The present disclosure relates to a sheet container for holding sheets and an image forming apparatus including the sheet container.
Sheet containers used in image forming apparatus main bodies are capable of holding sheets of various sizes and are configured to regulate the position of sheets stacked in stack units of the sheet containers.
One known example of the sheet containers is a cassette unit configured to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. The cassette unit includes a regulation unit that regulates the conveying direction of sheets stacked in the stack unit or the widthwise position. The role of the regulation unit is to regulate the sheets stacked in the stacking unit to achieve appropriate sheet conveyance. Since the sheets stacked in the stack unit have various sizes, the regulation unit needs to be moved according to the sheet size.
The regulation unit includes a control lever for the user or serviceman to operate. The fixed state of the regulation unit is cancelled by operating the control lever, so that the regulation unit can be moved. When the operation on the control lever is stopped, the regulation unit is fixed to the position where the operation on the control lever is stopped.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-113300 discloses a configuration in which a control lever is disposed above a regulation unit so that the user can easily recognize and operate the control lever.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a sheet container to contain a sheet includes a support unit including a plurality of engaged portions and configured to support the contained sheet, and a regulation unit movable with respect to the support unit, wherein the regulation unit comes into contact with an end of the sheet to regulate the sheet in position, wherein the regulation unit includes an operating member to be operated, a holding member configured to hold the operating member, a fixing member movable in cooperation with the operating member, and a cover configured to cover the operating member, wherein the fixing member is movable between an engaging position at which the fixing member engages with one of the plurality of engaged portions and a non-engaged position at which the fixing member does not engage with one of the plurality of engaged portions, wherein the operating member is configured to be engageable with the cover, and wherein the regulation unit is kept fixed to the support unit by the fixing member engaging with one of the plurality of engaged portions, with the cover engaging with the operating member.
Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the following embodiments can be changed as appropriate according to the configurations of apparatuses that incorporate the present disclosure and various conditions. In other words, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments.
The cassette 24 is detachably mounted to the lower part of the image forming apparatus 1. Sheets P (hereinafter referred to as sheets) contained in the cassette 24 are fed from the cassette 24 by a conveying roller 21, which is a conveying member. A feed roller 22 and a separation roller 23 are provided downstream of the conveying path from the conveying roller 21. The sheets fed by the conveying roller 21 are separated one by one by the feed roller 22 and the separation roller 23.
A registration roller pair 2 capable of increasing and decreasing the conveying speed of the sheets and a top sensor 3 serving as a detecting unit for detecting the position and the jam of the sheets are provided downstream of the conveying path from the feed roller 22 and the separation roller 23. A medium sensor 26, which is a sheet determination unit, is disposed downstream from the registration roller pair 2 and the top sensor 3.
The leading-end position of the sheet conveyed to the registration roller pair 2 is detected by the top sensor 3 disposed downstream from the registration roller pair 2 in the conveying direction. The registration roller pair 2 increases or decreases the sheet conveying speed based on the detection result of the top sensor 3. The registration roller pair 2 conveys the sheet to a secondary transfer position T2 at the same timing as the timing of a full-color toner image formed in an image forming unit, described later.
The sheet passes by the medium sensor 26 before reaching the secondary transfer position T2. When the sheet passes by the medium sensor 26, the medium sensor 26 detects the basis weight and the surface properties of the sheet to determine the type (properties) of the sheet.
Next, the image forming operation will be described. A scanner unit 4 is provided above the cassette 24. Above the scanner unit 4, four process cartridges 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10Bk) are provided as the image forming unit.
Above the process cartridges 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10Bk), an intermediate transfer unit 5 is disposed so as to face the process cartridges 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10Bk). The intermediate transfer unit 5 includes an intermediate transfer belt 6, primary transfer rollers 7 (7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7Bk) inside the intermediate transfer belt 6, and a driving roller 8 and a tension roller 9 serving as stretching members.
Color toner images formed by the scanner unit 4, photosensitive drums 20 (20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20Bk), and so on are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 6 rotating in the direction of arrow A (counterclockwise) in
Next, how the sheet conveyed from the cassette 24 to the secondary transfer position T2 and the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 6 are secondarily transferred and output as a printed material will be described. Control in image formation on the sheet is performed based on information on the type (properties) of the sheet determined by the medium sensor 26. The control in image formation includes changing the sheet conveying speed, changing the voltage to be applied to the secondary transfer roller 12 at the secondary transfer position T2, and changing the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 13.
A secondary transfer roller 12 is disposed on the right of the intermediate transfer unit 5 so as to face the driving roller 8. A nip formed by the intermediate transfer belt 6, the driving roller 8, and the secondary transfer roller 12 is the secondary transfer position T2.
At the secondary transfer position T2, the sheet is nipped by the intermediate transfer belt 6 and the secondary transfer roller 12 and is conveyed at a constant speed, and the full-color toner image is transferred to the sheet. A cleaning unit 11 collects and accumulates toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 6 without being secondarily transferred at the secondary transfer position T2.
A fixing unit 13 is disposed above the intermediate transfer unit 5 and the secondary transfer roller 12. The sheet to which the full-color toner image is transferred at the secondary transfer position T2 is conveyed to the fixing unit 13. The fixing unit 13 presses and heats the full-color toner image transferred to the sheet at the nip formed by a pressure roller 13a and a heating roller 13b to fix the full-color toner image to the sheet.
A discharge roller pair 14 and a reversing unit 15 are disposed on the upper left of the fixing unit 13. An output tray 16 is used to receive a sheet discharged by the discharge roller pair 14. The sheet to which the full-color toner image is fixed is discharged to the output tray 16 at the upper part of the image forming apparatus 1 by the discharge roller pair 14.
The reversing unit 15 includes a reversing roller pair 15a and a flapper 15b serving as a branch unit. In duplex printing, the conveying path is changed by the flapper 15b serving as the branch unit so as to guide the sheet to the reversing roller pair 15a. A conveying path for duplex printing the sheet reversed by the reversing unit 15 is provided. The conveying path for duplex printing is provided with a duplex conveying roller pair 17 and a pre-registration roller pair 18.
As the rotational direction of the reversing roller pair 15a changes, the sheet is guided to the duplex conveying roller pair 17 and is further guided to the registration roller pair 2 by the pre-registration roller pair 18. The conveying path ahead of the registration roller pair 2 is the same as for single-sided printing, and the sheet is finally discharged to the output tray 16.
An environment sensor 27 is used to determine the temperature and humidity of the operating environment of the image forming apparatus 1. The temperature and humidity information determined by the environment sensor 27 is used in control in image formation on the sheet. The control is the same as the control based on the information on the sheet type (properties) determined by the medium sensor 26. The specific details of the control include changing the sheet conveying speed, changing the voltage to be applied at the secondary transfer position T2, and changing the fixing temperature of the fixing unit 13.
The image forming apparatus 1 appropriately controls the sheet conveyance and image formation using the information on the sheet type (properties) determined by the medium sensor 26 and the temperature and humidity information from the environment sensor 27. The above is a brief description of the overall configuration, the sheet conveying operation, and the image forming operation of the color laser beam printer. The image forming apparatus 1 may include a touch display 111 serving as both of a control unit and a display unit in the vicinity of the output tray 16 so as to display information on image formation and the cassette 24 and issue an instruction to start image formation.
The width regulation unit 29 includes a first control lever 44 and a width regulation holder 54 that supports the first control lever 44. Operating the first control lever 44 allows the width regulation unit 29 to move. The width regulation unit 29 and the width regulation unit 30 are drivingly connected using a rack mechanism (not illustrated). When the operation on the first control lever 44 is stopped, the width regulation unit 29 and the width regulation unit 30 are fixed to positions at which the operation on the first control lever 44 is stopped.
The trailing-end regulation unit 31 also includes a second control lever 34 serving as an operating member and a trailing-end regulation holder 32 that holds the second control lever 34. Operating the second control lever 34 allows the trailing-end regulation unit 31 to move. When the operation on the second control lever 34 is stopped, the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is fixed to a position at which the operation on the second control lever 34 is stopped.
The cassette 24 includes a lifting plate 25 serving as a stack unit. The lifting plate 25 is rotatably supported by a lifting-plate rotation fulcrum 32. The sheets supported by the lifting plate 25 and the cassette body 28 are stacked in the cassette 24 in a state in which the stack position is restricted by the width regulation unit 29, the width regulation unit 30, and the trailing-end regulation unit 31. AS the cassette 24 is mounted into the image forming apparatus 1, the sheets are also guided into the image forming apparatus 1.
Next, the trailing-end regulation unit 31 will be described in outline.
Next, a trailing-end regulating pressing plate 33, which is a contact surface, will be described. The trailing-end regulating pressing plate 33 is urged under pressure in the direction of arrow A in
A nonstandard-size fixing member 35 is a second fixing member for fixing the trailing-end regulation unit 31 when nonstandard-size sheets are to be regulated. A standard-size fixing member 36 is a first fixing member for fixing the trailing-end regulation unit 31 when standard-size sheets are to be regulated. The nonstandard-size fixing member 35 and the standard-size fixing member 36 move in the vertical direction in cooperation with the movement of the second control lever 34.
In
When the second control lever 34 is rotated in the direction of arrow B in
Next, an engaged member of the cassette body 28 that engages with the nonstandard-size fixing member 35 and the standard-size fixing member 36 will be described.
In
The first engaged member 39 includes a plurality of engaged holes (hereinafter referred to as standard-size fixing holes) 39a to be used to fix the trailing-end regulation unit 31 in regulating standard-size sheets. The standard-size fixing holes 39a are provided at plurality of positions corresponding to standard sizes. A click groove 40 is provided next to each of the standard-size fixing holes 39a. Since the click grooves 40 are used to indicate that the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is at standard-size positions, the array interval is the same as the array interval of the standard-size fixing holes 39a. The click grooves 40 are disposed so as to engage with the claws (not illustrated) of the trailing-end regulation unit 31.
The second engaged member 42 includes a rack 42. The rack 42 is used to fix the trailing-end regulation unit 31 when the trailing-end regulation unit 31 regulates nonstandard-size sheets. The rack 42 is provided with fixed regularity so as to engage with pinions provided at the end of the nonstandard-size fixing member 35.
In
In
Next, a protective cover 43, which is a cover in the present embodiment, will be described.
The protective cover 43 is attached from above the trailing-end regulation unit 31 in the direction of arrow A in
As illustrated in
The protective cover 43 is shaped so as not to protrude from the trailing-end regulating pressing plate 33 to the sheet stack side so that the trailing-end regulating pressing plate 33 can appropriately press and restrict the stacked sheets. When the first hook 43a and the second hook 43b are unhooked, the protective cover 43 can be detached from the trailing-end regulation unit 31.
Next, beneficial effects obtained by attaching the protective cover 43 to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 will be described. The protective cover 43 is attached to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 after the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is fixed to a predetermined position of the cassette body 28. Attaching the protective cover 43 to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 allows the second control lever 34 to cover the second control lever 34 to restrict the rotation of the second control lever 34. Since the second control lever 34 cannot be operated, the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is prevented from moving and can be kept in the fixed state.
Keeping the trailing-end regulation unit 31 in the fixed state prevents the user from unintentionally coming into contact with the second control lever 34 to displace the trailing-end regulation unit 31 during the work of loading sheets in the cassette 24 or the work of clearing a sheet jam. Without the protective cover 43, the user can unintentionally touch and move the second control lever 34, thereby moving the trailing-end regulation unit 31. This causes displacement of the trailing-end regulation unit 31, which causes displacement of the image forming position and a failure in conveying sheets.
In some case, the trailing-end regulation unit 31 fixed to the cassette body 28 may be provided to a user who performs image formation only on sheets of a specific standard size. This is for the purpose of preventing displacement of an image forming position or a failure in conveying sheets due to the unintended displacement of the trailing-end regulation unit 31.
In this case, for example, a dedicated securing unit (for example, a screw and a screw hole) may be provided to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 and the cassette body 28. This configuration requires the dedicated securing unit.
In the present embodiment, when the protective cover 43 is mounted, the movement of the second control lever 34 of the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is restricted by the protective cover 43, so that the trailing-end regulation unit 31 can be kept fixed to the cassette body 28.
Therefore, attaching the protective cover 43 to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 to prevent the user from operating the second control lever 34 may eliminate the need for fixing the trailing-end regulation unit 31 with a screw.
Although the trailing-end regulation unit 31 and the protective cover 43 that protects the second control lever 34 have been described, this configuration is not limited to the trailing-end regulation unit 31. The width regulation units 29 and 30 and the first control lever 44 may be given the same beneficial effects by using the same or similar designs and shapes for the second control lever 34, the first control lever 44, and peripheral components thereof. Using the same configuration for the width regulation units 29 and 30 and the trailing-end regulation unit 31 allows the same protective cover 43 to be attached. Using the protective cover 43 in common increases usability in attaching the protective cover 43.
The first embodiment illustrates a configuration for restricting the movement of a regulation unit that can be fixed to the cassette body 28 of the cassette 24, which is a sheet container, with a cover. A second embodiment illustrates a configuration for protecting an operating member for extending and retracting a sub-cassette body 28b which is an extension of the cassette 24, which is a sheet container, to and from a main cassette 28a. In the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs.
The locking mechanism 400 mainly includes an extension and retraction control lever 45, a locking lever 46 for locking the sub-cassette body 28b, and a locking-lever pressure spring 47.
The extension and retraction control lever 45 is mounted to the sub-cassette body 28b (not illustrated) so as to be pivotable about a pivot support shaft 45a in the directions of arrow A and arrow B in
The locking lever 46 has a pivot support hole 46a. The locking lever 46 is mounted to the sub-cassette body 28b (not illustrated) so as to be pivotable in the directions of arrow C and arrow D in
A first locking groove 48 and a second locking groove 49 are provided in the main cassette body 28a. A fixing member 46b provided at an end of the locking lever 46 is engaged with the first locking groove 48 or the second locking groove 49, so that the sub-cassette body 28b is locked and held in the extended state or unextended state. When the fixing member 46b is in engagement with the first locking groove 48, the sub-cassette body 28b is not extended. When the fixing member 46b is in engagement with the second locking groove 49, the sub-cassette body 28b is extended.
The extension and retraction control lever 45 includes a first lever protrusion 45b and a second lever protrusion 45c. The locking lever 46 includes a first locking protrusion 46c and a second locking protrusion 46d. The first lever protrusion 45b and the first locking protrusion 46c, and the second lever protrusion 45c and the second locking protrusion 46d are each disposed so as to come into and out of contact with each other.
When the extension and retraction control lever 45 is pivoted in the direction of arrow A in
When the extension and retraction control lever 45 is pivoted in the direction of arrow B in
The above is a description of a case in which the fixing member 46b engages with the first locking groove 48. This also applies to a case in which the fixing member 46b engages with the second locking groove 49. When the fixing member 46b and the second locking groove 49 are disengaged with each other, the locking lever 46 can move in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow F in
Since the locking lever 46 is mounted to the sub-cassette body 28b, moving the locking lever 46 in the direction of arrow F in
For any of extending and retracting motions, when the extension and retraction control lever 45 is released after the extending or retracting operation, the locking lever 46 moves in the direction of arrow C in
Next, a protective shutter 50, which is a cover in the present embodiment, will be described.
In
When the user operates the extension and retraction control lever 45 to perform an operation of extending or retracting the sub-cassette body 28b, the protective shutter 50 is housed in the housing 51.
When the operation of extending or retracting the sub-cassette body 28b ends, the protective shutter 50 is drawn from the housing 51 to cover the extension and retraction control lever 45.
In housing or drawing the control lever protective shutter 50, the user holds a tab 50a of the protective shutter 50 and houses the protective shutter 50 in the housing 51 or draws the protective shutter 50 toward the extension and retraction control lever 45.
The protective shutter 50 is housed or drawn along a guide groove 52. The housing operation is completed when the protective shutter 50 abuts the inner wall of the housing 51 and an abutting portion 50b of the protective shutter 50 abuts a first wall surface 53 of an opening of the sub-cassette body 28b. The drawing operation is completed when the protective shutter 50 abuts an end of the guide groove 52, and the abutting portion 50b of the protective shutter 50 abuts a second wall surface 58 of the opening of the sub-cassette body 28b.
When the drawing operation is completed, the protective shutter 50 covers the extension and retraction control lever 45 to prevent operating the extension and retraction control lever 45. When the extension and retraction control lever 45 cannot be operated, the sub-cassette body 28b cannot be extended and retracted.
This prevents the user from unintentionally touching the extension and retraction control lever 45 to displace the sub-cassette body 28b when the user loads sheets in the cassette 24 or clears a sheet jam. This therefore prevents a decrease in printing accuracy due to the displacement of the sub-cassette body 28b and occurrence of sheet jamming
The above is a description of an operation to draw the protective shutter 50 performed by the user. Alternatively, if an elastic member (not illustrated), such as a compression spring, is provided to the housing 51, the protective shutter 50 can be constantly urged in the direction of arrow B in
Providing the elastic member such as a compression spring ((not illustrated) prevents the user from forgetting to draw the control lever protective shutter 50.
The first embodiment illustrates a configuration for restricting the motion of the operating member for the regulation unit that can be fixed to the cassette body 28 of the cassette 24, which is a sheet container, using a cover. The first embodiment also illustrates a configuration in which the regulation unit is not fixed using a dedicated member such as a screw. A third embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the regulation unit is fixed to a support unit with a dedicated member, and the motion of the operating member for the regulation unit is restricted by a cover. In the third embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference signs for description. In the third embodiment, not the trailing-end regulation unit 31 but the width regulation unit 29 is illustrated as a regulation unit. The present embodiment may also be applied to the configuration of the trailing-end regulation unit 31 as in the first embodiment.
In
A width regulation holder 54 serving as a holding member has screw holes 54a which are positioning holes. The screw holes 54a face the cassette body 28. The screw holes 54a are used to align with lower holes 28c which are fixing holes of the cassette body 28. The width regulation holder 54 whose screw holes 54a are aligned with the lower holes 28c is fixed to the cassette body 28 using screws which are dedicated members. The number and positions of the lower holes 28c and the screw holes 54a depend on the size of the standard-size sheet, the width regulation unit 29, the cassette body 28, or other restrictions.
The width regulation unit 29 is moved and fixed to a position suitable for the standard size sheet stacked in the cassette body 28 by operating the first control lever 44. The protective block 55 is mounted to the width regulation unit 29 from above the width regulation unit 29 in the direction of arrow A in
In the configuration of the present embodiment, since the protective block 55 and the width regulation unit 29 are fixed using the screw 56, with the protective block 55 completely covering the first control lever 44, the width regulation unit 29 is reliably kept fixed.
In the above description, the protective block 55 is mounted to the width regulation unit 29. The protective block 55 may be mounted to cover the second control lever 34 in the first embodiment or the extension and retraction control lever 45 in the second embodiment. In those cases, the holding members for the regulation units may have positioning holes corresponding to the protective block 55.
The third embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the regulation unit and the cover are fixed to the support unit with a dedicated member. A fourth embodiment illustrates a configuration in which a cover is fixed to the regulation unit using a dedicated member. In the fourth embodiment, the same components as those of the first, second, and third embodiments will be denoted by the same reference signs for description. In the fourth embodiment, not the width regulation unit 29 but the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is illustrated as a regulation unit. The present embodiment may also be applied to the configuration of the width regulation unit 29.
The standard-size fixing member 36 is mounted to the trailing-end regulation holder 32 so as to be vertically movable in the direction of arrow A in
When the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is moved to a predetermined standard-size position, the standard-size fixing member 36 is fitted in the standard-size fixing hole 39a of the cassette body 28, as described in the first embodiment. After the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is moved to the standard-size position, the protective piece 57 is mounted to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 from above the trailing-end regulation unit 31. By securing the screw 56 in the lower hole 32b through the screw hole 57a and the screw hole 36b, the protective piece 57 and the standard-size fixing member 36 are fixed to the trailing-end regulation holder 32.
This configuration allows the protective piece 57 to be fixed to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 while securing the trailing-end regulation unit 31 to the cassette body 28 with the standard-size fixing member 36. Since the cover that restricts the movement of the second control lever 34 is fixed to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 with the screw 56, with the trailing-end regulation unit 31 kept fixed, the trailing-end regulation unit 31 can be reliably kept fixed to the cassette body 28.
The protective piece 57 may be directly secured to the trailing-end regulation holder 32.
The protective piece 57 has a screw hole 57a which is a positioning hole so as to correspond to the lower hole 32b.
When the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is moved to a predetermined standard-size position, the standard-size fixing member 36 is fitted in the standard-size fixing hole 39a of the cassette body 28, as described in the first embodiment. After the trailing-end regulation unit 31 is moved to the standard-size position, the control-lever protective piece 57 is mounted to the trailing-end regulation unit 31 from above the trailing-end regulation unit 31. The control lever protective piece 57 is fixed to the trailing-end regulation holder 32 with a screw 56.
In the above embodiments, he cassette 24 detachably mounted to the image forming apparatus 1 is described as the sheet container. The sheet container may have a different configuration. For example, the present disclosure can also be applied to a trailing-end regulation unit and a width regulation unit that can be detachably mounted to a feeding unit that is optionally mounted to the image forming apparatus 1. The present disclosure can also be applied to a trailing-end regulation unit and a width regulation unit of an automatic document feeder.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2018-053467 | Mar 2018 | JP | national |
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/296053, filed on Mar. 7, 2019, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-053467 filed Mar. 20, 2018, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16296053 | Mar 2019 | US |
Child | 17352102 | US |