Paper storage device

Abstract

On a center of the front surface of a positioning member 10, positioning projections 25a to 25d are provided in line in such a manner as to project therefrom. On both a left and a right sides of the positioning projections 25a to 25d, scales 27a displaying metric paper sizes and scales 27b displaying inch-based paper sizes are inscribed. The positioning member 10 is horizontally inverted through 180 degrees and a direction indication line 29a on the scale 27a side or a direction indication line 29b on the scale 27b side is aligned with a fitting reference line 30 for fixation to the positioning member 10, thereby permitting switching between positioning for a metric paper size and positioning for an inch-based paper size.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a paper storage device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing internal structure of the paper storage device of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the surrounding of a positioning member when a width regulating member is set in accordance with a metric paper size in the paper storage device of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the surrounding of the positioning member showing a condition that the width regulating member is set for an A4R size;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the surrounding of the positioning member when the width regulating member is set in accordance with an inch-based paper size in the paper storage device of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view of the surrounding of the positioning member showing a condition that the width regulating member is set for a letter size R;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a conventional large-capacity type paper storage device; and

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the conventional large-capacity type paper storage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a paper storage device of the invention as viewed from the side thereof connected to an image forming apparatus (left side of FIG. 8). Portions in common with those in FIGS. 7 and 8 showing the conventional example are provided with the same numerals and thus omitted from the description. The paper storage device 100 of FIG. 1 can store approximately 4000 pieces of paper (80 g/m2 in texture weight) in a paper storage cassette 1, and has an elevating plate 2 provided with two through holes 2a and two through holes 2b through which width regulating members 5a and 5b respectively penetrate.

Posterior end regulating members 6 are composed of: a left posterior end regulating member 6a arranged on the left side and a right posterior end regulating member 6b arranged on the right side, both as viewed from the downstream side along a paper transport direction (direction of an arrow X). The elevating plate 2 has four through holes 2c each (eight in total) provided on the left and right thereof. The through holes 2c permit the posterior end regulating members 6 to penetrate therethrough. On a top surface 1b of the paper storage cassette 1, covering members 15a and 15b are fitted which respectively cover boss sections 8 and positioning members 10 (see FIG. 2) to be described later. Instead of the through holes 2a to 2c, for example, C-shaped notched parts may be formed in the elevating plate 2 to thereby avoid interference between the elevating plate 2, the width regulating members 5a and 5b, and the posterior end regulating members 6.

FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing internal structure of the paper storage device. For explanatory purposes only, the width regulating member 5b, the right posterior end regulating member 6b, and the elevating plate 2 are omitted from the illustration, and only the left side structure as viewed from the downstream along the transport direction is illustrated. Note that the same description applies to the right side structure.

In the bottom surface 1a of the paper storage cassette 1, a plurality of slits 7 are drilled, the slits 7 are selected in accordance with the paper size, and then the lower ends of the width regulating member 5a and the left posterior end regulating member 6a are inserted therein and fixed. On the top surface 1b of the paper storage cassette 1, the positioning member 10 is fixed which positions the width regulating member 5a in the direction (direction of an arrow YY′ in the figure) orthogonal to the paper transport direction. Via this positioning member 10, the width regulating member 5a is fixed to the paper storage cassette 1. Moreover, in a top surface 1b, the boss sections 8 which engage with engagement holes 12 provided in a support section 11 at the upper end of the left posterior end regulating member 6a are formed at a plurality of positions. Formed in a side plate 1c of the paper storage cassette 1 is a guide hole 9, along which the elevating plate 2 (see FIG. 1) moves vertically while kept in a horizontal state.

The invention is characterized in that positioning a metric paper size and positioning an inch-based paper size can be switched by horizontally inverting the positioning member 10 through 180 degrees. This permits position adjustment of the width regulating members 5a and 5b by using one member regardless of whether or not the paper size is metric or inch-based, so that positioning in the direction (paper width direction) orthogonal to the paper transport direction can be performed easily and reliably.

Next, methods of setting a paper size in the paper storage device according to the invention, particularly the method of fixing the width regulating members 5a and 5b and the method of position adjustment associated with paper size change, will be described in detail, by using FIGS. 3 to 6 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the description will be given, referring to a case where the paper storage device is set for a metric paper size. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the surrounding of the positioning member when the width regulating member is set in accordance with a metric paper size. FIG. 4 is a top enlarged view of the surrounding of the positioning member showing a condition that the width regulating member is set for the A4R size. Portions also common with those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are provided with the same numerals and thus omitted from the description. FIG. 3 shows the structure on the width regulating member 5a side only, but exactly the same applies to the structure on the width regulating member 5b side. FIG. 4 shows a condition with the covering members 15a and 15b (see FIG. 1) removed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the positioning member 10 is a horizontally long, octagonal steel plate member, with a pair of boss holes 21 and a pair of boss holes 22 respectively formed at diagonal positions of four corners thereof. Through engagement of one set of the boss holes 21 and 22 (at the top in FIG. 3) with support bosses 20a and 20b provided on the top surface 1b in such a manner as to project therefrom, the positioning member 10 is positioned at a predetermined position. Note that inverting the positioning member 10 through 180 degrees engages another set of the boss holes 21 and 22 (at the bottom in FIG. 3) with the support bosses 20a and 20b.

Formed at two positions, on the longitudinal left and right, of the positioning member 10 are screw holes 23 for threadably securing to the top surface 1b. On the center of the front surface of the positioning member 10, positioning projections (second engagement sections) 25a to 25d are provided in line in such a manner as to project therefrom. Respectively inscribed on the left and right sides of the positioning projection 25a to 25d are scales 27a for displaying metric paper sizes (A4R, B4, A3, and A4) and scales 27b for displaying inch-based paper sizes (8.5 inches and 11 inches). The scales 27a and 27b are located at equal distance from their corresponding positioning projections 25a to 25d.

Respectively inscribed on the left and right ends of the positioning member 10 are direction indication lines 29a and 29b which determine the direction of fitting to the top surface 1b. In FIG. 3, the positioning member 10 is arranged so that the direction indication line 29a on the scale 27a side where a letter “C” for metric display is marked coincides with a fitting reference line 30 on the top surface 1b, so that the width regulating member 5a can be set in accordance with the metric paper size. Numerals 31a and 31b denote guide sections for preventing wobbling of the width regulating member 5a, and are each provided in parallel to the positioning projections 25a to 27d in such a manner as to project. On the left and right of the positioning projections 25a to 25d, screw holes 28 for fixing together the width regulating member 5a and the positioning member 10 are formed in a pair for the positioning projections 25a to 25d, respectively.

The upper end of the width regulating member 5a is horizontally bent and formed with a positioning hole (first engagement section) 33 with which the positioning projections 25a to 25d are selectively engaged. In the both sides of the positioning hole 33, through holes 35a and 35b are formed at positions coinciding with the corresponding screw holes 28 when the positioning hole 33 is engaged with any one of the positioning projections 25a to 25d, and on the through hole 35a side, a mark line 37 is inscribed which faces the scales 27a.

Numerals 39a and 39b denote openings for, when the positioning hole 33 is engaged with any one of the positioning projections 25a to 25d, avoiding interference between the width regulating member 5a and the other positioning projections. In FIG. 3, engaging the positioning hole 33 with any one of the positioning projections 25a, 25b, and 25d permits positioning corresponding to any of a total of four kinds of paper sizes including A3, A4, B4, and A4R.

For example, in order to set the paper size at A4R, the lower ends of the width regulating members 5a and 5b are inserted in the slit 7 corresponding to A4R, and also as shown in FIG. 4, the upper ends of the width regulating members 5a and 5b are slid along the guide sections 31a and 31b to engage the positioning hole 33 with the positioning projection 25d corresponding to the A4R size. In this condition, the mark line 37 faces a display “A4R” of the scale 27a, which permits the operator to easily confirm the size setting. Moreover, fitting of the positioning projection 25c with the opening 39a permits avoiding interference between the width regulating members 5a and 5b.

The positioning hole 33 is formed into a long hole in parallel to the movement direction (paper width direction) of the width regulating members 5a and 5b, thus forming a predetermined clearance in the movement direction of the width regulating members 5a and 5b when engaged with any one of the positioning projections 25a to 25d. Therefore, for example, even when there is variation in the widths of paper of a regular paper size, arrangement of the width regulating members 5a and 5b can be finely adjusted in accordance with the variation within this clearance, providing an appropriate interval between the width regulating members 5a and 5b and the widthwise end of the paper to thereby inhibit paper skew and paper jam. The adjustable range may be appropriately set in accordance with a range of paper width variation, but a range within approximately +1 mm from the specified size position is typically satisfactory.

The width regulating members 5a and 5b are vertically long (approximately several tens of centimeters); thus, as a result of fine adjustment with the lower ends thereof in a fixed state, the width regulating members 5a and 5b are held in such a manner as to be slightly bent. This however does not interfere with the vertical movement of the elevating plate 2 since a predetermined clearance is provided between the through holes 2a, 2b and the width regulating members 5a, 5b. Further, only the interval at the upper end surrounding area between the width regulating members 5a and 5b has influence on paper transportation; thus, there is no risk of influence on the paper transportation even when there is no change in the interval at the lower ends.

With the width regulating members 5a and 5b finely adjusted, adjustment screws (not shown) are fastened to the pair of screw holes 28 corresponding to the positioning projection 25d via the through holes 35a and 35b so formed as to be long in the same direction as the positioning hole 33 to thereby fix together the width regulating members 5a and 5b and the positioning member 10. Thereafter, similarly, the lower ends of the posterior end regulating members 6a and 6b are inserted in the slits 7 corresponding to A4R and the engagement hole 12 provided in the support section 11 is engaged with the boss section 8 corresponding to A4R to achieve positioning, and finally the covering members 15a and 15b are fitted, thereby completing size setting.

The positioning member 10 is shared between the width regulating member 5a side and the width regulating member 5b side. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the positioning member 10 is fitted to the top surface 1b, positions of the scales 27a and 27b on the width regulating member 5b side are opposite to those on the width regulating member 5a side. Thus, the fitting reference line 30 and the mark line 37 on the width regulating member 5b are provided on the side (right side in the figure) opposite to those on the width regulating member 5a side.

Next, the description will be given referring to a case where the size setting is changed from a metric paper size to an inch-based paper size. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the surrounding of the positioning member when the width regulating member is set in accordance with an inch-based paper size. FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view of the surrounding of the positioning member showing a condition that the width regulating member is set for the letter size R (11×8.5 inches). FIG. 5 shows structure on the width regulating member 5a side only, while FIG. 6 shows a condition with the covering members 15a and 15b removed.

For example, in order to change the paper size from the A4R size currently set (see FIG. 4) to the letter size R, the covering members 15a and 15b are first removed, the adjustment screws (not shown) are loosened to release engagement between the positioning holes 33 of the left and right width regulating members 5a and 5b and the positioning projection 25d, and also a side cover of the paper storage device 100 is opened, and the lower ends of the width regulating members 5a and 5b are pulled out from the slits 7 (see FIG. 2) in the bottom surface 1a.

On the other hand, the fixation screws are pulled out from the screw holes 23 to temporarily remove the positioning member 10 from the top surface 1b. Next, the positioning member 10 is horizontally inversed through 180 degrees, and as shown in FIG. 5, the direction indication line 29b on the scale 27b side where a letter “I” for inch-based display is marked is aligned with the fitting reference line 30, and then the boss holes 21 and 22 are engaged with the support bosses 20a and 20b. Then, the fixation screws are threaded again into the screw holes 23 to fix the positioning member 10 to the top surface 1b.

As a result, the width regulating members 5a and 5b can be now set in accordance with the inch-based paper size. In FIG. 5, engagement of either of the positioning projections 25a and 25c with the positioning hole 33 permits positioning corresponding to either of two types of paper widths 8.5 inches and 11 inches, that is, any of four types of paper sizes, i.e., legal size (14×8.5 inches), letter size R (11×8.5 inches), leisure size (17×11 inches), and letter size (8.5×11 inches).

Then, the lower ends of the width regulating members 5a and 5b are inserted in the slit 7 in the bottom surface 1a corresponding to the letter size R, and as shown in FIG. 6, the positioning hole 33 is engaged with the positioning projection 25a corresponding to a paper width of 8.5 inches of the letter size R. In this condition, the mark line 37 faces a display “8.5” on the scales 27b, thus permitting the operator to easily confirm the size setting.

Further, as with FIG. 4, the arrangement of the width regulating members 5a and 5b is finely adjusted within the positioning hole 33 and the through holes 35a and 35b, in which condition the width regulating members 5a and 5b and the positioning member 10 are fixed together with the fixation screws (not shown). Then, after positioning of the posterior end regulating members 6a and 6b, the covering members 15a and 15b are fitted, thereby completing size change to the letter size R. To change the paper size from the state in FIG. 6 to a metric size, the positioning member 10 may be inverted again through 180 degrees to restore the state of FIG. 3, and the positioning of the width regulating members 5a and 5b may be performed in accordance with the procedures described above.

The structure of the invention permits adjustment of the width regulating member 5a or 5b in accordance with a metric or inch-based paper size only by inverting the fitting direction of the positioning member 10 through 180 degrees, which ensures quick and reliable adjustment operation. Even when the width regulating members are arranged closely to each other as is the case with the A4 size and the letter size, an interval between the corresponding positioning projections can be broadened to some extent. This reduces adjustment error of making adjustment to improper position with respect to the paper size, and also avoids interference between the width regulating members and the positioning projection. Therefore, positioning members respectively corresponding to a metric size and an inch-based size do not have to be provided separately, thus permitting reduction in the number of components.

Further, shapes and structure of the positioning member 10 and the width regulating members 5a and 5b are simplified, thus resulting in a larger degree of freedom in design and also providing manufacturing cost advantages. Judging in which direction the positioning member 10 is fitted can be easily made by aligning with the fitting reference line 30 the direction indication line 29a marked with the letter “C” or the direction indication line 29b marked with the letter “I”.

In the embodiment described above, it is designed to satisfy relationship (paper width for the letter size R)/2+2L=(paper width for the A3 and A4 sizes)/2 where a distance from the positioning projection 25a to a straight line (the fitting reference line 30 here) passing through the rotational center of the positioning member 10 and vertical to the moving direction of the width regulating members 5a and 5b is L (mm). That is, the paper width of the letter size R is 216 mm and the paper width for the A3 and A4 sizes is 297 mm; thus, 216/2+2L=297/2, L=(297-216)/4=20.25(mm) is provided.

As a result, the positioning projection 25a is arranged, by the inversion of the positioning member 10, at the position corresponding to the A3 and A4 sizes and at the position corresponding to the letter size R (and legal size) which is located in line-symmetry with respect to the fitting reference line 30 as an axis. Therefore, the positioning projection 25a is shared for positioning the A3 and•A4 sizes and also for positioning the letter size R and the legal size, thus permitting reducing the number of positioning projections by 1.

Here, a maximum interval between the positioning projections formed on the positioning member 10 needs to be at least an interval from the positioning projection 25a corresponding to the maximum paper width (A3 size) for the metric size to the positioning projection 25d corresponding to the minimum paper width (A4R size) for the metric size. In this embodiment, the positioning projection 25a corresponding to the maximum paper width (A3 size) for the storable metric size and the minimum paper width (8.5 inches) for the inch-based size are shared. Thus, the positioning projections 25a and 25c corresponding to the inch-based sizes (8.5 inches and 11 inches) are located within the range from the positioning projection 25a to the positioning projection 25d. That is, the width of the positioning member 10 can be minimized in the moving direction of the width regulating members 5a and 5b.

Here, the description has been given referring to as examples changes to the A4R size and the letter size R, but the same applies to changes to other sizes. The positioning member 10 does not have to be inversed for size changes between the metric sizes or between the inch-based sizes, as is the case with a change from the A4R size to the A3 size or a change from the letter size to the letter size R.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various changes can be made within the range not departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the guide sections 31a and 31b of the positioning member 10 are not necessarily required, and thus alternative configuration can be provided such that the wobbling of the width regulating members 5a and 5b is avoided through engagement of the positioning projections 25a to 25d with the positioning holes 33 and the openings 39a and 39b.

For example, the positioning projection for the A3 and A4 sizes and the positioning projection for the letter size R and the legal size can be provided separately. That is, the number, arrangement, and the like, of the positioning projections described above are just one example. Thus, change can be made as appropriate in accordance with a type of paper size storable in the paper storage device.

In the embodiment described above, the positioning hole 33 is provided as the first engagement section on the width regulating member 5a and 5b sides, and the positioning projections 25a to 25d are provided as the second engagement sections on the positioning member 10 side. Alternatively, one positioning projection may be provided as the first engagement section on the width regulating member 5a and 5b sides, and a plurality of positioning holes may be provided as the second engagement section on the positioning member 10 side. Or, a tongue that is formed by bending the tip ends of the width regulating members 5a and 5b downward may be defined as the first engagement section and a plurality of grooves into which the tongue is inserted may be formed on the positioning member 10 side and defined as the second engagement section. To form the positioning hole or the grooves on the positioning member 10 side, it is preferable that engagement with the positioning projection or the tongue may be made with a predetermined clearance provided so that fine adjustment of the width regulating members 5a and 5b can be made. In this case, the openings 39a and 39b are not necessary.

The invention includes: a paper storage section that stores paper; an elevating plate that is vertically movable in the paper storage section; a width regulating member which has both ends thereof detachably supported on the bottom and top surfaces of the paper storage section and which projects further above the highest elevation position of the elevating plate. In a paper storage device which performs positioning of the width regulating member in the direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction to thereby align the widthwise ends of paper of a plurality of sizes stored on the elevating plate to regulate the paper storage position, a positioning member is arranged on the top surface of the paper storage section. The positioning member has: a plurality of second engagement sections which selectively engage with a first engagement section on the width regulating member side and a plurality of scales which display paper sizes respectively corresponding to the second engagement sections. Arranging the positioning member by horizontally inverting it through 180 degrees permits switching between positioning corresponding to a metric paper size and positioning corresponding to an inch-based paper size.

Consequently, just by inverting through 180 degrees the fitting direction of one type of the positioning member with simple configuration, the width regulating members corresponding to a metric and inch-based paper sizes can be quickly and reliably positioned, thus providing a simple, low-cost paper storage device with excellent maintenancibility.

The plurality of scales displaying the respective paper sizes are provided separately on the left and right of the second engagement sections for a metric paper size and an inch-based paper size, so that the scale corresponding to the second engagement section used for positioning faces a mark line on the width regulating member side, thereby providing the paper storage device which permits easy size confirmation upon paper size change. Further, providing a direction indication line determining the arrangement direction of the positioning member permits easily confirming at which of the metric size and the inch-based size a display is set, thereby preventing error in arrangement of the positioning member upon paper size change.

Moreover, the width regulating member is slidable with respect to the positioning member within a clearance between the first engagement section on the width regulating member side and the second engagement section on the positioning member side. Thus, even when there is variation in regular paper sizes, the width regulating member can be finely adjusted in accordance with the width variation, thus providing a paper storage device which is less likely to encounter paper skew and paper jam.

The first engagement section is provided as a positioning hole, the second engagement section is provided as a positioning projection, and the width regulating member is provided with an opening which avoids interference with the positioning projection not used for engagement, thus simplifying a mechanism of engagement between the width regulating member and the positioning member. Further, arrangement of the positioning projection at such a position that permits shared use for inch-based size positioning and metric size positioning can reduce the number of positioning projections. This makes user's positioning operation simpler and easier to understand and also permits compactification of the positioning member.

Claims

1. A paper storage device comprising: a paper storage section which stores paper;an elevating plate which is vertically movable in the paper storage section;a width regulating member which has a first engagement section, which has both ends thereof detachably supported on a bottom surface and a top surface of the paper storage section, and which projects further above a highest elevation position of the elevating plate; anda positioning member which is arranged on the top surface of the paper storage section and which has a plurality of second engagement sections selectively engaging with the first engagement section on the width regulating member side and a plurality of scales which display paper sizes respectively corresponding to the second engagement sections,wherein the positioning member is so arranged as to be horizontally inverted through 180 degrees, thereby permitting switching between positioning by the width regulating member corresponding to a metric paper size and positioning by the width regulating member corresponding to an inch-based paper size.

2. The paper storage device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of scales are provided on left and right of the second engagement sections separately for a metric paper size and an inch-based paper size, and when the first engagement section is engaged with the second engagement section in accordance with arrangement of the positioning member, the scale displaying the paper size corresponding to the second engagement section faces a mark line on the width regulating member side.

3. The paper storage device according to claim 1, wherein, on both a left and a right ends of the positioning member, a direction indication line is provided which is aligned with a fitting reference line on the top surface of the paper storage section to determine arrangement direction of the positioning member.

4. The paper storage device according to claim 2, wherein, on both a left and a right ends of the positioning member, a direction indication line is provided which is aligned with a fitting reference line on the top surface of the paper storage section to determine arrangement direction of the positioning member.

5. The paper storage device according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement section and the second engagement section are engaged with each other with a predetermined clearance being provided therebetween in a moving direction of the width regulating member, and the width regulating member is slidably fixed to the positioning member within the clearance.

6. The paper storage device according to claim 2, wherein the first engagement section and the second engagement section are engaged with each other with a predetermined clearance being provided therebetween in a moving direction of the width regulating member, and the width regulating member is slidably fixed to the positioning member within the clearance.

7. The paper storage device according to claim 3, wherein the first engagement section and the second engagement section are engaged with each other with a predetermined clearance being provided therebetween in a moving direction of the width regulating member, and the width regulating member is slidably fixed to the positioning member within the clearance.

8. The paper storage device according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement section is a positioning hole formed in the width regulating member, the second engagement section is a positioning projection formed in the positioning member and engaging with the positioning hole, and the width regulating member is provided with an opening for, when the positioning hole is engaged with any of the positioning projections, avoiding interference with the other positioning projections.

9. The paper storage device according to claim 1, wherein relationship (inch-based paper size width)/2+2L=(metric paper size width)/2 is satisfied where a distance from a straight line passing through a rotational center of the positioning member and vertical to a movement direction of the width regulating member to any of the second engagement sections is L.

10. The paper storage device according to claim 9, wherein the second engagement section satisfying the relationship (inch-based paper size width)/2+2L=(metric paper size width)/2 corresponds to a minimum inch-based paper size width and a maximum metric paper size width.