阅读说明：本技术 供纸装置以及图像形成装置 (Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus ) 是由 野口正 青木浩司 柴山豪 木村正治 古本晴久 于 2019-08-08 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种在能够通过可动载置板稳定地支承纸张的基础上,不需要其他部件的安装以及拆卸的麻烦而能够应对各种纸张尺寸的供纸装置。一种供纸装置(100),具备供纸盒(10),所述供纸盒(10)相对于设置在图像形成装置主体(201)的供纸盒安装部(206)可拆装,供纸盒(10)具备：收容部(20),其收容纸张(P)；第一限制部(30),其设置于收容部(20)的底部(21)的同时对纸张(P)的位置进行限制；以及可动载置板(40),其将收容于收容部(20)的纸张(P)向上方推起,可动载置板(40)具有第二限制部(50),所述第二限制部(50)对与被第一限制部(30)可限制的纸张(P1)的尺寸不同尺寸的纸张(P2)的位置进行限制。(The invention provides a paper feeding device which can stably support paper through a movable carrying plate and can be used for various paper sizes without the trouble of mounting and dismounting other parts. A paper feeding device (100) is provided with a paper feeding box (10), wherein the paper feeding box (10) is detachable relative to a paper feeding box mounting part (206) arranged on an image forming device main body (201), and the paper feeding box (10) is provided with: a storage unit (20) that stores paper (P); a first regulating section (30) that is provided at the bottom (21) of the storage section (20) and that regulates the position of the paper (P); and a movable loading plate (40) which pushes up the paper (P) accommodated in the accommodating portion (20), wherein the movable loading plate (40) is provided with a second limiting portion (50), and the second limiting portion (50) limits the position of the paper (P2) with the size different from the size of the paper (P1) which can be limited by the first limiting portion (30).)

1. A sheet feeding device including a sheet feeding cassette which is detachable from a sheet feeding cassette mounting portion provided in an image forming apparatus main body,

the paper feeding cassette is provided with:

a storage unit that stores paper;

a first regulating section that regulates a position of the paper sheet while being provided at a bottom of the accommodating section; and

a movable carrying plate for pushing up the paper accommodated in the accommodating portion,

the movable carriage plate has a second regulating portion that regulates a position of a sheet of a size different from the size of the sheet that can be regulated by the first regulating portion.

2. The sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

the second regulating portion may be accommodated in the movable mounting plate.

3. The sheet supplying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

the second regulating portion is capable of switching a posture between a standing posture in which the second regulating portion stands with respect to the upper surface of the movable carriage plate and a storage posture in which the second regulating portion is stored in the movable carriage plate.

4. The sheet supplying apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,

the movable plate has a housing section for housing the second regulating section.

5. The sheet supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the direction in which the sheets accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette are fed is set as a sheet feeding direction,

an end portion of the sheet accommodated in the accommodating portion, the end portion being parallel to the sheet feeding direction,

an end portion of the sheet accommodated in the accommodating portion, which is located rearward with respect to the sheet feeding direction, is set as a rear end portion,

the second restriction portion has:

a side end regulating portion that regulates a position of the side end portion; and

and a rear end restriction portion that restricts a position of the rear end portion.

6. The sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 5,

the side end restriction portion and the rear end restriction portion are formed integrally.

7. The sheet feeding apparatus as set forth in claim 5,

the side end limiting portion and the rear end limiting portion are formed independently of each other.

8. The sheet supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the second regulating portion is adjustable in position in accordance with the size of the sheet.

9. The paper feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

a paper detection unit that detects which of the first restriction unit and the second restriction unit is used for restriction of a paper position; and

and a paper size determination unit that determines the size of the paper based on the detection result of the paper detection unit.

10. An image forming apparatus is characterized by comprising:

the paper supply device of any one of claims 1 to 9.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a paper feeding device provided with a paper feeding cassette, and an image forming apparatus provided with the paper feeding device.

Background

As a paper feeding device provided in an image forming apparatus, a paper feeding device including a paper feeding cassette is known. The paper feeding cassette can be switched between a mounting state of the paper feeding cassette mounting part mounted on the image forming device body and a pulling-out state of the paper feeding cassette mounting part. In the attached state, paper can be fed from the paper feed cassette to the image forming apparatus main body, and in the pulled-out state, paper can be replenished or replaced.

The paper feed cassette is provided with a regulating portion that regulates the position of the stored paper, and a movable loading plate that pushes up the stored paper and brings the paper into contact with the pickup roller (see, for example, patent document 1). The regulating section regulates the positions of the side end portion and the rear end portion of the sheet. The regulating portion is configured to be movable so as to be able to cope with a change in paper size. An opening is formed in the movable plate corresponding to the movement range of the regulating part. The opening is formed so that the restricting portion does not interfere with the movable mounting plate.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, the conventional restricting unit is configured to be movable so as to be able to cope with a change in paper size, but the paper size that can be handled is restricted. For example, even if the paper size is a4 paper size or B3 paper size, the paper size may not be smaller than a6 paper size or postcard paper size. This is because, in order to cope with various paper sizes, the movement range of the regulating portion needs to be enlarged, and accordingly, the opening portion formed in the movable carriage plate has to be enlarged.

If the opening formed in the movable carriage plate is enlarged, the width of the portion on which the sheet is fed is reduced, and when a large-sized sheet is placed, the sheet may not be stably supported. In addition, in order to suppress the decrease in strength of the movable mounting plate due to the increase in the opening, the structure and material of the movable mounting plate also need to be changed. Therefore, the conventional regulating unit may be limited in the paper size that can be handled.

Patent document 2 discloses a technique of providing a small-sized separate member on a movable placement plate in order to cope with a small paper size such as a postcard. However, the technique of patent document 2 requires attaching another member to the movable mounting plate when small-sized paper is used, and requires disassembling the other member when small-sized paper is not used, which is troublesome. In addition, when other small-sized components are not used, a place for storing the other components is also required.

The present invention aims to provide a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus which can stably support paper by a movable carrying plate and can cope with various paper sizes without requiring troublesome mounting and dismounting of other components.

Means for solving the problems

The paper feeding device of the invention is provided with a paper feeding box, the paper feeding box is detachable relative to a paper feeding box mounting part arranged on an image forming device body,

the paper feeding cassette comprises:

a storage unit that stores paper;

a first regulating section that regulates a position of the paper sheet while being provided at a bottom of the accommodating section; and

a movable carrying plate for pushing up the paper accommodated in the accommodating portion,

the movable plate has a second restriction portion,

the second regulating portion regulates a position of a sheet having a size different from the size of the sheet that can be regulated by the first regulating portion (first configuration).

According to the above configuration, the movable mounting plate is provided with the second regulating portion that regulates the position of the paper having a size different from the size of the paper that can be regulated by the first regulating portion. Therefore, the movable mounting plate can stably support the paper and can correspond to various paper sizes without requiring the trouble of mounting and dismounting other components.

In the first configuration, the first and second electrodes may be,

the second regulating portion may be accommodated in the movable mounting plate (second configuration).

According to the above configuration, the second regulating portion can be accommodated in the movable mounting plate. Therefore, the movable plate can be stored without using the second regulating portion, and a separate storage place is not required.

In the first or second configuration, the first and second components may be,

the second regulating portion is capable of switching a posture between a standing posture in which the second regulating portion stands with respect to the upper surface of the movable mounting plate and a storage posture in which the second regulating portion is stored in the movable mounting plate (a third configuration).

According to the above configuration, the second regulating unit can switch the posture between the standing posture and the storage posture. The second regulating unit can be switched to the standing posture when the second regulating unit is used, and the second regulating unit can be switched to the storage posture when the first regulating unit is used without using the second regulating unit. Therefore, the posture of the first regulating unit can be easily switched depending on which of the first regulating unit and the second regulating unit is used.

In the second or third configuration, the first and second electrodes may be, respectively,

the movable plate has a housing section for housing the second regulating section (fourth configuration).

According to the above configuration, the movable mounting plate has the housing portion that houses the second regulating portion. Therefore, the second regulating portion can be housed in the housing portion when not in use, and the use of the first regulating portion is not hindered.

In any one of the first to fourth configurations, the first and second electrodes may be,

the direction in which the paper accommodated in the paper feed cassette is fed is set as the paper feed direction,

an end portion of the sheet accommodated in the accommodating portion, the end portion being parallel to the sheet feeding direction,

an end portion of the sheet accommodated in the accommodating portion, which is located rearward with respect to the sheet feeding direction, is a rear end portion,

the second restriction unit includes:

a side end regulating portion for regulating a position of the side end portion; and

and a rear end restriction portion that restricts a position of the rear end portion (a fifth configuration).

According to the above configuration, the second regulating portion has the side end regulating portion that regulates the position of the side end portion and the rear end regulating portion that regulates the position of the rear end portion. Therefore, the position of the sheet can be regulated by the second regulating portion.

In the fifth configuration, the first and second electrodes may be,

the side end regulating portion and the rear end regulating portion are formed integrally (sixth configuration).

According to the above configuration, the side end regulating portion and the rear end regulating portion of the second regulating portion are formed integrally. Therefore, the positions of the side end regulating portion and the rear end regulating portion can be stabilized.

In the fifth configuration, the first and second electrodes may be,

the side end regulating portion and the rear end regulating portion are formed independently of each other (seventh configuration).

According to the above configuration, the side end regulating portion and the rear end regulating portion of the second regulating portion are formed independently of each other. Therefore, the positions of the side end regulating portion and the rear end regulating portion can be set independently.

In any one of the first to seventh configurations, the first and second electrodes may be,

the second regulating portion is adjustable in position according to the size of the sheet (eighth configuration).

According to the above configuration, the second regulating portion can be adjusted in position in accordance with the size of the sheet. Therefore, the second regulating portion can be made to cope with various paper sizes.

In any one of the first to eighth configurations, the apparatus may further include:

a paper detection unit that detects which of the first restriction unit and the second restriction unit is used for restricting the position of paper; and

and a paper size determination unit that determines the size of the paper based on the detection result of the paper detection unit (ninth configuration).

According to the above configuration, the paper size determination unit determines the size of the paper based on the detection result of the paper detection unit. Therefore, the size of the paper can be easily determined.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes the paper feeding device (tenth configuration) configured as any one of the first to ninth configurations described above.

According to the above configuration, the movable mounting plate is provided with the second regulating portion that regulates the position of the paper having the size different from the size of the paper that can be regulated by the first regulating portion. Therefore, the movable carrying plate can stably support the paper and can deal with various paper sizes without the trouble of mounting and dismounting other components.

Effects of the invention

According to the sheet feeding device and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to stably support sheets by the movable mounting plate, and it is possible to cope with various sheet sizes without requiring troublesome mounting and dismounting of other components.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus to which a paper feeding device according to a first embodiment is applied.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sheet feeding cassette.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the movable mounting plate and the second regulating portion.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a lower surface of the movable mounting plate.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a first regulating body constituting a second regulating portion.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the movable carriage plate after cutting the paper feed cassette at the position of line a-a in fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the second regulating portion after cutting the movable mounting plate at the position of line B-B in fig. 2.

Detailed Description

[ first embodiment ]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 200 to which a paper feeding device 100 according to a first embodiment is applied. The image forming apparatus 200 includes an image forming apparatus main body 201, a document table 202, a scanner unit 203, a paper discharge tray 205, a paper feed cassette mounting unit 206, and the paper feeding apparatus 100.

The image forming apparatus main body 201 is a main body portion of the image forming apparatus 200. The document table 202 is a glass body provided on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus main body 201. The scanner section 203 is provided below the document table 202, and reads an image of a document placed on the document table 202. An image forming unit (not shown) is provided inside the image forming apparatus main body 201. The image data read by the scanner portion 203 is input to an image forming portion, and an image based on the image data is formed on the surface of the sheet by an electrophotographic image forming method. The paper discharge tray 205 is provided at the center of the upper portion of the image forming apparatus main body 201 (at a position below the scanner unit 203), and discharges the paper on which the image is formed.

The paper feeding device 100 of the present embodiment is disposed below the paper discharge tray 205. The sheet feeding device 100 is provided with upper and lower sheet cassette mounting portions 206. The paper feed cassette 10 constituting the paper feed device 100 of the present invention is mounted on each paper feed cassette mounting portion 206.

The paper supply cassette 10 can switch between a mounted state and a pulled-out state. The mounted state is a state in which the paper feed cassette 10 is mounted to the paper feed cassette mounting portion 206. The pulled-out state is a state in which the paper supply cassette 10 is pulled out from the paper supply cassette mounting part 206. The paper feed cassette 10 shown in fig. 1 is in a pulled-out state, and can be switched to an attached state by being pushed in from the front side to the back side of the drawing with respect to the paper feed cassette attachment portion 206.

Next, the paper feed cassette 10 constituting the paper feed device 100 will be described in detail. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sheet feeding cassette 10. As shown in fig. 2, the paper feed cassette 10 includes a paper feed cassette main body 11, an accommodating portion 20, a first regulating portion 30, and a movable mounting plate 40. The movable mounting plate 40 is provided with a second regulating portion 50.

The sheet cassette main body 11 is a portion that becomes a base of the sheet cassette 10.

The storage portion 20 is formed inside the paper feed cassette main body 11. The storage unit 20 stores a sheet P (P1 or P2). In the attached state, the sheets P stored in the storage unit 20 are pulled out by the pickup roller PR and conveyed along a sheet conveying path (not shown) by a sheet feeding roller (not shown). An image is formed in an image forming portion on a surface of the sheet P conveyed along the sheet conveying path. The direction in which the sheets P accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette 10 in the mounted state are fed is defined as a first direction X1, and the direction opposite to the first direction X1 is defined as a second direction X2. Further, a direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction with respect to the first direction X1 and the second direction X2 is referred to as a third direction X3, and a direction opposite to the third direction X3 is referred to as a fourth direction X4.

The sheet P (P1, P2) stored in the storage unit 20 is restricted in position by the first restriction unit 30 or the second restriction unit 50 according to the sheet size. In the case of using the sheet P1, the position of the sheet P1 is restricted by the first restricting portion 30, and in the case of using the sheet P2, the position of the sheet P2 is restricted by the second restricting portion 50. In the present embodiment, the size of the sheet P1 that can be restricted by the first restricting portion 30 is different from the size of the sheet P2 that can be restricted by the second restricting portion 50, and the size of the sheet P2 is smaller than the size of the sheet P1. For example, the size of the sheet P1 is a4, A3, B5, B4, etc., and the size of the sheet P2 is a6, postcard size, etc.

Of the ends of the sheets P (P1, P2) accommodated in the accommodating portion 20, the end located forward with respect to the first direction X1 (located rearward with respect to the second direction X2) is referred to as a leading end portion E1. Further, an end portion located on the rear side with respect to the first direction X1 (an end portion located on the front side with respect to the second direction X2) is referred to as a rear end portion E2. Among the ends of the paper P (P1, P2) stored in the storage unit 20, the ends parallel to the first direction X1 (the ends in the third direction X3 and the fourth direction X4) are side end portions E3.

The first regulating portion 30 is provided at the bottom 21 of the accommodating portion 20 and regulates the position of the sheet P1. The first limiting portion 30 has a side end limiting member 31 and a rear end limiting member 33.

The side end regulating member 31 regulates the position of the side end E3 of the sheet P1. The side end regulating member 31 has a first regulating member 311 and a second regulating member 312. The first regulating member 311 and the second regulating member 312 are disposed to face each other so as to sandwich the side end portion E3 of the sheet P1 from both sides. The first regulating member 311 and the second regulating member 312 are configured to be movable in the third direction X3 and the fourth direction X4, respectively, and move in conjunction with each other in opposite directions when the interval is adjusted in accordance with the size of the sheet P1.

The rear end regulating member 33 regulates the position of the rear end E2 of the sheet P1. The rear end regulating member 33 is movable in the first direction X1 and the second direction X2, and is adjustable in position according to the size of the sheet P1.

The movable carriage plate 40 pushes up the leading end portion E1 of the paper P (P1, P2) stored in the storage unit 20 to come into contact with the pickup roller PR. The movable mounting plate 40 includes a mounting portion 41 and a side wall portion 42.

The mounting portion 41 is a portion where the sheet P (P1, P2) is disposed. The mounting portion 41 is disposed above the bottom portion 21. The placement portion 41 is provided with an opening 45 and a second regulating portion 50.

The side wall portions 42 stand on both ends of the mounting portion 41 in the third direction X3 and the fourth direction X4. The side wall portion 42 is rotatably connected to the paper feed cassette main body 11 via a support shaft 43.

The movable mounting plate 40 is rotatable with respect to the paper feed cassette main body 11. The posture in which the movable carriage plate 40 rotates relative to the paper feed cassette main body 11 to rotate the leading end portion E1 of the paper P (P1, P2) so as to contact the pickup roller PR is set as a paper feed posture PA1 (see fig. 3 and 7B). The movable carriage plate 40 is set to a non-paper feed posture PA2 (see fig. 7A) in which the leading end portion E1 of the paper P (P1, P2) is rotated so as to be separated from the pickup roller PR. The movable carriage plate 40 is configured to be switched from the non-paper feeding posture PA2 to the paper feeding posture PA1 when the paper feeding cassette 10 is mounted to the paper feeding cassette mounting unit 206, and to be switched from the paper feeding posture PA1 to the non-paper feeding posture PA2 when the paper feeding cassette 10 is pulled out from the paper feeding cassette mounting unit 206.

The opening 45 is formed so that the first regulating member 311 and the second regulating member 312 provided in the bottom portion 21 can be inserted therethrough. The opening 45 is formed to be larger than the movable range of the first restricting member 311 and the second restricting member 312 so that the movable mounting plate 40 does not interfere with the first restricting member 311 and the second restricting member 312.

The second regulating portion 50 is provided to regulate the position of the sheet P2 smaller than the size of the sheet P1 that can be regulated by the first regulating portion 30. In other words, the provision of the second regulating portion 50 enables the paper P2 of a small size that cannot be handled by the first regulating portion 30. The second regulating portion 50 is provided in the area AR sandwiched by the opening 45 in the mounting portion 41 of the movable mounting plate 40. The second regulating portion 50 regulates the position of the sheet P2 placed on the area AR of the movable placing plate 40.

The second limiter 50 includes a first limiter 51 and a second limiter 52. The first limiter 51 and the second limiter 52 have substantially symmetrical structures with each other. Therefore, the first limiter 51 will be mainly described below, and the second limiter 52 will not be described in detail.

The first stopper 51 has a side end stopper 54 and a rear end stopper 56. The side end regulating portion 54 regulates the position of the side end E3 of the sheet P2. The rear end regulating portion 56 regulates the position of the rear end E2 of the sheet P2. The side end restriction portion 54 and the rear end restriction portion 56 are formed integrally. The structure of the first limiter 51 will be described in detail below.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 10. Fig. 3 shows a state in which the movable carriage plate 40 is switched to the paper feed posture PA 1. The first regulating body 51 is provided to be able to rise and fall with respect to the mounting portion 41, and a housing portion 47 for housing the first regulating body 51 in the fallen posture is formed in the mounting portion 41. The posture in which the first regulating body 51 is raised with respect to the upper surface of the mounting portion 41 is a raising posture PB1 (see fig. 8B), and the posture in which the first regulating body 51 is lowered with respect to the upper surface of the mounting portion 41 and accommodated in the accommodating portion 47 is an accommodating posture PB2 (see fig. 8A). The first regulating body 51 is set to a posture of standing vertically with respect to the upper surface of the mounting portion 41 in the standing posture PB1, and is set to a posture of accommodating the accommodating portion 47 provided at the center side of the area AR of the mounting portion 41 in the accommodating posture PB 2.

The first regulating body 51 switches the posture according to the case of using the first regulating body 51 and the case of not using the first regulating body 51. Specifically, when the first stopper 51 is used, the first stopper 51 is switched to the standing posture PB1, and when the first stopper 51 is not used, the first stopper 51 is switched to the storage posture PB 2. Fig. 3 shows a state in which the first and second stoppers 51 and 52 are switched to the upright posture PB 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the movable mounting plate 40 and the second regulating portion 50 (first regulating body 51). As shown in fig. 4, the side wall portion 42 of the movable mounting plate 40 has an inclined portion 421 formed at an upper end portion. The inclined portion 421 is formed to gradually become lower toward the front with respect to the first direction X1. The inclined portion 421 is formed to prevent the side wall portion 42 from protruding upward of the paper feed cassette main body 11 in a state where the movable mounting plate 40 is switched to the paper feed posture PA1 (see fig. 3 and 7B). Therefore, in the state where the movable placement plate 40 is switched to the paper feed posture PA1, the paper feed cassette mounting portion 206 of the image forming apparatus main body 201 can be prevented from interfering with the side wall portion 42.

The mounting portion 41 is formed with a housing portion 47 that houses the first regulating body 51. The receiving portion 47 is formed by a concave portion capable of receiving the side end regulating portion 54. A first shaft 481, a second shaft 482, and a third shaft 483 that support the first regulating body 51 are provided on the side of the housing section 47. On the other hand, a first holding portion 551, a second holding portion 552, and a third holding portion 553 are provided at the lower portion of the side end regulating portion 54 of the first regulating body 51. The first holding portion 551, the second holding portion 552, and the third holding portion 553 rotatably hold the first shaft 481, the second shaft 482, and the third shaft 483, respectively. The first regulating body 51 is attached to be able to stand and fall with respect to the placement portion 41 by rotatably holding the first shaft 481, the second shaft 482, and the third shaft 483 by the first holding portion 551, the second holding portion 552, and the third holding portion 553.

The first holding portion 551, the second holding portion 552, and the third holding portion 553 are provided with abutting portions 561, 562, and 563 (see fig. 6), respectively. In the state where the first regulating body 51 is in the upright posture PB1, the contact portions 561, 562, and 563 contact the placement portion 41, thereby preventing the first regulating body 51 from rotating more than 90 degrees with respect to the placement portion 41.

A recess 57, a projection 58, and an inclined portion 59 are formed in the side end regulating portion 54 of the first regulating body 51 (see fig. 6).

The concave portion 57 is formed to facilitate the user to pull up the first stopper 51 by hooking a finger when the first stopper 51 is switched from the storage posture PB2 to the standing posture PB 1. A recess 57 is formed at an edge portion of an upper end of the side end regulating portion 54. A recess 49 is formed in the mounting portion 41 of the movable mounting plate 40. The concave portion 49 is formed at a position facing the concave portion 57 in a state where the first stopper 51 is in the storage posture PB 2. When the first stopper 51 is in the storage posture PB2, the recess 57 of the first stopper 51 and the recess 49 of the placement portion 41 face each other, and a gap is formed between the first stopper 51 and the storage portion 47 (see fig. 8A). With this gap, the user's finger is easily caught by the edge of the first stopper 51, and the posture of the first stopper 51 can be easily switched from the storage posture PB2 to the standing posture PB 1.

A protrusion 58 is formed at an edge portion of an upper end of the side end regulating portion 54. The projection 58 is a member that guides the sheet P2 when the sheet P2 is accommodated between the second regulating portions 50, and that suppresses the sheet P2 from passing over the first regulating body 51 when the position of the sheet P2 is regulated by the second regulating portions 50. The protrusion 58 extends in the third direction X3 (horizontal direction) with respect to the side end regulating portion 54 in the standing posture PB1, and inhibits the sheet P2 from passing over the first regulating body 51. Of the end portions of the projection 58, the end portion located on the rear side with respect to the first direction X1 (the end portion located on the front side with respect to the second direction X2) is inclined upward. Therefore, when the sheet P2 is accommodated between the second regulating portions 50, the sheet P2 is easily inserted below the projecting portions 58.

The protruding portion 58 and the rear end regulating portion 56 protrude in the third direction X3 with respect to the side end regulating portion 54. Therefore, in order to prevent the projection 58 and the rear end restriction portion 56 from interfering with the housing portion 47 in the housing posture PB2, a projection slit 471 and a rear end restriction portion slit 472 (see fig. 5) for housing the projection 58 and the rear end restriction portion 56 are formed in the housing portion 47.

The inclined portion 59 is formed to gradually become lower toward the front with respect to the first direction X1. The inclined portion 59 is formed to suppress the first stopper 51 from protruding upward of the paper feed cassette main body 11 in a state where the first stopper 51 is switched to the standing posture PB1 and the movable mounting plate 40 is switched to the paper feed posture PA1 (see fig. 7B). Therefore, the inclined portion 59 is set to have a height approximately equal to the height of the inclined portion 421 of the side wall portion 42 of the movable mounting plate 40 in the state where the first stopper 51 is switched to the standing posture PB 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the movable mounting plate 40. In fig. 5, a receiving bottom 475 as a lower surface portion of the receiving portion 47 is visible. The receiving bottom 475 is formed with a protrusion slit 471 and a rear end restriction slit 472. When the first stopper 51 is switched to the storage posture PB2, the projection 58 of the first stopper 51 is stored in the projection slit 471, and the rear end stopper 56 of the first stopper 51 is stored in the rear end stopper slit 472.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the first stopper 51 constituting the second stopper 50. As shown in fig. 6, a first holding portion 551, a second holding portion 552, and a third holding portion 553 are provided at a lower portion of the side end restriction portion 54 of the first restriction body 51. The first holding portion 551, the second holding portion 552, and the third holding portion 553 rotatably hold a first shaft 481, a second shaft 482, and a third shaft 483, which are provided at the side portions of the housing portion 47, respectively. Inclined surfaces 572, 573 formed in a truncated cone shape are formed at the end portions of the second holding portion 552 and the third holding portion 553 that are located rearward with respect to the first direction X1 (the end portions that are located forward with respect to the second direction X2). The inclined surfaces 572 and 573 suppress interference of the paper P2 fed in the first direction X1 being caught by the second holding portion 552, the third holding portion 553, and the like.

Next, the operation of the movable mounting plate 40 and the second regulating portion 50 will be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the movable mounting plate 40 after cutting the paper feed cassette 10 at the position of line a-a in fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the second regulating portion 50 obtained by cutting the movable mounting plate 40 at the position of line B-B in fig. 2. Fig. 7 shows a state in which paper feed cassette 10 is attached to paper feed cassette attachment unit 206 of image forming apparatus main body 201.

Fig. 7A shows a state in which the second restricting portion 50 is switched to the standing posture PB1 and the movable carriage plate 40 is switched to the non-paper feeding posture PA 2. Fig. 7B shows a state in which the second restricting portion 50 is switched to the standing posture PB1 and the movable carriage plate 40 is switched to the paper feeding posture PA 1.

The second restricting portion 50 is switched to the storage posture PB2 in fig. 8A, and the second restricting portion 50 is switched to the standing posture PB1 in fig. 8B. As shown in fig. 8A, in the storage posture PB2, the first stopper 51 and the second stopper 52 are stored in the storage section 47. In a state where the second regulating portion 50 is switched to the storage posture PB2, the sheet P1 can be stored using the first regulating portion 30. As shown in fig. 8B, in a state where the second regulating portion 50 is switched to the standing posture PB1, the paper P2 can be stored using the second regulating portion 50.

According to the paper feeding device 100 described above, the second regulating portion 50 is provided on the movable mounting plate 40, and the second regulating portion 50 regulates the position of the paper P2 of a size different from the size of the paper P1 that can be regulated by the first regulating portion 30. Therefore, the paper P can be stably supported by the movable carriage plate 40, and various paper sizes can be accommodated without requiring troublesome mounting and dismounting of other components.

[ second embodiment ]

Next, a paper feeding device 100A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the paper feeding device 100 according to the first embodiment, the side end regulating portion 54 of the first regulating body 51 and the second regulating body 52 constituting the second regulating portion 50 is formed integrally with the rear end regulating portion 56, but in the paper feeding device 100A, the side end regulating portion 54A and the rear end regulating portion 56A of the first regulating body 51A and the second regulating body 52A constituting the second regulating portion 50A are formed as separate members. In this case, the positions of the side end limiting portion 54A and the rear end limiting portion 56A can be set independently.

[ third embodiment ]

Next, a paper feeding device 100B according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the paper feeding device 100 according to the first embodiment, the positions of the first and second stoppers 51 and 52 constituting the second regulating portion 50 are constant, but in the paper feeding device 100B, the positions of the first and second stoppers 51B and 52B constituting the second regulating portion 50B can be adjusted so as to correspond to a change in the size of the sheet P2. In this case, the second regulating portion 50B can be made to cope with various paper sizes.

[ other embodiments ]

Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and not to be construed as limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not to be interpreted only by the above-described embodiments, but is defined based on the description of the scope of the claims. The technical scope of the present invention includes all modifications within the meaning and range equivalent to the scope of the claims.

For example, the shapes of the first and second stoppers 51 and 52 constituting the second stopper 50 are not limited to the above embodiment.

Further, a sheet detecting section that detects which of the first regulating section 30 and the second regulating section 50 is used for regulating the position of the sheet P (P1, P2), and a sheet size determining section that determines the size of the sheet P (P1, P2) based on the detection result of the sheet detecting section may be provided. The paper detection unit may be provided in the paper feed cassette 10 or in the paper feed cassette mounting unit 206. Further, the second regulating unit 50 may be provided with a detected portion, and the position of the detected portion may be detected by the paper detecting unit to determine whether or not to use the second regulating unit 50. In this case, the paper size determination unit determines the size of the paper based on the detection result of the paper detection unit, and therefore the determination of the size of the paper can be easily performed.

Industrial applicability of the invention

The present invention is applicable to a paper feeding device provided with a paper feeding cassette and an image forming apparatus provided with the paper feeding device.

Description of the reference numerals

100 sheet feeder

200 image forming apparatus

206 paper supply cassette mounting part

10 paper supply box

20 housing part

30 first restriction part

40 movable carrying board

50 second restriction