SHEET SUPPORT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

A sheet support device includes a supporting portion, a first regulating unit, a second regulating unit, an electric fan, a duct, a cable, a fan-side holding portion, and a supporting portion-side holding portion. The duct is provided inside a first regulation plate, and air blown from the electric fan flows in the duct and is blown to a sheet supported by a supporting surface in a width direction. The cable connects to the electric fan. The fan-side holding portion secures a path of the cable in the width direction with respect to the electric fan. The supporting portion-side holding portion secures the path of the cable in the width direction with respect to the supporting portion. The supporting portion-side holding portion is positioned between two end portion imaginary planes orthogonal to the width direction at each of both end portions of a movement range of the fan-side holding portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present technology relates to a sheet support device that supports a sheet, and an image forming apparatus to which the sheet support device is applied.

Description of the Related Art

Hitherto, a manual feeding device attached to a side wall of an image forming apparatus has been used to feed special sheets such as coated sheets and thick sheets. A sheet (long paper, indefinite-size paper, or small-size paper) having a size that cannot be set by a cassette feeding device in the image forming apparatus, a thick sheet having high rigidity that cannot be sent without a straight conveyance path due to large conveyance resistance, and the like are handled by a manual feeding device. By recommending that only one coated sheet be set on a sheet tray, sheets are fed without being attracted to each other, but productivity is low because of setting one sheet at a time.

Since the manual feeding device is attached to the side wall of the image forming apparatus, there is an advantage that the user can visually observe the sheet. That is, the user can manually release the sheet, set the sheet on the sheet tray, and feed the sheet while viewing the feeding state. For example, when there is the separation unevenness, the occurrence of sheet jam can be reduced by manually separating and setting the sheet again. However, when the time elapses after the separation, the sheets are re-adsorbed again, which may cause sheet jam or the like. As a proposal for improving the feeding of the coated sheet, there has been proposed a manual sheet feeding device capable of continuously feeding a plurality of coated sheets by providing an air blower on a manual feed tray (see JP 2006-256819 A).

However, in the manual sheet feeding device described in JP 2006-256819 A, since the air blower is disposed and fixed outside the manual feed tray, the size of the device increases. Therefore, in order to miniaturize the apparatus, it is conceivable to arrange an air blowing portion inside the tray. In this case, as an example of means for blowing air to the sheets stacked on the tray, there is a method of blowing air from the side regulation plate for setting the sheet size of the manual feed tray. In order to use the side regulation plate as the path for air, the electric fan also needs to be configured to move in synchronization with the movement of the side regulation plate. In this case, the cable (bundle) connecting the electric fan and the control board also moves with the movement of the side regulation plate. When the cable moves, there is a possibility that damage such as line catching or disconnection of the cable occurs due to a moving component such as a side regulation plate or an electric fan or a moving mechanism such as a rack pinion.

The present technology provides a sheet support device and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing damage to a cable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sheet support device includes a supporting portion including a supporting surface configured to support a sheet, a first regulating unit including a first moving unit supported with respect to the supporting portion below the supporting surface to be movable in a width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of a sheet, and a first regulation plate connected to the first moving unit and configured to regulate a position of a first end portion in the width direction of a sheet supported by the supporting surface, a second regulating unit including a second moving unit supported with respect to the supporting portion below the supporting surface to be movable in the width direction, and a second regulation plate connected to the second moving unit and configured to regulate a position of a second end portion in the width direction of a sheet supported by the supporting surface, the second regulating unit being interlocked with the first regulating unit such that the first regulating unit and the second regulating unit move in opposite directions in the width direction, an electric fan attached to the first moving unit to blow air, a duct that is provided inside the first regulation plate and in which air blown from the electric fan flows and is blown to a sheet supported by the supporting surface in the width direction, a cable connected to the electric fan, a fan-side holding portion securing a path of the cable in the width direction with respect to the electric fan, and a supporting portion-side holding portion securing the path of the cable in the width direction with respect to the supporting portion. The supporting portion-side holding portion is positioned between two end portion imaginary planes orthogonal to the width direction at each of both end portions of a movement range of the fan-side holding portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes the sheet support device, and an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet supported by the sheet support device.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a manual sheet feed portion according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a bottom view showing a manual sheet feed portion according to a reference example in a case where a sheet having a minimum size is supported.

FIG. 5B is a bottom view showing a manual sheet feed portion according to a reference example in a case where a sheet having a maximum size is supported.

FIG. 6A is a bottom view showing a manual sheet feed portion according to the embodiment in a case where a sheet having a minimum size is supported.

FIG. 6B is a bottom view showing a manual sheet feed portion according to a reference example in a case where a sheet having a maximum size is supported.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a case where a saddle is applied as the holding portion according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing a case where a reuse band is applied as the holding portion according to the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system. The image forming apparatus 1 is a tandem-intermediate-transfer-type laser beam printer using an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 1 can form and output a full-color or single-color image corresponding to print image data output from a host apparatus 900 connected to a control unit 100 on a sheet S as a recording medium.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 100 is a control unit that integrally controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, and exchanges information with the host apparatus 900 and an operation unit 730. In addition, the control unit 100 performs signal processing to various process devices, sequence control, and the like. Here, the host apparatus 900 is a personal computer, an image scanner, a facsimile, or the like.

The control unit 100 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and controls each unit in the image forming apparatus 1. The CPU outputs an output signal to each electric component in order to operate the electric component at a desired timing and with a necessary control amount based on a detection signal input from each sensor and information stored in the ROM. Therefore, the CPU actually controls the electric components. The ROM and the RAM store information data necessary for controlling each unit, and the CPU reads the information data stored in the ROM and writes the information data in the RAM.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming apparatus body 201A and an image forming unit 201B that forms an image on a sheet S. An image reading apparatus 202 installed substantially horizontally is provided above the image forming apparatus body 201A. A discharge space V for sheet discharge is formed between the image reading apparatus 202 and the image forming apparatus body 201A.

A cassette feeding unit 230 feeds a sheet S from a feeding cassette 5 which is a sheet storage unit that stores the sheet S. The cassette feeding unit 230 includes a pickup roller 2 as a sheet feeding unit, and a separation unit including a feed roller 3 and a retard roller 4 for separating the sheet S fed from the pickup roller 2.

In addition, the manual sheet feed portion 500 which is an example of a sheet support device feeds the sheet S from a manual feed tray 10 which is a unit for holding the sheet S. The manual sheet feed portion 500 is an example of a manual feed tray in which a sheet can be manually fed, and similarly to the cassette feeding unit 230, includes a pickup roller 502 as a sheet feeding unit and a separation unit for separating the sheet S fed from the pickup roller 502. The separation unit includes a feed roller 503 and a retard roller 504.

The image forming unit 201B, which is an image forming unit, is a 4-drum full color system, and includes a laser scanner 210 and four process cartridges 211 that form toner images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Here, each process cartridge 211 includes a photosensitive drum 212, a charging unit 213 as a charger, and a developing unit 214 as a developing unit. The image forming unit 201B includes a secondary transfer unit 218 and a fixing unit 201E disposed above the process cartridge 211. A toner cartridge 215 supplies toner to the developing unit 214.

The secondary transfer unit 218 includes a transfer belt 216 wound around a driving roller 216a and a tension roller 216b. A primary transfer roller 219 that abuts on the transfer belt 216 at a position facing the photosensitive drum 212 is provided inside the transfer belt 216. Here, the transfer belt 216 is rotated in an arrow direction by a driving roller 216a driven by a driving unit (not shown). The secondary transfer unit 218 that transfers a color image formed on the transfer belt 216 to the sheet S is provided at a position facing the driving roller 216a of the secondary transfer roller 217.

The fixing unit 201E is disposed above the secondary transfer roller 217, and a first sheet discharge roller pair 225a, a second sheet discharge roller pair 225b, and a double-sided sheet reverse portion 201F are disposed above the fixing unit 201E. The double-sided sheet reverse portion 201F is provided with a reverse conveyance roller pair 222 capable of rotating in forward and reverse directions, and a re-conveyance passage R for conveying the sheet S having an image formed on one surface thereof to the image forming unit 201B again. The operation unit 730 that receives an operation from a user is provided above the image forming apparatus 1. As the operation unit 730, a touch panel system having both a display function and an input function is adopted.

Next, an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. First, when image data of a document to be printed by the image forming apparatus 1 is received, the image information is subjected to image processing, converted into an electric signal, and transmitted to the laser scanner 210 of the image forming unit 201B. In the image forming unit 201B, the surface of the photosensitive drum 212 whose surface is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging unit 213 is sequentially exposed by the laser. As a result, electrostatic latent images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums of the process cartridges 211.

Thereafter, the electrostatic latent image is developed with the respective color toners to be visualized, and the respective color toner images on the respective photosensitive drums are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the transfer belt 216 by the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roller 219. As a result, a toner image is formed on the transfer belt 216.

In parallel with the toner image forming operation, the sheets S are conveyed one by one to the registration roller pair 240 by the cassette feeding unit 230 or the manual sheet feed portion 500, and skew feeding is corrected by the registration roller pair 240. After the skew feeding is corrected, the sheet S is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 218 by the registration roller pair 240, and in the secondary transfer unit 218, the toner images are collectively transferred onto the sheet S by the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 217.

Next, the sheet S to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 201E, and the toner of each color is melted and mixed by receiving heat and pressure in the roller nip portion formed by the pressure roller 220a and the heating roller 220b, and is fixed on the sheet S as a color image. The sheet S on which the image is fixed is discharged to the discharge space V by the first sheet discharge roller pair 225a or the second sheet discharge roller pair 225b provided downstream of the fixing unit 201E, and is stacked on the sheet discharge tray 223 protruding from the bottom surface of the discharge space V. When an image is formed on both sides of the sheet S, after the image is fixed, the sheet S is conveyed to the re-conveyance passage R by the reverse conveyance roller pair 222 and is conveyed to the image forming unit 201B again.

Manual Sheet Feed Portion

Next, the manual sheet feed portion 500 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the manual sheet feed portion 500, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in the manual feeding device 300 shown in FIG. 3. The manual sheet feed portion 500 includes the manual feed tray 10 as a sheet storage unit, the pickup roller 502 as a sheet feeding unit, and the separation unit. The separation unit includes the feed roller 503 and the retard roller 504 for separating the sheet S fed from the pickup roller 502. The manual feed tray 10 is an example of a supporting portion having a supporting surface 10a that supports the sheet S.

The manual sheet feed portion 500 includes a first regulating unit 510 and a second regulating unit 520. The second regulating unit 520 interlock with the first regulating unit 510 such that the first regulating unit 510 and the second regulating unit 520 move in opposite directions in the width direction W orthogonal to the conveying direction Y of the sheet S.

The first regulating unit 510 includes a first moving unit 11a and a first regulation plate 12a. The first moving unit 11a is supported with respect to the manual feed tray 10 below the supporting surface 10a so as to be movable in the width direction W with respect to the manual feed tray 10. The first moving unit 11a is provided to be guided by the support shaft 13a and movable in the width direction W (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). The first regulation plate 12a is connected to the first moving unit 11a and regulates the position of the first end portion in the width direction W of the sheet S supported by the supporting surface 10a.

The second regulating unit 520 includes a second moving unit 11b and a second regulation plate 12b. The second moving unit 11b is supported below the supporting surface 10a so as to be movable in the width direction W with respect to the manual feed tray 10. The second moving unit 11b is provided to be guided by the support shaft 13b and movable in the width direction W (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). The second regulation plate 12b is connected to the second moving unit 11b, and regulates the position of the second end portion in the width direction W of the sheet S supported by the supporting surface 10a.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first moving unit 11a includes a first rack 14a whose longitudinal direction is the width direction W, and the second moving unit 11b includes a second rack 14b whose longitudinal direction is the width direction W. A pinion gear 15 that meshes with the first rack 14a and the second rack 14b, and allows the first regulating unit 510 and the second regulating unit 520 to interlock with each other in opposite directions in the width direction W is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the manual sheet feed portion 500 includes a first electric fan 16a, serving as an electric fan, that is attached to the first moving unit 11a and blows air and a first duct 17a serving as a duct. At least a part of the first electric fan 16a overlaps the first regulation plate 12a when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the supporting surface 10a. The first duct 17a is a duct that allows air blown from the first electric fan 16a and blown from one side in the width direction W onto the sheet S supported by the supporting surface 10a to circulate inside the first regulation plate 12a. That is, the first duct 17a is provided inside the first regulation plate 12a and in which air blown from the first electric fan 16a flows and is blown to the sheet supported by the supporting surface in the width direction. Similarly, the manual sheet feed portion 500 includes a second electric fan 16b attached to the second moving unit 11b to blow air and a second duct 17b. At least a part of the second electric fan 16b overlaps the second regulation plate 12b when viewed from the direction orthogonal to the supporting surface 10a. The second duct 17b is a duct that allows the air blown from the second electric fan 16b and blown from the other side in the width direction W onto the sheet S supported by the supporting surface 10a to circulate inside the second regulation plate 12b. That is, the second duct 17b is provided inside the second regulation plate 12b and in which air blown from the second electric fan 16b flows and is blown to the sheet supported by the supporting surface in the width direction.

The first duct 17a communicates with a plurality of nozzles 18a that are formed on the inner surface of the first regulation plate 12a and blow air toward the sheet S. Similarly, the second duct 17b communicates with a plurality of nozzles 18b that are formed on the inner surface of the second regulation plate 12b and blow air toward the sheet S. The number of nozzles 18a and 18b formed on the first regulation plate 12a and the second regulation plate 12b may be one. The nozzles 18a and 18b may be openings formed in the first regulation plate 12a and the second regulation plate 12b.

Operation of Manual Sheet Feed Portion

When a start button is pressed, feeding of the sheet S is started. In the case of coated paper, the first electric fan 16a and the second electric fan 16b of the first regulation plate 12a and the second regulation plate 12b operate. The air blown from the first electric fan 16a and the second electric fan 16b is blown toward the side end portion of the sheet S as flow lines f1 and f2 as separating air from the nozzles 18a and 18b. As a result, air enters the gap between the sheets, the upper sheet S floats, and the adhesion force between the sheets is reduced.

After a predetermined time, the pickup roller 502 rotates to feed the sheet S at the uppermost position in a state where the suction force between the sheets is reduced to the separation unit including the feed roller 503 and the retard roller 504. The leading edge of the sheet S separated into one sheet is detected by the sheet detection sensor 505. Further, the sheet S is sent to the registration roller pair 240 by the conveyance roller pair 506. The subsequent operation is similar to the cassette feeding unit 230.

The first regulation plate 12a is movably attached to the manual feed tray 10, and the moving direction of the first regulation plate 12a is a width direction W substantially orthogonal to the supporting surface 10a of the manual feed tray 10 and the conveying direction Y. The first electric fan 16a is attached to the first regulation plate 12a and moves with the movement of the first regulation plate 12a.

Here, a configuration in which the separating air blown from the first electric fan 16a is blown toward the side end portion of the sheet S in the first regulating unit 510 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In the present embodiment, a relatively low-cost axial fan is mounted as the first electric fan 16a. Here, the first regulating unit 510 will be described, and the second regulating unit 520 is the same as the first regulating unit 510, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

The first electric fan 16a is mounted in the casing of the manual feed tray 10 below the supporting surface 10a of the manual feed tray 10. When coated paper or the like is set in the manual sheet feed portion 500 and a feeding operation is started, the first electric fan 16a rotates. External air is taken in from an air inlet (not shown) provided in the exterior portion 10b of the manual feed tray 10 (flow line f3).

The first duct 17a is formed inside the first regulation plate 12a. Therefore, air is sent to the first duct 17a on the blowing direction side of the rotating first electric fan 16a (flow line f4). Further, two nozzles 18a are disposed on the sheet regulating surface of the first regulation plate 12a. The air blown from the first electric fan 16a travels inside the first duct 17a (flow lines f5 and f6), and is blown as separating air from the nozzles 18a at two locations to the end of the placed sheet bundle (flow line f7).

A lower right door 601 is provided below the manual sheet feed portion 500 to perform jam processing of the cassette feeding unit 230. The lower right door 601 rotates about a hinge 602, and its upper end rotates so as to draw a rotation locus 603. In order to avoid the rotation locus 603, a notch 10c is provided in a part of the manual feed tray 10. In the present embodiment, the first electric fan 16a is disposed upstream in the feeding direction, but may be disposed on downstream side excluding the notch 10c.

Installation of Cable

The cable 20 of the first electric fan 16a in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 5A shows the arrangement of the first electric fan 16a and the second electric fan 16b when a sheet having a minimum size is set. FIG. 5B shows the arrangement of the first electric fan 16a and the second electric fan 16b when the sheet having the maximum size is set. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first electric fan 16a and the second electric fan 16b are movable in the movement range (X1).

For example, when a sheet having a minimum size is set, that is, based on the state in FIG. 5A in which the first electric fan 16a is farthest from the control unit 100, the line length of the cable 20 that is a bundle connecting the first electric fan 16a and the control unit 100 is designed. Subsequently, when the sheet having the maximum size is set, the first electric fan 16a moves to the position shown in FIG. 5B, and the first electric fan 16a comes closest to the control unit 100. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, an extra length 20L of the cable 20 is excessively generated. Due to the extra length 20L, the first electric fan 16a as the movable portion and the cable 20 come into contact with each other, which may cause damage such as disconnection. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, even in a case where there is no member for securing the path to the cable 20, the path of the cable 20 cannot be regulated, and thus the cable 20 easily comes into contact with the first electric fan 16a when the first electric fan 16a moves, and there is a possibility that damage such as disconnection may occur.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to improve the above-described problem, the configuration shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is adopted. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the manual sheet feed portion 500 is provided with a first cable 20a, serving as a cable, connected to the first electric fan 16a by a connection portion 20c and a second cable 20b connected to the second electric fan 16b by a connection portion 20d. The first cable 20a connects the first electric fan 16a and the control unit 100, and the second cable 20b connects the second electric fan 16b and the control unit 100.

The first cable 20a is held by the first fan-side holding portion 21a, serving as a fan-side holding portion, and the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a serving as a supporting portion-side holding portion. The first fan-side holding portion 21a secures the path of the first cable 20a in the width direction W with respect to the first electric fan 16a. The first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a secures the path of the first cable 20a in the width direction W with respect to the manual feed tray 10. The first fan-side holding portion 21a and the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a are not limited to only holding the first cable 20a itself in the width direction W, and also include a case where the first cable 20a itself is secured in the width direction W as a path even when moving in the width direction W. In addition, the first cable 20a is fixed to the manual feed tray 10 at an appropriate position so as to avoid the movable portion on the control unit 100 side with respect to the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a. The first cable 20a is wired to the image forming apparatus body 201A of the image forming apparatus 1 from the lower right of the manual feed tray 10 in the drawing and is connected to the control unit 100.

The second cable 20b is held by the second fan-side holding portion 21b and the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b. The second fan-side holding portion 21b secures the path of the second cable 20b in the width direction W with respect to the second electric fan 16b. The second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b secures the path of the second cable 20b in the width direction W with respect to the manual feed tray 10. The second fan-side holding portion 21b and the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b are not limited to only holding the second cable 20b itself in the width direction W, and also include a case where the second cable 20b itself is secured in the width direction W as a path even when moving in the width direction W. In addition, the second cable 20b is fixed to the manual feed tray 10 at an appropriate position so as to avoid the movable portion on the control unit 100 side with respect to the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b. The second cable 20b is wired to the image forming apparatus body 201A of the image forming apparatus 1 from the lower right of the manual feed tray 10 in the drawing and is connected to the control unit 100.

Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a saddle 30 having a shape surrounding the outer diameter side of the first cable 20a, that is, the outer surface with a gap can be applied as the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a holding the first cable 20a. The saddle 30 is a member that regulates the path of the cable by passing the cable inside the member, and is inserted and fixed in the hole 10d on the back surface of the manual feed tray 10. The saddle 30 is also applied to the first fan-side holding portion 21a holding the first cable 20a, and the second fan-side holding portion 21b and the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b holding the second cable 20b. Note that the holding portion that holds the cable is not limited to the saddle 30, and a reuse band 31 that binds and holds the first cable 20a and fixes the first cable 20a to the hole 10d or other holding members may be applied as shown in FIG. 7B.

In the present embodiment, since the first fan-side holding portion 21a moves in synchronization with the first electric fan 16a, the first fan-side holding portion 21a also has the distance X1 as the movable range. The first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a is disposed at the center of the movement range (X1) of the first fan-side holding portion 21a as viewed in the conveying direction Y. In other words, the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a is positioned between two end portion imaginary planes F11 and F12 orthogonal to the width direction W at both end portions of the movement range (X1) of the first fan-side holding portion 21a. In the present embodiment, the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a is positioned such that at least a part of the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a overlaps a central imaginary plane F13 orthogonal to the width direction W at the central portion of the movement range (X1) of the first fan-side holding portion 21a. The first cable 20a is disposed between the first fan-side holding portion 21a and the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a so as to avoid the movable portion.

As a result, the distance between the first fan-side holding portion 21a and the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a when the sheet having the minimum size shown in FIG. 6A is set is X1/2. The distance between the first fan-side holding portion 21a and the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a when the sheet having the maximum size shown in FIG. 6B is set is also X/2. That is, since the position of the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a is the center of the movement range (X1) of the first fan-side holding portion 21a, the extra length of the bundle of wires can be minimized to reduce the risk of damage such as disconnection.

In the present embodiment, since the second fan-side holding portion 21b moves in synchronization with the second electric fan 16b, the second fan-side holding portion 21b also has the distance X1 as the movable range. The second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b is disposed at the center of the movement range (X1) of the second fan-side holding portion 21b as viewed in the conveying direction Y. In other words, the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b is positioned between two end portion imaginary planes F21 and F22 orthogonal to the width direction W at both end portions of the movement range (X1) of the second fan-side holding portion 21b. In the present embodiment, the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b is positioned such that at least a part of the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b overlaps the central imaginary plane F23 orthogonal to the width direction W at the central portion of the movement range (X1) of the second fan-side holding portion 21b. The second cable 20b is disposed so as to avoid the movable portion between the second fan-side holding portion 21b and the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b.

As a result, the distance between the second fan-side holding portion 21b and the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b when the sheet having the minimum size shown in FIG. 6A is set is X1/2. The distance between the second fan-side holding portion 21b and the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b when the sheet having the maximum size shown in FIG. 6B is set is also X/2. That is, since the position of the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b is at the center of the moving range (X1) of the second fan-side holding portion 21b, the extra length of the bundle of wires can be minimized to reduce the risk of damage such as disconnection.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the first cable 20a, the covering member 23a is provided at a portion held by the first fan-side holding portion 21a, and the covering member 24a is provided at a portion held by the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a. The covering members 23a and 24a are made of, for example, a tape material. That is, the covering members 23a and 24a are disposed so as to cover the outer surface of the first cable 20a, and are disposed in a range sliding on at least the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a in the direction along the first cable 20a. Similarly, in the present embodiment, in the second cable 20b, the covering member 23b is provided at a portion held by the second fan-side holding portion 21b, and the covering member 24b is provided at a portion held by the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b. The covering members 23b and 24b are made of, for example, a tape material. That is, the covering members 23b and 24b are disposed so as to cover the outer surface of the second cable 20b, and are disposed in a range sliding on at least the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b in the direction along the second cable 20b. By providing the covering members 23a, 24a, 23b, and 24b, it is possible to suppress damage such as disconnection by improving durability against sliding with the holding portion and stiffness against bending.

As described above, according to the manual sheet feed portion 500 of the present embodiment, the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a is positioned so as to at least partially overlap the central imaginary plane F13 orthogonal to the width direction W at the central portion of the movement range (X1) of the first fan-side holding portion 21a. The second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b is positioned such that at least a part of the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b overlaps with the central imaginary plane F23 orthogonal to the width direction W at the central portion of the movement range (X1) of the second fan-side holding portion 21b. Therefore, the extra length of each of the first cable 20a and the second cable 20b can be minimized, and the risk of damage such as disconnection can be reduced.

Further, according to the manual sheet feed portion 500 of the present embodiment, the saddle 30 is applied as the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a, the first fan-side holding portion 21a, the second fan-side holding portion 21b, and the second supporting portion-side holding portion 22b. Therefore, as compared with a case where the movement of the cable in the longitudinal direction is also regulated like a reuse band, the bending angle of the cable can be reduced, and the risk of damage such as disconnection can be more effectively reduced.

Furthermore, according to the manual sheet feed portion 500 of the present embodiment, the covering members 23a and 24a are provided in the first cable 20a, and the covering members 23b and 24b are provided in the second cable 20b. By providing the covering members 23a, 24a, 23b, and 24b, it is possible to suppress damage such as disconnection by improving durability against sliding with the holding portion and stiffness against bending.

According to the present technology, damage to the cable can be suppressed.

Other Embodiments

In the embodiment described above, the case where the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a is positioned so as to at least partially overlap the central imaginary plane F13 in the central portion of the movement range (X1) of the first fan-side holding portion 21a has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a may be positioned between the two end portion imaginary planes F11 and F12 orthogonal to the width direction W at both end portions of the movement range (X1) of the first fan-side holding portion 21a. In this case, even when the arrangement position of the first supporting portion-side holding portion 22a is not at the center, the extra length of the first cable 20a can be minimized, and the risk of damage such as disconnection can be reduced.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary 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.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-018332, filed Feb. 9, 2023 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Claims

1. A sheet support device comprising: a supporting portion including a supporting surface configured to support a sheet;a first regulating unit including a first moving unit supported with respect to the supporting portion below the supporting surface to be movable in a width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of a sheet, and a first regulation plate connected to the first moving unit and configured to regulate a position of a first end portion in the width direction of a sheet supported by the supporting surface;a second regulating unit including a second moving unit supported with respect to the supporting portion below the supporting surface to be movable in the width direction, and a second regulation plate connected to the second moving unit and configured to regulate a position of a second end portion in the width direction of a sheet supported by the supporting surface, the second regulating unit being interlocked with the first regulating unit such that the first regulating unit and the second regulating unit move in opposite directions in the width direction;an electric fan attached to the first moving unit to blow air;a duct that is provided inside the first regulation plate and in which air blown from the electric fan flows and is blown to a sheet supported by the supporting surface in the width direction;a cable connected to the electric fan;a fan-side holding portion securing a path of the cable in the width direction with respect to the electric fan; anda supporting portion-side holding portion securing the path of the cable in the width direction with respect to the supporting portion,wherein the supporting portion-side holding portion is positioned between two end portion imaginary planes orthogonal to the width direction at each of both end portions of a movement range of the fan-side holding portion.

2. The sheet support device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting portion-side holding portion is positioned such that at least a part of the supporting portion-side holding portion overlaps a central imaginary plane orthogonal to the width direction at a central portion of the movement range of the fan-side holding portion.

3. The sheet support device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting portion-side holding portion has a shape that surrounds an outer surface of the cable with a gap from the outer surface.

4. The sheet support device according to claim 3, further comprising: a covering member disposed to cover the outer surface of the cable and disposed in a range sliding on at least the supporting portion-side holding portion in a direction along the cable.

5. The sheet support device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting portion-side holding portion has a shape that binds and holds an outer surface of the cable.

6. The sheet support device according to claim 1, further comprising: a pinion gear,wherein the first moving unit includes a first rack whose longitudinal direction is the width direction,the second moving unit includes a second rack whose longitudinal direction is the width direction, andthe pinion gear meshes with the first rack and the second rack, and allows the first regulating unit and the second regulating unit to interlock with each other in opposite directions in the width direction.

7. The sheet support device according to claim 1, wherein the electric fan is a first electric fan,wherein the duct is a first duct,wherein the cable is a first cable,wherein the fan-side holding portion is a first fan-side holding portion,wherein the supporting portion-side holding portion is a first supporting portion-side holding portion,wherein the sheet support device further comprises: a second electric fan attached to the second moving unit to blow air;a second duct that is provided inside the second regulation plate and in which air blown from the second electric fan flows and is blown to a sheet supported by the supporting surface in the width direction;a second cable connected to the second electric fan;a second fan-side holding portion securing a path of the second cable in the width direction with respect to the second electric fan; anda second supporting portion-side holding portion securing the path of the second cable in the width direction with respect to the supporting portion, andwherein the second supporting portion-side holding portion is positioned between two end portion imaginary planes orthogonal to the width direction at each of both end portions of a movement range of the second fan-side holding portion.

8. The sheet support device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the electric fan is disposed to overlap the first regulation plate when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the supporting surface.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising: the sheet support device according to claim 1; andan image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet supported by the sheet support device.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the supporting portion of the sheet support device is a manual feed tray to which a sheet is manually set.