Sheet loading device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a seat loading device that can suppress seat tray retraction failures. [Solution] A sheet loading device comprising: a tray rail that slidably holds the sheet tray in the device housing when the sheet tray for storing the sheets is stored in the device housing; a guide rib integrally formed on the sheet tray; and a restricting member that restricts the amount of gap between the sheet tray and the tray rail until the guide rib enters a storage positioning hole formed inside the device housing, wherein the restricting member reduces the degree of restriction on the amount of gap as the guide rib enters the storage positioning hole.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] A sheet loading device that supplies a sheet from a sheet tray for loading and accommodating a sheet-like medium is known. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet supplied from the sheet loading device is also known.

[0003] In a sheet loading device having a sheet tray retraction mechanism, in order to provide a minute gap between the sheet tray and a rail member that slides the sheet tray and guides it inside the device, a configuration that minimizes play in the gap by a regulating rib integrally formed with the sheet tray is known (see Patent Document 1).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional sheet loading device as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a tray guide rib for positioning when inserting the sheet tray is inserted into the rear side plate, there may be a state where a gap with the rail is not formed due to the component finish of the paper feed tray in which the regulating rib is integrally formed. As a result, there is a problem that the sliding load becomes high and the retraction of the sheet tray cannot be completed.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet loading device that can suppress poor retraction of a sheet tray.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a sheet loading device equipped with a sheet tray for accommodating sheets, comprising: a tray rail that slidably holds the sheet tray relative to the device housing when the sheet tray is accommodated in the device housing; a guide rib integrally formed with the sheet tray; and a restricting member that restricts the amount of gap between the sheet tray and the tray rail until the guide rib enters a accommodating positioning hole formed inside the device housing, wherein the restricting member reduces the degree of restriction of the gap amount as the guide rib enters the accommodating positioning hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the failure of the seat tray to retract properly. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. [Figure 2] A perspective view showing an embodiment of the sheet loading device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] A perspective view showing an embodiment of the sheet loading device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] A diagram illustrating a conventional sheet storage section applicable to the sheet loading device described above. [Figure 5] A diagram illustrating a conventional sheet storage section applicable to the sheet loading device described above. [Figure 6] A diagram illustrating a sheet storage section of a sheet loading device according to the present invention. [Figure 7] An enlarged view illustrating an example of the characteristic configuration of the above-mentioned seat storage section. [Figure 8] A diagram illustrating the operation of the sheet storage section described above. [Figure 9] An enlarged view illustrating the characteristic configuration and operation of the above-mentioned seat storage section. [Figure 10] A diagram illustrating the operation of the sheet storage section described above. [Figure 11]An enlarged view illustrating another example of the characteristic configuration of the above-mentioned seat storage section. [Figure 12] An enlarged view illustrating another example of the characteristic configuration of the above-mentioned seat storage section. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [Embodiment of an Image Forming Apparatus] Hereinafter, embodiments of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the printer 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the printer 1 comprises a sheet storage unit 10 corresponding to an embodiment of the sheet loading device according to the present invention, an image forming unit 20, and a paper discharge unit 30.

[0010] The printer 1 is configured to load sheet-shaped media into a sheet tray 110 housed in a sheet storage unit 10, transport the media from the sheet storage unit 10, form an image in the image forming unit 20, and discharge the image-formed media into the paper output unit 30.

[0011] The sheet-like medium is, for example, paper P. However, in this embodiment, the medium stored in the sheet storage unit 10 is not limited to paper P. Any medium that can be transported to the image forming unit 20 and capable of image formation is acceptable.

[0012] [Outline of the seat storage section 10] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the sheet storage section 10. The sheet tray 110 is configured to be inserted into and removed from the sheet storage section 10. The insertion and removal direction of the sheet tray 110 is indicated by arrow R1 in Figure 2.

[0013] Further, FIG. 3 illustrates a state where the sheet tray 110 is pulled out from the sheet storage section 10. As shown in FIG. 3, when the sheet tray 110 is set in the sheet storage section 10 with sheets P loaded thereon, the sheets P can be conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow R1 in FIG. 3. The sheet tray 110 is equipped with side fences 111 (right side fence 111R and left side fence 111L) for aligning the sheets P and an end fence 112. The sheet tray 110 can be inserted and removed along the left rail 102 of the sheet storage section 10.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the sheet storage section 10 having the sheet tray 110. When the sheet tray 110 is inserted into the apparatus housing, when a tray guide rib 121 as a guide rib is inserted into a rear side plate 101 which is a part of the inner wall of the sheet storage section 10, the storage position of the sheet tray 110 is determined.

[0015] Until the tray guide rib 121 is inserted into a storage position - determining hole 104 formed in the rear side plate 101, the lateral play (clearance amount) between the left rail 102 and the right rail 103 as tray rails and a regulating rib 129 integrally formed with the sheet tray 110 is suppressed to be small.

[0016] When the sheet tray 110 is pulled into the depth of the apparatus housing by the action of a pull - in pin 123 being pulled into a tray pull - in unit 105 as a sheet tray pull - in mechanism and comes into a state where a stopper rib 122 abuts against the rear side plate 101, the pulling - in is completed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4(B), a clearance C is secured between the left rail 102 and the regulating rib 129. This clearance C can reduce the sliding load when the sheet tray 110 is pulled in and when it is pulled out.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a reference example for explaining problems in a state where the clearance C as described above cannot be ensured when the sheet tray 110 is drawn into the apparatus housing. In order to ensure the clearance C, when the regulating rib 129 integrally formed with the sheet tray 110 is larger than the specified size, if the gap between the sheet tray 110 and the left rail 102 becomes too narrow, the clearance C will decrease or disappear, and the friction between the sheet tray 110 and the left rail 102 will increase. As a result, the sliding load increases and the sheet tray 110 cannot be drawn into the depth of the apparatus housing.

[0018] That is, due to the component finish of the regulating rib 129 integrally formed with the sheet tray 110, if there is no clearance C between the left rail 102, the sheet tray 110 will not be completely drawn in due to the sliding load. Also, even if the drawing is completed, it will be impossible to take out.

[0019] [First Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a first embodiment of the sheet tray 110. As shown in FIG. 6, a regulating lever 130 as a regulating member is incorporated in the sheet tray 110 according to this embodiment. The regulating lever 130 is a member for ensuring the amount of clearance between the left rail 102 and the sheet tray 110 and suppressing the play between the sheet tray 110 and the left rail 102.

[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a state before the sheet tray having been completely drawn into the apparatus housing, and illustrates a state before the tray guide rib 121 is inserted into the rear side plate 101. As shown in FIG. 6, until the tray guide rib 121 is inserted into the rear side plate 101, the first arm portion 131 of the regulating lever 130 continues to form a gap with the left rail 102. In other words, until the tray guide rib 121 enters the accommodation positioning hole 104 formed in the rear side plate 101, the first arm portion 131 of the regulating lever 130 contacts and presses the left rail 102 to continuously maintain the clearance C at a certain amount.

[0021] Figure 7 is a magnified view of a portion of the regulating lever 130. As shown in Figure 7, the regulating lever 130 has a first arm portion 131 and a second arm portion 132, and the pivot point 133 is located at the joint between the first arm portion 131 and the second arm portion 132. The regulating lever 130 is configured to rotate around this pivot point 133 as the center of rotation.

[0022] Furthermore, the restrictor lever 130 is biased in the direction of arrow R3 by a tension spring 135, which is a type of elastic member. The biasing of the tension spring 135 causes the restrictor lever 130 to maintain its initial position when the second arm portion 132 is not in contact with the rear side plate 101. In this "initial position," the restrictor lever 130 has the outer edge portion of the first arm portion 131 protruding from the internal space of the seat tray 110, creating a gap (clearance C) between the left rail 102 and the seat tray 110.

[0023] Figure 8 is a simplified plan view illustrating the operation of the regulating lever 130 being stored in the sheet tray 110. As shown in Figure 8(a), the second arm portion 132 of the regulating lever 130 comes into contact with the rear plate 101 just before the tray guide rib 121 is inserted into the rear plate 101. As the sheet tray 110 moves further into the rear of the device housing, the pressing force from the rear plate 101 applied to the second arm portion 301 causes the regulating lever 130 to rotate clockwise around the pivot point 133 as the center of rotation in Figure 8.

[0024] The rotation of the restricting lever 130 causes the first arm portion 131 to move away from the left rail 102 and into the internal space of the seat tray 110, moving from a state where the first arm portion 131 is in contact with the left rail 102 and restricting the clearance C, to a stowed state as illustrated in Figure 8(b). When the tray guide rib 121 is inserted into the rear side plate 101, even if the restricting lever 130 is stored inside the seat tray 110, the positioning action of the tray guide rib 121 ensures that the clearance C between the left rail 102 and the seat tray 110 is maintained. In other words, once the seat tray 110 is fully stowed, the restriction of clearance C by the restricting lever 130 is removed. To put it another way, the degree to which the clearance C is restricted by the restricting lever 130 decreases depending on the degree to which the seat tray 110 is inserted.

[0025] Figure 9 is an enlarged view illustrating the operation of the regulating lever 130 being stored in the seat tray 110. The figure is a simplified plan view for illustrative purposes. Figure 9(a) illustrates the initial position. Figure 9(b) illustrates the state in which the seat tray 110 has been fully stored, i.e., the fully stored position. As shown in Figure 9(a), as the seat tray 110 approaches the stored state, the second arm portion 132 of the regulating lever 130 comes into contact with and presses against the rear plate 101. In this state, the tray guide rib 121 begins to enter the storage positioning hole 104 formed in the rear plate 101 (see Figure 8(a)).

[0026] As the seat tray 110 approaches the stowed position, the degree of pressure applied by the second arm portion 132 to the rear plate 101 increases. This pressure causes the second arm portion 132 to rotate in the direction of arrow R2, which is the direction against the biasing force of the tension spring 135. Then, as shown in Figure 9(b), when the seat tray 110 is stowed in the seat loading device 100, the first arm portion 131 is stowed inside the seat tray 110.

[0027] Figure 10 is a simplified plan view showing the state in which the regulating lever 130 is stored in the seat tray 110 and the tray retraction unit 105 has completed the retraction. As shown in Figure 10, when the seat tray 110 is fully retracted, a clearance C is formed between the seat tray 110 and the left rail 102.

[0028] As explained above with reference to Figures 6 to 10, according to the seat tray 110 of this embodiment, the restricting lever 130 restricts the amount of gap with the left rail 102, thereby eliminating the sliding load when the seat tray 110 is stored and making the retraction operation easier. Furthermore, when the seat tray 110 is in the stored position, the restricting lever 130 is in a position away from the left rail 102, making it easier to pull out the seat tray 110.

[0029] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the regulating lever 130 will be described with reference to Figure 11. As shown in Figure 11, the regulating lever 130a according to this embodiment is subjected to a return action by a torsion coil spring 136, which acts as an elastic member, and remains in standby position at the initial position.

[0030] [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the regulating lever 130 will be described with reference to Figure 12. As shown in Figure 12, the regulating lever 130b according to this embodiment has an elastic member, a tension spring 135 and a torsion coil spring 136, which act in the return direction and keep it in the initial position.

[0031] With the restricting lever 130b, even when neither the tension spring 135 nor the torsion coil spring 136 is acting, the restricting lever 130b can be kept in its initial position, allowing the first arm portion 131b to restrict the amount of gap between itself and the left rail 102, thereby ensuring clearance C.

[0032] As described above, the sheet loading device 100 according to this embodiment has a mechanism for retracting the sheet tray 110, and the rattle-suppressing regulating lever 130 is stored by rotational restriction, thereby eliminating retraction failure due to load.

[0033] "Rotation restriction" refers to the movement in which the restricting lever 130 rotates via the pivot point 133, the second arm portion 132 contacts the rear plate 101, and when the seat tray 110 is pushed in, the first arm portion 131 on the left rail 102 side of the restricting lever 130 rotates to be stored inside the seat tray 110, and an elastic member (tension spring 135, torsion coil spring 136, etc.) acts in the return direction, causing it to rotate back to its initial position.

[0034] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments exemplified above, and various modifications are possible without departing from its technical essence. All technical matters included in the technical concept described in the claims are covered by the present invention. The above embodiments are preferred examples, but those skilled in the art can realize various modifications from the disclosed content. Such modifications are also included in the technical scope described in the claims.

[0035] [Aspects of the present invention] The contents of this invention are, for example, as follows: <1> A seat loading device equipped with a seat tray for storing seats, A tray rail that slidably holds the sheet tray relative to the device housing when the sheet tray is housed in the device housing, Guide ribs integrally formed with the aforementioned sheet tray, A restricting member that restricts the amount of gap between the sheet tray and the tray rail until the guide rib enters the housing positioning hole formed inside the device housing, Equipped with, The restricting member reduces the degree to which the gap is restricted as the guide rib enters the housing positioning hole. This is a sheet loading device characterized by the following features. <2> The regulating member rotates as the guide rib enters the housing positioning hole to reduce the amount of gap between it and the tray rail. The aforementioned <1> This is the sheet loading device described in [reference]. <3> The regulating member has a first arm portion and a second arm portion, The first arm portion forms a gap between itself and the tray rail until the guide rib enters the storage positioning hole. The second arm portion is pressed against the inner wall of the device housing as the guide rib enters the housing positioning hole. The first arm rotates around the point of contact between the first arm and the second arm, and the first arm is housed inside the seat tray. The above-mentioned features <1> or the above <2> This is the sheet loading device described in [reference]. <4> The restricting member is held in a state biased by an elastic member so that the first arm portion is held at a position that forms the gap amount. The aforementioned <3> This is the sheet loading device described in [reference]. <5> The elastic member is a tension spring. The aforementioned <4> This is the sheet loading device described in [reference]. <6> The elastic member is a torsion coil spring. The aforementioned <4> This is the sheet loading device described in [reference]. <7> The elastic members are tension springs and torsion coil springs. The aforementioned <4> This is the sheet loading device described in [reference]. <8> The restricting member is held in a position where the first arm portion forms the gap amount, even when neither the tension spring nor the torsion coil spring is acting. The aforementioned <7> This is the sheet loading device described in [reference]. <9> When the guide rib enters and is housed in the housing positioning hole, the regulating member is housed inside the seat tray, and clearance between the seat tray and the tray rail is ensured. The aforementioned <1> or the above <8> It is a sheet loading device described in any one of the following. <10> An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, A sheet storage unit comprising a sheet tray for storing the sheet supplied to the image forming unit, An image forming apparatus comprising, The sheet storage section is <1> or the above <9> The sheet loading device is one of the following: This is an image forming apparatus characterized by the following features. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1: Printer 10: Seat storage section 20: Image forming unit 30: Paper output section 100: Sheet loading device 101: Rear side plate 102: Left rail 103: Right rail 104: Accommodation positioning hole 105: Tray retraction unit 110: Seat tray 121: Tray guide rib 122: Stopper Rib 123: Retractable pin 129: Regulatory Rib 130: Regulator lever 131: First arm section 131b: First arm section 132: Second arm section 133:Fulcrum 135: Tension spring 136: Torsion coil spring 301: Second arm section [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0037] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-059610

Claims

1. A seat loading device equipped with a seat tray for storing seats, A tray rail that slidably holds the sheet tray relative to the device housing when the sheet tray is housed in the device housing, Guide ribs integrally formed with the aforementioned sheet tray, A restricting member that restricts the amount of gap between the sheet tray and the tray rail until the guide rib enters the housing positioning hole formed inside the device housing, Equipped with, The restricting member reduces the degree to which the gap is restricted as the guide rib enters the housing positioning hole. A sheet loading device characterized by the following features.

2. The regulating member rotates as the guide rib enters the housing positioning hole, thereby reducing the amount of gap between it and the tray rail. The sheet loading device according to claim 1.

3. The regulating member has a first arm portion and a second arm portion, The first arm portion forms a gap between itself and the tray rail until the guide rib enters the storage positioning hole. The second arm portion is pressed against the inner wall of the device housing as the guide rib enters the housing positioning hole. The first arm rotates around the point of contact between the first arm and the second arm, and the first arm is housed inside the seat tray. The sheet loading device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The restricting member is held in a state biased by an elastic member so that the first arm portion is held in a position that forms the gap amount. The sheet loading device according to claim 3.

5. The elastic member is a tension spring. The sheet loading device according to claim 4.

6. The elastic member is a torsion coil spring. The sheet loading device according to claim 4.

7. The elastic members are tension springs and torsion coil springs. The sheet loading device according to claim 4.

8. The restricting member is held in a position where the first arm portion forms the gap amount, even when neither the tension spring nor the torsion coil spring is acting. The sheet loading device according to claim 7.

9. When the guide rib enters and is housed in the housing positioning hole, the regulating member is housed inside the seat tray, and clearance between the seat tray and the tray rail is ensured. The sheet loading device according to claim 1.

10. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, A sheet storage unit comprising a sheet tray for storing the sheet supplied to the image forming unit, An image forming apparatus comprising, The sheet storage section is the sheet loading device described in claim 1. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following:

Images