JPH0616247A - Photocopied paper cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a photocopied paper cassette desirable in operability at the time of changing standard photocopied paper and applicable also to sheet members of special size by providing interlocking mechanism for transmission- connecting lateral regulating members to a rear regulating member so as to operate them interlockingly at a required moving ratio, and a release means for releasing the transmission-connected state. CONSTITUTION:In the case of releasing the interlock of lateral regulating members 22, 24 and a rear regulating member 50, the head part 90 of a support release member 94 is positioned into a housing 58 through a hole 102 formed at the bottom wall of the housing 58, and the support release member 94 is rotated again to be placed into a lock position. A pinion member 62 is thereby placed in a second position, and the engaged state of first rack members 68, 70 and the first pinion part 64 of the pinion member 62 is held, but a second rack member 72 is detached from the second pinion member 66 of the pinion member 62. The interlock of the lateral regulating members 22, 24 and rear regulating member 50 is thus released so as to be applicable also to photocopied paper or the like of special size.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copy paper cassette, and more particularly to a copy paper cassette for storing copy paper of various sizes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in copying machines such as electrostatic copying machines, copying paper cassettes which are detachably mounted in a copying machine housing have been widely used. This type of copy paper cassette is provided with a box-shaped cassette body having an open upper surface, a pair of lateral regulating members arranged laterally on the cassette body, and a rear portion of the cassette body. A rear regulation member is provided. Then, as applicable to copy papers of various sizes, the lateral restriction members for restricting both side edges of the copy paper are movable in the lateral direction, and the rear restriction member for restricting the rear end of the copy paper is moved in the front-rear direction. It is free.

However, in the conventional copying paper cassette, the lateral regulating members are configured to be interlocked with each other, but the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member are configured to be interlocked with each other. Therefore, when the size of the copy sheet accommodated in the cassette body changes, the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member must be moved separately and independently,
There are inconveniences such as the complicated operation.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience, there has been proposed a copy paper cassette configured so that not only the lateral regulating members but also the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member can be interlocked with each other. As such an improved copy paper cassette, for example, the one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 53-148639 can be cited. In the above-mentioned copy paper cassette, the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member are arranged at a required moving ratio. It includes an interlocking mechanism for interlocking and an operation body for moving the lateral restricting member and the rear restricting member via the interlocking mechanism. In such a copy paper cassette, the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member can be simultaneously moved at a required movement ratio through the interlocking mechanism by operating the operating body, thus eliminating the above-mentioned inconvenience. However, the following new problems occur. First, since the moving amount ratio of the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member is constant, it is not possible to cope with copy paper of various sizes. That is, for example, JIS A3 size copy paper (dimensions: 420 × 297)
mm) instead of JIS B4 size copy paper (size: 36
4 x 257 mm), the moving amount of each lateral regulating member is a1 = (297-257) / 2, that is, a1 = 20 m.
However, the movement amount b1 of the rear regulating member is
= (420-364), that is, b1 = 56 mm, and the movement amount ratio b1 / a1 is b1 / a1 = 2.8.
On the other hand, for example, JIS B4 size copy paper (size: 364
When JIS A4 size copy paper (dimensions: 297 × 210 mm) is used instead of (× 257 mm), the movement amount a2 of each lateral regulating member is a2 = (257 × 210) / 2,
That is, b2 = 23.5 mm, while the movement amount b2 of the rear regulating member is b2 = (364-297), that is, b2.
= 67 mm, the ratio b2 / a2 of the movement amount is b2 / a
2 = 2.85. Therefore, when the movement amount ratio of the lateral regulation member and the rear regulation member is constant, it can be applied when the width and length of the copy paper change at a constant ratio, but it is applied when it is not. It is not possible to do so, generally JIS
Since the width and length of the A-row and the JIS-B row do not change at a constant ratio, it is not possible to deal with copy paper of various sizes. Further, since the lateral regulation member and the rear regulation member are always held in an interlocking state, it is impossible to deal with a sheet member having a special size, such as a postcard. That is, since the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member always move at a constant rate, it is not possible to move only the rear regulating member separately from the lateral regulating member, and it is possible to cope with recent diversification of copying. Can not. If there is a gap between both side edges of the copy sheet and the lateral regulating member or between the rear edge of the copy sheet and the rear regulating member, it may cause oblique sheet feeding, paper jam, etc. at the time of feeding.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its main technical problem is to improve the operability when exchanging copy paper when using copy paper of a predetermined standard. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved copy paper cassette which can be applied to a sheet member having a special size.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above technical object, according to the present invention, a box-shaped cassette body having an open upper surface, and a predetermined range in the lateral direction with a space provided in the cassette body. A pair of lateral regulating members that are movably mounted on the cassette body, and a lateral regulating member that is movably mounted on the cassette body in the front-rear direction over a predetermined range. An interlocking mechanism for drivingly connecting the rear restriction member and interlockingly operating the rear restriction member at a required movement ratio; and a releasing means for acting on the interlocking mechanism to release the transmission connection between the lateral restriction member and the rear restriction member. A copy paper cassette is provided.

[0007]

In the copying paper cassette according to the present invention, when a copying paper of a predetermined standard is used, the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member are used in a transmission-coupled state so that the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member can be connected via the interlocking mechanism. When the regulating member is operated in conjunction with the required moving ratio and a sheet member of a special size is used, the rear regulating member is released by releasing the transmission connection between the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member by the releasing means. Operate manually.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following, a more detailed description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of a copy paper cassette constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a copy paper cassette constructed in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 2 is A in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A, FIG. 3 is a partial bottom view showing a part of the bottom surface of the housing in the copy paper cassette of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a locked state of the locking means mounted on the copy paper cassette of FIG. FIG. 5 is a view showing an unlocked state of the lock means mounted on the copy paper cassette of FIG. In FIG. 1, the illustrated copy paper cassette includes a box-shaped cassette body 2 having an open upper surface. The cassette body 2 is
It has a substantially rectangular bottom wall 4, a front wall 6 and a rear wall 8 standing upright from the front and rear edges of the bottom wall 4, a left side wall 10 and a right side wall 12 standing upright from the left and right edges of the bottom wall 4. ing. A loading plate 14 is attached to the front portion of the cassette body 2.
The loading plate 14 shown in the figure extends from the inside of the left side wall 10 to the inside of the right side wall 12 at the front end of the cassette body 2 in the lateral direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1) of the cassette body 2; 16a from the rear end of the middle portion of the cassette body 2
It has an intermediate portion 16b extending rearward in the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) and a rear portion 16c extending rearward in the front-rear direction from the rear end of the intermediate portion 16b. The rear portion 16c of the mounting plate 14 extends laterally from the inside of the left side wall 10 to the inside of the right side wall 12 at the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the cassette body 2, and the middle portion is cut out in a rectangular shape. Bent portions 18a and 18b bent upward are provided on both side walls of a rear portion 16c of the mounting plate 14, and support pins 20a and 20b protruding outward are fixed to the bent portions 18a and 18b. ing. The one support pin 20a is rotatably received in the recess formed in the inner surface of the left side wall 10, and the other support pin 20b is rotatably received in the recess formed in the inner surface of the right side wall 12. There is. Therefore, the loading plate 14 described above is mounted on the cassette body 2 so as to be rotatable around the rear end portion as a fulcrum. Although not shown, a pair of coil springs are interposed between the front portion 16a of the mounting plate 14 and the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2 at intervals in the lateral direction. The coil spring (not shown) is mounted on the mounting plate 14
It acts on the lower surface of the front part of the and elastically biases it upward.

A pair of lateral regulating members 22 and 24 are arranged on both sides of the front portion of the cassette body 2 at intervals in the lateral direction. Each of the lateral restricting members 22 and 24 has rectangular base portions 26 and 28 and restricting portions 30 and 32 that extend substantially vertically upward from the outer edges of the base portions 26 and 28, and the front portion 16 a of the riding plate 14 is provided. And the rear portion 16c are mounted movably in a lateral direction of the cassette body 2 over a predetermined range.
Further, swing members 34 and 36 are attached to the lateral restricting members 22 and 24, respectively. Swing members 34 and 3
Reference numeral 6 denotes main body portions 38 and 40 that extend forward below the front portion 16a of the mounting plate 14, vertical portions 42 and 44 that extend vertically upward from the front ends of the main body portions 38 and 40, and the vertical portion 4
Locking portions 46 and 48 extending rearward from the upper ends of 2 and 44
have. In the specific example, one swing member 34
The rear end portion of the main body portion 38 of the
2 is swingably attached to the outer surface of the second restricting portion 30, and the rear end of the body portion 40 of the other swinging member 36 is swingable to the outer surface of the restricting portion 32 of the lateral restricting member 24 via the pin member. It is installed. A rear regulating member 50 is arranged at the rear end of the cassette body 2. The rear regulation member 50 has a rectangular base portion 52 and a regulation portion 54 that extends substantially vertically upward from the rear end edge of the base portion 52, and is mounted movably in a predetermined range in the front-rear direction of the cassette body 2. There is.

The copy paper cassette described above is provided with a lateral regulating member 2
An interlocking mechanism 56 for interlocking 2 and 24 and the rear regulating member 50 at a required movement ratio is provided. To explain further with reference to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, a case housing 58 is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2 by a mounting screw 60, and an interlocking mechanism 56 is arranged in the housing 58. The interlocking mechanism 56 includes a pinion member 62 rotatably mounted in a housing 58. The illustrated pinion member 62 is located below the first pinion portion 64 and subsequently to the first pinion portion 64. It has a second pinion portion 66. In the specific example, the outer diameter of the first pinion portion 64 is smaller than the outer diameter of the second pinion portion 66, and the width of the first pinion portion 64 is smaller than the width of the second pinion portion 66. It is getting bigger. On the other hand, the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 include first rack members 68 and 70 that engage with the first pinion portion 64 of the pinion member 62.
The second rack member 72 that is engaged with the second pinion portion 66 of the pinion member 62 is fixed to the rear regulating member 50. An elongated hole 73 extending inward in the lateral direction from the inside of the left side wall 10 is formed on the front left side of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2 and is formed in the base portion 26 of the lateral regulating member 22 (not shown). And the elongated hole 73
A mounting screw 74 is screwed onto a protrusion 76 provided on the outer end of the first rack member 68. The first rack member 68 extends laterally inward along the hole 73, and the rack portion formed on the inner side surface (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the first rack member 68 is the first pinion portion 64 of the pinion member 62.
Is engaged with. Therefore, the lateral regulating member 22 extends along the hole 73 from the position where one (outer) mounting screw 74 abuts the outer end of the hole 73 to the position where the other (inner) mounting screw 74 abuts the inner end of the hole 73. 1 and is movable in the lateral direction. When the lateral regulating member 22 is moved inward (or outward) in the lateral direction, the pinion member 62 moves in the direction of arrow 7 in FIG.
8 (or 80) is rotated clockwise (or counterclockwise). Further, an elongated hole 82 extending inward in the lateral direction from the inside of the right side wall 12 is formed on the right side of the front portion of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2, and the hole formed in the base portion 28 of the lateral regulating member 24 ( (Not shown) and through the elongated hole 82, a mounting screw 84 is screwed to a protrusion provided on the outer end of the first rack member 70. The first rack member 70 extends laterally inward along the hole 82, and the rack portion formed on the inner side surface (the left side surface in FIG. 1) of the first rack member 70 has the first pinion portion 64 of the pinion member 62. Is engaged with. Therefore, the lateral regulating member 24 also extends along the hole 82 from the position where one (outer) mounting screw 84 abuts the outer end of the hole 82 to the position where the other (inner) mounting screw 84 abuts the inner end of the hole 82. It is movable in the lateral direction, and when the lateral restricting member 24 is moved inward (or outward) in the lateral direction, the pinion member 62 moves the arrow 78 (or 8) in FIG.
It is rotated clockwise (or counterclockwise) indicated by 0).
Further, in the laterally intermediate portion of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2, an elongated hole 8 extending from the inner side of the rear wall 8 toward the front in the front-rear direction.
6 is formed, and a mounting screw 88 is provided at the rear end portion of the second rack member 72 by penetrating the hole (see FIG. 4) formed in the base portion 52 of the rear regulating member 50 and the elongated hole 86. It is screwed to the portion 89 (see FIG. 4). The second rack member 72 extends forward in the front-rear direction along the hole 86, and the rack portion formed on one side surface (the upper side surface in FIG. 1) of the second rack member 72 is the second pinion portion 66 of the pinion member 62.
Is engaged with. Therefore, in the rear regulating member 50, the mounting screw 88 on one side (the outer side, that is, the right side in FIG. 1) has the hole 8
6 is movable in the front-rear direction along the hole 86 from the position where it abuts the outer end of 6 to the position where the other (the inner side, that is, the left side in FIG. 1) mounting screw 88 abuts the inner end of the hole 86.
When the regulation member 50 is then moved inward (or outward) in the front-rear direction, the pinion member 62 moves in the direction of arrow 78 in FIG.
(Or 80) is rotated clockwise (or counterclockwise). As can be seen from FIG. 1, the rear regulating member 50
Is moved forward and backward, the second rack member 7
The tip of the second member 2 penetrates a hole (not shown) formed in the housing 58 and projects forward.

The interlocking mechanism 56 described above includes a releasing means. The releasing means shown in FIG.
A support release member 94 having a shaft portion 92 extending therefrom is included. In the support release member 94, the shaft portion 92 is rotatably mounted between the bottom wall of the housing 58 and the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2, and the head portion 90 projects outside the bottom wall of the housing 58. The above-mentioned pinion member 62 is rotatably mounted on the shaft portion 92 of the support release member 94, and the pinion member 6
A coil spring 96 is interposed between the upper side surface of the cassette 2 and the lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2. Such support release member 9
4 is movably mounted between an engagement position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2 and a release position shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. When the support release member 94 is in the engagement position, the locking member 98 mounted on the upper end of the shaft portion 92 of the support release member 94 is attached to the cassette body 2.
The upper surface of the bottom wall 4 of the pinion member 62, and thus the pinion member 62 is held by the action of the coil spring 96 in the first position in which the annular protrusion 100 provided on the lower surface of the pinion member 62 contacts the upper surface of the housing 58. In the first position, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the first rack members 68 and 70 engage the first pinion portion 64 of the pinion member 62 and the second rack member 72 causes the pinion member 6 to move.
The second pinion portion 66 of the second). Further, when the support release member 94 is in the release position, its head 90 is positioned inside the housing 58, and the lower surface of the head 90 abuts the upper surface of the recess formed in the bottom wall of the housing 58.
The pinion member 62 is moved upward by the action of the head portion 90 against the force of the coil spring 96, and the lower side surface of the pinion member 62 is held at the second position where it abuts the upper surface of the head portion 90 (the second At the position, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
The first rack members 68 and 70 engage the first pinion portion 64 of the pinion member 62, while the second rack member 7
2 is separated from the second pinion portion 66 of the pinion member 62).

The support release member 94 is rotatable between a lock position and a lock release position. 2 and 3, a rectangular through hole 102 is formed in the bottom wall of the housing 58. On the other hand, the head 90 of the support releasing member 94 has a rectangular shape corresponding to the shape of the through hole 102. Therefore, when the support release member 94 is in the locked position shown in FIGS.
8 and the housing 5 through the through hole 102 in contact with the bottom wall of
8, the support release member 94 is rotated 90 degrees from the lock position to the lock release position (in such a lock release position, as easily understood from FIG. 3). , Support release member 9
4 head 90 is aligned with the through hole 102),
The head 90 can be housed in the housing 58 through the through hole 102.

In the copy paper cassette as described above, for example, when one lateral regulating member 22 is moved inward (or outward) in the lateral direction, the pinion member 62 is moved to the first position via the first rack member 68. In the figure, arrow 78 (or 8
0), so that the other lateral regulating member 24 is moved laterally inward (or outward) via the first rack member 70, and at the same time the second rack member 72 is moved.
The rear regulating member 50 is moved forward (or rearward) in the front-rear direction via the, so that the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 and the rear regulating member 50 are interlocked with each other.

In the copy paper cassette described above, in addition to the interlocking mechanism 56, the regulating portion 5 of the rear regulating member 50 is further provided.
The compensating member 104 is disposed on the inner surface of 4. The compensating member 104 is made of a flexible material, and is preferably made of, for example, a cellular resin material such as sponge. In the embodiment, the surface of the compensating member 104 is further covered with the resin film 106. To further explain the compensating member 104, in the illustrated copy paper cassette, since the lateral restricting members 22 and 24 and the rear restricting member 50 are interlocked with each other as described above, the size of the copy paper accommodated in the cassette body 2 is reduced. When the lateral regulating member 22 (or 24) is moved in response to the above, the rear regulating member 50 is also moved at a constant movement ratio. On the other hand, for example, when using JIS B4 size copy paper instead of JIS A3 size copy paper, the ratio of the movement amount of the rear restriction member 50 to the lateral restriction members 22 and 24 is 2.80, as described above. For example, instead of JISA3 size copy paper, J
When ISA4 size copy paper is used, the ratio of the movement amount of the rear regulating member 50 to the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 is 2.83, as can be easily understood. This is shown in Table 1 as a list.

[0016]

[Table 1]

As described above, in the illustrated embodiment, when the ratio of the movement amount of the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 and the rear regulating member 50 is the largest, that is, from the copy paper of JIS A3 size to the copy paper of JIS B5 size. Paying attention to the case where the pinion member 62 is replaced with a new one, the ratio of the outer diameters of the first pinion portion 64 and the second pinion portion 66 of the pinion member 62 is 2.84 (that is, the movement amount of the rear regulating member 50 is lateral It is designed to be 2.84 times the movement amount of the regulating members 22 and 24). Further, when the JISA3 size copy paper is accommodated as required, the compensating member 104 (in the specific example, the thickness is about 3 mm) arranged in the rear regulating member 50 is deformed by 2 mm. Has become. (That is, JI
When the SA3 size copy paper is accommodated as required, the distance between the inner surface of the regulating portion 30 of the lateral regulating member 22 and the inner surface of the regulating portion 32 of the lateral regulating member 24 becomes 297 mm, and the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 are Inner surfaces of the vertical portions 42 and 44 of the swing members 34 and 36 provided and the defining portion 54 of the rear regulating member 50.
The distance from the surface of the resin film 106 provided on the inner surface is 418 mm). Therefore, for example, when the JISB4 size copy paper is used instead of the JISA3 size copy paper, the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 are used.
Due to the difference between the movement amount ratio of the rear regulating member 50 and the ratio of the width dimension and the length dimension of the copy paper, the deformation amount of the compensation member 104 becomes 0.80 mm, which is converted into copy paper of each size. In this case, the amount of deformation of the compensation member 104 is as shown in Table 1.
As described above, the compensation member 104 includes the lateral restriction members 22 and 24.
The elastic deformation absorbs the difference between the moving amount ratio of the rear regulating member 50 and the ratio of the width dimension and the length dimension of the copy paper accommodated in the cassette body 2.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rear restraint member 50.
Although the compensating member 104 is provided in the restricting portion 54 of FIG.
The compensating member may be arranged on the inner surface of the. In such a case, paying attention to the case where the ratio of the amount of movement of the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 and the rear regulating member 50 is the smallest, that is, the case of replacing the copy paper of JIS A3 size with the copy paper of JIS B4 size, the pinion member 62. First pinion portion 64 of
And the ratio of the outer diameter of the second pinion portion 66 to 2.80 (that is, the movement amount of the rear regulation member 50 is 2.80 times the movement amount of the lateral regulation members 22 and 24). ), The compensating members provided on the inner surfaces of the restricting portions 30 and 32 of the lateral restricting members 22 and 24 may be elastically deformed to absorb the difference in the movement amount. The compensating member also includes the inner surface of the regulation portion 54 of the rear regulation member 50 and the lateral regulation member 22.
It may be arranged on the inner surfaces of the restriction portions 30 and 34 of Nos. 24 and 24.

In the copy paper cassette of the embodiment, the rear regulating member 50 is further provided with the locking means 108. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 together with FIG. 1, the illustrated locking means 108 has an operating member 110 and a locking member 112. A pin member 114 is planted on the outer surface of the restriction portion 54 of the rear restriction member 50, and the locking member 112 is vertically movable on the pin member 114, and the operation member 110 is also provided.
Is rotatably mounted. A rectangular hole 116 is formed in the middle of the locking member 112, and the pin member 114 is positioned in the hole 116. This locking member 1
An engaging portion 118 protruding outward is provided on the upper end of 12. Further, the lower end side of the locking member 112 is an elongated hole 1 formed in the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2 and extending in the front-rear direction.
An engaging portion 120 that penetrates 19 and protrudes downward and protrudes inward is provided at a lower end thereof, and a friction member 122 is fixed to an upper surface of the engaging portion 120. On the other hand, a substantially arcuate hole 124 is formed in the operating member 110, and the hole 12
The engaging portion 118 of the locking member 112 is received in the inside of the housing 4. Since it is as described above, when it is set to the lock position shown in FIG. 4, the locking member 112 is moved upward by the action of the hole 124 formed in the operation member 110, and thus the locking portion 120 of the locking member 112 is locked. Friction member 12 provided
2 is pressed against the lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2. On the other hand, when the operating member 110 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 126 (FIG. 4) to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 5, the locking member 112 is moved downward by the action of the hole 124 formed in the operating member 110. Moved and thus the locking member 112
The frictional member 122 provided on the locking portion 120 of the above separates from the lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2.

Next, the operation of the copy paper cassette having the above-described structure will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. Lateral regulating members 22 and 24 for replacement of copy paper
In addition, in order to move the rear regulating member 50, first, the operating portion 110a of the operating member 110 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 126 (FIG. 4) to move from the locked position shown in FIG. 4 to the unlocked position shown in FIG. Excuse me. Thus, the operation member 1
By the action of the holes 124 formed in the locking member 11,
2 is moved downward, the friction member 122 provided on the locking member 112 is separated from the lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2,
The rear regulating member 50 is movable in the front-rear direction along the hole 119 (note that the rear regulating member 50 and the lateral regulating members 22 and 24).
Is in a state of being interlocked with each other, so that the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 are also movable in the lateral direction). Then, for example, one lateral regulating member 22 is moved laterally inward (or outward) as required. As a result, the first rack member 68 is also moved laterally inward (or outward) integrally with the lateral regulating member 22, and the pinion member 62 is moved through the first rack member 68 to the arrow 78 (in FIG. 1). Or 8
It is rotated in the direction indicated by 0). When the pinion member 62 is rotated in this way, the other lateral regulating member 24 is moved inward (or outward) in the lateral direction via the first rack member 70, and also via the second rack member 72. The rear regulating member 50 is moved forward (or rearward) in the front-rear direction. In the exemplary embodiment, the first rack members 68 and 70 are pinion members 62.
Since the lateral regulating member 24 is engaged with the first pinion portion 64, the amount of movement of the lateral regulating member 24 is substantially equal to the amount of movement of the lateral regulating member 22, and the second rack member 72 has the pinion member 62.
Of the second pinion portion 66, and the outer diameter of the second pinion portion 66 is 2.84.
Since it is double, the movement amount of the rear regulating member 50 is equal to the lateral regulating member 2.
2.84 times the movement amount of 2. When the lateral regulation member 22 is moved as required in this way, the other lateral regulation member 24 and the rear regulation member 50 are also moved as required in conjunction with this, and the lateral regulation members 22 and 24 are regulated 30. And 3
The inner surface 2 regulates both side edges of the stacked copy sheets accommodated in the cassette body 2, and the compensating member 104 provided on the inner surface of the regulation portion 54 of the rear regulation member 50 is accommodated in the cassette body 2. Control the trailing edge of copy paper in a stack. In the above-described operation, one lateral regulating member 22 is moved, but the lateral regulating member 24 or the rear regulating member 50 on the other side can also be moved to perform shaking.

Thereafter, the operating portion 11 of the operating member 110
0a is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow 126 (FIG. 4) to move it from the unlocked position to the locked position. As a result, the holes 12 formed in the operating member 110
4 causes the locking member 112 to move upward, the friction member 122 of the locking member 112 to be pressed against the lower surface of the bottom wall 4 of the cassette body 2, and the movement of the rear regulating member 50 can be reliably prevented (hereinbelow). As can be easily understood, this surely prevents the lateral restricting members 22 and 24 from moving.

The lateral regulating members 22 and 24 and the rear regulating member 50
In the case of canceling the interlocking of (the change from the A row to the B row or the B row to the A row when the compensation member 104 is not provided, and the change to the special size sheet member), first, 2 and 3 by rotating the support release member 94.
From the locked position to the unlocked position, then the head 90 of the support releasing member 94 is positioned in the housing 58 through the hole 102 formed in the bottom wall of the housing 58, and the support releasing member 94 is rotated again. Push it to the lock position above. Thus, the support release member 94 is shown in FIG.
2 from the engagement position shown by the solid line to the release position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
4 is moved upward by the head 90 of FIG. 4 and moved from the first position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the second position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. When the pinion member 62 is moved to the second position, the engagement state between the first rack members 68 and 70 and the first pinion portion 64 of the pinion member 62 is maintained, but the second rack member 72 is Second pinion member 62
Is separated from the pinion portion 66, and thus the lateral regulating member 2
The interlocking state between 2 and 24 and the rear regulating member 50 is released.
In this state, when the lateral regulating member 22 (or 24) is moved, the first rack member 68 (or 70),
The lateral restricting member 24 (or 22) is interlocked with the first pinion part 64 of the pinion member 62 and the first rack part 70 (or 68), but the rear restricting member 50 does not move. Absent. Further, even if the rear regulating member 50 is moved as required, the rack member 62 is not rotated, and the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 do not move together.

When the above-mentioned state is changed to the interlocked state, the support releasing member 94 is rotated as required to move it from the lock position to the lock releasing position, and then the head 90 of the support releasing member 94 is moved to the hole 102. Through (through the action of the coil spring 96 in the embodiment) to the outside, and the support release member 94 is rotated again to the locked position. Thus, the support releasing member 94 is held in the engaging position from the releasing position, and the pinion member 62 is moved from the second position to the first position by the action of the coil spring 96. When the pinion member 62 is moved to the first position, the first rack member 6
8 and 70 and the first pinion portion 64 of the pinion member 62.
The second rack member 72 is engaged with the second pinion portion 66 of the pinion member 62 in a state in which the engagement state of FIG.
0 is linked.

As described above, in the illustrated copy paper cassette, the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 and the rear regulating member 50 are provided.
Since it can be moved separately after releasing the interlocked state, it can be applied not only to copy paper of a predetermined standard but also to copy paper of a special size. Although the preferred embodiment of the copy paper cassette configured according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Is. For example, in the embodiment, the locking means 108 is provided on the rear regulating member 50, but instead of this, it may be provided on the lateral regulating member 22 (or 24). Further, when the locking means 108 is provided on the rear regulating member 50 and the lateral regulating member 22 (or 24), the interlocking of the lateral regulating members 22 and 24 and the rear regulating member 50 is released by the releasing means, and the both regulating members are respectively separated. Even if the interlocking mechanism is not brought into the interlocking state after being moved separately, the movement of the rear regulation member 50 and the lateral regulation members 22 and 24 can be reliably prevented.

[0025]

The copy paper cassette according to the present invention is constructed as described above, and the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member can be operated in conjunction with each other at a required movement ratio, and the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member can be operated by the releasing means. Since the rear regulating member can be manually operated by releasing the transmission coupling with the regulating member, the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member are used in the transmission coupled state when using copy paper of a predetermined standard. This improves the operability when exchanging copy paper, and
By releasing the transmission connection between the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member by the releasing means, it becomes possible to apply to a sheet member of a special size.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a copy paper cassette configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial bottom view showing a part of a bottom surface of a housing in the copy paper cassette of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a locked state of a lock unit attached to the copy paper cassette of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an unlocked state of a lock unit attached to the copy paper cassette of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: cassette body 14: mounting plate 20: lateral regulating member 22: lateral regulating member 50: rear regulating member 62: pinion member 64: first pinion portion 66: second pinion portion 68: first rack member 70 : First rack member 72: Second rack member 94: Support release member 104: Compensation member 108: Locking means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A box-shaped cassette main body having an open upper surface, a pair of lateral restricting members mounted on the cassette main body so as to be movable in a lateral direction over a predetermined range at intervals, and the cassette main body. In a copy paper cassette equipped with a rear regulating member movably mounted in a front-rear direction over a predetermined range, an interlocking mechanism for drivingly connecting the lateral regulating member and the rear regulating member and interlocking them at a required movement ratio. And a releasing means that acts on the interlocking mechanism to release the transmission connection between the lateral restricting member and the rear restricting member. 2. The interlocking mechanism includes a first rack member fixed to each of the pair of lateral restricting members and extending in the lateral direction, and a second rack member fixed to the rear restricting member and extending in the front-rear direction.
Rack member, and a first pinion portion and a second pinion portion having different outer diameters which engage with the first rack member and the second rack member, respectively, and are rotatably mounted on the cassette body. A copy paper cassette according to claim 1, having a pinion member formed therein. 3. The release means comprises a support release member configured to move the pinion member in an axial direction and actuate the pinion member in an axial position to be in an engagement position and a release position. When the support release member positions the pinion member at the engagement position, the first pinion portion of the pinion member and the first rack member engage with each other and the second pinion portion and the second pinion portion. When the rack member is engaged and the pinion member is positioned at the release position by the support releasing member, the engagement between the first pinion portion of the pinion member and the first rack member is maintained. 3. The copy paper cassette according to claim 2, wherein the second pinion portion and the second rack member are disengaged from each other. 4. The copy paper cassette according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the rear regulation member and the lateral regulation member is provided with a lock means for holding the rear regulation member at a required position. .