JP6418002B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a paper feed member provided so that an opening provided on a side surface of a housing can be opened and closed.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeding member that can open and close an opening provided on a side surface of a housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As such a sheet feeding member, for example, there is a multipurpose (MP) tray. In this image forming apparatus, the paper feed member includes a cover member that can open and close the opening on the side surface of the housing, and a mounting member that is slidable with respect to the cover member and is pivotally supported by the housing (for example, the housing). And a main tray on which sheets to be fed are placed. In addition, the cover member is fixed to a front cover that covers a part of the side surface of the housing with a lock member such as a lock lever (a component that is separate from or integrally formed with the cover member). In order to open the cover member, the gripping portion provided on the outer surface of the cover member is pulled to release the lock member.

JP2013-116818A

  Here, since the cover member is generally a molded body made of resin or the like having elasticity, when the lock member is released, the cover member is subjected to a load for releasing the lock member and bends to some extent. When the lock member is released, the deflection is restored and restored by the elasticity of the cover member itself.

  On the other hand, since the mounting member is slidably supported with respect to the cover member, a predetermined gap is formed between the cover member and the mounting member. For this reason, the mounting member supported by the cover member with a predetermined gap vibrates due to the deflection and restoration of the cover member when the cover member is opened from the housing, and noise and noise due to this vibration are generated. was there. Moreover, in order to support the mounting member so as to be slidable with respect to the cover member, it is impossible to completely eliminate the gap between the mounting member and the cover member.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing noise and noise generated when a cover member of a paper feeding member that can open and close an opening provided on a side surface of a housing is opened. And

In order to achieve the above-described object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing having an opening on a side surface thereof, the opening being provided to be openable and closable, and in an open position for opening the opening. A sheet feeding member capable of placing a sheet to be fed into the housing from the opening.
The paper feeding member is provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing, and a cover member that constitutes a part of an appearance in a state where the paper feeding member is in a closed position that closes the opening, and the housing A mounting member that is pivotally supported by the body and is slidable with respect to the cover member, the mounting member being capable of mounting the sheet, and the mounting member in the state where at least the paper feeding member is in the closed position. And an urging member that urges the cover member in a direction to approach or separate from the cover member.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the urging member urges the mounting member in the direction in which the placing member approaches or separates from the cover member in a state where at least the paper feeding member is in the closed position. Thereby, the vibration of the mounting member due to the restoration of the deflection of the cover member when the cover member is opened from the housing can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress noise and noise generated by the vibration of the mounting member.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, the mounting member includes a plate portion that is formed in a plate shape extending in an axial direction of the shaft that is pivotally supported by the housing and an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the axial direction; A convex portion protruding in the axial direction from the plate portion, the cover member has a groove portion with which the convex portion engages, and the biasing member biases the mounting member. It is desirable to urge the convex portion toward the groove portion.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, by urging the protrusion toward the groove, the vibration of the mounting member is suppressed by the force that urges the protrusion toward the groove.

  In the image forming apparatus in which the mounting member has a plate portion and a convex portion, and the cover member has a groove portion, the biasing member is the orthogonal member in a state where the paper feeding member is in the closed position. It is desirable that at least a part in the direction is provided within the range where the convex portion is provided.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the urging member has a position close to the position where the convex portion is provided in the orthogonal direction, that is, a position close to the position where the cover member and the mounting member are in contact with each other. Can be energized. Therefore, since it can be urged so as to suppress the movement of the convex portion in the groove portion at the contact position between the convex portion and the groove portion where the restoring force of the deflection of the cover member is easily applied, the position far from the contact position is urged. As a result, the effect of suppressing the vibration of the mounting member is enhanced.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, the placing member is provided with a first guide member and a second guide member each having a regulating surface capable of regulating positions of both end portions in the width direction of the sheet, and the urging member Is preferably positioned on the outer side in the width direction of the mounting member with respect to the regulating surfaces.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the urging member is positioned at a position close to the position where the convex portion is provided in the axial direction, that is, a position close to the position where the cover member and the mounting member are in contact with each other. Can be energized. Therefore, since it can be urged so as to suppress the movement of the convex portion in the groove portion at the contact position between the convex portion and the groove portion where the restoring force of the deflection of the cover member is easily applied, the position far from the contact position is urged. As a result, the effect of suppressing the vibration of the mounting member is enhanced.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the image forming apparatus further includes a lock member that locks the sheet feeding member in the closed position.

  In the image forming apparatus described above, the biasing member biases the placement member while the sheet feeding member rotates from the closed position to an intermediate position where the lock member is unlocked. Is desirable.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, not only at the moment when the lock by the lock member is released, but also during the rotation of the paper feed member to the intermediate position where the lock is completely released, Can be suppressed. Therefore, noise and vibration can be more reliably suppressed.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the urging member is disposed at a position closer to the swing shaft of the cover member than the lock member.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, when the cover member swings and moves from the closed position to the intermediate position, the amount of movement of the biasing member becomes smaller than the amount of movement of the lock member. Therefore, it becomes easy for the urging member to continue to urge the mounting member at the moment when the lock is released and while the sheet feeding member rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position.

  In the image forming apparatus described above, the urging member may be provided on the mounting member.

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, it is preferable that the cover member has a protrusion at a position facing the urging member in a state where the paper feeding member is in the closed position.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, since the distance between the cover member and the mounting member is shortened by the amount of the protrusion, the urging force of the urging member on the mounting member can be further increased. it can. Thereby, the vibration suppression effect of a mounting member also increases, As a result, noise and abnormal noise are further suppressed.

  In the image forming apparatus in which the cover member has a protrusion, it is preferable that the protrusion has a rib shape.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, it is possible to make it difficult for the protruding portion to interfere with members other than the urging member when the sheet feeding member is opened and closed.

  In the image forming apparatus in which the protruding portion has a rib shape, the protruding portion has a mountain shape that protrudes toward the biasing member, and the attachment portion is opened when the paper feeding member is opened or closed. It is desirable to arrange so as not to interfere with members other than the biasing member.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured in this way, rather than simply having a rib shape, the urging portion is urged when the paper feeding member is opened and closed while maintaining the urging force of the urging member against the mounting member. It can make it difficult to interfere with members other than a member further.

  In the image forming apparatus described above, it is preferable that the urging member is a sponge.

  According to the image forming apparatus configured as described above, it is possible to more effectively suppress the generation of abnormal noise when the cover member is opened.

  According to the present invention, when the biasing member opens the cover member from the casing by biasing the mounting member in the direction of approaching or separating from the cover member in a state where at least the paper feeding member is in the closed position. The vibration of the mounting member due to the restoration of the deflection of the cover member can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress noise and noise generated by the vibration of the mounting member.

It is a perspective view of the laser printer provided with the paper feed member concerning one embodiment. It is a sectional side view of the laser printer provided with the paper feed member concerning one embodiment. It is a perspective view of the cover member concerning one embodiment. It is the perspective view which looked at the mounting member which concerns on one Embodiment from the side facing a cover member. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the sheet feeding member in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the placing member when the sheet feeding member is in the closed position, as viewed from the sheet placing surface side. They are a cross-sectional view (a) showing the state of the lock member when the paper feed member is in the closed position, and a side cross-sectional view (b) showing the state of the whole paper feed member. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (a) showing the state of the lock member when the paper feed member is at an intermediate position, and a side cross-sectional view (b) showing the state of the whole paper feed member. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the entire sheet feeding member when the sheet feeding member is in an open position.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, first, a schematic configuration of the laser printer 1 as an example of the image forming apparatus will be described, and then a characteristic part of the present invention will be described.

  In the following description, the direction will be described with reference to a user who uses a paper feed member such as an MP tray of the laser printer 1. That is, the right side in FIG. 2 is “rear”, the left side is “front”, the front side is “right”, and the back side is “left”. In addition, the vertical direction in FIG.

<Schematic configuration of laser printer>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the laser printer 1 includes a sheet feeding unit 3 for supplying a sheet S as an example of a sheet in a housing 2, an exposure device 4, and a toner image on the sheet S. It mainly includes a process unit 5 for transferring, a fixing device 8 for thermally fixing the toner image transferred on the paper S, and an MP tray 100 as an example of a paper feeding member according to the present embodiment.

  The paper feed unit 3 is provided in the lower part of the housing 2 and mainly includes a paper feed tray 31, a paper pressing plate 32, and a paper feed mechanism 33. The paper S stored in the paper feed tray 31 is moved upward by the paper pressing plate 32 and supplied toward the process unit 5 (between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 63) by the paper feed mechanism 33.

  The exposure device 4 is disposed in the upper part of the housing 2 and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror, a lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like that are not shown. In this exposure apparatus 4, the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 is exposed by scanning the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 at high speed with laser light (see the chain line) based on the image data emitted from the laser light emitting unit.

  Although not shown, the process unit 5 is disposed below the exposure apparatus 4, but the front cover 21 (the entire cover member 110, a pair of side walls 211, and an upper wall 212, which will be described later) is provided on the housing 2. ) Is rotated from the front to the housing 2 so as to be detachably mounted. As shown in FIG. 1, the front cover 21 constitutes a part of the casing 2 in a closed state. The process unit 5 includes a drum cartridge 6 and a developing cartridge 7.

  The drum cartridge 6 mainly includes a photosensitive drum 61, a charger 62, and a transfer roller 63. The developing cartridge 7 is detachably attached to the drum cartridge 6. The developing cartridge 7 mainly includes a developing roller 71, a supply roller 72, a layer thickness regulating blade 73, and a toner storage portion 74 that stores toner.

  In the process unit 5, the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 is uniformly positively charged by the charger 62 and then exposed by high-speed scanning of the laser light from the exposure device 4. As a result, the potential of the exposed portion is lowered, and an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed on the photosensitive drum 61. In addition, the toner in the toner container 74 is supplied to the developing roller 71 via the supply roller 72, and at this time, the toner is positively frictionally charged between the supply roller 72 and the developing roller 71. The toner supplied onto the developing roller 71 enters between the layer thickness regulating blades 73 as the developing roller 71 rotates, and is further triboelectrically charged onto the developing roller 71 as a thin layer having a constant thickness. Supported.

  The toner carried on the developing roller 71 is supplied from the developing roller 71 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 61. As a result, the electrostatic latent image is visualized and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 61. Thereafter, the sheet S is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 61 and the transfer roller 63 so that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 61 is transferred onto the sheet S.

  The fixing device 8 is disposed behind the process unit 5 and sandwiches the fixing belt between a heating unit 81 including a halogen heater, a fixing belt, a nip plate, and the like, which are not shown, and a nip plate of the heating unit 81. The pressure roller 82 is mainly provided. In the fixing device 8, the toner image transferred onto the paper S is thermally fixed while the paper S passes between the heating unit 81 and the pressure roller 82. The paper S on which the toner image has been thermally fixed is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 22 by a paper discharge roller 23.

  In addition, the laser printer 1 employs a so-called cleanerless system in which residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 61 without being transferred to the paper S is collected and reused by the developing cartridge 7. Specifically, when collecting the residual toner, the surface of the photosensitive drum 61 is once charged by the charger 62 so that the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 61 is higher than the potential of the developing roller 71. As a result, the positively charged residual toner placed on the photosensitive drum 61 moves to the developing roller 71 and is returned to the toner containing portion 74.

<Detailed configuration of paper feeding member>
Next, a detailed configuration of the MP tray 100 as an example of a sheet feeding member which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be described.

  The MP tray 100 is provided so as to be able to open and close an opening 2A surrounded by a pair of side walls 211 and an upper wall 212 of the housing 2, and is in an open position for opening the opening 2A (described later). In the state of FIG. 9, it is possible to place the paper S to be fed from the opening 2 </ b> A into the housing 2. 2 to 4, the MP tray 100 includes a cover member 110, a main tray 120 as an example of a placement member, and a sponge 130 as an example of a biasing member.

(Cover member)
The cover member 110 is provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing 2 about the swing shaft 24, and the MP tray 100 is in a closed position where the opening 2A is closed (the state of FIG. 7 described later). ) Constitutes a part of the appearance of the laser printer 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover member 110 is provided with bearings 111 of the swing shaft 24 at both ends of the swing shaft 24 in the axis 11 </ b> A direction. Further, the cover member 110 has two groove portions 112 with which two bosses 123 (see FIG. 4) described later are engaged. The two groove portions 112 are provided near one end portion and the other end portion in the width direction of the cover member 110 from the side closer to the swing shaft 24 to the side farther from the side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the cover member 110 has a protrusion 113 at a position facing the sponge 130 in a state where the MP tray 100 is in the closed position. The protrusion 113 has a rib shape. The protrusion 113 extends long from the side close to the shaft 11 </ b> A to the side far from the shaft 11 </ b> A, and has a mountain shape that protrudes toward the sponge 130 when viewed along the shaft 11 </ b> A. Further, it is desirable that the protruding portion 113 is disposed so as not to interfere with members other than the sponge 130 when the MP tray 100 is opened and closed. Thereby, when the MP tray 100 is opened and closed, it is possible to prevent noise and noise from occurring due to the protrusion 113 interfering with other members.

  Moreover, the cover member 110 is provided with the latching claw 114 as an example of the lock member which concerns on this embodiment. The locking claw 114 has a hook shape at the tip of the leaf spring and is supported by the claw support portion 115. A spring (not shown) is disposed between the back surface of the locking claw 114 and the claw support portion 115, so that the locking claw 114 is elastically supported by the claw support portion 115. The claw support portion 115 is fixed to the cover member 110 by a screw 116 or the like. Further, the locking claw 114 is engaged with a locking projection 26 provided in the opening 2A of the housing 2 as shown in FIG. 1, and is engaged with the locking projection 26 by its own elastic force. Is retained. As a result, the cover member 110 is held in the housing 2 in the closed position. As described above, the locking claw 114 provided on the cover member 110 and the locking projection 26 provided on the housing 2 constitute the locking member according to the present embodiment.

(Mounting member)
As shown in FIG. 2, the main tray 120 is pivotally supported on the housing 2 by a rotation shaft 25 and is slidable with respect to the cover member 110. As shown in FIG. 4, the main tray 120 is formed in a plate shape that extends in the axial direction A of the rotation shaft 25 that is a shaft that is pivotally supported by the housing 2 and in the orthogonal direction B that is orthogonal to the axial direction. It has the board part 121 formed and the boss | hub 123 as an example of the convex part which protruded in the axial direction A from the board part 121. FIG. A bearing 122 of the rotation shaft 25 is provided on the side of the plate part 121 on the housing 2 side. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface 121 </ b> A of the plate portion 121 is a placement surface on which the paper S can be placed. Further, the boss 123 is inserted into the groove portion 112 of the cover member 110 described above, so that the main tray 120 is slidably supported with respect to the cover member 110.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the main tray 120 has a first guide member 124 and a second guide member 125 on the upper surface 121 </ b> A of the plate portion 121. The first guide member 124 and the second guide member 125 have a regulation surface 124A and a regulation surface 125A that regulate the positions of the one end T1 and the other end T2 in the width direction W of the paper S, respectively. The first guide member 124 and the second guide member 125 are continuously provided with a placement plate 124B and a placement plate 125B extending toward the center in the width direction of the paper S placed on the main tray 120, respectively. Are integrally formed. A part of the paper S can be placed on the placement plate 124B and the placement plate 125B.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, on the back side (the side facing the cover member 110) of the mounting surface 121A of the first guide member 124 and the second guide member 125, a rack 126 and a rack 127, respectively. Are integrally formed. Similarly, the racks 126 and 127 are arranged so as to be symmetric with respect to the rotation shaft 128A of the pinion 128 provided on the back surface side of the mounting surface 121A. In the illustrated example, when the MP tray 100 is in the open position, the rack teeth 126A of the rack 126 mesh with the front side in the orthogonal direction B of the gear of the pinion 128, and the rack teeth 127A of the rack 127 are orthogonal to the gear of the pinion 128. It meshes with the rear side in B.

  The guide members 124 and 125 having the above-described configuration move in the opposite directions in the axial direction A. For example, when the guide member 124 is moved from one side of the plate portion 121 toward the center in the axial direction A, the rack 126 also moves integrally. Then, the pinion 128 rotates clockwise in FIG. As a result, as a result of the rack 127 moving in the opposite direction to the rack 126, the second guide member 125 is opposite to the first guide member 124 (that is, from the other side of the plate portion 121 toward the center). Moving.

(Biasing member)
The sponge 130 is provided on the back surface (the surface facing the cover member 110) of the main tray 120, and biases the main tray 120 away from the cover member 110 in a state where at least the MP tray 100 is in the closed position. It is a member to do. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the sponge 130 biases the main tray 120 in a direction orthogonal to the swing shaft 24 of the cover member 110. Due to the urging force to the main tray 120, a force that urges the boss 123 provided on the main tray 120 toward the peripheral edge of the groove portion 112 of the cover member 110 also acts.

  Further, in a state where the MP tray 100 is in the closed position, the sponge 130 is desirably provided within a range L in which the boss 123 is provided in the orthogonal direction B as shown in FIG. That is, in the orthogonal direction B, it is desirable that at least a part of the sponge 130 is arranged so that the range L where the boss 123 is provided overlaps the range M where the sponge 130 is provided. In the present embodiment, the entire range L in which the boss 123 is provided is included in the range M in which the sponge 130 is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. The sponge 130 may be provided so that the portion overlaps the range M in which the sponge 130 is provided. Further, the sponge 130 is positioned in the width direction of the main tray 120 (that is, the axis of the rotation shaft 25) from the restriction surface 124A of the first guide member 124 and the restriction surface 125A of the second guide member 125 provided on the main tray 120. It is desirable to be located outside (direction A) (the protruding direction side of the boss 123). As described above, the sponge 130 is disposed at a position close to the boss 123, so that the position where the sponge 130 is close to the boss 123 can be biased in a state where the MP tray 100 is in the closed position. Note that, if the sponge 130 can urge the vicinity of the boss 123, it is not necessarily preferable even if the sponge 130 is not provided within the range L where the boss 123 is provided. Similarly, if the sponge 130 can urge the vicinity of the boss 123, it is not always necessary that the sponge 130 is located outside the regulating surfaces 124A and 125A.

<Operation and effects of paper feeding member>
Next, the operation, action, and effect of the MP tray 100 configured as described above will be described.

(Paper feeding member opening operation)
First, the opening operation of the MP tray 100 will be described. In a state where the MP tray 100 is in the closed position (hereinafter referred to as “closed state”), the locking claw 114 of the cover member 110 is attached to the housing 2 as shown in FIGS. The locking projection 26 is engaged. Here, the locking projection 26 is fixedly installed on the housing 2. On the other hand, the locking claw 114 is biased by the elasticity toward the locking projection 26 from the claw support portion 115. Therefore, since the urging force acts on the locking claw 114 in a direction in which the engaging force with the locking projection 26 is increased, the locking claw 114 and the locking projection 26 as shown in FIG. Is maintained in the engaged state.

  In the closed state, the protrusion 113 and the sponge 130 are in contact so that the protrusion 113 of the cover member 110 presses the sponge 130. Accordingly, the sponge 130 urges the main tray 120 from the back surface (surface facing the cover member 110) side of the plate portion 121 in a direction in which the main tray 120 is separated from the cover member 110 by the urging force F.

  Next, when the MP tray 100 starts to be opened by pulling a grip portion (not shown) provided on the MP tray 100, a force that pulls the locking claw 114 toward the front surface of the housing 2 is applied. At this time, since the latching protrusion 26 is fixedly installed on the housing 2, an urging force is exerted so that the latching claw 114 is pushed into the inside of the claw support portion 115 due to the elasticity of the latching claw 114. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8A, the engagement state between the engagement claw 114 and the engagement projection 26 is released, and the lock by the lock member is released (hereinafter referred to as “intermediate state”). .) In the intermediate state, the engagement state between the locking claw 114 and the locking projection 26 is released, but they are still in contact with each other.

  Further, even in the intermediate state, the protrusion 113 (more specifically, the contact portion 113C shown in FIG. 3) of the cover member 110 presses the sponge 130 as shown in FIG. The state where the projection 113 and the sponge 130 are in contact with each other is maintained. Accordingly, the intermediate position (the top of the locking claw 114 is the top of the locking projection 26) is released from the closed position shown in FIG. During the rotation of the MP tray 100 to the position where the main tray 120 is moved to the position where the main tray 120 is separated from the cover member 110, the sponge 130 continues to be urged from the back surface side of the plate portion 121.

  Here, since the cover member 110 is a molded body of resin or the like having elasticity, when the lock of the lock member (in this embodiment, the engagement state between the engagement claw 114 and the engagement protrusion 26) is released. A load for releasing the lock is applied to the cover member 110, which causes deflection. Further, when the lock is released and the intermediate state is reached, the deflection is restored and restored by the elasticity of the cover member 110 itself. On the other hand, since the main tray 120 is slidably supported with respect to the cover member 110, a predetermined gap is formed between the cover member 110 and the main tray 120. Therefore, when the cover member 110 is opened from the housing 2 and the lock by the lock member is released, and until the MP tray 100 moves from the closed position to the intermediate position where the lock is released, the cover member 110 Due to the deflection and restoration, the main tray 120 supported by the cover member 110 with a predetermined gap may vibrate, and noise and noise due to this vibration may be generated.

  However, in the MP tray 100, since the sponge 130 can continue to urge the main tray 120 at the moment when the lock is released and while the MP tray 100 rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position, the cover member 110 And the gap between the main tray 120 and the play can be eliminated. Further, the sponge 130 biases the main tray 120, so that the boss 123 can be biased toward the peripheral edge of the groove portion 112. Therefore, the vibration of the main tray 120 is suppressed, and the generation of noise and abnormal noise due to the vibration described above can be suppressed. In particular, the vibration of the main tray 120 is considered to be the largest at the moment when the lock is released. Therefore, if the urging force of the sponge 130 to the main tray 120 is large at the moment when the lock is released, the vibration of the main tray 120 is increased accordingly. The suppression effect is also increased. Further, the higher the compression ratio of the sponge 130 due to the pressing force from the projection 113, the greater the repulsive force due to the elasticity of the sponge 130, so the urging force of the sponge 130 against the main tray 120 increases. The compression ratio of the sponge 130 can be adjusted by changing the thickness and rigidity of the sponge 130.

  Further, in the MP tray 100, for example, when the size of the gap between the cover member 110 and the main tray 120 changes, or when the holding force of the lock by the lock member changes, the deflection amount of the cover member 110 (and thus the main tray). Even when the magnitude of the vibration 120 is changed, the degree of vibration suppression can be adjusted by changing the thickness, rigidity, etc. of the sponge 130. Therefore, even when the size of the gap between the cover member 110 and the main tray 120, the lock holding force, or the like is changed, it is not necessary to change the design of the resin parts themselves such as the cover member 110 and the main tray 120.

  Note that the vibration of the main tray 120 may continue for a short time from the moment when the locking claw 114 and the locking projection 26 come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. . Therefore, even after the MP tray 100 is further rotated from the intermediate position, while the vibration of the main tray 120 continues, the contact state between the projection 113 and the sponge 130 is suppressed in order to suppress the vibration. Preferably, the sponge 130 is biasing the main tray 120. Thereby, the prevention effect of noise and abnormal noise can be further enhanced.

  In the present embodiment, the sponge 130 is disposed closer to the swing shaft 24 of the cover member 110 than the lock members (the locking claws 114 and the claw support portions 115). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8B, the distance R1 from the swing shaft 24 to the sponge 130 is shorter than the distance R2 from the swing shaft 24 to the lock member. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8C, when the cover member 110 swings and moves from the closed position to the intermediate position, the movement amount D1 of the sponge 130 is smaller than the movement amount D2 of the lock member. Become. Therefore, even if the thickness of the sponge 130 is thin, it is easy for the sponge 130 to continue to urge the main tray 120 at the moment when the lock is released and while the MP tray 100 rotates from the closed position to the intermediate position. Become.

  Further, as already described with reference to FIG. 6, when the sponge 130 is disposed at a position close to the boss 123, the position where the cover member 110 and the main tray 120 are in contact, that is, the boss 123 and the groove portion. The position close to the position where 112 comes into contact can be biased. Accordingly, since it is possible to urge the cover member 110 so as to suppress the movement of the boss 123 in the groove portion 112 at the contact position between the boss 123 and the groove portion 112 where the bending restoring force of the cover member 110 is likely to be applied. Also, the effect of suppressing the vibration of the main tray 120 is enhanced. Further, when the sponge 130 urges a position far from the contact position (for example, near the center of the main tray 120), the urging force of the sponge 130 itself causes a deflection of the main tray 120. The main tray 120 may vibrate. However, if the sponge 130 is disposed at a position close to the boss 123, such vibration due to restoring the deflection of the main tray 120 itself can be suppressed. Such an effect is obtained if the sponge 130 can urge the vicinity of the boss 123. For example, even when the sponge 130 is not provided within the range L where the boss 123 is provided or when the sponge 130 is not located outside the regulating surfaces 124A and 125A, the sponge 130 is in the vicinity of the boss 123. The above-mentioned effect can be obtained when it can be energized.

  Next, when the MP tray 100 is further opened from the intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 9, the opening 2A of the housing 2 is opened, and the MP tray 100 is in the open position (hereinafter referred to as “open state”). ). When changing from the intermediate state to the open state, the cover member 110 swings around the swing shaft 24 in a direction away from the front surface of the housing 2 (counterclockwise in the illustrated example). Further, the main tray 120 slides with respect to the cover member 110 so as to be close to the swing shaft 24, and away from the front surface of the housing 2 about the rotation shaft 25 (in the illustrated example, the counterclockwise direction). Rotate). In this way, after the open state, the main tray 120 can be used as a sheet S placing member.

  Further, in the open state, as described above, the main tray 120 slides with respect to the cover member 110 so as to be close to the swing shaft 24, so that the sponge 130 and the protrusion 113 are not in contact with each other and are separated from each other. The urging of the main tray 120 by the sponge 130 is also released. Thus, in the open state, the sponge 130 and the protrusion 113 need not be in contact with each other. Therefore, in the open state, there is no need to place the MP tray 100 at a position where the sponge 130 and the protrusion 113 are in contact with each other. Therefore, the position of the MP tray 100 is not limited by the installation of the sponge 130, and the MP tray 100 There is no problem with the paper feeding performance.

  Further, it is desirable that the protrusion 113 does not interfere with or contact any member other than the sponge 130 through the above-described closed state, intermediate state, and open state. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the noise and noise which arise by the projection part 113 interfering or contacting with members other than sponge 130 can be prevented.

(Feeding member closing operation)
Next, the closing operation of the MP tray 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, when the MP tray 100 is in the open position, pressing the outer surface of the cover member 110 causes the cover member 110 to approach the front surface of the housing 2 around the swing shaft 24. Rock. As the cover member 110 swings, the main tray 120 rotates in the direction of approaching the front surface of the housing 2 while sliding away from the swing shaft 24 with respect to the cover member 110.

  Next, when the MP tray 100 reaches the intermediate position due to the swinging of the cover member 110, the main tray 120 further rotates in the direction approaching the front surface of the housing 2 and swings with respect to the cover member 110. Further sliding so as to move away from the moving shaft 24, the sponge 130 arranged on the back side of the main tray 120 and the protrusion of the cover member 110 come into contact again. At this time, since the sponge 130 has elasticity, the restoring force against the compression works by being compressed by being pressed from the protrusion 113. The main tray 120 is urged in a direction in which the main tray 120 is separated from the cover member 110 by the restoring force of the sponge 130.

  Further, the locking claw 114 of the cover member 110 comes into contact with the locking projection 26 of the housing 2 again. In this state, the locking claw 114 is not yet engaged with the locking projection 26.

  Next, when the cover member 110 is further swung in the direction of approaching the front surface of the housing 2, the locking claw 114 is urged by the locking protrusion 26 fixed to the housing 2, and the elasticity of the locking claw 114 is applied. A biasing force is exerted such that the locking claw 114 is pushed into the inside of the claw support portion 115. The locking claw 114 moves toward the inside of the housing 2 along the inclined surface formed on the locking projection 26 in a state of receiving this urging force. The inclined surface of the locking projection 26 is formed so that the locking claw 114 is pushed further into the claw support portion 115 toward the inside of the housing 2. The stronger the pawl 114 moves into the housing 2, the stronger it becomes. When the rear end portion of the locking claw 114 reaches the end portion of the inclined surface in this way, the restoring force due to the elasticity of the locking claw 114 works, and as shown in FIG. The end portion is in a state of being locked to the surface on the back side (inside of the housing 2) of the locking projection 26. In this way, the cover member 110 is fixed to the housing 2 and the position of the MP tray 100 is locked in the closed position.

  Further, while the MP tray 100 moves from the intermediate position to the closed position, the state in which the protrusion 113 of the cover member 110 and the sponge 130 are in contact with each other is maintained, so that the main tray 120 is separated from the cover member 110. The energized state is also maintained. Therefore, in the MP tray 100, the sponge 130 can continue to urge the main tray 120 while the MP tray 100 is rotated from the intermediate position to the closed position and at the moment of being locked. The gap between 110 and the main tray 120 can be filled and play can be eliminated. Further, the sponge 130 biases the main tray 120, so that the boss 123 can be biased toward the peripheral edge of the groove portion 112. Therefore, during the closing operation of the MP tray 100, as in the case of the opening operation, the vibration of the main tray 120 is suppressed, and the generation of noise and noise due to the vibration described above can be suppressed.

(Type of biasing member)
In this embodiment, a sponge is used as an example of the urging member. However, the urging member of the present invention is not limited to a sponge as long as it has elasticity and has the above-described function. For example, a plate spring, a resin spring, or the like can be used as the biasing member of the present invention. However, since the sponge easily attenuates the vibration of the cover member or the like, it is desirable to use the sponge as described above.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. About a concrete structure, it can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

  Although the sponge 130 provided in the main tray 120 which is an example of a mounting member was illustrated as an example of an urging member in the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the urging member may be provided on the cover member.

  In the embodiment, the urging member is provided so as to separate the main tray 120 from the cover member 110. However, the urging member may be provided so as to bring the main tray 120 close to the cover member 110.

  In the embodiment, as an example of the lock member, a so-called snap fit made up of the locking claw 114 and the locking projection 26 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the locking claw may be provided on the housing and the locking projection may be provided on the cover member, or a fitting portion (concave portion) into which the locking claw is fitted instead of the locking projection is provided. It may be done.

  In the embodiment, the laser printer 1 is illustrated as an example of an image forming apparatus including a paper feed member such as the MP tray 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other image forming apparatuses such as a copying machine and a composite machine are exemplified. It may be a machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser printer 2 Housing | casing 2A Opening part 24 Oscillating shaft 25 Rotating shaft 26 Locking protrusion 100 MP tray 110 Cover member 112 Groove part 113 Projection part 114 Locking claw 120 Main tray 121 Plate part 123 Boss 124 1st guide member 124 Guide member 124A Restriction surface 125 Second guide member 125A Restriction surface 130 Sponge A Axial direction B Orthogonal direction S Paper

Claims (17)

A housing having an opening on a side surface;
A paper feed member that is provided so as to be able to open and close the opening, and is capable of placing a sheet to be fed into the housing from the opening in an open position that opens the opening,
The paper feeding member is
A cover member provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing, and constituting a part of an appearance in a state where the paper feeding member is in a closed position closing the opening;
A mounting member that is pivotally supported by the housing and is slidable with respect to the cover member;
Possess at least an urging member the sheet feeding member for urging the front placing member in a direction in which approaches or leaves the said cover member in a state in said closed position, and
The mounting member includes a plate portion formed in a plate shape extending in an axial direction of a shaft pivotally supported by the housing and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and protrudes in the axial direction from the plate portion. A convex portion, and
The cover member has a groove portion with which the convex portion is engaged,
The urging member urges the placement member to urge the convex portion toward the groove portion. In a state in which the paper feed member is in said closed position, said biasing member, to claim 1, characterized in that at least a portion in the perpendicular direction are provided within a range where the convex portions are provided The image forming apparatus described. The placement member is provided with a first guide member and a second guide member each having a regulation surface capable of regulating positions of both ends in the width direction of the sheet,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the urging member is located on the outer side in the width direction of the mounting member with respect to each of the regulating surfaces. 4.   A housing having an opening on a side surface;
  A paper feed member that is provided so as to be able to open and close the opening, and is capable of placing a sheet to be fed into the housing from the opening in an open position that opens the opening,
  The paper feeding member is
  A cover member provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing, and constituting a part of an appearance in a state where the paper feeding member is in a closed position closing the opening;
  A mounting member that is pivotally supported by the housing and is slidable with respect to the cover member;
  A biasing member that biases the mounting member in the direction of approaching or separating from the cover member in a state where at least the paper feeding member is in the closed position;
  The placement member is provided with a first guide member and a second guide member each having a regulation surface capable of regulating positions of both ends in the width direction of the sheet,
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the urging member is located on the outer side in the width direction of the mounting member with respect to the regulating surface.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lock member that locks the sheet feeding member at the closed position. Said biasing member, while the feed member to an intermediate position in which the locking of the locking member from the closed position is released is rotated, according to claim 5, characterized in that it urges the front placing member Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the urging member is disposed at a position closer to a swing shaft of the cover member than the lock member.   A housing having an opening on a side surface;
  A paper feed member that is provided so as to be able to open and close the opening, and is capable of placing a sheet to be fed into the housing from the opening in an open position that opens the opening,
  The paper feeding member is
  A cover member provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing, and constituting a part of an appearance in a state where the paper feeding member is in a closed position closing the opening;
  A mounting member that is pivotally supported by the housing and is slidable with respect to the cover member;
  A biasing member that biases the mounting member in the direction of approaching or separating from the cover member in a state where at least the paper feeding member is in the closed position;
  A lock member for locking the paper feed member in the closed position;
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member biases the placement member while the sheet feeding member rotates from the closed position to an intermediate position where the lock member is unlocked.   A housing having an opening on a side surface;
  A paper feed member that is provided so as to be able to open and close the opening, and is capable of placing a sheet to be fed into the housing from the opening in an open position that opens the opening,
  The paper feeding member is
  A cover member provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing, and constituting a part of an appearance in a state where the paper feeding member is in a closed position closing the opening;
  A mounting member that is pivotally supported by the housing and is slidable with respect to the cover member;
  A biasing member that biases the mounting member in the direction of approaching or separating from the cover member in a state where at least the paper feeding member is in the closed position;
  A lock member for locking the paper feed member in the closed position;
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is disposed at a position closer to a swing shaft of the cover member than the lock member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is provided on the mounting member.   A housing having an opening on a side surface;
  A paper feed member that is provided so as to be able to open and close the opening, and is capable of placing a sheet to be fed into the housing from the opening in an open position that opens the opening,
  The paper feeding member is
  A cover member provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing, and constituting a part of an appearance in a state where the paper feeding member is in a closed position closing the opening;
  A mounting member that is pivotally supported by the housing and is slidable with respect to the cover member;
  A biasing member that biases the mounting member in the direction of approaching or separating from the cover member in a state where at least the paper feeding member is in the closed position;
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is provided on the mounting member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the cover member has a protrusion at a position facing the biasing member in a state where the paper feeding member is in the closed position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the protrusion has a rib shape. The protrusion has a mountain shape that protrudes toward the urging member, and is arranged so as not to interfere with members other than the urging member when the paper feeding member is opened and closed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the urging member is a sponge.   A housing having an opening on a side surface;
  A paper feed member that is provided so as to be able to open and close the opening, and is capable of placing a sheet to be fed into the housing from the opening in an open position that opens the opening,
  The paper feeding member is
  A cover member provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing, and constituting a part of an appearance in a state where the paper feeding member is in a closed position closing the opening;
  A mounting member that is pivotally supported by the housing and is slidable with respect to the cover member;
  A biasing member that biases the mounting member in the direction of approaching or separating from the cover member in a state where at least the paper feeding member is in the closed position;
  The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a sponge.   A housing having an opening on a side surface;
  A paper feed member that is provided so as to be able to open and close the opening, and is capable of placing a sheet to be fed into the housing from the opening in an open position that opens the opening,
  The paper feeding member is
  A cover member provided so as to be swingable with respect to the housing, and constituting a part of an appearance in a state where the paper feeding member is in a closed position closing the opening;
  A mounting member that is pivotally supported by the housing and is slidable with respect to the cover member;
  An image forming apparatus comprising: an urging member that urges the mounting member in a direction to separate the cover member from the cover member in a state where at least the sheet feeding member is in the closed position.

Images