JP6271894B2 - Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a configuration of a side end regulating unit that regulates a side end position of a sheet stored in a sheet storage unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Today, image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and facsimiles are widely used in which an image is formed by feeding a sheet to an image forming unit using a sheet feeding apparatus. As such a sheet feeding device, there is one in which plate-like sheet stacking means for stacking sheets in a sheet storage unit is provided so as to be movable up and down. Then, when replenishing sheets, the sheet stacking means is lowered, and when feeding sheets, the upper surface of the sheets stacked by raising the sheet stacking means can be fed by the upper feeding roller. I try to move it. In addition, there is a sheet storage unit that can be pulled out from the apparatus main body, and when storing a sheet, after the sheet storage unit is pulled out, the sheet is set on the sheet stacking unit from above.

  In such a sheet feeding apparatus, the position of the upstream end (hereinafter referred to as the rear end) in the sheet feeding direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit in the sheet storage unit so that sheets of different sizes can be stored. The rear end regulating means for regulating the movement is slidably provided. Further, side end regulating means for regulating the side end position of the sheet in the direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction) is provided. The side edge of the sheet is regulated by the side edge regulating means, and the rear edge of the sheet is regulated by the rear edge regulating means, thereby regulating the position of the sheet to a predetermined position.

  By the way, in the conventional sheet feeding apparatus, the sheet stacking means is set to a size for stacking the maximum size sheet on which the image forming apparatus can form an image. For this reason, the sheet stacking means is formed with a notch portion that allows the side edge regulating means to move when the size smaller than the maximum size is loaded, so that the side edge regulating means can be moved in the width direction. Yes. However, when the notch is formed, the strength of the sheet stacking means is reduced, so the amount of the notch is limited, and the amount of movement of the side end restricting means in the width direction is also limited. End up. When the movement amount of the side edge regulating means is limited in this way, the side edge position of a small size sheet such as an envelope or a postcard may not be regulated by the side edge regulating means. For this reason, conventionally, there is a side edge restricting means provided with an auxiliary side end restricting means for restricting a small-sized sheet so as to be rotatable (see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a sheet storage unit of a conventional sheet feeding apparatus. In FIG. 12, 507 is a sheet storage case, 510 and 511 are side end regulating members provided in the sheet storage case 507 so as to be movable in the width direction, and 514 is a rear end regulating plate provided so as to be movable in the sheet feeding direction. It is. Reference numeral 501 denotes a feeding roller that feeds the sheet P. A separation feeding roller (not shown) that separates the sheets fed by the feeding roller 501 one by one downstream of the feeding roller 501 in the sheet feeding direction. Is provided. Reference numeral 508 denotes an intermediate plate which is provided in the sheet storage 507 so as to be movable up and down, and stacks the sheets P and presses the stacked sheets P against the feeding roller 501.

  Auxiliary side end regulating members 512 and 513 for regulating the end of the small-sized sheet P are pivoted around the pivot shafts 512a and 513a at the downstream end of the side end regulating members 510 and 511 in the sheet feeding direction. It is provided freely. When the side end position of a small-sized sheet P such as an envelope or a postcard is regulated, the auxiliary side end regulating members 512 and 513 are moved to the set positions indicated by solid lines as shown in FIG. Further, when regulating the side end position of the normal size sheet, the auxiliary side end regulating members 512 and 513 are rotated and moved to the retracted position indicated by the two-dot chain line.

JP 2006-327805 A

By the way, in the conventional sheet feeding apparatus, the auxiliary side end regulating members 512 and 513 have plate-like contact portions 522 and 523 constituting contact surfaces that contact the sheet. The auxiliary side end regulating members 512 and 513 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the contact portions 522 and 523, and are rotatably supported by the side end regulating members 510 and 511 via the rotation shafts 512a and 513a, respectively. A support part is provided.

  Here, after the sheet is stored in the sheet storage case 507, when the sheet storage case 507 is pushed into the apparatus main body, the contact portions 522 and 523 that are in contact with the sheet bundle are stored in the sheet storage due to the impact when the sheet storage case 507 is pushed. It deforms along the pushing direction of the warehouse 507. When the contact portions 522 and 523 are deformed, the sheet bundle is displaced in the pushing direction of the sheet storage 507 by the deformed amount. As a result, the image on the sheet is displaced or the sheet is skewed by the displaced amount. As a result, an image is formed obliquely on the sheet.

  As described above, the side end positions of the small-sized sheet P can be regulated by using the auxiliary side end regulating members 512 and 513, but the auxiliary side end regulating members 512 and 513 are used when the sheet storage case 507 is pushed in. Since the sheet is easily deformed by an impact, the sheet bundle is likely to be displaced. Since this impact becomes stronger according to the inertia of the sheet bundle, the deviation of the sheet bundle is remarkable particularly in a large capacity sheet feeding apparatus (paper deck apparatus) capable of stacking a large number of sheets.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and a sheet that can prevent deformation of the contact portion of the auxiliary side end regulating member (auxiliary side end regulating means) when the sheet storage portion is pushed in. An object of the present invention is to provide a feeding device and an image forming apparatus.

In the sheet feeding apparatus, the present invention provides a sheet storage unit that stores a sheet, a sheet stacking unit that can be moved up and down in the sheet storage unit, and a sheet stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A sheet feeding unit that feeds the sheet, and a regulation surface that is provided so as to be movable in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction and regulates the position of the side edge in the width direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking unit. A side end regulating means, and a support surface that is pivotally supported in a horizontal direction at a downstream end portion in the sheet feeding direction of the side end regulating means, and abuts against a side edge of the sheet in the width direction, An auxiliary side end restricting means that is movable to a protruding position that protrudes in the width direction from the restricting surface, and the auxiliary side end restricting means constitutes the contact surface and extends in the vertical direction. Abutting portion and side end regulating means And upper and lower ends pivotally supported, extending in the vertical direction, the contact portion, have a, and a reinforcing portion connected to said upper portion and said lower portion, the reinforcing portion, the contact portion On the other hand, it is connected vertically over the entire area in the vertical direction in a plan view .

As in the present invention, reinforcement portions by providing the abutting portion constituting the contact surface of the auxiliary side end regulating means, it is possible to prevent deformation of the abutment when pushing the sheet storage unit.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a full-color laser beam printer that is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the structure of the paper deck which is the said sheet feeding apparatus. The figure explaining the structure of the storage of the said paper deck. The figure explaining the slide mechanism of the back side and near side regulation member provided in the said storage. The figure explaining the structure which guides the slide of the said back side and near side side control member. The figure explaining the slide lock mechanism which locks the slide of the said back side and near side side regulation member. The figure explaining the position when the sheet | seat of the said back side and near side side regulation member and the back side and near side auxiliary side regulation part is set. The figure explaining the structure of the said back side and near side auxiliary side control member. The figure explaining the 1st other structure of the said back side and near side auxiliary side control member. The figure explaining the 2nd other structure of the said back side and near side auxiliary side control member. The figure explaining the 3rd other structure of the said back side and near side auxiliary side control member. The figure explaining the structure of the sheet storage part of the conventional sheet feeding apparatus.

  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 diagram illustrating a configuration of a full-color laser beam printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 201 denotes a full-color laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer), 201A denotes a printer main body that is an image forming apparatus main body, 201B denotes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, and 220 denotes a fixing unit. An image reading apparatus 202 is an upper apparatus installed substantially horizontally above the printer main body 201A. A discharge space S for discharging sheets is formed between the image reading apparatus 202 and the printer main body 201A. . Reference numeral 215 denotes a toner cartridge.

  The image forming unit 201B is of a four-drum full color type, and forms four toner images of the laser scanner 210 and four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). The process cartridge 211 is provided. Here, each process cartridge 211 includes a photosensitive drum 212, a charger 213 as a charging unit, a developing unit 214 as a developing unit, and a cleaner as a cleaning unit (not shown). In addition, the image forming unit 201B includes an intermediate transfer unit 201C disposed above the process cartridge 211.

  The intermediate transfer unit 201C includes an intermediate transfer belt 216 wound around a driving roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. The intermediate transfer unit 201 </ b> C includes a primary transfer roller 219 that is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 216 and that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 216 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 212. Here, the intermediate transfer belt 216 is formed of a film-like member and is disposed so as to be in contact with each photosensitive drum 212, and is rotated in the direction of an arrow by a driving roller 216a driven by a driving unit (not shown). Then, by applying a positive transfer bias to the intermediate transfer belt 216 by the primary transfer roller 219, each color toner image having a negative polarity on the photosensitive drum is sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 216 in a multiple manner. As a result, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt.

  A secondary transfer roller 217 constituting a secondary transfer portion that transfers a color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt to the sheet P is provided at a position facing the driving roller 216a of the intermediate transfer unit 201C. Further, a fixing unit 220 is disposed above the secondary transfer roller 217, and a first discharge roller pair 225a, a second discharge roller pair 225b, and a double-side reversing unit that is a reverse discharge unit are disposed on the upper left side of the fixing unit 220. 201D is arranged. The double-side reversing unit 201D is provided with a reversing roller pair 222, which is a sheet reversing and conveying roller capable of normal and reversal, and a reconveying path R that conveys a sheet on which an image is formed to the image forming unit 201B again. .

  Below the printer 201, four stages of sheet feeding devices 230 are arranged. The sheet feeding device 230 feeds the sheets P stacked on the sheet feeding cassette 233 one by one by the feeding roller 231, then separates the sheets P one by one by the separation roller 232, and conveys them to the registration roller 240. Thereafter, the registration roller 240 conveys the sheet P to the secondary transfer unit at a predetermined timing. Further, a large-capacity paper deck 101 that is a sheet feeding device capable of feeding a large number of sheets P is disposed on the side of the printer main body 201A.

  Next, an image forming operation of the printer 201 configured as described above will be described. First, when image information of a document is read by the image reading device 202, the image information is subjected to image processing, converted into an electrical signal, and transmitted to the laser scanner 210 of the image forming unit 201B. Note that the image information may be input to the image forming unit 201B from an external device such as a personal computer (not shown).

  In the image forming unit 201B, the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 of each process cartridge 211 is scanned with laser light corresponding to image information of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black component colors emitted from the laser scanner 210. As a result, the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 whose surface is uniformly charged with a predetermined polarity and potential is sequentially exposed by the charger 213, and yellow, magenta, and cyan are respectively exposed on the photosensitive drum of each process cartridge 211. And an electrostatic latent image of black are sequentially formed.

  Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized with each color toner of yellow, magenta, cyan and black, and each color toner image on each photoconductor drum is visualized by the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roller 219. The images are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 216. As a result, a toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 216. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 212 after the toner image transfer is removed by a cleaner (not shown).

  In parallel with this toner image forming operation, the sheet P stored in the paper feed cassette 233 is sent out by the sheet feeding device 230, and then the sheet P is conveyed to the registration roller 240. Alternatively, when sheet feeding from the paper deck 101 is designated, the sheet P is conveyed from the paper deck 101 to the registration roller 240.

  The skew of the sheet P is corrected by the registration roller 240. After correcting the skew of the sheet P, the registration roller 240 is synchronized with the moving speed of the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 216. Start spinning. As a result, the sheet P reaches the secondary transfer portion constituted by the drive roller 216a and the secondary transfer roller 217. Thereafter, the toner images are collectively transferred onto the sheet P by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 217 at the secondary transfer portion.

  Next, the sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 220, and the toner of each color is melted and mixed by receiving heat and pressure in the fixing unit 220, and is fixed on the sheet P as a color image. Thereafter, the sheet P on which the image is fixed is discharged into the discharge space S by the first discharge roller pair 225a or the second discharge roller pair 225b provided downstream of the fixing unit 220, and protrudes to the bottom surface of the discharge space S. It is loaded on the loading unit 23.

  The paper deck 101 is provided with a tray 8 on which sheets can be moved up and down, and is a storage 7 that stores a large number of sheets P, and a sheet feeding unit that sends out the sheets P stacked and stored in the storage 7. A feeding roller 1 is provided. The paper deck 101 includes a feed roller 2 for feeding the sheet P fed by the feeding roller 1 further downstream, and a retard roller 3 for contacting the feed roller 2 and separating the sheets P one by one. It has.

  For example, when two or more sheets are fed by the feed roller 1 and are sandwiched between the nips of the feed roller 2 and the retard roller 3, the retard roller 3 prevents the second and subsequent sheets from entering, Only the first sheet can be conveyed. The feed roller 1, the feed roller 2, and the retard roller 3 are rubber rollers in which a member having a high coefficient of friction such as rubber is wound around the outer periphery of the rollers. The sheets P separated one by one by the feed roller 2 and the retard roller 3 are further conveyed by the drawing roller 4 and sent to the printer main body 201A side.

  By the way, the storage 7 of the paper deck 101 is provided so as to be able to be pulled out with respect to the housing 6 as shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 2 shows the storage 7 in the forward direction indicated by the arrow 51 from the paper deck 101. The pulled-out state is shown. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 9 denotes a slide rail which is disposed on the upstream side wall surface in the sheet feeding direction of the storage 7 which is a sheet storage means and supports the storage 7 so that it can be pulled out from the housing 6. The rail is also arranged on the downstream side wall surface of the storage 7. Reference numerals 10 and 11 denote side regulating members which are provided in the storage 7 so as to be movable in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction and are a pair of side edge regulating means for regulating the side edge position of the sheet. Reference numeral 14 denotes a sheet trailing edge regulating member that is movably provided along the sheet feeding direction and regulates the trailing edge position of the sheet.

  When setting a sheet on the paper deck 101, the storage space 7 is pulled out to secure a work space for setting the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet bundle is set in the storage 7 so as to be movable up and down, and is set from above on a tray 8 that is a sheet stacking unit that presses the stacked sheets against the feeding roller 1. The tray 8 is suspended by a wire or the like (not shown), and can be controlled up and down by winding and driving a wire pulley connected to the motor drive.

  When the sheet P is set, next, the side regulating members 10 and 11 and the sheet trailing edge regulating member 14 are moved to positions that match the size of the sheet P to regulate the position of the sheet. Push into the housing 6. When the storage 7 is pushed into a predetermined position, the tray 8 rises, and when the uppermost sheet among the sheets P stacked on the tray 8 is pressed against the feeding roller 1 with a predetermined pressure, the tray 8 stops. Thereafter, when the sheet feeding is sequentially performed and the number of stacked sheets is decreased, the tray 8 is raised, and stops when the uppermost sheet is pressed against the feeding roller 1 with a predetermined pressure.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the back side regulating member 10 that regulates the position of the back side that is the downstream side in the pushing direction of the sheet P includes a regulating surface 17 that contacts the side end of the back side of the sheet P. ing. Further, the front side regulating member 11 that regulates the side end position on the near side that is the upstream side in the pushing direction of the sheet P includes a regulating surface 18 that comes into contact with the side end on the near side of the sheet P. Further, the rear side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 are provided so as to be movable (sliding) in the width direction indicated by arrows 53 and 54. Then, by moving the rear side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 in the width direction according to the size of the sheet P, the regulating surfaces 17 and 18 and the side edges of the sheet P can be aligned.

  The back side side regulating member 10 has a back side auxiliary side regulating member 12 at the downstream end in the sheet feeding direction, and the front side side regulating member 11 has a front side auxiliary side regulating member 13 at the downstream end of the sheet feeding direction. The shafts 15 and 16 are pivotally supported so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. Here, the back side auxiliary side regulating member 12 includes a first abutting portion 19 and a second abutting portion 21 that constitute an auxiliary regulating surface that is a contacting surface that comes into contact with the side edge on the back side of the sheet P. Yes. The near side auxiliary side regulating member 13 includes a first abutting portion 20 and a second abutting portion 22 that constitute an auxiliary regulating surface that is an abutting surface that abuts against the near side edge of the sheet P. These auxiliary side regulating members are used when feeding small sheets such as envelopes and postcards.

  FIG. 3 shows the positions of the back side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12, 13 which are auxiliary side end regulating means when regulating the position of the larger size sheet P1. At this time, the auxiliary restriction surface formed by the first contact portion 19 of the back side auxiliary side restriction member 12 and the restriction surface 17 of the back side restriction member 10 form substantially the same surface. Further, the auxiliary restriction surface constituted by the first contact portion 20 of the near side auxiliary side restriction member 13 and the restriction surface 18 of the near side side restriction member 11 form substantially the same surface. Thus, by providing the back side auxiliary side regulating member 12 on the back side side regulating member 10 and the front side auxiliary side regulating member 13 on the front side side regulating member 11, the sheet can be guided for a long distance during sheet feeding. Therefore, a high sheet skew prevention effect can be obtained.

  And by moving the back side and near side side restricting members 10, 11 and the back side and near side auxiliary side restricting members 12, 13, a larger size sheet P1, a medium size sheet P2, as shown in FIG. The position in the width direction of the small size sheet P3 can be regulated. Furthermore, by moving the sheet trailing edge regulating member 14 in the sheet feeding direction according to the sheet size, the sheet trailing edge position can be regulated. As will be described later, when setting a small-sized sheet P3, the rear side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12, 13 are rotated about the shafts 15, 16, and the second contact portions 21, 22 regulates the position of the sheet P3 in the width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, racks 43 and 44 having rack gears are fixed to the back side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11. In addition, a pinion gear 45 that constitutes a slide mechanism for the rear side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 together with the racks 43 and 44 is provided on the bottom surface of the storage case 7, and the rear side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 are provided. The racks 44 and 43 are connected by a pinion gear 45. Thereby, for example, when the front side regulating member 11 located at the position shown in FIG. 4A is moved in the direction of the arrow, the back side regulating member 10 also moves in conjunction with the back side and near side regulating. The members 10 and 11 are moved to the positions shown in FIG. Thereby, the back side and near side side regulating members 10 and 11 can be easily moved to positions corresponding to the sheet size.

  In FIG. 4, 46 and 47 are provided on the bottom surface of the storage case 7, slide guide shafts 48 and 49 are provided on the bottom surface of the storage case 7 for guiding the movement of the back side regulating member 10 in the width direction, This is a slide guide shaft that guides the movement of the front side regulating member 11 in the width direction. Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the slide guide shafts 46 and 47 are inserted into the lower end portion of the back side restricting member 10, whereby the back side restricting member 10 is inserted into the slide guide. It moves in the width direction along the shafts 46 and 47. The rack 44 and the slide guide shafts 46 and 47 are arranged at positions that do not hinder the raising and lowering of the tray 8. Further, the front side regulating member 11 also moves in the width direction along the slide guide shafts 48 and 49 with the same configuration.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing a slide lock mechanism for fixing the front side regulating member 11 at a position corresponding to the sheet size. In FIG. 6, 62 and 63 are guide bearings for the slide guide shaft 48. The slide lock mechanism includes a push shaft 61 that is movable in the vertical direction, a lock portion 64 provided at the lower end of the push shaft 61, a compression spring 65 that biases the push shaft 61 downward, and a push shaft 61 that moves up and down. And a knob 60.

  Here, this slide lock mechanism is normally configured such that, as shown in FIG. 6A, the push shaft 61 is pressed downward by the action of the compression spring 65 and the lock portion 64 is pressed against the slide guide shaft 48. The front side regulating member 11 is locked. When the front side regulating member 11 is moved, as shown in FIG. 6B, the knob 60 is operated against the compression spring 65 in the direction of the arrow to separate the lock portion 64 from the slide guide shaft 48. Accordingly, the lock of the front side regulating member 11 is released.

  When the front side regulating member 11 is moved to a position that matches the sheet size after the front side regulating member 11 is unlocked in this way, the back side regulating member 10 is also interlocked with the sheet size. Move to. Then, after the setting of the rear side and front side restriction members 10 and 11 is completed, when the knob 60 is released, the push shaft 61 is moved downward by the action of the compression spring 65 and the lock portion 64 is moved to the slide guide shaft 48. The front side regulating member 11 is locked by pressure contact.

  Thereby, the back side and near side side regulating members 10 and 11 can be locked at positions corresponding to the sheet size. And by locking the back side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 in this way, when the storage 7 is pushed in, the back side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 do not move even if an impact is applied. Since there is no sheet P, the sheet P will not be displaced.

  FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the positions of the back side and near side side regulating members 10 and 11 and the back side and near side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 when the sheet is set, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state when a medium-sized sheet P2 is set. When the medium-sized sheet P2 is set, the end surface of the sheet P2 is regulated by the rear side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11, and the rear end surface of the sheet P2 is regulated by the sheet rear end regulating member 14.

  At this time, the back side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 are fixed at the retracted position in the same manner as when the sheet P1 having a larger size in FIG. 3 described above is set. In other words, in the present embodiment, the sheet is regulated by the back side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 and the back side and near side side regulating members 10 and 11 in the retracted position in the size of P2 or more. .

  FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a state when a small-sized sheet P3 is set. Here, in the present embodiment, the back side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 can be slid only to a position where the medium size sheet P2 shown in FIG. Therefore, when setting a small-sized sheet P3, the back side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12, 13 are rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows 55, 56, and the second contact portions 21, 22 are moved to the back side. And it is made to project from the regulation surfaces 17 and 18 of the front side regulation members 10 and 11. That is, when the small size sheet P3 is set, the second contact portions 21 and 22 where the rear side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 are located at the rotation ends are the rear side and front side side regulating members 10. , 11 are moved to projecting positions projecting from the regulation surfaces 17, 18.

  Here, if the back side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 can be slid to a position that can accommodate the small size sheet P3, the area for supporting the sheet of the tray 8 is reduced in view of the layout. If the area for supporting the sheets in the tray 8 is reduced in this way, the end of the sheet leans due to the weight of the sheet when the large-sized sheet P1 is stacked, and the sheet P1 is not properly placed on the tray 8. Further, if the end of the sheet leans, the sheet is bent, and the bent portion is caught during feeding, resulting in a paper jam.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the shape of the sheet stacking surface of the tray 8 is formed so that sheets from the large size sheet P1 to the small size sheet P3 can be stacked without leaning. . That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the shape of the tray 8 is restricted so that the rear side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 are moved in the width direction so that the rear side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11 The shape is such that the medium size sheet P2 can only be moved to a position where it is restricted.

  Further, a notch 8a is formed in a part of the downstream end of the sheet stacking surface of the tray 8 in the feeding direction. As a result, when the small-sized sheet P3 is set, the back side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12, 13 are moved to the back side and front side while the movement of the back side and front side side regulating members 10, 11 is regulated. The side regulating members 10 and 11 can project in the width direction. As a result, when a small-sized sheet P3 is fed, the sheet end portion is guided by the second contact portions 21 and 22 of the back side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 at the protruding position. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the skew of the sheet.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when feeding the large-sized sheet P1 and the medium-sized sheet P2, the back side and near side side restricting members 10, 11 and the back side and near side auxiliary side restricting members are provided. 12 and 13 guide the sheets P1 and P2. When feeding a small-sized sheet P3 that cannot be guided by the back side and near side side regulating members 10 and 11, the back side and near side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 are projected to guide the sheet P3. Like to do.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the back side auxiliary side regulating member 12 includes an upper end portion 12 a that is inserted through the shaft 15 and is pivotally supported by the back side and front side side regulating members 10 and 11. A lower end portion 12b, a flat plate-like first contact portion 19 and a second contact portion 21 are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the back side auxiliary side regulating member 12 includes a reinforcing portion 25 provided to face the first contact portion 19.

That is, in the present embodiment, the first contact portion 19 is at the upstream end in the sheet feeding direction of the second contact portion 21 of the back side auxiliary side regulating member 12 at the protruding position, and the downstream end in the sheet feeding direction. A reinforcing portion 25 is provided in parallel to the first contact portion 19. One end of each of the first contact portion 19 and the reinforcing portion 25 is connected to the second contact portion 21 so as to be perpendicular to the second contact portion 21 and over the entire vertical direction. The other ends of the first contact portion 19 and the reinforcing portion 25 are connected to the upper end portion 12a and the lower end portion 12b shown in FIG.

In addition, the front side auxiliary side regulating member 13 also has an upper end and a lower end (not shown) through which the shaft 16 is inserted, a flat plate-like first contact portion 20, a second contact portion 22, and a first contact. A reinforcing portion 26 provided to face the portion 20 is provided. Further, the first contact portion 20 is provided at the upstream end of the second contact portion 22 of the front side auxiliary side regulating member 13 in the protruding position at the sheet feeding direction, and the first contact portion is provided at the downstream end of the sheet feeding direction. A reinforcing portion 26 is provided in parallel with 20. One end of each of the first contact portion 20 and the reinforcing portion 26 is connected to the second contact portion 22 perpendicular to the second contact portion 22 and over the entire vertical direction. The other ends of the first contact portion 20 and the reinforcing portion 26 are connected to an upper end portion and a lower end portion (not shown) of the near side auxiliary side regulating member 13.

  Thus, by providing the first contact portions 19 and 20 and the reinforcing portions 25 and 26 on the second contact portions 21 and 22, the second contact portions 21 and 22 are caused by an impact when the storage 7 is pushed. The second abutting portions 21 and 22 can be prevented from being dented even when receiving an inertial force from the sheet P. Thereby, the planar accuracy of the auxiliary regulating surface can be maintained.

  Further, the rear side side regulating member 10 and the front side side regulating member 11 that hold the rear side auxiliary side regulating member 12 and the front side auxiliary side regulating member 13 in rotation are the lock portions 64 shown in FIG. Since it is fixed, it does not shift in the sliding direction. Thereby, it can prevent that a sheet | seat shifts | deviates by the impact at the time of pushing in the storage.

  In FIG. 8, reference numeral 80 denotes the lengths of the first contact portions 19 and 20 and the reinforcing portions 25 and 26. The length 80 is such that the rotated rear side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12, 13 can regulate the side end position of the sheet P 3, and the first contact portions 19, 20 are caused by an impact when pushing in the storage 7. In addition, the distance between the reinforcing portions 25 and 26 is not deformed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the first contact portions 19, 20 and the second contact portions 21, 22 are perpendicular to the second contact portions 21, 22 and over the entire vertical direction. The reinforcement parts 25 and 26 are connected. Thereby, the intensity | strength of the 2nd contact parts 21 and 22 of the back side and near side auxiliary | assistant side regulation members 12 and 13 can be raised, and the 2nd contact parts 21 and 22 of the impact at the time of pushing in the storage 7 are made. Deformation can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent the sheet from shifting due to an impact when the storage 7 is pushed in, and it is possible to prevent the image on the sheet from being displaced or the sheet from being skewed.

Incidentally, in the above description, parallel to the first contact portion 19, 20 and the reinforcing portions 25 and 26 at both ends of the second contact portions 21 and 22 on the back side and the front side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 Provided. That is, in the present embodiment, the first contact portions 19 and 20 also have a function as a reinforcing portion.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto, it may be to connect the reinforcing portion at one end of the second contact portions 21 and 22. In other words, one may be provided in the first contact portion 19, 20 and the reinforcing portions 25 and 26 to one end of the second contact portions 21 and 22. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the first may be provided only contact portions 19 and 20 to one end of the second contact portions 21 and 22.

  In this case, the back side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 have an L-shaped structure constituted by the first contact portions 19 and 20 and the second contact portions 21 and 22. And, by having the L-shaped structure in this way, even if the second contact portions 21 and 22 receive the inertial force from the sheet P due to the impact when the storage 7 is pushed in, the second contact portions 21 and 22 (Supplemental restriction surface) can be prevented from being deformed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the rear side and front side auxiliary side regulating members 12 and 13 are connected to the first contact parts 19 and 20, the second contact parts 21 and 22, the reinforcing parts 25 and 26, and the second contact parts. It is good also as a box shape which has the plate-shaped opposing parts 27 and 28 which oppose the contact parts 21 and 22. FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, reinforcing portions 25 and 26 are provided at the center of the back surface of the second contact portions 21 and 22 on the opposite side of the auxiliary regulating surface, perpendicular to the back surface and over the entire vertical direction. You may do it.

  In the above description, a large capacity paper deck 101 has been described as an example of a sheet feeding apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to the rear side and front side side regulating members (not shown) provided in the paper feed cassette 233 of the printer main body 201A shown in FIG. In addition, the configuration in which both the pair of side end regulating means (the back side and the front side regulating members 10 and 11) are movable in the width direction has been described so far. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which one of the end regulating means is movable in the width direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Feed roller, 7 ... Storage, 8 ... Tray, 10 ... Back side side regulating member, 11 ... Front side side regulating member, 12 ... Back side auxiliary side regulating member, 12a ... Upper end part, 12b ... Lower end part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Front side auxiliary side control member, 14 ... Seat rear end control member, 19, 20 ... First contact part, 21, 22 ... Second contact part, 25, 26 ... Reinforcement part, 27, 28 ... Opposing part , 101 ... Paper deck, 201 ... Full color laser beam printer, 201A ... Printer body, 201B ... Image forming unit, 230 ... Sheet feeding device, 231 ... Feeding roller, 233 ... Feed cassette, P ... Sheet

Claims (6)

Sheet storage means for storing the sheet;
A sheet stacking means provided in the sheet storage means so as to be movable up and down, and for stacking sheets;
Sheet feeding means for feeding sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means;
A side end regulating means provided movably in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction and having a regulating surface for regulating the position of the side edge in the width direction of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking means;
The side end regulating means has a contact surface that is pivotally supported at the downstream end in the sheet feeding direction so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, and abuts against the side end in the width direction of the sheet. An auxiliary side end regulating means movable to a projecting position projecting in the width direction from the surface,
The auxiliary side end restricting means includes a contact portion that constitutes the contact surface and extends in the vertical direction, an upper end portion and a lower end portion that are pivotally supported by the side end restricting means, and extends in the vertical direction. parts, have a, and a reinforcing portion connected to said upper portion and said lower portion,
The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is connected to the abutting portion perpendicularly in a plan view and over the entire area in the vertical direction . The reinforcing portion, claim 1, characterized in that it is connected to one of the upstream and downstream ends in the sheet feeding direction of the contact portion of the auxiliary side edge regulating means located in said projecting position sheet feeding apparatus according to. When the auxiliary side end restricting means is in a retracted position where the contact surface does not protrude in the width direction as compared with the side end restricting means, the reinforcing portion is attached to the sheet of the sheet together with the restricting surface of the side end restricting means. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2 , wherein the same surface is formed along the sheet feeding direction for regulating a position of a side end. The reinforcing part is a first reinforcing part,
A second reinforcing portion extending in the vertical direction and connected to either the upstream end or the downstream end in the sheet feeding direction of the abutting portion of the auxiliary side end regulating means located at the protruding position; sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion is connected to a central portion of a back surface of the contact portion opposite to the contact surface. An image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising the a sheet feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for feeding sheets to the image forming unit.

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