JPH05735A - Cassette device for electrophotographic copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the safety in pulling-in/out the cassette device of an electronic photograph copying machine. CONSTITUTION:A projection 100 engaged with a stopper 200 which is formed downward on the upperside guide rail 13a of a guide rail 13 for guiding a cassette device which is installed on both the sides of the cassette device installation port of an electronic photograph copying machine is formed upwardly at the innermost edge on the upper surfaces on both the sides 11b and 11c of a cassette device 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cassette device for an electrophotographic copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic copying machine is loaded with a cassette device containing a large number of recording papers. When the recording papers are used up, the cassette device is temporarily pulled out to replenish the recording papers.
When it is desired to record on another size of recording paper, the cassette device is exchanged, for example, by exchanging it with another cassette device.

Most conventional electrophotographic copying machines are of a type in which when the user stands up with the operation panel in front, the cassette apparatus has a mounting opening on the right side of the copying machine so that the cassette apparatus can be replaced. In many cases, this type of copying machine has a relatively large size in the left-right direction of the copying machine because the discharge tray for recording paper is provided on the left side surface. Therefore, recently, from the viewpoint of space saving, a copying machine of a type has been developed in which the cassette can be inserted into and removed from the side where the person of the copying machine stands, that is, the front side. If the copier is designed in this way, the space on the front side where people stand can be used effectively, so the left and right dimensions can be reduced and the size can be reduced, but if the cassette device is pulled too far forward It may fall off the main body of the copier and hurt people's feet.

To prevent this, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower surface of the lower guide rails 1a for guiding the cassette device, which are provided on both sides of the cassette device mounting opening of the copying machine, are located slightly below the tip (right end in the figure). The stopper 2 is formed at the back position and the protrusions 4 are formed on the bottom ends of the lower surfaces of both side walls of the cassette device 3, and when the cassette device 3 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow A, the lower guide is provided at a position where the cassette device 3 is almost projected. A method is known in which the stopper 2 formed on the upper surface of the rail 1 and the projection 4 of the cassette device 3 are engaged with each other to prevent the stopper 2 from coming off. This method is not a problem as long as the cassette device 3 is pulled horizontally, but if the cassette device 3 that has been pulled down falls in the direction of arrow B due to its own weight, the engagement between the stopper 2 and the protrusion 4 will be disengaged, and it will easily fall out.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), if the stopper 2 is provided at the tip (right end in the figure) of the upper surface of the lower guide rail 1a, when the cassette device 3 is pulled out, it is provided slightly forward of the rear end. Since it engages with the projection 4, there is no problem of pulling out in the horizontal direction, and there is no problem of falling out due to the weight of the cassette, but as shown in FIG. May come off the copier.

[0006]

Therefore, even if the cassette device is pulled out vigorously, it is difficult for the cassette device to come off from the copying machine, and the cassette device does not come off due to its own weight. It is preferable from the viewpoint of safety and usability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cassette device which has a simple structure and is hard to be removed from the copying machine and easy to remove.

[0008]

According to the guide rails, projections for engaging with downward stoppers are formed on upper guide rails for guiding the cassette equipment provided on both sides of a cassette equipment mounting opening of an electrophotographic copying machine. The upper and lower ends of both side walls of the guided cassette device are formed upward.

[0009]

When the cassette device is pulled out, the stopper formed on the upper guide rail for guiding the cassette device so as to project downward engages with the projection formed on the upper back end of both side walls of the cassette device, so that the stopper device does not come off. In addition, even if the cassette device is lowered by its own weight, the engagement between the stopper and the protrusion is further strengthened, so that the stopper device does not come off naturally. Further, when pulling out the cassette device from the copying machine, it is necessary to incline a large amount upward, so that it is possible to prevent the cassette device from being accidentally pulled out.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an electrophotographic copying machine which employs the cassette device according to the present invention.

In the electrophotographic copying machine, cassette devices 11 and 12 accommodating recording sheets for image recording are arranged in a lower portion of a main body 10 having a built-in image forming mechanism by an electrophotographic process so that they can be inserted and removed. A document pressing cover 10a is provided on the upper portion of the copying machine main body 10, and is used on the right side surface of the main body 10 when recording on a recording paper of a size other than the recording paper stored in the cassette devices 11 and 12. A paper tray 10b for manual feeding is provided, and a discharge tray 1 for discharging recorded recording paper on the left side surface of the main body 10.
0c is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the cassette device 11 in a pulled-out state.

The cassette device 11 is a flat box-like case, several recording papers are stacked and stored in an internal location C, and a handle 11a is provided on the front panel. The cassette device 11 is fixed to both sides of a mounting opening 20 provided at the lower front of the copying machine main body 10 or has guide rails 13 slidably provided on both side walls 11b and 11c.
Is configured so that it can be pulled out or inserted by being guided.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show states of the cassette device 11 according to the present invention when it is pulled out and when it is pulled out.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3A and 3B, the projections 100 are formed on the upper surfaces of the innermost ends of the side walls 11b and 11c of the cassette device 11, while the guide rail 1 is provided.
A stopper 200 is formed downward near the front side (right side in the figure) end of the upper guide rail 13a of FIG.

Now, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the cassette device 11 is pulled out in the direction of arrow A, the projection 100 formed on the upper surface of the side wall 11b of the cassette device 11 at the fully extended position has the upper guide rail 13 formed thereon. Since it is engaged with the stopper 200, the cassette device 11 cannot be further pulled out. When the cassette device 11 is lowered in the direction of the arrow B due to its own weight, the engagement between the protrusion 100 and the stopper 200 is further strengthened, so that there is no possibility that the cassette device 11 will come off from the mounting opening 20 of the main body 10. This is preferable for safety.

In order to pull out the cassette device 11 from the mounting opening 20, by tilting the cassette device 11 largely upward as shown in FIG. 3B while supporting both side walls 11b and 11c of the cassette device 11 with both hands, Since the projection 100 of the cassette device 11 and the stopper 200 of the upper guide rail 13 are disengaged, it can be pulled out to the front (upper right method in the figure). Since the projection 100 and the stopper 200 cannot be disengaged from each other only by tilting the cassette device 11 upward a little, it cannot be pulled out. This point is also preferable for safety.

The heights and positions of the protrusion 100 and the stopper 200 are preferably determined in consideration of the size of the cassette device and the usability when the cassette device is pulled out.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the copying machine main body is provided on both sides of the cassette device mounting opening, and the upper guide rail for guiding the cassette device is directed downward to a position close to the entrance side of the mounting opening. Since the upward protrusion that engages with the stopper provided so as to project is provided near the innermost ends of the upper surfaces of both side walls of the cassette device, it does not easily fall off even if the cassette device is vigorously pulled out to the front,
Further, even if the cassette device is pulled out to the foremost side, the cassette device does not fall out due to the weight of the cassette device, and further, in order to pull out the cassette device, the cassette device has to be tilted largely upward, which is preferable for safety.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an electrophotographic copying machine that employs a cassette device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cassette device according to the present invention in a state of being pulled out from the copying machine main body.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a state when the cassette device according to the present invention is pulled out, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a state when the cassette device is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a pull-out prevention unit of a conventional cassette device.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing another state of the conventional pullout preventing means of the cassette device, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the state of the cassette device when pulling out.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Copy Machine Main Body 11, 12 Cassette Device 11b, 11c Cassette Device Side Wall 13 Guide Rail 13a Upper Guide Rail 100 Protrusion 200 Stopper

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An upper guide rail for guiding a cassette device, which is provided on both sides of a cassette device mounting opening of an electrophotographic copying machine, is provided with projections that engage with stoppers formed downward.
A cassette device for an electrophotographic copying machine, characterized in that the cassette device is formed upward at the upper back ends of both side walls of the cassette device guided by the upper guide rail.