JPH11343036A - Cover member for paper feed cassette - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a cost of an image forming device by protecting paper sheets in a cassette and functioning as a discharge tray. SOLUTION: A cover part 21 of a cover member 2 is provided with a pair of slide holding parts 23 and 23 and the slide holding parts 23 and 23 are formed in a manner to extend from the left and right end parts of the forward end in a discharge direction of the cover part 21 to an anti-discharge direction, and provided with groove parts 23a and 23a positioned facing each other. A discharge paper placing part 22 has fitting parts 22a and 22a protruded from the left end side and the right end side of an end part in an anti-discharge direction, and the fit-in parts 22a and 22a are fitted in the groove parts 23a and 23a and the discharge paper placing part 22 is slidably held in a discharge direction by a slide holding part 23. An auxiliary placing part 24 is further mounted on the discharge paper placing part 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette used in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, a printer, a copying machine, etc., and more particularly to a cover member of a paper feed cassette which covers a portion protruding from an apparatus main body. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, a printer, a copying machine, or the like, a sheet cassette in which sheet-like sheets are stored in a bundle is set in the apparatus body, and a sheet feeding roller provided in the apparatus body is provided. For example, a configuration is often used in which paper is fed from the uppermost sheet of a sheet bundle toward an image forming unit in the apparatus main body.

In such an image forming apparatus, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus main body, the sheet on which the image has been formed is turned over after image formation and discharged face-down to a discharge section provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. On the other hand, in order to make it possible to discharge the paper even when face-up, the paper discharged as it is through the discharge port provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body without being inverted after image formation is placed. Discharge tray at the position of the discharge port.

[0004]

In an image forming apparatus such as a printer, sheets are often discharged face down so that the sheets are placed in the order of image formation when an image is formed on a plurality of sheets. Because of this, the frequency of use of the face-up discharge tray is low. Therefore, in order to minimize the installation space of the image forming apparatus, the face-up discharge tray is configured to be detachable, and is usually removed from the apparatus main body.

As described above, since the face-up discharge tray is configured to be detachable, there is a problem that the discharge tray may be lost. Also, if a storage section for storing the discharge tray is provided in the apparatus main body when it is not needed to prevent the loss, the space for the storage is required in the apparatus main body, and the configuration of the apparatus main body becomes complicated. I was

On the other hand, there has been known a conventional image forming apparatus which employs a configuration in which an end of a set sheet cassette projects from the apparatus main body in order to reduce the size of the apparatus main body. The image forming apparatus having such a configuration prevents dust and dirt from entering the sheet cassette from outside by covering the protruding portion of the sheet cassette with the cover member. For this reason, in the conventional image forming apparatus, it is necessary to always provide both the face-up discharge tray and the cover member, which has been one of the factors for increasing the cost of the image forming apparatus.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
An object of the present invention is to provide a cover member of a sheet feeding cassette that protects sheets in the cassette and also functions as a discharge tray and contributes to cost reduction of the image forming apparatus.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus body for forming an image on a sheet and discharging the sheet from a discharge port. And a cover member for covering the protruding portion of the sheet cassette mounted in a state of being protruded from the paper cassette, the paper cassette having a discharge sheet mounting portion for stacking and stacking sheets discharged from the discharge port. .

According to this structure, the sheet cassette is mounted on the apparatus main body with one end protruding from the apparatus main body below the discharge port, and is a cover member for covering the protruding portion. By stacking the paper discharged from the discharge port on the discharge paper mounting portion, the stacking of the discharge paper is possible without separately providing a member for mounting the discharge paper, The number of parts is reduced.

[0010] Further, the apparatus further comprises a slide holding portion for slidably holding the discharge sheet placement section in the discharge direction of the sheet discharged from the discharge port, so that the discharge sheet placement section is slid in the discharge direction. When the sheet is projected from the sheet cassette, the area for placing the sheet increases, and the stacking of the discharged sheets can be stably performed.

[0011] Further, by further providing an auxiliary placement portion provided so as to be able to protrude in the discharge direction with respect to the delivery sheet placement portion, even if a large-size sheet is placed, the stacking can be suitably performed. Become.

[0012]

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a printer to which an embodiment of a cover member of a paper feed cassette according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing an internal configuration of the printer.

First, the general configuration and operation of the printer will be described. This printer is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body 1 so as to be able to be pulled out to the front side as a means for supplying sheets, and accommodates a sheet bundle P0 of a predetermined size (in the present embodiment, for example, A3 size vertically long in the sheet feeding direction). The paper feed cassette 10 is provided with a manual feed tray 30 provided above the feed cassette 10 and opened to the front side so as to be usable. The manual feed tray 30 is configured to be freely switchable according to a user's selection.

FIG. 3 shows a state where the sheet feeding cassette 10 is pulled out, and FIG. 4 shows a state where the manual feed tray 30 is opened. In FIG. 4, a dashed line in the apparatus main body 1 indicates a sheet transport path.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the sheet cassette 10 is set in the apparatus main body 1, the rear end of the sheet cassette 10, that is, the end in the discharge direction is the discharge port 5 of the apparatus body 1.
The main body 1 is configured to protrude from the side 8 so that large-size paper can be used and the size of the apparatus main body 1 is reduced.

In order to prevent dust and the like from entering the sheet cassette 10 from a portion protruding from the apparatus main body 1, a cover member 2 described later is provided.

In FIG. 4, inside the paper feed cassette 10,
A sheet bundle P0 of sheets P, P,... Is accommodated, the uppermost sheet P is separated, fed to a transport path by a feed roller 31, and the transport direction is U-turned by a reversing roller 32. The sheet is conveyed to the registration roller pair 33.

When the sheet is conveyed, the registration roller pair 33 is stopped, and the sheet is nipped by the registration roller pair 33 to form a predetermined bending so that the leading ends of the sheets are aligned, and the image forming section 40 The rotation of the registration roller pair 33 is started in synchronization with the operation, and the registration roller pair 33 is conveyed to the image forming unit 40.

The image forming section 40 includes a photosensitive member 41 disposed above and in contact with the transport path, an optical section 42 disposed above the periphery thereof, and a developing device 43 disposed to the right. The transfer device includes a transfer roller 44 disposed below the conveyance path and a cleaning device 45 disposed on the left. The rotation of the photoconductor 41 in the paper conveyance direction causes the photoconductor 41 to rotate. A known image forming process is performed on the paper conveyed between the transfer roller 44 and the transfer roller 44.

After the image on which the image has been transferred is fixed by the fixing roller pair 51, the sheet is further conveyed by the discharge roller pair 52, and the second, third, and third sheets are switched according to the switching state of the switching guide 53. Fourth discharge roller pair 54,5
The paper is discharged face-down to an upper discharge tray 57 provided at the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 through the discharge ports 58 and 56, or is discharged face-up to the lid member 2 through the discharge port 58.

On the other hand, the paper P set on the manual feed tray 30 is supplied to a lift plate 34, a separating member 35, and a paper feed roller 36.
Then, the uppermost sheet is separated, fed to the transport path in the apparatus main body 1, and after image formation is performed in the same transport procedure as the paper P fed from the above-described paper feed cassette 10,
The paper is discharged onto the upper discharge tray 57 or the lid member 2.

Next, the cover member 2 of the sheet cassette 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the configuration of the cover member 2 of the paper feed cassette 10, and FIG.
2 shows a normal state, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the discharge sheet placement unit 22 is slid in the discharge direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the lid member 2 is made of, for example, a hard synthetic resin, and includes a cover portion 21 and a discharge sheet mounting portion 22.

The cover 21 has a rectangular lid shape and is formed as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet cassette 10 covers a portion protruding from the apparatus main body 1 and includes a pair of slide holders 23 disposed on the upper surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide holders 23 are formed so as to extend in the discharge direction from the left and right ends of the front end of the cover 21 in the discharge direction, and have grooves 23a, 23a facing each other. Have.

The discharge paper placing portion 22 is a substantially rectangular flat plate, and has a fitting portion 22 at the left end and the right end of the end in the non-discharge direction.
a, 22a are protruded, and the fitting portions 22a, 22a
By fitting a into the grooves 23 a, the discharge sheet placement unit 22 is slidably held in the discharge direction by the slide holding unit 23.

An auxiliary placing portion 24 is further attached to the discharged sheet placing portion 22 at a substantially central upper surface. The auxiliary placing portion 24 is pivotally attached to an end of the discharged sheet placing portion 22 in the discharging direction. It is arranged to be foldable.

Then, the discharged paper placing portion 22 is manually slid in the discharging direction from the state shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 2, the fitting portions 22a, 22a are grooved 23a, 23a.
Of the fitting portions 22a, 23b,
Due to its own weight around the discharge paper placing portion 22, the fitting portions 22 a and 22 a are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 to rise, and the lower surface of the discharge paper placing portion 22 is moved to the left end 21 a of the cover portion 21. , And the state shown in FIG. 2 is maintained by this contact.

Further, when the auxiliary placing portion 24 is manually rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the L-shaped engaging portion 24a (FIG. 1) at the left end of the auxiliary placing portion 24 is moved to the discharged paper placing portion 22. The lower plate 25 is brought into contact with the central flat plate portion 25 (FIG. 2) from below and locked, and is held in a state of protruding in the discharge direction from the discharge sheet mounting portion 22 as shown in FIG.

In the state shown in FIG.
The paper after image formation is discharged by the discharge port 5 by switching (FIG. 4).
8, the sheet is properly discharged onto the cover section 21, the discharge sheet mounting section 22, and the auxiliary mounting section 24.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the sheet after image formation is discharged face-down to the upper discharge tray 57, as shown in FIGS. By disposing on the cover part 21,
A compact configuration can be achieved without projecting from the paper cassette 10 in the discharge direction.

On the other hand, when it is desired to discharge the sheet after image formation in a face-up manner, as shown in FIG. It can be stacked and mounted face up. Further, if necessary, the auxiliary placement unit 24 can be positioned in the discharge direction (see FIG. 2) to discharge a sheet of a larger size.

Further, it is not necessary to provide a separate member for placing the paper discharged face-up.
The risk of loss occurring when the separate member is configured to be detachable is eliminated, and the number of components can be reduced. Further, since there is no need to provide a space for accommodating the detached another member, the configuration of the apparatus main body can be simplified.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can adopt the following modified embodiments.

(1) The configuration of the slide holders 23 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be any configuration that can hold the discharge sheet placement unit 22 slidably in the discharge direction.

(2) In the above embodiment, the paper feed cassette 1
The present invention is applied to a paper cassette mounted so that the back side of the paper cassette 0 projects from the apparatus main body 1, but is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. May be a paper cassette attached to the apparatus main body so as to protrude toward the discharge port side.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the internal structure of an image forming apparatus of a different example, in which components having the same functions as those in FIG. 4 of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
And feeds paper toward the rear of the apparatus main body 1, and the front side of the paper feed cassette 10 protrudes from the apparatus main body 1. This is similar to the case of FIG. It is mounted so that the end in the discharge direction protrudes from the apparatus main body 1.

Also in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained by providing the cover member 2 having the same configuration as the above-described embodiment in the protruding portion of the sheet cassette 10. it can.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A cover member that covers a portion of the paper feed cassette protruding from the apparatus main body, and has a discharge paper mounting portion for stacking and stacking the paper discharged from the discharge port. Can be stacked without providing any member for the purpose, the number of parts can be reduced, and the configuration of the apparatus main body can be simplified, thereby reducing costs. Can be.

Further, a slide holding section for slidably holding the discharge sheet placement section in the discharge direction of the sheet discharged from the discharge port is provided, so that the discharge sheet placement section is slid in the discharge direction to supply the sheet. When the sheet is projected from the paper cassette, the area for placing the sheet increases, and the stacking of the discharged sheets can be stably performed.

Further, by further providing an auxiliary placing portion provided so as to be able to protrude in the discharge direction with respect to the discharged sheet placing portion, it is possible to suitably carry out stacking of sheets of a larger size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a cover member of a sheet cassette according to the present invention, showing a normal state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of a cover member of the sheet feeding cassette according to the present invention, and illustrates a state in which a discharge sheet placement unit is slid in a discharge direction.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the printer to which the embodiment is applied.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an internal configuration of the printer.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus of another example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Lid Member 21 Cover Unit 22 Discharge Paper Placement Unit 23 Slide Holder 24 Auxiliary Placement Unit 25 Flat Plate 10 Paper Cassette

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Fumio Hatanaka 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Mita Corporation (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Koyanagi 1-2-28 Tamazozo, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Inside Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hidemasa Kizen 1-2-28 Tamazo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasunori Ueno 1-2-28 Takuma-zo, Chuo-ku, Osaka Mita Industry

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet and discharge the sheet from an output port. A cover member for covering a protruding portion of the paper supply cassette, the cover member of the paper supply cassette being provided with a discharge sheet mounting portion for stacking and stacking sheets discharged from the discharge port. 2. A cover member of a paper feed cassette according to claim 1, further comprising: a slide holding portion for slidably holding said discharged paper mounting portion in a discharge direction of the paper discharged from said discharge port. A cover member for a paper feed cassette. 3. The cover member of the paper feed cassette according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary placement portion provided so as to protrude in a discharge direction with respect to the discharge sheet placement portion. Cover member of the paper cassette.