Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To improve the ability to scrape out the sheet during jam processing. [Solution] The device comprises: a sheet storage section for stacking and supporting sheets, which can be pulled out from the main body of the device in a pulling direction; a feeding section provided on the main body of the device for feeding the sheets stored in the sheet storage section in a feeding direction perpendicular to the pulling direction; a side edge regulating section for regulating the position of the side edges of the sheets stored in the sheet storage section; a first scraping member provided above the side edge regulating section for moving the sheets stored in the sheet storage section in the pulling direction when the sheet storage section is pulled out in the pulling direction; and a second scraping member provided above the sheet storage section, downstream of the first scraping member in the feeding direction, for moving the sheets stored in the sheet storage section in the pulling direction when the sheet storage section is pulled out in the pulling direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus provided with the same.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a cassette for storing sheets is detachably mounted so as to be drawable. Jam handling may be performed in a state where a sheet is straddling the boundary portion between the cassette and the apparatus main body and cannot be conveyed. In this case, when the cassette is pulled out from the apparatus main body, it is necessary to prevent the sheet from being torn at the boundary portion and making jam handling difficult.

[0003] To cope with such a situation, Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration in which a guide is provided on the downstream side of the cassette in the drawing direction, and when the cassette is drawn out from the apparatus main body, the sheet straddling the boundary portion is brought into contact with the guide to be guided.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the conventional configuration, when the cassette is pulled out from the apparatus main body, the sheet in contact with the guide may be pushed by the guide in the direction opposite to the drawing direction, which may make jam handling difficult.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A typical configuration of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a sheet storage section for stacking and supporting sheets and which can be pulled out from the main body of the device in a pulling direction; a feeding section provided on the main body of the device for feeding the sheets stored in the sheet storage section in a feeding direction perpendicular to the pulling direction; a side edge regulating section for regulating the position of the side edges of the sheets stored in the sheet storage section; a first scraping member provided above the side edge regulating section for moving the sheets stored in the sheet storage section in the pulling direction when the sheet storage section is pulled out in the pulling direction; and a second scraping member provided above the sheet storage section, downstream of the first scraping member in the feeding direction, for moving the sheets stored in the sheet storage section in the pulling direction when the sheet storage section is pulled out in the pulling direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, when the sheet storage section is pulled out, the sheets in contact with the first scraping member and the second scraping member can be moved in the pulling direction, improving the sheet scraping performance during jam processing. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] Perspective view of the frame configuration of the sheet feeding unit. [Figure 3] Perspective view showing the configuration of the right-hand paper feed cassette. [Figure 4] Perspective view showing the configuration of the right-hand paper feed cassette. [Figure 5] Perspective view showing the scraping mechanism of the right paper feed cassette. [Figure 6] Perspective view showing the frame, guide, and right-hand paper cassette of the sheet feeding unit. [Figure 7] Perspective view showing the guide for the sheet feeding section. [Figure 8] Top view showing the configuration of the right-feed paper cassette in its stored state. [Figure 9]Cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the paper feed unit and the right paper feed cassette in their stored state. [Figure 10] Top view showing the configuration of the right-hand paper feed cassette in the middle of being pulled out. [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the paper feed unit and the right paper feed cassette in the extended state. [Figure 12] Top view showing the configuration of the right paper feed cassette in the extended state. [Figure 13] Top view showing the configuration of the right paper feed cassette in the extended state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in the following embodiments are illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them alone.

[0010] First, the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. In Figure 1, the printer 100, which is the image forming apparatus, is an electrophotographic laser beam printer. The printer 100 includes an image reading device 200 that can read the image of a document G loaded on a document tray 221, and a device body 10 that serves as a housing capable of forming the image read by the image reading device 200 onto a sheet S. The printer 100 also includes a control unit 50 that controls the image reading device 200 and the device body 10.

[0011] The image reading device 200 includes a scanner unit 210 that reads an image of the original document G, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 220 that can automatically feed the original document G to the scanner unit 210. Here, the first reading unit 211 is a reading unit used when scanning the first side (front) of the original document G in a continuous or fixed manner. The second reading unit 251 is a reading unit used when scanning the second side (back) of the original document G in a continuous manner.

[0012] The apparatus main body 10 includes an image forming unit 20 that forms an image on a sheet S, and a sheet feeding unit 30 serving as a sheet feeding device that feeds the sheets S stacked inside the apparatus main body 10 to the image forming unit 20. The apparatus main body 10 further includes a discharge roller pair 46 that discharges the sheet S on which an image has been formed to the outside of the apparatus main body 10, and a sheet discharge tray 45 on which the discharged sheet S is stacked.

[0013] The image forming unit 20 includes a photosensitive drum 22 on which a toner image is formed, a laser scanner unit 21 that irradiates the photosensitive drum 22 with laser light, a transfer unit 24 that transfers the toner image to the sheet S, and a fixing unit 25 that fixes the toner image. A registration roller pair 11 is disposed upstream of the transfer unit 24 in the conveyance path that conveys the sheet S.

[0014] Next, the image forming operation of the printer 100 will be described by exemplifying a case where an image is formed on the sheet S fed from the sheet feeding unit 30 based on the image information of an original G read by a scanner unit 210. Based on the image information of the original G read by the scanner unit 210, laser light is emitted from the laser scanner unit 21 onto the photosensitive drum 22. At this time, the photosensitive drum 22 is pre-charged via a charging member 26. By irradiating the charged photosensitive drum 22 with the laser light, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 22. Further, the formed electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 23, and is formed as a toner image on the photosensitive drum 22.

[0015] In parallel with the operation of forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 22, the sheet S stacked on the right sheet feeding cassette 1 of the sheet feeding unit 30 is fed by the pickup roller 4. Here, the case where the sheet S is fed from the right sheet feeding cassette 1 of the sheet feeding unit 30 is illustrated, but the same operation is performed when the sheet S is fed from the left sheet feeding cassette 2 or the sheet feeding cassette 3 of the sheet feeding unit 30. The sheet S fed by the pickup roller 4 is nipped between the feed roller 5 and the retard roller 6, separated one by one, and conveyed. The sheets S separated one by one are synchronized with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 22 by the registration roller pair 11, and sent to the transfer unit 24.

[0016] The transfer unit 24 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 22, which is synchronized with the sheet S that is sent after being separated one by one, onto the sheet S. The sheet S onto which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer unit 24 is heated and pressurized by the fixing unit 25. The toner image transferred onto the heated and pressurized sheet S is fixed to the sheet S by the heating and pressurization. The sheet S with the fixed toner image is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 45 by the discharge roller pair 46 and stacked sequentially.

[0017] Note that when forming images on both sides of the sheet S, after the image is fixed on the first side of the sheet S, the sheet S is re-conveyed toward the registration roller pair 11 via the reverse conveyance path 12, and the above-described operation is repeated for the second side of the sheet S.

[0018] Next, the configuration of the sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 9. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure (frame configuration) of the sheet feeding unit 30 from which the right sheet feeding cassette 1, left sheet feeding cassette 2, and sheet feeding cassette 3 are removed.

[0019] In the following explanation, direction Y is the direction in which the paper feed cassettes 1 to 3 are pulled out relative to the main body 10 of the device. The pulling direction Y is the direction along the front-rear direction, with the downstream side of the pulling direction Y defined as the front and the upstream side as the rear. Direction X is the feeding direction of the sheets S stored in the feeding cassette, and is perpendicular to the pulling direction Y. The feeding direction X, which is perpendicular to the pulling direction Y, is the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction, with the downstream side of the feeding direction X defined as the right and the upstream side as the left. Direction Z is the direction perpendicular to the front-rear and left-right directions, and is the upward direction in the vertical direction. The pulling direction Y, feeding direction X, and upward direction Z defined here are shown in Figure 2, etc.

[0020] The sheet feeding unit 30 is a sheet feeding device that feeds sheets S to the image forming unit 20. The sheet feeding unit 30 includes a right paper feed cassette 1, a left paper feed cassette 2, a paper feed cassette 3, a right paper feed unit 7, a left paper feed unit 8, and a paper feed unit 9.

[0021] The right paper feed cassette 1 is a sheet storage unit that loads and supports a large capacity sheet S and can be pulled out from the main unit 10 in the pulling direction Y. The left paper feed cassette 2 is located to the left of the right paper feed cassette 1 and is also a sheet storage unit that loads and supports a large capacity sheet S and can be pulled out from the main unit 10 in the pulling direction Y. The paper feed cassette 3 is located below the right paper feed cassette 1 and the left paper feed cassette 2 and is a sheet storage unit that loads and supports a sheet S and can be pulled out from the main unit 10 in the pulling direction Y.

[0022] The right paper feed unit 7 includes a pickup roller 4 for picking up sheets S loaded and supported in the right paper feed cassette 1, a feed roller 5 for transporting the picked-up sheets, and a retard roller 6 that presses against the feed roller 5 to separate and transport the sheets individually. The left paper feed unit 8 and the paper feed unit 9 also include a pickup roller 4, a feed roller 5, and a retard roller 6, similar to the right paper feed unit 7.

[0023] The paper feeding units 7 to 9 are located in the sheet feeding section 30, which is on the device body 10 side. Each of the paper feeding cassettes 1 to 3 is supported by rail members located on the left and right sides of each paper feeding cassette, allowing it to be inserted into and removed from the sheet feeding section 30 on the device body 10 side.

[0024] The configuration of the paper feed cassette, which is the sheet storage section, will be explained using Figures 3 and 4. Here, the right paper feed cassette 1 will be used as an example, but the left paper feed cassette 2 and paper feed cassette 3 are configured similarly. Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the configuration of the right paper feed cassette 1 of the sheet feeding section 30.

[0025] The right-feed paper cassette 1 is supported so as to be insertable and removable from the main body 10 of the device, and can be pulled out in the pulling direction Y relative to the main body 10 of the device. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the right-feed paper cassette 1 includes a cassette body 101, side regulating plates 104F and 104R, a rear end regulating plate 110, a front end regulating plate 111, and a lifter plate 106. The side regulating plates 104F and 104R, the rear end regulating plate 110, the front end regulating plate 111, and the lifter plate 106 are provided inside the cassette body 101.

[0026] When the user pulls out the right paper feed cassette 1 from the main unit 10, the drive connection between the printer 100 and the right paper feed cassette 1 in the drive transmission path from the tray lifting motor to the lifter plate 106 is released. As a result, the lifter plate 106 descends by its own weight. At the same time, the pickup roller 4 rises to a position where it does not come into contact with the uppermost sheet St, and the separation nip of the feed roller 5 and retard roller 6 is released.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the side regulating plates 104F and 104R are configured to contact the end of the sheet S loaded on the lifter plate 106 in the width direction (pull-out direction Y) perpendicular to the feeding direction X, and their fixed position can be changed in the sheet width direction. That is, the side regulating plates 104F and 104R are provided so as to be movable relative to the cassette body 101 in the width direction (pull-out direction Y) perpendicular to the feeding direction X of the sheet S. The side regulating plates 104F and 104R are side end regulating parts that regulate the position of the side end of the sheet S loaded and supported on the lifter plate 106 in the pull-out direction Y. The side regulating plate 104R regulates the position of the rear end (upstream side in the pull-out direction Y) of the sheet S, and the side regulating plate 104F regulates the position of the front end (downstream side in the pull-out direction Y) of the sheet S.

[0028] The rear end restricting plate 110 is provided so as to be movable in the feeding direction X of the sheet S relative to the cassette body 101. The rear end restricting plate 110 restricts the position of the rear end, which is the upstream end in the feeding direction X of the sheet S loaded on the cassette body 101. The front end restricting plate 111 restricts the position of the front end, which is the downstream end in the feeding direction X of the sheet S loaded on the cassette body 101.

[0029] The right-hand paper feed cassette 1 is equipped with a first guide, which is a transfer guide 112.

[0030] The transfer guide 112 is a first guide that guides the sheet S fed by the pickup roller 4 (feeding section) downstream in the feeding direction X. The transfer guide 112 is provided with a guide surface that covers the entire sheet transport area through which the sheet S can pass in the withdrawal direction Y. The feed roller 5 (transporting section) is located downstream of the transfer guide 112 in the feeding direction X. The transfer guide 112 is provided in the right paper feed cassette 1, and the pickup roller 4 and feed roller 5 are provided in the sheet feeding section 30 on the device body 10 side.

[0031] The right-feed paper cassette 1 is equipped with a scraping member that moves the sheets stored in the right-feed paper cassette 1 in the pulling direction Y when the right-feed paper cassette 1 is pulled out in the pulling direction Y. The right-feed paper cassette 1 is equipped with a first scraping member 105 and a second scraping member 112a as the scraping member.

[0032] The first scraping member 105 is provided on the upper part of the side regulating plate R, which is a side edge regulating part. The second scraping member 112a is provided on the upper part of the right paper feed cassette 1, downstream of the first scraping member 105 in the feeding direction X.

[0033] First, let's explain the second scraping member 112a.

[0034] The transfer guide 112 is supported on the upper end of the tip regulating plate 111 so as to be located downstream in the feeding direction X. The second scraping member 112a is integrally formed on the upstream side of the transfer guide 112 in the withdrawal direction Y. The transfer guide 112 forms a conveying path 114 for the sheet S over the entire sheet conveying area through which the sheet S can pass in the withdrawal direction Y.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6 and 9, the transport path 114 through which the uppermost sheet St passes passes the transfer guide 112 and the first transport guide 115, and is formed to connect between the second upper transport guide 116a and the second lower transport guide 116b.

[0036] As shown in Figure 9, the second scraping member 112a is positioned to overlap with the transport path 114 through which the uppermost sheet St passes, when viewed from the pulling direction Y. In other words, the second scraping member 112a is provided in a position that overlaps with the transport path 114 of the sheet S guided by the transfer guide 112 when viewed from the pulling direction Y. Since the transfer guide 112 and the second scraping member 112a are integrally formed, they are precisely positioned with respect to the transport path 114 through which the sheet St passes.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, the second scraping member 112a is provided on the transfer guide 112 so as to protrude upward from the guide surface of the transfer guide 112. The second scraping member 112a is positioned on the upstream side of the transfer guide 112 in the withdrawal direction Y. The second scraping member 112a has a shape that includes a second contact surface 112a1 that can abut against the upstream end of the sheet S in the withdrawal direction Y, and a second opposing surface 112a2 that extends downstream from the upper end of the second contact surface 112a1 in the withdrawal direction Y and faces the guide surface of the transfer guide 112.

[0038] In other words, the second scraping member 112a has a shape that is concave in the pulling direction Y when viewed from the feeding direction X of the sheet S. The concave shape of the second scraping member 112a is positioned such that the second contact surface 112a1 (the wall surface of the concave part) is located further back in the width direction (negative side in the pulling direction Y) than the surface 104R1 of the side restricting plate 104R that contacts the sheet end. At this time, the side restricting plate 104R is fixed to match the size of the largest sheet S in the pulling direction Y, and the contact surface 104R1 is in contact with the end of the largest sheet S. With this configuration, when the topmost sheet St of the stacked sheets S is fed in the feeding direction X, the second contact surface 112a1 of the second scraping member 112a does not interfere with the sheet St being fed.

[0039] The second scraping member 112a is provided between the pickup roller 4 and the feed roller 5 in the feeding direction X.

[0040] The second scraping member 112a is positioned upstream of the first scraping member 105 in the extraction direction Y.

[0041] Here, the configuration of the second guide 113 will be explained using Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the frame of the sheet feeding unit 30, the second guide 113, and the right paper feed cassette 1. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the second guide 113 of the sheet feeding unit 30.

[0042] The right paper feed cassette 1 is further equipped with a second guide 113. The second guide 113 is attached to the sheet feeding section 30, which is on the device body 10 side. The second guide 113 is positioned downstream in the withdrawal direction Y with respect to the sheet S supported by the right paper feed cassette 1. The second guide 113 guides the sheet S, which is moved in the withdrawal direction Y by the first scraping member 105 and the second scraping member 112a, toward the outside of the device. Specifically, the second guide 113 guides, for example, the uppermost sheet St, which was nipped by the feed roller 5 and the retard roller 6 when the right paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out, toward the outside of the device.

[0043] The operation of pulling out the right paper feed cassette 1 when a jam occurs in the sheet feeding section 30, and the operation of the second scraping member 112a, will be explained with reference to Figures 8 to 13. Figure 8 is a top view showing the configuration of the right paper feed cassette 1 in the stored state. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the paper feeding unit and the right paper feed cassette 1 in the stored state. Figure 10 is a top view showing the configuration of the right paper feed cassette 1 in the process of being pulled out. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the paper feeding unit and the right paper feed cassette 1 in the pulled-out state. Figures 12 and 13 are top views showing the configuration of the right paper feed cassette 1 in the pulled-out state.

[0044] As shown in Figure 8, the second guide 113 is provided on the opposite side of the sheet transport area through which the sheet S can pass, in the pulling direction Y, from the first scraping member 105 and the second scraping member 112a.

[0045] As shown in Figure 7, the second guide 113 includes a first inclined surface 113e and a second inclined surface 113f. The first inclined surface 113e is a surface that slopes downward from upstream to downstream in the extraction direction Y. In other words, the first inclined surface 113e is formed to be inclined with respect to the extraction direction Y from the upper end 113a to the lower end 113b. The second inclined surface 113f is a surface that slopes downward from downstream to upstream in the feeding direction X. In other words, the second inclined surface 113f is formed to be inclined with respect to both the feeding direction X and the extraction direction Y from the downstream end 113c to the upstream end 113d in the feeding direction X.

[0046] The first inclined surface 113e and the second inclined surface 113f come into contact with the edge of the uppermost sheet St, which has been nipped by the feed roller 5 and retard roller 6, when the right paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out, guiding the sheet St toward the outside of the device. However, depending on the speed at which the right paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out, the angle at which the sheet St makes contact, and the sliding resistance, snagging may occur.

[0047] As shown in Figure 9, when a user performs a jam, the top sheet St may be nipped between the feed roller 5 and the retard roller 6 on the downstream side of the feeding direction X of the sheet S. Figure 8 is a top view showing the state shown in Figure 9, with the pickup roller 4 and feed roller 5 hidden. If the right feed cassette 1 is pulled out slightly from the state shown in Figure 8, the pickup roller 4 rises to a position where it does not come into contact with the top sheet St, as shown in Figure 11, and the separation nip between the feed roller 5 and the retard roller 6 is released.

[0048] In other words, the pickup roller 4, acting as the feeding unit, moves from a contact position (shown in Figure 9) where it is in contact with the sheet to a separated position (shown in Figure 11) where it is separated from the sheet, in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the right paper feed cassette 1 in the pulling direction Y. At the same time, the feed roller 5 or retard roller 6, acting as the transport unit, moves from a gripping position (shown in Figure 9) where it is gripping the sheet to a release position (shown in Figure 11) where it is releasing the grip, in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the right paper feed cassette 1 in the pulling direction Y.

[0049] Figure 10 is a top view showing the state in which the right paper feed cassette 1 has been slightly pulled out from the state shown in Figure 8, with the edge of the sheet St on the near side in the pulling direction Y contacting the second guide 113. When the right paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out, the uppermost sheet St is pushed by the side restrictor plate 104R and attempts to move in the pulling direction Y. At this time, the uppermost sheet St is in contact with the retard roller 6 from which the nip has been released on its downstream side in the feeding direction X, and its edge may come into contact with the second guide 113 located downstream in the pulling direction Y, causing it to get stuck.

[0050] As shown in Figure 10, if the right paper feed cassette 1 is continued to be pulled out from a state where the sheet St is caught on the front side in the pulling direction Y, the rear end of the sheet St in the pulling direction Y will catch on the recess of the second scraping member 112a. If the right paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out further in this state, the sheet St will be pushed from the rear to the front side in the pulling direction Y by the second scraping member 112a. As a result, it is expected that the sheet St will overcome the catch of the second guide 113 and the entire sheet St will be scraped out of the device body 10.

[0051] Figure 12 is a top view showing the state in which the right paper feed cassette 1 has been further pulled out from the state shown in Figure 10, and the entire sheet St has been scraped out from the main body 10 of the device. As shown in Figure 5, the concave shape of this scraping member 112a has a recessed space that can accommodate even if the edge of the sheet is curled, and is structured to push the sheet St that has caught on the second guide 113 in the pulling direction Y.

[0052] Specifically, the second scraping member 112a extends downstream in the pulling direction Y from the upper end of the second contact surface 112a1 and has a shape that includes a second opposing surface 112a2 that faces the upper surface of the sheet S that is in contact with the second contact surface 112a1. Therefore, even if the end of the sheet St that is in contact with the second contact surface 112a1 becomes rounded, the second scraping member 112a is supported by the second opposing surface 112a2 that faces the upper surface of the sheet. In this way, the second scraping member 112a is structured to push the sheet St that has become caught in the second guide 113 in the pulling direction Y.

[0053] Next, the first scraping member 105 will be described.

[0054] As shown in Figures 9 and 11, the first scraping member 105 is positioned vertically above the second scraping member 112a.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, the first scraping member 105 is positioned on the upper part of the side restricting plate 104R on the upstream side in the pulling direction Y. The first scraping member 105 is provided on the side restricting plate 104R so as to protrude upward from the upper surface of the side restricting plate 104R. The first scraping member 105 has a shape that includes a first contact surface 105a that can abut against the upstream end of the sheet S in the pulling direction Y, and a first opposing surface 105b that extends downstream from the upper end of the first contact surface 105a in the pulling direction Y and faces the upper surface of the side restricting plate 104R.

[0056] In other words, as shown in Figure 5, the first scraping member 105 has a shape that is concave in the pulling direction Y when viewed from the feeding direction X, in conjunction with the upper surface of the side restricting plate 104R. The first opposing surface 105b of the first scraping member 105 is positioned so as not to protrude in the pulling direction Y from the surface of the side restricting plate 104R that the sheet S contacts, or protrudes by about 2 mm. With this arrangement, when loading the sheet S from above between the side restricting plates 104F and 104R, even if the width of the sheet S in the pulling direction Y is the same as the width between the fixed side restricting plates 104 and 104R, interference with the first opposing surface 105b will not hinder the loading of the sheet S.

[0057] As shown in Figure 13, when the right paper feed cassette 1 is pulled out, even if the top sheet St floats above the upper surface of the side regulating plate 104R and flies out towards the back in the pulling direction Y, it can be caught on the first opposing surface 105b of the first scraping member 105 and guided in the pulling direction Y. Since the first scraping member 105 is attached to the upper surface of the side regulating plate 104R, even if the fixing position of the side regulating plate 104R is changed to match the narrow width of the sheet S in the pulling direction Y, the scraping member 105 will be positioned to follow that change. This makes it easier for the floating top sheet St to enter the recessed shape formed by the first scraping member 105 and the side regulating plate 104R.

[0058] Figure 12 is a top view showing the state in which the right paper feed cassette 1 is further pulled out from the state shown in Figure 10, and the sheet St caught in the second guide 113 is scraped out of the sheet feeding section 30. Even in the state shown in Figure 12, the end of the sheet St is pushed in the pulling direction Y by the recessed shape formed by the first scraping member 112a and the side regulating plate 104R, so an improvement in sheet scraping performance is expected.

[0059] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the sheet St pulled out of the device by the first scraping member 105 or the second scraping member 112a is removed by the user. Then, when the right paper feed cassette 1 is installed in the printer 100, the lifting control of the lifter plate 106 of the right paper feed cassette 1 is started. In this way, the jammed top sheet St is not left inside the printer 100 but is guided out of the device by the scraping members 105 and 112a in accordance with the pulling operation of the right paper feed cassette 1, thereby improving jam handling efficiency.

[0060] As described above, when the paper feed cassette is pulled out, the sheet that was nipped between the feed roller and the retard roller can be scraped out from the back side in the pulling direction Y by the second scraping member 112a, without being caught by the second guide.

[0061] Furthermore, when the paper feed cassette is full, any sheets that protrude above the top surface of the side regulating plate 104R can also be scraped out from the back side in the pulling direction Y by the first scraping member 105. This improves the sheet scraping performance during jamming.

[0062] In the embodiments described above, a sheet feeding device (sheet feeding unit) integrally included in the image forming apparatus was used as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a sheet feeding device that is detachable from the image forming apparatus may also be used, and similar effects can be obtained by applying the present invention to such a sheet feeding device.

[0063] Furthermore, although the embodiments described above illustrate an image forming apparatus equipped with an electrophotographic image forming unit, the apparatus is not limited thereto. For example, an image forming apparatus equipped with an image forming unit of another type, such as an inkjet type, may also be used. Similar effects can be obtained by applying the present invention to the sheet feeding device of such an image forming apparatus. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] S...Seat 1 ... Right paper feed cassette 2...Left-feed paper cassette 3 ... Paper feed cassette 4... Pickup roller 5... Feed roller 6…Retard Roller 7 ... Right paper feed unit 8... Left paper feed unit 9 ... Paper feed unit 10 ...Main unit of the device 20 ...Image forming unit 30 ... Sheet feeding section 50 ... Control Unit 100... Printer 101... Cassette unit 104F, 104R... Side restriction plates 104R1 …plane 105 ...First scraping member 105a...First contact surface 105b...First facing surface 106 ... Lifter plate 110...Rear end regulation plate 111... Front-end regulated plate 112...Handover Guide (First Guide) 112a ... Second scraping member 112a1…Second contact surface 112a2…Second opposing surface 113 ...Second Guide 113e ... First inclined surface 113f ... Second inclined surface

Claims

1. A sheet storage section that loads and supports the sheet and can be pulled out from the main body of the device, The device body is provided with a feeding unit that feeds the sheet stored in the sheet storage section in a feeding direction perpendicular to the drawer direction, which is for feeding the sheet. A side edge restricting portion that restricts the position of the side edge of the seat stored in the seat storage portion, A first scraping member is provided on the upper part of the side end restricting portion, which moves the sheet stored in the sheet storage portion in the direction of the pull-out when the sheet storage portion is pulled out in the pull-out direction, The sheet storage section is provided at the upper part of the sheet storage section, downstream of the first scraping member in the feeding direction, and includes a second scraping member that moves the sheet stored in the sheet storage section in the pulling direction when the sheet storage section is pulled out in the pulling direction. A sheet feeding device characterized by the following features.

2. The first scraping member extends from the upper end of the side end restricting portion toward the downstream side in the pulling direction and has a shape that includes a first opposing surface facing the upper surface of the sheet that is in contact with the side end restricting portion. A sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized by the following features.

3. The sheet storage section includes a first guide that guides the sheet fed by the feeding section downstream in the feeding direction, The second scraping member is provided on the first guide so as to protrude above the guide surface of the first guide, is positioned on the upstream side of the first guide in the pulling direction, and includes a contact surface that can abut against the upstream end of the sheet in the pulling direction, and a second opposing surface that extends from the upper end of the contact surface toward the downstream side in the pulling direction and faces the guide surface. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

4. The device body is provided with a conveying unit that conveys the sheet supplied by the supplying unit, The second scraping member is provided between the feeding section and the conveying section in the feeding direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

5. The feeding unit moves from a contact position to a separated position, away from the sheet, in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the sheet storage unit in the pulling direction. The transport unit moves from a clamping position, where it holds the sheet, to a release position, where it releases the clamp, in conjunction with the operation of pulling out the sheet storage unit in the pulling direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 4.

6. The guide is provided so that the guide surface covers the entire area of ​​the sheet transport region through which the sheet can pass in the pulling direction. The second scraping member is integrally formed on the upstream side of the first guide in the pulling direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 3.

7. The second scraping member is positioned so as to overlap with the sheet transport path guided by the guide when viewed from the pulling direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 3.

8. The first scraping member is positioned vertically above the second scraping member. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

9. The second scraping member is positioned upstream of the first scraping member in the extraction direction. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

10. The device body is provided with a second guide which is positioned downstream in the pulling direction with respect to the sheet supported in the sheet storage section and which guides the sheet, which is moved in the pulling direction by the first scraping member and the second scraping member, toward the outside of the device. The sheet feeding device according to feature 1.

11. The second guide includes a first inclined surface that slopes downward from upstream to downstream in the pulling direction and a second inclined surface that slopes downward from downstream to upstream in the feeding direction, and is provided on the side opposite to the first scraping member and the second scraping member in the pulling direction, with the sheet conveying area through which the sheet can pass. The sheet feeding device according to feature 10.

12. An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit for forming an image on a sheet, and a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheet to the image forming unit, The sheet feeding unit comprises a sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following:

Images