vertical direction without being lifted on the downstream side in the drawing direction.

  4 is a diagram showing a state of the drawer device when the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101. When the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101 as shown in FIG. The locking claw 11 of the member 6 is locked to the locking member 9 of the inner rail 8. Thereby, the paper feed cassette 2 can be stopped at a predetermined pull-out position.

  At this time, the rotating lever 12 is positioned downstream of the inner rail 8 in the pulling direction from the downstream end of the pulling direction. The rotating lever 12 and the inner rail 8 are set so as to ensure the contact between the contact portion 13 of the rotating lever 12 and the upper guide surface 8a of the inner rail 8 until the sheet feeding cassette 2 is pulled out. Yes. For this reason, until the paper feed cassette 2 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 101, the paper feed cassette 2 is tilted against the user's intention and is not pulled out from the apparatus main body 101.

  Next, the operation of the turning lever 12 when the user pulls out the paper feed cassette 2 from the apparatus main body 101 will be described.

  When removing the paper feed cassette 2 from the apparatus main body 101, the paper feed cassette 2 is lifted. Thereby, the sheet feeding cassette 2 is moved to the arrow A as shown in FIG. 5A by the inclination of the contact portions 9a and 11a of the locking member 9 of the inner rail 8 and the locking claw 11 of the roller support member 6. The engagement between the locking claw 11 of the roller support member 6 and the locking member 9 of the inner rail 8 is released.

  At this time, the contact portion 13 of the turning lever 12 protruding in the recess 6a formed on the upper surface of the roller support member 6 is located downstream of the inner rail 8 in the pulling direction as shown in FIG. 5B. It abuts on the side end 15.

  Since the side surface of the contact portion 13 contacts the side end portion 15 of the inner rail 8 in this way, the rotation lever 12 rotates counterclockwise against the elastic force of the elastic portion 14. As a result, the contact portion 13 moves to the second position where it retracts inward from the upper surface of the roller support member 6. As a result, the sheet feeding cassette 2 can be taken out (extracted) obliquely upward from the apparatus main body 101 without being obstructed by the rotating lever 12.

  When the paper feed cassette 2 is installed, the paper feed cassette 2 is inserted into the apparatus main body while the paper feed cassette 2 is inclined and the cassette rail 3 of the paper feed cassette 2 is engaged with the inner rail 8. Go. At this time, when the abutting portion 13 abuts on the inner rail 8, the turning lever 12 turns counterclockwise against the elastic force of the elastic portion 14, whereby the abutting portion 13 is rotated by the roller support member. Retreat inside the upper surface of 6. As a result, the paper feed cassette 2 can be inserted into the apparatus main body 101 without being obstructed by the rotation lever 12.

  As described above, when the paper cassette 2 is moved and the inclination of the paper cassette 2 is restricted and the paper cassette 2 is pulled out, the paper cassette 2 can be reliably pulled out by releasing the inclination restriction of the paper cassette 2. it can. Further, the paper cassette 2 can be easily pulled out and attached.

  In the above description, the case where the contact portion 13 of the rotation lever 12 is protruded from the upper surface of the roller support member 6 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a rotating lever having a contact portion protruding downward from the roller support member 6 is provided in the roller support member 6 so as to be able to protrude and retract, and when the sheet feeding cassette 2 is moved, the contact portion is arranged on the inner rail side ( The same effect can be obtained by projecting to the rail member side.

2 paper feed cassette 3 cassette rail 6 roller support member 6a recess 7 outer rail 8 inner rail 8a upper guide surface 8b lower guide surface 9 locking member 11 locking claw 12 rotating lever 13 abutting portion 14 elastic portion 100 image forming apparatus 101 Image forming apparatus main body 102 Cassette housing portion 102a Inner wall surface of cassette housing portion

Claims (5)

In an image forming apparatus including a paper feed cassette that is detachably mounted in a cassette housing unit,
A rail member provided on the inner wall surface of the cassette housing portion and having an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface;
The rail member is provided on a side wall surface in a direction perpendicular to the pulling-out direction of the paper cassette, and is associated with the rail member so as to move the paper cassette along the rail member while being regulated by the upper guide surface and the lower guide surface. Mating engagement parts;
Projecting upward from the upper surface of the engaging portion of the sheet cassette, the pivot is provided so as to be rotatable, and comes into contact with the upper guide surface to move the sheet cassette along the rail member. A limiting member for limiting the vertical inclination of the sheet cassette with respect to the rail member;
A stop unit for stopping the paper feeding cassette at a predetermined pulling position;
In a state where the paper feed cassette is stopped at the pulling position by the stop portion, the restricting member is in a position pulled out from an end portion of the upper guide surface and is stopped at the pulling position. By applying a force to the paper feed cassette in the direction of lifting the paper feed cassette upward, the restricting member rotates in contact with the end portion of the upper guide surface to tilt the paper feed cassette. An image forming apparatus capable of being pulled out. The stop portion is provided on the lower guide surface, and is provided with a locking member having an inclination with an acute angle with respect to the lower guide surface, and provided on the engagement portion, and is engaged with the inclination of the locking member. A locking claw having a slope to match,
By applying a force in the upward direction to the sheet feeding cassette, the inclined surface of the locking claw moves along the inclined surface of the locking member, and the limiting member contacts the end portion of the upper guide surface. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is in contact with the image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the locking member is disposed downstream of the end portion of the upper guide surface in a pulling direction of the sheet feeding cassette.   The limiting member is urged by an elastic portion so that a plane located above the rotation shaft is parallel to the upper guide surface and protrudes upward from the engagement portion. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding cassette includes a roller member that can rotate along the upper guide surface and the lower guide surface. 6.

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