Patent Publication Number: US-8976371-B2

Title: Sheet loading unit having face connecting portion with upper edge and inclined edge

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-088091, filed in the Japan Patent Office on Apr. 9, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a sheet loading unit provided with a sheet loading face on which sheets to be fed to an image forming unit of an image forming apparatus or sheets to be fed to an image reading unit of an image reading apparatus are loaded. Further, the present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus and an image reading apparatus, provided with the sheet loading unit. 
     The image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile includes an apparatus main body containing an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet such as a paper. The image forming apparatus often includes a sheet supply cassette provided inside its apparatus main body or a sheet supply tray provided outside or inside the apparatus main body (referred to as “manual feeding tray”). 
     The manual feeding tray includes a sheet loading portion, cursor members, and a guide groove. The sheet loading portion has a sheet loading face on which sheets to be fed to the image forming unit are loaded. The cursor members are a pair of cursor members movable in a width direction of a sheet orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction on the sheet loading face to restrict a position of the sheet in the width direction. The guide groove is provided in the sheet loading face and extends in the width direction of the sheet to guide the cursor member to move in the width direction. The cursor member includes a cursor base, a cursor rising portion and a connecting portion. The cursor base has a cursor plane extending substantially in parallel to the sheet loading face with a difference of step with respect to the sheet loading face. The cursor rising portion rises relative to the cursor plane and is in contact with or in proximity to an edge of the sheet in a width direction thereof to restrict a position of the sheet in the width direction. The connecting portion is connected to the cursor base at a portion in the feeding direction of the inside edge in the width direction of the cursor base and extends from the sheet loading face side to a reverse side via the guide groove. 
     In the manual feeding tray having the above-described structure, a user places a sheet on the sheet loading face, moves the cursor members inward in the width direction of the sheet, arranges an end portion in the width direction of the sheet on the cursor plane of the cursor base and further brings the cursor rising portion into contact with or proximity to the end portion in the width direction of the sheet. Consequently, a position in the width direction of the sheet can be restricted. 
     However, in the aforementioned manual feeding tray, a gap (difference in step) may be formed easily between the sheet loading face and the cursor base. Then, when the cursor members are moved inward in the width direction of the sheet, an end portion in the width direction of the sheet sometimes may enter the gap between the sheet loading face and the cursor base. In this case, the end portion in the width direction of the sheet is not placed on the cursor plane of the cursor base. As a consequence, it comes that no position in the width direction of the sheet is restricted by the cursor rising portion. This problem also may occur in a sheet loading unit other than the manual feeding tray, for example, a sheet feeding cassette or an original document tray in an original document feeding unit. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an example embodiment according to this disclosure, A sheet loading unit according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a sheet loading portion, cursor members and guide grooves. The sheet loading portion has a sheet loading face on which a sheet to be fed to a feeding destination is loaded. The cursor members are a pair of the cursor members movable in the width direction of the sheet orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction on the sheet loading face to restrict a position in the width direction of the sheet. The guide grooves are provided in the sheet loading face of the sheet loading portion and extend in the width direction to guide the cursor member to move in the width direction. The cursor member includes a cursor base, a cursor rising portion and a connecting portion. The cursor base has a cursor plane extending substantially in parallel to the sheet loading face with a difference of step with respect to the sheet loading face. The cursor rising portion rises relative to the cursor plane and is in contact with or in proximity to an edge of the sheet in the width direction thereof to restrict a position of the sheet in the width direction. The connecting portion extends from the sheet loading face side to a reverse side via the guide groove at a portion in the feeding direction of an inside edge in the width direction of the cursor base. The edge of the cursor base extends linearly in the sheet feeding direction. The connecting portion has a face connecting portion which connects the sheet loading face with the cursor plane smoothly. 
     An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet and the sheet loading unit in which the image forming unit is a feeding destination thereof. 
     An image reading apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes an image reading unit configured to read an image formed on the sheet and the sheet loading unit in which the image reading unit is the feeding destination thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram for describing arrangement of components of a printer  1  according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a manual feeding tray  65  and an apparatus main body M with part of a casing body removed in the printer  1  of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the manual feeding tray  65  of the first embodiment taken from an upstream side (D 12  side) in a sheet feeding direction D 1  toward a downstream side (D 11  side) or a diagram illustrating a state in which a pair of the cursor members  620  is arranged outward in the width direction D 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the manual feeding tray  65  of the first embodiment taken from the upstream side (D 12  side) in the sheet feeding direction D 1  toward the downstream side (D 11  side) or a diagram illustrating a state in which the pair of the cursor members  620  is arranged inward in the width direction D 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a partially-enlarged perspective view showing the cursor member  620  arranged on the sheet loading face  615  side. 
         FIG. 6  is a partially-enlarged perspective view showing the cursor member  620  and a rack member  650  of the first embodiment. 
         FIGS. 7A to 7E  are cross-sectional views showing operations of the manual feeding tray  65  according to the first embodiment in order. 
         FIG. 8  is a partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the cursor member  620  and the rack member  650  of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the cursor member  620  and the rack member  650  of a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example apparatus and method are described herein. Other example embodiments or features may further be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof. 
     The example embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the drawings, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein. 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
     The entire structure of a printer  1  as an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram for describing arrangement of components of the printer  1  according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a manual feeding tray  65  and an apparatus main body M with part of a casing body removed in the printer  1  of the first embodiment. In a following description, as viewed from a user standing in front of the printer  1 , it is assumed that the right-and-left direction is X-direction, the back-and-forth (depth) direction is Y-direction and the up-and-down (vertical) direction is Z-direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the printer  1  as an image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body M, an image forming unit GK, and a paper feeding/discharging unit KH. The image forming unit GK forms a predetermined toner image on a paper T as a sheet based on predetermined image information. The paper feeding/discharging unit KH feeds a paper T to the image forming unit GK and discharges the paper T on which the toner image has been formed. An external structure of the apparatus main body M is constituted of a casing body BD which serves as a casing for this apparatus. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image forming unit GK includes a photoconductor drum  2  which serves as an image carrying body (photosensitive body), a charging unit  10 , a laser scanner unit  4  which serves as an exposure unit, a developing unit  16 , a toner cartridge  5 , a toner supplying unit  6 , a cleaning device  11 , a neutralization unit  12 , a transfer roller  8 , and a fuser unit  9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the paper feeding/discharging unit KH includes a paper feeding cassette  52 , a manual feeding tray  65  which serves as a sheet loading portion, a conveyance path L for the paper T, a registration roller pair  80 , and a paper ejection unit  50 . 
     Hereinafter, each structure of the image forming unit GK and the paper feeding/discharging unit KH will be described in detail. In the image forming unit GK, charging by the charging unit  10 , exposure by the laser scanner unit  4 , development by the developing unit  16 , transfer by the transfer roller  8 , neutralization by the neutralization unit  12  and cleaning by the cleaning device  11  are sequentially performed in order from the upstream side to the downstream side along a surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . 
     The photoconductor drum  2  is configured with a cylindrical member and functions as a photosensitive body or an image carrying body. The photoconductor drum  2  is arranged to be rotatable in a direction indicated by an arrow about a rotational shaft which extends in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the paper sheet T is conveyed through the conveyance path L. An electrostatic latent image may be formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . 
     The charging unit  10  is disposed to face the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . The charging unit  10  negatively or positively charges the surface of the photoconductor drum  2  uniformly (with negative or positive polarity). 
     The laser scanner unit  4  functions as an exposure unit and is disposed to be spaced apart from the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . 
     The laser scanner unit  4  scans and exposes the surface of the photoconductor drum  2  based on image information that is input from an external device such as a PC (personal computer). In this way, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . 
     The developing unit  16  is provided in correspondence with the photoconductor drum  2  and is disposed to face the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . The developing unit  16  causes single color toner (black toner in general) to adhere to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum  2 , and thereby forms a single color toner image on the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . The developing unit  16  is configured with a developing roller  17  disposed to face the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 , an agitation roller  18  for agitating toner, and the like. 
     The toner cartridge  5  is provided in correspondence with the developing device  16  and stores toner to be supplied to the developing unit  16 . 
     The toner supply unit  6  is provided in correspondence with the toner cartridge  5  and the developing device  16  and supplies toner stored in the toner cartridge  5  to the developing unit  16 . The toner supply unit  6  and the developing unit  16  are connected with each other via a toner feed passage (not shown). 
     The transfer roller  8  transfers a toner image, which has been developed on the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 , onto the paper T. A transfer bias application unit (not shown) applies a transfer bias to the transfer roller  8 . The transfer roller  8  is configured to be rotatable in a state of abutting the photoconductor drum  2 . 
     A transfer nip N is formed between the photoconductor drum  2  and the transfer roller  8 . In the transfer nip N, a toner image developed on the photoconductor drum  2  is transferred onto the paper T. 
     The neutralization unit  12  is disposed to face the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . By radiating the surface of the photoconductor drum  2  with light, the neutralization unit  12  discharges electricity (neutralizes electrical charge) on the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 , onto which the transfer has been performed. 
     The cleaning device  11  is disposed to face the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . The cleaning device  11  removes toner and attached matters on the surface of the photoconductor drum  2 . The cleaning device  11  conveys the toner and the like thus removed to a predetermined collection mechanism for collection. 
     By melting and pressurizing the toner that forms a toner image transferred onto the paper T, the fuser unit  9  fixes the toner on the paper T. The fuser unit  9  includes a heating rotator  9   a  that is heated by a heater and a pressing rotator  9   b  that is brought into pressure-contact with the heating rotator  9   a . The heating rotator  9   a  and the pressing rotator  9   b  interpose, press and convey the paper T with the toner image transferred thereon. The paper T is conveyed in a state of being sandwiched between the heating rotator  9   a  and the pressing rotator  9   b , thereby fusing, pressurizing and fixing the toner transferred thereto. 
     Next, the paper/discharge portion KH will be described. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , a paper feeding cassette  52  for storing the paper T is disposed in a lower portion of the apparatus main unit M. The paper feeding cassette  52  is configured to be open to the right side of the apparatus main unit M (to the right side in  FIG. 1 ). The papers T are inserted through the open portion on the right side and stored in the paper feeding cassette  52 . The paper feeding cassette  52  includes a paper tray  60  on which the papers T are loaded. The papers T are stored such that they are loaded on the paper tray  60  in the paper feeding cassette  52 . The paper T loaded on the paper tray  60  is fed by a cassette feeding unit  51  disposed at an end portion of the paper feeding unit  52  on a side of feeding the paper (at a left end portion of  FIG. 1 ) to a conveyance path L. The cassette feeding unit  51  includes a pickup roller  61  and a separating member  62 . The pickup roller  61  feeds the paper T loaded on the paper tray  60  one by one to the conveyance path L. The separating member  62  is disposed to face the pickup roller  61  and urged toward the pickup roller  61 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , a manual feeding tray  65  which serves as a sheet loading unit is provided above the paper feeding cassette  52  within the apparatus main unit M. A main purpose of the manual feeding tray  65  is to supply the paper T having a different size and kind from the paper T set in the paper feeding cassette  52  to the image forming unit GK. The manual feeding tray  65  is configured to be open to the right side of the apparatus main unit M (to the right in  FIG. 1 ). The paper T is inserted through the right open portion and loaded on the manual feeding tray  65 . The manual feeding tray  65  allows the paper T to be loaded thereon such that only one sheet or a plurality of the papers T is loaded. The paper T loaded in the manual feeding tray  65  is fed into the conveyance path L by the cassette feeding unit  51 . The manual feeding tray  65  will be described below in detail. 
     A paper ejection unit  50  is provided on an upper side of the apparatus main unit M. The paper ejection unit  50  ejects the paper T to the outside of the apparatus main unit M by way of a third pair of rollers  53 . 
     The conveyance path L that conveys the paper T includes: a first conveyance path L 1  which extends from the cassette feeding unit  51  to the transfer nip N; a second conveyance path L 2  which extends from the transfer nip N to the fuser unit  9 ; and a third conveyance path L 3  which extends from the fuser unit  9  to the paper ejection unit  50 . 
     A sensor for detecting the paper T as well as the registration roller pair  80  are disposed in the middle of the first conveyance path L 1  (more specifically, between the pickup roller  61  and the transfer roller  8 ). The registration roller pair  80  is designed for skew compensation of the paper T (oblique feeding of the paper T) and timing adjustment between formation of the toner image and conveyance of the paper T in the image forming unit GK. The sensor is disposed just before the registration roller pair  80  (on the upstream side in a conveyance direction) in the conveyance direction of the paper T. The registration roller pair  80  performs the above-described compensation and timing adjustment based on detection signal information from the sensor and conveys the paper T. 
     The paper ejection unit  50  is formed at an end portion on the downstream side of the third conveyance path L 3 . The paper ejection unit  50  is disposed in an upper portion of the apparatus main unit M. The paper ejection unit  50  has an opening toward a right lateral face of the apparatus main unit M (right side in  FIG. 1 ). The paper ejection unit  50  ejects the paper T conveyed through the third conveyance path L 3  to the outside of the apparatus main unit M by way of the third roller pair  53 . 
     An ejected paper accumulating portion M 1  is formed on the opening side of the paper ejection unit  50 . The papers T, which are ejected from the paper ejection unit  50 , are loaded and collected in the ejected paper accumulating portion M 1 . A sensor for detecting a sheet of paper is disposed at a predetermined position of each conveyance path. 
     Next, the manual feeding tray  65 , which is the sheet loading unit of the first embodiment, will be described in detail.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the manual feeding tray  65  of the first embodiment taken from an upstream side (D 12  side) in a sheet feeding direction D 1  toward a downstream side (D 11  side) or a diagram illustrating a state in which a pair of the cursor members  620  is arranged outward in the width direction D 2 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the manual feeding tray  65  of the first embodiment taken from the upstream side (D 12  side) in the sheet feeding direction D 1  toward the downstream side (D 11  side) or a diagram illustrating a state in which the pair of the cursor members  620  is arranged inward in the width direction D 2 .  FIG. 5  is a partially-enlarged perspective view showing the cursor member  620  arranged on the sheet loading face  615  side.  FIG. 6  is a partially-enlarged perspective view showing the cursor member  620  and a rack member  650  of the first embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , the manual feeding tray  65  is provided above the paper feeding cassette  52  inside the apparatus main unit M such that it is supported by the apparatus main unit M. A feed destination of the paper T in the manual feeding tray  65  is the image forming unit GK. As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the manual feeding tray  65  includes a tray main body  610  which serves as a sheet loading portion, a pair of the cursor members  620 , a pair of guide grooves  630 , and a rack member  650 . 
     The tray main body  610  constitutes a main body of the manual feeding tray  65  and has a substantially rectangular plate-like shape. The tray main body  610  has the sheet loading face  615  on which the paper T (see  FIG. 7 ) is placed to be fed to the image forming unit GK, the sheet loading face  65  being provided on an upper side thereof. The sheet loading face  615  is inclined such that the downstream side D 11  in the feeding direction D 1  of the paper T descends. The paper T loaded on the sheet loading face  615  is fed to the first conveyance path L 1  by the cassette feeding unit  51 . 
     The pair of the cursor members  620 ,  620  are members which are disposed on the upper side of the sheet loading face  615  and are movable in the width direction D 2  of the paper T. The width direction D 2  is a direction orthogonal to both the feeding direction D 1  of the paper T and the thickness direction D 3  of the paper T and agrees with the back-and-forth (depth) direction Y of the apparatus main body M of the printer  1 . The cursor members  620  restrict a position in the width direction D 2  of the paper T loaded on the sheet loading face  615 . 
     The cursor member  620  includes a cursor base portion  621 , a cursor rising portion  623 , and a connecting portion  640 . The cursor base  621  has a cursor plane  625  which extends substantially in parallel to the sheet loading face  615  with a difference of step therebetween, on an upper side thereof. This difference of step is a sum of a gap between the sheet loading face  615  and a bottom face of the cursor base  621  and a thickness of an edge (hereinafter also referred to as inside edge)  622  in the width direction D 2  of the cursor base  621 . This difference of step is, for example, 2 mm to 4 mm. The inside edge  622  of the cursor base  621  extends linearly and in parallel to the feeding direction D 1 . The cursor rising portion  623  rises with respect to the cursor plane  625  and is in contact with or in proximity to the edge T 1  (see  FIG. 7 ) in the width direction D 2  of the paper T to restrict a position in the width direction D 2  of the paper T. The cursor rising portion  623  is connected to an outside portion in the width direction D 2  of the cursor base  621  and extends linearly and in parallel to the feeding direction D 1 . 
     A pair of the guide grooves  630 ,  630  is provided in the sheet loading face  615  of the tray main body  610  in correspondence with each of the cursor members  620 ,  620 . The guide groove  630  extends along the width direction D 2  to guide the cursor member  620  to move in the width direction D 2 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the rack member  650  is provided on a reverse side of the sheet loading face  615  of the tray main body  610  in correspondence with the cursor member  620 . The rack member  650  extends in the width direction D 2  and has rack teeth  651  extending in the width direction D 2  on a side edge along the width direction D 2 . The rack teeth  651  mesh with pinion teeth of a pinion member (not shown) provided on the reverse side of the sheet loading face  615  of the tray main body  610 . A single pinion member is provided for a pair of the rack members  650  in common. The pinion teeth of the pinion member mesh with each of the pair of the rack members  650 . In consequence, when one rack member  650  is moved inward in the width direction D 2 , the other rack member  650  moves inward in the width direction D 2  through the rack teeth  651  and the pinion teeth of the pinion member. Likewise, when one rack member  650  is moved outward in the width direction D 2 , the other rack member  650  moves outward in the width direction D 2 . 
     Because the cursor member  620  is connected to the rack member  650  via the connecting portion  640 , the cursor member  620  moves integrally with the rack member  650 . More specifically, when one cursor member  620  is moved inward in the width direction D 2 , the other cursor member  620  is moved inward in the width direction D 2 . Likewise, when one cursor member  620  is moved outward in the width direction D 2 , the other cursor member  620  is moved outward in the width direction D 2 . 
     The connecting portion  640  is connected to the cursor base  621  at a portion in the feeding direction D 1  of the inside edge  622  of the cursor base  621  (in the present embodiment, central portion in the feeding direction D 1 ). The connecting portion  640  extends to the reverse side (opposite side) from the sheet loading face  615  side via the guide groove  630  and is connected to the rack member  650 . 
     The connecting portion  640  includes a connecting portion main body  641  and a face connecting portion  642 . The connecting portion main body  641  is connected to a bottom face (opposite face to the cursor plane  625 ) of the cursor member  620  via an outside portion in the width direction D 2  of the connecting portion main body  641 . The connecting portion main body  641  extends inward in the width direction D 2  with respect to the inside edge  622  of the cursor base portion  621  and is connected to an outside end portion in the width direction D 2  of the rack member  650 . 
     The face connecting portion  642  connects the sheet loading face  615  with the cursor plane  625  smoothly. The face connecting portion  642  has a substantially same width (a width slightly smaller than the width of the guide groove  630 ) as the width of the guide groove  630  (length thereof in the feeding direction D 1 ). The face connecting portion  642  is constituted of a pair of ribs  643 ,  643  which are spaced in the feeding direction D 1 . The ribs  643  extend in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction D 1  (D 2 -D 3  plane). The rib  643  is connected to the inside edge  622  of the cursor base  621  of the cursor member  620  via an outside portion thereof in the width direction D 2 . The rib  643  is connected to the connecting portion main body  641  via a lower portion thereof. Further, the width (length in the feeding direction D 1 ) of the face connecting portion  642  may be larger than the width of the guide groove  630 . 
     The rib  643  of the face connecting portion  642  includes an upper edge  644  and an inclined edge  645 . The upper edge  644  extends substantially in parallel to the cursor plane  625  at a substantially same height as the cursor plane  625 . The length of the upper edge  644  is, for example, 2 mm to 4 mm. “Substantially same height” means that a difference of the height is 0.5 mm or less. “Substantially in parallel” means that an angle formed between the both is 5° or less. In other view, the upper edge  644  extends inward in the width direction horizontally from the cursor plane  625 . 
     In the meantime, the upper edge  644  may be inclined slightly inward in the width direction D 2  and in a direction in which it approaches the sheet loading face  615 . In this case, preferably, an inclination angle of the upper edge  644  is 0° to 5° with respect to a direction in which the sheet loading face  615  extends. 
     The inclined edge  645  extends obliquely from the upper edge  644  up to the guide groove  630 . The inclination angle of the inclined edge  645  is for example, 30° to 65° with respect to a direction in which the sheet loading face  615  extends (D 1 -D 2  plane). 
     Next, an operation of restricting a position in the width direction of the paper T by moving the pair of the cursor members  620  inward in the width direction D 2  such that they approach each other in the manual feeding tray  65  of the first embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7A to 7E .  FIGS. 7A to 7E  are cross-sectional views illustrating an operation of the manual feeding tray  65  of the first embodiment in succession. As illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the paper T is placed on the sheet loading face  615  of the tray main body  610 . An end T 1  of the paper T does not ride on the cursor member  620  (more specifically, connecting portion  640 ). 
     When the cursor member  620  (connecting portion  640 ) is moved inward in the width direction D 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the end T 1  of the paper T is picked up by the inclined edge  645  of the rib  643  smoothly (for example, so that the end T 1  of the paper T does not enter a gap between the sheet loading face  615  of the tray main body  610  and a bottom face of the cursor member  620 ) and brought up to a position above the upper edge  644  of the rib  643 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7C , when the cursor member  620  (connecting portion  640 ) is moved further inward in the width direction D 2 , the end T 1  of the paper T moves further upward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7D , the end T 1  of the paper T brought up to a position above the upper edge  644  of the rib  643  moves (falls) to the cursor plane  625  side, so that it moves onto the upper edge  644  of the rib  643  and the cursor plane  625  of the cursor base  621  of the cursor member  620  smoothly. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7E , when the cursor member  620  (connecting portion  640 ) is moved further inward in the width direction D 2 , the end T 1  of the paper T is brought into contact with or in proximity to an inside face in the width direction D 2  of the cursor rising portion  623  of the cursor member  620 . Consequently, a position in the width direction D 2  of the paper T is restricted. 
     According to the first embodiment, for example, following advantages are attained. The first embodiment includes the pair of the cursor members  620  and the guide grooves  630 . The pair of the cursor members  620  is movable in the width direction D 2  on the sheet loading face  615 . The guide groove  630  guides movement of the cursor member  620  in the width direction D 2 . The cursor member  620  includes the cursor base  621 , the cursor rising portion  623  and the connecting portion  640 . The cursor base  621  includes the cursor plane  625  which extends substantially in parallel to the sheet loading face  615  with a difference of step relative to the sheet loading face  615 . The cursor rising portion  623  rises relative to the cursor plane  625  and comes into contact with or in proximity to the end in the width direction D 2  of the paper T. The connecting portion  640  extends from the sheet loading face  615  side to the reverse side thereof through the guide groove  630 . The connecting portion  640  has the face connecting portion  642  which connects the sheet loading face  615  with the cursor plane  625  smoothly. 
     Thus, according to the first embodiment, when the cursor member  620  (connecting portion  640 ) is moved inward in the width direction D 2 , the end T 1  of the paper T is brought up by the face connecting portion  642  smoothly. For example, the end T 1  of the paper T is brought up without entering a gap between the sheet loading face  615  of the tray main body  610  and the cursor base  621  of the cursor member  620  and coming into contact with or proximity to the inside edge  622  of the cursor member  620 . Then, the end T 1  of the paper T is moved onto the cursor plane  625  of the cursor base  621  of the cursor member  620  smoothly. Consequently, the end T 1  of the paper T is arranged on the cursor plane  625  of the cursor base  621  smoothly, so that a position in the width direction D 2  of the paper T can be restricted by the cursor rising portion  623  easily. 
     According to the first embodiment, the face connecting portion  642  includes the upper edge  644  and the inclined edge  645 . The upper edge  644  extends substantially in parallel to the cursor plane  625  at a substantially same height as the cursor plane  625 . The inclined edge  645  extends obliquely from the upper edge  644  up to the guide groove  630 . 
     Therefore, when the cursor member  620  (connecting portion  640 ) is moved inward in the width direction D 2 , as shown in  FIG. 7B , the end T 1  of the paper T is brought up by the inclined edge  645  of the rib  643  smoothly and further, brought up to a position above the upper edge  644  of the rib  643 . 
     When the cursor member  620  (connecting portion  640 ) is moved further from the state indicated in  FIG. 7B , the paper T does not droop over a short period due to rigidity of the paper T. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 7C , the end T 1  of the paper T moves further upward. When preventing the paper T from drooping due to rigidity of the paper T becomes impossible so that as shown in  FIG. 7D , the paper T moves onto the cursor plane  625  side (droops), the end T 1  of the paper T has passed the inside edge  622  of the cursor member  620 . Consequently, at a position where no face connecting portion  642  exists of the cursor member  620 , the paper T is never hooked by the cursor member  620  or enters a gap between the sheet loading face  615  of the tray main body  610  and a bottom face of the cursor base  621  of the cursor member  620 . 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 7D , when the cursor member  620  (connecting portion  640 ) is moved further, the end T 1  of the paper T brought up to a position above the upper edge  644  of the rib  643  is moved onto the upper edge  644  of the rib  643  and the cursor plane  625  of the cursor base  621  of the cursor member  620  smoothly. Thus, the end T 1  of the paper T can be moved onto the cursor plane  625  more smoothly. 
     The upper edge  644  and the inclined edge  645  are provided on each of the pair of the ribs  643  which serve as the face connecting portion  642 , spaced in the feeding direction D 1 . Consequently, when the end T 1  of the paper T is moved on the cursor plane  625 , friction generated between the face connecting portion  642  and the paper T can be reduced. 
     Second embodiment 
     Next, the cursor member  620  and the like according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In description of the second embodiment and a third embodiment, similar constituent features to the first embodiment are referred to by the same numerals and descriptions thereof are omitted or simplified.  FIG. 8  is a partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the cursor member  620  and the rack member  650  of the second embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the second embodiment, mainly the configuration of the upper edge  644 A of the rib  643 A and the upper edge  644 B of the rib  643 B are different from the rib  643  of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a length of the upper edge  644 A of the rib  643 A on the upstream side (D 12  side) in the feeding direction D 1  of the paper T is larger than a length of the upper edge  644 B of the rib  643 B on a downstream side (D 11  side) in the feeding direction D 1 . A difference between the length of the upper edge  644 A and the length of the upper edge  644 B is, for example, 1 mm to 3 mm. 
     In the second embodiment, a following advantage is attained as well as the advantage of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the length of the upper edge  644 A of the rib  643 A on the upstream side (D 12  side) in the feeding direction D 1  is larger than the length of the upper edge  644 B of the rib  643 B on the downstream side (D 11  side). Thus, the upstream side (D 12  side) in the feeding direction D 1  of the paper T placed on the sheet loading face  615 , the face connecting portion  642  and the cursor plane  625  can be brought up more than the downstream side (D 11  side). As a result, the paper T cannot come into contact with the rib  643 B on the downstream side (D 11  side) easily. Thus, when the paper T placed on the sheet loading face  615 , the face connecting portion  642  and the cursor plane  625  is fed toward the image forming unit GK, the paper T is unlikely to be hooked by the rib  643 B on the downstream side (D 1  side). 
     Third embodiment 
     Next, the cursor member  620  and the like according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 9  is a partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the cursor member  620  and the rack member  650  of a third embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , in the third embodiment, mainly its rib  643 C is different from the rib  643  of first embodiment. In the third embodiment, a face connecting portion  642 C has the rib  643 C on the upstream side D 12  in the feeding direction D 1 . On the other hand, the face connecting portion  642  has no rib on the downstream side D 11  in the feeding direction D 1 . When viewed from a direction orthogonal to the sheet loading face  615  (thickness direction D 3  of the paper T), the upper edge  644  of the rib  643 C extends obliquely toward the downstream side (D 11  side) in the feeding direction D 1  with respect to the width direction D 2  from the inside edge  622  of the cursor base  621 . An angle (sharp angle) formed by the width direction D 2  and a direction in which the rib  643 C extends is, for example, 30° to 60° when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the sheet loading face  615 . 
     The third embodiment provides a following advantage as well as the advantage provided by the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the sheet loading face  615 , the upper edge  644  of the face connecting portion  642 C (rib  643 C) extends obliquely toward the downstream side (D 11  side) in the feeding direction D 1  with respect to the width direction D 2  from the inside edge  622  of the cursor base  621 . Thus, compared to a case where the rib of the face connecting portion  642  extends in parallel to the width direction D 2  and a case where it extends obliquely toward the upstream side (D 12  side) in the feeding direction D 1  with respect to the width direction D 2 , such a phenomenon that the paper T may be hooked by the rib  643 C of the face connecting portion  642  when the paper T placed on the sheet loading face  615 , the face connecting portion  642 C and the cursor plane  625  is fed to the image forming unit GK, can be eliminated more easily. Thus, the paper T is hardly hooked by the rib  643 C of the face connecting portion  642 . 
     Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not restricted to the above-described embodiments but may be carried out in a variety of embodiments. For example, in the present embodiments, although the present disclosure is applied to the manual feeding tray  65  provided inside the apparatus main body M, the present disclosure is not restricted to this example. The manual feeding tray may be of a type which is provided outside the apparatus main body M. 
     In addition, the present disclosure can be applied to a sheet storage unit (generally referred to as feed cassette) capable of storing loaded sheets each to be fed to the image forming unit GK. Further, the present disclosure can be applied to an original document carrying unit configured to feed (carry) an original document which is a sheet on which an image is formed to an image reading unit for reading the image. The image reading unit may be a unit which constitutes part of an image forming apparatus or a unit which constitutes part of an image reading apparatus (generally referred to as scanner) which is not an image forming apparatus. 
     According to the present embodiments, when one cursor member  620  is moved, the other cursor member  620  moves synchronously therewith. However, the cursor members  620  may be configured so that with one cursor member  620  fixed (unmovable), only the other cursor member  620  is movable. 
     Although in the present embodiments, the monochrome printer  1  has been described as the image forming apparatus, they are not restricted thereto. The image forming apparatus may be a copying machine, a color printer, a facsimile or a multifunction peripheral containing these functions.