Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus capable of surely preventing falling by a simple method.SOLUTION: A connection mechanism of an image forming apparatus includes: two pins 11 erected at a predetermined interval on a top plate 5X of a lower paper feed 5L; two lock members 13 provided on a bottom plate 5Y of an upper paper feed 5U and into which the two pins 11 are inserted; two shutters 29 configured to rotate to a closed position in which the two shutters 29 are engaged with the two pins 11 when the two pins 11 are inserted into the two lock members 13, and to rotate to an open position in which the two shutters 29 are disengaged from the two pins 11 when the two lock members 13 are removed from the two pins 11; and a link arm 15 for synchronously turning the two shutters 29; wherein turning of the two shutters 29 from the closing position to the opening position is regulated by the link arm 15 as long as the two pins 11 do not simultaneously come off from the two lock members 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit is placed on a plurality of paper feeders connected in a vertical direction. [Background technology]

[0002] An image forming apparatus in which an image forming unit is placed on multiple paper feeders connected vertically has a certain height and, since the center of gravity is located at the top, measures to prevent the apparatus from falling over are necessary. Conventionally, the upper and lower paper feeders have been fixed to each other with screws via connecting members, which creates a problem of poor workability.

[0003] As a countermeasure to prevent the device from tipping over, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a locking portion on the paper feeder that is disposed above the base of the main body (corresponding to the image forming unit) with a predetermined gap therebetween and that restricts the upward movement of the main body relative to the paper feeder. This countermeasure to prevent the device from tipping over is said to absorb vibrations applied from the outside because the main body moves relative to the paper feeder within the range of the gap. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-247740 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1, the locking part is rotated between a restricting position that restricts the upward movement of the main body and a releasing position that releases the restriction by manually operating a lever. Therefore, when the locking parts are provided in multiple locations or when there are many paper feeders, there is a problem that operability is deteriorated.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can reliably prevent tipping over using a simple method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit which forms an image on paper, and a plurality of paper feeders which supply paper to the image forming unit, the image forming unit being placed on the plurality of paper feeders which are connected in a vertical direction by a connection mechanism, the connection mechanism comprising two pins which are erected at a predetermined interval on a top plate of the lower paper feeder, two locking members which are provided on a bottom plate of the upper paper feeder and into which the two pins are inserted, and a locking member which is rotated to a closed position in which the two pins are engaged by inserting the two pins into the two locking members, and which locks the two locking members to a closed position in which the two pins are engaged. The stacking device is characterized in that it comprises two shutters that rotate to an open position in which the engagement with the two pins is released when a locking member comes out of the two pins, and a link arm that rotates the two shutters synchronously, and when the upper paper feeder is stacked on the lower paper feeder, the two pins are inserted into the two locking members and the two shutters rotate to the closed position and engage with the two pins, connecting the upper and lower paper feeders, and the link arm restricts the rotation of the two shutters from the closed position to the open position unless the two pins come out of the two locking members at the same time.

[0008] In the present invention, each of the two locking members includes a push button that can move in an upward and downward direction, and a shutter holder that rotates in accordance with the upward and downward movement of the push button to rotate the shutter between the closed position and the open position, and the link arm connects the two shutter holders, and when the upper paper feeder is stacked on the lower paper feeder, the two pins are inserted into the two locking members to push up the push button, the shutter holders rotate and the two shutters rotate to the closed position, and even if the upper paper feeder is tilted relative to the lower paper feeder and the push button of one of the locking members moves away from the pin, the link arm restricts the rotation of the shutter holder of one of the locking members, thereby maintaining the two shutters in the closed position. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to this invention, even if the upper paper feeder is tilted relative to the lower paper feeder and one of the pins tries to come out of one of the locking members, the link arm restricts the rotation of the shutter from the closed position to the open position. In this way, the upper and lower paper feeders are automatically maintained in an inseparable state, thereby preventing the image forming device from tipping over. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 4 is a perspective view showing a connecting mechanism provided on upper and lower paper feeders in the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 3] 4 is a perspective view showing a lock member of a connecting mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a lock member of a connecting mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 5]4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a push button and a holder of a locking member in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6A] 4 is a perspective view showing a push button of a locking member and a shutter holder in the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6B] 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a push button of a locking member and a shutter holder in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a push button and a compression coil spring of a locking member in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8A] 1 is a plan view showing a shutter in an open position in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8B] 2 is a plan view showing a shutter in a closed position in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view showing a link arm and two locking members in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10A] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection mechanism before upper and lower paper feeders are connected in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10B] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting mechanism after upper and lower paper feeders are connected in the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a front view showing a state in which an upper paper feeder is inclined relative to a lower paper feeder in an image forming device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 12A] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the left locking member when the upper paper feeder is tilted in the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12B] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the right locking member when the upper paper feeder is tilted in the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a front view showing the image forming apparatus 1. Fr, Rr, L, R, U, and Lo shown in each figure respectively indicate the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower sides of the image forming apparatus.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a tandem image forming unit 3 that forms an image on paper, and multiple paper feeders 5 (four in this example) that supply paper to the image forming unit 3. The paper feeders 5 are prepared as optional equipment separately from the image forming apparatus 1. The four paper feeders 5 are stacked vertically. The lower paper feeder 5 and the upper paper feeder 5 are connected to each other by a connection mechanism 9 (not shown in FIG. 1, see FIG. 2, etc.).

[0014] The bottom paper feeder 5 is connected to a dedicated base 7 that is equipped with casters and a support means for stabilizing the installation state. Since the bottom paper feeder 5 is connected to the dedicated base 7, the image forming apparatus 1 is easy to move and does not easily tip over. The image forming units 3 are of a tandem type, and are longer in the depth direction (front-rear direction) than in the width direction (left-right direction). Therefore, when the image forming apparatus 1 is tilted at a predetermined angle (for example, 14 degrees) in the front-rear direction, the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 1 is within the range of projection of the image forming apparatus 1 onto the floor surface, and the image forming apparatus 1 is unlikely to tip over in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, when the image forming apparatus 1 is tilted at a predetermined angle (for example, 14 degrees) in the left-right direction, the center of gravity of the image forming apparatus 1 is outside the range of projection of the image forming apparatus 1 onto the floor surface. Therefore, the connecting mechanism 9 of this embodiment makes it impossible for the upper and lower paper feeders 5 to separate when tilted left-right, thereby preventing the image forming apparatus 1 from tipping over.

[0015] Next, the connecting mechanism 9 will be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 9. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the connecting mechanism 9 provided on the upper and lower paper feeders 5U and 5L. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the locking member 13, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the locking member 13. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the push button 25 and the holder 23 of the locking member 13. Figs. 6A and 6B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional perspective view showing the push button 25 and the shutter holder 27 of the locking member 13. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the push button 25 and the compression coil spring 45 of the locking member 13. Figs. 8A and 8B are plan views showing the shutter holder 27 and the shutter 29. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the link arm 15 and the left and right locking members 13L and 13R.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting mechanism 9 includes left and right pins 11L, 11R provided on the top plate 5X of the lower paper feeder 5L, left and right locking members 13L, 13R provided on the bottom plate 5Y of the upper paper feeder 5U into which the left and right pins 11L, 11R are inserted, and a link arm 15 connecting the left and right locking members 13L, 13R.

[0017] First, the lower paper feeder 5L will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, left and right pins 11 (collectively referred to as pins 11) are erected on the top plate 5X of the lower paper feeder 5L at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction. The pins 11 are cylindrical, and the upper end surface is formed flat. In addition, an inclined surface is formed at the corner between the upper end surface and the side surface. Furthermore, the pins 11 are formed with a groove 11a along the circumferential direction below the upper end surface.

[0018] Next, the upper paper feeder 5U will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the bottom plate 5Y of the upper paper feeder 5U has left and right openings 5a corresponding to the left and right pins 11 provided on the top plate 5X of the lower paper feeder 5L. The left and right locking members 13L, 13R are fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate 5Y along the left and right openings 5a.

[0019] The locking member 13 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The locking member 13 includes a base 21 fixed to the bottom plate 5Y, a holder 23 fixed to the base 21, a push button 25 disposed between the base 21 and the holder 23, a shutter holder 27 fitted onto the push button 25, and two shutters 29 engaged with the shutter holder 27 and supported by the base 21.

[0020] First, the base 21 will be described. As shown in Fig. 4, the base 21 has an annular main body 21a with an opening 31 in the center, and two fixing parts 21b protruding diagonally from the outer circumferential surface of the main body 21a. A pin 11 (see Fig. 2) provided on the top plate 5X of the lower paper feeder 5L can be inserted into the opening 31 of the main body 21a. Two pins 33 are erected on the upper surface of the main body 21a at equal central angles.

[0021] The base 21 is disposed so that the opening of the main body portion 21a is aligned vertically with the opening 5a of the bottom plate 5Y, and both fixing portions 21b are fixed to the bottom plate 5Y with screws or the like.

[0022] Next, the holder 23 will be described. The holder 23 has a disk portion 23a and two legs 23b of a substantially semi-cylindrical shape provided on a diagonal line of the disk portion 23a. As shown in FIG. 4, a protrusion 41 having a cross-shaped cross section is formed on the lower surface of the disk portion 23a. As shown in FIG. 5, a guide rib 43 is formed along the up-down direction on the inner peripheral surface of the two legs 23b. In addition, at the tip of each leg 23b, a step portion 23c bent outwardly and a fixing portion 23d bent further outwardly from the step portion 23c are formed. The two fixing portions 23d are fixed to the two fixing portions 21b of the base 21. A gap is opened between the two step portions 23c and the main body portion 21a of the base 21. The above-mentioned push button 25 and shutter holder 27 are housed inside holder 23 (the space surrounded by disk portion 23a, two legs 23b, and step portion 23c).

[0023] Next, the push button 25 will be described. As shown in Fig. 6A, the push button 25 has a cylindrical portion 25a with a bottom and a flange portion 25b that protrudes outward from the opening of the cylindrical portion 25a. A cam surface 51 that is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 25a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 25a. Two slits 53 are formed diagonally on the flange portion 25b.

[0024] The push button 25 is housed inside the holder 23 with the flange portion 25b facing up. As shown in Fig. 5, the two guide ribs 43 of the holder 23 engage with the two slits 53 of the flange portion 25b of the push button 25. This allows the push button 25 to move up and down while being guided by the two guide ribs 43.

[0025] 7, a compression coil spring 45 is disposed between the lower surface of the disk portion 23a of the holder 23 and the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 25a of the push button 25. The upper end of the compression coil spring 45 is fitted onto the protrusion 41 of the holder 23. The compression coil spring 45 biases the push button 25 downward against the disk portion 23a of the holder 23.

[0026] Next, the shutter holder 27 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6A, the shutter holder 27 has a cylindrical portion 27a and a flange portion 27b that protrudes outward from one opening of the cylindrical portion 27a. A cam surface 61 that is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 27a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 27a. Two inner elongated holes 63 and two outer elongated holes 65 are formed diagonally on the flange portion 27b. The inner elongated holes 63 are formed along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 27a. The outer elongated holes 65 are formed along the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 27a.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 4, the shutter holder 27 is housed inside the holder 23 with the flange portion 27b facing downward. In detail, the cylindrical portion 27a is fitted onto the cylindrical portion 25a of the push button 25. The shutter holder 27 and the push button 25 are connected by a torsion coil spring 67, and the shutter holder 27 and the push button 25 are biased so that the cam surface 61 of the cylindrical portion 27a of the shutter holder 27 and the cam surface 51 of the cylindrical portion 25a of the push button 25 come into contact with each other (see Fig. 6B). The coil portion of the torsion coil spring 67 is fitted onto the cylindrical portion 27a of the shutter holder 27, with one arm supported by the shutter holder 27 and the other arm supported by the push button 25.

[0028] In this way, the cam surface 61 of the cylindrical portion 27a of the shutter holder 27 comes into contact with the cam surface 51 of the cylindrical portion 25a of the push button 25, so that as the push button 25 moves up and down, the cam surface 61 of the shutter holder 27 is guided by the cam surface 51 of the push button 25, causing the shutter holder 27 to rotate.

[0029] 4, flange portion 27b of shutter holder 27 is held between the upper surface of main body portion 21a of base 21 and step portion 23c of holder 23. As described above, push button 25 is biased downward against disk portion 23a of holder 23 by compression coil spring 45, so that the lower surface of flange portion 25b of push button 25 abuts against the upper end surface of cylindrical portion 27a of shutter holder 27.

[0030] Next, the shutters 29 will be described. As shown in Figures 8A and 8B, each of the two shutters 29 has a shutter piece 29a that is arc-shaped in a plan view, and a link piece 29b provided at one end of the shutter piece 29a. A through hole 71 is formed in one end of the shutter piece 29a. A pin 73 is provided on the upper surface of the tip of the link piece 29b.

[0031] Two pins 33 provided on the base 21 are inserted into through holes 71 of the two shutters 29. This allows the two shutters 29 to rotate about the two pins 33. In detail, the two shutters rotate between a closed position (see FIG. 8B) in which the shutter pieces 29a overlap with a part of the opening 31 of the base 21 in the vertical direction, and an open position (see FIG. 8A) in which the shutter pieces 29a are retracted from the opening 31 of the base 21.

[0032] Further, the two pins 73 provided on the two shutters 29 are inserted into the two outer long holes 65 of the flange portion of the shutter holder 27, and the two pins 33 provided on the base 21 are inserted into the two inner long holes 63 of the flange portion 27b. As a result, when the shutter holder 27 rotates, the two shutters 29 rotate around the two pins 33. Specifically, when the shutter holder 27 rotates counterclockwise (see arrow A) in the shutter closed position shown in FIG. 8A, the two shutters 29 rotate counterclockwise (see arrow B). When the shutter holder 27 rotates, the two pins 33 of the base 21 and the pins 73 of the two shutters 29 move within the two inner long holes 63 and the two outer long holes 65 of the flange portion 27b of the shutter holder 27, respectively.

[0033] Next, the link arm 15 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. The link arm 15 connects the flange portions 27b of the shutter holders 27 of the left and right locking members 13L and 13R. This allows the left and right shutter holders 27 to rotate synchronously.

[0034] The operation of connecting the upper and lower paper feeders 5U, 5L by the connecting mechanism 9 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to Figures 10A and 10B. Figures 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the locking member 13 when connected. As shown in Figure 10A, before connection, the push button 25 of the locking member 13 is urged downward by the compression coil spring 45, and the flange portion 25b abuts against the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion 27a of the shutter holder 27. The two shutters 29 are rotated to an open position where they are retracted from the opening 31 of the base 21 (see Figure 8A).

[0035] When the upper paper feeder 5U is stacked on the lower paper feeder 5L and the pin 11 of the lower paper feeder 5L is inserted into the opening 31 of the base 21 of the locking member 13 through the opening 5a of the bottom plate 5Y of the upper paper feeder 5U, the push button 25 of the locking member 13 is pushed up by the pin 11 as shown in Fig. 10B. The push button 25 moves upward along the guide rib 43 (see Fig. 5) of the holder 23 against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 45. When the push button 25 moves in this manner, the cam surface 61 of the shutter holder 27 is guided by the cam surface 51 of the push button 25 (see Figs. 6A and 6B), and the shutter holder 27 rotates in the counterclockwise direction (see arrow A) in Fig. 8A.

[0036] Then, each shutter 29 rotates counterclockwise (see arrow B) in Fig. 8A around pin 33, and as shown in Fig. 8B, the two shutters 29 rotate from the open position to the closed position. As a result, as shown in Fig. 10B, the shutter 29 engages with the groove 11a of the pin 11 inserted into the opening 31 of the base 21. This engages the pin 11 with the locking member 13, making it impossible for the upper and lower paper feeders 5U and 5L to separate. Note that the height of the groove 11a is greater than the thickness of the shutter 29, so the shutter 29 can move up and down within the groove 11a.

[0037] Next, the operation of the connecting mechanism 9 when the image forming apparatus 1 is tilted to the left will be described with reference to Figures 11, 12A, and 12B. Figure 11 is a front view showing a state in which the upper paper feeder 5U is tilted relative to the lower paper feeder 5L. Figure 12A is a cross-sectional view showing the left locking member 13L when tilted, and Figure 12B is a cross-sectional view showing the right locking member 13R when tilted.

[0038] As described above, when the image forming apparatus 1 tilts leftward (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) after the upper paper feeder 5U is normally connected to the lower paper feeder 5L, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the third paper feeder 5U from the top tilts leftward relative to the bottom paper feeder 5L. That is, the bottom plate 5Y of the third paper feeder 5U from the top tilts leftward relative to the top plate 5X of the bottom paper feeder 5L, and a gap is created between the top plate 5X and the bottom plate 5Y. The gap gradually widens from the right side to the left side. In one example, when the tilt angle of the upper paper feeder 5U relative to the lower paper feeder 5L is 1 degree, a maximum gap of 6.5 mm is created.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 11, on the left side where the gap is narrower, the movement amount of the left lock member 13L is smaller. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 12A, the left pin 11L keeps pushing up the push button 25, restricting the rotation of the shutter holder 27. This keeps the two shutters 29 in the closed position.

[0040] On the other hand, on the right side where the gap is wider, the movement amount of the right lock member 13R is larger. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 12B, the push button 25 moves upward away from the right pin 11R. Then, the push button 25 is biased by the compression coil spring 45 and tries to move downward. As described above, the cam surface 51 of the push button 25 is in contact with the cam surface 61 of the shutter holder 27, so when the push button 25 tries to move downward, the shutter holder 27 also tries to rotate.

[0041] However, as described above, the rotation of the shutter holder 27 of the left locking member 13L is restricted. Therefore, the link arm 15 connecting the left and right shutter holders 27 also restricts the rotation of the right shutter holder 27, and the downward movement of the push button 25 is also restricted. In other words, as shown in Fig. 12B, the right shutter 29 remains in the closed position and remains engaged with the right pin 11L. Note that the right locking member 13L can move upward until the two shutters 29 abut against the upper surface of the groove 11a of the right pin 11R.

[0042] In this way, even if the upper paper feeder 5U is tilted relative to the lower paper feeder 5L, the left and right pins 11L, 11R and the left and right locking members 13L, 13R maintain engagement, making it impossible for the upper and lower paper feeders 5U, 5L to separate. Since the upper and lower paper feeders 5U, 5L cannot be separated in this way, the image forming apparatus 1 is prevented from tipping over.

[0043] Furthermore, when the upper paper feeder 5U is lifted from the lower paper feeder 5L, the left and right pins 11L, 11R of the lower paper feeder 5L move away from the push button 25. Then, the push button 25 is urged downward by the compression coil spring 45 (see FIG. 10A), the shutter holders 27 of the left and right locking members 13L, 13R rotate clockwise in FIG. 8B, and the two shutters 29 rotate from the closed position to the open position (see FIG. 8A). As a result, the left and right pins 11L, 11R are disengaged from the left and right locking members 13L, 13R.

[0044] As described above, according to the present invention, even if the image forming apparatus 1 is tilted, the upper and lower paper feeders 5U, 5L are automatically maintained in an inseparable state by the connecting mechanism 9, thereby preventing the image forming apparatus 1 from tipping over. Specifically, even if the upper paper feeder 5U is tilted relative to the lower paper feeder 5L, the link arm 15, which rotates the left and right shutter holders 27 in synchronization with each other, restricts the rotation of the left and right shutter holders 27, so that the left and right shutters 29 can be maintained in the closed position.

[0045] On the other hand, when the upper paper feeder 5U is lifted from the lower paper feeder 5L and the left and right pins 11L, 11R come out of the left and right locking members 13L, 13R at the same time, the left and right shutter holders 27 become synchronously rotatable by the link arm 15, and the left and right shutters 29 rotate simultaneously to the open position. In other words, unless the left and right pins 11L, 11R come out of the left and right locking members 13L, 13R at the same time, the link arm 15 restricts the left and right shutters 29 from rotating from the closed position to the open position. In other words, even if the upper paper feeder 5U is tilted relative to the lower paper feeder 5L and one pin 11 tries to come out of one of the locking members 13, the link arm 15 restricts the left and right shutters 29 from rotating from the closed position to the open position.

[0046] In this embodiment, as described above, the connecting mechanism 9 for the image forming apparatus 1 having a structure that easily tilts in the left-right direction has been described. That is, the two locking members 13 of the connecting mechanism 9 are arranged spaced apart in the left-right direction. However, for example, in the case of an image forming apparatus 1 having a structure that easily tilts in the front-rear direction, the two locking members 13 of the connecting mechanism 9 may be arranged spaced apart in the front-rear direction, and the shutter holders 27 of both locking members 13 may be connected by the link arm 15.

[0047] Although the present invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The above embodiment may be variously changed, substituted, or modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention, and the claims include all embodiments that may be included within the scope of the technical idea. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Image forming device 3 Image forming unit 5(5U, 5L) Paper Feeder 9 Connection mechanism 11(11L, 11R) pin 13 (13L, 13R) Locking member 15 Link arm 25 Push Button 27 Shutter Holder 29 Shutter

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; and a plurality of paper feeders that supply sheets to the image forming unit, the image forming unit being placed on the plurality of paper feeders that are vertically connected by a connecting mechanism, The connecting mechanism includes: Two pins are provided at a predetermined interval on the top plate of the lower paper feeder; Two locking members are provided on a bottom plate of the upper paper feeder, and into which the two pins are inserted; two shutters that rotate to a closed position in which they engage with the two pins when the two pins are inserted into the two locking members, and that rotate to an open position in which they are released from engagement with the two pins when the two locking members are removed from the two pins; a link arm for rotating the two shutters in synchronization with each other, When the upper paper feeder is stacked on the lower paper feeder, the two pins are inserted into the two locking members, and the two shutters rotate to the closed position and engage with the two pins, thereby connecting the upper and lower paper feeders together; an image forming apparatus, wherein the link arm restricts the two shutters from being rotated from the closed position to the open position unless the two pins are simultaneously released from the two locking members;

2. Each of the two locking members is A push button that can be moved up and down; a shutter holder that rotates in response to vertical movement of the push button to rotate the shutter between the closed position and the open position, the link arm connects the two shutter holders; When the upper paper feeder is stacked on the lower paper feeder, the two pins are inserted into the two locking members, the push button is pushed up, the shutter holder rotates, and the two shutters are rotated to the closed position; An image forming apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that even if the upper paper feeder is tilted relative to the lower paper feeder and the push button of one of the locking members is separated from the pin, the link arm restricts the rotation of the shutter holder of one of the locking members, thereby maintaining the two shutters in the closed position.

Images