IP Library Granted Patent US 12703590
Granted Patent B2
US 12703590 · App. 18/350,676 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Sheet feeding device, image forming apparatus, and locking device

Inventor: Yuji Miyamoto (Shiojiri, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
B65H1/266B65H1/04B65H2402/60B65H2405/121B65H2405/332
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12703590
App. No.
18/350,676
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sheet feeding device includes a plurality of containers configured to store sheet members, a housing in which the plurality of containers are mounted from a front, and a locking device configured to restrict withdrawal of the plurality of containers mounted in the housing, wherein a first opening portion is provided in a front surface of each of the plurality of containers, the housing includes a first engaged portion, and the locking device includes an engaging portion that is inserted into the first opening portion and engaged with the first engaged portion located further, in a depth direction, than the first opening portion, a restricting portion that restricts disengagement of the engaging portion, and a contact portion that comes into contact with the front surfaces of the plurality of containers.

Claims (82)

1 . A sheet feeding device comprising:

a plurality of containers configured to store sheet members;

a housing in which the plurality of containers are mounted from a front; and

a locking device configured to restrict withdrawal of the plurality of containers mounted in the housing,

wherein

an opening portion is provided in a front surface of each of the plurality of containers,

the housing includes an engaged portion, and

the locking device includes:

an engaging portion that is inserted into the opening portion and engaged with the engaged portion located further, in a depth direction, than the opening portion;

a restricting portion that restricts disengagement of the engaging portion; and

a contact portion that comes into contact with the front surfaces of the plurality of containers.

2 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein

the locking device includes a guiding portion configured to guide movement of the restricting portion, and

the restricting portion is configured to slide between a restriction position at which disengagement of the engaging portion is restricted and a release position different from the restriction position in a state in which the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion.

3 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 2 , wherein

a first hole is provided in the restricting portion,

a second hole is provided in the guiding portion, and

the first hole and the second hole overlap each other in a state in which the restricting portion is located at the restriction position.

4 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein

the engaging portion includes:

an arm portion extending in an insertion direction; and a protruding portion protruding downward from a distal end of the arm portion, and

the protruding portion is configured to be engaged with the engaged portion.

5 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein

the engaging portion is a planar plate made of a metal.

6 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein

the container includes a storing portion that stores the sheet members, and

the storing portion is provided at a position different from the opening portion in a width direction.

7 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein

the housing includes:

a main body including a first mounting portion in which a first container among the plurality of containers is mounted, and

an attachment including a second mounting portion in which a second container among the plurality of containers is mounted, and

the attachment is configured to be attached to and detached from the main body.

8 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 1 , wherein

three or more of the containers are provided,

intervals between the opening portions of the containers adjacent to each other are the same,

the locking device includes two engaging portions, and

the two engaging portions lock the two containers adjacent to each other.

9 . The sheet feeding device according to claim 8 , wherein the locking device includes a changing mechanism that changes an interval between the engaging portions.

10 . An image forming apparatus comprising:

the sheet feeding device according to claim 1 ; and

an image forming unit configured to form an image on the sheet member.

11 . A sheet feeding device comprising:

a plurality of containers configured to store sheet members;

a housing in which the plurality of containers are mounted from a front; and

a locking device configured to restrict withdrawal of the plurality of containers mounted in the housing,

wherein

a plurality of opening portions are provided in a side surface of the housing,

each of the plurality of containers includes an engaged portion, and

the locking device includes:

a plurality of engaging portions that are inserted into the opening portions and are engaged with the engaged portions located further, in a depth direction, than the plurality of opening portions; and

a restricting portion that restricts disengagement of the plurality of engaging portions.

12 . A locking device that restricts withdrawal of a plurality of containers mounted in a housing from a front, comprising:

a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion that are respectively engaged with a pair of engaged portions of the housing or the container;

a holding portion to which each of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion is fixed;

a restricting portion that restricts disengagement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion; and

a guiding portion configured to guide movement of the restricting portion, wherein

the locking device is detachably mounted to a front surface of the container or a side surface of the housing from outside an interior of the container or the housing,

the holding portion contacting the front surface of the container or the side surface of the housing from outside the interior of the container or the housing, the first and second engaging portions being fixed to the holding portion at different locations,

the first and second engaging portions are separated from each other,

the restricting portion is positioned adjacent the first engaging portion, but not the second engaging portion, in an up-down direction,

the restricting portion is configured to slide between a restriction position at which disengagement of the first and second engaging portions is restricted and a release position different from the restriction position in a state in which the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are engaged with the engaged portions, respectively,

a first hole is provided in the restricting portion,

a second hole is provided in the guiding portion, and

the first hole and the second hole overlap each other in a state in which the restricting portion is located at the restriction position.

13 . The locking device according to claim 12 , wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion have the same shape.

14 . The locking device according to claim 12 , wherein the first and second engaging portions include a base portion, an arm portion, and a protruding portion that engages with the pair of engaged portions of the housing or the container.

15 . A locking device that restricts withdrawal of a plurality of containers mounted in a housing from a front, comprising:

a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion that are respectively engaged with a pair of engaged portions of the housing or the container;

a holding portion to which each of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion is fixed; and

a restricting portion that restricts disengagement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion, wherein

the locking device is detachably mounted to a front surface of the container or a side surface of the housing from outside an interior of the container or the housing,

the holding portion contacting the front surface of the container or the side surface of the housing from outside the interior of the container or the housing, the first and second engaging portions being fixed to the holding portion at different locations,

the first and second engaging portions are separated from each other,

the restricting portion is positioned adjacent the first engaging portion, but not the second engaging portion, in an up-down direction, and

the restricting portion is configured to slide between a restriction position at which disengagement of the first and second engaging portions is restricted and a release position different from the restriction position in a state in which the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are engaged with the engaged portions, respectively, the restricting portion remaining connected to the holding portion in both the restriction position and the release position.

16 . The locking device according to claim 15 , further comprising a guiding portion configured to guide movement of the restricting portion.

17 . The locking device according to claim 16 , wherein

a first hole is provided in the restricting portion,

a second hole is provided in the guiding portion, and

the first hole and the second hole overlap each other in a state in which the restricting portion is located at the restriction position.

18 . The locking device according to claim 15 , wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion have the same shape.

19 . The locking device according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second engaging portions include a base portion, an arm portion, and a protruding portion that engages with the pair of engaged portions of the housing or the container.