SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

A holding member is rotatably axially supported to the apparatus main body, holds the sheet feeding unit to a rotational edge, and moves the sheet feeding unit to one of a sheet feeding position and a standby position and a gear train. By transferring the rotation of the opening/closing operation of the feed tray to the holding member through the gear train so that the sheet feeding unit is moved along with the opening/closing operation of the feed tray.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic construction of a copying apparatus as an example of an image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view for describing a construction of the sheet feeding apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for describing an opening/closing mechanism of the sheet feeding apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for describing the closing operation of the sheet feeding apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the sheet feeding apparatus has been closed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for describing a construction of a sheet feeding apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the sheet feeding apparatus has been closed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view for describing a construction of a conventional sheet feeding apparatus.

Claims

1. A sheet feeding apparatus having a feed tray closably provided for an apparatus main body and a sheet feeding unit which moves to one of a sheet feeding position and a standby position in association with opening/closure of the feed tray, comprising: a holding member which is rotatably axially supported to the apparatus main body, holds the sheet feeding unit, and moves the sheet feeding unit to one of the sheet feeding position and the standby position; anda gear train which transfers a rotation of the opening/closing operation of the feed tray to the holding member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gear train has a first gear which rotates in an interlocking relational manner with the opening/closure of the feed tray, a second gear which is rotatably provided with the holding member, and an interlocking gear which is come into engagement with each of the first gear and the second gear.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said interlocking gear is one gear which is come into engagement with both of the first gear and the second gear.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking gear is a multiple gear having a first gear portion which is come into engagement with the first gear and a second gear portion which is come into engagement with the second gear.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking gear is a gear constructed in such a manner that a first gear member having a first gear portion which is come into engagement with the first gear and a second gear member having a second gear portion which is come into engagement with the second gear are coaxially provided and the first gear member and the second gear member rotate integratedly.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a hinge member which is rotatably axially supported to the apparatus main body through a rotary axis and closably holds the feed tray to the apparatus main body, and wherein the first gear is attached to the rotary axis of the hinge member in association with the opening/closure of the feed tray.

7. An image forming apparatus having a feed tray closably provided for an apparatus main body, a sheet feeding unit which moves to one of a sheet feeding position and a standby position in association with opening/closure of the feed tray, and an image forming unit which forms an image onto a sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit, comprising: a holding member which is rotatably axially supported to the apparatus main body, holds the sheet feeding unit, and moves the sheet feeding unit to one of the sheet feeding position and the standby position; anda gear train which transfers a rotation of the opening/closing operation of the feed tray to the holding member.

8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the gear train has a first gear which rotates in an interlocking relational manner with the opening/closure of the feed tray, a second gear which is rotatably provided integratedly with the holding member, and an interlocking gear which is come into engagement with each of the first gear and the second gear.