Patent ID: 7731182
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A sliding mechanism provided in an image forming apparatus having a sheet feeding tray, comprising: a sheet position limiting member provided at a front side of the sheet feeding tray, the sheet position limiting member having a sheet position limiting surface, the sheet position limiting member being configured to slide in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the sheet position limiting surface; a guide member configured to guide the sliding of the sheet position limiting member; and an operational part provided at a front surface of the image forming apparatus, wherein the sheet position limiting member includes wherein the guide member includes a second rib and a third rib, the second rib forming a pair with the first rib, the second rib being situated in a direction substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the sheet position limiting member, the second rib coming in contact with the first rib, the second rib and the third rib configured to guide the sheet position limiting member, wherein the first rib, the second rib, and the third rib are provided inside the image forming apparatus; wherein the first rib and the second rib slide while coming in contact with each other; wherein the sheet position limiting member is energized toward the guide member; wherein the operational part, the first rib, the second rib, and the third rib are arranged in this order from an upstream side of a sheet conveyance direction; wherein the third rib, among the first rib, the second rib, and the third rib, is situated in a highest position; wherein the second rib, among the first rib, the second rib, and the third rib, is situated in a second highest position; and wherein the first rib, among the first rib, the second rib, and the third rib, is situated in a third highest position.