JP4466862B2 - Paper cassette - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette, for example, a paper feed cassette used in an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Generally, image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines, copiers, and printers are provided with a paper feed cassette that stores paper to be printed. As this type of paper feed cassette, one paper feed cassette corresponding to various paper sizes is known. For example, a paper feed cassette that is telescopic or foldable according to the paper size accommodated in the paper feed cassette is known (for example, Patent Document 1). Further, for example, in a paper feed cassette, a main container having a double structure having an upper plate and a bottom plate, a sub container slidably inserted in a space formed by the double structure of the main container, There is a known one having a width guide slidably provided on the upper plate and capable of positioning the width guide corresponding to various paper widths (for example, Patent Document 2).

Public Utility 63-197229 JP 9-110184 A

An example of a conventional paper feed cassette will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional paper feed cassette, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 7A. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the paper feed cassette 40 includes a cassette body 60 and a paper guide (side guide 80). The side guide 80 is disposed so as to be able to move according to the size of the paper stored in the cassette body 60.
However, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, a space a <b> 1 (a space where a fingertip can be inserted) for the user to operate the side guide 80 is secured between the side guide 80 and the inner wall surface of the cassette body 60. There is a problem that the lateral width of the paper feed cassette 40 becomes large.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feed cassette that solves the above-described conventional problems and realizes a reduction in the width of the cassette body while ensuring a space for operating side guides.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the bottom plate and the bottom plate are provided so as to be movable in the width direction of the paper stored in accordance with the width size of the paper stored. and the side guide has been erected from the bottom plate, has a, at least the upper half is cut out portion is formed so as to be space without the wall frame portion at a portion opposed to the side guide, the image forming A paper feeding cassette that is mounted on the apparatus main body and is pulled out from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body, and the width direction in which the side guide moves is the direction in which the paper feeding cassette is pulled out from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body a direction intersecting the cutout portion formed in the frame portion is formed on both sides of the paper feed cassette, the side guide on the outside in the width direction of the sheet to be accommodated When obtained by moving together with the side surface of the side guide comes in contact with the frame portion, when moving the side guide on the inner side in the width direction of the sheet to be accommodated through the notch of the frame portion In the paper feed cassette, the side guide can be operated from the outside of the frame portion .
Preferably, the frame further includes an expansion member slidably provided, the frame portion including an inner wall and an outer wall, and a guide portion sandwiching at least a part of the expansion member, and the side guide. And an interference prevention unit for avoiding interference due to the operation of the side guides.
Suitably, the said interference prevention part is comprised from the notch part which notched a part of said frame part.
Preferably, the cutout portion is formed by cutting out a part of the frame portion located above the inner wall of the guide portion.
Preferably, the notch portion is formed by notching a part of a frame portion located above the inner wall of the guide portion and above the outer wall of the guide portion.
Suitably, the said notch part is further formed by notching the inner wall of the said guide part.
Suitably, the said notch part is further formed by notching a part of said expansion member.

According to the present invention, paper feeding that realizes a reduction in the width of the cassette main body while securing a space for operating the side guide without providing a space for operating the side guide between the side guide and the frame portion. A cassette can be provided.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image forming apparatus main body 12, an image forming unit 14 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body 12, and a discharge unit 16 is provided on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 12. A sheet feeding device 18 to be described later is provided below the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  The discharge unit 16 includes an inclined unit 20 that is rotatable with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 12. The inclined portion 20 has a low discharge port portion and is inclined so as to gradually increase toward the front surface (right direction in FIG. 1), and has a discharge outlet portion as a lower end and a higher tip as an upper end. The inclined portion 20 is supported by the image forming apparatus main body 12 so as to be rotatable around the lower end. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, when the inclined portion 20 is rotated upward and opened, an opening portion 22 is formed, and a process cartridge 24 to be described later can be attached and detached through the opening portion 22. .

  The image forming means 14 is of, for example, an electrophotographic system, and is charged by an image carrier 26 made of a photosensitive member, a charging device 28 made of, for example, a charging roll that uniformly charges the image carrier 26, and the charging device 28. An optical writing device 30 for writing a latent image on the image carrier 26 with light, a developing device 32 for visualizing the latent image of the image carrier 26 formed by the optical writing device 30 with a developer, and the developing device 32 A transfer device 34 composed of, for example, a transfer roll for transferring the developer image to the sheet, a cleaning device 36 composed of, for example, a blade for cleaning the developer remaining on the image carrier 26, and the sheet transferred by the transfer device 34 For example, the image forming apparatus includes a fixing device 38 including a pressure roll and a heating roll for fixing the developer image on the sheet. The optical writing device 30 is composed of, for example, a scanning type laser exposure device, and is arranged in the vicinity of the front surface (right side surface in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12 in parallel with the paper feeding cassette 40 of the paper feeding device 18. The image carrier 26 is exposed across the. Further, the developing device 32 has a developing roll 42 that faces the image carrier 26.

  The process cartridge 24 is obtained by integrating an image carrier 26, a charging device 28, a developing device 32, and a cleaning device 36. The process cartridge 24 is disposed immediately below the inclined portion 22 of the discharge portion 16 and is attached and detached through the opening portion 24 formed when the inclined portion 22 is opened as described above.

  In the image forming apparatus main body 12, for example, a resist roll 44 is disposed on the upstream side (lower side in FIG. 1) of the transfer device 34. The sheet conveyed from the sheet feeding device 18 to the conveyance path 46 is temporarily stopped by the registration roll 44 and sent to the image forming unit 14 at a predetermined timing to form an image. The sheet is discharged to the discharge unit 16 by the discharge roll 48. Is done.

  The image forming apparatus main body 12 is provided with an opening / closing cover 50 for pulling out the fixing device 38. The opening / closing cover 50 is opened / closed toward the rear surface direction (left direction in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 12.

  The paper feeding device 18 is provided with a paper feeding cassette 40. The paper feed cassette 40 is slidably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 12 and pulled out in the front direction (the right direction in FIG. 1). A sheet supply unit 52 is provided near the upper front end of the paper feed cassette 40. The sheet supply unit 52 includes a pickup roll 54, and a feed roll 56 and a retard roll 58 that separate and feed the paper supplied from the pickup roll 54.

2 and 3 show details of the paper feed cassette 40. FIG.
FIG. 2A is a plan view of the paper feed cassette 40, and FIG. 2B is a side view of the paper feed cassette 40. 3A is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 40, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3A.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper feed cassette 40 has a cassette main body 60 in which paper is accommodated, and the cassette main body 60 has an expansion member 64 provided slidably on the cassette main body 60. Have.

  The cassette body 60 includes a bottom plate 66 and a frame portion 68 erected vertically from the bottom plate 66. The bottom plate 66 has an upper wall 61 and a lower wall 62, and a bottom plate 74 of an expansion member 64 to be described later is sandwiched in a space formed by the upper wall 61 and the lower wall 62. The frame portion 68 is provided on each of the left and right and front end portions of the cassette body 60. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, guide portions 76 are formed on the frame portions 68 provided on the left and right sides of the cassette body 60. The guide portion 76 includes an inner wall 70 and an outer wall 72, and a frame portion 78 of an expansion member 68 described later is sandwiched in a space formed by the inner wall 70 and the outer wall 72. In this way, the cassette body 60 expands and contracts the length of the cassette body 60 in the paper feeding direction (arrow A direction in FIG. 2) by holding (pinch) at least a part of the expansion member 64 slidably. It is like that.

  The expansion member 64 includes a bottom plate 74 and a frame portion 78 erected vertically from the bottom plate 74. The frame portion 78 is provided on each of the left and right sides of the expansion member 64, and the height of the frame portion 78 is lower than the height of the frame portion 68 of the cassette body 60 (about half the height of the frame portion 68 of the cassette body 60). It is).

  Further, the cassette body 60 is provided with sheet guides (side guides 80 and 80 and end guides 82) provided so as to be able to move according to the size of the sheet accommodated in the cassette body 60.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the side guides 80 and 80 are provided on the bottom plate 66 of the cassette body 60, and can be moved in the width direction of the cassette body 60 (the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2) according to the width size of the sheet. It is like that. The side guides 80 and 80 are provided with arm portions 84a and 84b, respectively. The arm portions 84a and 84b are provided with racks 86a and 86b, respectively. In addition, a pinion 88 is provided on the upper wall 61 (widthwise center portion) of the bottom plate 66, and the pinion 88 meshes with the racks 86a and 86b of the arm portions 84a and 84b described above. Further, a guide groove 90 is formed in the lower wall 62 of the bottom plate 66, and a part of the arm portions 84a and 84b abuts on the guide groove 90 so that the side guides 80 and 80 slide. . Thus, by moving (operating) one side guide 80, the other side guide 80 is moved toward and away from the center, and the sheet is positioned toward the center (width direction) of the cassette body 60. It has become.

  The end guide 82 has a pin 92 that is provided in the center portion (width direction) of the expansion member 64 and protrudes toward the back surface of the cassette body 60. Further, a pin guide groove 94 is formed in the expansion member 64, and the pin 92 of the end guide 82 and the pin guide groove 94 are slidably engaged. As a result, the end guide 82 can be moved in the paper feeding direction of the cassette body 60 (the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2) in accordance with the size of the paper.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the frame 68 of the cassette body 60 has an interference preventing portion (first cut-off portion) for avoiding interference caused by the operation of the side guide 80 at a portion facing the side guide 80. A notch 96) is provided.
The first cutout portion 96 is formed by cutting out a part of the frame portion 68. Specifically, the first cutout portion 96 is a part of the frame portion 68 located above the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76 (about the upper half of the frame portion 68) (substantially the entire sheet feeding direction in this embodiment). It is formed by cutting away. The first cutout portion 96 only needs to be provided at least at a portion facing the side guide 80 of the frame portion 68.

  Accordingly, the thickness in the width direction of the upper portion of the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68 (about the upper half of the frame portion 68) is only the thickness b2 of the outer wall 72 (FIG. 3). That is, in the conventional example shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the thickness of the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68 is b1 (thickness of the inner wall 70 + thickness of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64 + thickness of the outer wall 72). In contrast, in this embodiment, the thickness in the width direction of the upper portion of the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68 is b2 (the thickness of the outer wall 72). Thereby, the space corresponding to the thickness of the inner wall 70 and the thickness of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64 becomes a part of the space for avoiding interference due to the operation of the side guide 80 (the operation space a2 of the side guide 80). .

As described above, by providing the first cutout portion 96 at a portion facing the side guide 80 of the frame portion 68 of the cassette body 60, a space for the user to operate the side guide 80 (the user can insert a fingertip). The size of the cassette body 60 in the width direction can be reduced while securing a space. That is, in the present embodiment, the size in the width direction on one side of the cassette body 60 is compared with the conventional example indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3 while ensuring the operation space a2 (FIG. 3) of the side guide 80. Space c2 (the thickness of the inner wall 70 + the thickness of the expansion member frame 78).
Note that the operation space a2 of the side guide 80 has the same size as the operation space a1 of the conventional side guide 80 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

Therefore, the size in the width direction of the cassette body 60 in this embodiment is (maximum paper width + (thickness of the side guide 80 + space d2 + thickness of the inner wall 70 + thickness of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64 + outer wall). 72 thickness) × 2). Here, the space d <b> 2 (FIG. 3) is a distance from the side surface of the side guide 80 to the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76.
That is, as compared with the conventional example (FIG. 7), the lateral width of the cassette body 60 can be reduced by the size of (space c2 × 2).
Further, since the expansion member 64 has a box shape having the frame portion 78, sufficient strength can be maintained.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member substantially the same as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 4 shows details of the paper feed cassette 40 in the second embodiment.
4A is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 40, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 4A.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the frame portion 68 of the cassette body 60 has an interference preventing portion (a first notch described above) for avoiding interference caused by the operation of the side guide 80 at a portion facing the side guide 80. A part 96 and a second notch part 98) to be described later are provided. The second cutout portion 98 is formed by cutting out a part of the frame portion 68 located above the outer wall 72 of the guide portion 76. In other words, the second cutout portion 98 is provided in a portion of the frame portion 68 facing the side guide 80 and on the outer wall 72 of the guide portion 76.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the width of the frame portion 68 is e3 (the inner wall 70 + the frame portion 78 + the outer wall 72 of the expansion member 64), but the upper portion of the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68 facing the side guide 80. (For example, the upper half of the frame portion 68) is a space having no wall surface. As a result, the user can operate the side guide 80 from the outside of the frame portion 68 of the cassette body 60. Therefore, as in the first embodiment indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the space d2 (distance from the side surface of the side guide 80 to the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76) is not provided. Space a3 (FIG. 4) can be secured.

  As described above, by providing the first notch portion 96 and the second notch portion 98 at a portion facing the side guide 80 of the frame portion 68 of the cassette body 60, a space for the user to operate the side guide 80 ( The size of the cassette body 60 in the width direction can be further reduced while ensuring a space in which a fingertip can be inserted. That is, in the present embodiment, the first embodiment in which the size in the width direction on one side of the cassette body 60 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 while ensuring the operation space a3 (FIG. 4) of the side guide 80. Compared to the form, the space c3 (FIG. 4) can be reduced. Here, the space c3 is the same as the space d2 (distance from the side surface of the side guide 80 to the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76) in the first embodiment.

Therefore, the size in the width direction of the cassette body 60 in this embodiment is (maximum sheet width + (thickness of the side guide 80 + thickness 70 of the inner wall portion + thickness of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64 + outer wall 72). Thickness) × 2).
That is, as compared with the conventional example (FIG. 7), the horizontal width of the cassette body 60 can be reduced by the size of ((space c2 + space c3) × 2).
Further, since the portion of the frame portion 68 that faces the side guide 80 is a space that does not have a wall surface, the side guide 80 can be easily operated without interfering with the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68. .

  Next, a third embodiment will be described.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member substantially the same as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 5 shows details of the paper feed cassette 40 in the third embodiment.
FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 40, and FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the above-described first cutout portion 96 is provided on the upper portion of the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68. Further, the upper portion of the outer wall 72 of the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68 is provided. Is provided with the second notch 98 described above.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the guide part 76 of the frame part 68 is provided with a third notch part 100. The third cutout portion 100 is formed at a portion facing the side surface of the side guide 80. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), a portion of the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76 that is opposed to the side guide 80 is cut out, and the side surface of the side guide 80 is moved when the side guide 80 is moved outward. Is in contact with the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64. Therefore, the thickness of the frame portion 68 facing the side guide 80, that is, the thickness e4 of the guide portion 76 (FIG. 5) is the thickness e3 of the guide portion 76 of the second embodiment indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Compared to the thickness of the inner wall 70, it is smaller (thinner) by the thickness.

  Thus, by providing the first notch portion 96, the second notch portion 98, and the third notch portion 100 at a portion facing the side guide 80 of the frame portion 68 of the cassette body 60, the side guide is provided. While securing 80 operation spaces a4 (FIG. 5), the size in the width direction on one side of the cassette body 60 is compared with the space c4 (FIG. 5) in comparison with the second embodiment indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. ) Can be made smaller. Here, the space c <b> 4 is the same as the thickness of the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76.

Therefore, the size in the width direction of the cassette body 60 in this embodiment is (maximum paper width + (thickness of the side guide 80 + thickness of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64 + thickness of the outer wall 72) × 2). It can be.
That is, as compared with the conventional example (FIG. 7), the horizontal width of the cassette body 60 can be reduced by the size of ((space c2 + space c3 + space c4) × 2).

  Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member substantially the same as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 6 shows details of the paper feed cassette 40 in the fourth embodiment.
6A is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 40, FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 6A, and FIG. 6C is removed from the cassette body 60. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an expansion member 64.

As shown in FIG. 6, the above-described first cutout portion 96 is provided on the upper portion of the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68, and on the outer wall 72 of the guide portion 76 of the frame portion 68, The above-described second cutout portion 98 is provided, and the above-described third cutout portion 100 is provided on the inner wall 70 of the guide portion 76.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, the expansion member 64 is provided with a fourth notch 102. The fourth cutout portion 102 cuts off a part of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64 so that the side surface of the side guide 80 is moved when the side guide 80 is moved outward (in the width direction of the cassette body 60). The expansion member 64 comes into contact with the inner surface of the outer wall 72. Therefore, the fourth notch 102 is formed to face the side guide 80 when the expansion member 64 is moved (expanded / contracted) with respect to the cassette body 60 by a predetermined distance. That is, the position of the fourth cutout portion 102 in the frame portion 78 is determined by the size of the paper accommodated in the cassette body 60 (in this embodiment, two positions are formed on both sides).

  Therefore, the thickness of the frame portion 68 facing the side guide 80, that is, the thickness e5 of the guide portion 76 (thickness of the outer wall 72) is the same as that of the guide portion 76 of the third embodiment shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Compared to the thickness e4 (thickness of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64 + thickness of the outer wall 72), it is smaller (thinner) by the thickness of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64.

  As described above, by providing the fourth cutout portion 102 in the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64, the space a5 (FIG. 6) for the side guide 80 is secured, and the width direction on one side of the cassette body 60 is increased. The size can be reduced by the space c5 (FIG. 6) as compared with the third embodiment indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Here, the space c <b> 5 is the same as the thickness of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64.

Therefore, the size in the width direction of the cassette body 60 in the fourth embodiment can be (maximum paper width + (thickness of the side guide 80 + thickness of the outer wall 72) × 2).
That is, as compared with the conventional example (FIG. 7), the lateral width of the cassette body 60 can be reduced by the size of ((space c2 + space c3 + space c4 + space c5) × 2).

  In the present embodiment, the fourth cutout portion 102 is provided at two locations on the left and right sides of the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A plurality of cutout portions 102 may be provided on the frame portion 78 of the expansion member 64 (for example, three or more on each of the left and right sides) depending on the paper size to be used.

1 is a side view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B show a paper feed cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view showing the paper feed cassette, and FIG. 2B is a side view of FIG. 1A and 1B show a paper feed cassette according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the paper feed cassette, and FIG. FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a paper feed cassette according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a paper feed cassette according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. FIG. 5A shows a paper feed cassette according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the paper feed cassette, FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the expansion member of the state removed. An example of the conventional paper feed cassette is shown, (a) is a perspective view showing a conventional paper feed cassette, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of (a).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 12 Image forming apparatus main body 40 Paper feed cassette
60 Cassette body 64 Expansion member 66 Bottom plate 68 Frame portion 70 Inner wall 72 Outer wall 76 Guide portion 78 Frame portion 80 Side guide 96 First notch portion 98 Second notch portion 100 Third notch portion 102 Fourth notch Notch

Claims (7)

The bottom plate,
A side guide provided on the bottom plate so as to be able to move in the width direction of the paper to be stored in accordance with the width size of the paper to be stored;
A notch portion is formed so as to be a space that is erected from the bottom plate, and at least the upper half does not have a wall surface at a portion facing the side guide, and a frame portion;
Have
A paper feed cassette that is attached to the image forming apparatus main body and pulled out from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body,
The width direction in which the side guide moves is a direction that intersects the pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette that is pulled out from the front side of the image forming apparatus main body,
Cutout portions formed in the frame portion are formed on both side surfaces of the paper feed cassette,
When moving the side guide to the outer side in the width direction of the sheet to be accommodated, moves the side guide inward in conjunction with the width direction of the paper to be accommodated side of the side guide comes in contact with the frame portion The sheet feeding cassette is configured so that the side guide can be operated from the outside of the frame portion through the notch portion of the frame portion . The expansion member further slidably provided on the frame body ,
The frame portion consists of the inner and outer walls, have a guide portion to sandwich at least a part of the expansion member, and an interference preventing portion for avoiding interference by the side guides of the operation at a site facing the side guide The paper feed cassette according to claim 1 . The paper feed cassette according to claim 2 , wherein the interference prevention unit is constituted by a cutout part formed by cutting out a part of the frame part. The paper feed cassette according to claim 3 , wherein the cutout portion is formed by cutting out a part of a frame portion located above the inner wall of the guide portion. The paper feed cassette according to claim 3 , wherein the cutout portion is formed by cutting out a part of a frame portion located above the inner wall of the guide portion and above the outer wall of the guide portion. The paper feed cassette according to claim 5 , wherein the notch portion is formed by further notching an inner wall of the guide portion. The paper feed cassette according to claim 6 , wherein the cutout portion is formed by further cutting out a part of the expansion member.

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