JP7262982B2 - image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having storage means for storing sheets.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, etc. have a paper feed cassette as storage means attached to the main body of the apparatus, and feed sheets stored in the paper feed cassette to an image forming unit. The paper feed cassette includes side edge regulating means for regulating the position of the side edge of the sheet and trailing edge regulating means for regulating the position of the trailing edge of the sheet. Further, in recent years, there is a device in which a detachable attachment is attached to the trailing edge regulating means in order to enable feeding of small-sized sheets (see Patent Document 1). In such a paper feed cassette, when the attachment is not used, a storage space is provided in the empty space of the paper feed cassette to prevent the trouble of losing the attachment.

JP-A-2002-362757

However, due to restrictions on the size of the apparatus, if the attachment storage area is provided outside the stacking area of the paper feed cassette as in Patent Document 1, the size of the paper feed cassette will increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a storage place for attachments without increasing the size of the apparatus.

To achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises storage means for storing sheets, feeding means for feeding the sheets stored in the storage means in a sheet feeding direction , and the feeding means. image forming means for forming an image on the sheet fed by means; trailing edge regulating means provided movably in the sheet feeding direction and regulating the position of the trailing edge of the sheet stored in the storage means; side edge regulating means for regulating the position of the side edge of the sheet stored in the storage means, and the trailing edge regulating means. a mounted attachment capable of regulating the trailing edge of the sheet downstream in the sheet feeding direction from the sheet regulating position of the trailing edge regulating means; a projection provided on one of the attachment and the storage means; and an engagement hole provided in the other of the attachment and the housing means for engagement with the projection, and the attachment removed from the rear end regulating means engages the projection with the engagement hole. At least a portion of the attachment stored at the storage position is positioned in a stacking area for sheets of the maximum size stored in the storage means, and the attachment stored at the storage position is A retracting portion recessed upstream in the sheet feeding direction is provided, and the trailing edge regulating means can be retracted to the retracting portion when the attachment is stored at the storage position.

According to the present invention, a storage place for attachments can be provided without increasing the size of the device.

Configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with a paper feed cassette Illustration of the paper cassette Configuration diagram regarding relative movement of side end regulating member Explanatory diagram of the attachment attached to the paper cassette Illustration of the paper cassette attachment storage location Attachment configuration diagram Cross-sectional view of the paper cassette storage hole and attachment Cross-sectional view of the paper cassette Illustration showing multiple attachments stored in the paper cassette Explanatory drawing of the paper cassette side edge regulation attachment Illustration of the paper cassette

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated in detail using drawing. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a full-color laser beam printer as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 1, a full-color laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) 201 has a printer main body 201A, which is an image forming apparatus main body, and an image forming section 201B for forming an image on a sheet. An image reading device 202 is installed substantially horizontally above the printer main body 201A, and a discharge space S for discharging sheets is formed between the image reading device 202 and the printer main body 201A.

Sheets are fed by a pickup roller 8 from a sheet feeding cassette 1 as storage means for storing the sheets P, and the sheets are separated by a feed roller 9 and a retard roller 10 for separating the sheets P. Is going.

The image forming section 201B, which is an image forming means, is of a 4-drum full-color type, and uses a laser scanner 210 to form four-color toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). is provided with four process cartridges 211 forming Each process cartridge 211 includes a photosensitive drum 212, a charger 213 as charging means, and a developing device 214 as developing means. The image forming section 201B also includes an intermediate transfer unit 201C arranged above the process cartridge 211 and a fixing section 220 . A toner cartridge 215 supplies toner to the developing device 214 .

The intermediate transfer unit 201C has an intermediate transfer belt 216 wound around a drive roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. A primary transfer roller 219 is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 216 so as to contact the intermediate transfer belt 216 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 212 . The intermediate transfer belt 216 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive roller 216a driven by a drive section (not shown).

Each color toner image having a negative polarity on the photoreceptor drum is sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 216 in multiple layers by the primary transfer roller 219 . A secondary transfer roller 217 that transfers the color image formed on the intermediate transfer belt to the sheet P is provided at a position facing the drive roller 216a of the intermediate transfer unit 201C. Further, a fixing section 220 is arranged above the secondary transfer roller 217, and a first discharge roller pair 225a, a second discharge roller pair 225b, and a double-sided reversing section 201D are arranged in the upper left part of the fixing section 220. FIG. The double-sided reversing section 201D is provided with a pair of reversing rollers 222 that can rotate forward and backward, a re-conveying passage R for re-conveying a sheet having an image formed on one side thereof to the image forming section 201B, and the like. The control unit 260 is control means for controlling image forming operations, sheet feeding operations, and the like.

Next, an image forming operation of the printer 201 will be described. First, the image reading device 202 reads the image information of the document. After image processing, the image information is converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the laser scanner 210 of the image forming section 201B. In the image forming section 201B, the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 212, which are uniformly charged to predetermined polarities and potentials by the chargers 213, are sequentially exposed to laser light. As a result, electrostatic latent images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums of the process cartridges 211, respectively.

After that, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner of each color and visualized, and the toner image of each color on each photosensitive drum is sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 216 by the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roller 219 . Transcribe together. Thereby, a toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 216 . In parallel with this toner image forming operation, the sheet P is sent out from the feeding cassette 1 by the pickup roller 8 . The sent out sheet P is separated one by one by a separating portion composed of the feed roller 9 and the retard roller 10 and conveyed to the registration roller pair 240 , and skew is corrected by the registration roller pair 240 .

After the skew is corrected, the sheet P is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion by the registration roller pair 240. At the secondary transfer portion, the toner image is transferred to the sheet by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 217. are transferred onto P all at once. Next, the sheet P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing section 220, where the toner of each color is melted and mixed by heat and pressure in the fixing section 220, and fixed on the sheet P as a color image.

Thereafter, the sheet P on which the image has been fixed is discharged into the discharge space S by a first discharge roller pair 225a and a second discharge roller pair 225b provided downstream of the fixing section 220, and protrudes to the bottom surface of the discharge space S. loaded on the stacking unit 223 . Note that when images are formed on both sides of the sheet P, after the images are fixed, the sheet P is transported to the re-transport path R by the reversing roller pair 222 and transported again to the image forming section 201B.

2 and 3 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of the paper feed cassette 1 according to this embodiment. In FIG. 2, the paper feed cassette main body 1 is storage means for storing sheets, which is provided in front of the printer main body 201A so as to be able to be pulled out. In FIG. 3, side edge regulating members 5a and 5b are side edge regulating means for regulating the width direction of the recording paper. The stacking tray 2 is a middle plate provided in the paper feed cassette 1 . The stacking tray 2 is moved up and down by being driven by a motor (not shown), and the uppermost surface of the sheets stacked on the stacking tray 2 is positioned at a predetermined paper feedable position based on the detection of the paper surface detection sensor. The side end regulating members 5a and 5b are provided so as to be movable relative to each other by means of a rack gear 7 and a pinion gear 8. As shown in FIG.

The trailing edge regulating member 6 is trailing edge regulating means for regulating the position of the trailing edge in the feeding direction of the sheet. The side end regulating members 5a and 5b and the trailing end regulating member 6 are attached to the bottom portion 1a of the frame of the paper feed cassette 1, respectively, and provided movably inside the paper feed cassette 1. As shown in FIG. By sliding the side end regulating members 5a and 5b and the trailing end regulating member 6 inside the paper feed cassette 1, the regulation range can be arbitrarily set according to the size of the sheets to be used. The leading edge position of the sheet can always be regulated to a predetermined position for the paper size of .

In this embodiment, the size of sheets that can be stored in the paper feed cassette 1 is such that "width x length" in the sheet feeding direction is "statement longitudinal feed (5.5 x 8.5 inches) letter (8 5 x 11 inches) and legal (8.5 x 14 inches). That is, in this embodiment, the maximum size of sheets that can be accommodated in the paper feed cassette 1 is legal (8.5×14 inches).

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the paper feed cassette 1 when the attachment 100 is attached to the trailing end regulating member 6 with respect to FIG. The minimum regulating dimension of the trailing end regulating member 6 before attaching the attachment 100 is 7.4 inches (189 mm), and paper of 7.4 inches or less cannot be regulated. Therefore, by attaching the attachment 100 to the trailing edge regulating member 6, it is possible to restrict the trailing edge of the sheet downstream of the regulating position of the trailing edge regulating member in the feeding direction. That is, since the regulating surface of the trailing end regulating member 6 is extended and the minimum regulating dimension is 5.3 inches (135 mm), it is possible to regulate a sheet with a length of 7.4 inches or less in the feeding direction. As a result, "statement lateral feed (8.5×5.5 inches)" can be set, and the statement feeding direction can be changed with respect to the sheet feeding direction. By changing the feeding direction, it is possible to feed a length of 5.5 inches, which shortens the feeding time and improves productivity.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a storage location for the attachment 100. As shown in FIG. A feature of the present embodiment is that the storage space for the attachment 100 when not in use is provided within the stacking area 11 for the sheets of the maximum size. A configuration for enabling storage of the attachment 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 . FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the attachment 100. As shown in FIG. The attachment hole 100a is a hole into which the rear end regulating member 6 is inserted when the rear end regulating member 6 is mounted. The surface 100 b is a regulating surface that regulates the trailing edge of the small-sized sheets stacked on the stacking tray 2 . The engagement shaft 100c is an engagement projection that engages with an engagement hole 1b provided in the paper feed cassette 1. As shown in FIG. The attachment 100 also has a concave portion 100d which is a retraction portion that is concaved upstream in the feeding direction from the surface 100b. Thereby, even when the attachment 100 is stored in the storage place, the rear end regulating member 6 can be retracted toward the recess 100d.

In the present embodiment, the attachment 100 is provided with the engagement shaft 100c as an engagement projection, and the paper feed cassette 1 is provided with the engagement hole 1b. A configuration in which an engagement hole is provided in the attachment 100 may be employed. In other words, it is sufficient that the convex portion provided on one side of the attachment 100 and the paper feeding cassette 1 serving as the storage means and the concave portion provided on the other side are engaged with each other.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing how the engaging shaft 100c is attached to the engaging hole 1b of the paper feed cassette 1. As shown in FIG. By engaging the engagement shaft 100c with the engagement hole 1b, it is possible to prevent the attachment 100 from falling out of the housing when the paper feed cassette 1 is removed from the printer main body 201A.

FIG. 8(a) is a diagram showing the maximum restriction range of the rear end restriction member 6. FIG. The conventional maximum regulated dimension a is 14.3 inches (365 mm), and for example, the maximum paper size that can be set is legal size. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the maximum regulating range of the trailing end regulating member 6 when the attachment 100 is accommodated in the sheet stacking area 11. As shown in FIG. The maximum regulation dimension a is offset by the length of the attachment 100, resulting in a length of 11.7 inches (299 mm). For example, the maximum paper size that can be set is letter size.

Conventionally, one of the paper feed trays was a fixed cassette with a space for storing the attachment 100, and when setting the maximum size paper, there was no choice but to use another paper feed cassette. . However, if the attachment 100 is directly engaged with the paper feed cassette 1 to store the paper of the maximum size in all of the multiple paper feed trays, the attachment 100 can be removed from the paper feed cassette 1 to set the paper of the maximum size. Paper becomes available. Therefore, the user can select whether to store the attachment 100 in the paper feed cassette 1 or remove it from the paper feed cassette 1 and use the maximum size paper.

The attachment 100 is stored in the movable area of the trailing end regulating member 6 in the stacking area 11 in the width direction of the paper feed cassette 1, as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows a configuration in which one sheet is stored at each end of the stacking area 11 in the sheet feeding cassette 1 . In this configuration, sheets of 5.5 inches or less can be set in two paper feed cassettes 1 out of three paper feed stages. Also, when two attachments 100 are possessed and the attachments 100 are not used, two attachments 100 can be accommodated in one paper feed cassette 1, so the remaining two paper feed trays are legal. Size paper can be set.

When two attachments 100 are stored as described above, the maximum restricted dimension is 11.2 inches (285 mm). The maximum regulating dimension of 11.7 inches when the attachment 100 is housed in the movable area of the trailing edge regulating member 6 is shortened by 0.5 inches, resulting in a sheet of up to 11.2 inches. However, the maximum paper size registered as a standard size remains the same, and up to letter size can be handled.

Moreover, this embodiment can be applied not only to the rear end regulating member 6 but also to the attachments 200a and 200b attached to the side end regulating members 5a and 5b.

FIG. 10(a) is a diagram showing an example in which the attachments 200a and 200b are attached to the side end regulating members 5a and 5b. By attaching attachments 200a and 200b to the side edge regulating members 5a and 5b, it is possible to regulate the side edges not only in the length in the sheet feeding direction but also in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction. As a result, the minimum regulated dimension in the width direction, which was conventionally 96.5 mm, can be regulated up to 62 mm.

FIG. 10(b) is a diagram showing storage locations for the attachments 200a and 200b. When the attachments 200a and 200b are attached to the side end regulating members 5a and 5b, the engaging shafts of the attachments 200a and 200b are engaged with the engaging holes 5c provided in the side end regulating members 5a and 5b. It is configured to be attached to the On the other hand, when the attachments 200a and 200b are not used, the attachment shafts of the attachments 200a and 200b are engaged with the engagement holes in the bottom surface of the paper feed cassette 1 to store them. .

The present embodiment can also be applied to storage items other than the parts used in the paper feed cassette. As another embodiment, an example in which the service book holder is accommodated within the sheet stacking area will be described. FIG. 11A is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the paper feed cassette 12. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 11A, side end regulating members 14a and 14b are members that regulate the width direction of the sheet. The rear end regulating member 15 is a member that regulates the rear end of the sheet in the feeding direction.

FIG. 11(b) is a diagram showing the engagement shaft 300a of the service book holder 300 attached to the engagement hole 12b of the paper feed cassette 12. FIG. FIG. 11(c) is a diagram showing how the service book 301 is about to be stored in the service book holder 300. FIG.

In the present embodiment, the configuration for storing the attachment 100 attached to the trailing end regulating member and the service book holder 300 is taken as an example, but a configuration for storing consumables such as a waste toner bottle may also be used.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 paper feed cassette 1b engagement hole 1c side edge regulation attachment engagement hole 2 stacking tray 5 side edge regulation member 5a side edge regulation member 1
5b side end regulating member 2
5c side end regulation member engaging hole 6 rear end regulation member 7 rack gear 7a rack gear 1
7b rack gear 2
8 pinion gear 11 sheet stacking area 12 paper feed cassette compatible with A3 12b paper feed cassette engagement hole compatible with A3 100 attachment 100a attachment hole 100b regulation surface 100c engagement shaft 100d retraction shape 200a side end regulation member attachment 200b side end regulation Member attachment 300 Service book holder 300a Service book holder engaging shaft 301 Service book

Claims (3)

a storage means for storing the sheet;
feeding means for feeding the sheets stored in the storage means in a sheet feeding direction ;
image forming means for forming an image on the sheet fed by the feeding means;
a trailing edge regulating means that is movably provided in the sheet feeding direction and that regulates the position of the trailing edge of the sheet stored in the storage means;
a side edge regulating means that is movably provided in a width direction of the sheet perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction and that regulates the position of the side edge of the sheet stored in the storage means;
an attachment attached to the trailing edge regulating means and capable of regulating the trailing edge of the sheet downstream in the sheet feeding direction from the sheet regulating position of the trailing edge regulating means;
a projection provided on one of the attachment and the storage means;
an engagement hole provided in the other of the attachment and the storage means and engaged with the protrusion;
The attachment removed from the rear end regulating means is stored at a storage position where the projection engages the engagement hole,
at least part of the attachments stored in the storage position is located in a stacking area for sheets of the maximum size stored in the storage means;
the attachment stored at the storage position includes a retraction portion recessed upstream in the sheet feeding direction;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the trailing end regulating means can be retracted to the retraction portion when the attachment is stored at the storage position . 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage position of the attachment overlaps a movable area of the trailing edge regulating means. when the trailing edge regulating means moves upstream in the sheet feeding direction, the trailing edge regulating means retreats to the retraction portion of the attachment stored at the storage position;
a first portion of the attachment stored at the storage position on one side of the rear end regulating means in the width direction; The second part on the other side is
the rear end regulating means retracted to the retraction portion;
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheets overlap in the sheet feeding direction.

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