JP5854968B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a sheet tray movable between a first position housed in a main body and a second position located on the inner side of the main body from the first position. .

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, when an image of a thick original (hereinafter referred to as a “book original”) such as a book is read and copied, the user uses one hand to place the book original on the contact glass. While holding down, a complicated operation of pressing the start switch for starting image formation with the other hand is performed. Further, when copying the book document, the book document must be pressed with a relatively strong force in order to bring the center of the spread portion into close contact with the contact glass, and a sufficient force cannot be applied with one hand. There is a case. In this case, the close contact becomes insufficient, and the shadow portion at the center of the book document is printed as a black image. In addition, when the book document is forcedly pressed with one hand, the book document may be laterally shifted, and an image may be printed without being accurately aligned.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to prevent the above-described complicated operations and low-quality image formation, an image forming apparatus including a start switch that can be operated with a foot is known (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-104456 JP-A-8-297387

  However, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pedal for stepping on with a foot mounted inside the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, a space for accommodating the pedal is required. In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, a start switch is provided at a bottom plate protruding portion that protrudes forward from the front lower end of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, a space for providing the bottom plate protrusion is required in front of the front surface of the image forming apparatus. In addition, in any image forming apparatus, it is necessary to operate with the foot while checking the position of the pedal or the start switch at the foot, so that the operability is poor and the user is forced to perform complicated work. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to form an image that can be started by a method other than manual operation without securing an extra space and has good operability. To provide an apparatus.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus including a main body, a sheet tray, and a detection unit. The main body includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet. The sheet tray includes a sheet placement portion on which the sheet is placed, and a first position where the sheet placement portion is accommodated in the main body, and a depth inside the main body from the first position. It is supported to be movable between a second position located on the side. The detection unit detects the sheet tray when the sheet tray is moved from the first position to the second position, and outputs a start signal for starting image formation by the image forming unit.

  With this configuration, when the user pushes the sheet tray into the inside of the main body at a portion other than the hand, the sheet tray is moved from the first position to the second position. Then, the sheet tray moved to the second position is detected by the detection unit, and a start signal for starting an image forming operation by the image forming unit is output from the detection unit. As described above, the use of the sheet tray as an operation unit for outputting the start signal improves the operability compared to the conventional case and is improved. In addition, since the sheet tray included in the image forming apparatus also serves as the operation unit, it is not necessary to secure an extra space, and the enlargement of the image forming apparatus can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a start operation by a method other than manual operation without securing extra space, and the operability of the start operation is improved.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 10. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of a start detection unit 50. FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the structure and operation | movement of the start detection part 51 which concern on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating a structure and operation | movement of the start detection part 52 which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the light reception amount of the light receiving element 52B with which the start detection part 52 is provided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each embodiment described below is only an example embodying the present invention, and the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 is an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the following description, the vertical direction 6 is defined on the basis of the state where the image forming apparatus 10 is installed so as to be usable (the state shown in FIG. 1), and the side on which the operation display unit 17 and the paper feed cassettes 15 and 16 are provided. Is defined as a front-rear direction 7, and a left-right direction 8 is defined when the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 is a so-called in-body discharge type, and is a multifunction machine having functions such as a printer, a copier, a scanner, and a facsimile. The image forming apparatus 10 prints an image on print paper using input image data using a printing material such as toner. The printing paper corresponds to the sheet of the present invention. Note that the image forming apparatus 10 is not limited to a multifunction peripheral, and the present invention is applicable as long as it has at least a copying function.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a scanner 12 that reads an image of a document, a main body 14 that incorporates an electrophotographic image forming unit 18 (see FIG. 2), an operation display unit 17, and a paper discharge unit 30. The image forming unit 18 is an example of the image forming unit of the present invention. The main body 14 is an example of the main body of the present invention. The scanner 12 is an example of an image reading unit of the present invention. The scanner 12 is provided on the upper part of the image forming apparatus 10. The main body 14 is provided in the lower part of the image forming apparatus 10. The operation display unit 17 is provided on the front side of the scanner 12. In FIG. 2, a paper discharge unit 30 is provided on the right side of the image forming apparatus 10. In addition, illustration of the operation display part 17 is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.

  The operation display unit 17 includes a display unit 17A having a touch panel function and an input unit 17B such as a numeric keypad for performing key input. The display unit 17A is provided with a start button capable of touch input for receiving a copy start instruction, a print start instruction, an image reading start instruction, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the scanner 12 is provided with a contact glass 23. The upper surface of the contact glass 23 is a document placement surface 23A on which a document is placed. The scanner 12 includes an image sensor such as a CCD (not shown), and the image sensor reads an image of a document placed on the document placement surface 23A and generates image data. In FIG. 1, the document cover 26 (see FIG. 2) of the scanner 12 is not shown.

  The main body 14 includes an image forming unit 18, a fixing unit 19, two paper feed cassettes 15 and 16, and a control unit (not shown) that controls the image forming apparatus 10 in an integrated manner. The image forming unit 18, the fixing unit 19, and the two paper feeding cassettes 15 and 16 are provided inside the main body 14.

  The image forming unit 18 forms an image (monochrome image or color image) on a print sheet based on image data of a document read by the scanner 12 or image data input from the outside. Specifically, the image forming unit 18 includes a photosensitive drum 31, a charging unit 32, a developing unit 33, a transfer unit 35, and a cleaning unit 36. The toner image is developed by the developing unit 33 on the photosensitive drum 31 charged to a uniform potential by the charging unit 32, and the toner image is transferred to the printing paper fed from the paper cassettes 15 and 16 by the transfer unit 35. Is done. The printing paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 19 disposed on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. When the printing paper passes through the fixing unit 19, the toner is heated and melted by the fixing unit 19. As a result, the toner image is fixed on the printing paper and an image is formed on the printing paper. The printing paper on which the image is formed is conveyed to the paper discharge unit 30 and is discharged from the paper discharge unit 30 to the discharge space 21. Note that the image forming unit 18 is not limited to an electrophotographic type, and may be an inkjet recording type, or a recording method or printing method other than that.

  When the image forming apparatus 10 functions as a copying machine, when the start button of the operation display unit 17 is operated in a state where a document is set on the document placement surface 23, a start signal indicating a copy start instruction is displayed on the control. To the output. As a result, the control unit causes the scanner 12 to execute an image reading operation of the document, and causes the image forming unit 18 to execute an image forming operation for forming an image based on the read image data.

  The paper feed cassettes 15 and 16 are for loading printing paper on which images are formed by the image forming unit 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feed cassette 16 is provided at the bottom of the main body 14, and the paper feed cassette 15 is provided above the paper feed cassette 16. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the paper feed cassettes 15 and 16 includes a sheet placement unit 45 on which a plurality of printing papers are placed. The sheet placing portion 45 is formed in a tray shape having four sides surrounded by side walls. A handle 49 is provided on the front face 48 of the paper cassettes 15 and 16 so that the paper cassettes 15 and 16 can be easily attached to the main body 14 and pulled out from the main body 14.

  The paper feed cassettes 15 and 16 are supported by the main body 14. Specifically, the paper feed cassettes 15 and 16 are slidably supported by a known rail support mechanism so that they can be inserted into and removed from the front surface of the main body 14 in the front-rear direction 7. Since the sheet feeding cassettes 15 and 16 are supported in this manner, the sheet loading cassettes 15 and 16 have the unmounted position P0 (see FIG. 3A) drawn forward from the front surface of the main body 14 and the sheet placement portion 45 of the main body 14. It can move between the mounting position P1 (see FIG. 3B) housed inside. Further, the paper feed cassette 16 is between the mounting position P1 and a detection position P2 (see FIG. 3C), which will be described later, located on the back side (rear side) inside the main body 14 from the mounting position P1. It is configured to be movable. Here, the mounting position P1 corresponds to the first position of the present invention, and the detection position P2 corresponds to the second position of the present invention.

  As the rail support mechanism, for example, a support rail and a supported portion that slides along the support rail while being supported by the support rail can be considered. For example, the support rails are provided on the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls of the main body 14, and the supported parts are provided on both side surfaces of the paper feed cassettes 15 and 16. The rail support mechanism is provided with a known latch mechanism for temporarily fixing the paper feed cassette 16 at the mounting position P1. When the paper feed cassette 16 is moved to the mounting position P1, the rail support mechanism is moved to that position. It is designed to be held with a certain force. The support mechanism for the paper feed cassettes 15 and 16 is not limited to the rail support mechanism, and any support mechanism that can slide in the front-rear direction 7 can be applied. Further, since the paper feed cassette 16 is located at the lowermost part of the main body 14, the paper feed cassette 16 may be slidably supported on the bottom plate 38 of the main body 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a paper feed roller 47 is provided in the vicinity of each of the paper feed cassettes 15 and 16. Specifically, a paper feed roller 47 is provided above the left end of each of the paper feed cassettes 15 and 16. The paper feed roller 47 is rotatably supported by a support shaft (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction 7. Further, a conveyance path 27 extending upward from the left end of each of the paper feed cassettes 15 and 16 along the left side wall of the main body 14 is formed. When the printing paper loaded in the paper feeding cassettes 15 and 16 is fed by the paper feeding roller 47, it is conveyed to the image forming unit 18 through the conveyance path 27.

  When a spread image of a thick original such as a book is copied by the image forming apparatus 10, the user presses the original against the original placement surface 23A with one hand, and the operation display unit with the other hand. A complicated operation of operating the 17 start button is forced. Further, when copying an image of a document while holding a baggage or the like, the user sets the document on the document placement surface 23A with only one free hand, and the start button on the operation display unit 17 with the other hand. Must be operated. In order to eliminate such a complicated operation, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment detects that the operation is performed not only with the start button of the operation display unit 17 but also with a part other than the hand. Is provided with a start detector 50 for outputting the start signal. The start detection unit 50 is an example of a detection unit of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the start detection unit 50 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the start detection unit 50. As shown in FIG. 3, the start detection unit 50 is provided in the rear back part inside the main body 14. More specifically, the start detection unit 50 is provided on the rear wall 39 of the main body 14 on the rear side of the rear end portion 46 of the sheet feeding cassette 16. The paper feed cassette 16 is an example of the sheet tray of the present invention.

The start detection unit 50 detects the rear end portion 46 of the paper feed cassette 16 when the paper feed cassette 16 is moved from the mounting position P1 to the detection position P2, and performs an image forming operation by the image forming unit 18. A start signal for starting is output. As shown in FIG. 3, specifically, the start detection unit 50 is an automatic return type push button switch having a stroke in the front-rear direction 7. The start detection unit 50 includes an elastic member 50B such as a coil spring held in a compressed state. Therefore, the internal switch is turned on only while the operation unit 50A of the start detection unit 50 is pushed backward. When the pressing force of the operation unit 50A is released, the elastic member 50B returns to the original position, and the internal switch is turned off. Further, when the pressing force of the operation unit 50A is released, the elastic member 50B biases the rear end portion 46 from the detection position P2 to the mounting position P1 via the operation unit 50A . When this urging force is received, the paper feed cassette 16 is pushed back from the detection position P2 to the mounting position P1. Note that the lead wire of the switch of the start detection unit 50 is connected to the control unit, and the switch signal (on / off signal) of the start detection unit 50 is output to the control unit. In other words, the control unit can detect the on / off state of the switch of the start detection unit 50.

Since the start detection unit 50 is configured in this way, the user can use a part other than the hand, for example, a foot, with respect to the paper feed cassette 16 in the state (see FIG. 3B) arranged at the mounting position P1. When the front portion 48 or the handle 49 of the paper feed cassette 16 is pushed rearward with a knee or the like, the paper feed cassette 16 moves from the mounting position P1 to the detection position P2. When the paper feed cassette 16 is moved to the detection position P2, the rear end 46 presses the operation unit 50A of the start detection unit 50, and the start detection unit 50 is activated. That is, an ON signal that is a start signal is output from the start detection unit 50 to the control unit. Thereby, even if the start button of the operation display unit 17 is not operated, the control unit can execute the image reading operation by the scanner 12 and the image forming operation by the image forming unit 18. Further, since the start detection unit 50 is operated by utilizing the fact that the paper feed cassette 16 is disposed on the front side of the main body 14 and is supported by the main body 14 by sliding, there is no need to provide an extra member. There is no need to secure extra space. Further, since the front portion 48 of the paper feed cassette 16 extends over the entire width of the front surface of the main body 14, the pressing operation becomes extremely easy and the operability for the user is improved.

Further, since the start detection unit 50 is provided with the elastic member 50B , when the user releases the pushing operation to the front surface portion 48 of the paper feed cassette 16, the rear end portion 46 is moved forward by the spring force of the elastic member 50B . Pressed. As a result, the paper feed cassette 16 is pushed back from the detection position P2 to the mounting position P1. Thus, the elastic member 50B that pushes back the paper cassette 16 from the detection position P1 to the mounting position P1 is an example of a push-back mechanism of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the push button switch is used as the start detection unit 50 has been described. However, the switch form is not limited. Any switch can be used as long as it can detect the paper feed cassette 16 and output a start signal when the paper feed cassette 16 is moved to the detection position P2. Further, the example in which the start detection unit 50 is provided on the rear wall 39 of the main body 14 has been described. However, the position of the start detection unit 50 is limited as long as the paper feed cassette 16 can be detected at the detection position P2. There is no.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, a configuration different from that of the first embodiment described above will be described, and a description of the common configuration will be omitted. Here, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that a start detection unit 51 is used instead of the start detection unit 50, and an inclined guide 57 is provided on the bottom plate 38 of the main body 14. It is a point. The start detection unit 51 is an example of a detection unit of the present invention.

  The start detection unit 51 detects the rear end portion 46 of the paper feed cassette 16 when the paper feed cassette 16 is moved from the mounting position P1 to the detection position P2, and performs an image forming operation by the image forming unit 18. A start signal for starting is output. As shown in FIG. 4, specifically, the start detection unit 51 is a photo interrupter (light sensor) including a light emitting element 51A such as an LED and a light receiving element 51B such as a phototransistor. The start detection unit 51 detects the paper feed cassette 16 when the rear end 46 of the paper feed cassette 16 blocks the optical path 55 (see the broken line in FIG. 4) until the light emitted from the light emitting element 51A enters the light receiving element 51B. 16 is detected. Specifically, when the optical path 55 is shielded, the voltage signal, which is the output signal of the light receiving element 51B, is lowered to the LOW level. The start detection unit 51 outputs a voltage signal that has become a LOW level as the start signal. The lead wire of the start detection unit 51 is connected to the control unit, and the voltage signal is output from the start detection unit 51 to the control unit. In other words, the control unit can detect the voltage signal state (LOW level or HI level) of the start detection unit 51.

  When the paper feed cassette 16 is in the mounting position P1 (see FIG. 4A), the start detection unit 51 does not shield the optical path 55, and the paper feed cassette 16 is in the detection position P2 (see FIG. 4C). ) Is provided at a position where the optical path 55 is shielded by the rear end portion 46.

  The inclined guide 57 is provided at the rear end of the bottom plate 38 of the main body 14. More specifically, the inclined guide 57 is provided at the corner between the bottom plate 38 and the rear wall 39. The inclination guide 57 guides the rear end portion 46 of the paper feed cassette 16 upward as the paper feed cassette 16 moves from the mounting position P1 to the detection position 2.

  Since the start detection unit 51 is configured in this way, the user can use a part other than the hand, for example, a foot, with respect to the paper feed cassette 16 in a state (see FIG. 4A) arranged at the mounting position P1. When the front portion 48 or the handle 49 of the paper feed cassette 16 is pushed rearward with a knee or the like, the paper feed cassette 16 moves from the mounting position P1 to the detection position P2. When the paper feed cassette 16 is moved to the detection position P2 (see FIG. 4C), the rear end portion 46 shields the optical path 55 of the start detection unit 51, and the voltage signal to the control unit is at the HI level. To LOW level. That is, the start detection unit 51 outputs a LOW level voltage signal as the start signal to the control unit. Accordingly, the control unit can execute the image reading operation by the scanner 12 and the image forming operation by the image forming unit 18 without operating the start button of the operation display unit 17. In addition, the pressing operation becomes extremely easy, and the operability for the user is improved.

  Further, since the inclined guide 57 is provided, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the process of reaching the detection position P2 when the paper feed cassette 16 is pushed and moved rearward from the mounting position P1, the inclination guide 57 is provided. The lower portion of the rear end portion 46 contacts the inclined guide 57. When the paper feeding cassette 16 is further pushed rearward, the rear end portion 46 is guided upward along the inclined guide 57 (see FIG. 4C). When the user releases the pushing operation to the front face 48 of the paper feed cassette 16 with the paper feed cassette 16 reaching the detection position P2, the paper feed cassette 16 slides the inclined guide 57 downward due to its own weight. While moving forward. Thereby, the paper feed cassette 16 is automatically returned from the detection position P2 to the mounting position P1. Thus, the inclined guide 57 that pushes back the paper feed cassette 16 from the detection position P2 to the mounting position P1 is an example of a pushback mechanism of the present invention.

[Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In the following description, a configuration different from the above-described second embodiment will be described, and a description of the common configuration will be omitted. Here, the third embodiment differs from the second embodiment described above in that a start detection unit 52 is used instead of the start detection unit 51. The start detection unit 52 is an example of the detection means of the present invention.

  The start detection unit 52 is configured to move the rear end portion of the paper feed cassette 16 when the paper feed cassette 16 is moved from the mounting position P1 (see FIG. 5B) to the detection position P2 (see FIG. 5C). 46 is detected, and a start signal for starting an image forming operation by the image forming unit 18 is output. As shown in FIG. 5, specifically, the start detection unit 52 is a photo reflector (also referred to as a reflection type photo interrupter) including a light emitting element 52A such as an LED that emits light and a light receiving element 52B such as a phototransistor. And is configured as a reflective optical sensor. In the present embodiment, the start detection unit 52 arranges the paper feed cassette 16 at either the mounting position P1 or the detection position P2 based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element 52B that changes according to the movement of the paper feed cassette 26. It is used to detect what has been done. The lead wire of the start detection unit 52 is connected to the control unit, and a voltage signal indicating the amount of received light is output from the start detection unit 52 to the control unit. For example, a voltage signal indicating a first received light amount H1 described later and a voltage signal indicating a second received light amount H2 described later are input to the control unit.

  The start detector 52 receives the reflected light reflected by the light emitted from the light emitting element 51 </ b> A when it hits the rear end portion 46 of the paper feed cassette 16 by the light receiving element 52 </ b> B. At this time, the amount of light (light intensity) that can be received by the light receiving element 52B differs depending on the positional relationship among the light emitting element 52A, the light receiving element 52B, and the paper feed cassette 16. In the present embodiment, the light receiving element 52 </ b> B is provided on the inclined guide 57, and the light receiving surface thereof is disposed along the inclined surface of the inclined guide 57. The light emitting element 52A is disposed above the light receiving element 52B on the rear wall 39, and is disposed so as to emit light obliquely downward and forward.

  In the start detection unit 52 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, when the paper feed cassette 16 is in the unmounted position P0, light is not easily reflected by the rear end portion 46. The amount of received light is extremely low. When the paper feed cassette 16 is moved toward the mounting position P1, reflected light from the rear end portion 46 gradually increases, and the amount of light received by the light receiving element 52B gradually increases. When the paper feed cassette 16 reaches the mounting position P1, the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 52B becomes the first light receiving amount H1 (see FIG. 6). When the sheet feeding cassette 16 is further moved and reaches the detection posture P2, the reflected light from the rear end portion 46 further increases, and the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 52B is larger than the first light receiving amount H1. The second received light amount H2. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the light receiving element 52A and the light receiving element 52B of the start detection unit 52 have the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 52B become the first light receiving amount H1 when the paper feed cassette 16 is moved to the mounting position P1. When the paper feeding cassette 16 is moved to the mounting position P2, the light receiving amount of the light receiving element 52B becomes the second light receiving amount H2, and when the paper feeding cassette 16 is at the non-mounting position P0, The positional relationship is such that the received light amount is less than the first received light amount H1.

  The control unit monitors the voltage signal from the light receiving element 52B, and detects that the paper feed cassette 16 is mounted at the mounting position P1 when a voltage signal indicating the first received light amount H1 is input. The control unit detects that the paper feed cassette 16 has reached the detection position P2 when a voltage signal indicating a second received light amount H2 larger than the first received light amount H1 is input. Is recognized as the start signal.

  Since the start detection unit 52 is configured in this manner, the paper feed cassette 16 is inserted from the unmounted position P0 (see FIG. 5A) to the mounted position P1 (see FIG. 5B). When moved to the mounting position P1, the control unit detects that the paper feed cassette 16 is mounted at the mounting position P1 based on a voltage signal indicating the first light receiving amount H1. Further, with respect to the paper feed cassette 16 in the state (see FIG. 5 (B)) arranged at the mounting position P1, the front portion 48 of the paper feed cassette 16 by the user other than the hand, for example, a foot or a knee. Alternatively, when the handle 49 is pushed rearward, the paper feed cassette 16 moves from the mounting position P1 to the detection position P2 (see FIG. 5C). When the paper feed cassette 16 is moved to the detection position P2, the light reflected by the rear end 46 is received by the light receiving element 52B, and a voltage signal indicating the second received light amount H2 is output to the control unit. . The control unit detects that the paper feed cassette 16 has reached the detection position P2 based on a voltage signal indicating the second received light amount H2. The control unit recognizes the voltage signal at this time as the start signal. Accordingly, the control unit can execute the image reading operation by the scanner 12 and the image forming operation by the image forming unit 18 without operating the start button of the operation display unit 17. In addition, the pressing operation becomes extremely easy, and the operability for the user is improved.

10: Image forming apparatus 12: Scanner 14: Image forming unit 15, 16: Paper feed cassette 45: Sheet placement unit 46: Rear end 50, 51, 52: Start detection unit 57: Inclination guide

Claims (6)

A main body having an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
A mounting position in which the seat mounting portion is Ru is accommodated inside the body in which the sheet at a position of the inner side of the body than the unattached position drawn forward from the front surface is placed in the body, the A sheet tray supported so as to be movable between a detection position defined on the inner side of the main body than the mounting position ;
The image forming unit detects the sheet tray when the sheet tray is moved from the mounting position to the detection position by applying a pressing force to the sheet tray disposed at the mounting position. Detecting means for outputting a start signal for starting image formation by
An image forming apparatus comprising: a push-back mechanism that pushes back the sheet tray from the detection position to the mounting position when the pressing force on the sheet tray is released . The detection means includes a reflective photosensor including a light emitting element that emits light and a light receiving element that receives reflected light of the light emitting element that is reflected from the sheet tray.
The detection of whether the sheet tray is disposed at either the first position or the second position based on the amount of light received by the light receiving element that changes according to the movement of the sheet tray. The image forming apparatus described.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet tray is provided at a lower portion of the main body. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the push-back mechanism is an elastic member that urges the sheet tray from the detection position to the mounting position. 5. The push-back mechanism, the image according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein the sheet tray is inclined guide for guiding the leading end portion of the sheet tray with the move to the second position from the first position to the upper Forming equipment. An image reading unit that reads an image of the document;
The image forming unit, an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1-5 and forms an image on the sheet based on the image data of the document read by the image reading unit.

Images