Patent ID: 8608154
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: B65H,G03G

Abstract:
1. A sheet tray for feeding a sheet toward an image forming part of an image forming apparatus, the sheet tray detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus in a sheet feeding direction, comprising: a tray portion configured to hold the sheet; a cover member, detachable from the tray portion and disposed downstream from the tray portion in the sheet feeding direction, the cover member being provided apart from the tray portion with a gap interposed therebetween configured to pass the sheet in an engaged state in which the tray portion and the cover member are engaged with each other; a lock assembly configured to engage the tray portion and the cover member with each other in the engaged state and configured to disengage the cover member and the tray portion from each other in a disengaged state; a switching mechanism configured to put the lock assembly into the engaged state in absence of the sheet within the gap between the tray portion and the cover member and into the disengaged state at presence of the sheet within the gap between the tray portion and the cover member; a detection lever having a free end disposed within the gap through which the sheet may pass and a support end disposed to one of the tray portion and the cover member; a return member to return the detection lever to a home position; and a link member to put the lock assembly into the engaged state when the detection lever is in the home position and into the disengaged state when the detection lever is moved from the home position by the sheet passing through the gap.