SHEET FEEDING CASSETTE

Abstract

A sheet feeding cassette includes a feed tray and an extension tray that extends a length of the feed tray in a sheet feeding direction. The feed tray and the extension tray each include a lock operator for fixing and locking a position of the extension tray at each of a plurality of locations, and each of the lock operators includes a groove provided in the feed tray and a locking claw provided at the extension tray.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese Application JP 2023-223018, the content to which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to a sheet feeding cassette.

2. Description of the Related Art

In known sheet feeding cassettes, for compact A4 machines that are image forming devices that handle sheet sizes of A4 or smaller, an extension tray system is commonly adopted as a feed tray to enable processing of sheets having sizes larger than A4. According to known sheet feeding cassettes having an extension tray system, the sheet feeding cassette includes a main body mounted on the image forming device and a slider attached to the main body in a way that allows the slider to slidably extend and retract. The main body includes a pair of locking claws disposed at a distance that facilitate pinching with one hand, the locking claws decreasing and increasing in distance therebetween when pinched and not pinched, respectively, and an engagement portion provided at the slider that engages and disengages with the locking claws, preventing the slider from sliding when engaged with the locking claws. The pair of arms having a cantilever-like shape are integrally provided with a bottom plate of the main body, and the locking claws, each with a knob, are integrally formed at distal end portions of the arms.

As a result, the sheet feeding cassette is configured to facilitate easy extension and retraction, and to ensure that the slider does not extend or retract even if held when the sheet feeding cassette is attached to or detached from the image forming device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Known sheet feeding cassettes having an extension tray system are configured as described above. In a known sheet feeding cassette having an extension tray system, the main body is provided with the sheet feeding cassette that can be extended and retracted by pulling out the slider from the sheet feeding cassette main body, and the locking claws are disposed at distal ends of the pair of arms disposed at a distance that facilitates pinching with one hand, and unlock by the pinching. In a known sheet feeding cassette having an extension tray system, even when the pair of arms including the locking claws are pinched, there is a problem in that the slider needs to be pulled out with the other hand (different from the hand pinching the arms), rendering it impossible to operate the extension tray with just one hand.

The disclosure has been made to solve problems such as described above, and an object of the disclosure is to provide a sheet feeding cassette in which an extension tray can be operated with one hand.

A sheet feeding cassette according to an aspect of the disclosure includes a feed tray and an extension tray that extends a length of the feed tray in a sheet feeding direction. The feed tray and the extension tray each include a lock operator for fixing and locking a position of the extension tray at each of a plurality of locations, and each of the lock operators includes a groove provided in the feed tray and a locking claw provided at the extension tray.

Preferably, the locking claws include a pair of arms that are gripped with one hand, the pair of arms are disposed at or near the sheet feeding cassette in a pull-out direction, the extension tray includes an upright wall at or near the pair of arms, and the upright wall has a handle shape.

More preferably, the pair of arms are disposed at a substantially central portion of the extension tray.

A dimension between the pair of arms when the pair of arms are pinched by fingers may be less than a dimension between the pair of arms at attachment positions of the pair of arms.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, it is possible to move the extension tray relative to the feed tray by operating the locking claws that are provided at the extension tray and engage with the grooves provided in the feed tray.

As a result, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding cassette in which an extension tray can be operated with one hand.

The above-described objects, other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be further obvious from the detailed description of examples given below with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a sheet feeding cassette according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating a state in which an extension tray is deployed from a feed tray by operating a lock operator in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is an arrow view of a portion indicated by arrows 2B-2B in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is an arrow view of a portion indicated by arrows 2C-2C in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D is an arrow view of a portion indicated by arrows 2D-2D in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the lock operator when the extension tray is stored.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a user pinches a pair of locking claws of the lock operator to deploy the extension tray in a state in which the extension tray is stored.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state after the user operates the lock operator to deploy the extension tray from the state illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a configuration allowing operation with one hand, and is a view for explaining operation when the extension tray is deployed.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a structure allowing operation with one hand, and a view for explaining operation when the extension tray is stored.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment according to the disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a sheet feeding cassette according to the embodiment of the disclosure. With reference to FIG. 1, a sheet feeding cassette 10 detachably mounted to an image forming device (not illustrated) includes a feed tray 11 and an extension tray 20 pulled out relative to the feed tray 11 as an extension. Note that, herein, the extension tray 20 moves leftward in the drawing on an extending portion (guide plate 15, refer to FIG. 2A) of the feed tray 11.

The feed tray 11 includes a bottom plate 12, left and right side plates 13a, 13b, and a back plate 14 connecting the left and right side plates 13a, 13b, and these portions are integrally molded from synthetic resin. The extension tray 20 includes a bottom plate 21, left and right side plates 22a, 22b, and an upright wall 23 connecting the left and right side plates 22a, 22b, and these portions are integrally molded from synthetic resin. The left and right side plates 22a, 22b of the extension tray 20 are slidably inserted into the side plates 13a, 13b of the feed tray 11, and the bottom plate 21 is guided and slidable on a lower surface of the bottom plate 12 of the feed tray 11. The upright wall 23 is provided with a handle (not illustrated).

A lock operator 26 is provided at or near the feed tray 11 of the extension tray 20 and at or near the side plate 22b on one side. By operating the lock operator 26, it is possible to pull out and deploy the extension tray 20 from the feed tray 11.

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating a state in which the extension tray 20 is deployed from the feed tray 11 by operating the lock operator 26 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2B is an arrow view of a portion indicated by arrows 2B-2B in FIG. 2A (portion passing through a center of a spring 29a described below and extending in a pull-out direction of the extension tray 20), FIG. 2C is an arrow view of a portion indicated by arrows 2C-2C in FIG. 2A (center portion of the lock operator 26), and FIG. 2D is an arrow view of a portion indicated by arrows 2D-2D in FIG. 2A (portion passing through centers of the springs 29a, 29b described below). As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, the lock operator 26 is provided on the extension tray 20 side of the feed tray 11.

With reference to FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D, the bottom plate 12 of the feed tray 11 is provided with the guide plate 15 that enters a lower portion of the bottom plate 21 of the extension tray 20, and an upper surface of the guide plate 15 guides the bottom plate 21 of the extension tray 20.

Further, in this embodiment, the pair of springs 29a, 29b are also illustrated. This pair of springs 29a, 29b are for lifting a rotating plate (not illustrated) that lifts up the back plate 14 side in order for the sheet feeding cassette 10 including the extension tray 20 to feed a sheet (not illustrated).

Next, the lock operator 26 will be described. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the lock operator 26 when the extension tray 20 is stored. Here, in FIG. 3, the feed tray 11 is positioned on an upper left side, and the extension tray 20 provided with the lock operator 26 surrounded by a dotted line in the drawing is positioned on a lower right side, in reverse to FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 3, the lock operator 26 is provided at the extension tray 20. In the lock operator 26, the extension tray 20 is provided with a through-hole, a beam-shaped portion provided in an extending direction of the extension tray 20, extending through a central portion of the through-hole, and two protruding portions extending from the beam-shaped portion in a horizontal direction away from each other, with distal ends thereof oriented in the extending direction of the extension tray 20 and portions thereof operating as locking claws. The beam-shaped portion and the two protruding portions are configured to extend downward in a height direction of the extension tray 20 and come into contact with guide members including grooves and provided in the feed tray 11 positioned below the beam-shaped portion and these protruding portions. These guide members including the grooves will be described below.

The lock operator 26 includes a wide beam-shaped portion 26a provided at the central portion thereof and two narrow protruding portions provided with a space therebetween, sandwiching the wide beam-shaped portion 26a, and these two protruding portions form arm-like shapes. Portions of the two narrow protruding portions act as the locking claws. Accordingly, hereinafter, the two narrow protruding portions will be referred to as locking claws 26b, 26c.

Note that a plan view of the lock operator 26 on the extension tray 20 is illustrated in FIG. 2A, and a cross-sectional view thereof is illustrated in FIG. 2C.

First Embodiment

Further, the locking claws 26b, 26c include recessed portions facing and close to each other in the horizontal direction at substantially central portions thereof, and these portions constitute a pair of operators 27a, 27b. Thus, the pair of operators 27a, 27b can be easily pinched by two fingers of one hand such as, for example, a thumb and an index finger, which are inserted on outer sides of the locking claws 26b, 26c.

Second Embodiment

Note that the pair of operators 27a, 27b are disposed at a central portion of the extension tray 20, facilitating operation of the lock operator 26 with either the right or left hand.

A dimension between the pair of operators 27a, 27b when the pair of operators 27a, 27b are pinched by fingers is less than a dimension between the pair of operators 27a, 27b at attachment positions, and thus an interval between the locking claws 26b, 26c is narrowed and the lock is released by pinching the locking claws 26b, 26c, as illustrated by dotted arrows in the drawing of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a user pinches the pair of locking claws 26b, 26c of the lock operator 26 to deploy the extension tray 20 in a state in which the extension tray 20 is stored. From this state, when the locking claws 26b, 26c are pulled while pinched in a direction indicated by a dotted arrow in the drawing, the extension tray 20 is deployed.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state after the user operates the lock operator 26 to deploy the extension tray 20 from the state illustrated in FIG. 4. With reference to FIG. 5, the user pinches the operators 27a, 27b of the pair of locking claws 26b, 26c with his/her thumb and index finger. From this state, when the operators 27a, 27b of the pair of locking claws 26b, 26c are pushed while pinched in the direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing, the extension tray 20 is stored, returning to the state illustrated in FIG. 4.

Note that, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the guide plate 15 of the feed tray 11 is provided with a pair of guide members 16a, 16b that guide the locking claws 26b, 26c of the extension tray 20 in the pull-out direction of the extension tray 20, and grooves 17a, 17b that engage with the pair of operators 27a, 27b in a state of not being pinched.

Thus, the lock operator 26 can lock and fix the positions of the feed tray 11 and the extension tray 20 at two locations: a position when the extension tray 20 is stored as illustrated in FIG. 4 and a position when the extension tray 20 is deployed as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Note that the pair of operators 27a, 27b are biased so as to widen the dimension therebetween and, when the extension tray 20 is moved thereby, the pair of operators 27a, 27b, thus biased, move while remaining in contact with the guide members 16a, 16b and engage with the grooves 17a, 17b when moved to the position when deployed or to the position when stored.

Next, a method for operating the extension tray 20 with one hand in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation when the extension tray 20 is deployed with one hand, and FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the operation when the extension tray 20 is stored with one hand.

The extension tray 20 includes the upright wall 23 at or near the pair of operators 27a, 27b, and the upright wall 23 includes a handle 24 having a handle shape on which a palm of one hand can be placed. The handle 24 has a height from the bottom plate that allows the palm or wrist to come into contact therewith when the thumb and the index finger are placed on the operators 27a, 27b, and need only be provided as a recess and rounded at corners so that an operator does not feel pain or discomfort if the palm or the wrist comes into contact therewith.

With reference to FIG. 6, when the extension tray 20 is stored, a distance between the lock operator 26 surrounded by a dotted line in the drawing and the handle 24 provided on the upright wall 23 of the extension tray 20 (distance indicated by an arrow in the drawing) is not too close and not too far (about 6 to 7 cm), facilitating the pull-out operation of the extension tray 20 with one hand.

On the other hand, with reference to FIG. 7, when the lock operator 26 is to be unlocked to store the extension tray 20 in the feed tray 11, the pair of operators 27a, 27b are pinched and pressed inward. In a state in which the pair of operators 27a, 27b are pinched, the interval between the locking claws 26b, 26c in the pressing direction becomes wider than an interval between the operators 27a, 27b. That is, catch points are formed in the direction in which the two fingers press inward, facilitating the storage operation of the extension tray 20 with one hand using two fingers.

The disclosure may be embodied in other various forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Thus, the above embodiments are merely examples and should not be interpreted as limiting. All modifications and changes equivalent in scope with the claims of the disclosure are included in the scope of the disclosure.

According to the disclosure, it is possible to provide a sheet feeding cassette in which an extension tray can be operated with one hand, making the disclosure useful as a sheet feeding cassette.

Claims

1. A sheet feeding cassette comprising: a feed tray; andan extension tray that extends a length of the feed tray in a sheet feeding direction, whereinthe feed tray and the extension tray each include a lock operator for fixing and locking a position of the extension tray at each of a plurality of locations, andeach of the lock operators includes a groove provided in the feed tray and a locking claw provided at the extension tray.

2. The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 1, wherein the locking claws include a pair of arms that are gripped with one hand,the pair of arms are disposed at or near the sheet feeding cassette in a pull-out direction,the extension tray includes an upright wall at or near the pair of arms, andthe upright wall has a handle shape.

3. The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 2, wherein the pair of arms are disposed at a substantially central portion of the extension tray.

4. The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 2, wherein a dimension between the pair of arms when the pair of arms are pinched by fingers is less than a dimension between the pair of arms at attachment positions of the pair of arms.