Sheet containing device and image forming apparatus

1. A sheet containing device comprising:

a sheet containing unit for containing a sheet;

a regulation member arranged movably in a prescribed moving direction with respect to the sheet containing unit for regulating a position of the sheet contained in the sheet containing unit in the moving direction;

a first engaging portion provided at the regulation member; and

a first engaged portion provided at the sheet containing unit for holding the regulation member at plural holding positions in the moving direction by engaging the first engaging portion,

wherein one of the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion has a plurality of engagement grooves arranged with first intervals in the moving direction,

wherein the other of the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion has a plurality of engagement projections arranged with second intervals in the moving direction, the engagement projections engaging the plural engagement grooves, and

wherein an interval of the plural holding positions is equal to the first interval whereas the second interval is an integral multiplication equal to or greater than two of the first interval.

2. The sheet containing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first engaged portion has the plurality of the engagement projections, whereas the first engaging portion has the plurality of the engagement grooves.

3. The sheet containing device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the engagement grooves and the plurality of the engagement projections are arranged in line, respectively, in the moving direction of the regulation member.

4. The sheet containing device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a second engaging portion provided at the regulation member; and

a second engaged portion provided at the sheet containing unit for holding the regulation member at plural holding positions in the moving direction by engaging the second engaging portion.

5. The sheet containing device according to claim 4 , wherein the second engaged portion has one or more engagement holes at respective positions corresponding to standard sizes of one or more kinds, and

wherein the second engaging portion has engagement projection or projections engaging one or more of the engagement holes.

6. The sheet containing device according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second engaging portions are structured so that after the first engaging portion disengages from the first engaged portion according to movement of the first engaging portion in a direction apart from the first engaged portion upon reception of external force, the second engaging portion moves in a direction apart from the second engaged portion upon receiving force of the movement of the first engaging portion to disengage the second engaging portion from the second engaged portion.

7. The sheet containing device according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second engaging portions are structured so that after the second engaging portion disengages from the second engaged portion according to movement of the second engaging portion in a direction apart from the second engaged portion upon reception of external force, the first engaging portion moves in a direction apart from the first engaged portion upon receiving force of the movement of the second engaging portion to disengage the first engaging portion from the first engaged portion.

8. The sheet containing device according to claim 4 , further comprising a second urging member for urging the second engaging portion toward the second engaged portion.

9. The sheet containing device according to claim 3 , further comprising a first urging member for urging the first engaging portion toward the first engaged portion.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a sheet containing device according to claim 3 ;

a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheet contained in the sheet containing device; and

an image forming unit for forming an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit.

11. A sheet containing device comprising:

a sheet containing unit for containing a sheet;

a regulation member arranged movably in a prescribed moving direction with respect to the sheet containing unit for regulating a position of the sheet contained in the sheet containing unit in the moving direction;

first and second engaging portions provided at the regulation member; and

first and second engaged portions provided at the sheet containing unit for holding the regulation member at plural holding positions in the moving direction by engaging the first and second engaging portions, respectively,

wherein the first and second engaging portions are structured so that after the first engaging portion disengages from the first engaged portion according to movement of the first engaging portion in a direction apart from the first engaged portion upon reception of external force, the second engaging portion moves in a direction apart from the second engaged portion upon receiving force of the movement of the first engaging portion to disengage the second engaging portion from the second engaged portion.

12. The sheet containing device according to claim 11 , wherein either one of the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion has a plurality of engagement grooves arranged in having the same interval in the moving direction,

wherein the other one of the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion has a plurality of engagement projections arranged in having the same interval in the moving direction engaging the plural engagement grooves,

wherein the second engaged portion has one or more engagement holes at respective positions corresponding to standard sizes of one or more kinds, and

wherein the second engaging portion has engagement projection or projections engaging one or more of the engagement holes.

13. The sheet containing device according to claim 11 , wherein either one of the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion has a plurality of engagement grooves arranged in having the same interval in the moving direction,

wherein the other one of the second engaging portion and the second engaged portion has a plurality of engagement projections arranged in having the same interval in the moving direction engaging the plural engagement grooves,

wherein the first engaged portion has one or more engagement holes at respective positions corresponding to standard sizes of one or more kinds, and

wherein the first engaging portion has engagement projection or projections engaging one or more of the engagement holes.

14. An image forming apparatus comprising:

the sheet containing device as set forth in claim 11 ;

a sheet feeding unit for feeding the sheet contained in the sheet containing device; and

an image forming unit for forming an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit.

15. The sheet containing device according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a lever rotating around a fulcrum, the lever including an operation point portion at one end of the fulcrum,

wherein the lever rotates and the operation point portion contacts a first engaging portion, and

wherein when the lever further rotates, the first engaging portion linearly moves and separates from the first engaged portion.

16. The sheet containing device according to claim 15 , wherein each of the first and second engaging portions has a contact portion, and wherein the contact portion of the first and second engaging portions are separated from each other where both of the first and second engaging portions are engaged, and when either one of the first and second engaging portions moves according to external force, the contact portion of the one of the engaging portions provides force from the move upon contacting the contact portion of the other engaging portion of the first and second engaging portions after the one engaging portion is disengaged.

17. The sheet containing device according to claim 15 , wherein any one of the move of the first engaging portion and the move of the second engaging portion is a liner movement.

18. The sheet containing device according to claim 15 , further comprising a lever pivotally provided at the regulation member for providing external force to either one of the first and second engaging portions upon pivotal movement in receiving a controlling force.

19. The sheet containing device according to claim 15 , wherein the lever includes an effort point receiving a controlling force on another end of the fulcrum.

20. The sheet containing device according to claim 19 , wherein the lever is structured to receive force exerted in a direction parallel to the moving direction as the controlling force.

21. The sheet containing device according to claim 19 , further comprising a second urging member for urging the second engaging portion toward the second engaged portion.

22. The sheet containing device according to claim 19 , further comprising a first urging member for urging the first engaging portion toward the first engaged portion.