JP5790048B2 - Tray body - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tray body that can be inserted / extracted from / to a sheet supply apparatus and on which a sheet can be placed.

  Conventionally, there is an apparatus that can convey a sheet. An example of the apparatus is an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer. Some image recording apparatuses include a tray that can store sheets in a stacked state and can be inserted into and removed from the image recording apparatus. In recent years, there has been a demand for downsizing image recording apparatuses. When the image recording apparatus is downsized, the tray attached to the image recording apparatus is also downsized. As a result, it becomes difficult to accommodate a large size sheet in the tray mounted on the image recording apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, it is conceivable that the tray mounted on the image recording apparatus can be expanded and contracted, and when the large size sheet is accommodated in the tray, the tray is extended. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a paper feed cassette that is detachably disposed in an image forming apparatus and includes a main cassette and a slide cassette that can be expanded and contracted with respect to the main cassette. ing.

JP 2008-184297 A

  By the way, the above-mentioned paper feed cassette is for locking the slide cassette in the extended position and the contracted position when the slide cassette is extended with respect to the main cassette or when the slide cassette is contracted from the main cassette. A lock lever is provided.

  The paper feed cassette is formed with a handle that is gripped when the paper feed cassette is inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 of Patent Document 1, the handle is provided at the center in the short direction of the paper feed cassette. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 of Patent Document 1, the lock lever is provided at a position shifted outward from the handle in the short direction of the paper feed cassette.

  That is, the sheet cassette is in a state where the slide cassette is locked to the main cassette by the lock lever on one side of the handle in the width direction. At this time, the slide cassette is free because the slide cassette is not locked on the other side of the handle in the width direction of the feed cassette. In such a state, when the user grips the handle and inserts and removes the paper feed cassette from the image forming apparatus, the slide cassette may rotate with respect to the main cassette around the lock portion by the lock lever.

  Thereby, the force in the insertion / extraction direction of the paper feed cassette is converted into the force in the rotation direction of the slide cassette. As a result, the user requires a larger force than usual in order to insert and remove the paper feed cassette. In addition, when inserting and removing the paper feed cassette, the user feels uncomfortable feeling such as rattling of the slide cassette.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object thereof is to easily slide the tray configured to be expandable / contractible with respect to the apparatus main body without a sense of incongruity. It is to provide a structure that can.

(1) The present invention is a tray body that can be inserted and removed along a first direction with respect to a sheet supply apparatus that supplies sheets. The tray body has a first tray body having a first bottom plate on which a sheet can be placed, and a second bottom plate on which the sheet can be placed, and is along the first direction with respect to the first tray body. A second tray body that is provided so as to be slidable and has a grip portion that is gripped to insert and remove the tray body, and a first lock portion that can lock the slide of the second tray body with respect to the first tray body. And. The first lock portion extends along the second bottom plate from the shaft portion rotatably supported by the second tray body with the direction orthogonal to the second bottom plate as an axis. An arm and a first locking portion provided on the tip side of the arm. The first tray body includes a first locked portion in which the first locking portion is engaged and disengaged by rotation of the shaft portion of the first lock portion. The shaft portion of the first lock portion is perpendicular to the first direction and in the second direction along the second bottom plate, the first locked portion of the first tray body with the grip portion interposed therebetween. It is arranged on the opposite side to the part.

  When the tray body is slid in the first direction with respect to the sheet supply device, the first lock portion is locked to the first locked portion of the first tray body at the position of the shaft portion of the first lock portion. A force (first force) that causes the first locking portion to rotate about the generated first locking portion is generated. In addition, when the tray body is slid in the first direction with respect to the sheet supply apparatus, the first lock portion is positioned at the position of the first locking portion of the first lock portion and the shaft supported by the second tray body. A force (second force) is generated to try to rotate about the part.

  Here, the directions of the first force and the second force are opposite to each other. For example, if the first force is in a clockwise direction, the second force is in a counterclockwise direction. Also, the position of the shaft portion of the first lock portion where the first force is generated and the position of the first locked portion of the first tray body locked to the first locking portion where the second force is generated , Opposite to each other with a gripping part gripped when the tray body is slid. Therefore, when the tray body is slid in the first direction with respect to the sheet supply device, the force of the second tray body rotating with respect to the first tray body by the interaction of the two opposite forces interacting with each other. Is reduced.

(2) At least one of the first tray body or the second tray body includes a second lock portion that can lock a slide of the second tray body with respect to the first tray body, and the second lock portion includes: In the second direction, the first tray body may be disposed on the opposite side of the first locked portion with the grip portion interposed therebetween.

(3) The first lock portion includes an operation portion that is operated to rotate the shaft portion. The second lock portion is formed on a second locking portion formed on one of the first tray body or the second tray body and on the other of the first tray body or the second tray body, A second cover that projects toward one of the one tray body or the second tray body and that can be engaged and disengaged by elastic deformation with the second locking portion as the second tray body slides relative to the first tray body. And a locking portion. The operation part is provided closer to the second lock part than the grip part in the second direction.

  According to this configuration, when the second bottom plate is slid in the first direction with respect to the first bottom plate, that is, when the second tray body is slid in the first direction with respect to the first tray body, the user The slide is executed while operating the operation unit. That is, the user operates the operation unit to rotate the shaft portion of the first lock unit. As a result, the first locking portion is detached from the first locked portion, and the lock by the first locking portion is released. Further, the user applies a force in the first direction while operating the operation unit. Thereby, the 2nd to-be-latched part of a 2nd lock part is elastically deformed, and the lock | rock by a 2nd lock part is cancelled | released.

  However, if the operation unit is provided on the side opposite to the second lock unit with respect to the holding unit in the second direction, the following problem may occur. In other words, when the user applies a force in the first direction while operating the operation unit, the second lock unit is separated from the operation unit in the second direction, and therefore the force is applied to the second engagement of the second lock unit. There is a risk of not reaching the stop. Thereby, there is a possibility that the second locked portion is not elastically deformed and the lock by the second lock portion is not released. As a result, the second tray body rotates with respect to the first tray body around the second locked portion and the locking portion of the second locking portion. From the above, it becomes difficult to slide the second tray body relative to the first tray body.

  So, according to this structure, the operation part is provided in the 2nd direction at the 2nd lock part side rather than the holding part. Accordingly, when the user applies a force in the first direction while operating the operation portion, the force sufficiently reaches the second locked portion of the second lock portion. As a result, the lock by the second lock portion is easily released. As described above, the second tray body can be easily slid with respect to the first tray body.

(4) In (3), it is preferable that the operation portion is provided at the same position as the second lock portion in the second direction.

  In the present invention, when the tray body is slid in the first direction with respect to the sheet supply device, the force with which the second tray body rotates with respect to the first tray body is reduced. Therefore, when the tray body configured to be stretchable is inserted into and removed from the sheet feeding apparatus, it can be easily inserted and removed without a sense of incongruity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the tray main body 71 and the expansion tray 72. FIG. 3A shows the expansion tray 72, and FIG. 3B shows the tray main body 71. FIG. 4A and 4B are right side views of the tray main body 71 and the expansion tray 72. FIG. 4A shows the paper feed tray 22 in a contracted state, and FIG. 4B shows the paper feed tray 22 in an expanded state. Has been. FIG. 5 shows the paper feed tray 22 in which the expansion tray 72 is locked to the tray body 71 in the contracted state. FIG. 5A shows a plan view, and FIG. An AA cross-sectional view of A) is shown. 6 shows the paper feed tray 22 in which the expansion tray 72 is not locked to the tray main body 71 in the contracted state. FIG. 6A is a plan view, and FIG. An AA cross-sectional view of A) is shown. FIG. 7 shows the paper feed tray 22 in which the expansion tray 72 is locked to the tray body 71 in the extended state. FIG. 7A shows a plan view, and FIG. B-B cross-sectional view of B) is shown. FIG. 8 shows the paper feed tray 22 in which the extension tray 72 is not locked to the tray body 71 in the extended state, (A) shows a plan view, and (B) shows FIG. B-B cross-sectional view of B) is shown. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the second lock member 120.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, in the following description, the advance from the start point to the end point is expressed as the direction in consideration of the arrow in the vector, and the traffic on the line connecting the start point and the end point is expressed as the direction in the vector without considering the arrow. . In the following description, the vertical direction 7 is defined with reference to the state where the multifunction machine 10 is installed (the state shown in FIG. 1), and the side where the opening 13 is provided is the front side (front side). A front-rear direction 8 is defined, and a left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front side (front). For the paper feed trays 21 and 22, the vertical direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 are defined with reference to the state of being mounted on the multifunction machine 10 (the state shown in FIG. 1).

[Schematic configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction machine 10 as an example of a sheet feeding apparatus of the present invention is provided with a scanner unit 12 in the upper part and a printer unit 11 of an ink jet recording system in the lower part. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function.

  An opening 13 is formed on the front side of the printer unit 11. The printer unit 11 includes paper feed trays 21 and 22 (an example of a tray body of the present invention) and a recording unit 40 (see FIG. 2). The printer unit 11 can insert and remove the paper feed tray 21 and the paper feed tray 22 in the front-rear direction 8 (an example of the first direction of the present invention) through the opening 13. The paper feed trays 21 and 22 may be configured to be able to be pulled out from the printer unit 11 halfway, in other words, may not be completely removed from the printer unit 11. In the present embodiment, the multi-function device 10 is provided with two paper feed trays 21 and 22, but the number of paper feed trays is not limited to two. For example, the multifunction peripheral 10 may be provided with one paper feed tray or three or more paper feed trays.

  Recording paper 50 (an example of the sheet of the present invention) is placed on the paper feed trays 21 and 22 (see FIG. 2). In the printer unit 11, the recording paper 50 is selectively supplied from the paper feed tray 21 or the paper feed tray 22 into the printer unit 11. The supplied recording paper 50 is discharged to a paper discharge tray 23 formed on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 22 after an image is recorded by the recording unit 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed tray 21 and the paper feed tray 22 are arranged in two upper and lower stages with the paper feed tray 22 as the upper side. The paper feed trays 21 and 22 both hold recording paper 50 on which image recording is performed. By providing the two paper feed trays 21 and 22, it is possible to hold the recording paper 50 having a different size and paper type. The paper feed trays 21 and 22 will be described later.

[Conveyance paths 17, 18, 19 and supply units 28, 38]
As shown in FIG. 2, a curved conveyance path 18 is provided above the inclined plate 24 of the paper feed tray 22. When the paper feed tray 22 is attached to the printer unit 11, the inclined plate 24 is disposed below the conveyance path 18, and the first supply unit 28 is disposed above the paper feed tray 22. The first supply unit 28 includes a paper feed roller 25, an arm 26, and a shaft 27. The paper feed roller 25 is rotatably provided on the tip side of the arm 26. The arm 26 is rotatably provided on a shaft 27 supported by the casing of the printer unit 11. The arm 26 is urged to rotate toward the paper feed tray 22 by its own weight or by receiving an elastic force from a spring or the like. The first supply unit 28 picks up the recording paper 50 from the paper feed tray 22 and feeds it to the transport path 18. The second supply unit 38 has the same configuration as the first supply unit 28. That is, the second supply unit 38 includes a paper feed roller 35, an arm 36, and a shaft 37, and picks up the recording paper 50 from the paper feed tray 21 and feeds it to the transport path 17.

  A conveyance path 19 that is continuous with the conveyance path 17 and the conveyance path 18 is provided inside the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 19 is a path along which the recording paper 50 conveyed along the conveyance path 17 or the conveyance path 18 is conveyed, and from the position where the conveyance path 17 and the conveyance path 18 merge toward the front side of the multifunction machine 10. The paper feed tray 22 extends to above the paper discharge tray 23.

[Recording unit 40]
The recording unit 40 includes a recording head 42 and a carriage 41 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2, that is, the left-right direction 9). The recording head 42 is supplied with inks of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) from an ink cartridge (not shown). The recording head 42 ejects each ink as a minute ink droplet from a nozzle provided on the lower surface thereof. As the carriage 41 reciprocates in the main scanning direction, the recording head 42 is scanned with respect to the recording paper, and recording is carried on a platen 43 provided below the recording unit 40 and facing the recording unit 40. An image is recorded on the paper 50. The platen 43 is a member that supports the recording paper 50 that is transported along the transport path 19.

[Conveying roller pair 59 and discharging roller pair 64]
A conveyance roller pair 59 is provided upstream of the recording unit 40 in the conveyance direction 6 of the recording paper 50. The conveyance roller pair 59 includes a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61. The transport roller 60 is disposed on the upper side of the transport path 19 and rotates upon receiving a driving force from a transport motor (not shown). The pinch roller 61 is rotatably disposed below the conveyance roller 60 with the conveyance path 19 interposed therebetween, and is urged by a spring toward the conveyance roller 60.

  A discharge roller pair 64 is provided downstream of the recording unit 40 in the conveyance direction 6 of the recording paper 50. The discharge roller pair 64 includes a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63. The paper discharge roller 62 is disposed on the lower side of the conveyance path 19 and rotates upon receiving a driving force from the conveyance motor. The spur 63 is rotatably disposed above the paper discharge roller 62 with the conveyance path 19 interposed therebetween, and is urged toward the paper discharge roller 62 by a spring.

  The recording paper 50 fed from the paper feed tray 21 or the paper feed tray 22 by the first supply unit 28 or the second supply unit 38 is guided to the recording unit 40 by the conveyance roller pair 59, and an image is recorded by the recording unit 40. Is done. Thereafter, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23 of the paper feed tray 22 by the discharge roller pair 64.

[Paper Feed Tray 21, 22]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed trays 21 and 22 are disposed below the recording unit 40 in a state where they are mounted on the printer unit 11. The paper feed trays 21 and 22 are attached to the printer unit 11 by being inserted rearward into the opening 13 with the side on which the inclined plate 24 is provided as the leading end (state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). As a result, the recording paper 50 accommodated in the paper feed trays 21 and 22 can be supplied to the conveyance paths 17 and 18 of the printer unit 11. The paper feed trays 21 and 22 are taken out from the printer unit 11 by being drawn forward from the opening 13 from the rear end opposite to the front end. Thereby, the recording paper 50 can be replenished to the paper feed trays 21 and 22. The paper feed tray 21 and the paper feed tray 22 have the same configuration. Therefore, in the following, the configuration of the paper feed tray 22 will be described, and the description of the configuration of the paper feed tray 21 will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the paper feed tray 22 is generally formed in a rectangular dish shape that is long in the insertion / extraction direction (front-rear direction 8 in the present embodiment) in plan view. The paper feed tray 22 includes a tray body 71 (an example of a first tray body of the present invention) and an expansion tray 72 (an example of a second tray body of the present invention).

[Tray body 71]
As shown in FIGS. 3B, 4, and 5, the tray main body 71 includes a main body bottom plate 75 (an example of the first bottom plate of the present invention) on which the recording paper 50 can be placed, and a main body bottom plate 75. An inclined plate 24 (see FIG. 2) erected at the rear end, and a pair of first side walls 81 erected at both ends in the left-right direction 9 (an example of the second direction of the present invention) of the main body bottom plate 75. I have.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the tray body 71 is provided with side guides 77. The side guide 77 is slid in the left-right direction 9 of the tray body 71. As a result, recording paper 50 of various sizes having different lengths in the left-right direction 9 can be placed on the tray body 71.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B, 4, and 5, the first side wall 81 is provided so as to extend in the front-rear direction 8. In addition, the space | interval of the left-right direction 9 of a pair of 1st side wall 81 is larger than the space | interval of the left-right direction 9 of a pair of 2nd side wall 98 (refer FIG. 3 (A)) of the expansion tray 72 mentioned later.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, the side end guide 111 is provided along the front-rear direction 8 inside the first side wall 81. The side end guide 111 is configured such that the CC cross section of FIG. The second side wall 98 of the extension tray 72 is inserted into the side end guide 111. As a result, the sliding direction of the extension tray 72 is restricted to the front-rear direction 8.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, on the back side of the surface of the main body bottom plate 75 of the tray main body 71 on which the recording paper 50 is placed, a rail that stands downward from the back side surface and extends in the front-rear direction 8 70 is formed integrally with the main body bottom plate 75. The rail 70 is engaged with a locking portion 108 (an example of the first locking portion of the present invention) of a first locking member 100 (see FIG. 3A, which will be described later, an example of the first locking portion of the present invention). Receiving portions 67 and 68 (an example of the first locked portion of the present invention) that are capable of stopping the sliding of the first lock member 100 in the front-rear direction 8 in a locked state are provided. . The receiving portions 67 and 68 are provided at the front end portion and the rear end portion of the rail 70. The receiving portions 67 and 68 are erected from the main body bottom plate 75 and extend in the left-right direction 8.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, in the present embodiment, the positions of the receiving portions 67 and 68 in the left-right direction 8 are on the left side of the center of the tray body 71 in the left-right direction 8.

[Extension tray 72]
As shown in FIGS. 3A, 4, and 7, the extension tray 72 includes an extension bottom plate 82 (an example of the second bottom plate of the present invention) on which the recording paper 50 can be placed, and the extension bottom plate 82. A front plate 83 standing from the front end and a pair of second side walls 98 standing from both ends in the left-right direction 9 of the extended bottom plate 82 and extending in the front-rear direction 8 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 7A, the extension tray 72 is provided with a rear guide 80 on the left side of the center in the left-right direction 9. The rear guide 80 is configured to be slidable in the front-rear direction 8 along a rail 85 formed on the extended bottom plate 82. When the rear guide 80 is slid in the front-rear direction 8 in a state where the recording paper 50 is stored in the paper feed tray 22, the rear guide 80 contacts the front end of the recording paper 50. Thereby, the front end of the recording paper 50 is regulated at a position corresponding to the size.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 7, the front plate 83 of the extension tray 72 is formed with a concave portion 79 (an example of a gripping portion of the present invention) that is recessed rearward at the center portion in the left-right direction 9. Has been. When the user of the multifunction machine 10 slides the paper feed tray 22 in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the printer unit 11, the user grips the recess 79.

  The extension tray 72 is attached to the tray body 71. The extension tray 72 is configured to be extendable and contractable with respect to the tray main body 71 by sliding with respect to the main body bottom plate 75 of the tray main body 71. The sliding direction of the extension tray 72 is regulated in the front-rear direction 8 by inserting the second side wall 98 into the side end guide 111 of the tray body 71.

  When a large size recording paper 50 (for example, A3 paper in this embodiment) is stored in the paper feed tray 22, the expansion tray 72 is extended to the tray main body 71 (FIG. 4B, (See FIGS. 7 and 8). As a result, the loading surface of the recording paper 50 is extended in the front-rear direction 8. At this time, only the rear end portion of the extended bottom plate 82 is overlapped with the lower side of the main body bottom plate 75, and the portions other than the rear end portion of the extended bottom plate 82 protrude forward from the lower side of the main body bottom plate 75. It has become.

  On the other hand, when a small size recording paper 50 (for example, A4 paper in this embodiment) is accommodated in the paper feed tray 22, the expansion tray 72 is contracted with respect to the tray main body 71 (FIG. 4A). ), FIG. 5 and FIG. 6). As a result, the loading surface of the recording paper 50 is contracted in the front-rear direction 8. At this time, most of the extended bottom plate 82 is overlapped with the lower side of the main body bottom plate 75.

  As shown by a broken line in FIG. 3A, a column 84 protruding upward from the expansion bottom plate 82 is formed on the right side of the front end of the expansion bottom plate 82 of the expansion tray 72 in the left-right direction 9. Yes. The cylinder 84 is covered with a shaft portion 102 (an example of the shaft portion of the present invention) of the first lock member 100 described below.

[First lock member 100]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the printer unit 11 includes a first lock member 100. As will be described in detail below, the first lock member 100 is configured to be able to lock the slide of the extension tray 72 with respect to the tray body 71 and to release the lock. The first lock member 100 is disposed so as to cover a column 84 protruding upward from the expansion bottom plate 82 of the expansion tray 72. The first lock member 100 includes a shaft portion 102 that is rotatably supported by the column 84 of the extension tray 72, and an operation portion 101 that is formed integrally with the shaft portion 102 at the upper end portion of the shaft portion 102 (of the present invention). An example of an operation unit), an arm 103 (an example of an arm of the present invention) extending from the lower end of the shaft portion 102 along the extended bottom plate 82, and a locking portion 108 provided on the distal end side of the arm 103; It has.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the shaft portion 102 is a substantially columnar member. In the shaft portion 102, the end portion (the lower end portion in FIG. 3A) opposite to the end portion (the upper end portion in FIG. 3A) to which the operation portion 101 is attached is opened. In other words, a substantially circular opening is formed at the lower end portion of the shaft portion 102. A cylinder 84 formed on the extension tray 72 can be inserted into the opening. Thereby, the shaft portion 102 covers the outer peripheral side of the cylinder 84. The shaft portion 102 is disposed so as to extend in the vertical direction 7 in a state where the outer peripheral side of the cylinder 84 is covered. As a result, the shaft portion 102 can rotate about the vertical direction 7 as an axis. That is, the straight line in the vertical direction 7 is an example of the axis of the present invention. Further, the lower end of the shaft portion 102 is in contact with the expansion bottom plate 82 of the expansion tray 72. As described above, the shaft portion 102 is rotatably supported by the expansion tray 72 with the vertical direction 7 orthogonal to the expansion bottom plate 82 as the axis.

  In addition, an elastic portion 104 (see FIGS. 6B and 8B) connected to the operation portion 101 and the shaft portion 102 is formed in front of the operation portion 101. The elastic portion 104 is in contact with a rib 105 (see FIGS. 6B and 8B) formed on the extension tray 72. When the operation portion 101 is twisted forward, the elastic portion 104 is elastically deformed while being in contact with the rib 105. When the operation force applied to the operation unit 101 is relaxed, the operation unit 101 is urged so that the elastic unit 104 returns to the original state.

  As described above, the cylinder 84 is formed on the right side of the front end of the extension bottom plate 82 of the extension tray 72 with respect to the center in the left-right direction 9. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the position of the shaft portion 102 in the left-right direction 8 is on the right side of the center of the expansion tray 72 in the left-right direction 8. Further, as described above, the positions of the receiving portions 67 and 68 in the left-right direction 8 are on the left side of the center of the tray body 70 in the left-right direction 8. That is, the shaft portion 102 of the first lock member 100 sandwiches the recess 79 formed in the center portion of the extension tray 72 in the left-right direction 9 in the left-right direction 9 that intersects the front-rear direction 8 and along the extension bottom plate 82. The tray body 71 is disposed on the opposite side to the receiving portions 67 and 68.

  In the present embodiment, the shaft portion 102 is provided on the right side of the recess portion 79 and the receiving portions 67 and 68 are provided on the left side of the recess portion 79, but the shaft portion 102 is on the left side of the recess portion 79. The receiving portions 67 and 68 may be provided on the right side of the recess 79.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the operation unit 101 has a generally thin plate shape. The user of the multifunction machine 10 holds the operation unit 101 and moves it in the direction of the arrow 107 (see FIG. 7A), that is, in the rotation direction about the vertical direction 7 that is the rotation axis direction of the shaft unit 102. . As a result, the shaft portion 102 integral with the operation portion 101 is also rotated in the direction of the arrow 109 (see FIG. 7A). That is, the operation unit 101 is operated to rotate the shaft unit 102.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the arm 103 is formed so as to extend rearward from the lower end portion of the shaft portion 102 along the upper surface of the extended bottom plate 82. The arm 103 has a thin bar shape. The arm 103 includes a locking portion 108 formed in an L shape at the extended end. In the present embodiment, the arm 103 extends linearly from the lower end portion of the shaft portion 102 to the locking portion 108, but is not limited to a linear shape. For example, the arm 103 may be refracted midway or may be extended in a curved shape.

[Second locking member 120]
As shown in FIG. 3B, the printer unit 11 includes a second lock member 120 (an example of the second lock unit of the present invention). Similar to the first lock member 100, the second lock member 120 is configured to be able to lock the slide of the extension tray 72 with respect to the tray body 71 and to release the lock. In the present embodiment, the second lock member 120 has an opening 121 formed in the main body bottom plate 75 of the tray main body 71 (see FIG. 3B and FIGS. 5 to 8, an example of the second locking portion of the present invention). And a protrusion 122 (see FIGS. 7 and 8, an example of the second locked portion of the present invention) formed on the extended bottom plate 82 of the extension tray 72. Note that the protrusion 122 is omitted in FIG.

  The opening 121 is a rectangular hole. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 9, on the lower surface of the main body bottom plate 75, a side plate 123 erected downward from both the left and right ends of the opening 121, and a downward standing from the front end portion of the opening 121. A provided front plate 124 and a side plate 123 and a lower plate 125 supported by the front plate 124 are formed. Thereby, the opening 121 is formed facing the rear side on the lower surface side of the main body bottom plate 75. A protrusion 121A that protrudes upward is formed on the upper surface of the lower plate 125. The position of the opening 121 in the front-rear direction 8 is slightly ahead of the rear end of the main body bottom plate 75. The position of the opening 121 in the left-right direction 9 is on the right side of the center of the main body bottom plate 75.

  The protrusion 122 protrudes upward from the second bottom plate 82 and has a free end extending to the front side. The free end is the same size as the opening 121 or slightly smaller than the opening 121, and a recess 126 is formed on the lower surface side of the free end. The protrusion 122 is formed at a position facing the opening 121 when the extension tray 72 is extended with respect to the tray body 71 (the state shown in FIG. 4B). Since the protrusion 122 has a free end protruding to the front side, it is easily elastically deformed. Thereby, the recessed part of the protrusion part 122 can be engaged / disengaged with the protrusion 121A formed in the opening 121 by elastic deformation. The locking force along the front-rear direction 8 of the second lock member 120 depends on the overlapping amount of the concave portion 126 and the protrusion 121A in the vertical direction 7 and the force for elastically deforming the protrusion 122. Therefore, the locking force of the second locking member 120 is designed in consideration of the force necessary for the user to slide the expansion tray 72 relative to the tray body 71.

  Specifically, when the extension tray 72 is extended to a predetermined position with respect to the tray main body 71, the protrusion 122 faces the opening 121. In this case, the protrusion 122 is inserted through the opening 121. As the protrusion 122 enters the opening 121 and the protrusion 121A and the protrusion 122 come into contact with the opening 121, the protrusion 122 is elastically deformed upward. When the projection 121A and the recess 126 are fitted to each other, the projection 122 is returned to the normal position and the expansion tray 72 is locked to the tray body 71 so as not to slide. That is, the second lock member 120 locks the slide of the extension tray 72 relative to the tray body 71. On the other hand, when the expansion tray 72 is contracted to the tray body 71, the protrusion 121 </ b> A is pressed against the side surface of the recess 126. Thereby, the protrusion 122 is elastically deformed upward. As a result, the protrusion 121A removes the recess 126, and the second lock member 120 is in a non-locking state. The protrusion 122 is removed from the state inserted through the opening 121 and is in contact with the lower surface of the main body bottom plate 75.

  In the present embodiment, the opening 121 and the protrusion 122, that is, the position of the second lock member 120 in the left-right direction 9 is on the right side of the center of the tray main body 71 and the extension tray 72. Here, as described above, the positions of the receiving portions 67 and 68 formed in the tray main body 71 in the left-right direction 9 are on the left side of the center of the tray main body 71 and the extension tray 72. As described above, the second lock member 120 is disposed on the opposite side to the receiving portions 67 and 68 of the tray main body 71 with the recess 79 formed in the center of the expansion tray 72 in the left-right direction 9 in the left-right direction 9. Yes.

  Further, the operation portion 101 of the first lock member 100 is supported by the expansion tray 72 by being inserted into a cylinder 84 formed on the right side of the central portion in the left-right direction 9 of the tray main body 71 and the expansion tray 72. It is attached to the shaft part 102. That is, the position of the operation unit 101 in the left-right direction 9 is on the right side of the central part of the tray main body 71 and the extension tray 72. As described above, in the left-right direction 9, the operation unit 101 is provided closer to the second lock member 120 than the recess 79 formed in the center of the extension tray 72 in the left-right direction 9.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the position of the operation unit 101 in the left-right direction 9 and the position of the second lock member 120 in the left-right direction 9 are the same position. However, as described above, the operation unit 101 is not limited to the same position as the second lock member 120 as long as it is closer to the second lock member 120 than the recess 79 in the left-right direction 9.

  In this embodiment, the opening 121 is formed in the main body bottom plate 75 of the tray main body 71 and the protrusion 122 is formed in the expansion bottom plate 82 of the expansion tray 72, but the reverse may be possible. That is, the protrusion 122 may be formed on the main body bottom plate 75 of the tray main body 71, and the opening 121 may be formed on the expansion bottom plate 82 of the expansion tray 72.

  In the present embodiment, the second lock member 120 is provided on both the tray main body 71 and the extension tray 72. However, the second lock member 120 may be provided on one of the tray body 71 and the extension tray 72. For example, the second lock member 120 is configured only by the protrusion 122 formed on one of the tray main body 71 or the expansion tray 72 and may not include the opening 121. In this case, the elastically deformed protrusion 122 is pressed against the main body bottom plate 75 or the extended bottom plate 82, whereby the slide of the expansion tray 72 with respect to the tray main body 71 is locked. In order to release the lock, the user may slide the expansion tray 72 with a force stronger than usual. Thereby, the force by sliding becomes larger than the force by which the protrusion 122 is pressed against the bottom plates 75 and 82. As a result, the extension tray 72 is slid in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the tray body 71.

[Locking and unlocking by the first lock member 100 and the second lock member 120]
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the arm 103 extends to the left rear side along the lower surface of the main body bottom plate 75. Accordingly, the locking portion 108 formed at the tip of the arm 103 can be locked to the receiving portion 67 of the tray main body 71.

  As described above, the shaft portion 102 of the lock member 100 is rotated about the vertical direction 7. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6B, the arm 103 formed integrally with the shaft portion 102 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 109 about the vertical direction 7 as an axis. That is, the arm 103 has a first position (see FIGS. 5 and 7) where the locking portion 108 is locked with the receiving portions 67 and 68, and a second position (see FIG. 6) spaced leftward from the receiving portions 67 and 68. And (see FIG. 8).

  When the user of the multifunction machine 10 wants to extend the expansion tray 72 from the contracted state with respect to the tray main body 71, the user rotates the arm 103 from the first position to the second position by gripping and twisting the operation unit 101. . Accordingly, since the locking portion 108 is separated from the receiving portion 67, the lock of the first lock member 100 is released, and the expansion tray 72 can be extended with respect to the tray main body 71. That is, the user pulls the expansion tray 72 with respect to the tray main body 71 with the arm 103 in the second position. At this time, the expansion tray 72 is pulled to a predetermined position with respect to the tray main body 71 while suppressing the operation unit 101 so that the arm 103 is in the second position (see FIG. 7). As a result, the extension tray 72 extends along the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the tray body 71.

  Then, the user of the multifunction machine 10 loosens the force holding the operation unit 101 in order to lock the slide of the expansion tray 72 with respect to the tray main body 71. As a result, the arm 103 rotates from the second position to the first position. Then, the locking portion 108 is locked with the receiving portion 68. Accordingly, the extension tray 72 is locked by the first lock member 100 and the second lock member 120 in a state of being extended with respect to the tray body 71 (see FIG. 8).

  In addition, when the user of the multifunction machine 10 wants to contract the expansion tray 72 from the extended state with respect to the tray main body 71, the user moves the arm 103 from the first position to the second position by gripping and twisting the operation unit 101. Rotate. Accordingly, since the locking portion 108 is separated from the receiving portion 68, the lock of the first lock member 100 is released, and the expansion tray 72 can be contracted with respect to the tray main body 71. That is, the user pushes the expansion tray 72 into the tray main body 71 with the arm 103 in the second position. At this time, the expansion tray 72 is pushed into the tray main body 71 while suppressing the operation unit 101 so that the arm 103 is in the second position. And if it pushes in to a predetermined position, it cannot push any more with the stopper which is not shown in figure (refer FIG. 6).

  Then, the user of the multifunction machine 10 loosens the force holding the operation unit 101 in order to lock the slide of the expansion tray 72 with respect to the tray main body 71. As a result, the arm 103 rotates from the second position to the first position. Then, the locking portion 108 is locked with the receiving portion 67. Accordingly, the expansion tray 72 is locked by the first lock member 100 in a contracted state with respect to the tray body 71 (see FIG. 5). At this time, the second lock member 120 is in an unlocked state.

  As described above, the locking portion 108 is engaged with and disengaged from the receiving portions 67 and 68 of the tray main body 71 by the rotation of the shaft portion 102 of the first lock member 100.

[Effect of the embodiment]
When the paper feed tray 22 is slid in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the multifunction machine 10, the first lock member 100 is placed at the position of the shaft portion 102 of the first lock member 100 and the receiving portions 67 and 68 of the tray main body 71. A force (first force) is generated to rotate the locking portion 108 locked to the center. Further, when the paper feed tray 22 is slid in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the multifunction machine 10, the first lock member 100 is supported by the expansion tray 72 at the position of the locking portion 108 of the first lock member 100. A force (second force) that causes the shaft portion 102 to rotate is generated.

  Here, the directions of the first force and the second force are opposite to each other. For example, if the first force is in a clockwise direction, the second force is in a counterclockwise direction. Further, the position of the shaft portion 102 of the first lock member 100 where the first force is generated and the positions of the receiving portions 67 and 68 of the tray body 71 locked to the locking portion 108 where the second force is generated are as follows: They are opposite to each other across a recess 79 that is gripped when the paper feed tray 22 is slid. Opposite sides across the recess 79 means that the position of the shaft portion 102 of the first lock member 100 and the positions of the receiving portions 67 and 68 are positions that sandwich the center of the recess 79 in the left-right direction 9. It is. Therefore, when the paper feed tray 22 is slid in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the multifunction machine 10, the force of the expansion tray 72 rotating with respect to the tray main body 71 due to the interaction of two opposite forces. Is reduced. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the paper feed tray 22 configured to be extendable and retractable is inserted into and removed from the multifunction machine 10, it can be easily inserted and removed without a sense of incongruity.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the expansion bottom plate 82 is slid in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the main body bottom plate 75, that is, when the expansion tray 72 is slid in the front-rear direction 8 with respect to the tray main body 71, The slide is executed while operating the operation unit 101. That is, the user operates the operation unit 101 to rotate the shaft unit 102 of the first lock member 100. As a result, the locking portion 108 is detached from the receiving portions 67 and 68, and the lock by the first lock member 100 is released. Further, the user applies a force in the front-rear direction 8 while operating the operation unit 101. Thereby, the protrusion 122 of the second lock member 120 is elastically deformed, and the lock by the second lock member 120 is released.

  However, if the operation unit 101 is provided on the opposite side of the second locking member 120 from the recess 79 in the left-right direction 9, the following problem may occur. That is, when the user applies a force in the front-rear direction 8 while operating the operation unit 101, the second lock member 120 is separated from the operation unit 101 in the left-right direction 9. There is a possibility that the protrusion 122 may not be sufficiently reached. Thereby, the protrusion 122 is not elastically deformed, and the lock by the second lock member 120 may not be released. As a result, the extension tray 72 rotates with respect to the tray main body 71 around the engaging portion of the protrusion 122 and the opening 121. From the above, it becomes difficult to slide the expansion tray 72 with respect to the tray main body 71.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the operation unit 101 is provided closer to the second lock member 120 than the recess 79 in the left-right direction 9. Thereby, when the user applies a force in the front-rear direction 8 while operating the operation unit 101, the force sufficiently reaches the protrusion 122 of the second lock member 120. As a result, the lock by the second lock member 120 is easily released. As described above, the extension tray 72 can be easily slid with respect to the tray main body 71. Further, the second lock member 120 is at the same position as the operation unit 101 in the left-right direction 9. Therefore, when engaging / disengaging the first lock member 100 while operating the operation unit 101, the operation force is easily transmitted to the second lock member 120. Therefore, it becomes easy for the user to extend and contract the expansion tray 72 with respect to the tray main body 71.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, the second lock member 120 is configured to be locked while the extension tray 72 is extended with respect to the tray body 71. On the other hand, the second locking member 120 may be locked in a state where the expansion tray 72 is contracted with respect to the tray main body 71, or the second locking member 120 is locked in each of the extended state and the contracted state. It may be.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the first lock member 100 has a configuration in which two receiving portions are formed, and only one extended state and one contracted state slide. On the other hand, you may be comprised so that it may be in a some contraction state by forming two or more receiving parts.

  Further, the second lock member 120 may not be formed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the first lock member 100 is configured to return to the original first position by the urging force of the elastic portion 104 when the operation portion 101 is twisted. On the other hand, the rotation from the second position to the first position may be performed by the operation of the operation unit 101. That is, the elastic part 104 may not be formed. Further, the shape of the first lock member 100 is not limited to this embodiment. The shaft portion 102 and the cylinder 84 are not formed, and the arm 103 may be supported so as to rotate.

10: Multifunction machine 11: Printer unit 67: Receiving unit 68: Receiving unit 71: Tray body 72: Expansion tray 75: Main body bottom plate 79: Recess 82: Expansion bottom plate 100: First lock member 101: Operation unit 102: Shaft unit 103 : Arm 108: Locking portion 120: Second lock member 121: Opening 122: Protrusion

Claims (4)

A tray body that is insertable / removable along a first direction with respect to a sheet supply apparatus that supplies sheets,
A first tray body having a first bottom plate on which a sheet can be placed;
A second bottom plate on which a sheet can be placed, and is provided so as to be slidable along the first direction with respect to the first tray body; and a gripping portion gripped for inserting and removing the tray body A second tray body having,
A first lock portion capable of locking the slide of the second tray body relative to the first tray body,
The first lock portion extends along the second bottom plate from the shaft portion rotatably supported by the second tray body with the direction orthogonal to the second bottom plate as an axis. An arm, and a first locking portion provided on the distal end side of the arm,
The first tray body includes a first locked portion to which the first locking portion is engaged and disengaged by rotation of the shaft portion of the first lock portion,
The grip portion is disposed at a central portion of the tray body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and along the second bottom plate,
The tray body, wherein the shaft portion of the first lock portion is disposed on the opposite side of the first tray body from the first locked portion with the grip portion interposed therebetween in the second direction . At least one of the first tray body or the second tray body includes a second lock portion that can lock the slide of the second tray body with respect to the first tray body,
2. The tray body according to claim 1, wherein the second lock portion is disposed on the opposite side of the first tray body from the first locked portion with the gripping portion interposed therebetween in the second direction. The first lock part includes an operation part operated to rotate the shaft part,
The second lock portion is formed on a second locking portion formed on one of the first tray body or the second tray body and on the other of the first tray body or the second tray body, A second cover that projects toward one of the one tray body or the second tray body and that can be engaged and disengaged by elastic deformation with the second locking portion as the second tray body slides relative to the first tray body. A locking portion, and
The tray body according to claim 2, wherein the operation unit is provided closer to the second lock unit than the grip unit in the second direction.   The tray body according to claim 3, wherein the operation unit is provided at the same position as the second lock unit in the second direction.

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