JPH10181894A - Paper feed tray for image forming equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a paper feed tray of an image forming apparatus in which a cover does not interfere even when large-sized paper is used. SOLUTION: The image having an openable and closable cover 20 provided so that a rear end portion of a paper 3 in a paper feed tray 1 in a conveying direction protrudes from a main body of an image forming apparatus 100 and covers an upper portion and a rear end portion of the protruding portion. In the paper feed tray 1 of the forming apparatus, an auxiliary tray is provided on the bottom surface 1a of the paper feed tray, and a use state diagram 1
The cover 3 is movably provided between the state (b) and the storage state (a), and the rear end portion 20a of the cover is shortened so that the sheet 3 placed on the auxiliary tray passes therethrough.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a paper feed tray used for an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a facsimile, and more particularly to a paper feed tray capable of loading a plurality of sizes of sheets on a single paper feed tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 has a detachable paper feed tray 1 that can be removed in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and paper 3 is stored in the paper feed tray 1.

A sheet tray 1 has a bottom plate 2 which is rotatable about a shaft 2a at the rear end in the conveying direction. The front end of the bottom plate 2 is directed toward the sheet feeding roller 4 by a spring means (not shown). Being energized. The leading end of the paper 3 rests on the bottom plate 2 and is pressed against the paper feed roller 4 by pressing means (not shown). Then, by the rotation of the paper feed roller 4, the paper 3 is sent to the left in the drawing, and the separation member 5 pressed by the paper feed roller 4.
, And is conveyed to the registration roller 6. The paper 3 whose skew of the paper 3 has been corrected by the registration roller 6 is sent in synchronization with the image written on the photoconductor 7, and is transferred by the transfer roller 8.
The image written thereon is transferred and sent to the fixing unit 9 where the image on the sheet 3 is fixed. The sheet 3 that has passed through the fixing unit 9 is sent to a sheet discharge roller 10 and stacked on a sheet discharge tray unit 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a registration sensor, 13 denotes a paper ejection sensor, 14 denotes an electrical unit, and 15 denotes an optical unit.

The direction in which the paper feed tray 1 is removed is the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, which is opposite to the direction in which the paper 3 is conveyed. Further, a rear end portion of the sheet feed tray 1 with respect to the sheet conveying direction (in the example of the drawing, the front side of the image forming apparatus main body 100)
Is configured to protrude from the image forming apparatus main body 100.

[0005] This is because the size of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is reduced, and the paper feed tray 1 accommodates the paper 3 of a size normally used (for example, A4 portrait). Due to the relative increase.

FIG. 4A shows the rear end of the paper feed tray 1. An L-shaped paper cover 20 for protecting the paper 3 from external moisture, dust, and the like is provided at a portion of the paper feed tray 1 protruding from the image forming apparatus main body 100.
When the paper tray 1 uses paper 3 (for example, B4, A3, etc.) of a size larger than the size normally used, as shown in FIG. By providing the auxiliary tray 21 on the rear side, it is possible to use a sheet 3 longer than the sheet 3 of a size that can be stored in the sheet feeding tray 1.

The reason why the maximum size of paper 3 (for example, B4, A3, etc.) that can be used by the image forming apparatus main body 100 in the paper feed tray 1 is not set without the auxiliary tray 21 is the size of the paper feed tray 1. This is for reducing the installation area of the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus by reducing the size according to the frequently used A3 vertical paper 3.

[0008]

However, in such a paper feed tray, when the large-sized paper 3 is stored in the paper feed tray, as shown in FIG. It hits and interferes with paper loading.

Conventionally, when the same number of sheets 3 of a large size that uses the auxiliary tray 21 are set in the sheet supply tray 1 as the number of sheets 3 of a size that does not use the auxiliary tray 21, the auxiliary tray 21 The weight becomes insufficient due to its own weight of 3. Therefore, in order to solve the insufficient strength, the auxiliary tray 21 must be made firmly.
The device becomes large.

Further, since the large-sized paper 3 and the small-sized paper 3 have different weights, the pressing mechanism is required to press the paper feed roller 4 with the same pressing force when the same number of papers are set. However, there was a problem that the system became complicated. Therefore, the number of sheets that can be set in a large-sized sheet 3 that conventionally uses the auxiliary tray 21 is the same as the auxiliary tray 2.
It was necessary to regulate the number of sheets 1 smaller than that of the sheet 3 not using.

However, in order to regulate the number of sheets that can be automatically set in accordance with the size of the paper 3 to be used, the mechanism for that purpose becomes complicated, and some manuals, labels, or the like call attention to the user. But in that case,
It is difficult to ensure that the user is thorough.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a paper feed tray of an image forming apparatus in which a cover does not hinder the use of large-size paper. Further, the present invention provides a paper feed tray of an image forming apparatus that can reduce the number of sheets that can be automatically set with a simple configuration without using a strong structure when using large-sized paper. It is intended to be.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a paper feed tray in which a rear end portion of a sheet in a sheet conveying direction is provided so as to protrude from an image forming apparatus main body. And an auxiliary tray movably provided between the use state and the storage state on a bottom surface of the paper supply tray, the auxiliary tray being provided on the bottom surface of the paper supply tray. The end portion is shortened so that the paper placed on the auxiliary tray passes therethrough.

Alternatively, the height from the bottom surface of the paper feed tray to the lower end of the rear end portion of the cover may be set equal to the height of the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded on the auxiliary tray. . Further, it is preferable that the auxiliary tray be provided with a cover that covers the entire rear end of the sheet feeding tray together with the rear end of the cover when the auxiliary tray is in the storage state.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part of a paper feed tray 1 according to the present invention. The overall configuration of the paper feed tray is almost the same as the conventional one, and the differences are shown in FIG.

At the rear end of the bottom surface 1a of the paper feed tray 1, an L-shaped auxiliary tray 21 is attached rotatably about a shaft 21a. When the auxiliary tray 21 is stored (when not in use), as shown in FIG.
The cover portion 21c, which is housed so as to overlap the bottom surface 1a of the paper feed tray 1 and has a vertical short side, covers the rear end of the sheet feed tray 1 together with the rear end portion 20a which is the vertical short side of the cover 20. doing.

When the auxiliary tray 21 is used, that is, when the large-size paper 3 is used, as shown in FIG. 1B, the auxiliary tray 21 is rotated clockwise, so that the long side 21b is moved. The extension surface is substantially the same as the bottom surface 1a, and a large-size sheet 3 can be placed on the extension surface. At this time, the cover portion 21c comes into contact with the rear end surface 1b of the paper feed tray 1 to stop the rotation of the auxiliary tray 21.

An opening 22 is formed between the bottom surface 1a and the long side 21b and the rear end portion 20a of the cover 20.
Even if the large-sized paper 3 is placed, it does not interfere with the cover 20.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. When the auxiliary tray 21 is not used, as shown in FIG. 2A, the auxiliary tray 21 is stored in the paper feed tray 1 so as to be folded, and the paper 3 is stacked to a thickness that does not interfere with the paper cover 20. it can.

On the other hand, when the auxiliary tray 21 is used, FIG.
As shown in (b), the auxiliary tray 21 moves to the use position by rotating in the direction of the arrow. At this time, the thickness of the large sheet 3 that can be placed on the auxiliary tray 21 is as follows.
It is determined by the height of the rear end portion 20a of the cover 20. Therefore,
If the height from the paper feed tray bottom surface 1a to the rear end portion 20a is set to the maximum value that can be stacked, the stacking amount of large-size sheets can be automatically determined.

That is, the number n of sheets that can be set without the sheet 3 hitting the sheet cover 20 is smaller than the number n ′ of sheets 3 of a size that can be stored in the sheet feeding tray 1 without requiring the auxiliary tray 22 ( That is, n <n ′).

[0022]

According to the present invention as described above,
In the paper feed tray of the image forming apparatus, the paper feed tray is provided such that the rear end of the paper in the conveyance direction protrudes from the image forming apparatus main body, and has an openable / closable cover that covers an upper part and a rear end of the protrusion. An auxiliary tray is provided on the bottom of the paper feed tray so as to be movable between a used state and a stored state, and the rear end of the cover is shortened so that the paper placed on the auxiliary tray passes therethrough. Even when a large-sized sheet is placed on the auxiliary tray, it is possible to prevent the cover from interfering with the sheet. Since the cover does not hit the paper, it is not necessary to remove the paper cover in the case of large-sized paper, or to evacuate the cover from the paper, thereby improving operability.

If the height from the bottom surface of the paper feed tray to the lower end of the rear end portion of the cover is set to be equal to the height of the maximum number of sheets that can be loaded on the auxiliary tray, a large size can be obtained. It is possible to automatically set a small amount of paper of the same size, and it is not necessary to make the apparatus robust, and it is possible to manufacture the apparatus at low cost. At the same time, it is possible to easily press the large-size paper and the small-size paper against the paper feed roller with the same pressure, and it is possible to solve the problem that the pressing mechanism is complicated.

When the auxiliary tray is provided with a cover that covers the entire rear end of the sheet feeding tray together with the rear end of the cover when the auxiliary tray is in the storage state, the auxiliary tray has a normal size. In the case of paper, the rear end of the paper can be reliably covered.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a main part of a sheet feed tray according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A illustrates a state when an auxiliary tray is not used, and FIG.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are main part configuration diagrams of a sheet feeding tray showing another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a state where an auxiliary tray is not used, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic structure of an image forming apparatus and a sheet feeding tray.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a main part of a conventional paper feed tray, in which FIG. 4A shows a state when an auxiliary tray is not used, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper feed tray 1a Bottom surface 3 Paper 20 Cover 20a Rear end part 21 Auxiliary tray 21c Cover part

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus is provided, wherein a rear end portion of a paper feed tray in a sheet conveying direction is provided so as to protrude from an image forming apparatus main body, and which has an openable and closable cover for covering an upper portion and a rear end portion of the protruding portion. In the paper feed tray, an auxiliary tray is provided on the bottom surface of the paper feed tray so as to be movable between a use state and a storage state, and the paper placed on the auxiliary tray passes through the rear end of the cover. Paper feed tray for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the paper feed tray is shortened. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a height from a bottom surface of the paper feed tray to a lower end of a rear end portion of the cover is made equal to a height of a maximum number of sheets that can be loaded on the auxiliary tray. Item 2. A sheet feeding tray of the image forming apparatus according to Item 1. 3. The auxiliary tray is provided with a cover portion that covers the entire rear end portion of the sheet feeding tray together with the rear end portion of the cover when the auxiliary tray is in a stored state. Item 3. A sheet feeding tray of the image forming apparatus according to Item 1 or 2.