JPH0547154Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (A) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which a tray is provided above the attachment/detachment opening of a paper feed cassette.

(B) Prior Art Conventionally, image forming apparatuses have been provided with a paper feed cassette attachment/detachment port for attaching and detaching the paper feed cassette to the main body of the image forming apparatus.
It is known that a feeding tray or a paper ejection tray is fixedly provided above the loading/unloading opening of the paper feeding cassette.

In order to downsize the machine, the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening and the tray are provided close to each other. In addition, if the tray is a manual feed tray, if the inclination angle of the manual feed tray is set larger than the inclination angle of the paper guide plate for manual feed installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the paper feed performance will be improved. Because of this, the inclination angle of the paper guide plate is set to be relatively small. If the tray is a paper output tray,
The inclination angle of the tray is set to be relatively small in order to prevent stock defects due to bending of the trailing edge of the paper.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, the tray makes it difficult to see the cassette loading/unloading opening, and it is difficult to insert the paper feeding cassette.

In addition, if the paper feed cassette has separation claws, both ends of the paper are held down by the separation claws, but the center of the paper bulges upward due to the biasing force of the spring, and when the paper feed cassette is inserted. , there is a problem that the center of the paper hits the tray and the paper comes off the separation claw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a paper feed cassette attachment/removal port and a tray are provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, in which the paper feed cassette can be easily attached.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, the present invention provides a paper feed cassette attachment/detachment port for attaching and detaching the paper feed cassette to the main body of the image forming apparatus, and also provides a tray above the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment port. In the image forming apparatus, the tray is rotatably supported, and a biasing means for biasing the tray to a retracted position is provided, and the tray is positioned in a use position against the biasing force of the biasing means. a locking means for fixing the tray in the use position; and a locking means for rotating the rotating member against a biasing force during insertion of the paper feed cassette when inserting the paper feed cassette; The tray is moved to the retracted position by disengaging the engagement part of the support shaft extending part extending from the support shaft of the tray and the engaged part of the rotary member with a force of a lock release means located at the side surface of the paper feed cassette;
The shaft extending portion is rotated by contacting with the protruding portion of the paper feed cassette, and the rotating member is disengaged from the shaft extending portion during insertion of the paper feed cassette. The positioning means is characterized in that it is provided with a positioning means that is movable to engage with the support shaft extending portion again by rotating according to a biasing force that has been biased in advance.

(E) Function When no paper cassette is loaded, the tray is urged to the retracted position by the urging means.

If you want to use only the tray without a paper cassette in it, position the tray from the retracted position to the use position against the urging force of the urging means, and then fix the tray in the use position using the locking means. do.
This allows the use of just the tray.

On the other hand, if you want to use the paper cassette as well, when you try to insert the paper cassette, the lock is released by the lock release means while the cassette is being inserted, and the tray is temporarily moved to the retracted position. is easier to see, making it easier to install the paper feed cassette. Then, when the paper feed cassette is completely installed in the loading/unloading port, the tray is positioned at the use position by the positioning means acting by the loading force against the urging force of the urging means.

(F) Examples Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus. Second
In the figure, the main body of the image forming apparatus, indicated as a whole by 1, has a photosensitive drum 12 approximately in the center thereof, and in order along the rotation direction R of the photosensitive drum 12, a charging corona discharger 13, a developing device 15, A transfer corona discharger 16, a static elimination corona discharger 17, a cleaning blade 18, and a static elimination lamp 19 are provided. The photosensitive drum 12, which has been uniformly charged by the charging corona discharger 13, is placed on the movable document placement section 12 provided on the top surface of the image forming apparatus main body 1 in the exposure area 14. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original is formed by the optical system 25,
The toner image is visualized by the developing device 15.
After the toner image is transferred to the paper by the transfer corona discharger 16, the toner image is transferred to the paper by the peeling corona discharger 1.
7. After that, the photosensitive drum 12
further rotates and is cleaned by the cleaning blade 18, while the static elimination lamp 19
The residual charge is removed by .

Paper is fed from the paper cassette 3 attached to the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5 provided on the right side of the image forming apparatus main body 1, or from the manual feed tray installed above the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5. 2 or according to the operator's selection. The paper loaded in the paper cassette 3 is
The paper is fed by the paper feed roller 8 that is in contact with the upper surface of the paper, and the paper placed on the manual feed tray 2 is
It is fed by a feeding roller 22. Thus, the paper fed from the paper cassette 3 passes through the paper guide plate 2.
6b, 26c and from the manual feed tray 2, the paper passes through paper guide plates 26a, 26b and reaches the registration roller 9, where the leading edge is corrected and synchronized with the photosensitive drum 12. and sent to the transfer section. In the transfer section, as described above, the toner image is transferred by the transfer corona discharger 16 and peeled off by the peeling corona discharger 17. The paper then reaches the fixing roller 11 via the conveyor belt 10, is fixed by the fixing roller 11, and is then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 23 by the paper discharge roller 21.

Next, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the side of the image forming apparatus main body 1. FIG. As mentioned above,
The paper feed cassette attachment/detachment port 5 and the manual feed tray 2 are
A manual feed tray 2 is disposed on the same side of the image forming apparatus main body 1, and is provided above and close to the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5. Bypass tray 2
is configured to be rotatable around a support shaft 2a. At the end of the manual tray 2, there is a biasing means 7 for biasing the manual tray 2 to retreat upward, and the manual tray 2 is positioned at the use position against the biasing force of the biasing means 7. At this time, a locking means A for fixing the manual feed tray 2 in the use position is provided.
When the paper feed cassette 3 is inserted, the lock release means B is used to release the fixation by the lock means A, and when the paper feed cassette 3 is completely installed in the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, the above-mentioned biasing mechanism is activated again. A positioning means C is provided for positioning the manual feed tray 2 at the use position against the biasing force of the means 7. and,
The locking means A is composed of an engaging portion 4a of the hook 4 and an engaged portion 6a of the lever 6. Further, the lock release means B is composed of a contact portion 6d of the lever 6 and a tip end portion 3b of the paper feed cassette 3 that comes into contact with the corresponding contact portion 6d. Further, the positioning means C is constituted by a protrusion 4b of the hook 4 and a protrusion 3a of the paper feed cassette 3 that comes into contact with the protrusion 4b. Hook 4
is formed into a hook shape, and is provided integrally with the support shaft 2a so as to be rotatable together with the support shaft 2a. To explain this hook 4 in more detail, the hook 4 extends from the support shaft 2a of the manual feed tray 2 in the radial direction of the support shaft 2a, and engages with a protrusion 3a provided on the paper feed cassette 3 at an intermediate portion thereof. A protruding portion 4b is provided, and its tip constitutes an engaging portion 4a that is inclined toward the side surface 30a of the attachment/detachment opening forming cover 30. and the hook 4
and the side surface 30a of the attachment/detachment opening forming cover 30. Therefore, the hook 4 is urged by the urging means 7 to rotate counterclockwise. Further, the manual feed tray 2 is also biased via the hook 4 by a biasing means 7 so as to rotate counterclockwise. To explain the lever 6 in more detail, the lever 6 extends horizontally near the end of the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, and rotates around a shaft 6b fixed to a part of the cover 30 for forming the attachment/detachment opening. This is possible, and the lever 6 is urged by the spring 6c to rotate counterclockwise when viewed from above in FIG. The back side of the lever 6 with respect to the shaft 6b projects toward the board 27 side in a gentle curve, and an engaged portion 6 engages with the engaging portion 4a of the hook 4.
On the other hand, the outer side with respect to the shaft 6b protrudes outward in a hook shape beyond the entrance of the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, and constitutes an abutting portion 6d. This abutting portion 6d is biased by the biasing force of the spring 6c so that it comes into contact with the paper cassette 3 when the paper cassette 3 is inserted into the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, so that the contact portion 6d is placed in the middle of the insertion path of the paper cassette 3. . Therefore, when the engaging portion 4a of the hook 4 is engaged with the engaged portion 6a of the lever 6, immediately before inserting the paper cassette 3 into the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, The tip portion 3b abuts the contact portion 6d of the lever 6, and by rotating the lever 6 clockwise as seen from above in FIG. 1 against the biasing force of the spring 6c, the engaging portion 4a The lever 6 is disengaged from the engaged portion 6a to release the lock.

Note that when the engaging portion 4a of the hook 4 is disengaged from the engaged portion 6a of the lever 6, the side surface of the hook 4 comes into contact with the side surface of the lever 6 (see FIG. 6), and the lever 6 is pressed against the spring. 6c, the contact portion 6d is rotated clockwise when viewed from above in FIG.
is located at a position removed from the insertion path of the paper feed cassette 3.

Further, as described above, the protrusion 4b provided in the middle of the hook 4 engages with the protrusion 3a provided on the side of the paper feed cassette 3, and together with the protrusion 3a, the manual feed tray 2 is positioned at the use position. When the paper cassette 3 is completely installed in the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, the protrusion 3a of the paper cassette 3 comes into contact with the protrusion 4b of the hook 4, and the hook 4 is attached. The manual tray 2 is rotated against the biasing force of the biasing means 7 to position the manual tray 2 at the use position. Incidentally, reference numeral 29 is a stopper for restricting the clockwise rotation of the manual tray 2.

3 to 5 are main part sectional views showing a part of the image forming apparatus main body 1, and FIGS. 6 to 10 are perspective views thereof. The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the invention will be explained. First, FIGS. 3 and 6 are diagrams showing a state in which the manual tray 2 is in the retracted position, and the manual tray 2 is rotated in the figure around the support shaft 2a by the urging force of the urging means 7. It rotates clockwise and comes into contact with a rotation restricting portion 31 formed in a part of the tray feeding path. That is, the manual feed tray 2 is in this state when the paper feed cassette 3 is not attached to the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5 and the manual feed tray 2 is not in use. In addition, in FIG. 3, the reference numeral 28 is
Connect the protrusion 3b of the paper feed cassette 3 to the protrusion 4 of the hook 4.
This is a notch formed in the attachment/detachment opening forming cover 30 in order to engage with the attachment/detachment port forming cover 30.

If you want to use the manual feed tray 2 with the paper feed cassette 3 not attached to the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, rotate the manual feed tray 2 clockwise against the urging force of the urging means 7. let Then, the engaging portion 4a of the hook 4 moves along the side surface of the lever 6 and engages with the engaged portion 6a. That is, when the manual feed tray 2 is locked in the use position, as shown in FIG.
The state shown in FIG. 7 is reached. At this time, stopper 29
In FIG. 4, even if an external force is applied to further rotate the manual tray 2 in the clockwise direction, the rotation is restricted. When the manual feed tray 2 is positioned at the use position, the inclination angle of the manual feed tray 2 is as shown in FIG.
It is set to a relatively small value, which is approximately equal to the inclination angle of . Therefore, in this state, the manual feed tray 2
When the paper is inserted into the paper, the paper is smoothly fed by the feeding roller 22.

Next, when the manual feed tray 2 is in the state shown in Figures 4 and 7, you want to attach the paper cassette 3 to the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5 so that paper can also be fed from the paper cassette 3. At this time, the paper cassette 3 is inserted into the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5 as shown in FIG. is difficult to see. Therefore, first, the tip end 3b of the paper feed cassette 3 is brought into contact with the abutment part 6d of the lever 6 protruding from the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, and the lever 6 is moved against the biasing force of the spring 6c as shown in FIG. Rotate clockwise when looking from above. As a result, the engagement between the engaging portion 4a of the hook 4 and the engaged portion 6a of the lever 6 is released, and the manual tray 2 is
It is once rotated upward by the urging force of the urging means 7.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5 becomes easily visible, and the paper feed cassette 3 can be easily inserted. When the paper cassette 3 is inserted deep into the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, the protrusion 3a of the paper cassette 3 comes into contact with the protrusion 4b of the hook 4, causing the protrusion 4b to be biased by the biasing means 7. By rotating against the force, the manual tray 2, which rotates integrally with the protrusion 4b, also rotates clockwise. When the paper feed cassette 3 is completely inserted into the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, the manual feed tray 2 is positioned at the use position and reaches the state shown in FIGS. 5 and 10. When the paper cassette 3 is inserted into the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5 after the lock is released, the side surface of the hook 4 touches the side surface of the lever 6, and the lever 6 is moved clockwise against the biasing force of the spring 6c. Since the abutment part 6d of the lever 6 is retracted from the paper feed cassette mounting path, the paper feed cassette 3 cannot be mounted on the lever 6.
It doesn't become more difficult. Further, when the paper feed cassette 3 is completely attached to the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, the engaging portion 4a of the hook 4 is not engaged with the engaged portion 6a of the lever 6. Therefore, although the manual feed tray 2 has a slightly larger inclination angle than the state shown in FIG. 4, it is only slightly larger than the inclination angle of the paper guide plate 26b, and does not cause much trouble in paper feeding.

When removing the paper feed cassette 3 from the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, as the paper feed cassette 3 moves, the protrusion 4b of the hook 4 rotates counterclockwise due to the biasing force of the biasing means 7, so that the protrusion is removed. The manual tray 2, which is provided integrally with the portion 4b, also rotates counterclockwise and returns to the retracted position, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 3.

Of course, the manual feed tray 2 can also be directly positioned from the retracted position (the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 6) to the state shown in FIGS. 5 and 10. In this case, when the manual feed tray 2 is in the retracted position, the protrusion 3a of the paper feed cassette 3 is brought into contact with the protrusion 4b of the hook 4 by attaching the paper feed cassette 3, and the manual feed tray 2 is moved to the retracted position.
Position it in the position of use. Therefore, at this time as well,
When installing the paper cassette 3 into the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5, the paper cassette attachment/detachment opening 5 is easily visible.
Mounting of the paper feed cassette 3 is easy. At this time, as described above, the side surface of the hook 4 comes into contact with the side surface of the lever 6, so that the lever 6 is activated by the spring 6c.
The paper feed cassette 3 is rotated clockwise against the urging force of
can be inserted into the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening 5 as is.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 is of a type that scans by fixing the optical system 25 and moving the original document placement section 12, and for mechanical maintenance or paper jam clearance, the image forming apparatus 1 is If it is a type in which the frame is separated from the lower frame and opened, first shift the document placement section 12 to the side where the manual feed tray 2 is attached, and then open the upper frame.
At this time, since the manual feed tray 2 is configured to be rotatable around the support shaft 2a, the document placement section 1
2 comes into contact with the manual tray 2, the manual tray 2 resists the biasing force of the biasing means 7 and retreats.

In the above embodiment, the case where the tray is a manual feed tray has been described, but the paper ejection tray may have a similar configuration. That is, when the paper discharge tray and the paper feed cassette 3 are provided on the same side of the image forming apparatus 1, the paper feed cassette 3 can be easily attached by having the same structure.

Furthermore, when the manual feed tray 2 is locked in the use position by the locking means, the lock is released using the tip 3b of the paper feed cassette 3, but it is difficult to hold the contact portion 6d of the lever 6 directly by hand. , the lock may be released by rotating it clockwise. That is, this configuration is convenient for returning the manual tray 2 to the retracted position after using only the manual tray 2 without installing the paper feed cassette 3.

In addition, in this embodiment, the rotating member provided near the attachment/detachment opening of the paper feed cassette has a lever shape (first
(see figure) was used for explanation. As is clear from the content of this explanation, the rotating member of the present invention allows engagement with the hook 4 to be changed between an engaged state and a non-engaged state by rotating the rotating member itself. It is a rotating member that can be changed between two states. Further, in this embodiment, the support shaft extending portion extending from the support shaft of the tray in the radial direction of the support shaft has been described using a hook shape (see FIG. 1). As is clear from the description, this support shaft extension part is also a support shaft extension part that can change the state of engagement with the rotating member provided near the attachment/detachment opening of the paper feed cassette. The tray rotates depending on the status.

(G) Effect of the invention As is clear from the above explanation, according to the image forming apparatus according to the invention, the tray that is urged to the retracted position by insertion of the paper feed cassette can be used against the urging force. position (if the tray is not locked in the use position), or unlock the tray that is locked in the use position, rotate the tray upwards, and then return the tray to the use position. Therefore, in an image forming apparatus in which a tray is provided above the paper cassette mounting/detaching port, the paper feeding cassette mounting/detaching port can be easily seen, and the paper feeding cassette can be easily installed.

Further, according to the present invention, since a locking means is provided for fixing the tray in the use position, it is possible to use the tray alone even if the paper feed cassette is not attached and the tray is desired to be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main parts of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are main parts of the image forming apparatus showing how the tray is used. The sectional views and FIGS. 6 to 10 are perspective views of main parts of the image forming apparatus, showing the operation. 1... Image forming apparatus, 2... Tray, 3... Paper feed cassette, 5... Paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening, 7...
energizing means, A...locking means, B...lock release means, C...positioning means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A paper feed cassette attachment/detachment port for attaching/detaching the paper feed cassette is provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and above the paper feed cassette attachment/detachment opening, the paper feed cassette can be switched between a use position and a retracted position. An image forming apparatus equipped with a tray includes a biasing means for biasing the tray rotatably supported around a support shaft to a retracted position, and a mechanism for using the tray against the biasing force of the biasing means. When the paper feed cassette is placed in the position, the engaging part of the supporting shaft extension part extending from the supporting shaft in the radial direction of the supporting shaft and the engaged part of the rotating member provided near the attachment/detachment opening of the paper feed cassette. a locking means for engaging the tray and fixing the tray in the use position; and when inserting the paper feed cassette, the rotating member is rotated against a biasing force during the insertion of the paper feed cassette, and The tray is evacuated by disengaging the engagement portion of the support shaft extending portion extending from the support shaft of the tray and the engaged portion of the rotating member using the force generated by the rotation. a lock release means for positioning the paper feed cassette in the position; and a first protrusion provided on the side surface of the paper feed cassette contacts a second protrusion protruding from the support shaft extension part in the axial direction, thereby extending the support shaft. The rotation member, which was disengaged from the support shaft extension part during the insertion of the paper feed cassette, is rotated according to the biasing force that was applied in advance. An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is further provided with a positioning means that enables engagement with the support shaft extension part again by moving the support shaft extending part. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray is a manual tray. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray is a paper discharge tray.