Abstract:
A transport device includes a body unit, an accommodating unit that accommodates a recording medium and is mounted to be reciprocal with respect to the body unit, a pair of guide members that come in contact with end portions, in a width direction, of the recording medium to position the recording medium, the width direction intersecting with a transport direction of the recording medium, a first rail that is attached to the accommodating unit and guides reciprocation of the accommodating unit, and a second rail that is attached to the body unit to be movable in a direction, which intersects with a reciprocation direction of the accommodating unit, the second rail being assembled to the body unit to be slidable with respect to the first rail.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2016-056545 filed Mar. 22, 2016 and No. 2016-056546 filed Mar. 22, 2016. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a transport device. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one exemplary embodiment, a transport device includes a body unit, an accommodating unit that accommodates a recording medium and is mounted to be reciprocal with respect to the body unit, a pair of guide members that come in contact with end portions, in a width direction, of the recording medium to position the recording medium, the width direction intersecting with a transport direction of the recording medium, a first rail that is attached to the accommodating unit and guides reciprocation of the accommodating unit, and a second rail that is attached to the body unit to be movable in a direction, which intersects with a reciprocation direction of the accommodating unit, the second rail being assembled to the body unit to be slidable with respect to the first rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention will be described in detailed based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an image forming system; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view illustrating the whole of a transport device; 
         FIG. 2B  is a perspective view illustrating a state where an accommodating unit is pulled out; 
         FIG. 3  is a vertical sectional view of the transport device; 
         FIG. 4  is a vertical sectional schematic diagram illustrating apart of the transport device including a moving mechanism; 
         FIG. 5A  is a plan view of the transport device in a state where an accommodating unit is partially pulled out; 
         FIG. 5B  is a plan view of the transport device in a state where the accommodating unit is mounted; 
         FIG. 6A  is a bottom view of the transport device in a state where the accommodating unit is partially pulled out; 
         FIG. 6B  is a bottom view of the transport device in a state where the accommodating unit is mounted; and 
         FIGS. 7A to 7C  are plan schematic diagrams illustrating the positioning of the accommodating unit with respect to a body unit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail in connection with exemplary embodiments and specific examples with reference to drawings, but is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and specific examples. 
     Further, in the following descriptions made with reference to the drawings, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the ratios of respective dimensions are different from those of actual ones. For easy understanding, illustrations of members other than those necessary for the descriptions are properly omitted. 
     In order to facilitate the understanding of the following descriptions, it is assumed that, in the drawings, the front-rear direction is the X-axis direction, the left-right direction is the Y-axis direction, and the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction. 
     (1) Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming System 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming system  1  to which a transport device  200  according to the present exemplary embodiment is applied. The image forming system  1  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes an image forming apparatus  100 , such as a printer or a copier, which forms an image by an electrophotographic system, and the transport device  200  configured to transport a sheet P as a recording medium on which a toner image is formed, to the image forming apparatus  100 . 
     Hereinafter, the overall configuration and operation of the image forming system  1  will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     (1.1) Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Apparatus 
     The image forming apparatus  100  is configured to include a controller  10 , a sheet feeding device  20 , photoconductor units  30 , developing devices  40 , a transfer device  50 , and a fixing device  60 . The transport device  200  is disposed below the image forming apparatus  100  (−Z direction), and transports a sheet P, on which an image is to be recorded, to the image forming apparatus  100 . 
     At the bottom portion of the image forming apparatus  100 , the sheet feeding device  20  on which sheets P as recording mediums are stacked is provided. Sheets P, of which the position in the width direction is determined on a regulation plate (not illustrated), are pulled out one by one from the top by a sheet pull-out unit  22  forward (−X direction) and transported to a nip portion of a resist roller pair  23 . 
     The photoconductor units  30  include photoconductor drums  31  which are provided, respectively, in parallel above the sheet feeding device  20  (Z direction), and are rotationally driven. On each of the photoconductor drums  31 , a toner image of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), or black (K) is formed by each of the developing devices  40 . 
     The toner images of respective colors formed, respectively, on the photoconductor drums  31  of the photoconductor units  30  are sequentially electrostatically transferred (primarily transferred) on an intermediate transfer belt  51  of the transfer device  50 , and a superimposed toner image obtained by superimposing the toners of respective colors is formed. The superimposed toner image on the intermediate transfer belt  51  is fed from the resist roller pair  23  and collectively transferred to a sheet P guided by a transport guide by a secondary transfer roller  52 . 
     The sheet P on which the toner images are collectively transferred in the transfer device  50  is transported to the fixing device  60  in a state where the toner images are unfixed, and the toner images are fixed through an action of pressing and heating by a pair of heating and pressure modules  61  and  62 . 
     The sheet P formed with the fixed toner images is guided by the transport guide, and discharged to and accommodated in an exit tray unit T formed on the top surface of the image forming apparatus  100  (Z direction) from a pair of exit rollers  69 . 
     (1.2) Overall Configuration and Operation of Transport Device 
     The transport device  200  includes a body unit  210  and an accommodating unit  220 . The body unit  210  is configured to be detachable with respect to the image forming apparatus  100 , and has a transport path of a sheet P to be connected to a sheet transport path included in the image forming apparatus  100 . 
     The accommodating unit  220  is configured to accommodate a number of sheets P, and mounted to be reciprocal with respect to the body unit  210 . The accommodating unit  220  includes a sheet stacking plate BP on which sheets P are stacked, and moves the sheet stacking plate BP according to the remaining amount of the sheets P. 
     The accommodating unit  220  is mounted by being moved in the direction of the arrow R 1  in  FIG. 1  (hereinafter, also referred to as a “mounting direction”), and is detached by being moved in the direction of the arrow R 2  (hereinafter, also referred to as a “detaching direction”), that is, its mounted state is released. 
     A sheet feeding unit  230  is provided in the body unit  210 , and a supply unit  240  is attached to the accommodating unit  220 . In a state where the accommodating unit  220  is mounted in the body unit  210 , a feed roll  232  as a transport member of the sheet feeding unit  230  and a retard roll  241  as a separation member of the supply unit  240  are abutted on each other so as to separate sheets P which are fed from a nudger roll  231  one by one and transport the separated sheets P to the image forming apparatus  100 . 
     (2) Transport Device 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view illustrating the whole of the transport device  200 , and  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view illustrating a state where the accommodating unit is pulled out,  FIG. 3  is a vertical sectional view of the transport device  200 ,  FIG. 4  is a vertical sectional view illustrating a part of the transport device  200  including a moving mechanism  250 ,  FIG. 5A  is a plan view of the transport device  200  in a state where the accommodating unit  220  is slightly pulled out,  FIG. 5B  is a plan view of the transport device  200  in a state where the accommodating unit  220  is mounted,  FIG. 6A  is a bottom view of the transport device  200  in a state where the accommodating unit  220  is slightly pulled out, and  FIG. 6B  is a bottom view of the transport device  200  in a state where the accommodating unit  220  is mounted, and  FIGS. 7A to 7C  are plan schematic diagrams illustrating positioning of the accommodating unit  220  with respect to the body unit  210 . 
     Hereinafter, descriptions will be made on the configuration of the transport device  200  and the mounting operation of the accommodating unit  220  with reference to drawings. 
     (2.1) Overall Configuration 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the transport device  200  includes the body unit  210  and the accommodating unit  220  reciprocally held by the body unit  210 . 
     In the body unit  210 , the sheet feeding unit  230  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) is provided within a metallic housing  213  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) covered with synthetic resinous outer covers  211  and  212 . 
     The accommodating unit  220  is a box-shape tray in its entirety which is entirely composed of a bottom plate  221 , side plates  222  and  223 , a front cover  224  and a back plate  225  which are made of a synthetic resin material (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ), and is attached with the supply unit  240  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 3 , the accommodating unit  220  is supported to be reciprocal with respect to the body unit  210  by the moving mechanism  250 . 
     The moving mechanism  250  is a rail mechanism composed of first rails  251  attached to the side plates  222  and  223  of the accommodating unit  220 , second rails  252  assembled to the body unit  210  to be slidable with respect to the first rails, and intermediate rails  253  disposed to be slidable with respect to the second rails  252 . The accommodating unit  220  is supported to be mounted or detached with respect to the body unit  210 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the second rail  252  has a first gap G 1  with an outer surface  213 Ba of a body side plate  213 B through a stud S with respect to the body side plate  213 B erected from a bottom surface  213 A of the housing  213  of the body unit  210 , and a second gap G 2  with an inner surface  213 Bb of the body side plate  213 B, and is movably held in the direction intersecting with (perpendicular to) the reciprocating direction of the accommodating unit  220 . 
     The accommodating unit  220  includes a pair of guide members  260  configured to regulate a position in a width direction intersecting with (perpendicular to) the transport direction of the sheets P. The guide members  260  are provided to be movable in a direction intersecting with (perpendicular to) the transport direction of the sheets P according to the size of the sheets to be accommodated. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B  and  FIGS. 7A to 7C , a positioning projection  226  is formed on the back plate  225  of the accommodating unit  220  to project toward the body unit  210 , and a positioning hole  215  is provided in the body unit  210 . The positioning projection  226  and the positioning hole  215  are fitted to each other to constitute a first positioning portion when the accommodating unit  220  is mounted in the body unit  210 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  and  FIGS. 7A to 7C , a positioning pin  216  projecting upward (Z direction) from the bottom surface  213 A of the housing  213  is provided in the body unit  210 , and a positioning guide  228  is formed on the bottom plate  221  of the accommodating unit  220 . The positioning pin  216  and the positioning guide  228  are fitted to each other to constitute a second positioning portion when the accommodating unit  220  is mounted in the body unit  210 . 
     The first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are provided to be spaced apart from each other at the front side and the rear side of the transport device  200 , on the extension on which one of the pair of guide members  260  serving as a reference of a width direction of the sheet transport is provided. 
     In the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion configured as described above, as schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 7A to 7C , when the accommodating unit  220  is mounted in the body unit  210 , after the first positioning portion is positioned, the second positioning portion is positioned. Then, a variation of an operating force when the accommodating unit  220  is mounted in the body unit  210  may be reduced. 
     (2.2) Mounting Operation of Accommodating Unit 
     When the transport device  200  is replenished with sheets P as recording mediums, a handle portion  224   a  of the front cover  224  is operated to move the accommodating unit  220  from the body unit  210  in the direction of the arrow R 2  (see  FIG. 1 ) such that a sheet bundle is stacked on the sheet stacking plate BP in a state where the sheet stacking plate BP is exposed. 
     After the sheets Pare stacked on the sheet stacking plate BP, the handle portion  224   a  of the front cover  224  is operated so that the accommodating unit  220  is moved in the direction of the arrow R 1  to be mounted in the body unit  210 . 
     The accommodating unit  220  is a box-shape tray in its entirety which is entirely composed of the bottom plate  221 , the side plates  222  and  223 , the front cover  224  and the back plate  225  which are made of a synthetic resin material and is lighter as a whole as compared to one made of a metal. Meanwhile, according to the temperature condition of the use environment where the transport device  200  is provided, apart or the whole of the accommodating unit  220  may be more easily expanded or shrunk as compared to one made of a metal. 
     When the accommodating unit  220  is expanded, the moving mechanism  250  that reciprocally supports the accommodating unit  220  between the body unit  210  and the accommodating unit  220  may be pressed by the side plates  222  and  223  of the thermally expanded accommodating unit  220 , and thus its operating force may be increased. 
     When the accommodating unit  220  is expanded or shrunk, the position of the accommodating unit  220  may be moved so that the position in the width direction intersecting with (perpendicular to) the transport direction of the stacked sheets P may be changed. 
     The accommodating unit  220  according to the present exemplary embodiment is supported to be reciprocal with respect to the body unit  210  by a rail mechanism composed of the first rails  251  attached to the side plates  222  and  223  of the accommodating unit  220 , the second rails  252  assembled to the body unit  210  to be slidable with respect to the first rails, and the intermediate rails  253  disposed to be slidable with respect to the second rails  252 . 
     The second rail  252  has the first gap G 1  with the outer surface  213 Ba of the body side plate  213 B through the stud S with respect to the body side plate  213 B of the body unit  210 , and the second gap G 2  with the inner surface  213 Bb of the body side plate  213 B. 
     When the synthetic resinous accommodating unit  220  is thermally expanded, the accommodating unit  220  is moved by the thermal expansion. The second rail  252  and the intermediate rail  253  press the second rail  252  toward the body side plate  213 B of the body unit  210  through a ball BR (see the arrow F 1  in  FIG. 4 ). However, the movement of the accommodating unit  220  by the thermal expansion is absorbed by the second gap G 2  provided between an outer surface  252   a  of the pressed second rail  252  and the inner surface  213 Bb of the body side plate  213 B. 
     When the synthetic resinous accommodating unit  220  is shrunk, the accommodating unit  220  is moved by the shrinkage. The second rail  252  and the intermediate rail  253  act to draw the second rail  252  from the body side plate  213 B of the body unit  210  to the inside through the ball BR (see the arrow F 2  in  FIG. 4 ). However, the movement of the accommodating unit  220  by the shrinkage is absorbed by the first gap G 1  between the outer surface  213 Ba of the body side plate  213 B and the stud S. 
     Thus, even when the accommodating unit  220  is thermally expanded or shrunk, the operating force when the accommodating unit  220  is mounted in or detached from the body unit  210  is suppressed from being increased. 
     In the transport device  200  according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are provided to be spaced apart from each other at the front side and the rear side of the transport device  200 , on the extension on which one of the pair of guide members  260  serving as a reference of a width direction of the sheet transport is provided. Thus, even when the accommodating unit  220  is expanded or shrunk, a position variation in one of the guide members  260  with respect to the body unit  210  is suppressed, and a position variation in the width direction of the transported sheet P is suppressed. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.