Support frame for sheet conveying apparatus and sheet conveying apparatus

A support frame for a sheet conveying apparatus includes a bottom plate that includes a first member having a first surface portion and a first wall portion and a second member having a second surface portion and a second wall portion, a support rod that is fixed to the bottom plate, and a plurality of installation members that is fixed to the bottom plate and installs the sheet conveying apparatus. The second member is fixed to the first member by the second wall portion overlapping and being joined to the first wall portion on an outer side of the first wall portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a support frame for a sheet conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet and a sheet conveying apparatus having the support frame.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a support frame for an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet or a conveying apparatus that conveys a sheet includes a side plate, a support rod, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a stay that each include sheet metal or a pipe material. The bottom plate of such a support frame is particularly required to have high strength and rigidity, while the thickness and weight are reduced.

In such a situation, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-16384 discloses a support frame for a sheet conveying apparatus in which a first member forming an upper surface and a second member forming a lower surface are stacked in a box shape in such a way that the inside is hollow so that a bottom plate is formed. In the support frame of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-16384, the edges of the first member and the second member are molded into a gutter shape, a flat surface portion and a wall portion are formed in the first member and the second member, and the wall portions of the first member and the second member are joined to each other, so that the bottom plate is formed. Further, the support frame of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-16384 is configured so that the wall portion of the first member is arranged outside the wall portion of the second member, and the first member covers the second member.

The support frame of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-16384 with the configuration described above can prevent the twist and deformation when being installed on an uneven installation surface, and thus can achieve high flatness in the entire bottom plate and prevent the internal parts of an apparatus to be arranged from tilting.

Furthermore, a plurality of installation members such as casters for transporting the apparatus to be arranged or adjusters for preventing the installed apparatus from moving and anchoring the apparatus is attached to the bottom plate of the support frame for the conventional sheet conveying apparatus in which the bottom plate includes the upper surface member and the lower surface member. In this case, the bottom plate can be provided at a position as low as possible in order to reduce the height of the entire apparatus and make the apparatus compact. For this reason, the support frame for the conventional sheet conveying apparatus adopts a configuration in which the caster is attached to a drawn portion that has a shape obtained by drawing the lower surface member of the bottom plate upward, or a configuration in which the caster inserted into a hole in the lower surface member of the bottom plate is attached to the upper surface member.

Generally, when a plurality of mounting portions such as drawn portions or holes is provided in the bottom plate in order to attach a plurality of installation members such as casters to the end portions of the bottom plate, it is necessary to provide a space between the edge portion of the member including the lower surface and the mounting portion in a horizontal direction for the purpose of achieving the strength and rigidity of the bottom plate. In this case, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-16384, since the first member, which is a size larger than the second member, covers the second member, there is a problem that the projected area of the bottom plate is larger than the projected area of the installation surface of the apparatus surrounded by a virtual line connecting the plurality of installation members, and the apparatus becomes large.

It is desirable to provide a support frame for a sheet conveying apparatus that can reduce the difference in the projected area of a bottom plate with respect to the projected area of an installation surface of the apparatus as compared with a conventional case, while achieving strength and rigidity in a case where the bottom plate includes an installation member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A support frame for a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention is a support frame for a sheet conveying apparatus that includes a bottom plate that includes a first member that has a first surface portion with a substantially rectangular shape and a first wall portion that is bent at a substantially right angle to the first surface portion and extends vertically downward from a peripheral edge of the first surface portion, the peripheral edge having a substantially rectangular shape, and a second member that has a second surface portion with a substantially rectangular shape and a second wall portion that is bent at a substantially right angle to the second surface portion and extends vertically upward from a peripheral edge of the second surface portion, the peripheral edge having a substantially rectangular shape, a support rod that is fixed to the bottom plate, and a plurality of installation members that is fixed to the bottom plate and installs the sheet conveying apparatus on an installation surface, wherein the second member is fixed to the first member by the second wall portion overlapping and being joined to the first wall portion on an outer side of the first wall portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of Support Frame for Sheet Conveying Apparatus>

The configuration of a support frame1for a sheet conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.1to4.

The support frame1for a sheet conveying apparatus has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The support frame1supports a sheet conveying apparatus (not illustrated) such as a conveying apparatus that sequentially conveys a recording material such as a sheet or a sheet material of an OHP sheet on which a toner image is formed in an image forming apparatus. Further, the support frame1also supports a fixing device that heats and pressurizes the toner image formed on the recording material to fix the toner image. Although a description is given by using the sheet conveying apparatus as an example, the configuration of the present embodiment may be applied to an image forming apparatus as a sheet conveying apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image and a sheet conveying unit.

Specifically, the support frame1has support rods121,122, and123, a side plate131, a top plate141, a bottom plate150, and a stay161.

The support rods121,122, and123, the side plate131, the top plate141, the bottom plate150, and the stay161each include sheet metal obtained by performing plastic processing on a metal plate. The support rods121,122, and123include metal pipes, or are formed by bending metal plates or combining bent metal plates in a prismatic shape.

The caster158includes a wheel that rotates in contact with an installation surface such as a floor, and a swivel portion having a wheel that can rotate about an axis perpendicular to the installation surface as a rotation axis. The caster158is provided to cause a device such as a sheet conveying apparatus to be movable. The caster158is an installation member provided at the end portion or corner of the bottom plate150.

The adjuster159is provided to anchor an apparatus (not illustrated) such as a conveying apparatus arranged in the support frame1after the apparatus is installed. The adjuster159is an installation member provided at the end portion of the bottom plate150.

<Configuration of Bottom Plate>

The configuration of the bottom plate150according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.4to10. InFIGS.8and10, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis form a 3-axis Cartesian coordinate system, and a description is given with the positive direction of the y-axis being a back direction, the negative direction of the y-axis being a front direction, the positive direction of the x-axis being a right direction, the negative direction of the x-axis being a left direction, the positive direction of the z-axis being an up direction, and the negative direction of the z-axis being a down direction.

The bottom plate150includes a first member151and a second member152, and the first member151and the second member152are fitted in a box shape each other in such a way that the inside is hollow, while the second member152covers the first member151. The bottom plate150includes a cavity portion153that is formed in the internal space surrounded by the first member151and the second member152.

The first member151forms the upper surface of the bottom plate150in a vertical direction, and has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above in the vertical direction. Here, the substantially rectangular shape includes not only a shape in which the four corners are right angles, but also a shape in which each of the four corners is chamfered. As illustrated inFIG.6, a recording material conveying member900for an apparatus such as a sheet conveying apparatus is attached on the upper surface of the first member151.

The first member151includes a flat surface portion151-1that is flat along a horizontal direction parallel to an x-y plane, an edge wall portion151-2that is provided on the peripheral edge of the rectangle, a mounting shape portion151-3, lance portions151-4and151-5, and a mounting portion158-1.

The lance portion is provided at the four corners of the bottom plate150, but the lance portions other than the lance portions151-4and151-5that are provided at the right front corner illustrated inFIGS.9and10are omitted in the drawings. Further, since the lance portions provided at the four corners of the bottom plate150have the same configuration, the configurations of the lance portion151-4and the lance portion151-5will be described, and the description of the configurations of the other lance portions will be omitted.

The edge wall portion151-2as a first wall portion is formed by being bent approximately 90 degrees (approximately at a right angle) downward in the vertical direction with respect to the flat surface portion151-1as a first surface portion by edge drawing, and is welded and joined to an edge wall portion152-2of the second member152. Here, approximately 90 degrees includes a manufacturing error in the bending process of sheet metal.

The mounting shape portion151-3is provided on the front side and the back side of the bottom plate150and on the outside of the recording material conveying member900arranged in the support frame1(seeFIG.6). The mounting shape portion151-3includes the mounting portion158-1to which the caster158is attached (seeFIG.7).

As illustrated inFIG.10, each of the lance portions151-4and151-5is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above and an upwardly projecting shape, and positions members when the support rods121,122, and123, which will be described later, are attached to the first member151.

Specifically, the lance portion151-4is connected to the first member151at both ends in a front-back direction, and restricts the movement of the support rod121in a left-right direction inFIG.10to position the support rod121in the left-right direction. The lance portion151-4includes a projecting portion151-41and a cut-off portion151-42.

The projecting portion151-41is formed by drawing so as to project upward from the both end portions connected to the first member151in the front-back direction toward the central portion.

The cut-off portion151-42is processed so as to have a cut-off shape that is cut from the first member151and has a cut surface. The cut-off portion151-42projects upward from the first member151and includes a pair of end surfaces perpendicular to the upper surface of the first member151, thus having a vertical stepped shape. The paired end surfaces of the cut-off portion151-42extend parallel to each other in the front-back direction.

The lance portion151-5is connected to the first member151at both ends in the left-right direction, which is an extension direction, and restricts the movement of the support rod121in the front-back direction to position the support rod121in the front-back direction. The lance portion151-5includes a projecting portion151-51and a cut-off portion151-52.

The projecting portion151-51is formed by drawing so as to project upward from the both end portions connected to the first member151in the left-right direction toward the central portion.

The cut-off portion151-52is processed so as to have a cut-off shape that is cut from the first member151and has a cut surface. The cut-off portion151-52projects upward from the first member151and includes a pair of end surfaces perpendicular to the upper surface of the first member151, thus having a vertical stepped shape. The paired end surfaces of the cut-off portion151-52extend parallel to each other in the left-right direction.

The first member151may include a positioning portion with an embossed shape, instead of the lance portions151-4and151-5.

The caster158that is inserted into a hole-shaped portion152-4of the second member152to be described later is attached to the mounting portion158-1. As illustrated inFIG.7, the mounting portion158-1is provided at a position higher than the upper surface of the first member151, which is the installation surface of the recording material conveying member900.

The second member152forms the lower surface of the bottom plate150in the vertical direction, and has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above in the vertical direction. Here, the substantially rectangular shape includes not only a shape in which the four corners are right angles, but also a shape in which each of the four corners is chamfered. The second member152includes a flat surface portion152-1that is flat along the horizontal direction, the edge wall portion152-2that is provided on the peripheral edge of the rectangle, a cone trapezoidal portion152-3, the hole-shaped portion152-4, and an extending portion152-6. The edge wall portion152-2and the extending portion152-6form a second wall portion. As illustrated inFIG.8, the second member152has a surface152-5between the edge wall portion152-2and the hole-shaped portion152-4.

The edge wall portion152-2is formed by being bent approximately 90 degrees (approximately at a right angle) upward in the vertical direction with respect to the flat surface portion152-1as a second surface portion by edge drawing. As illustrated inFIG.5, the edge wall portion152-2is arranged so as to be overlapped with the edge wall portion151-2on the outside of the edge wall portion151-2of the first member151. The edge wall portion152-2is welded and joined to the edge wall portion151-2.

The cone trapezoidal portion152-3is formed in a plurality of locations of the flat surface portion152-1by being deformed into a cone trapezoidal shape from the flat surface portion152-1toward the cavity portion153of the bottom plate150in a projecting manner, and is joined to the flat surface portion151-1of the first member151(seeFIG.5).

The hole-shaped portion152-4is a through-hole that penetrates the second member152in a plate thickness direction, and is provided at a distance from the edge wall portion152-2in the horizontal direction as illustrated inFIG.8. The swivel portion that changes the direction of the wheel of the caster158is inserted into the hole-shaped portion152-4. The hole-shaped portion152-4is formed so as to be larger than the swivel operation range of the swivel portion.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the extending portion152-6extends upward from the edge wall portion152-2, and also extends above the flat surface portion151-1of the first member151. The extending portion152-6is integrally formed with the edge wall portion152-2. As a result, the edge portion of the second wall portion is located vertically above the flat surface portion151-1of the first member151. The extending portion152-6is fastened to the facing surface of the support rod121that is elastically deformably positioned on the first member151.

The extending portion152-6also functions as a brace portion that prevents the support rod121fastened from falling over. For example, the extending portion152-6provided on the right side edge wall portion152-2of the second member152with a rectangular shape has high rigidity for the back, and thus the extending portion152-6functions as the brace portion that prevents the support rod121fastened from falling backward. It is only required that the extending portion152-6is provided on the edge wall portion152-2on at least one of the four sides, that is, the front, back, left, and right sides of the rectangular second member152, if necessary, and the extending portion152-6does not necessarily have to be provided on the edge wall portion152-2on all the sides of the second member152.

In the bottom plate150with the configuration described above, the surface152-5is provided for the hole-shaped portion152-4into which the caster158is inserted, and thus the strength of the second member152of the bottom plate150is achieved. Consequently, the edge wall portion152-2formed at a distance from the hole-shaped portion152-4in order to form the surface152-5is located at the outermost position in the horizontal direction. As a result, the difference in the projected area of the bottom plate150with respect to the projected area of the installation surface surrounded by a virtual line connecting the casters158of the support frame1can be made as small as possible. Therefore, the bottom plate150can be reduced in size as compared with the configuration in which the edge wall portion of the first member is provided outside the edge wall portion of the second member to which the casters are attached, and thus the support frame1can be reduced in size accordingly.

Further, since the bottom plate150can be reduced in size without cutting out the edge wall portion152-2, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the strength and rigidity of the bottom plate150.

Furthermore, as the support rod121is fastened to the extending portion152-6, the bottom plate150and the support rod121can be fastened at an end position of the bottom plate150with a simple configuration without increasing the first member151in size.

The edge wall portion151-2of the first member151and the edge wall portion152-2of the second member152may be joined by not only welding but also other methods such as caulking or screwing. Moreover, the cone trapezoidal portion152-3does not necessarily have to be provided in the second member152, and may be provided in the first member151and joined to the second member152. Further, the first member151and the second member152may be joined by plates arranged in a honeycomb shape, square pipes for reinforcement, or plates bent and arranged in a U-shape, in an internal cavity surrounded by the first member151and the second member152.

<Configuration of Support Rod>

The configurations of the support rods121,122, and123according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.11to14. Since the support rods121,122, and123have the same configuration, the configuration of the support rod121will be described, and the description of the configurations of the support rods122and123will be omitted.

The support rod121includes an inner rod member121-1that is abutted against a support rod support surface151-6of the first member151to be arranged at a corner of the bottom plate150, and forms an inner side surface and an outer rod member121-2that forms an outer surface.

The inner rod member121-1and the outer rod member121-2are fitted to each other in a square pipe shape so that the inside is hollow. In the inner rod member121-1and the outer rod member121-2, a side surface portion121-12and a side surface portion121-22, which are overlapped with each other, are joined to each other by screwing. Further, in the inner rod member121-1and the outer rod member121-2, a side surface portion121-13and a side surface portion121-23, which are overlapped with each other, are joined to each other by screwing.

The inner rod member121-1is erected on the bottom plate150, and is bent so as to have a U-shape in a cross-section cut by a plane parallel to the bottom plate150.

Specifically, the inner rod member121-1includes an inner surface portion121-11, the side surface portions121-12and121-13, abutting portions121-61and121-62, and flange portions121-63and121-64. The abutting portions121-61and121-62, and the flange portions121-63and121-64form an erection connection portion.

The inner surface portion121-11connects the side surface portion121-12and the side surface portion121-13.

The inner rod member121-1is formed by being bent in a U shape, so that the side surface portions121-12and121-13face each other.

As illustrated inFIG.13, the abutting portion121-61is provided on one of three sides of the U-shaped lower end portion of the inner rod member121-1with a U-shape. The abutting portion121-61abuts against the support rod support surface151-6on the upper surface of the first member151.

As illustrated inFIG.13, the abutting portion121-62is provided on a side connected to the side on which the abutting portion121-61is provided, among the three sides of the U-shaped lower end portion of the inner rod member121-1. The abutting portion121-62abuts against the support rod support surface151-6on the upper surface of the first member151.

The flange portion121-63extends backward from one of the three sides of the U-shaped lower end portion of the inner rod member121-1with a U-shape. The flange portion121-63extends parallel to the upper surface of the first member151, and abuts against the support rod support surface151-6on the upper surface of the first member151. The flange portion121-63includes an engagement hole121-4that engages with the lance portion151-4provided on the upper surface of the first member151to position the support rod121with respect to the bottom plate150. The flange portion121-63also includes a fastening portion121-7that is fastened to a fastening portion151-7provided on the upper surface of the first member151.

The flange portion121-64extends leftward from one side connected to the side along which the flange portion121-63at the lower end portion of the inner rod member121-1extends, and on which the abutting portion121-61is provided. The flange portion121-64extends parallel to the upper surface of the first member151, and abuts against the support rod support surface151-6on the upper surface of the first member151. The flange portion121-64includes an engagement hole121-5that engages with the lance portion151-5provided on the upper surface of the first member151to position the support rod121with respect to the bottom plate150. The flange portion121-64also includes the fastening portion121-7that is fastened to the fastening portion151-7provided on the upper surface of the first member151.

The outer rod member121-2is erected on the bottom plate150, and is bent so as to have a U-shape in a cross-section cut by a plane parallel to the bottom plate150. Specifically, the outer rod member121-2includes an outer surface portion121-21, the side surface portions121-22and121-23, and a projecting portion121-8.

The outer surface portion121-21connects the side surface portion121-22and the side surface portion121-23.

The outer rod member121-2is formed by being bent in a U shape, so that the side surface portions121-22and121-23face each other.

The projecting portion121-8is formed by being deformed so as to project forward from the side surface portion121-22when the outer rod member121-2is erected on the first member151. The projecting portion121-8includes an inclined surface portion that is inclined toward the extending portion152-6and a flat surface portion that is substantially parallel to the extending portion152-6. The flat surface portion of the projecting portion121-8is provided in a gap (for example, 0.2 mm) between the extending portion152-6and the side surface portion121-22, and is fastened to the extending portion152-6.

Here, the gap between the extending portion152-6and the side surface portion121-22is caused by the following factors.

That is, in the support rod121, when the abutting portions121-61and121-62are provided on the two sides of the U-shape, one of the two sides is short, and thus only the flange portion121-63is provided on the shorter side. Consequently, the abutting portions121-61and121-62are respectively provided on the longer left side and the shorter front side of the support rod121. In this case, the abutting portion121-62provided on the front shorter side abuts against the support rod support surface151-6inside of a connecting portion151-9with an R-shape between the flat surface portion151-1and the edge wall portion151-2. Consequently, there is a gap between the side surface portion121-22of the outer rod member121-2and the extending portion152-6, and the gap cannot be filled with the extending portion152-6even if the extending portion152-6is elastically deformed.

More specifically, in the support rod121provided at the front right corner illustrated inFIG.9, the flange portions121-63and121-64are respectively provided on the back short side and the left long side of the inner rod member121-1. Consequently, the flange portion121-64and the abutting portion121-61can be provided on the left long side of the support rod121. On the other hand, since the flange portion121-63is formed on the back short side of the support rod121, the abutting portion cannot be provided. As a result, the support rod121includes the abutting portion121-62on the front short side.

In this case, the abutting portion121-62of the inner rod member121-1abuts against the support rod support surface151-6inside of the R-shaped connecting portion151-9of the bottom plate150. As a result, a gap (for example, 3 mm) is formed between the side surface portion121-22and the extending portion152-6.

It is only required that the abutting portions121-61and121-62are provided on at least two of the three sides of the U-shaped inner rod member121-1, and the abutting portions121-61and121-62may be provided on all three sides of the inner rod member121-1. Further, the abutting portions121-61and121-62are not necessarily have to be provided on two adjacent sides of the three sides of the U-shaped inner rod member121-1, and may be provided on two opposite sides of the three sides of the inner rod member121-1. As a result, it is possible to prevent the support rod121in a vertical state with respect to the bottom plate150from falling over when the support rod121is assembled to the bottom plate150or when a load is applied due to vibration during transportation of the apparatus.

<Arrangement of Support Rods on Bottom Plate>

The arrangement of the support rods121,122, and123on the bottom plate150according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIG.14.

The support rods121,122and123are arranged on the bottom plate150as described in (1) to (5) below. Since the arrangements of the support rods121,122, and123on the bottom plate150are the same, the arrangement of the support rod121will be described, and the description of the arrangements of the support rods122and123will be omitted.

(1) The connecting portion151-9of the flat surface portion151-1and the edge wall portion151-2in the first member151of the bottom plate150has an R shape as illustrated inFIG.14. Consequently, the fastening portion151-7of the first member151is provided inside of the connecting portion151-9with an R-shape.

(2) The lance portions151-4and151-5that position the support rod121in the x direction or the y direction with respect to the bottom plate150are provided at a position away from a corner of the bottom plate150along the edge wall portion152-2by a predetermined distance. Further, the flange portions121-63and121-64of the support rod121that is erected at a corner of the bottom plate150extend in a direction away from the corner of the support rod121. Specifically, the support rod121that is erected at the right front corner of the bottom plate150includes the flange portion121-63extending backward from the side surface portion121-13of the support rod121, and the flange portion121-64extending leftward from the inner surface portion121-11of the support rod121.

(3) As the abutting portions121-61and121-62of the support rod121abut against the upper surface of the first member151, the lower portion of the support rod121is positioned with respect to the bottom plate150. Further, as the fastening portion121-7of the support rod121is fastened to the fastening portion151-7of the first member151, the upward movement of the support rod121is restricted to prevent the support rod121from being separated from the first member151, so that the support rod121keeps abutting against the first member151.

(4) Positioning portions of the support rod121including the inner rod member121-1and the outer rod member121-2in the x, y and z directions with respect to the bottom plate150are provided only on the inner rod member121-1. The positioning portion does not necessarily have to be provided only on the inner rod member121-1, and may be provided only on the outer rod member121-2. As a result, it is possible to prevent a dimensional tolerance and a joining misalignment between one of the inner rod member121-1and the outer rod member121-2and the other thereof, and the support rod121can be accurately positioned with respect to the bottom plate150.

(5) The support rod121includes the abutting portions121-61and121-62on two sides of the U-shaped lower end portion of the inner rod member121-1of the support rod121, the two sides being connected to each other. This prevents the support rod121erected on the bottom plate150from falling over when the support rod121is assembled to the bottom plate150or when a load is applied due to vibration during transportation of the apparatus.

Here, arrangement (5) described above can adopt the following arrangement. When the abutting portions121-61and121-62are provided on two connected sides of a U-shape, the fastening portions of the support rod121to the bottom plate150can be provided on two sides of the U-shaped lower end portion, the two sides respectively facing the two sides on which the abutting portions121-61and121-62are provided. That is, the abutting portion or the fastening portion can be provided on four sides of a square-shaped lower end portion of the support rod121with a square shape, the square shape being formed by combining the inner rod member121-1with a U-shape and the outer rod member121-2with a U-shape.

The abutting portion of the support rod121does not necessarily have to be provided on two connected sides of the U-shape, and may be provided on two opposite sides of the U-shape. Further, when the abutting portions121-61and121-62are provided on two opposite sides of the U-shape, the fastening portions of the support rod121to the bottom plate150can be provided on two opposite sides that sandwich the abutting portions121-61and121-62.

<Configuration of Providing Support Rods at Corners of Bottom Plate>

The configuration of providing support rods at the corners of a bottom plate according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the configuration of providing support rods at the corners of a bottom plate, a description will be given by using the support rod121for convenience of description, although a part of the configuration of the support rod121is different.

In the case where the abutting portion and the flange portion are provided at the lower end portion of the inner rod member121-1of the support rod121, the best configuration of bringing the support rod121closest to the corner of the bottom plate150is as follows. That is, the abutting portion is provided on two connected sides of the lower end portion of the inner surface portion121-11of the support rod121and the lower end portion of the side surface portion121-13of the support rod121. Further, the flange portion is provided on two connected sides of the lower end portion of the inner surface portion121-11and the lower end portion of the side surface portion121-13in the support rod121. Furthermore, the fastening portion to the bottom plate150is provided on the outer surface portion121-21and the side surface portion121-22of the outer rod member121-2of the support rod121.

Moreover, in the case where the abutting portion and the flange portion are provided at the lower end portion of the inner rod member121-1of the support rod121, the second best configuration of bringing the support rod121closest to the corner of the bottom plate150next to the best configuration described above is as follows. That is, one of the abutting portions provided on the inner surface portion121-11and the side surface portion121-13of the support rod121is provided at the lower end portion of the side surface portion121-12, and other configurations are the same as in the best configuration described above. In this case, the abutting portion provided at the lower end portion of the side surface portion121-12abuts against the support rod support surface151-6so as to be located inside of the connecting portion151-9with an R-shape. As a result, the support rod121is erected on the first member151to be away at least backward or leftward from the right front corner of the bottom plate150by a distance corresponding to the R-shape.

The best configuration and the second best configuration of the support rods122and123are similar to those of the support rod121, although the directions are different.

In the present embodiment, the bottom plate150including the first member151having the edge wall portion151-2and the second member152having the edge wall portion152-2, and a plurality of the casters158that is fixed to the bottom plate150and installs a sheet conveying apparatus on an installation surface are provided. Further, the second member152is fixed to the first member151by the edge wall portion152-2overlapping and being joined to the edge wall portion151-2on the outer side of the edge wall portion151-2. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the difference in the projected area of the bottom plate150with respect to the projected area of the installation surface of the apparatus as compared with a conventional case, while achieving strength and rigidity in a case where the bottom plate150includes the casters158or the adjusters159. That is, the projected area of the bottom plate150can be reduced by the plate thickness of the edge wall portion151-2of the first member151as compared with the case where the first member151overlaps the second member152. As a result, the area of the flat surface portion152-1of the second member152defined to provide a plurality of the casters158is equal to the projected area of the bottom plate150, and thus the difference in the projected area of the bottom plate with respect to the projected area of the installation surface of the apparatus can be reduced as compared with the conventional case.

Further, in the present embodiment, the edge wall portion152-2includes the extending portion152-6extending vertically above the flat surface portion151-1, and the edge wall portion152-2is fixed to the first member151so that the edge portion of the edge wall portion152-2is located vertically above the flat surface portion151-1. As a result, it is possible to prevent the support rods121,122, and123from falling over and to reinforce the bottom plate150without providing an additional member.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, as the support rods121,122, and123are fixed to the extending portion152-6, the support rods121,122, and123can be provided at the corners of the bottom plate150, resulting in downsizing.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the flat surface portion152-1includes the hole-shaped portion152-4that has a distance from the edge wall portion152-2in the horizontal direction and penetrates the flat surface portion152-1in the plate thickness direction. Further, a plurality of the casters158is inserted into the hole-shaped portions152-4and fixed to the first member151. As a result, the strength and rigidity can be achieved in the case where the casters158are provided on the bottom plate150.

Further, in the present embodiment, the rotatable casters158that cause the sheet conveying apparatus to be movable are provided at the corners of the bottom plate150. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the difference in the projected area of the bottom plate150with respect to the projected area of the installation surface of the apparatus as compared with the conventional case, while achieving strength and rigidity in the case where the bottom plate150includes the casters158.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the support rods121,122, and123can be positioned on the upper surface of the first member151in the x direction and the y direction, the pitch accuracy of the support rods121,122, and123can be improved.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

Specifically, in the embodiment described above, the support rods121,122, and123are fastened to the upper surface of the first member151with screws, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the support rods121,122, and123may be attached to the first member151by caulking or welding.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the extending portion152-6includes a fastening portion, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, when the extending portion152-6does not require the fastening portion, the fastening portion does not need to be provided.

Even in this case, the extending portion152-6can improve the strength or rigidity of the bottom plate150against the force to bend the bottom plate150in a height direction without interfering with the recording material conveying member900arranged on the bottom plate150. In particular, it is effective when the thickness of the entire bottom plate150cannot be increased. For example, the following case can be assumed as the case where the thickness of the entire bottom plate150cannot be increased. It is conceivable that a height from the floor is required to insert a lifting claw of a heavy machine such as a forklift for loading or unloading a truck on the lower surface side of the bottom plate150, while the height is limited by the recording material conveying member900arranged on the upper surface side of the bottom plate150.

Further, the support rods121,122, and123are connected to the extending portion152-6in the embodiment described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the side plate131and the extension portion152-6may be connected to each other.

Moreover, the abutting portions121-61and121-62, and the flange portions121-63and121-64are provided on the inner rod member121-1in the embodiment described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and these abutting portions and flange portions may be provided on the outer rod member.

Further, the surface152-5is provided between the hole-shaped portion152-4into which the caster158is inserted and the edge wall portion152-2in the embodiment described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the surface152-5may be provided between the mounting portion of the adjuster159and the edge wall portion152-2. As a result, in a case where the adjuster159is provided at the end portion of the bottom plate150, the bottom plate150can be reduced in size while the strength and the rigidity of the second member152are achieved.

Furthermore, the caster158and the adjuster159are provided at the end portion of the bottom plate150in the embodiment described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and members other than the caster158and the adjuster159may be provided at the end portion of the bottom plate150. Even in this case, effects similar to those in the case where the caster158and the adjuster159are provided at the end portion of the bottom plate150can be obtained.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the inner rod member121-1and the outer rod member121-2do not necessarily have to be joined by screwing, and may be joined by welding or caulking. Furthermore, the support rod does not necessarily have to be formed by joining the inner rod member121-1with a U-shape to the outer rod member121-2with a U-shape, and the support rod may be formed into a square pipe by joining two L-shaped members, may be formed by a member formed in a pipe shape, or may be formed in a pipe shape by bending a plate material.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-092205, filed May 27, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.