Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To be able to improve serviceability.SOLUTION: A sheet feeding device has: a positioning member (77) which comes into contact with a part of a device body (1A) when a sheet storage part (60) is mounted to the device body (1A) and positions a sheet storage part (60) in a mounting direction of the sheet storage part (60) with respect to the device body (1A); and a holding member (81) that holds adjustably the positioning member (77), wherein the holding member (81) is detachably provided to the sheet storage part (60).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet and an image forming device for forming an image on the sheet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, many sheet feeding devices used in image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles include a sheet storage unit (also called a sheet cassette, a sheet tray, etc.) that stores sheets and is detachably attached to the image forming device main body. The sheets stored in the sheet storage unit are fed one by one toward the image forming unit and used as a recording medium for image formation.

[0003] The position of the sheet storage unit attached to the image forming device main body may shift due to variations in component dimensions or deformation caused by the installation location of the image forming device main body. Such a shift in the position of the sheet storage unit causes, for example, the positional relationship between the image forming unit and the sheet storage unit to be disrupted in the main scanning direction during image formation, resulting in an image being formed at a position shifted from the original position. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a positioning member provided in a paper feed cassette abuts against a butting surface of a printer main body to position the paper feed cassette in its mounting direction, and enables stepwise adjustment of the positioning member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the configuration described in the above document, when the paper feed cassette is forcefully attached to the apparatus main body, there is a possibility that the positioning member or the support portion of the paper feed cassette that supports the positioning member may be damaged due to the impact. However, when the support portion of the paper feed cassette is damaged, it becomes necessary to replace the paper feed cassette itself, and there is room for improvement in serviceability.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of improving serviceability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a sheet feeding apparatus includes an apparatus main body, and a sheet storage unit that stores sheets to be fed and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. When the sheet storage unit is attached to the apparatus main body, it abuts against a part of the apparatus main body, and includes a positioning member that positions the sheet storage unit in the mounting direction of the sheet storage unit with respect to the apparatus main body, and a holding member that holds the positioning member so that its position can be adjusted. The holding member is detachably provided with respect to the sheet storage unit.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of improving serviceability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a full-color laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as printer 1) as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Printer 1 includes a printer main body 1A which is an image forming apparatus main body, and an image forming unit 1B which is housed in the printer main body 1A and forms an image on a sheet. The printer main body 1A includes a metal frame constituting the frame of the printer 1 and members (for example, exterior members) fixed to the frame.

[0012] An image reading device 2 installed substantially horizontally is provided above the printer main body 1A. A discharge space S for sheet discharge is formed between the image reading device 2 and the printer main body 1A in the vertical direction (gravity direction). Further, a plurality of sheet feeding devices 30 for feeding a sheet P used as a recording medium from a sheet cassette 60 are provided at the lower part of the printer 1 in a vertically overlapping state. Note that as the sheet P, various sheets of different sizes and materials can be used, such as paper such as plain paper and thick paper, plastic film, cloth, sheet materials with surface treatment such as coated paper, and special-shaped sheet materials such as envelopes and index paper.

[0013] An image forming unit 1B, which is an example of an image forming means, is of a 4-drum full-color type, and includes a laser scanner 10 and four process cartridges 11 for forming toner images of four colors: yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Each process cartridge 11 includes a photosensitive drum 12 which is an image carrier (electrophotographic photoreceptor), a charger 13 which is a charging means, and a developing device 14 which is a developing means. Further, the image forming unit 1B includes an intermediate transfer unit 1C arranged above the process cartridge 11 and a fixing unit 20. Further, above each process cartridge 11, a toner cartridge 15 for supplying toner as a developer to the developing device 14 is detachably attached to the printer main body 1A.

[0014] The intermediate transfer unit 1C includes an intermediate transfer belt 16 wound around a driving roller 16a and a tension roller 16b, and a primary transfer roller 19 provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 16 and contacting the intermediate transfer belt 16 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 12. Here, the intermediate transfer belt 16 (also called a transfer timing belt) is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a driving roller 16a driven by a driving unit (not shown).

[0015] At a position facing the driving roller 16a of the intermediate transfer unit 1C, a secondary transfer roller 17 is provided as transfer means for transferring the image on the intermediate transfer belt 16, which is an intermediate transfer member, to the sheet P. Further, a fixing unit 20 is disposed above the secondary transfer roller 17. The fixing unit 20 includes a pair of rotating bodies (for example, a roller pair) that sandwich and convey the sheet P, and heating means (for example, a halogen lamp or a heater substrate having a resistive heating element disposed on a ceramic substrate) for heating the toner image on the sheet P at the nip portion of the pair of rotating bodies. Above the fixing unit 20, a first discharge roller pair 25a, a second discharge roller pair 25b, and a duplex reversing unit 1D are disposed. The duplex reversing unit 1D includes a pair of reversing rollers 22 that can rotate forward and backward, a re-conveying passage R, and the like.

[0016] Next, the image forming operation of the printer 1 will be described. First, when the image information of the document is read by the image reading device 2, this image information is image-processed and then converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the laser scanner 10 of the image forming unit 1B. In the image forming unit 1B, the charger 13 uniformly charges the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 12 to a predetermined polarity and potential, and the laser scanner 10 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 with modulated laser light based on the electrical signal to sequentially expose the surface. As a result, electrostatic latent images corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black monochromatic images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 12 of the respective process cartridges 11.

[0017] These electrostatic latent images are visualized (developed) as toner images by toners of respective colors as developers supplied from the developing device 14. The developed toner images are primarily transferred from the respective photosensitive drums 12 to the intermediate transfer belt 16 by applying a voltage (primary transfer bias) to the primary transfer roller 19. At this time, the four-color toner images are multiply transferred so as to overlap each other, thereby forming a full-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 16.

[0018] In parallel with the above-described full-color toner image forming process, the sheet P is fed from any one of the sheet feeding devices 30 toward the image forming unit 1B. The sheet feeding device 30 includes a sheet cassette 60 as a sheet storage unit and a feeding unit 7 as feeding means, and feeds the sheet P stored in the sheet cassette 60 one by one by the feeding unit 7.

[0019] The feeding unit 7 includes a pickup roller 7a that sends out the sheet P from the sheet cassette 60, a feed roller 7b that receives the sheet P from the pickup roller 7a and further conveys it, and a retard roller 7c for separating the sheet P. The retard roller 7c is disposed in contact with the feed roller 7b, and a separation nip is formed as a separation portion between the feed roller 7b and the retard roller 7c. The retard roller 7c is input with a driving force in a direction opposite to the rotation of the feed roller 7b from a driving source via a torque limiter. When a plurality of sheets P enter the separation nip, the retard roller 7c rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the feed roller 7b to slide the sheets P against each other, and pushes back the sheets P other than the uppermost sheet P in contact with the feed roller 7b into the sheet cassette 60. On the other hand, when one sheet P enters the separation nip, the retard roller 7c rotates following the feed roller 7b via the sheet P.

[0020] The above-described feeding unit 7 is an example of a feeding means. For example, a feeding unit that adsorbs and conveys the sheet P onto a breathable belt by a negative pressure generated using a fan may be used. Further, the retard roller 7c is an example of a separating member that separates the sheet P, and a roller member connected to a fixed shaft via a torque limiter or a pad-shaped friction member that abuts against the feed roller 7b may be used.

[0021] The sheet fed by the feeding unit 7 is skew-corrected by abutting the leading end (the downstream end in the sheet conveyance direction) against the stationary registration roller pair 40. Thereafter, the registration roller pair 40 feeds the sheet P toward the transfer nip (secondary transfer portion) between the intermediate transfer belt 16 and the secondary transfer roller 17 at a timing synchronized with the image forming process in the image forming unit 1B. In the secondary transfer portion, the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 16 to the sheet P by a bias voltage (secondary transfer bias) applied to the secondary transfer roller 17. Next, the sheet P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 20, and in the fixing unit 20, heat and pressure are applied, and the toners of each color are melted and mixed, and an image fixed on the sheet P is obtained.

[0022] The sheet P on which the image is fixed is discharged into the discharge space S by the first discharge roller pair 25a or the second discharge roller pair 25b provided downstream of the fixing unit 20, and is stacked on the stacking unit 23 provided at the bottom of the discharge space S. When forming images on both sides of the sheet P, after the transfer and fixing of the image on the first side, the sheet P is conveyed to the re-conveyance path R by the reverse roller pair 22 and is conveyed to the image forming unit 1B again. Then, after the transfer and fixing of the image on the second side, the sheet P is discharged into the discharge space S by the first discharge roller pair 25a or the second discharge roller pair 25b and is stacked on the stacking unit 23. In the above description, the image forming unit 150 is an example of an image forming means, and a direct transfer type electrophotographic unit or an image forming unit of an inkjet system or an offset printing system may be used.

[0023] (Sheet Cassette) Here, the configuration of the sheet cassette 60 as the sheet storage unit (also referred to as the sheet storage means or the sheet loading means) according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the sheet cassette 60 mounted at a predetermined mounting position inside the printer main body 1A (inside the apparatus main body) as viewed from above.

[0024] In the following description, the moving direction of the sheet cassette 60 when inserting the sheet cassette 60 into the printer main body 1A is defined as the "mounting direction X1". Also, the direction in which the sheet P is fed from the sheet cassette 60 by the feeding unit 7 is defined as the "feeding direction Fd". In the present embodiment, the feeding direction Fd intersects (preferably, perpendicularly intersects) the mounting direction X1. Also, in the present embodiment, the feeding direction Fd and the mounting direction X1 perpendicularly intersect the vertical direction of the printer main body 1A (the direction of gravity when the printer main body 1A is installed on a horizontal plane).

[0025] The sheet cassette 60 includes a cassette main body 60A, a loading tray (not shown), a rear side regulating plate 61, a front side regulating plate 62, a rear end regulating plate 63, etc., and the user loads the sheet P on the loading tray. The cassette main body 60A is a housing (tray shape) with an open upper side, and forms a storage space for storing sheets. The loading tray is provided at the bottom of the storage space and is supported by the cassette main body 60A so as to be movable up and down. On the upstream side of the cassette main body 60A in the mounting direction X1, a front cover 60F as a cover member exposed on the upstream side in the mounting direction X1 (the front side of the printer 1) is provided. The user can pull out the sheet cassette 60 by gripping the gripping portion provided on the front cover 60F.

[0026] The sheet P within the sheet cassette 60 is held by the rear side regulating plate 61, the front side regulating plate 62, and the rear end regulating plate 63. The rear side regulating plate 61 and the front side regulating plate 62 are movably supported by the cassette body 60A in the sheet width direction (a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction Fd and along the mounting direction X1). The rear end regulating plate 63 is movably supported by the cassette body 60A in the feeding direction Fd. These regulating members prevent the sheet P from being displaced from the set position within the sheet cassette 60. The set position of the sheet P is a position corresponding to the downstream side in the feeding direction Fd and the center of the pickup roller 7a in the sheet width direction.

[0027] On the rear side of the sheet cassette 60 in the mounting direction X1, a swing arm 64 is provided. The swing arm 64 is a member that protrudes in the mounting direction X1 from the rear side surface of the cassette body 60A in the mounting direction X1, and a pin 65 is provided at the tip of the swing arm 64.

[0028] In the printer main body 1A, a drawing-in unit 66 as a drawing-in means for drawing the sheet cassette 60 into the mounting position within the printer main body 1A is arranged. The drawing-in unit 66 includes a drawing-in arm 68 with a hook 67 attached to its tip, and a tension spring 73 as a biasing member. The drawing-in arm 68 is supported by a base 69 fixed to the main body frame 79 which is the frame of the printer main body 1A, and is rotatable about a fulcrum 70 on the base 69. An arm pin 71 is provided on the drawing-in arm 68 between the hook 67 and the fulcrum 70. A tension spring 73 is arranged between this arm pin 71 and a base pin 72 on the base 69. The tension spring 73 exerts a force to rotate the drawing-in arm 68 about the fulcrum 70.

[0029] When the sheet cassette 60 is pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the retracting arm 68 is in a position rotated counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 2, and the pin receiving surface 91 of the hook 67 faces the upstream side in the mounting direction X1. In this state, the biasing force of the tension spring 73 acts as a force to rotate the retracting arm 68 counterclockwise in the figure.

[0030] When the pulled-out sheet cassette 60 is inserted in the mounting direction X1, the pin 65 of the swing arm 64 engages with the pin receiving surface 91, and as the pin receiving surface 91 is pushed in, the retracting arm 68 starts to rotate clockwise around the fulcrum 70 in the figure. When it rotates to a certain extent, the biasing force of the tension spring 73 acts as a force to rotate the retracting arm 68 clockwise in the figure. During this operation, the tip of the hook 67 catches the pin 65 of the swing arm 64. That is, the force of the tension spring 73 that tries to rotate the retracting arm 68 clockwise in the figure acts as a force to bias the sheet cassette 60 in the mounting direction X1 toward the mounting position through the engagement between the hook 67 and the pin 65 of the swing arm 64.

[0031] A butting portion 74 is provided on the front side of the sheet cassette 60 in the mounting direction X1. When the butting portion 74 abuts against the butting surface 92 of the main body frame 79, the sheet cassette 60 is positioned in the mounting direction X1 (the front and inner direction of the printer 1). The position of the sheet cassette 60 when the butting portion 74 abuts against the main body frame 79 is the mounting position of the sheet cassette 60. When the biasing force of the tension spring 73 acts in the state where the butting portion 74 is in contact with the main body frame 79, the movement of the sheet cassette 60 in the direction opposite to the mounting direction X1 (the pulling-out direction X2) is restricted, and thus the sheet cassette 60 is held in the mounting position. By restricting the movement of the sheet cassette 60 in the sheet width direction in the mounted state, the positional relationship between the set position of the sheet P in the sheet cassette 60 and the image forming unit 1B (particularly, the photosensitive drum 12) is stabilized, and the positional accuracy of the image recorded by the printer 1 on the sheet can be ensured.

[0032] (Butting portion) The details of the abutting portion 74 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the periphery of the abutting portion 74 with the sheet cassette 60 in the mounted position. FIG. 4 is a view of the periphery of the abutting portion 74 with the sheet cassette 60 in the mounted position as seen from above.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the abutting portion 74 includes a holding member 81 and a positioning block 77 as a positioning member. The positioning block 77 is fixed to the holding member 81 by screws 78. The holding member 81 is detachably fixed to the cassette main body 60A by a fastening tool such as a screw 87. When the positioning block 77 abuts against the abutting surface 92 of the main body frame 79 which is a part of the printer main body 1A, the sheet cassette 60 is positioned in the mounting direction X1.

[0034] The holding member 81 is preferably a member smaller than the cassette main body 60A. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the holding member 81 is arranged to hold the positioning block 77 between the right front support column 79f of the main body frame 79 in the mounting direction X1 and the front cover 60F of the sheet cassette 60. The support column 79f is a support column that constitutes one corner (the lower right corner in FIG. 2) on the upstream side in the mounting direction X1 and on one side with respect to the space in which the sheet cassette 60 is accommodated in the printer main body 1A in the substantially rectangular frame-shaped main body frame 79 when viewed from above. Also, it is preferable to arrange the holding member 81 so that it is within a range upstream in the mounting direction X1 from the occupied range Pm of the sheet when the sheet of the maximum size that can be accommodated in the sheet cassette 60 is accommodated.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable to provide a reinforcing plate 82 as an example of a reinforcing member for receiving the force against which the positioning block 77 abuts on the main body frame 79. By suppressing the deformation of the main body frame 79 by the reinforcing plate 82, the positioning accuracy of the sheet cassette 60 in the mounted state can be maintained even when the sheet cassette 60 is repeatedly used, and thus it contributes to improving the position accuracy of the image recorded by the printer 1 on the sheet.

[0036] The reinforcing plate 82 is provided so as to intersect substantially perpendicularly with respect to the abutting surface 92 that extends substantially perpendicular to the mounting direction X1. The reinforcing plate 82 supports the surface 93 on the front side of the mounting direction X1, which is opposite to the abutting surface 92 of the main body frame 79, and is supported by other portions of the main body frame 79 on the back side of the mounting direction X1.

[0037] As a specific configuration example, a U-shaped (C-shaped with substantially right-angled corners) sheet metal member that opens upstream or downstream in the feeding direction Fd in a top view is used as the column 79f of the main body frame 79. Then, one surface of the U-shaped column 79f (the surface on the front side in the mounting direction X1) is set as the abutting surface 92. Also, a metal plate extending in the mounting direction X1 is used as the reinforcing plate 82 and is fixed so as to bridge the abutting surface 92 of the column 79f and the surface 94 on the opposite side thereof. The configuration of the reinforcing member is not limited to this, as long as it connects the abutting surface 92 and other portions of the main body frame 79 to increase rigidity and reduce deformation of the abutting surface 92 due to the load in the mounting direction X1 applied to the abutting surface 92 from the positioning block 77.

[0038] Here, a method for adjusting the position of the sheet cassette 60 during mounting will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the holding member 81 is provided with a block receiving surface 80 that is inclined with respect to the mounting direction X1 (that is, extends in a direction intersecting at an angle other than perpendicular). The block receiving surface 80 is formed in a rack shape (first rack shape) uneven shape in which a plurality of convex portions protruding in the mounting direction X1 are arranged. The rack shape is, for example, a sawtooth shape in which two types of inclined surfaces inclined at different angles with respect to the mounting direction X1 in a top view are periodically arranged.

[0039] The positioning piece 77 is formed with a rack shape 77a (second rack shape) as a concavo-convex shape that meshes with the rack shape of the piece receiving surface 80. Further, the positioning piece 77 is provided with a long hole 77b through which a screw 78 passes, and the fixing position of the positioning piece 77 with respect to the holding member 81 can be changed (adjusted) as long as the screw 78 moves within the long hole 77b. For example, when the screw 78 is loosened, the positioning piece 77 is shifted to the left from the position in FIG. 4 (see the dashed line) and the screw 78 is tightened again, the position of the positioning piece 77 is shifted to the front side in the mounting direction X1 compared to the state in FIG. 4. As a result, the position (mounting position) of the sheet cassette 60 where the positioning piece 77 abuts against the main body frame 79 is deeper in the mounting direction X1 than the position in FIG. 4. That is, the mounting position of the sheet cassette 60 changes deeper in the mounting direction X1 compared to before adjustment. Conversely, when the positioning piece 77 is shifted to the right from the position in FIG. 4, the mounting position of the sheet cassette 60 changes to the front side in the mounting direction X1 compared to before adjustment.

[0040] Incidentally, when the user mounts the sheet cassette 60 on the printer main body 1A, the positioning piece 77 abuts against the abutting surface 92, and the positioning piece 77 receives a force from the main body frame 79 toward the front side in the mounting direction X1. The force received by the positioning piece 77 from the main body frame 79 becomes larger as the insertion speed is higher and as the weight of the sheets stored in the sheet cassette 60 is heavier. When a force larger than expected is applied to the positioning piece 77, such as when the sheet cassette 60 is closed forcefully, the positioning piece 77 may be damaged. Also, in such a case, a strong force may be applied to the portion holding the positioning piece 77 via the positioning piece 77, resulting in damage. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the position of the sheet cassette 60 in the mounted state can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the positioning piece 77, there is a possibility that the piece receiving surface 80 or the like for performing the position adjustment may be damaged.

[0041] Here, as described above, the positioning sheet 77 according to the present embodiment is held by the holding member 81 so that its position can be adjusted, and the holding member 81 is detachably attached to the cassette main body 60A. That is, the holding member of the present embodiment is detachably provided with respect to the sheet storage portion. Therefore, even if the holding member 81 is damaged, the holding member 81 can be easily removed from the cassette main body 60A and replaced with a new holding member 81. If the holding member 81 is a smaller member, the replacement work becomes easier.

[0042] If a portion (support portion) for supporting the positioning sheet 77 is provided as a part of the cassette main body 60A by integral molding or the like, when the support portion is damaged, it is necessary to replace the entire cassette main body 60A, which is not preferable in terms of serviceability. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the holding member 81 for holding the positioning sheet 77 is provided as a member detachably attached to the cassette main body 60A, the serviceability can be improved. Also, if it takes time to arrange a new cassette main body 60A, the period (downtime) during which the use of the printer 1 is restricted becomes longer, and the convenience for the user decreases. However, according to the present embodiment, it is less likely that the downtime will be prolonged.

[0043] Also, when a force larger than expected is applied to the positioning sheet 77 as described above, a force of approximately the same magnitude is also applied to the main body frame 79 having the abutting surface 92. Therefore, by providing the reinforcing plate 82 as described in the present embodiment, deformation of the main body frame 79 can be reduced.

[0044] (Modification example) In the above-described embodiment, as the positioning sheet 77 position adjustment mechanism, an example was given of changing the meshing position having a rack shape extending in a direction inclined with respect to the mounting direction X1. However, the position adjustment mechanism is not limited to this. For example, a stepped shape in which the position in the mounting direction X1 of the holding member 81 changes stepwise may be provided, and a mechanism that can change the position of the positioning sheet 77 depending on which step of the stepped shape the positioning sheet 77 abuts against may be used. Further, for example, instead of the rack shape of the present embodiment, a configuration in which smooth inclined surfaces are brought into contact with each other may be employed to enable stepless (continuous) adjustment of the position of the positioning sheet 77.

[0045] Even if any of the position adjustment mechanisms causes damage to the engaging portion where the holding member engages with the positioning member so that the position can be changed, or the supporting portion where the holding member 81 supports the positioning member after the position adjustment so that it cannot move, the holding member 81 can be easily replaced by removing it from the cassette main body 60A. Note that an example of the "engaging portion" in the above-described embodiment is the rack shape of the sheet receiving surface 80, and an example of the "supporting portion" is the screw hole 81a (FIG. 4) into which the screw 78 is screwed.

[0046] Further, the drawing unit that draws the sheet cassette 60 into the printer main body 1A is not limited to a configuration (also called a toggle type) in which the direction of the force acting on the sheet cassette 60 by the tension spring 73 is switched according to the angle of the drawing arm 68 described in the above-described embodiment. For example, a configuration is known in which the biasing force of the spring acts only in the mounting direction X1 regardless of the position of the sheet cassette 60. Further, an inclined surface may be provided on the rail of the printer main body 1A that guides the sheet cassette 60 so that the sheet cassette 60 is drawn into the mounting position by its own weight.

[0047] (Other Embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the sheet feeding device provided as a part of the printer 201 as the image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present technology may be applied to, for example, a sheet feeding device (optional feeder) that is connected to and used with a printer. In that case, the apparatus main body refers to the apparatus main body (excluding the sheet storage portion) of a sheet feeding device that is separate from the printer main body.

Explanation of Signs

[0048] 1…Image forming apparatus (printer) / 1A…Apparatus main body (printer main body) / 30…Sheet feeding device / 60…Sheet storage unit (sheet cassette) / 77…Positioning member (positioning frame) / 79…Frame body (main body frame) / 79f…Support column / 81…Holding member / 82…Reinforcing member / 92…Abutting surface / X1…Mounting direction

Claims

1. A sheet feeding device having a device main body and a sheet storage unit that stores a fed sheet and is detachably attached to the device main body, a positioning member that abuts against a part of the device main body when the sheet storage unit is attached to the device main body and positions the sheet storage unit in the attachment direction of the sheet storage unit with respect to the device main body, and a holding member that holds the positioning member so that its position can be adjusted, characterized in that the holding member is detachably provided with respect to the sheet storage unit. A sheet feeding device characterized by the above.

2. The device main body has a frame body having an abutting surface against which the positioning member abuts when the sheet storage unit is attached to the device main body, and a reinforcing member that supports the surface of the frame body opposite to the abutting surface and reinforces the frame body. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The sheet storage unit is provided on the upstream side in the attachment direction with respect to the space for storing the sheet, and has a cover member that is exposed on the upstream side in the attachment direction in a state where the sheet storage unit is attached to the device main body. The device main body has a support column provided at a corner on one side with respect to the space in which the sheet storage unit is accommodated in the device main body and on the upstream side in the attachment direction when the frame body of the device main body is viewed from above. The holding member holds the positioning member at a position between the cover member and the support column in the attachment direction. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

4. The holding member is disposed on the upstream side in the attachment direction with respect to the occupation range of the sheet in a state where the sheet having the maximum size that can be stored in the sheet storage unit is stored in the sheet storage unit. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. The holding member has an engaging portion that can be engaged with the positioning member so that its position can be changed, and a supporting portion that supports the positioning member after position adjustment so that it cannot move with respect to the holding member. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the above.

6. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising pulling means for pulling the sheet storage unit toward the mounting position in the process of mounting the sheet storage unit toward the mounting position in the device main body. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the above.

7. A first screw member for fixing the positioning member to the holding member, the first screw member being inserted through a hole provided in the positioning member and screwed into the holding member, A second screw member for fixing the holding member to the sheet storage portion, the second screw member being inserted through a hole provided in the holding member and screwed into the sheet storage portion, and further comprising: The heads of the first screw member and the second screw member face the same direction, and the tightening and loosening operations of the first screw member and the second screw member are performed from the same side with respect to the sheet storage portion. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

8. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, Image forming means for forming an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding device, Comprising: An image forming apparatus characterized by that.

Images