Paper feeding device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a paper feeding device or image forming apparatus that allows for easy placement of media with a simple configuration. [Solution] The paper feed tray 4 has a first state in which the paper feed tray 4 is not yet installed inside the main body 101 and the first projection 221 is not in contact with the first guide portion 31; a second state in which the first projection 221 is in contact with the first guide portion 31 when the paper feed tray 4 is further inserted inside the main body 101 from the first state; and a third state in which the second projection 222 is in contact with the second guide portion 32 when the paper feed tray 4 is further inserted inside the main body 101 from the second state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] A paper feed tray having a lever member and lever moving means for moving the lever member has been proposed for attaching the paper feed tray to the apparatus main body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional technology, since it has lever moving means for moving the lever member, there is a problem that the parts of the paper feed tray increase.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding device or an image forming apparatus capable of easily installing a medium with a simple configuration in order to solve the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The paper feeding device of the present invention a paper feed tray that can be inserted into the apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, a lever rotatably supported by the paper feed tray, a receiver disposed on the paper feed tray and having a first surface on which a medium is loaded, an elastic member connected to the lever and the receiver, a first protrusion and a second protrusion provided on the lever and A first guide portion for guiding the first projection is provided on the main body of the device, A second guide portion for guiding the second projection is provided on the main body of the device, The aforementioned paper feed tray is A first state in which the paper feed tray has not yet been fully installed inside the main body of the device and the first projection is not in contact with the first guide portion, When the paper feed tray is further inserted into the main body of the device from the first state, a second state is reached in which the first projection is in contact with the first guide portion. When the paper feed tray is further inserted into the main body of the device from the second state, a third state is reached in which the second projection is in contact with the second guide portion. It holds. The image forming apparatus of the present invention is The aforementioned paper feeding device, An image forming unit that forms an image on the aforementioned medium, It is characterized by having the following features. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper feeding device or image forming apparatus that allows for easy placement of media with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the device body when viewed in the -X direction. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cross-section of the device body when viewed in the -Z direction. [Figure 4] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the paper feed device as viewed in the -X direction. [Figure 5] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the paper feed device as viewed in the -Z direction. [Figure 6]It is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which a medium is loaded on the paper feed tray shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which a medium is loaded on the paper feed tray shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. [Figure 8] It is a view showing the first state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 9] It is a view showing the second state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 10] It is a view showing the second state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 11] It is a view showing the third state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 12] It is a view showing the third state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 13] It is a view showing a state where the paper feed tray is completely installed inside the apparatus main body. [Figure 14] It is a view showing a state where the paper feed tray is completely installed inside the apparatus main body. [Figure 15] It is a view showing the first state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 16] It is a view showing the second state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 17] It is a view showing the second state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 18] It is a view showing the third state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 19] It is a view showing the third state of the paper feed tray. [Figure 20] It is a view showing a state where the paper feed tray on which the medium is loaded is completely installed inside the apparatus main body. [Figure 21] It is a view showing a state where the paper feed tray on which the medium is loaded is completely installed inside the apparatus main body.

Embodiments of the Invention

[0009] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. The cross-sectional structure of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is the cross-sectional structure of the image forming apparatus 1 when viewed in the -X direction in the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system. The image forming apparatus 1 comprises a main body 101 and a paper feeder 102 that can be inserted into the main body 101. The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

[0010] The main body of the device 101 includes an image forming unit 3 for forming an image on a medium 2, a pickup roller 5 for feeding the medium 2 from the paper feed tray 4, a paper feed roller 6, a first registration roller 8, a first shaft roller 9, a second registration roller 10, a second shaft roller 11, discharge rollers 15, 16, 17, 18, and a stacking surface 19. The medium 2 is, for example, paper.

[0011] The paper feeder 102 includes a paper feed tray 4 that can be inserted into the main body 101, at least one lever 22, a receive 25 on which the media 2 is loaded, at least one elastic member 26, and a retard roller 7. When the paper feeder 102 is fully inserted into the main body 101, the retard roller 7 is positioned to contact the paper feed roller 6. The retard roller 7, together with the paper feed roller 6, transports the media 2 by sandwiching it between them. For example, the retard roller 7's rotational torque is restricted by a torque limiter and it is biased in the +Z direction by an elastic member such as a compression spring.

[0012] The paper feed roller 6 is connected to a drive source (not shown). The pickup roller 5 and the paper feed roller 6 are connected by a connecting member (not shown), and power is transmitted from the paper feed roller 6 to the pickup roller 5.

[0013] The media 2, fed from the paper tray 4, is transported by the pickup roller 5, paper feed roller 6, first registration roller 8, first shaft roller 9, second registration roller 10, and second shaft roller 11, and enters the image forming unit 3.

[0014] The image forming unit 3 includes an image drum 12, a transfer roller 13, and a fuser 14. An image (e.g., a toner image) is formed on the medium 2 by the image drum 12 and the transfer roller 13. The fuser 14 fixes the image to the medium 2 by heat and pressure. The medium 2 is discharged to the stack surface 19 by the discharge rollers 15, 16, 17, and 18.

[0015] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the device body 101 when viewed in the -X direction. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cross-section of the device body 101 when viewed in the -Z direction. The device body 101 has at least one first guide portion 31 and at least one second guide portion 32. In the example shown in Figure 3, the device body 101 has two first guide portions 31 and four second guide portions 32. In the example shown in Figure 3, the first guide portions 31 and the second guide portions 32 are provided on both sides of the device body 101 in the direction along the X axis. In the example shown in Figure 7, which will be described later, two guide portions 32 correspond to one lever 22.

[0016] The first guide section 31 has a first inclined surface 311 and a first flat surface 312. The second guide section 32 has a second inclined surface 321 and a second flat surface 322. It is desirable that the second guide section 32 be located above the first guide section 31. It is desirable that the second guide section 32 be located above the first inclined surface 311.

[0017] In the examples shown in Figures 2 and 3, the second guide portion 32 is located in the -X direction relative to the first guide portion 31 along the X-axis, in the +Y direction relative to the first guide portion 31 along the Y-axis, and in the +Z direction relative to the first guide portion 31 along the Z-axis.

[0018] The first plane 312 is located behind the device body 101 in the insertion direction (+Y direction) and above the first inclined surface 311. The insertion direction is the direction in which the paper feed tray 4 is inserted into the device body 101. The first inclined surface 311 is inclined with respect to the insertion direction.

[0019] The second plane 322 is located further inside the device body 101 than the second inclined surface 321 in the insertion direction, and is located above the second inclined surface 321. The second inclined surface 321 is inclined with respect to the insertion direction. The second plane 322 is provided above the first guide portion 31.

[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the paper feed device 102 as viewed in the -X direction. Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the paper feed device 102 as viewed in the -Z direction. In the example shown in Figure 5, the paper feeder 102 has two levers 22. The levers 22 are located on both sides of the paper feeder 102 in the direction along the X-axis. Each lever 22 has a body 220, a first projection 221, a second projection 222, and a pivot shaft 223. The levers 22 are rotatably supported by the paper tray 4. Specifically, the pivot shaft 223 of the levers 22 is supported by the paper tray 4. This allows the levers 22 to rotate.

[0021] The first projection 221 is located further inside the paper feeder 102 than the rotation axis 223 in the insertion direction. The first projection 221 is guided by the first guide portion 31 provided on the device body 101. The first projection 221 is positioned to come into contact with the first guide portion 31 during the process of inserting the paper feeder 102 into the device body 101.

[0022] The second projection 222 is located further inside the paper feeder 102 than the first projection 221 in the insertion direction. The second projection 222 is guided by a second guide portion 32 provided on the device body 101. The second projection 222 is positioned to come into contact with the second guide portion 32 during the process of inserting the paper feeder 102 into the device body 101.

[0023] The first projection 221 and the second projection 222 protrude from the main body 220 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. In the example shown in Figure 5, the first projection 221 protrudes from the main body 220 to the outside of the paper feed tray 4. In the example shown in Figure 5, the second projection 222 protrudes from the main body 220 in both directions along the X axis (+X direction and -X direction).

[0024] The elastic member 26 is connected to the lever 22 and the receive 25. That is, the lever 22 and the receive 25 are connected by the elastic member 26. The elastic member 26 is, for example, a spring such as a tension spring or a compression spring.

[0025] The receive 25 is located in the paper feed tray 4. The receive 25 has a first surface 251 on which the media 2 is loaded, and a second surface 252 which is the surface opposite to the first surface 251. The end of the receive 25 in the insertion direction is supported by the paper feed tray 4. The end of the receive 25 in the opposite direction to the insertion direction acts as a point of force by the elastic member 26, allowing the receive 25 to rotate.

[0026] Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views showing an example in which the media 2 is loaded into the paper feed tray 4 shown in Figures 4 and 5. Before the paper feed tray 4 is fully installed inside the main body 101 of the device and before the first projection 221 is in contact with the first guide portion 31, at least a portion of the second surface 252 of the receive 25 is in contact with the paper feed tray 4, as shown in Figures 4 and 6. In the examples shown in Figures 4 and 6, the end of the second surface 252 in the direction opposite to the insertion direction is in contact with the paper feed tray 4. Therefore, the receive 25 is stable when setting the medium 2 into the paper feed tray 4, making it easy to set the medium 2 into the paper feed tray 4.

[0027] As shown in Figure 7, the lever 22 and the second guide portion 32 are located outside the media 2 loaded in the paper feed tray 4 in the direction along the X axis.

[0028] Referring to Figures 8 to 14, the operation of inserting the paper feeder 102 into the main body 101 will be explained. Note that in the example shown in Figures 8 to 14, no media 2 is loaded into the paper feeder 102.

[0029] The paper feed tray 4 has a first state, a second state, and a third state. Figure 8 shows the first state of the paper feed tray 4. The first state is the state before the paper feed tray 4 is fully installed inside the main body 101 of the device and the first projection 221 is not in contact with the first guide portion 31. When the paper feed tray 4 is in the first state, at least a portion of the second surface 252 of the receive 25 is in contact with the paper feed tray 4. That is, in the first state, the receive 25 is not rotating and no tensile load is applied to the elastic member 26.

[0030] Figures 9 and 10 show the second state of the paper feed tray 4. The second state is when the paper feed tray 4 is further inserted into the main body 101 of the device from the first state, and the first projection 221 is in contact with the first guide portion 31.

[0031] When the paper feed tray 4 is inserted in the insertion direction while the first projection 221 is in contact with the first inclined surface 311, the first projection 221 moves upward along the first inclined surface 311. This causes the lever 22 to rotate and the second projection 222 to move upward. As the lever 22 rotates, the elastic member 26 pulls the receive 25, causing the receive 25 to rotate and the second surface 252 of the receive 25 to separate from the paper feed tray 4.

[0032] For example, as shown in Figure 11 later, when the first projection 221 is in contact with the first guide portion 31, it is desirable that the second projection 222 be positioned above the tip 323 of the second guide portion 32. When the first projection 221 is in contact with the second guide portion 32 side of the first guide portion 31, it is desirable that the second projection 222 be positioned above the tip 323 of the second guide portion 32. When the first projection 221 is in contact with the first plane 312, it is even more desirable that the second projection 222 be positioned above the tip 323 of the second guide portion 32. The tip 323 of the second guide portion 32 is the tip of the second guide portion 32 in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.

[0033] As shown in Figure 10, the first guide portion 31 is located outside the receive 25 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (along the X-axis). As shown in Figure 10, the first guide portion 31 may also be located outside the paper feed tray 4 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (along the X-axis).

[0034] Figures 11 and 12 show the third state of the paper feed tray 4. The third state is when the paper feed tray 4 is further inserted into the main body 101 of the device from the second state, and the second projection 222 is in contact with the second guide portion 32. In the third state, the second projection 222 is in contact with the second inclined surface 321 or the second flat surface 322.

[0035] Figures 13 and 14 show the state in which the paper feed tray 4 has been installed inside the main body 101 of the device. When the paper feed tray 4 is fully installed inside the device body 101, the receive 25 is pressed toward the pickup roller 5 provided on the device body 101. In the example shown in Figure 13, the receive 25 is in contact with the pickup roller 5 provided on the device body 101. In the example shown in Figure 13, the second projection 222 is in contact with the second plane 322. When the paper feed tray 4 is fully installed inside the device body 101, the elastic member 26 is extended, and a load is generated on the elastic member 26.

[0036] Referring to Figures 15 to 21, the operation of inserting the paper feeder 102, on which the media 2 is loaded, into the main body 101 of the device will be explained. Figure 15 shows the first state of the paper feed tray 4. Figures 16 and 17 show the second state of the paper feed tray 4. Figures 18 and 19 show the third state of the paper feed tray 4. The operations shown in Figures 15 to 19 are the same as those described in Figures 8 to 12.

[0037] Figures 20 and 21 show the state in which the paper feed tray 4, on which the media 2 is loaded, has been installed inside the main body 101 of the device. When the paper feed tray 4 is fully installed inside the main body 101 of the device, the receive 25 is pressed toward the pickup roller 5 located on the main body 101. In the example shown in Figures 20 and 21, the media 2 is biased toward the pickup roller 5 by the receive 25 and the elastic member 26, and the media 2 is in contact with the pickup roller 5. In this state, when the image forming apparatus 1 starts its operation for image forming, the pickup roller 5 and the paper feed roller 6 rotate, and the media 2 is sent to the image forming unit 3.

[0038] As described above, according to this embodiment, the medium 2 can be easily set in the paper tray 4, and biasing force can be applied to the receive 25 using a single lever 22. Therefore, a paper feed device 102 or image forming apparatus 1 can be provided that allows for easy installation of the medium 2 with a simple configuration. In addition, the cost of the paper feed device 102 can be reduced, and it is expected that the paper feed device 102 will not become larger or more complex.

[0039] Although this embodiment shows an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it is applicable to any type of image forming apparatus that has a paper feeding device.

[0040] The various aspects of this implementation are summarized below as an appendix. (Note 1) A paper feed tray that can be inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus, A lever rotatably supported on the paper feed tray, A receive is placed in the aforementioned paper feed tray and has a first surface on which media are stacked, An elastic member connected to the lever and the receive, The lever has a first projection and a second projection and It has, A first guide portion for guiding the first projection is provided on the main body of the device, A second guide portion for guiding the second projection is provided on the main body of the device, The aforementioned paper feed tray is A first state in which the paper feed tray has not yet been fully installed inside the main body of the device and the first projection is not in contact with the first guide portion, When the paper feed tray is further inserted into the main body of the device from the first state, a second state is reached in which the first projection is in contact with the first guide portion. When the paper feed tray is further inserted into the main body of the device from the second state, a third state is reached in which the second projection is in contact with the second guide portion. A paper feeder characterized by having the following features. (Note 2) The paper feeding device according to Appendix 1, characterized in that when the paper feed tray is in the first state, at least a portion of the second surface, which is the surface of the receive opposite to the first surface, is in contact with the paper feed tray. (Note 3) The paper feeding device according to Appendix 1 or 2, characterized in that when the paper feed tray is installed inside the main body of the device, the receive is pressed toward the pickup roller provided on the main body of the device. (Note 4) The paper feeding device according to any one of the appendices 1 to 3, characterized in that when the first projection is in contact with the second guide portion side of the first guide portion, the second projection is positioned above the tip of the second guide portion. (Note 5) A paper feeder described in any one of the notes 1 to 4, An image forming unit that forms an image on the aforementioned medium, An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising: [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1 Image forming apparatus, 2 Medium, 3 Image forming section, 4 Paper feed tray, 5 Pickup roller, 6 Paper feed roller, 7 Retard roller, 8 First registration roller, 9 First shaft roller, 10 Second registration roller, 11 Second shaft roller, 15, 16, 17, 18 Discharge rollers, 19 Stack surface, 22 Lever, 25 Receiver, 26 Elastic member, 31 First guide section, 32 Second guide section, 101 Apparatus body, 102 Paper feed device, 220 Body, 221 First projection, 222 Second projection, 223 Rotation axis, 311 First inclined surface, 312 First plane, 321 Second inclined surface, 322 Second plane

Claims

1. A paper feed tray that can be inserted into the main body of the image forming apparatus, A lever rotatably supported on the paper feed tray, A receive is placed in the aforementioned paper feed tray and has a first surface on which media are stacked, An elastic member connected to the lever and the receive, The lever has a first projection and a second projection and It has, A first guide portion for guiding the first projection is provided on the main body of the device, A second guide portion for guiding the second projection is provided on the main body of the device, The aforementioned paper feed tray is A first state in which the paper feed tray is not yet fully installed inside the main body of the device and the first projection is not in contact with the first guide portion, When the paper feed tray is further inserted into the main body of the device from the first state, the second state is in which the first projection is in contact with the first guide portion, When the paper feed tray is further inserted into the main body of the device from the second state, a third state is reached in which the second projection is in contact with the second guide portion. A paper feeder characterized by having the following features.

2. The paper feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the paper feed tray is in the first state, at least a portion of the second surface, which is the surface of the receive opposite to the first surface, is in contact with the paper feed tray.

3. The paper feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the paper feed tray is installed inside the main body of the device, the receive is pressed toward the pickup roller provided on the main body of the device.

4. The paper feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that when the first projection is in contact with the second guide portion side of the first guide portion, the second projection is positioned above the tip of the second guide portion.

5. A paper feeder according to claim 1 or 2, An image forming unit that forms an image on the aforementioned medium, An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising:

Images