IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,137,713
Granted Patent B2
US 11,137,713 · App. 16/909,771 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Image forming apparatus

Inventor: Junichi Sekiyama (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
G03G21/1633G03G21/1642G03G2221/169G03G2221/1687
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,137,713
App. No.
16/909,771
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body to which a cartridge is detachably attached. The apparatus main body includes a frame having an opening portion through which the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body; an opening and closing member supported by the frame rotatably between an open position in which the opening portion is exposed and a closed position in which the opening portion is covered with the opening and closing member and having a stacking surface on which a sheet is to be stacked; a discharging roller discharging the sheet in a discharging direction onto the stacking surface; and a regulating wall which is movably attached to the opening and closing member and extends from the stacking surface toward the discharging roller in a direction intersecting the discharging direction to regulate an upstream edge of the sheet in the discharging direction.

Claims (35)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a cartridge; and

an apparatus main body to which the cartridge is detachably attached, the apparatus main body including:

a frame in which an opening portion, through which the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, is formed;

an opening and closing member configured to move between an open position in which the opening and closing member is opened to expose the opening portion and a closed position in which the opening and closing member is closed to cover the opening portion, the opening and closing member having a supported portion supported by the frame so that the opening and closing member is rotatable about a rotational axis, the opening and closing member having a stacking surface on which a sheet is to be stacked when the opening and closing member is located in the closed position;

a discharging roller configured to discharge the sheet in a discharging direction onto the stacking surface when the opening and closing member is located in the closed position; and

a regulating wall configured to regulate a position of an upstream edge, in the discharging direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking surface, the regulating wall extending from the stacking surface toward the discharging roller in an intersecting direction intersecting the discharging direction, the regulating wall being attached to the opening and closing member so as to be movable relative to the opening and closing member.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the regulating wall is attached to the opening and closing member so that the regulating wall pivots about a pivot axis relative to the opening and closing member, the pivot axis extending in a direction of the rotational axis and being disposed at an end portion of the regulating wall on a side of the stacking surface in the intersecting direction, and

wherein, while the opening and closing member is rotated from the closed position toward the open position, the regulating wall is pivoted by contacting a part of the apparatus main body which is configured not to move together with the opening and closing member.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein, when the end portion of the regulating wall is defined as a first end portion, the regulating wall has a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the intersecting direction, and

wherein the apparatus main body has a stopper configured to stop the regulating wall from pivoting around the pivot axis by contacting the second end portion of the regulating wall when the opening and closing member is located in the closed position.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotational axis is arranged upstream of the discharging roller in the discharging direction.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the regulating wall is attached to the opening and closing member so that the regulating wall pivots about a pivot axis relative to the opening and closing member, the pivot axis extending in a direction of the rotational axis and being disposed at an end portion of the regulating wall on a side of the stacking surface in the intersecting direction, and wherein the pivot axis of the regulating wall is arranged downstream of the rotational axis in the discharging direction.

6. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a cartridge; and

an apparatus main body to which the cartridge is detachably attached, the apparatus main body including:

a frame in which an opening portion, through which the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body, is formed;

a discharging roller configured to discharge a sheet in a discharging direction;

an opening and closing member configured to move between an open position in which the opening and closing member is opened to expose the opening portion and a closed position in which the opening and closing member is closed to cover the opening portion, the opening and closing member having a supported portion supported by the frame so that the opening and closing member is rotatable about a rotational axis, the opening and closing member having a stacking surface on which the sheet discharged by the discharging roller is to be stacked when the opening and closing member is located in the closed position, the supported portion being movable between a first position and a second position located downstream of the first position in the discharging direction, the supported portion being located in the first position when the opening and closing member is located in the closed position and being located in the second position when the opening and closing member is located in the open position; and

a regulating wall configured to regulate a position of an upstream edge, in the discharging direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking surface, the regulating wall extending from the stacking surface toward the discharging roller in an intersecting direction intersecting the discharging direction, the regulating wall being attached to the opening and closing member.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the opening and closing member includes a cam surface extending in the intersecting direction at an end portion of the opening and closing member in a direction of the rotational axis when the opening and closing member is located in the closed position,

wherein the apparatus main body has a contact portion configured to contact the cam surface, and

wherein, while the opening and closing member is rotated from the closed position toward the open position, the cam surface is pressed by the contact portion so that the supported portion is moved from the first position to the second position.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein, when the opening and closing member is located in the closed position, the cam surface has a first region and a second region located upstream of the first region in a direction in which the opening and closing member is rotated from the closed position toward the open position, the second region being located in a position in which a distance from the rotational axis is shorter than that of the first region, and

wherein, while the opening and closing member is rotated from the closed position toward the open position, the supported portion of the opening and closing member is located in the first position when the first region of the cam surface is in contact with the contact portion, and the supported portion of the opening and closing member is located in the second position when the second region of the cam surface is in contact with the contact portion.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the apparatus main body includes a biasing member configured to bias the opening and closing member relative to the frame in a direction in which the supported portion is moved from the second position toward the first position.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the opening and closing member has a regulated surface and a pressing portion configured to press the cartridge in a direction in which the cartridge is moved toward an image formation position,

wherein the frame has a regulating surface configured to contact the regulated surface of the opening and closing member while the opening and closing member is rotated from the open position toward the closed position, and

wherein the opening and closing member is configured so that, when the cartridge is pressed by the pressing portion, the regulated surface contacts the regulating surface of the frame to prevent the supported portion from moving from the first position toward the second position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2020
From: SEKIYAMA, JUNICHI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 053691/0541 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-120452 · Jun 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200409303A1 · Dec 31, 2020