Patent ID: 9365371
Filing Date: 2016-06-14
CPC Classification: B65H

Claim Text:
1. A sheet width aligning device including an elevator tray that accommodates sheets of paper thereon and is capable of moving up and down between a lower position where the sheets are loaded and an upper position where the sheets are fed, a pair of guides that are provided on the elevator tray, are capable of moving in a width direction of the sheets, the width direction intersecting a feed direction in which the sheets are fed, and abut against sheet edges extending along the feed direction on the elevator tray to limit the movement of the sheets in the width direction, a pair of racks coupled with the pair of guides, respectively, and a pinion that is rotatably supported by inserting a shaft portion into a shaft hole formed in the pinion, the shaft portion projecting from the elevator tray, wherein the pair of guides are moved so as to increase or decrease the distance therebetween in operative association with the pair of racks meshed with the pinion, the sheet width aligning device comprising: a pressing mechanism that is provided on a back face side of the elevator tray and includes an abutment member that abuts against the pinion, the pressing mechanism separating the abutment member away from the pinion when the elevator tray is in the lower position, and the pressing mechanism abutting the abutment member against the pinion to press the pinion when the elevator tray is in the upper position.