Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming device capable of reducing a moving space of a handle for operating a lock mechanism for regulating drawing of a paper feeding cassette from a device body.SOLUTION: An image forming device includes a paper feeding cassette drawably stored in a device body side 3a, and a lock mechanism 17 for regulating drawing of the paper feeding cassette from the device body side 3a. The sheet feed cassette includes an outer cover 33 having a recessed portion 41 on an outer surface thereof, and a handle 45 that is housed in the recessed portion 41 so as to be rotatable to an outer side of the outer surface and rotates to the outer side by being gripped when the sheet feed cassette is pulled out from the device main body side 3a, and the lock mechanism 17 regulates and releases the regulation of the pull-out of the sheet feed cassette from the device main body side 3a in conjunction with the rotation of the handle 45.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a paper feed cassette housed in a main body of the apparatus so as to be removable. [Background technology]

[0002] An image forming apparatus is equipped with a paper feed cassette that is housed in the apparatus body and can be pulled out. In such an image forming apparatus, if the paper feed cassette is accidentally pulled out from the apparatus body during image formation, the image formation operation may be interrupted, paper transport may stop, and a paper jam may occur. For this reason, image forming apparatuses may be equipped with a locking mechanism that prevents the paper feed cassette from being pulled out.

[0003] Such a locking mechanism may be configured to operate in conjunction with the operation of a handle (grip, grip) that is gripped when the paper feed cassette is pulled out, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example.

[0004] The storage cassette (corresponding to the paper feed cassette) described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a handle that can be moved forward in the pull-out direction, and a locking mechanism that uses magnetic force to restrict the pull-out of the paper feed cassette from the cassette support (corresponding to the device body). When pulling the handle forward to pull out the paper feed cassette, the restriction by the locking mechanism on the pull-out of the paper feed cassette is released.

[0005] The paper feed cassette described in Patent Document 2 has a handle that has a fixed grip and a movable grip that can move forward in the pull-out direction relative to the fixed grip. When the handle is gripped to pull out the paper feed cassette, the movable grip moves relative to the fixed grip, thereby releasing the restriction on the pull-out of the paper feed cassette by the locking mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-8291 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-239328 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the locking mechanisms described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 operate by moving a handle or a movable grip forward to restrict or release the withdrawal of the paper feed cassette. To reliably operate the locking mechanism, a relatively long space is required for the handle or the movable grip to move. This results in the handle protruding from the front of the storage cassette as in Patent Document 1, or the handle being large in size (depth) as in Patent Document 2.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can reduce the movement space of a handle that activates a locking mechanism that restricts the removal of a paper feed cassette from the main body of the apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus comprising a paper feed cassette that is accommodated in the device main body so that it can be pulled out, and a locking mechanism that restricts the paper feed cassette from being pulled out from the device main body, wherein the paper feed cassette comprises an outer cover having a recess on its outer surface, and a handle that is accommodated in the recess so that it can be rotated outward from the outer surface and that rotates outward when grasped when pulled out from the device main body, and the locking mechanism restricts and releases the restriction on the paper feed cassette being pulled out from the device main body in conjunction with the rotation of the handle.

[0010] In the present invention, the locking mechanism includes a pin supported by the handle so as to be movable along a direction intersecting the pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette and which moves with rotation of the handle, a pin biasing member which biases the pin in a direction in which it protrudes from the handle, a locking member which is disposed forward of the pin in the protruding direction and is supported by the outer cover so as to be movable along the intersecting direction, a lock biasing member which biases the locking member in a direction opposite to the protruding direction, and a hook portion which is provided on the device main body and is engageable with the locking member, In this state, the pin is urged by the pin urging member to push the locking member in the protruding direction against the urging force of the lock urging member, the locking member engages with the hook portion to restrict the paper feed cassette from being pulled out from the device main body, and when the handle is gripped and rotated to pull out the paper feed cassette from the device main body, the pin moves away from the locking member, the locking member is urged by the lock urging member to move in the opposite direction and move away from the hook portion, and the paper feed cassette can be pulled out from the device main body.

[0011] In the present invention, the hook portion and the locking member may each have an inclined surface that abuts against each other when the paper feed cassette is accommodated in the device main body, and when the paper feed cassette is pushed into the device main body and the inclined surface of the locking member abuts against the inclined surface of the hook portion, the locking member may be guided in the opposite direction along the inclined surface.

[0012] In the present invention, the pin and the locking member may each have an inclined surface that abuts against each other when the handle is accommodated in the recess, and when the inclined surface of the pin abuts against the inclined surface of the locking member when the handle is accommodated in the recess, the locking member may be guided in the protruding direction along the inclined surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the locking mechanism that prevents the paper feed cassette from being pulled out from the device body can be activated by rotating the handle of the paper feed cassette. The handle is configured to be rotated by hooking a finger from below, so that a finger can be securely hooked even if the recess in which the handle is housed is shallow. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 3 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism seen from above in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism seen from the rear in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing an outer cover of a paper feed cassette in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a handle of a paper feed cassette in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cut-side locking mechanism of the locking mechanism in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism (with a handle gripped) seen from above in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism (in a state where the engagement between the locking member and the hook portion is released) as viewed from above in the image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism (with a paper feed cassette pulled out) seen from above in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism (with a handle housed in a recess) viewed from above in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11]10 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism (in a state where a locking member abuts against a hook portion) as viewed from above in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism (in a state where a pin is pushed in via a locking member) as viewed from above in an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0016] First, the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In each drawing, Fr, Rr, L, R, Up, and Lo indicate the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower sides of the image forming apparatus 1, respectively.

[0017] The image forming apparatus 1 has a device body 3 with a roughly rectangular parallelepiped internal space, including left and right side panels, front and rear side panels, a top panel, and a bottom panel. The top panel is formed with an outlet 5 through which paper is discharged. On the top surface of the top panel, and forward of the outlet 5, an outlet tray 7 is formed on which paper discharged from the outlet 5 is stacked. Furthermore, an operation panel 9 is provided on the top surface of the top panel for inputting commands such as for executing image forming operations.

[0018] An image forming unit 11 that forms images on paper is housed inside the device body 3. A cassette housing section 13 is formed below the image forming unit 11. The cassette housing section 13 houses a paper feed cassette 15 that stores paper on which images are formed by the image forming unit 11. The paper feed cassette 15 can be pulled out forward from the cassette housing section 13 through an opening 21 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) formed in the front side panel 3a. That is, in this example, the pull-out direction of the paper feed cassette 15 is the forward direction.

[0019] When paper feed cassette 15 is housed in cassette housing section 13 and a command to execute an image forming operation is input to operation panel 9, paper is fed from paper feed cassette 15, and an image is formed on the paper in image forming section 11. The paper on which the image has been formed is discharged from discharge outlet 5 and stacked on discharge tray 7.

[0020] The cassette housing portion 13 and the sheet feed cassette 15 are provided with a locking mechanism 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that restricts the sheet feed cassette 15 from being pulled out from the cassette housing portion 13.

[0021] The locking mechanism 17 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism 17 as seen from above, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism 17 as seen from behind. The locking mechanism 17 is made up of a main body-side locking mechanism 17A provided in the cassette housing section 13 (device main body 3) and a cassette-side locking mechanism 17B provided in the paper feed cassette 15.

[0022] First, the main body side locking mechanism 17A will be described. The main body side locking mechanism 17A is a hook portion 23 provided on the front side plate 3a of the device main body 3. The hook portion 23 is located on the right side of the opening 21 that communicates with the cassette storage section 13 and protrudes forward. The hook portion 23 has a base portion that extends forward from the front surface and a claw portion that bends leftward from the front end of the base. The claw portion has a tapered shape, and the front surface is an inclined surface 23a that slopes backward (towards the back of the device main body 3) toward the left side (the side of the opening 21).

[0023] Next, the cassette-side locking mechanism 17B will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 4 to 6. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the outer cover 33, Figure 5 is a side view showing the handle 45, and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the cassette-side locking mechanism 17B. As shown in Figure 6, the cassette-side locking mechanism 17B includes a pin 61 and a pin biasing member 63 supported by the handle 45, and a locking member 65 and a lock biasing member 67 supported by the outer cover 33.

[0024] First, we will explain the paper feed cassette 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the paper feed cassette 15 has a main body 31 that stores paper sheets, and an outer cover 33. When the paper feed cassette 15 is stored in the cassette storage section 13, the outer cover 33 overlaps the front side panel 3a of the device main body 3 and covers the opening 21.

[0025] As shown in Figure 4, a recess 41 is formed in the right end of the outer surface (front surface) of the outer cover 33. The recess 41 has left and right side surfaces, a top surface, and a rear surface (bottom surface), and is open at the bottom. The left and right side surfaces are formed with downward arc-shaped slits 43 (see Figure 5). A handle 45 is housed in the recess 41.

[0026] The handle 45 is lower than the recess 41 and has horizontally long rectangular front and top panels and vertically long, approximately rectangular left and right side panels, with a hollow shape that is open at the bottom and rear. A plurality of ribs are formed in the hollow portion, parallel to the left and right side panels. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, left and right rotation shafts 51 are formed at the upper ends of the outer surfaces of the left and right side panels, protruding in opposite directions along the left-right direction. Furthermore, a through-hole 53 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that penetrates the right side panel in the left-right direction is formed below the right rotation shaft 51.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the handle 45 is housed in the recess 41 of the outer cover 33. As shown in FIG. 5, the left and right rotating shafts 51 are rotatably supported at the upper ends of the left and right sides of the recess 41. This allows the handle 45 to rotate forward (see FIG. 5) from the storage position (see FIG. 4) in which the handle 45 is housed in the recess 41. The rotation angle is, for example, 45 degrees. In the storage position, a space is open below the handle 45. A finger can be inserted into the hollow portion of the handle 45 through this space to hook the handle 45. When the finger is hooked on the handle 45 and the handle 45 is pulled forward, the handle 45 rotates outward from the outer cover 33 around the rotating shaft 51, widening the gap between the handle 45 and the bottom surface of the recess 41. The handle 45 is biased toward the storage position by a torsion coil spring 55 fitted around the right rotating shaft 51, as described below.

[0028] Next, the pin 61 will be described. The pin 61 has a disk-shaped head and a cylindrical shaft. Half of the tip surface of the shaft is an inclined surface 61a that is notched diagonally. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pin 61 is inserted through a through-hole 53 formed in the right side plate of the handle 45. Specifically, the pin 61 is inserted into the through-hole 53 from the inside of the right side plate, with the inclined surface 61a of the shaft facing rearward. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shaft protruding from the through-hole 53 passes through a slit 43 formed in the right side of the recess 41 of the outer cover 33 and protrudes to the rear side of the outer cover 33. When the handle 45 is rotated forward from the storage position, the pin 61 moves forward within the slit 43 together with the handle 45 (see FIG. 5). Thus, in this example, the protruding direction of the pin 61 is to the right, which intersects with the pull-out direction (forward direction) of the paper feed cassette 15.

[0029] 3, 5, and 6, the coil portion of torsion coil spring 55 is fitted onto the right rotation shaft 51 protruding from the right side plate of recess 41, as described above. One arm of torsion coil spring 55 is fixed to outer cover 33, and the other arm abuts from the front against the shaft portion of pin 61 protruding from the right side plate of recess 41. In this way, torsion coil spring 55 biases handle 45 toward the storage position.

[0030] Next, we will explain the coil spring serving as the pin biasing member 63. As shown in Fig. 6, the coil spring 63 is disposed between the head of the pin 61 and a rib provided in the hollow portion of the handle 45. The coil spring 63 biases the pin 61 to the right (in the protruding direction) until the head of the pin 61 abuts against the right side plate of the handle 45.

[0031] Next, the locking member 65 will be described. The locking member 65 has a main body in the shape of a horizontally long rectangular prism and leg portions in the shape of a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped, and is T-shaped when viewed from the front. As shown in Fig. 6, the rear half of the right end face of the main body is formed with a rear inclined surface 65a that is cut out diagonally, and the front half of the left end face is formed with a front inclined surface 65b that is cut out diagonally.

[0032] 2 and 3, the locking member 65 is disposed to the right of the pin 61 and is supported on the rear surface of the outer cover 33 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. When the handle 45 is rotated to the storage position, the main body of the locking member 65 is aligned with the pin 61 in the left-right direction, and the left end surface of the main body faces the tip surface of the pin 61. On the other hand, when the handle 45 is rotated outward from the storage position, the main body moves forward away from the pin 61.

[0033] 2 and 3, when the locking member 65 moves to the right while the sheet feed cassette 15 is housed in the cassette housing portion 13, the locking member 65 engages with the hook portion 23 formed on the front side plate 3a of the device body 3. That is, the right end of the locking member 65 moves behind the claw portion of the hook portion 23, and the right end of the locking member 65 and the claw portion of the hook portion 23 overlap in the front-to-rear direction. This restricts the sheet feed cassette 15 from being drawn out of the cassette housing portion 13 (device body 3).

[0034] Next, we will explain the coil spring that serves as the lock biasing member 67. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the coil spring 67 is disposed between the leg of the locking member 65 and a rib formed on the back surface of the outer cover 33. The coil spring 67 biases the locking member 65 leftward, in other words, in the direction opposite to the protruding direction (rightward) of the pin 61.

[0035] The biasing force of coil spring 67 biasing locking member 65 is smaller than the biasing force of coil spring 63 biasing pin 61. Therefore, when handle 45 is rotated to the storage position, pin 61 is biased by coil spring 63 and pushes locking member 65 to the right. Pushed by pin 61, locking member 65 moves to the right against the biasing force of coil spring 67.

[0036] In the image forming apparatus 1 having the above configuration, the operation of restricting and releasing the restriction on the drawing of the sheet feed cassette 15 from the cassette housing portion 13 by the locking mechanism 17 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 and Figures 7 to 12. Figures 7 to 12 are diagrams showing the operation of the locking mechanism 17.

[0037] First, a state in which the paper feed cassette 15 is housed in the cassette housing portion 13 will be described. In this state, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pin 61 is biased by the coil spring 63 to push the locking member 65 to the right. When pressed by the pin 61, the locking member 65 moves to the right against the biasing force of the coil spring 67. As a result, the locking member 65 engages with the hook portion 23 of the device main body 3, and the removal of the paper feed cassette 15 from the cassette housing portion 13 is restricted.

[0038] Next, a description will be given of how to pull out the sheet feed cassette 15 from the cassette housing portion 13. First, as shown in Fig. 7, a finger is placed on the handle 45 and the handle 45 is rotated forward (see the arrow in Fig. 7). Then, as the handle 45 rotates, the pin 61 moves forward within the slit 43 (see also Fig. 5), and the pin 61 moves away from the locking member 65 to the front.

[0039] 8, the locking member 65 is biased by the coil spring 67 and moves leftward (see the arrow in FIG. 8), and the right end of the locking member 65 and the claw portion of the hook portion 23 no longer overlap in the front-to-rear direction. This disengages the locking member 65 from the hook portion 23. As a result, the restriction on the removal of the paper feed cassette 15 from the cassette housing portion 13 is released. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, with your fingers still hooked on the handle 45, the paper feed cassette 15 is removed forward from the cassette housing portion 13 (see the arrow in FIG. 9).

[0040] Thereafter, when the fingers are released from the handle 45, as shown in FIG. 10, the handle 45 is biased by the torsion coil spring 55 and rotates to the storage position. At this time, the pin 61 moves rearward together with the handle 45, and the inclined surface 61a of the pin 61 abuts against the front inclined surface 65b of the locking member 65. The pin 61 is biased to the right by the coil spring 63. The biasing force of the coil spring 63 biasing the pin 61 is greater than the biasing force of the coil spring 67 biasing the locking member 65. Therefore, the locking member 65 is guided rightward along the inclined surfaces 61a and 65b against the biasing force of the coil spring 67. As a result, the locking member 65 moves rightward (see the arrow in FIG. 10).

[0041] Next, a description will be given of the case where the sheet feed cassette 15 is accommodated in the cassette accommodation portion 13. When the sheet feed cassette 15 is pushed into the cassette accommodation portion 13, the rear inclined surface 65a of the locking member 65 eventually comes into contact with the inclined surface 23a of the hook portion 23, as shown in FIG.

[0042] When paper feed cassette 15 is further pushed in, locking member 65 is guided along inclined surfaces 65a and 23a and moves leftward. At this time, as shown in Figure 12, pin 61 is also pushed leftward by locking member 65 and moves leftward against the biasing force of coil spring 63 (see the arrow in Figure 12).

[0043] When the paper feed cassette 15 is pushed further in and the locking member 65 moves rearward beyond the claw portion of the hook portion 23, the locking member 65 is urged to the right by the coil spring 63 via the pin 61 and engages with the hook portion 23 (see Figures 2 and 3).

[0044] As described above, according to the present invention, the locking mechanism 17 is activated by rotating the handle 45 of the paper feed cassette 15, thereby restricting or releasing the restriction on the paper feed cassette 15 being drawn out of the cassette housing portion 13. The handle 45 is configured to be rotated by hooking a finger from below, so that a finger can be securely hooked even if the recess 41 in which the handle 45 is housed is shallow.

[0045] Furthermore, the locking mechanism 17 is configured so that the locking member 65 and the hook portion 23 overlap in the front-to-rear direction, and by engaging the two, it is possible to reliably restrict the withdrawal of the paper feed cassette 15 from the cassette housing portion 13. Furthermore, the locking mechanism 17 is provided on the front side plate 3a of the device body 3 and the outer cover 33 of the paper feed cassette 15. In particular, the locking mechanism 17 is substantially contained within the depth range (9 mm in one example) of the recess 41 of the outer cover 33. Therefore, the locking mechanism 17 can be placed in a narrow space.

[0046] Furthermore, the inclined surfaces 65a, 23a where the locking member 65 abuts against the hook portion 23 when the sheet feed cassette 15 is accommodated in the cassette accommodating portion 13 are formed to guide the movement of the locking member 65, so that the locking member 65 can be smoothly moved to engage with the hook portion 23. Furthermore, the inclined surfaces 61a, 65b where the pin 61 abuts against the locking member 65 when the handle 45 is rotated to the accommodation position are formed to guide the movement of the locking member 65, so that the locking member 65 can be smoothly moved.

[0047] Furthermore, the above description of the embodiments of the present invention describes preferred embodiments of the image forming apparatus and paper feed cassette according to the present invention, and therefore may include various technically preferable limitations, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects unless there is a specific description that limits the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1. Image forming device 3. Device body 15 Paper cassette 17 Locking mechanism 23 Hook part 33 Outer cover 41 Recess 45 Handle 61 pins 61a Slope 63 Coil spring (pin biasing member) 65 Locking member 65a Back slope 65b Front slope 67 Coil spring (lock biasing member)

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus including a paper feed cassette accommodated in an apparatus body so as to be removable, and a locking mechanism that restricts the removal of the paper feed cassette from the apparatus body, The paper feed cassette is an outer cover having a recess on its outer surface; a handle that is housed in the recess so as to be rotatable outward from the outer surface and that is gripped when the device is pulled out from the device body to rotate outward; The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the locking mechanism restricts and releases the drawing of the paper feed cassette from the apparatus body in conjunction with the rotation of the handle.

2. The locking mechanism is a pin supported by the handle so as to be movable along a direction intersecting the direction in which the paper feed cassette is pulled out, and which moves together with the rotation of the handle; a pin biasing member that biases the pin in a direction that protrudes from the handle; a locking member disposed forward of the pin in the protruding direction and supported by the outer cover so as to be movable along the transverse direction; a lock biasing member that biases the locking member in a direction opposite to the protruding direction; a hook portion provided on the device body and engageable with the locking member, When the paper feed cassette is housed in the device body, the pin is biased by the pin biasing member to push the locking member in the protruding direction against the biasing force of the lock biasing member, and the locking member engages with the hook portion to restrict the paper feed cassette from being pulled out of the device body. An image forming apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the handle is gripped and rotated to pull out the paper feed cassette from the device main body, the pin moves away from the locking member, and the locking member is urged by the lock urging member to move in the opposite direction and move away from the hook portion, making it possible to pull out the paper feed cassette from the device main body.

3. the hook portion and the locking member each have an inclined surface that abuts against each other when the paper feed cassette is housed in the apparatus main body, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the inclined surface of the locking member abuts against the inclined surface of the hook portion when the paper feed cassette is pushed into the apparatus main body, the locking member is guided in the opposite direction along the inclined surface.

4. the pin and the locking member each have an inclined surface that abuts against each other when the handle is accommodated in the recess; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the handle is accommodated in the recess and the inclined surface of the pin abuts against the inclined surface of the locking member, the locking member is guided in the protruding direction along the inclined surface.

Images