JPH058607Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Technical Field> This invention relates to a storage mechanism for a paper discharge tray that is rotated and placed against the main body of an image forming apparatus.

<Prior Art and Its Disadvantages> Generally, when an image forming apparatus is not in use, the paper ejection tray is removed from the image forming apparatus main body and placed on the image forming apparatus main body, or stored in a dedicated stand. However, when using the image forming apparatus, the paper ejection tray must be attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, there was an inconvenience that it took time to attach and detach. Conventionally, a mechanism has been proposed in which the paper discharge tray 1 is rotated and stored against the image forming apparatus main body 20 as shown in FIG. 4. However, as shown in the figure, the paper output tray may fall over due to some force, so the rotation fulcrum of the paper output tray is used to prevent the tray from falling when the tray is propped up against the main body of the image forming apparatus. It had to be installed so that it protruded from the main body of the forming device. As a result, there was a drawback that the installation width of the image forming apparatus main body had to be increased.

``Therefore, a device has been proposed that fixes the paper output tray in a closed state by providing a hook member on the paper output tray and a fixing member that clamps it on the main body side (Japanese Patent Application No. 57-201261). ). However, with this method, a large force is applied to the area around the hook member and the fixing member during the closing and opening operations, causing deformation and fatigue failure after long-term use. There was a drawback that I became unable to do so.

<Purpose of the invention> The purpose of the invention is to provide a paper ejection tray storage mechanism for an image forming apparatus that can reliably store the paper ejection tray and can withstand long-term use.

<Structure and effects of the invention> This invention provides a shaft portion for pivotally supporting the paper output tray on the side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and also provides a main body-side convex portion above the shaft portion whose upper surface is inclined toward the inside of the main body. , an elongated hole is formed on the side surface of the end of the paper ejection tray to fit loosely into the shaft portion and is long in the direction in which the tray extends; It is characterized by having a convex portion.

With the above configuration, according to this invention, since the shaft part on which the paper output tray is pivoted is provided on the side of the image forming apparatus, when the paper output tray is rotated and propped up, A paper discharge tray is housed within the image forming apparatus main body. At this time, the paper output tray is almost upright, but the paper output tray is fixed by the engagement of the main body side protrusion and the tray side protrusion, and the main body side protrusion is tilted toward the inside of the main body. This ensures that this engagement is maintained. This allows the paper discharge tray to be stored easily and reliably. In addition, since the shaft part is movable within the long hole, it can be engaged without applying excessive force.
Can withstand long-term use.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a side cabinet and a paper discharge tray of an image forming apparatus main body equipped with a paper discharge tray storage mechanism according to an embodiment of this invention. Figure 2 is the first
FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the figure. 3 is a perspective view of the side cabinet shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

The side cabinet 2 is fixed to the side surface of an image forming apparatus body (not shown) with screws through screw holes 11 and 12 at both ends of the side cabinet 2. Approximately in the center of the side cabinet 2 is an exhaust port 13.
Shafts 7 and 8 for rotatably supporting the paper discharge tray 1 are provided at both left and right ends of the paper discharge port in the lower part of the side cabinet 2. The paper output tray 1
are provided with elongated holes 9, 10 into which the shafts 7, 8 fit loosely. The paper discharge tray 1 is rotatably supported by the shafts 7 and 8, and has a protrusion 14 that supports the paper discharge tray from below on the side cabinet 2.
15, the paper discharge tray 1 is supported substantially horizontally from below the side cabinet 2. As shown in FIG. Furthermore, tray-side protrusions 3 and 4 are provided on the sides of the paper ejection tray 1, respectively, and the tray-side protrusions 3 and 4 are provided on the side surface cabinet 2 so that when the paper ejection tray 1 is raised, the tray-side protrusions 3 and 4 are provided. Convex portions 5 and 6 on the main body side are provided so as to be raised and hooked. Second
The figure shows a state in which the tray side protrusion 4 provided on the housed paper ejection tray 1 and the main body side protrusion 6 provided on the side surface cabinet 2 are engaged. In the same figure, the upper surface of the main body side protrusion 6, which is the hooking portion on the side cabinet side, is slanted so that the right side is lowered as shown by the broken line, and the upper surface of the main body side convex portion 6, which is the hooking portion on the side cabinet side, is slanted so that the right side is lowered. The lower surface of the convex portion 4 is oblique so as to follow the slope of the convex portion on the main body side.
Further, a cut portion 4' is provided below the tip of the discharge tray side convex portion 4 so that it can easily fit onto the main body side convex portion 6 when stored in the side cabinet 2.

By configuring as described above, in the paper ejection tray storage mechanism of this embodiment, the rotating portion of the paper ejection tray enters into the side cabinet of the image forming apparatus main body, so that when the paper ejection tray is stored, The installation width of the image forming device can be reduced, and the tray-side protrusion provided on the paper ejection tray fits into the main-body side protrusion provided on the cabinet, making it easy to attach and remove and also ensure secure storage. Become.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a side cabinet and a paper discharge tray of an image forming apparatus main body including a paper discharge tray storage mechanism of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial side view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the side cabinet shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a conventional paper discharge tray and image forming apparatus. 1... Paper output tray, 2... Side cabinet,
3, 4...Protrusion on the tray side, 5, 6...Protrusion on the main body side, 7, 8...Shaft, 9, 10...Elongated hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A shaft portion for pivotally supporting a paper ejection tray is provided on the side surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus, and a convex portion on the main body side whose upper surface is inclined toward the inside of the main body is provided above the shaft portion, and paper ejection is provided. A long hole is formed on the side surface of the end portion of the tray to fit loosely into the shaft portion and is long in the extending direction of the tray, and a tray-side convex portion that engages with the body-side convex portion is formed on the side surface of the central portion of the paper ejection tray. A paper discharge tray storage mechanism for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the paper output tray storage mechanism is provided.