Paper feed cassette and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a cassette device that can protect against obstacles trapped between the cassette body and the casing. [Solution] The cassette device 3 comprises a cassette body 10 that slides between a mounting position and an unmounting position, and a cover handle 11 that is operated when the cassette body 10 is slid. The cover handle 11 has a fixed cover 12 fixed to the cassette body 10, a movable cover 13 positioned on top of the fixed cover 12, and a movable support part 14 that slidably supports the movable cover 13. The movable cover 13 slides between an outer casing position stacked on the fixed cover 12 and an extrusion position P4 shifted toward the outside of the housing 2 relative to the fixed cover 12. In the process of sliding the cassette body 10 to the mounting position, if fingers 50 (an obstacle) are caught between the movable cover 13 and the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7, the movable cover 13 is pushed out relative to the fingers 50 and slides toward the extrusion position P4.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] A paper feed cassette for accommodating paper is slidably attached to the apparatus main body (housing) of an image forming apparatus (Patent Document 1). The front cover portion of the apparatus main body is composed of the decorative surface of an opening / closing cover and the decorative cover of the paper feed cassette. The decorative surface and the decorative cover are provided with handles used for opening / closing operations of the paper feed cassette and the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When pushing in (closing) the pulled-out paper feed cassette (cassette main body), the user may accidentally push the paper feed cassette into the apparatus main body (housing) while touching the decorative cover. At this time, the user's hand or finger (obstacle) may be sandwiched between the decorative cover and the apparatus main body (the upper edge of the opening into which the paper feed cassette is inserted), causing pain to the user.

[0005] In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a cassette device and an image forming apparatus capable of protecting an obstacle sandwiched between the cassette main body and the housing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette, a cassette device that houses a medium and is detachably mounted in the housing of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a cassette body that slides between a mounting position mounted inside the housing through a mounting opening formed in the housing and a pull-out position pulled out from the housing; and a cover handle that forms part of the exterior surface of the housing when the cassette body is positioned in the mounting position and is operated when the cassette body slides, wherein the cover handle comprises a fixed cover fixed to the cassette body, a movable cover positioned above the fixed cover, and the fixed cover and the movable cover The movable cover has a movable support portion interposed between it and the cassette body, which supports the movable cover so that it can slide in the same direction as the cassette body, and the movable cover slides between an outer casing position stacked on the fixed cover and an extruded position shifted toward the outside of the housing relative to the fixed cover, and in the process of sliding the cassette body from the pull-out position to the mounting position, if an obstacle is caught between the movable cover and the upper edge of the mounting opening, the movable cover is pushed out relative to the obstacle and slides from the outer casing position toward the extruded position while maintaining the outer casing posture in the outer casing position.

[0007] In this case, the movable support portion supports the movable cover so that it can rotate around an axis extending in a width direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and the vertical direction, and when the cassette body is placed in the mounting position with the obstacle sandwiched between the movable cover and the upper edge of the mounting opening, the fixed cover constitutes a part of the exterior surface, and after the movable cover is placed in the extrusion position, it is pushed out relative to the obstacle and rotates from the exterior position to an inclined position that is downward and outside the housing.

[0008] In this case, the movable support portion is slidably supported by the fixed cover, and the cover handle further comprises a linear biasing member that biases the movable support portion to slide the movable cover from the extruded position to the exterior position, and a rotational biasing member that biases the movable cover to move from the inclined position to the exterior position.

[0009] The image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises a cassette device as described above, and an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the medium discharged from the cassette device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to protect against obstacles caught between the cassette body and the casing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side view illustrating the attachment and detachment of the cassette device of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing a cassette device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view showing a part (mainly the cover handle) of a cassette device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] This is a perspective view showing the fixing cover of a cassette device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] This is a perspective view showing the movable cover of a cassette device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5C] This is a perspective view showing a movable support part of a cassette device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of a part of a cassette device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a user's fingers are caught between the movable cover and the housing. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view of a part of a cassette device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing the movable cover in the extrusion position. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of a part of a cassette device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the movable cover has been changed to an inclined position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described while referring to the attached drawings. Note that Fr, Rr, L, R, U, and D shown in the drawings indicate front, rear, left, right, up, and down. Also, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction are orthogonal to each other. In this specification, terms indicating directions and positions are used for convenience of explanation and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Also, in each figure, the shape, dimensions, etc. of the members are not exact and are schematized for explaining the embodiments.

[0013] [Image forming apparatus] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an overview of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a side view for explaining the attachment and detachment of the cassette device 3.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a housing 2 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped appearance. The housing 2 includes, for example, a metal frame and an exterior member made of synthetic resin fixed to the frame (both not shown). The image forming apparatus 1 includes a cassette device 3 that houses a medium (not shown) such as paper and is detachably provided on the housing 2, and an image forming device 4 that forms an image on the medium sent out from the cassette device 3. Also, on the upper surface of the housing 2, a discharge tray 5 for receiving the image-formed (printed) medium is provided. Note that the medium is not limited to single-sheet paper and may include resin sheets and the like.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, a cassette mounting chamber 6 is formed in the lower part of the housing 2, and a mounting opening 7 leading to the cassette mounting chamber 6 is formed in the lower front part of the housing 2. The cassette device 3 is detachably mounted (accommodated) in the cassette mounting chamber 6 (inside the housing 2) through the mounting opening 7.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming device 4 is provided above the cassette mounting chamber 6 (cassette device 3) inside the housing 2. The image forming device 4 includes a toner container, a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a developing device, a transfer roller, an optical scanning device, a fixing device, etc. (all not shown), and forms an image on a medium by an electrophotographic method. The image forming device 4 discharges the medium on which an image has been formed to the discharge tray 5. Note that the image forming device 4 may form a full-color image or a monochrome image on the medium. Further, the image forming device 4 is a printer that forms an image by an electrophotographic method, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a printer that forms an image by an inkjet method. Further, the image forming device 4 is not limited to a printer, and may be, for example, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, or the like.

[0017] [Cassette device] Next, referring to FIGS. 3 to 8, the cassette device 3 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cassette device 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the cassette device 3 (mainly the cover handle 11). FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the fixed cover 12 of the cassette device 3. FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing the movable cover 13 of the cassette device 3. FIG. 5C is a perspective view showing the movable support portion 14 of the cassette device 3. FIGS. 6 to 8 are cross-sectional views showing a part of the cassette device 3 and explaining the operation of the cassette device 3.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cassette device 3 includes a cassette main body 10 and a cover handle 11.

[0019] [Cassette main body] As shown in Figure 3, the cassette body 10 is formed in a roughly tray shape with an open top. The cassette body 10 contains the media. On the bottom surface of the cassette body 10, there are features such as a cursor for aligning the edges of the media and a lift plate for lifting the media and bringing it into contact with the paper feed device (neither of which are shown). The cassette body 10 is supported so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction relative to the housing 2 via a pair of slide rails (not shown). The slide rails may include, for example, an outer rail fixed to the inner surface of the cassette mounting chamber 6, an inner rail fixed to the outer surface of the cassette body 10, and an intermediate rail interposed between the outer rail and the inner rail. Note that the structure for slidably supporting the cassette body 10 in the housing 2 is not limited to slide rails; for example, a structure in which bosses protruding from a pair of left and right outer surfaces of the cassette body 10 slide into slide grooves formed on a pair of left and right inner surfaces of the cassette mounting chamber 6 may also be used (not shown).

[0020] The cassette body 10 slides between a mounting position P1 (see upper part of Figure 2), where it is mounted (housed) inside the housing 2 (cassette mounting chamber 6) through the mounting opening 7, and an extraction position P2 (see lower part of Figure 2), where it is pulled out (forward) from the housing 2 (cassette mounting chamber 6). The mounting position P1 is the position that allows the media housed in the cassette body 10 to be fed towards the imaging device 4, and the extraction position P2 is the position that allows the media to be replenished in the cassette body 10.

[0021] [Cover handle] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cover handle 11 is attached to the front end of the cassette body 10. The front of the cover handle 11 forms the lower part of the front of the housing 2 (part of the exterior surface) when the cassette body 10 is placed in the mounting position P1 (see also Figure 1). The cover handle 11 is also the part that is operated when the cassette body 10 is slid. A handle portion 25 for the user to grip is provided on the lower right portion of the front of the cover handle 11 (see Figure 1).

[0022] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cover handle 11 includes a fixed cover 12, a movable cover 13, a movable support portion 14, a pair of linear biasing members 15, and a rotational biasing member 16. The fixed cover 12 and the movable cover 13 are the same size in the left-right direction (see also Figure 1). In addition, the fixed cover 12 and the movable cover 13 are each longer in the left-right direction than the cassette body 10 (see Figure 3).

[0023] <Fixed cover> As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5A, the fixed cover 12 has a fixed exterior part 20 and a pair of fixed arms 21. The fixed cover 12 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and is integrally molded, and constitutes the lower part of the cover handle 11.

[0024] (Fixed exterior part)

[0025] The fixed casing 20 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the left-right direction and is approximately the same height as the cassette body 10. The fixed casing 20 is fixed to the front end of the cassette body 10, and the handle portion 25 is provided on the front of the fixed cover 12 (see Figure 1). A pair of recesses 22 are formed on both the left and right sides of the fixed casing 20 so as to be recessed from the back toward the front. Within each recess 22, a fixed boss 23 protrudes from the inner surface of the front wall of the fixed casing 20.

[0026] (Fixed arm) The pair of fixing arms 21 are positioned in the pair of recesses 22 and are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending rearward from the back surface of the fixing outer casing 20. The pair of fixing arms 21 are positioned along both left and right outer surfaces of the cassette body 10 (see Figure 3). A pair of stopper portions 26 are provided on both left and right outer surfaces of the cassette body 10, and the rear end surfaces of the pair of fixing arms 21 are in contact with the front surfaces of the pair of stopper portions 26 (see Figures 3 and 4).

[0027] (Rail groove) Each of the pair of fixed arms 21 has a pair of rail grooves 24 formed on both of its outer surfaces in the left-right direction, recessed inward. Each rail groove 24 extends over the entire length of the fixed arm 21 in the front-rear direction. The front end of each rail groove 24 is closed off by the fixed outer casing 20, and the rear end of each rail groove 24 is closed off by the stopper portion 26. When viewed from the rear, each rail groove 24 has a shape in which the inside is wider in the vertical direction than the outside in the left-right direction. In other words, each fixed arm 21 is formed in a roughly C-shape when viewed from the rear. A slider 40 of the movable support portion 14, which will be described later, is fitted into each rail groove 24 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction.

[0028] <Movable cover> As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5B, the movable cover 13 has a bottom plate 30, a front plate 31, a top plate 32, and a pair of side plates 33. The movable cover 13 is positioned on top of the fixed cover 12 and forms the upper part of the cover handle 11. The movable cover 13 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and is integrally molded into a box shape with the rear open. The movable cover 13 is formed to be shorter (lower) in the vertical direction than the fixed cover 12.

[0029] The bottom plate 30 is formed as a flat plate with the same dimensions in the front-to-back direction as the top surface of the fixed exterior part 20. The bottom plate 30 is positioned parallel to the top surface of the fixed exterior part 20 (horizontal position). The front plate 31 is formed as a flat plate that is shorter (lower) in the vertical direction than the fixed exterior part 20 and is erected at the front end of the bottom plate 30. The top plate 32 is formed as a flat plate that is shorter in the front-to-back direction than the bottom plate 30 and protrudes rearward from the upper end of the front plate 31. Each side plate 33 is formed as a pentagon with one side on the rear upper side inclined when viewed from the side. A pair of side plates 33 are connected to the left and right ends of the bottom plate 30, front plate 31, and top plate 32, respectively.

[0030] A pair of bearing portions 34 and a pair of shaft engagement portions 35 are provided on both the left and right sides of the movable cover 13. The pair of bearing portions 34 are connected to the upper surface of the bottom plate 30 and the back surface of the front plate 31 at a position offset towards the center in the left-right direction from the pair of side plates 33. Each bearing portion 34 is formed in a flat plate shape parallel to the side plates 33. Furthermore, each bearing portion 34 is formed in a C-shape with the rear open when viewed from the side, and supports the pivot shaft 41 of the movable support portion 14, which will be described later, so that it can rotate around the axis. The pair of shaft engagement portions 35 are connected to the back surface of the front plate 31 at a position offset towards the center in the left-right direction from the pair of bearing portions 34. Each shaft engagement portion 35 extends rearward from the back surface of the front plate 31, and its tip is bent downward, forming an L-shape when viewed from the side. Each shaft engagement portion 35 is hooked onto the pivot shaft 41 from above (see Figure 3).

[0031] A pair of relief grooves 36 are formed on both sides of the bottom plate 30 in the left-right direction. The pair of relief grooves 36 are cut out from the rear end of the bottom plate 30 toward the front, at a position offset laterally from the pair of bearing portions 34. When viewed from above, the pair of relief grooves 36 are formed laterally outward from the pair of fixing arms 21 of the fixing cover 12. In addition, a biasing projection 37 protrudes from the inner surface of the right side plate 33.

[0032] <Movable support part> As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5C, the movable support part 14 has a pair of sliders 40, a pivot shaft 41, and a pair of movable arms 42. The movable support part 14 is interposed between the fixed cover 12 and the movable cover 13. The movable support part 14 supports the movable cover 13 so that it can slide in the same direction (front-to-back direction) as the cassette body 10, and also supports the movable cover 13 so that it can rotate (oscillate) around an axis that extends in the left-to-right direction (width direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and the up-and-down direction).

[0033] (slider) Each slider 40 is generally a thick plate shape that is long in the front-to-back direction, and is formed to be shorter in the front-to-back direction than the fixed arm 21 (rail groove 24) described above. In detail, each slider 40 has a shape in which the inside is wider in the vertical direction than the outside in the left-to-right direction when viewed from the back (or front), and is formed to be fitted into the rail groove 24 of the fixed arm 21 described above. Each slider 40 is held by the fixed arm 21 and slides in the front-to-back direction along the rail groove 24. In addition, a movable boss 43 protrudes from the front end surface of each slider 40.

[0034] (Oscillating axis) The pivot shaft 41 is a round bar extending in the left-right direction and is shorter in the left-right direction than the movable cover 13. The pivot shaft 41 is supported so as to be rotatable around its axis by a pair of bearing portions 34 of the movable cover 13 described above. When viewed from above, the pivot shaft 41 is positioned approximately in the center of the movable cover 13 (bottom plate 30) in the front-rear direction. A pair of anti-slip flanges 44 are formed on both sides of the pivot shaft 41 in the left-right direction. Each anti-slip flange 44 is formed in a disc shape that extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the pivot shaft 41. The pair of anti-slip flanges 44 are in contact with (or opposite with a small gap between them) the left-right outer surfaces of the pair of bearing portions 34, restricting the left-right movement of the pivot shaft 41 (see Figure 3).

[0035] (Movable arm) A pair of movable arms 42 connect a pair of sliders 40 to a pivot shaft 41. Each movable arm 42 has one end connected to the left-right outer surface of the slider 40 and the other end connected to the pivot shaft 41 outside the left-right direction of the stopper flange 44. When viewed from the side, each movable arm 42 is formed in a roughly L-shape by connecting the upper end of a vertical portion extending upward from the slider 40 to the rear end of a horizontal portion extending backward from the pivot shaft 41. The horizontal portion of each slider 40 is positioned above the relief groove 36 of the movable cover 13 (bottom plate 30) described above (see Figure 3).

[0036] As described above, since the movable support part 14 is slidably supported by the fixed cover 12, the movable cover 13 slides in the front-rear direction together with the movable support part 14. In detail, the movable cover 13 slides between an exterior position P3 (see Figures 3 and 4) stacked on (directly above) the fixed cover 12 and an extrusion position P4 (see Figure 7) shifted toward the outside (forward) of the housing 2 relative to the fixed cover 12. The movable cover 13 moves in parallel between the exterior position P3 and the extrusion position P4 while maintaining an exterior posture F1 (see Figures 3 and 4) in which the bottom plate 30 is parallel to the upper surface of the fixed exterior part 20.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, when the movable cover 13 is positioned at the exterior position P3, the surface of the front plate 31 of the movable cover 13 forms a substantially flush plane with the front surface of the fixed exterior part 20 (fixed cover 12). In this state, each slider 40 abuts against the stopper part 26 of the cassette body 10, thereby restricting the rearward movement of the movable support part 14 and the movable cover 13.

[0038] As shown in Figure 7, when the movable cover 13 is positioned at the extrusion position P4, the movable cover 13 protrudes forward of the fixed outer casing 20 (fixed cover 12), and the pivot axis 41 (axis) of the movable support 14 is positioned forward of the front surface of the fixed outer casing 20. In this state, the vertical portions of each movable arm 42 abut against the fixed outer casing 20 (upper edge of the recess 22), thereby restricting the forward movement of the movable support 14 and the movable cover 13.

[0039] As shown in Figure 7, the pivot shaft 41 moves forward from the fixed exterior part 20 when the movable cover 13 is positioned at the extrusion position P4, so that the movable cover 13 can rotate forward and downward around the pivot shaft 41. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the movable cover 13 rotates forward and downward (outside and below the housing 2), changing from the exterior position F1 to the inclined position F2. In this state, the horizontal portions of each movable arm 42 relatively enter the relief grooves 36 of the bottom plate 30, so that the forward and downward rotation of the movable cover 13 is not hindered. Also in this state, each shaft engagement part 35 is separated forward and upward from the pivot shaft 41 (not shown).

[0040] (Linear biasing member) As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each linear biasing member 15 is a so-called compression coil spring and is positioned in the rail groove 24 of the fixed arm 21. Each linear biasing member 15 is installed between the fixed outer casing 20 of the fixed cover 12 and the slider 40 of the movable support 14. The fixed boss 23 of the fixed outer casing 20 is fitted to the front end of each linear biasing member 15, and the movable boss 43 of the slider 40 is fitted to the rear end of each linear biasing member 15 (see Figure 4). Each linear biasing member 15 biases the slider 40 toward the rear using the fixed outer casing 20 as a base. In other words, each linear biasing member 15 biases the movable support 14 so that the movable cover 13 slides from the extrusion position P4 to the outer casing position P3.

[0041] (Rotation biasing member) As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rotation biasing member 16 is a so-called torsion spring and is wrapped around the right end of the pivot axis 41 of the movable support 14. One arm of the rotation biasing member 16 is hooked onto the biasing projection 37 of the movable cover 13 (right side plate 33), and the other arm of the rotation biasing member 16 is hooked onto the horizontal portion of the right movable arm 42 of the movable support 14. The rotation biasing member 16 biases the movable cover 13 to rotate upward and rearward (clockwise in Figure 8) with respect to the movable arm 42. In other words, the rotation biasing member 16 biases the movable cover 13 from an inclined position F2 to an external position F1.

[0042] [Operation of the cassette device] Next, the operation of the cassette device 3 will be explained with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0043] When placing a medium into the cassette device 3 (cassette body 10), the user grasps the handle portion 25 of the cover handle 11 and pulls the cassette device 3 (cassette body 10) towards them. The user positions the cassette body 10 at the pull-out position P2 (see the lower part of Figure 2) and places the medium into the cassette body 10. Then, the user pushes the front of the cover handle 11 (fixed cover 12 or movable cover 13) backward, sliding the cassette body 10 from the pull-out position P2 to the mounting position P1 (see the upper part of Figure 2). As a result, the cassette device 3 with the medium inside is mounted in the housing 2, and the image forming apparatus 1 becomes ready to form an image on the medium.

[0044] Incidentally, when sliding the cassette body 10 from the pull-out position P2 to the mounting position P1, the user may accidentally place their hand or fingers (referred to as "fingers 50" in this specification) on the upper part of the cover handle 11 (movable cover 13) while pushing in the cassette device 3 (see Figure 6). As the cassette device 3 is pushed in further, the user's fingers 50 may get caught between the movable cover 13 and the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7 (see Figure 6). This can cause pain to the user and prevent the cassette device 3 from being properly mounted in the housing 2. Furthermore, for example, in an office where the image forming apparatus 1 is installed, the user may be wearing a card holder (not shown) around their neck, and the card holder hanging from the user's neck may get caught between the movable cover 13 and the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7, potentially damaging the card holder (card, etc.).

[0045] Therefore, the cassette device 3 according to this embodiment has a function to protect the user's fingers 50 and other obstacles such as a card holder that are caught between the cover handle 11 and the housing 2. The function of the cassette device 3 according to this embodiment to protect the user's fingers 50 and other obstacles will be described below with reference to Figures 6 to 8. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the user's fingers 50 are caught between the movable cover 13 and the housing 2. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the movable cover 13 is positioned at the extrusion position P4. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the movable cover 13 has been changed to an inclined position F2. The user's fingers 50 and a card holder are examples of "obstacles" as referred to in the claims.

[0046] As shown in Figure 6, for example, when a user places their fingers 50 on the upper part of the movable cover 13 and pushes the cassette device 3 in, the user's fingers 50 get caught between the movable cover 13 and the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7 during the process of sliding the cassette body 10 from the pull-out position P2 to the mounting position P1.

[0047] As the cassette device 3 is pushed further in from the above state, the movable cover 13 receives a reaction force from the user's fingers 50 and is pushed forward relative to the fingers 50, as shown in Figure 7 (see dashed arrow in Figure 7). The movable cover 13 then slides (translates) from the exterior position P3 to the extrusion position P4 while maintaining the exterior posture F1 (horizontal posture) at the exterior position P3. As a result, the movable cover 13 moves forward from the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7, and the impact acting on the user's fingers 50 is mitigated.

[0048] When the cassette device 3 is further pushed in with the fingers 50 caught between the movable cover 13 and the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7, and the cassette body 10 is positioned at the mounting position P1, the fixed cover 12 constitutes a part (lower part) of the exterior surface of the housing 2 (see Figure 8). In other words, the front surface of the fixed exterior part 20 is generally positioned on the same plane as the front surface of the housing 2. In this state, the movable cover 13 is positioned at the extrusion position P4 (see Figure 7).

[0049] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, after the movable cover 13 is positioned at the extrusion position P4, it is further pushed out relative to the fingers 50, and rotates from the external position F1 to an inclined position F2 that is forward and downward (outside and below the housing 2 (counterclockwise in Figure 8)). As a result, the movable cover 13 moves diagonally forward and downward away from the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7, further mitigating the impact on the user's fingers 50, and making it possible to pull the fingers 50 out from between the movable cover 13 and the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7.

[0050] When the user withdraws their fingers 50 from between the movable cover 13 and the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7, the movable cover 13 rotates diagonally upward and backward (clockwise in Figure 8) under the biasing force of the rotation biasing member 16, changing its orientation from the inclined position F2 to the external position F1 (see Figure 7). Returned to the external position F1, the movable cover 13 slides from the extruded position P4 to the external position P3 under the biasing force of the linear biasing member 15 (see Figure 4). In this state, the front surface of the movable cover 13 (front plate 31) is generally on the same plane as the front surface of the fixed cover 12. In other words, the fixed cover 12 and the movable cover 13 constitute the lower part of the external surface (front) of the housing 2 (see Figures 1 and 4).

[0051] As described above, with respect to the cassette device 3 according to this embodiment, the movable cover 13 that strikes the user's fingers 50 moves forward (outside the housing 2) from the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7, thereby mitigating the impact on the fingers 50. This protects the user's fingers 50 or other objects (obstacles) that are caught between the movable cover 13 and the housing 2 (upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7).

[0052] Furthermore, according to the cassette device 3 of this embodiment, even if the user's fingers 50 are caught between the movable cover 13 and the housing 2, the movable cover 13 can be moved forward relative to the movable cover 13, allowing the cassette body 10 and the fixed cover 12 to continue sliding toward the inside of the housing 2. This allows the cassette body 10 to be properly mounted in the housing 2 while protecting the user's fingers 50, etc.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the cassette device 3 of this embodiment, by changing the position of the movable cover 13 to an inclined position F2, the movable cover 13 can be moved diagonally forward and downward from the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7, thereby further reducing the impact on the fingers 50. This effectively protects the fingers 50 and the like that are caught between the movable cover 13 and the housing 2.

[0054] Furthermore, according to the cassette device 3 of this embodiment, the linear biasing member 15 biases the movable support part 14 so that the movable cover 13 slides to the external position P3, so that the movable cover 13, which is positioned at the extrusion position P4, can be automatically returned to the external position P3. Also, the rotational biasing member 16 biases the movable cover 13 to the external position F1, so that the movable cover 13, which is in the inclined position F2, can be automatically returned to the external position F1.

[0055] In the cassette device 3 according to this embodiment, the movable cover 13 positioned at the extrusion position P4 is provided to be rotatable (position changeable) around the pivot axis 41, but the present invention is not limited to this. The pivot axis 41 of the movable support part 14 may be omitted, and the movable cover 13 may be supported by the movable support part 14 so as to be non-rotatable and slidable in the front-rear direction (not shown). Even with this configuration, the same effects as the cassette device 3 according to this embodiment can be obtained, such as protecting the user's fingers 50 or the like (obstacle) caught between the movable cover 13 and the upper edge 7A of the mounting opening 7.

[0056] Furthermore, in the cassette device 3 according to this embodiment, the slider 40 of the movable support part 14 is slidably fitted into a rail groove 24 formed on the side surface of the fixed arm 21 of the fixed cover 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rail groove 24 may be formed on the upper surface of the fixed arm 21 (not shown). Also, if the pivot shaft 41 is omitted, the rail groove 24 may be formed on the upper surface of the fixed exterior part 20 and the slider 40 may be provided on the lower surface of the movable cover 13 (neither shown). In this case, the movable arm 42 of the movable support part 14 is omitted (not shown).

[0057] Furthermore, in the cassette device 3 according to this embodiment, a linear biasing member 15 is provided to return the movable cover 13 to the external position P3, and a rotational biasing member 16 is provided to return the movable cover 13 to the external orientation F1, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, one or both of the linear biasing member 15 and the rotational biasing member 16 may be omitted (not shown), and the user may manually return the movable cover 13 to the external position P3 or to the external orientation F1.

[0058] Furthermore, in the description of the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 was a printer that forms images using an electrophotographic method, but it is not limited to this, and may be a printer that forms images using an inkjet method, for example (not shown). Also, the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to a printer, but may be a facsimile machine, a copier, or the like.

[0059] The above description of embodiments illustrates one aspect of the cassette device and image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The present invention may be modified, substituted, or transformed in various ways without departing from the spirit of the technical idea, and the claims include all embodiments that may fall within the scope of the technical idea. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1. Image forming apparatus 2 cabinets 3 Cassette devices 4. Imaging device 7. Mounting opening 7A Upper edge 10 Cassette Unit 11 Cover Handle 12 Fixed cover 13 Movable cover 14 Movable support part 15 Linear biasing member 16 Rotation biasing member 50. Fingers (obstacles) F1 exterior stance F2 tilted posture P1 Installation position P2 drawer position P3 exterior position P4 Extrusion position

Claims

1. A cassette device for housing media, which is detachably mounted on the housing of an image forming apparatus, A cassette body slides between a mounting position, where it is mounted inside the housing through a mounting opening formed in the housing, and a pulled-out position, where it is pulled out from the housing. The cassette body is positioned in the mounting position and comprises a cover handle that forms part of the outer surface of the housing and is operated when the cassette body is slid, The aforementioned cover handle is, A fixing cover that is secured to the cassette body, A movable cover is positioned on top of the aforementioned fixed cover, It has a movable support portion interposed between the fixed cover and the movable cover, which supports the movable cover so that it can slide in the same direction as the cassette body, The movable cover slides between an external position where it is stacked on the fixed cover and an extruded position where it is shifted toward the outside of the housing relative to the fixed cover. A cassette device characterized in that, in the process of sliding the cassette body from the pull-out position to the mounting position, if an obstacle is caught between the movable cover and the upper edge of the mounting opening, the movable cover is pushed out relative to the obstacle and slides from the outer casing position toward the push-out position while maintaining the outer casing posture in the outer casing position.

2. The movable support portion supports the movable cover so that it can rotate around an axis that extends in a width direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and the vertical direction, The cassette device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the cassette body is placed in the mounting position with the obstacle sandwiched between the movable cover and the upper edge of the mounting opening, the fixed cover constitutes a part of the exterior surface, and the movable cover, after being placed in the extrusion position, is pushed out relative to the obstacle and rotates from the exterior position to an inclined position that is downward and outside the housing.

3. The movable support portion is slidably supported by the fixed cover, The aforementioned cover handle is, A linear biasing member that biases the movable support portion so that the movable cover slides from the extruded position to the exterior position, The cassette device according to claim 2, further comprising a rotational biasing member that biases the movable cover from the inclined position to the external position.

4. A cassette device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the medium discharged from the cassette device.

Images