Patent ID: 9037073
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: B65H,E05F,G03G

Abstract:
1. A bypass feeder attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, the bypass feeder comprising: an opening/closing unit having a first fulcrum, the opening/closing unit configured to rotate about the first fulcrum and to open and close with respect to the apparatus body between a unit closed state in which the opening/closing unit is disposed at a position close to the apparatus body and a unit open state in which the opening/closing unit is disposed at a position separated from the apparatus body; a bypass tray having a sheet loading surface on which a sheet is loaded and having a second fulcrum, the bypass tray configured to rotate about the second fulcrum and to open and close with respect to the opening/closing unit between a tray closed state in which the bypass tray is disposed at a position close to the opening/closing unit and a tray open state in which the bypass tray is disposed at a position separated from the opening/closing unit; a linkage including a fixing member and openably connecting the opening/closing unit to the apparatus body; and a member having one end fixed to the fixing member and the other end attached to the bypass tray, wherein, when the opening/closing unit is changed from the unit closed state to the unit open state while the bypass tray is rotated in a direction away from the opening/closing unit to the tray open state in which the sheet is loadable on the sheet loading surface, the fixing member of the linkage shifts while pulling the member to hold the bypass tray at a substantially horizontal line, wherein the member is a wire.