Cassette and recording device

Abstract

To improve operability by securing rigidity of a cassette.SOLUTION: A cassette includes a storage part having a placement surface on which a sheet is placed, for storing the sheet and a standing wall that constitutes a part of the storage part and regulates the sheet on a rear end side in a conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed from the placement surface to a recording device. The standing wall has a protrusion part that protrudes toward the placement surface at a position above a predetermined position which is the height of the sheet that can be stacked on the placement surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cassette used in a recording device such as a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Image forming devices such as printers are provided with a paper feed cassette for storing unprinted paper.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, a removable cassette cover is arranged on the side wall of a paper feed cassette, the cassette cover can be rotated upward, and the paper feed cassette has a gripping portion with sufficient rigidity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6642051 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the paper feed cassette disclosed in Patent Document 1 poses a design problem because, depending on the paper size, the paper feed cassette protrudes from the image forming apparatus body in the direction of insertion and removal. To minimize the size of the paper feed cassette in the direction of insertion and removal, it is desirable for the surface of the paper feed cassette opposite the insertion direction into the apparatus body to be configured with a single upright wall. However, if the surface is configured with a single upright wall, it becomes difficult to secure a grip for the paper feed cassette and ensure the rigidity of the grip when gripped.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to ensure the rigidity of the cassette and improve operability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The cassette of the present invention has a loading surface on which sheets are placed, a storage section for storing sheets, and a standing wall that forms part of the storage section and regulates the sheets at the rear end side in the transport direction of the sheets transported from the loading surface to the recording device, and is characterized in that the standing wall has a protrusion that protrudes toward the loading surface at a position above a predetermined position that is the height of sheets that can be loaded on the loading surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to ensure the rigidity of the cassette and improve the operability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the inside of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette with the cassette cover attached. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cassette cover according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the front side of the paper feed cassette in the insertion direction according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Section AA in Figure 3. [Figure 7] Cross section BB in Figure 3. [Figure 8] CC cross section in Figure 3. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a paper feed cassette is inserted into the image forming apparatus. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment with a paper feed cassette inserted therein. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cassette cover according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the paper feed cassette. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] In the following embodiment, the paper to be printed is paper, but the paper may be other than paper and may be any sheet-like recording medium on which recording can be performed.

[0012] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an image forming apparatus (recording apparatus) 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] 1, image forming device 1 has functions such as printing and scanning documents, and paper is stored on the loading surface of a paper storage section inside paper feed cassette 6. Operation panel 2 is located on the front side of the device, and a user can operate image forming device 1 from in front of operation panel 2.

[0014] The paper feed cassette 6 can be attached to the image forming apparatus 1, and is inserted in the depth direction through an opening 8 formed in the image forming apparatus 1 for inserting a paper feed cassette, which will be described later. Directions are defined here. The insertion and removal direction of the paper feed cassette in the image forming apparatus 1 coincides with the front-to-rear direction of the apparatus, and as shown by arrow 3, the direction toward the back is defined as the rear side of the insertion direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the front side of the insertion direction. The left and right sides of the image forming apparatus 1 are defined as shown by arrow 4. The top and bottom of the image forming apparatus are defined as shown by arrow 5.

[0015] To further explain the configuration in this figure, a cassette cover 7 is attached to the top of the paper cassette 6 to prevent the paper from being exposed. When printing is to be performed, the operation panel 2 is opened automatically or manually and the printing operation is carried out.

[0016] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the layout of the main printing devices inside the image forming apparatus 1. The print function will be described using this diagram.

[0017] Paper sheets 100 stored in a stack inside a paper feed cassette are fed out one by one by paper feed roller 101 when a command to start printing is given, and are transported through guide section 102 to printing section 103. In printing section 103, print head 104 ejects ink as it moves back and forth left and right inside image forming apparatus 1, thereby recording an image on the paper being transported by transport rollers 106. The paper with the image recorded is discharged to paper output tray 105. Paper output tray 105 is located inside operation panel 2 in Figure 1, and is pulled out forward automatically or manually when printing.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette with the cassette cover installed. The cassette cover 7 can be attached to the paper feed cassette (cassette body) 6 from the direction indicated by arrow 10. A gripping portion (upper part of the standing wall) 11, which will be described later, is provided on the front side of the paper feed cassette 6 in the insertion direction, and rails 12, which will be described later, and other components for attaching the paper feed cassette 6 to the image forming apparatus 1 are arranged on the left and right side surfaces. When the paper feed cassette 6 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1, the operation panel 2 is located closer to the placement surface 41 than the standing wall 28 (see FIGS. 5A and 5B, which will be described later). Therefore, at least a portion of the gripping portion 11 and the cassette cover 7 is exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cassette cover. Figure 4(a) is a perspective view of the entire top surface, and Figure 4(b) is a perspective view of the entire bottom surface. Figures 4(c) to 4(f) are enlarged views of the vicinity of the claws on the left and right rear side in the insertion direction and on the left and right front side in the insertion direction, respectively. The subnumber 1 in the reference numerals indicates the left side, and 2 indicates the right side.

[0020] In this embodiment, rear claw mounting surfaces 21 formed on the rear protrusions 20 on the left and right sides face the same direction as the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 6, and rear claws 22 are mounted on these surfaces. Front claw mounting surfaces 24 on the front protrusions 23 face the opposite direction to the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 6, and front claws 25 are mounted on these surfaces. Positioning protrusions 26 for regulating the relative positions of the paper feed cassette 6 and the cassette cover 7 are provided on the left and right sides of the cassette cover 7. Ribs are formed on the front end of the cassette cover 7 in the insertion direction, extending in the left and right directions. Abutment portions 43 for engagement with a canopy 31 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, are formed so as to cut out these ribs. A recess 7a is formed between the abutment portions 43 on both the left and right sides of the cassette cover 7, which the user grips together with the grip portion 11 of the paper feed cassette 6.

[0021] 5 is a partial perspective view of the front side of the paper feed cassette 6 in the insertion direction. The paper feed cassette 6 may determine the size of the image forming apparatus 1, particularly the dimension in the insertion / removal direction of the paper feed cassette 6. Therefore, in order to reduce the overall size of the image forming apparatus 1, it is effective to reduce the dimension in the insertion / removal direction of the paper feed cassette 6. To minimize the dimension in the insertion / removal direction of the paper feed cassette 6, it is necessary to minimize the components on the front side of the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 6.

[0022] A necessary component is a standing wall 28 on the front side in the insertion direction (the rear end side in the paper transport direction) that prevents the stacked unprinted paper from spilling out. The thickness of the standing wall 28 is approximately 1 to 5 mm. It is appropriate that the inner surface 29 of the standing wall 28 regulates the rear end of the unprinted paper in the transport direction, while the outer surface 30 of the standing wall 28 forms part of the exterior of the image forming apparatus 1. Furthermore, two eaves 31 (31-1, 31-2) are provided on the inner surface 29 of the standing wall 28 of the paper feed cassette 6. The height position of the lower surface of the eaves (protrusion) 31 is higher than a predetermined position that is the upper limit of the stack of unprinted paper when it is loaded on the stacking surface as a paper bundle, and the lateral position of the eaves 31 is located at approximately the same distance on both the left and right sides of the gripping portion 11 of the paper feed cassette 6 as the center.

[0023] Holes 40 (40-1, 40-2) are provided on the placement surface 41 on which paper is placed, at a position facing the eaves 31. These holes 40 are used for removing the paper feed cassette 6 from the mold during injection molding. By using this manufacturing method, the standing wall 28 and the eaves 31 can be molded as a single unit. Even with injection molding, it is possible to create a placement surface 41 without holes at positions corresponding to the holes 40, as shown in FIG. 12. In this embodiment, paper can be placed below the eaves 31. However, strength can be increased by continuously protruding, for example in a semicircular shape, between the eaves and the placement surface.

[0024] The shape of the eaves 31 when viewed from above is rounded to prevent it from getting caught when loading unprinted paper. The top surface of the eaves 31 is parallel to the top surface of the standing wall 28. Furthermore, the top surface 32 of each of the left and right side walls of the paper feed cassette 6 is provided with a hole 33 into which the rear protrusion 20 of the cassette cover 7 enters. Similarly, the top surface 32 of each of the left and right side walls of the paper feed cassette 6 is provided with a hole 34 on the front side in the insertion direction into which the front protrusion 23 of the cassette cover 7 enters. Furthermore, the top surfaces 32 of the left and right side walls of the paper feed cassette 6 are also provided with positioning holes 35 that receive the positioning protrusion 26 of the cassette cover 7 to determine the positional relationship with the cassette cover 7.

[0025] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 3. When the cassette cover 7 is in a specified position, the front end 27 of the cassette cover 7 in the insertion direction is located adjacent to the inner surface 29 of the standing wall 28 on the front side in the insertion direction of the sheet feed cassette 6. Therefore, the contact portion 43 of the cassette cover 7 with the eaves 31 is located directly above the eaves 31. In this case, the cassette cover 7 and the eaves 31 do not necessarily need to be in contact with each other, and a gap may be present.

[0026] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Fig. 3. Fig. 7(a) is an overall cross-sectional view, and Fig. 7(b) and Fig. 7(c) are enlarged views of the periphery of the claws on the rear side in the insertion direction and the front side in the insertion direction, respectively.

[0027] When the cassette cover 7 is in the specified position, as shown in FIG. 7(b), the rear claw (claw portion) 22 of the cassette cover 7 is fixed (locked) to the paper feed cassette 6 by the engagement surface 37. At this time, the angle 38 of the engagement surface 37 of the rear claw 22 is set to an angle α with respect to the direction in which the cassette cover 7 is removed. In this embodiment, the angle α is an angle greater than 90°.

[0028] 7(c), the front claw (claw portion) 25 of the cassette cover 7 is fixed (locked) to the paper feed cassette 6 by an engagement surface 39. At this time, the angle 40 of the engagement surface 39 of the front claw 25 is set to an angle β with respect to the direction in which the cassette cover is removed. In this embodiment, the angle β is an angle of 90° or less.

[0029] When loading blank paper into the paper feed cassette 6, it is necessary to remove the cassette cover 7. To remove the cassette cover 7, lift the cassette cover 7 upward in the state shown in Figure 3, or lift the rear end 36 of the cassette cover 7 shown in Figure 6. This causes the cassette cover 7 to rotate in the direction of arrow 13 in Figure 3, using the visor 31 and the area around the front end 27 of the cassette cover 7 above it as the rotation axis, and open.

[0030] This rotational movement is achieved because the angle α of the engagement surface 37 of the rear claw 22 is greater than the angle β of the engagement surface 39 of the front claw 25, so that the rear claw 22 easily disengages in response to an upward force.

[0031] After opening the cassette cover 7, blank paper is placed in the paper cassette 6, and the cassette cover 7 is then attached from above the paper cassette 6. When attaching the cassette cover 7, it is possible to attach it from either the rear tab 22 or the front tab 25, or both at the same time. The positional relationship between the paper cassette 6 and the cassette cover 7 is properly regulated by inserting the positioning protrusion 26 of the cassette cover 7 into the positioning hole 35 of the paper cassette 6. In this embodiment, the positioning protrusion 26 is located between the rear protrusion 20 and the front protrusion 23, but this position is not limiting.

[0032] When attaching the paper feed cassette 6 containing paper sheets to the image forming apparatus 1, the user grasps the grip portion 11 of the paper feed cassette 6 and inserts it into the image forming apparatus 1 through an opening 8, which will be described later.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 3. When a user grasps the grip portion 11 of the paper cassette 6, their hand also grasps the vertical wall 28 of the paper cassette 6 and the cassette cover 7, deforming the cassette cover 7. This is because there is no visor 31 directly below the grip portion 11 of the paper cassette 6 to support the deformation of the cassette cover 7. Therefore, the area of ​​the cassette cover 7 near the grip portion 11 deforms downward, with the contact points with the visors 31 on the left and right as fulcrums. If there were no visors 31, the cassette cover 7 would deform more than necessary and would not feel rigid. The presence of the visors 31 allows the user to feel a sense of rigidity when grasping the grip portion 11 of the paper cassette 6. Furthermore, if the grip portion 11 is large enough to be gripped, narrowing the left-right distance between the two visors 31 can result in a grip portion with minimal deformation and a rigid feel. That is, by appropriately setting the number and arrangement of the eaves, it is possible to appropriately control the rigidity of the sheet feed cassette 6 and the cassette cover 7 when the sheet feed cassette 6 is attached or detached.

[0034] Next, the positional relationship between the various components of the paper feed cassette 6 and the cassette cover 7 of this embodiment will be described. In terms of the height direction, as shown in FIG. 7, the engagement surfaces 37 and 39 of the claws are located lower than the maximum height of the paper to be loaded, and as described above, the lower surface of the eaves 31 is located higher than the maximum height of the paper to be loaded. The height of the upper surface 32 of the side wall of the paper feed cassette 6 is the same as or higher than the maximum height of the paper to be loaded, and is located lower than the lower surface of the eaves 31. Directly above the eaves 31 is an abutment portion 43 of the cassette cover 7 with which the eaves 31 of the cassette cover 7 contact, with a slight gap between them. The upper end of the upright wall 28 on the front side of the paper feed cassette 6 in the insertion direction is located higher than the cassette cover 7, forming a space for the grip portion 11 on which the user's fingers rest.

[0035] With respect to the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 6, the eaves 31 protruding from the inner surface 29 of the standing wall 28 on the front side in the insertion direction protrudes further in the insertion direction than the contact surface of the abutment portion 43 of the cassette cover 7. This is to prevent the abutment portion 43 of the cassette cover 7 from climbing over the eaves 31 of the paper feed cassette 6 and sinking significantly downward when the cassette cover 7 and the paper feed cassette 6 are tightly gripped.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the protrusions 20, 23 with claws and the positioning protrusion 26 arranged on the cassette cover 7 are not arranged symmetrically. This is because, although the structure of the image forming apparatus 1 means that unprinted paper cannot be placed in the center of the paper feed cassette 6 in the left-right direction, the gripping portion 11 of the paper feed cassette 6 is arranged in the center of the paper feed cassette 6 in the left-right direction from a design perspective.

[0037] When the gripping portion 11 is gripped, the cassette cover 7 deforms with the two eaves 31 as fulcrums, but the cassette cover 7 deforms downward at a position closer to the gripping portion 11 than the eaves 31 in the left-right direction, and deforms so as to lift upward at a position farther from the gripping portion 11 than the eaves 31. The force of this upward deformation is stronger at the front side in the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 6 because the gripping portion 11 and eaves 31 are closer to the front side than to the rear side. In response to this, the engagement surfaces 37, 39 of each claw resist the force lifting the cassette cover 7 upward, preventing the cassette cover 7 from coming off. In this embodiment, the force imbalance is eliminated by arranging the protrusions 23 with claws on the front side in the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 6 approximately symmetrically in the left-right direction.

[0038] Although the object of this embodiment is achieved with the above-described configuration, the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the height of the side wall upper surface 32 may be higher than the lower surface of the eaves 31, and in that case, the cassette cover 7 also moves around the periphery of the front end 27 of the cassette cover 7 above the eaves 31 as a rotation axis. Alternatively, a bilaterally symmetrical configuration may be used.

[0039] Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing how the paper feed cassette 6 is inserted into the image forming apparatus 1. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the opening 8 that receives the paper feed cassette 6 and the claw engagement surface of the cassette cover 7 when the paper feed cassette 6 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1.

[0040] When the user grasps the paper feed cassette 6 and cassette cover 7 and inserts it into the opening 8 of the image forming apparatus 1, the position of the rails 12 of the paper feed cassette 6 in the up, down, left, and right directions is determined along rails (not shown) inside the image forming apparatus 1, and the paper feed cassette 6 is attached. At the end of the insertion, the entry position of the paper feed cassette 6 is restricted by a stopper (not shown), and the position of the paper feed cassette 6 in the insertion direction inside the image forming apparatus 1 is determined.

[0041] At this time, as shown in Figure 10, the rear tab 22 is inserted further into the image forming apparatus 1 than the opening 8. In this way, by placing the rear tab 22, which is easily removed, inside the image forming apparatus 1, it is possible to prevent the rear tab 22 from coming off. On the other hand, the front tab 25 of the cassette cover 7 is originally designed to be difficult to remove from the paper feed cassette 6, so there is no problem even if it is exposed from the image forming apparatus 1. With this configuration, when the image forming apparatus 1 is packaged with the paper feed cassette 6 attached, it is possible to prevent the cassette cover 7 from coming off without using packing material, tape, or the like to prevent the cassette cover 7 from coming off.

[0042] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the paper feed cassette in the insertion / removal direction while ensuring the rigidity of the gripping portion of the paper feed cassette, including the cassette cover. It is also possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which the cassette cover is less likely to come off due to impact or the like during packaging.

[0043] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, an example in which two eaves are provided is described, but in the second embodiment, an example in which one eaves is provided is described. The other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment, so the description will be omitted.

[0044] The height position of the eaves is the same as in the first embodiment, but the horizontal position is, for example, directly below the gripping portion 11 (recess 7a). The horizontal length may also be within the range determined as the gripping portion, or may span the entire width.

[0045] With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the cassette cover 7 from being deformed when the user grips the grip portion 11 of the paper feed cassette 6, and to ensure rigidity.

[0046] (Third embodiment) In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the orientation of the installation surface 21 of the rear claws 22 of the cassette cover 7 is the same as the insertion direction of the paper feed cassette 6. In the third embodiment, a case will be described in which the installation surface of the rear claws 22 of the cassette cover 7 faces the inside of the paper feed cassette. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 11(a) and (b), the installation surface 51 of the rear claw of the rear protrusion 50 installed on the cassette cover 7 faces toward the inside of the paper feed cassette 6, and the rear claw 52 is installed on that surface.

[0048] Accordingly, a hole into which the rear projection 50 enters and an engagement surface (not shown) for the rear claw 52 are also provided on the side wall of the paper feed cassette 6. The angular relationship between the engagement surfaces on the rear and front sides is the same as in the first embodiment described with reference to FIG.

[0049] Even in this configuration, by lifting the cassette cover 7 upward, the cassette cover 7 moves around its front end 27 and the periphery of the visor 31 as a rotation axis, and the cassette cover 7 can be easily removed.

[0050] In the above embodiment, an inkjet multifunction peripheral is used as an example of an image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a facsimile machine, a laser beam printer, etc. The same effect can be obtained by applying the present invention to a paper feed cassette used in these image forming apparatuses.

[0051] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1: image forming apparatus, 6: paper feed cassette, 7: cassette cover, 8: opening, 11: gripping portion, 20: rear projection, 21: rear hook installation surface, 22: rear hook, 26: positioning projection, 27: front end, 28: standing wall

Claims

1. A cassette having a placement surface for placing a sheet, a storage portion for storing the sheet, a vertical wall that forms part of the storage portion and restricts the sheet on the rear end side in the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed from the placement surface to a recording device, a cassette cover attached to the storage portion to prevent the stored sheet from being exposed, wherein the cassette comprises: the vertical wall has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the placement surface at a position above a predetermined position that is the height of the sheet that can be stacked on the placement surface, the cassette cover has a contact portion that contacts the protruding portion from above, and is characterized by such a cassette.

2. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein a hole is provided in the placement surface at a position facing the protruding portion.

3. The cassette according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the vertical wall forms part of the appearance of the recording device when the cassette is attached to the recording device.

4. the protruding portion is at a position below an upper part of the vertical wall that can grip the upper part of the vertical wall, the vertical wall has a plurality of the protruding portions, and is characterized by such a cassette according to claim 1.

5. The cassette according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of the protruding portions are arranged on both sides of the upper part of the vertical wall with the upper part of the vertical wall interposed therebetween.

6. the protruding portion is at a position below an upper part of the vertical wall that can grip the upper part of the vertical wall, the cassette cover is formed with a recess that functions as a gripping portion of the cassette together with the upper part of the vertical wall, and is characterized by such a cassette according to claim 1.

7. The cassette according to claim 6, wherein the recess is arranged between a plurality of the contact portions of the cassette cover.

8. The cassette according to claim 6, wherein the contact portion of the cassette cover is formed directly below the recess.

9. The cassette cover has a first claw portion locked to the storage portion at a first position that is the back side in the direction in which the cassette is inserted into the recording device, and a second claw portion locked to the storage portion at a second position that is the front side in the insertion direction, and the locking of the first claw portion is configured to be more easily released than the locking of the second claw portion, and is characterized by such a cassette according to claim 1.

10. The cassette according to claim 9, wherein the first position is located on the back side of the recording apparatus with respect to an opening for inserting the cassette of the recording apparatus.

11. The cassette according to claim 9, wherein an angle of a portion of the first claw portion that engages with the housing portion is greater than 90°.

12. The cassette according to claim 9, wherein an angle of a portion of the second claw portion that engages with the housing portion is 90° or less.

13. A recording apparatus, characterized in that it is possible to mount the cassette according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. An operation panel is provided on the front side of the apparatus, The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the operation panel is located on the side of the placement surface from the standing wall when the cassette is mounted.

Images