Medium containing device and image forming apparatus

A medium containing device includes a supporting member composed with a first part, a second part and a third part connecting the first part and the second part wherein the supporting member is configured to cause the first part to incline by being lifted up from a standard position, and supports recording media. When the supporting member is in the standard position, a first height position of an upper face of a first base part in a region adjacent to the first part is lower than a second height position of an upper face of the first part in a region adjacent to the first base part, and a third height position of an upper face of the second part in a region adjacent to the first base part is lower than a fourth height position of an upper face of the first base part in a region adjacent to the second part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a medium containing device that contains recording media, and an image forming apparatus provided with such a medium containing device.

BACKGROUND

In an image forming apparatus, recording media are set in a medium containing device, and images are formed on the recording media carried from this medium containing device. For example, disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a sheet feeding cassette provided with a sheet receive that supports recording media.

RELATED ART

By the way, in a medium containing device, it is desired that setting recording media is easy, and it is expected that setting recording media is facilitated.

It is desired to offer a medium containing device and an image forming apparatus that can facilitate setting recording media.

A medium containing device, disclosed in the application, includes a supporting member that is composed with a first part, a second part extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and a third part connecting the first part and the second part with each other, wherein the supporting member is configured to cause the first part to incline by being lifted up from a standard position, and supports recording media, and a first guiding member that has a first base part including a part installed between the first part and the second part, and a first erected part erected on the first base part, and guides the recording media, wherein when the supporting member is in the standard position, a first height position of an upper face of the first base part in a region adjacent to the first part is lower than a second height position of an upper face of the first part in a region adjacent to the first base part, and a third height position of an upper face of the second part in a region adjacent to the first base part is lower than a fourth height position of an upper face of the first base part in a region adjacent to the second part.

Another image forming apparatus, disclosed in the application, includes a medium containing part that contains recording media, a carrying part that carries the recording media contained in the medium containing part, and image forming parts that form images on the recording media carried by the carrying part, wherein the medium containing part has a supporting member that is composed with a first part, a second part extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and a third part connecting the first part and the second part with each other, wherein the supporting member is configured to cause the first part to incline by being lifted up from a standard position, and supports recording media, and a first guiding member that has a first base part including a part installed between the first part and the second part, and a first erected part erected on the first base part, and guides the recording media, and when the supporting member is in the standard position, a first height position of an upper face of the first base part in a region adjacent to the first part is lower than a second height position of an upper face of the first part in a region adjacent to the first base part, and a third height position of an upper face of the second part in a region adjacent to the first base part is lower than a fourth height position of an upper face of the first base part in a region adjacent to the second part.

According to the medium containing device and the image forming apparatus in an embodiment of this invention, when the supporting member is in the standard position, the first height position of the upper face of the first base part in the region adjacent to the first part is set lower than the second height position of the upper face of the first part in the region adjacent to the first base part, and the third height position of the upper face of the second part in the region adjacent to the first base part is set lower than the fourth height position of the upper face of the first base part in the region adjacent to the second part, thereby setting recording media can be facilitated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Below, embodiments of this invention are explained in detail referring to drawings. Note that the explanations are given in the following order.

1. First Embodiment

2. Second Embodiment

1. First Embodiment

FIG. 1shows a configuration example of an image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus1) provided with the medium containing device of an embodiment of this invention. The image forming apparatus1is, for example, a printer that forms images using an electrophotographic system on recording media made of normal paper, etc. The image forming apparatus1is provided with a medium containing part60, a carrying roller11, a medium supply roller12, a registration roller13, a carrying roller14, four image forming parts20(image forming parts20Y,20M,20C, and20K), four exposure heads29(exposure heads29Y,29M,29C, and29K), a transfer part30, a fuser part15, a separator16, carrying rollers41-45, and ejection rollers17and18. These members are disposed along a carrying route where recording media9are carried.

The medium containing part60is configured so as to contain recording media9where images are to be formed. The medium containing part60is configured so as to be slide-inserted to a chassis99of the image forming apparatus1from the left side ofFIG. 1. The medium containing part60has a sheet receive61and a separation roller62. The sheet receive61is configured so that it can stack the recording media9contained in the medium containing part60and be inclined at an angle according to the stacked amount of the recording media9. When the medium containing part60is extracted from the chassis99of the image forming apparatus1, the sheet receive61is fixed in an almost flat state with no inclination (a standard position). Also, when the medium containing part60is inserted to the chassis99of the image forming apparatus1, the sheet receive61is driven by an unshown motor to be inclined. The separation roller62is configured so as to form a pair with the medium supply roller12across the carrying route10.

The carrying roller11is configured so as to carry the recording media9contained in the medium containing part60toward the separation roller62and the medium supply roller12.

The medium supply roller12is configured so as to form a pair with the separation roller62across the carrying route10, extract the recording media9contained in the medium containing part60from the uppermost part by one sheet at a time, and forward the extracted recording medium9to the carrying route10.

The registration roller13is a pair of rollers across the carrying route10, and is configured so as to correct skew of the recording media9carried from the separation roller62and the medium supply roller12and carry the recording media9along the carrying route10.

The carrying roller14is a pair of rollers across the carrying route10, and is configured so as to carry the recording media9supplied from the registration roller13along the carrying route10.

The four image forming parts20are configured so as to form toner images. Specifically, the image forming part20Y forms yellow (Y) toner images, the image forming part20M forms magenta (M) toner images, the image forming part20C forms cyan (C) toner images, and the image forming part20K forms black (K) toner images. In this example, the four image forming parts20are disposed in the order of the image forming parts20Y,20M,20C, and20K along the carrying direction F of the recording media9. The image forming parts20are configured so as to be detachable from the image forming apparatus1.

FIG. 2shows a configuration example of each of the image forming parts20. Note that inFIG. 2one of the exposure heads29is also shown. The image forming part20has a toner accommodating part28, a photosensitive drum21, a cleaning blade22, a charging roller23, a development roller24, a development blade25, and a supply roller26.

The toner accommodating part28is configured so as to accommodate toner. Specifically, the toner accommodating part28of the image forming part20Y accommodates yellow toner, the toner accommodating part28of the image forming part20M accommodates magenta toner, the toner accommodating part28of the image forming part20C accommodates cyan toner, and the toner accommodating part28of the image forming part20K accommodates black toner.

The photosensitive drum21is configured so as to carry an electrostatic latent image on its surface (surface layer part). The photosensitive drum21rotates anticlockwise in this example by a power transmitted from an unshown drum motor. The photosensitive drum21is charged by the charging roller23and exposed by the exposure head29. Specifically, the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20Y is exposed by the exposure head29Y, the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20M is exposed by the exposure head29M, the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20C is exposed by the exposure head29C, and the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20K is exposed by the exposure head29K. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drums21. Then, by toner being supplied by the development roller24to the photosensitive drum21, a toner image according to the electrostatic latent image is formed.

The cleaning blade22is configured so as to perform cleaning by scraping off toner remaining on the surface (surface layer part) of the photosensitive drum21.

The charging roller23is configured so as to charge the surface (surface layer part) of the photosensitive drum21. The charging roller23is disposed so as to be in contact with the surface (circumferential face) of the photosensitive drum21and pressed against the photosensitive drum21with a prescribed amount of pressing force. The charging roller23rotates clockwise in this example according to the rotation of the photosensitive drum21. Applied to the charging roller23is a charging voltage by an image formation control part56(mentioned below).

The development roller24is configured so as to carry toner on its surface. The development roller24is disposed so as to be in contact with the surface (circumferential face) of the photosensitive drum21and pressed against the photosensitive drum21with a prescribed amount of pressing force. The development roller24rotates clockwise in this example by a power transmitted from the unshown drum motor. Applied to the development roller24is a development voltage by the image formation control part56(mentioned below).

The development blade25is configured so as to contact with the surface of the development roller24, thereby forming a layer made of toner (toner layer) on the surface of this development roller24and regulating (controlling, adjusting) the thickness of the toner layer. The development blade25is, for example, a plate-shaped elastic member made of stainless steel that is bent in an L shape. The development blade25is disposed so that its bent part is in contact with the surface of the development roller24and pressed against the development roller24with a prescribed amount of pressing force.

The supply roller26is configured so as to supply toner supplied from the toner containing part28to the development roller24. The supply roller26is disposed so as to be in contact with the surface (circumferential face) of the development roller24and pressed against the development roller24with a prescribed amount of pressing force. The supply roller26rotates clockwise in this example by a power transmitted from the unshown drum motor. Thereby, in each of the image forming parts20, friction occurs between the surface of the supply roller26and the surface of the development roller24. As a result, in each of the image forming parts20, toner is charged by so-called frictional charging. Applied to the supply roller26is a supply voltage by the image formation control part56(mentioned below).

The four exposure heads29(FIG. 1) are configured so as to radiate light onto the respective photosensitive drums21of the corresponding image forming parts20. Specifically, the exposure head29Y radiates light onto the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20Y, the exposure head29M radiates light onto the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20M, the exposure head29C radiates light onto the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20C, and the exposure head29K radiates light onto the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20K. Each of the exposure heads29has multiple light emitting diodes arranged in the main scanning direction (the depth direction inFIG. 1) for example, and radiates light in dots onto the corresponding photosensitive drum21using these light emitting diodes. Thereby, these photosensitive drums21are exposed by the corresponding exposure heads29, forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of each of the photosensitive drums21.

The transfer part30is configured so as to transfer the toner images formed by the four image forming parts20onto a transfer target surface of the recording medium9. The transfer part30has a transfer belt31, four transfer rollers32(32Y,32M,32C, and32K), a drive roller33, and a driven roller34.

The transfer belt31is configured so as to carry the recording medium9along the carrying route10in the carrying direction F. The transfer belt31is stretched by the drive roller33and the driven roller34. Then, the transfer belt31is circularly carried in the carrying direction F according to the rotation of the drive roller33.

The transfer roller32Y is disposed opposing the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20Y across the carrying route10and the transfer belt31, the transfer roller32M is disposed opposing the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20M across the carrying route10and the transfer belt31, the transfer roller32C is disposed opposing the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20C across the carrying route10and the transfer belt31, and the transfer roller32K is disposed opposing the photosensitive drum21of the image forming part20K across the carrying route10and the transfer belt31. Applied to each of the transfer rollers32Y,32M,32C, and32K is a transfer voltage by the image formation control part56(mentioned below). Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, the toner images formed in the image forming parts20are transferred onto the transfer target surface of the recording medium9.

The drive roller33is configured so as to stretch the transfer belt31together with the driven roller34and circularly carry this transfer belt31. In this example, the drive roller33is disposed in the downstream side of the four image forming parts20in the carrying direction F. The drive roller33rotates clockwise in this example by a power transmitted from an unshown belt motor.

The driven roller34is configured so as to stretch the transfer belt31together with the drive roller33and be rotated according to the circular carriage of the transfer belt31. In this example, the driven roller34is disposed in the upstream side of the four image forming parts20in the carrying direction F.

The fuser part15is configured so as to have the toner image transferred onto a recording medium9fused with the recording medium9by applying heat and a pressure to the recording medium9. The fuser part15has a heat roller15A and a pressure application roller15B. The heat roller15A is configured so as to give heat to the toner on the recording medium9. The heat roller15A is configured including a heater such as a halogen heater. The heat roller15A rotates anticlockwise in this example by a power transmitted from an unshown heater motor. The pressure application roller15B is configured so as to be pressed against the heat roller15A with a prescribed amount of pressing force. Thereby, in the fuser part15, a nip part is formed between the heat roller15A and the pressure application roller15B, and in this nip part the toner on the recording medium9is heated, melted, and pressed. As a result, the toner image is fused onto the recording medium9.

The separator16is configured so as to switch the carrying route10that should carry a recording medium9supplied from the fuser part15to one of a carrying route10returning to the registration roller13(a carrying route10A, a retreat carrying route10B, and a carrying route10C) and a carrying route10guiding to an ejection tray19(a carrying route10D). Note that inFIG. 1the separator16guides recording media9to the carrying route10D. The carrying route10returning the recording medium9to the registration roller13is selected when forming images on both sides of the recording medium9, namely performing a so-called double-side printing.

The carrying roller41is a pair of rollers across the carrying route10A disposed in the downstream side of the separator16in the carrying route10A, and is configured so as to carry a recording medium9guided to the carrying route10A by the separator16along the carrying route10A.

The carrying roller42is a pair of rollers, and is configured so as to carry a recording medium9carried by the carrying roller41along the carrying route10A to the retreat carrying route10B, afterwards reverse the carrying direction of the recording medium9, and carry the recording medium9retreated to the retreat carrying route10B along the carrying route10C.

The carrying roller43is a pair or rollers across the carrying route10C, the carrying roller44is a pair of rollers across the carrying route10C, and the carrying roller45is a pair or rollers across the carrying route10C. The carrying rollers43-45are configured so as to carry a recording medium9along the carrying route10C toward the registration roller13.

The ejection roller17is a pair or rollers across the carrying route10D disposed in the downstream side of the separator16in the carrying route10D, and is configured so as to carry a recording medium9guided to the carrying route10D by the separator16along the carrying route10D.

The ejection roller18is a pair or rollers across the carrying route10D, and is configured so as to carry a recording medium9carried by the ejection roller17toward the ejection tray19.

FIG. 3shows an example of the control system of the image forming apparatus1. The image forming apparatus1is provided with a communication part51, a display/operation part52, a sensor53, a sheet receive driving part54, a carrying control part55, an image formation control part56, a fuser control part57, and a control part58.

The communication part51is configured so as to perform communication using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) or LAN (Local Area Network) for example. The communication part51is configured so as to receive print data DP sent from a host computer (not shown) for example.

The display/operation part52is configured so as to receive a user's operations and display the operation state of the image forming apparatus1, instructions to the user, etc. The display/operation part52is configured of a touch panel, various buttons, a liquid crystal display, various indicators, etc. for example.

The sensor53is configured so as to detect that the medium containing part60is inserted to the image forming apparatus1.

The sheet receive driving part54includes a motor for example, and is configured so as to operate this motor according to instructions from the control part58when the medium containing part60is inserted to the image forming apparatus1, thereby inclining the sheet receive61until the uppermost part of a bunch of recording media9on the sheet receive61comes into contact with the carrying roller11(FIG. 1). Therefore, the sheet receive61is inclined at an angle according to the stacked amount of recording media9in the medium containing part60.

The carrying control part55is configured so as to control the operations of various motors and the separator16related to the carrying operation of recording media9according to instructions from the control part58, thereby carrying the recording media9along the carrying route10.

The image formation control part56is configured so as to control image forming operations in the four image forming parts20, the four exposure heads29, and the transfer part30according to instructions from the control part58, thereby forming images on recording media9. Specifically, the image formation control part56generates the charging voltage, the development voltage, the supply voltage, and the transfer voltage used in the four image forming parts20and the transfer part30. Also, the image formation control part56controls the operations of the drum motor and the belt motor that are unshown, thereby controlling the operations of various rollers in the four image forming parts20and the transfer part30. Also, the image formation control part56controls the exposure operations in the four exposure heads29based on images to be formed.

The fuser control part57is configured so as to control the fusing operation in the fuser part15according to instructions from the control part58. Specifically, the fuser control part57controls the operation of the heater (not shown) inside the heat roller15A, thereby controlling temperature in the fuser part15. Also, the fuser control part57controls the operation of the unshown heater motor, thereby controlling the carrying operation of the recording medium9in the fuser part15.

The control part58controls the operations of individual blocks inside the image forming apparatus1, thereby controlling the whole operation of the image forming apparatus1. The control part58is configured, for example, using a processor that can execute programs, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores the programs, etc.

FIG. 4shows a configuration example of the medium containing part60. The medium containing part60has a case69, two medium guides63(medium guides63L and63R), and a tail guide64.FIG. 5shows a configuration example of the sheet receive61and the two medium guides63.

The case69(FIG. 4) is configured so as to contain recording media9. The case69has a front face part69F, a left-side face part69L, a right-side face part69R, and a bottom part69B. The medium containing part60is configured so as to be inserted to the chassis99of the image forming apparatus1by the user pressing the front face part69F and sliding it in the Y direction. Installed on the upper part of the front face part69F is the separation roller62. Also, installed on the bottom part69B are the sheet receive61, the two medium guides63, and the tail guide64.

The sheet receive61(FIG. 5) has stacking parts61A-61C and two hook-shaped parts61D. The stacking parts61A and61B are formed so as to extend in the X direction and be arranged in the Y direction. The stacking part61C connects the vicinity of the center in the X direction of the stacking part61A and the vicinity of the center in the X direction of the stacking part61B with each other. In other words, in the sheet receive61, a region between the stacking part61A and the stacking part61B except in the vicinity of the X-direction center is cut out, forming cut-out sections WL and WR. Also, the stacking part61B has steps SL and SR installed near the stacking part61C. In this example, the steps SL and SR are formed so as to extend in the Y direction. Other than these steps SL and SR, the upper faces of the stacking parts61A-61C are formed so as to be approximately flat. Thereby, the height position of the upper face of the part adjacent to the cut-out section WL in the stacking part61B is formed lower than the height position of the upper face of the part adjacent to this cut-out section WL in the stacking part61A. In the same manner, the height position of the upper face of the region (61R) adjacent to the cut-out section WR in the stacking part61B is formed lower than the height position of the upper face of the region (61S) adjacent to this cut-out section WR in the stacking part61A. The two hook-shaped parts61D are formed at both ends in the X direction of the stacking part61B. As shown inFIG. 4, the two hook-shaped parts61D are each rotatably connected to protruding parts69P installed on the inner sides of the left-side face part69L and the right-side face part69R. That is, the sheet receive61can rotate with this protruding part69P as the rotational fulcrum. Thereby, driven by the sheet receive driving part54, the sheet receive61can be inclined so that the stacking part61A is lifted up from the standard position. In the embodiment, the stacking parts61A and61B extends in parallel between the lateral sides (X-direction). The stacking parts61A-61C are integrally formed from a single metal plate, and ascend/desend together.

The two medium guides63(FIG. 5) are configured so as to contact with the side faces of a bunch of recording media9in the width direction (X direction) of the recording media9, thereby guiding the recording media9. The medium guides63L and63R are disposed so as to oppose each other across the stacking part61C of the sheet receive61. That is, the medium guide63L is disposed in the cut-out section WL of the sheet receive61, and the medium guide63R is disposed in the cut-out section WR of the sheet receive61. The medium guides63L and63R are configured movable in the X direction on the bottom part69B of the case69. Specifically, the medium guides63L and63R can move by the same amount of movement in mutually different directions in the X direction. Thereby, in the medium containing part60, recording media9of various sizes can be set, and the center position in the width direction of the set recording media9can be maintained independently of the size of the recording media9.

Each of the two medium guides63has a base part101, guiding parts102and103, and a protruding part104.

The base part101is configured so as to support the guiding part102. When the two medium guides63are moved in the X direction to narrow the space between the two medium guides63, the base parts101of the two medium guides63fit under the stacking part61C. Thereby, the medium guides63can guide narrow recording media9.

FIG. 6shows the positional relation between the medium guide63R and the stacking parts61A and61B of the sheet receive61when the sheet receive61is in the standard position. As shown in thisFIG. 6, the height position of the upper face of the base part101in the region (101P) adjacent to the stacking part61A is lower than the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61A in the region (61P) adjacent to the base part101by height H1. Also, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61B in the region (61Q) adjacent to the base part101is lower than the height position of the upper face of the base part101in the region (101Q) adjacent to the stacking part61B by height H2. Note that although the positional relation between the medium guide63R and the stacking parts61A and61B was described inFIG. 6, the same applies to the positional relation between the medium guide63L and the stacking parts61A and61B. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, as mentioned below, when the user sets recording media9into the medium containing part60, setting the recording media9can be facilitated.

The guiding part102is configured so as to be erected on the base part101in a part away from the stacking part61C of the base part101. The guiding part102is configured so as to be in contact with the side face of a bunch of recording media9. The side face is determined with respect to the X direction. The guiding part102is configured so as to have an extension part102A extending in the Y direction above the stacking part61A. In other words, in the guiding part102, the lower vicinity of the extension part102A is cut out in order to prevent the guiding part102from interfering with the stacking part61A when the sheet receive61is inclined. In this embodiment, a pair of the guiding part102is arranged, each of which faces in X-direction.

The guiding part103is disposed near the stacking part61A of the sheet receive61on the guiding part102. This guiding part103is configured rotatable centering on the rotational fulcrum103A installed on the extension part102A of the guiding part102. When the sheet receive61is in the standard position, as shown inFIG. 6, the guiding part103rotates by its own weight, and the lower edge103leof the guiding part103contacts with the stacking part61A of the sheet receive61, thus covering the cut-out section below the extension part102A of the guiding part102. Thereby, as mentioned below, the image forming apparatus1is designed so that when the user sets recording media9in the medium containing part60, setting the recording media9can be facilitated. The cut-out section is indicated with a light hatching inFIG. 6. In this embodiment, a pair of the guiding part103is arranged, each of which faces in X-direction and disposed inside the guiding parts102.

Note that although the cut-out section of the guiding part102is covered using one piece of plate in this example, this invention is not limited to this, but multiple pieces of plates can be stacked, and these multiple pieces of plates can be each shifted slightly centering on the rotational fulcrum103A to cover the cut-out section of the guiding part102.

The protruding part104of the medium guide63L is installed protruding toward the medium guide63R on the upper part of the guiding part102, and the protruding part104of the medium guide63R is installed protruding toward the medium guide63L on the upper part of the guiding part102. The protruding parts104are installed so as to prevent the recording media9stacked on the sheet receive61from rising up when carrying a recording medium9from the medium containing part60. These protruding parts104are disposed in a position higher than the height corresponding to the maximum stacked amount of recording media9in the medium containing part60.

The tail guide64is configured so as to contact with the side face of a bunch of recording media9in the length direction (Y direction) of the recording media9, thereby guiding the recording media9. The tail guide64is configured movable in the Y direction on the bottom part69B of the case69. Thereby, recording media9of various sizes can be set in the medium containing part60.

Here, the sheet receive61corresponds to a specific example of the “supporting member” in this invention. The stacking part61A corresponds to a specific example of the “first part” in this invention, the stacking part61B corresponds to a specific example of the “second part” in this invention, and the stacking part61C corresponds to a specific example of the “third part” in this invention. The two medium guides63correspond to specific examples of the “first guiding member” and the “second guiding member” in this invention. The base parts101of the two medium guides63correspond to specific examples of the “first base part” and the “second base part” in this invention. The guiding parts102of the two medium guides63correspond to specific examples of the “first erected part” and the “second erected part” in this invention. The guiding part103corresponds to a specific example of the “rotating part” in this invention. The case69corresponds to a specific example of the “medium case” in this invention. The sheet receive driving part54corresponds to a specific example of the “lifting part” in this invention. The medium containing part60corresponds to a specific example of the “medium containing part” in this invention. The carrying roller11, the separation roller62, the medium supply roller12, the registration roller13, and the carrying roller14correspond to a specific example of the “carrying part” in this invention. The image forming parts20correspond to a specific example of the “image forming part” in this invention.

Next, the operations and actions of the image forming apparatus1of this invention are explained.

First, the overall operation outline of the image forming apparatus1is explained referring toFIGS. 1 and 3. Once the communication part51has received print data DP sent from the host computer (not shown), the control part58controls the operation of each block so that the image forming apparatus1performs an image forming operation. Thereby, the image forming operation is started.

The carrying roller11, the medium supply roller12, and the separation roller62extract recording media9contained in the medium containing part60from the uppermost part by one sheet at a time, and forwards the extracted recording medium9to the carrying route10. The registration roller13corrects skew of the recording medium9, and also carries the recording medium9along the carrying route10. Thereby, the recording medium9is carried to the four image forming parts20.

In each of the four image forming parts20, the surface of the photosensitive drum21is negatively charged by the charging roller23. Then, by the photosensitive drum21being exposed by the exposure head29, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum21. Then, by toner being supplied by the development roller24to the photosensitive drum21, a toner image according to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum21. The transfer part30transfers the toner images formed on the four image forming parts20onto the transfer target surface of the recording medium9. Then, in the fuser part15, the toner on the recording medium9is heated, melted, and pressed. As a result, the toner image is fused onto the recording medium9.

Then, the separator16guides the recording medium9supplied from the fuser part15to the carrying route10D in this example. The ejection rollers17and18carry the recording medium9along the carrying route10D. Thereby, the recording medium9is ejected to the ejection tray19.

In the image forming apparatus1, the user extracts the medium containing part60from the chassis99of the image forming apparatus1, and sets recording media9in the medium containing part60. At that time, if the medium containing part60can be fully extracted from the chassis99, the user can set a bunch of the recording media9from right above the extracted medium containing part60. However, if the installation space for the image forming apparatus1cannot be sufficiently secured, because the user cannot fully extract the medium containing part60from the chassis99, he extracts the medium containing part60midway and sets the recording media9into the midway extracted medium containing part60. Even in such a case, the image forming apparatus1can make it easy for the user to set the recording media9into the medium containing part60. Below, this technology is explained in detail.

FIGS. 7 and 8show the states of the medium containing part60when the user sets recording media9. In this example, the user has extracted the medium containing part60midway from the chassis99of the image forming apparatus1. Specifically, in this example, the user has extracted the medium containing part60by about 20 cm. By extracting the medium containing part60in this manner, the sheet receive61is fixed to an almost flat state with no inclination (the standard position). For example, when setting recording media9of the A4 size, at this extent of extraction, the user cannot set a bunch of the recording media9from right above the medium containing part60. Therefore, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the user slip-inserts the bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60from an opening part OP generated by extracting the medium containing part60midway, thereby setting the recording media9into the medium containing part60.

Once the user has inserted the bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60, the bunch of recording media9is first guided by the guiding parts103installed in front of the guiding parts102in the medium guides63L and63R, and afterwards guided by the guiding parts102of the medium guides63L and63R. Then, the lower face of the bunch of recording media9is guided by the stacking parts61A-61C of the sheet receive61and the base parts101of the medium guides63L and63R

For example, inFIG. 7, the leading edge of the lower face of a bunch of recording media9has reached the vicinity of the boundary between the stacking part61A of the sheet receive61and the base parts101of the medium guides63L and63R. In the image forming apparatus1, as shown inFIG. 6, the height position of the upper faces of the base parts101in the region adjacent to the stacking part61A is set lower than the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61A in the region adjacent to the base parts101. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, as shown inFIG. 7, when the user inserts a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60, the possibility that the leading edge of the lower face of the bunch of recording media9is caught in the vicinity of the boundary between the stacking part61A and the base parts101can be reduced.

Also, in the image forming apparatus1, as shown inFIG. 7, the guiding parts103cover the cut-out sections below the extension parts102A of the guiding parts102. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, as shown inFIG. 7, when the user inserts a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60, the possibility that the leading edge corner of the bunch of recording media9is caught by the cut-out sections of the guiding parts102can be reduced.

Also, for example, inFIG. 8, the leading edge of the lower face of a bunch of recording media9has reached the vicinity of the boundary between the base parts101of the medium guides63L and63R and the stacking part61B of the sheet receive61. In the image forming apparatus1, as shown inFIG. 6, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61B in the region adjacent to the base parts101is set lower than the height position of the upper faces of the base parts101in the region adjacent to the stacking part61B. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, as shown inFIG. 8, when the user inserts a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60, the possibility that the leading edge of the lower face of the bunch of recording media9is caught in the vicinity of the boundary between the base parts101and the stacking part61B can be reduced.

Once the user has finished slip-inserting the bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60in this manner, the user presses the front face part69F to slide the medium containing part60in the Y direction, thereby inserting the medium containing part60to the chassis99of the image forming apparatus1. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, in this example, the sensor53detects that the medium containing part60is inserted to the chassis99of the image forming apparatus1, and the sheet receive driving part54operates an unshown motor to incline the sheet receive61from the standard position until the uppermost part of the bunch of recording media9on the sheet receive61contacts with the carrying roller11(FIG. 1). As a result, the sheet receive61is inclined at an angle according to the stacked amount of recording media9in the medium containing part60.

Every time the image forming apparatus1performs an image forming operation, the sheet receive driving part54drives the sheet receive61in the same manner. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the image forming operation, the inclination angle of the sheet receive61increases as the stacked amount of recording media9in the medium containing part60decreases.

FIG. 9shows the state of the medium containing part60when the stacked amount of recording media9is small. In the image forming apparatus1, by repeatedly performing the image forming operation, the stacked amount of recording media9decreases, and the inclination angle of the sheet receive61increases. Thereby, in the medium containing part60, as shown inFIG. 9, according to the inclination angle of its sheet receive61, the stacking part61A of the sheet receive61pushes up the lower edges of the guiding parts103. Because the guiding parts103can rotate centering on the rotational fulcrums103A installed on the extension parts102A of the guiding parts102, the sheet receive61can be inclined without being blocked by these guiding parts103.

Also, as shown inFIG. 9, as the inclination angle of the sheet receive61increases, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61B in the region adjacent to the base parts101becomes higher than the height position of the upper faces of the base parts101in the region adjacent to the stacking part61B. InFIG. 9, this height position difference is indicated as height H2a.Thereby, for example, recording media9contained in the medium containing part60are held by the sheet receive61and not lifted up by the edge parts of the base parts101adjacent to the stacking part61B, therefore deformations of the recording media9can be suppressed. Also, for example, when the last sheet of the recording media9contained in the medium containing part60is carried from the medium containing part60, because the recording medium9does not touch the edge parts of the base parts101, the possibility that the recording medium9is rubbed by touching these edge parts of the base parts101can be reduced. Note that this height H2acan vary depending on the stacked amount of recording media9. Therefore, the stacked amount that makes this height H2ano smaller than 0 (zero) when the recording media9are contained in the medium containing part60can be set as the maximum stacked amount of recording media9for the medium containing part60. Thereby, for example, deformations of the recording media9contained in the medium containing part60can be suppressed.

In this manner, in the image forming apparatus1, as shown inFIG. 6, when the sheet receive61is in the standard position, the height position of the upper faces of the base parts101in the region adjacent to the stacking part61A is set lower than the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61A in the region adjacent to the base parts101. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, when the user slip-inserts a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60for example, as shown inFIG. 7, the possibility that the leading edge of the lower face of the bunch of recording media9is caught in the vicinity of the boundary between the stacking part61A and the base parts101can be reduced. Therefore, setting the recording media9into the medium containing part60can be facilitated.

Also, in the image forming apparatus1, as shown inFIG. 6, when the sheet receive61is in the standard position, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61B in the region adjacent to the base parts101is set lower than the height position of the upper faces of the base parts101in the region adjacent to the stacking part61B. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, when the user slip-inserts a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60for example, as shown inFIG. 8, the possibility that the leading edge of the lower face of the bunch of recording media9is caught in the vicinity of the boundary between the base parts101and the stacking part61B can be reduced. Therefore, setting the recording media9into the medium containing part60can be facilitated.

Also, the image forming apparatus1is designed so as to install the guiding parts103that can rotate centering on the rotational fulcrums103A installed on the extension parts102A of the guiding parts102. Thereby, in the image forming apparatus1, when the sheet receive61is in the standard position, the guiding parts103can cover the cut-out sections below the extension parts102A of the guiding parts102. Therefore, for example, when the user slip-inserts a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60, as shown inFIG. 7, the possibility that the leading edge corner of the bunch of recording media9is caught by the cut-out sections of the guiding parts102can be reduced. Therefore, setting the recording media9into the medium containing part60can be facilitated.

Also, because the guiding parts103can rotate centering on the rotational fulcrums103A in this manner, the sheet receive61can be inclined without being blocked by these guiding parts103. Therefore, even when the stacked amount of recording media9has become small, the recording media9can be supplied to the carrying route10.

Also, because the image forming apparatus1can make it easy for the user to slip-insert a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60in this manner, even when the medium containing part60can only be extracted midway from the chassis99of the image forming apparatus1, setting the recording media9into the medium containing part60can be facilitated. In other words, even when the installation space for the image forming apparatus1cannot be secured enough, setting the recording media9into the medium containing part60can be facilitated.

Also, in the image forming apparatus1, for example, even when the medium containing part60can be fully extracted from the chassis99, the possibility that the user damages recording media9by slip-inserting a bunch of the recording media9to the medium containing part60. That is, when the medium containing part60is fully extracted from the chassis99, the user can set a bunch of recording media9from right above the extracted medium containing part60. However, in this case, because the recording media9interfere with the protruding parts104installed on the upper parts of the guiding parts102of the medium guides63L and63R (FIG. 5), the recording media9may be damaged. On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus1, because the user can slip-insert a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part60, the possibility that the recording media9interfere with these protruding parts104can be reduced. As a result, the image forming apparatus1can reduce the possibility that recording media9are damaged when the user sets the recording media9into the medium containing part60.

As stated above, in this embodiment, when the sheet receive is in the standard position, the height position of the upper faces of the base parts101in the region adjacent to the stacking part61A is set lower than the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61A in the region adjacent to the base parts101, therefore setting recording media into the medium containing part can be facilitated.

In this embodiment, when the sheet receive is in the standard position, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61B in the region adjacent to the base parts101is set lower than the height position of the upper faces of the base parts101in the region adjacent to the stacking part61B, therefore setting recording media into the medium containing pat can be facilitated.

In this embodiment, installed are the guiding parts103that can rotate centering on the rotational fulcrums installed on the extension parts of the guiding parts102, therefor setting recording media into the medium containing part can be facilitated.

MODIFICATION EXAMPLE 1

Although in the above-mentioned embodiment, the sheet receive61is inclined by the sheet receive driving part54, this invention is not limited to this, but instead, the sheet receive61can be inclined using a bias force by a spring for example. In this case, this spring corresponds to a specific example of the “lifting part” in this invention.

2. Second Embodiment

Next, explained is an image forming apparatus2of the second embodiment. This embodiment is different from the above-mentioned first embodiment in the configurations of the sheet receive and the medium guides. Note that the components that are essentially identical to those of the image forming apparatus1of the above-mentioned first embodiment are given the same codes, and their explanations are omitted as appropriate.

The image forming apparatus2is provided with a medium containing part70as shown inFIG. 1. In the same manner as the medium containing part60of the above-mentioned first embodiment (FIG. 4), the medium containing part70has a sheet receive71and two medium guides73(medium guides73L and73R).

FIG. 10shows a configuration example of the sheet receive71and the two medium guides73.FIG. 11shows the positional relation between the sheet receive71and the two medium guides73when the two medium guides73are moved in the X direction to narrow the space between the two medium guides73.

The sheet receive71has stacking parts61A,71B, and61C, and two hook-shaped parts61D. The stacking parts61A and71B are formed so as to extend in the X direction and be arranged in the Y direction. The stacking part61C connects the vicinity of the center in the X direction of the stacking part61A and the vicinity of the center in the X direction of the stacking part71B with each other. The upper faces of the stacking parts61A,71B, and61C are formed so as to be approximately flat.

Each of the two medium guides73has a base part201, guiding parts102and103, and a protruding part104. The base part201is configured so as to support the guiding part102. The base part201has a flat part201A and an inclined part201B. The flat part201A is a part away from the guiding part102, and the upper face of the flat part201A is configured so as to be flat in the Y direction. The inclined part201B is a part adjacent to the guiding part102, and the upper face of the inclined part201B is configured so as to be inclined in the Y direction. Specifically, the height position of the upper face of the inclined part201B decreases toward the stacking part61A and increases toward the stacking part71B.

As shown inFIG. 11, when the space between the two medium guides73is narrowed, the flat parts201A of the base parts201of the two medium guides73fits under the stacking part61C. On the other hand, because the inclined parts201B of the base parts201of the two medium guides73interfere with this stacking part61C, they are designed so as not to fit under the stacking part61C.

FIG. 12shows the positional relation between the medium guide73R and the stacking parts61A and71B of the sheet receive71when the sheet receive71is in the standard position. As shown in thisFIG. 12, the height position of the upper face of the inclined part201B of the base part201in the region adjacent to the stacking part61A is lower than the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61A in the region adjacent to this inclined part201B by height H3. Also, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part71B in the region adjacent to this inclined part201B is lower than the height position of the upper face of this inclined part201B in the region adjacent to the stacking part71B by height H4. Note that although in thisFIG. 12the positional relation between the medium guide73R and the stacking parts61A and71B was described, the same applies to the positional relation between the medium guide73L and the stacking parts61A and71B.

FIG. 13shows the state of the medium containing part70when the stacked amount of recording media9is small. As shown inFIG. 13, when the inclination angle of the sheet receive71becomes large, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part71B in the region adjacent to the inclined parts201B becomes higher than the height position of the upper faces of these inclined parts201B in the region adjacent to the stacking part71B. InFIG. 13, this height position difference is indicated as height H4a.Thereby, for example, the recording media9contained in the medium containing part70are held by the sheet receive71and not lifted by the edge parts of the inclined parts201B adjacent to the stacking part71B, therefore deformations of the recording media9can be suppressed. Also, for example, when the last sheet of recording media9contained in the medium containing part70is carried from the medium containing part70, because the recording medium9does not touch the edge parts of the inclined parts201B, the possibility that the edge parts of these inclined parts201B influence the recording medium9can be reduced. Note that this height H4acan vary depending on the stacked amount of recording media9. Therefore, when the recording media9are contained in the medium containing part70, the stacked amount that makes this height H4ano smaller than 0 (zero) can be regarded as the maximum stacked amount of recording media9in the medium containing part70. Thereby, for example, deformations of the recording media9contained in the medium containing part70can be suppressed.

In this manner, in the image forming apparatus2, when the sheet receive71is in the standard position, the height position of the upper faces of the inclined parts201B of the base parts201in the region adjacent to the stacking part61A is set lower than the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61A in the region adjacent to these inclined parts201B. Thereby, in the same manner as in the above-mentioned first embodiment (FIG. 7), in the image forming apparatus2, when the user slip-inserts a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part70for example, the possibility that the leading edge of the lower face of the bunch of recording media9is caught in the vicinity of the boundary between the stacking part61A and the base parts201can be reduced. Therefore, setting the recording media9into the medium containing part70can be facilitated.

Also, in the image forming apparatus2, when the sheet receive71is in the standard position, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part71B in the region adjacent to the inclined parts201B of the base parts201is set lower than the height position of the upper faces of these inclined parts201B in the region adjacent to the stacking part71B. Thereby, in the same manner as in the above-mentioned first embodiment (FIG. 8), in the image forming apparatus2, when the user slip-inserts a bunch of recording media9to the medium containing part70for example, the possibility that the leading edge of the lower face of the bunch of recording media9is caught in the vicinity of the boundary between the base parts201and the stacking part71B can be reduced. Therefore, setting the recording media9into the medium containing part70can be facilitated.

As stated above, in this embodiment, when the sheet receive is in the standard position, the height position of the upper faces of the inclined parts of the base parts201in the region adjacent to the stacking part61A is set lower than the height position of the upper face of the stacking part61A in the region adjacent to these inclined parts. Therefore, setting the recording media into the medium continuing part can be facilitated.

In this embodiment, when the sheet receive is in the standard position, the height position of the upper face of the stacking part71B in the region adjacent to the inclined parts of the base parts201is set lower than the height position of the upper faces of these inclined parts in the region adjacent to the stacking part71B. Therefore, setting the recording media into the medium containing part can be facilitated.

Although this technology was explained above citing several embodiments and modification examples, this technology is not limited to these embodiments etc., but various modifications are possible.

For example, although in the above-mentioned embodiments etc., the base parts of the medium guides were designed not to overlap with the stacking part61A of the sheet receive, this technology is not limited to this, but instead, part of the base parts can be disposed under the stacking part61A for example.

For example, although in the above-mentioned embodiments etc., images were formed on recording media9by an electrophotographic system, this technology is not limited to this but can form images by any system. Also, although in the above-mentioned embodiments, color images were formed on the recording media9, this technology is not limited to this but can form monochrome images.

For example, although in the above-mentioned embodiments etc., this technology was applied to single-function printers, this technology is not limited to this, but instead, it can be applied to so-called multifunction peripherals (MFPs) that have a copy function, a facsimile function, a scanning function, a printing function, etc. for example.