Patent Publication Number: US-2020282751-A1

Title: Paper feeding device and image forming apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-038286 filed Mar. 4, 2019. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     (i) Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a paper feeding device and an image forming apparatus. 
     (ii) Related Art 
     JP-A-2011-195203 discloses a printer in which a main body case is provided with an opening/closing cover, and a side opening formed in a side surface portion of the main body case is closed by a side plate portion of the opening/closing cover. In the printer, a first paper guide that defines one side end of a paper transporting path inside the printer in a width direction is attached to an inside of the side plate portion, and when the opening/closing cover is opened, the first paper guide is also opened, and the one side end of the paper transporting path becomes an open state. 
     JP-A-2002-351282 discloses a paper feeding device in which a first exterior cover and a second exterior cover for opening and closing are integrated on the front side of a device main body. In the paper feeding device, only the first exterior cover is opened to the front side of the device main body with respect to the trouble in double-sided printing, and both the first exterior cover and the second external cover are opened to the front side of the device main body with respect to the trouble in single-sided printing. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to providing a paper feeding device that provides improved workability during placement of recording media on a loading unit as compared with a configuration in which one of a pair of walls has the same upper surface level. 
     Aspects of certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure address the above advantages and/or other advantages not described above. However, aspects of the non-limiting embodiments are not required to address the advantages described above, and aspects of the non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may not address advantages described above. 
     According to an aspect of the preset disclosure, there is provided a paper feeding device including: a loading unit on which a recording medium is loaded; a pair of walls provided to define a loading space above the loading unit between both sides in a direction intersecting with a direction of transport of the recording medium; an opening and closing member that is provided between upper portions of the pair of walls and opens and closes the loading space; and a cutout part that is provided on one of the pair of walls and in which a portion located upstream in the transport direction is located lower than a portion located downstream in the transport direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view showing an image forming apparatus including a paper feeding device according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state where a loading space above a loading unit is opened by rotating an opening and closing member and a rotating member used in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the opening and closing member and the rotating member are closed on an upper side of the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing a state where the opening and closing member and the rotating member are open on the upper side of the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6A  is a front view showing a cutout part of a front wall and a projecting portion of the opening and closing member used in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment, and  FIG. 6B  is a sectional view showing the cutout part of the front wall and the projecting portion of the opening and closing member taken along  6 B- 6 B line in  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view showing a state where a recording medium is disposed on the loading unit from the front side of the front wall in a part of the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a side sectional view showing a reinforcing portion of the opening and closing member used in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a latch mechanism and a damper of the opening and closing member used in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view showing, in an enlarged state, the reinforcing portion of the opening and closing member and a contact surface of a device main body used in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 11A  is a side view showing a part of the reinforcing portion, and  FIG. 11B  is a front view showing a part of the reinforcing portion; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view showing the latch mechanism of the opening and closing member used in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a front view showing the latch mechanism of the opening and closing member used in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the reinforcing portion of the opening and closing member used in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment when viewed from below; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic configuration view showing a state where an external force is applied to a frame portion in a closed state of the opening and closing member in the paper feeding device according to the exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing a state where a loading space above a loading unit is opened by rotating an opening and closing member and a rotating member used in a paper feeding device according to a first comparative example; 
         FIG. 17  is a side view showing a state where a recording medium is disposed on the loading unit from the front side of a front wall in a part of the paper feeding device according to the first comparative example; 
         FIG. 18  is a side sectional view showing a state where the loading space above the loading unit is closed by the opening and closing member in the paper feeding device according to the first comparative example; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic configuration view showing a state where an external force is applied to a device main body in a closed state of the opening and closing member in the paper feeding device according to the first comparative example; and 
         FIG. 20  is a side view showing a state where a recording medium is disposed on a loading unit from the front side of a front wall in a part of a paper feeding device according to a second comparative example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out the present disclosure (hereinafter, referred to as the present exemplary embodiment) will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that in the drawings, a direction indicated by an arrow X is a device width direction, and a direction indicated by an arrow Y is a device height direction. In addition, it is assumed that a direction (arrow Z direction) orthogonal to each of the device width direction and the device height direction is a device depth direction. 
     Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 
       FIG. 1  is a front view showing an example of an image forming apparatus  200  including a paper feeding device  10  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  200  includes an image forming apparatus main body  202  as an example of an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and the paper feeding device  10  that feeds the recording medium into the image forming apparatus main body  202 . The paper feeding device  10  is disposed adjacent to the side portion of the image forming apparatus main body  202 . Although not shown, an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium, and a transporting unit that transports the recording medium to the image forming unit are included inside the image forming apparatus main body  202 . The configuration and disposition of the image forming unit and the transporting unit are not particularly limited. The paper feeding device  10  is attached to the image forming apparatus main body  202  in an option, and is separately traded. 
     Configuration of Paper Feeding Device (Overall Configuration) 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the paper feeding device  10  according to the exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the paper feeding device  10  includes a main body portion  12  as an example of a device main body, and a housing device  14  that projects from the side of the main body portion  12  toward the outside of the main body portion  12 . A loading unit  16  on which plural recording media P are loaded is provided inside the housing device  14  (see  FIG. 3 ). The housing device  14  is configured to be retrofitted to the paper feeding device  10  as an option. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the paper feeding device  10  is provided at an upper portion of the main body portion  12 , and includes an opening and closing member  20  that opens and closes a loading space S on the loading unit  16  and a damper  36  that assists an opening operation of the loading space S by the opening and closing member  20  (see  FIG. 3 ). The paper feeding device  10  includes a latch mechanism  100  that holds a state in which the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20  (see  FIG. 3 ). In addition, the paper feeding device  10  includes a rotating member  22  that is disposed so as to overlap the opening and closing member  20  and that is rotatable. An opening/closing cover  30  (to be described later) that opens and closes the loading space S on the loading unit  16  is provided at a portion of the housing device  14  that projects out beyond the side of the main body portion  12 . 
     Furthermore, the paper feeding device  10  includes a drawer tray  26  in which a recording medium (not shown) different from the recording medium P is stored at a lower portion on the front side of the main body portion  12  in the depth direction (that is, the Z direction). The drawer tray  26  is configured to store a recording medium (not shown) different from the recording medium P by being pulled out from the main body portion  12 . 
     Configuration of Main Body Portion  12   
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the main body portion  12  has a function as an outer casing of the paper feeding device  10 . The main body portion  12  includes a front wall  12 A disposed on the front side in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction) and a rear wall  12 B disposed on the back side in the device depth direction. In addition, the main body portion  12  includes a side wall  12 C disposed on one side in the device width direction (that is, the X direction) and a side wall (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) disposed on the other side in the device width direction. The front wall  12 A is composed of plural panels. Here, the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B are an example of a pair of walls. In addition, the front wall  12 A is an example of one wall. The drawer tray  26  is provided in a range excluding the upper side of the front wall  12 A and the other side of the front wall  12 A in the device width direction. 
     In addition, the main body portion  12  includes the front wall  12 A, the rear wall  12 B, the side wall  12 C, and an upper wall  12 D disposed on the other side wall (not shown in  FIG. 2 ). The upper wall  12 D is disposed only on the other side in the device width direction. The upper ends of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B are connected to the upper wall  12 D, and a part of the loading space S is covered by the upper wall  12 D. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the main body portion  12  is provided with a frame portion  80  as an example of a supporting body that supports the front wall  12 A from the inside in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction) (see  FIG. 3 ). Furthermore, the main body portion  12  is provided with a frame portion  82  as an example of a supporting body that supports the rear wall  12 B from the inside in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction). 
     The front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B are provided on both sides in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the recording medium P, that is, in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z such that the loading space S on the loading unit  16  is interposed therebetween. In addition, the front wall  12 A is provided with a cutout part  32  in which the height of a portion opposite to the upper wall  12 D is lower than the height of another portion joined to the upper wall  12 D. In other words, the cutout part  32  has an upstream portion located upstream in the direction of transport of the recording medium P loaded on the loading unit  16  (namely, the arrow A direction shown in  FIG. 3 ), described later, and a downstream portion located downstream in the direction of transport of the recording media P, in which the height of the upstream portion is lower than the height of the downstream portion. The height of the upper surface of the cutout part  32  is higher than the height of the upper surface of the frame portion  80 . Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the height of the upper surface of the cutout part  32  is higher than the height of the upper surface of a bracket  84  (to be described later) attached to the upper side of the frame portion  80  (see  FIG. 7 ). Accordingly, the frame portion  80  and the bracket  84  do not protrude from the upper surface of the cutout part  32 . 
     Configuration of Housing Device  14   
     The housing device  14  has a function of housing the plural recording media P. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing device  14  projects from the upper side of the side wall  12 C of the main body portion  12  toward the outside of the main body portion  12 . The housing device  14  is disposed across the position between the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B and the outside of the side wall  12 C. The housing device  14  includes a main body portion  14 A and the opening/closing cover  30  provided on the upper side of the main body portion  14 A. 
     A loading unit  16  on which plural recording media P are loaded is provided inside the housing device  14  (see  FIG. 3 ). In the present exemplary embodiment, it is assumed that the recording medium P loaded on the loading unit  16  is a recording medium longer than the length of the A3-sized recording medium in a longitudinal direction. For example, it is assumed that the length of the recording media P in the longitudinal direction is 900 mm or 1200 mm. 
     In the paper feeding device  10 , the recording media P loaded on the loading unit  16  are transported one sheet at a time in the arrow A direction by a paper feeding unit (not shown) disposed on the upper wall  12 D inside the main body portion  12 . The loading unit  16  projects upstream of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B in the transport direction (that is, the arrow A direction) of the recording medium P. That is, in the paper feeding device  10 , the upper portion of the side wall  12 C in the space between the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B is open upstream in the transport direction of the recording medium P, and the loading unit  16  is disposed straddling the opened portion. 
     The opening/closing cover  30  is configured to rotate in the device depth direction by a hinge (not shown) provided on the back side of the main body portion  14 A in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction) (see  FIG. 3 ). It is configured such that a part of the loading space S on the loading unit  16  is opened by rotating the opening/closing cover  30  upward from the front side to the back side in the device depth direction (Z direction). 
     Configuration of Opening and Closing Member  20   
     The opening and closing member  20  has a function of opening the loading space S on the loading unit  16  by sharing with the opening/closing cover  30  in order to dispose the plural recording media P on the loading unit  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the opening and closing member  20  is provided between the upper portions of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B. In the present exemplary embodiment, the opening and closing member  20  is provided at a position adjacent to the upper wall  12 D of the main body portion  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the opening and closing member  20  is configured to rotate around a first hinge  40  provided on the downstream side in the transport direction (that is, the arrow A direction shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the recording medium P and open and close the loading space S on the loading unit  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). Here, the first hinge  40  is an example of a hinge. The first hinge  40  extends in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the recording medium P (that is, in the device depth direction indicated by the arrow Z). The first hinge  40  is provided on the end edge side of the upper wall  12 D (see  FIG. 2 ) which is one end side of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B in the device width direction. As an example, one end portion of the first hinge  40  in the longitudinal direction is supported by the frame portion  80  supporting the front wall  12 A, and the other end portion of the first hinge  40  in the longitudinal direction is supported by the frame portion  82  supporting the rear wall  12 B (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     In a state where the loading space S is closed, the opening and closing member  20  covers from the upper wall  12 D to the end portions of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B on the upstream side in the transport direction (that is, the arrow A direction shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the recording medium P. In addition, the opening/closing cover  30  covers a portion that projects out beyond the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a contact portion  48  that contacts a tip end portion  22 A of a rotating member  22  is provided on the upper side of the opening and closing member  20 . The contact portion  48  is configured to have a stepwise upward slope toward a tip end portion  20 A side of the opening and closing member  20  (that is, the side opposite to the first hinge  40  shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a projecting portion  34  that projects from the edge of the opening and closing member  20  in the closed state of the loading space S and that fills a gap between the cutout part  32  and the edge of the opening and closing member  20  is provided in the opening and closing member  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). The projecting portion  34  is provided on the tip end portion  20 A side of the opening and closing member  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a recessed portion  33  that is recessed from the front wall  12 A in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction) is provided at the edge of the cutout part  32  on the front wall  12 A side. The recessed portion  33  is formed at the boundary portion between the edge of the cutout part  32  and the front wall  12 A. An overlapping portion  35  that overlaps the cutout part  32  in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the recording medium P is provided at the lower end portion of the projecting portion  34  in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 . In the present exemplary embodiment, in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 , the overlapping portion  35  is inserted in the recessed portion  33 , and the overlapping portion  35  and the recessed portion  33  are disposed to overlap in the device depth direction. In this state, the inside of the cutout part  32  cannot be seen from the lower portion of the overlapping portion  35 . In addition, in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 , the front surface of the front wall  12 A and the front surfaces of the projecting portion  34  and the overlapping portion  35  are disposed in a vertical direction. 
     When the opening and closing member  20  opens the loading space S, the rotating member  22  overlapping the opening and closing member  20  rotates in a direction in which the rotating member stands up in conjunction with the opening of the paper feeding device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the paper feeding device  10 , an operator P 1  disposes the recording medium P from the front wall  12 A side (that is, the drawer tray  26  side) on the loading unit  16  in the open state of the loading space S by the opening and closing member  20 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the cutout part  32  is provided in the front wall  12 A, so that the recording medium P can be easily disposed on the loading unit  16  from the front wall  12 A side through the cutout part  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , a reinforcing portion  90  disposed in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction) is provided at the lower portion on the tip end portion  20 A side of the opening and closing member  20 . The reinforcing portion  90  is provided upstream of the opening and closing member  20  in the transport direction of the recording medium P (the arrow A direction shown in  FIG. 3 ). The reinforcing portion  90  is configured to reinforce the frame portions  80  and  82  between the upper portions of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 . 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the bracket  84  is attached to the upper side of the frame portion  80 , and a bracket  86  is attached to the upper side of the frame portion  82  (see  FIG. 9 ). In  FIG. 9 , the frame portions  80  and  82  are not shown. In the present exemplary embodiment, the reinforcing portion  90  reinforces the frame portions  80  and  82  by entering between the bracket  84  on the upper side of the frame portion  80  and the bracket  86  on the upper side of the frame portion  82 . Here, the bracket  84  is an example of a support portion and an attachment portion. In addition, the bracket  86  is an example of a supporting body. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 to 12 , the reinforcing portion  90  has a U-shape opening on the upper side of the device in a sectional view in a direction intersecting with the device depth direction (that is, the arrow Z direction). The reinforcing portion  90  is made of, for example, a metal member. More specifically, the reinforcing portion  90  includes a bottom wall portion  90 A disposed in the device depth direction, and a pair of side wall portions  90 B bent upward from both sides in a direction intersecting with the bottom wall portion  90 A in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the reinforcing portion  90  includes a pair of vertical wall portions  90 C bent upward from the bottom wall portion  90 A at both end portions of the bottom wall portion  90 A in the longitudinal direction. The vertical wall portion  90 C is flat. The vertical wall portion  90 C is an example of an end surface of the reinforcing portion  90 . 
     The bracket  84  is formed in a U-shape opening on the front side in the device depth direction (that is, the arrow Z direction) in a plan view (see  FIG. 9 ). More specifically, the bracket  84  includes a flat side wall portion  84 A as an example of a contact surface disposed in the device width direction (that is, the arrow X direction) and a pair of bent portions  84 B bent on the front side in the device depth direction from both end portions of the side wall portion  84 A (see  FIG. 9 ). In the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 , the vertical wall portion  90 C on the front side of the reinforcing portion  90  in the device depth direction (that is, the arrow Z direction) faces the side wall portion  84 A of the bracket  84  (see  FIG. 10 ). In the present exemplary embodiment, a gap G 1  is formed between the vertical wall portion  90 C of the reinforcing portion  90  and the side wall portion  84 A of the bracket  84  in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20  (see  FIG. 10 ). Here, the gap G 1  is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, more preferably 0.7 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, and still more preferably 0.9 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less. The bracket  84  is attached to the upper surface of the frame portion  80  using a fixing tool such as a bolt with an attachment portion  85  joined to the lower portion of the bracket  84 . The vertical wall portion  90 C on the front side of the reinforcing portion  90  is configured to abut on the side wall portion  84 A when the bracket  84  and the frame portion  80  are slightly deformed in the device depth direction (that is, deformed by the amount of the gap G 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the bracket  86  is formed in a U-shape opening on the back side in the device depth direction (that is, the arrow Z direction) in a plan view. More specifically, the bracket  86  includes a flat side wall portion  86 A as an example of a contact surface disposed in the device width direction (that is, the arrow X direction) and a pair of bent portions  86 B bent on the back side from both end portions of the side wall portion  86 A in the device depth direction. In the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 , the vertical wall portion  90 C on the back side of the reinforcing portion  90  in the device depth direction (that is, the arrow Z direction) faces the side wall portion  86 A of the bracket  86 . In the present exemplary embodiment, a gap is formed between the vertical wall portion  90 C on the back side of the reinforcing portion  90  and the side wall portion  86 A of the bracket  86  in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 . The gap is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, more preferably 0.7 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, and still more preferably 0.9 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less. The bracket  86  is attached to the upper surface of the frame portion  82  using a fixing tool such as a bolt with a box shaped attachment portion  87  (see  FIG. 9 ). The vertical wall portion  90 C on the back side of the reinforcing portion  90  is configured to abut on the side wall portion  86 A when the bracket  86  and the frame portion  82  are slightly deformed in the device depth direction (that is, deformed by the amount of the gap). 
     Configuration of Rotating Member  22   
     The rotating member  22  has a function of disposing a recording medium for manual feeding (not shown) different from the recording medium P. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rotating member  22  is configured to rotate around a second hinge  42  provided on the downstream side in the transport direction (that is, the arrow A direction shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the recording medium P from the first hinge  40 . The second hinge  42  extends in a direction intersecting with the transport direction (that is, the arrow A direction shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the recording medium P. As an example, one end portion of the second hinge  42  in the longitudinal direction is supported by the frame portion  80 , and the other end portion of the second hinge  42  in the longitudinal direction is supported by the frame portion  82 . The second hinge  42  is provided on the upper wall  12 D side (see  FIG. 2 ) which is one end side of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B in the device width direction from the first hinge  40 . 
     In the closed state of the rotating member  22 , the rotating member  22  is overlapped on the opening and closing member  20  that has closed the loading space S. In this state, the tip end portion  22 A of the rotating member  22  is in contact with the contact portion  48  of the rotating member  22 . 
     The rotating member  22  is configured to shift from a posture overlapping the opening and closing member  20  to a standing posture due to an operation of opening the loading space S by the opening and closing member  20 . That is, the rotating member  22  is configured to rotate in a direction of standing up while the rotating member  22  slides with the contact portion  48  of the opening and closing member  20  due to the operation of opening the loading space S by the opening and closing member  20 . In the paper feeding device  10 , when the opening and closing member  20  is in a closed position, only the rotating member  22  can be rotated in a standing direction, but there is no practical meaning to use only the rotating member  22  in the standing state. For this reason, generally, either the opening and closing member  20  and the rotating member  22  are in the open position together, or the opening and closing member  20  and the rotating member  22  are in the closed position together. 
     The inner surface of the tip end portion  22 A of the rotating member  22  slides with the contact portion  48  of the opening and closing member  20  when the opening and closing member  20  is open. A concave portion  54  in which a recording medium for manual feeding (not shown) is disposed between a pair of frame portions  50  is provided at the upper portion of the rotating member  22  (see  FIG. 2 ). In  FIG. 2 , the frame portion  50  on the front side is not shown. A paper feeding unit (not shown) for feeding the recording medium for manual feeding disposed in the concave portion  54  of the rotating member  22  one sheet at a time is provided inside the upper wall  12 D of the paper feeding device  10 . 
     Configuration of Damper  36   
     The damper  36  has a function of assisting the opening operation of the loading space S by the opening and closing member  20  as described above. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the damper  36  includes a cylindrical damper main body  36 A and a rod  36 B provided so as to be movable back and forth from the damper main body  36 A. The end portion of the damper main body  36 A opposite to the rod  36 B is supported by an attachment portion  70  on the opening and closing member  20 . The tip end portion of the rod  36 B (that is, the end portion opposite to the damper main body  36 A) is supported by an attachment portion  72  on the rear wall  12 B. The attachment portion  70  rotatably supports the damper main body  36 A and the opening and closing member  20  relative to each other. The attachment portion  72  rotatably supports the rod  36 B and the rear wall  12 B relative to each other. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, one damper  36  is provided on the back side of the paper feeding device  10  in the depth direction (that is, the Z direction). A damper is not provided on the front wall  12 A side which is the front side of the paper feeding device  10  in the depth direction (that is, the Z direction). The damper  36  is configured such that the rod  36 B is pushed in a direction in which the rod  36 B advances with respect to the damper main body  36 A, and when the opening and closing member  20  is lifted halfway in the direction of opening the loading space S, the opening and closing member  20  is lifted by the action of the damper  36 . 
     Configuration of Latch Mechanism  100   
     The latch mechanism  100  has a function of locking the opening and closing member  20  to the main body portion  12  side at the closed position of the loading space S by the opening and closing member  20 . As shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIGS. 12 to 14 , the latch mechanism  100  is provided on the reinforcing portion  90  side in the opening and closing member  20 . The latch mechanism  100  includes a main body portion  102  and an arm portion  106  which is swung by a rotating shaft  104  provided on the main body portion  102 . In addition, the latch mechanism  100  includes a shaft portion  108  extended around the pair of vertical wall portions  90 C of the reinforcing portion  90 , and a latch  110  rotatably supported at one end portion of the shaft portion  108  in an axial direction (in the present exemplary embodiment, the end portion on the front side in the device depth direction). 
     The latch  110  is a long plate shaped member, and an intermediate portion thereof in the longitudinal direction is rotatably supported at one end portion of the shaft portion  108  in the axial direction. A hook  110 A is provided at one end portion of the latch  110  in the longitudinal direction (in the present exemplary embodiment, the lower end portion when the opening and closing member  20  is closed). A pair of support pieces  110 B are provided at the other end portion of the latch  110  in the longitudinal direction (in the present exemplary embodiment, the upper end portion when the opening and closing member  20  is closed). In addition, a rod-like portion  107  is interposed between the pair of support pieces  110 B such that the rod-like portion  107  protruding from the tip end portion of the arm portion  106  is rotatable and is movable in the longitudinal direction of the latch  110 . 
     The bracket  84  is provided with a rod  112  as an example of a lock portion that protrudes from the side wall portion  84 A toward the front side in the device depth direction. The hook  110 A of the latch  110  is locked to the rod  112  of the bracket  84  to hold the state in which the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20  (that is, lock the opening and closing member  20  in the closed position). The rod  112  is disposed inside the bracket  84 . 
     In the latch mechanism  100 , in a state where the rod-like portion  107  of the arm portion  106  is interposed between the pair of support pieces  110 B of the latch  110 , the latch  110  rotates in the device width direction (that is, the arrow X direction) around the shaft portion  108  by swinging of the arm portion  106 . Accordingly, the latch  110  rotates to a locked position where the hook  110 A is locked to the rod  112  of the bracket  84  and a lock release position where the hook  110 A is disengaged from the rod  112  of the bracket  84 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the tip end portion  20 A of the opening and closing member  20  is provided with a handle  60  for releasing the locking of the opening and closing member  20  to the main body portion  12  in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the handle  60  is provided on the front wall  12 A side of the opening and closing member  20  in the depth direction (that is, the Z direction). The handle  60  is configured to rotate, for example, in the vertical direction. Although not shown, the handle  60  is coupled to the rotating shaft  104  of the latch mechanism  100  to rotate the rotating shaft  104 . The rotating shaft  104  is configured to swing the arm portion  106  by a biasing member (not shown) in a direction in which the hook  110 A of the latch  110  is locked to the rod  112  of the bracket  84 . For example, the handle  60  is lifted upward, the rotation of the rotating shaft  104  causes the arm portion  106  to swing in a lock release direction, and thus the hook  110 A of the latch  110  is disengaged from the rod  112  of the bracket  84 . Accordingly, the locking of the opening and closing member  20  to the main body portion  12  is released, and the opening and closing member  20  is configured to be rotatable in the direction of opening the loading space S. 
     Actions and Effects 
     Next, the actions and effects of the present exemplary embodiment will be described. 
     In the paper feeding device  10 , in the general state, the opening and closing member  20  is in the closed position, and the loading space S on the loading unit  16  is closed by the opening and closing member  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). In this state, the rotating member  22  is disposed at a position overlapping the opening and closing member  20 . 
     In the paper feeding device  10 , when the recording medium P is disposed on the loading unit  16 , the opening and closing member  20  rotates around the first hinge  40  to open the loading space S on the loading unit  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). Due to the operation of opening the loading space S by the opening and closing member  20 , the rotating member  22  rotates around the second hinge  42  to shift from the posture overlapping the opening and closing member  20  to the standing posture. 
     Furthermore, the opening/closing cover  30  of the housing device  14  is rotated from the front side to the back side in the device depth direction to open the loading space S on the loading unit  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). In this state, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the operator P 1  disposes the plural recording media P on the loading unit  16  from the front wall  12 A side of the main body portion  12 . In this case, the cutout part  32  is formed at the front wall  12 A. The cutout part  32  has the height of the upstream portion in the transport direction (that is, the arrow A direction shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the recording medium P lower than the height of the downstream portion in the transport direction of the recording medium P. Accordingly, the height of the upper surface of the cutout part  32  is lower than the heights of the portion of the front wall  12 A where the cutout part  32  is not formed and the upper surface of the rear wall  12 B by a height H 1 . Therefore, by disposing the plural recording media P from the cutout part  32  of the front wall  12 A to the loading unit  16 , the recording media P can be easily disposed on the loading unit  16 . 
     Thereafter, the opening and closing member  20  is rotated to close the loading space S on the loading unit  16 , and the rotating member  22  is rotated to a position overlapping the opening and closing member  20 . In addition, the opening/closing cover  30  of the housing device  14  is rotated to close the loading space S on the loading unit  16 . In this state, the paper feeding device  10  is operated to transport the recording medium P to the image forming apparatus main body  202 . The image forming apparatus main body  202  forms an image on the transported recording medium P. 
     Here, a paper feeding device  300  of a first comparative example will be described with reference to  FIGS. 16 and 17 . In addition, a paper feeding device  350  of a second comparative example will be described with reference to  FIG. 20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the paper feeding device  300  of the first comparative example includes a main body portion  302 , a housing device  14  that projects out beyond the side of the main body portion  302 , and an opening and closing member  304  that is provided at the upper portion of the main body portion  302  and that opens and closes a loading space S on a loading unit  16 . In addition, the paper feeding device  300  includes a rotating member  22  that is disposed so as to overlap the opening and closing member  304 . 
     The main body portion  302  includes a front wall  302 A disposed on the front side in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction) and a rear wall  12 B disposed on the back side in the device depth direction. The upper surface of the front wall  302 A is set at the same height along the device width direction (that is, the X direction). In addition, the height of the upper surface of the front wall  302 A is equal to the height of the upper surface of the rear wall  12 B. 
     In the paper feeding device  300 , as shown in  FIG. 17 , when the recording medium P is disposed on the loading unit  16 , the opening and closing member  304  is rotated to open the loading space S on the loading unit  16 . In this state, an operator P 1  disposes plural recording media P on the loading unit  16  from the front wall  302 A side of the main body portion  302 . In this case, since the height of the upper surface of the front wall  302 A is equal along the device width direction (that is, the X direction), a height H 2  from the lower surface of the recording medium P to the upper surface of the front wall  302 A is high. As an example, the height H 2  is about 324 mm, and the height of the entire paper feeding device  300  in the vertical direction is about 991 mm. Therefore, the operator P 1  does not easily access the back side of the loading unit  16  in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction), and the recording medium P is not easily disposed on the loading unit  16 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 20 , in the paper feeding device  350  of the second comparative example, a rotating unit  354  that rotates from a standing position on the upper side of a front wall  352 A to a tilted position on the front side in the device depth direction by a hinge (not shown) is provided at the upper portion of the front wall  352 A of a main body portion  352 . 
     In the paper feeding device  350 , the plural recording media P are disposed on the loading unit  16  from the front wall  352 A side in a state where the rotating unit  354  is rotated to the tilted position on the front side in the device depth direction with respect to the front wall  352 A. Therefore, in the paper feeding device  350 , the operation of rotating the rotating unit  354  is added. In addition, since the rotating unit  354  protrudes to the front side of the device from the front wall  352 A, the operator P 1  does not easily access a side guide  356  on the back side of the loading unit  16  in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction). 
     In contrast, in the paper feeding device  10  of the present exemplary embodiment, the cutout part  32  is formed at the front wall  12 A of the main body portion  12 . The cutout part  32  has the height of the upstream portion in the transport direction (that is, the arrow A direction shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the recording medium P lower than the height of the downstream portion in the transport direction of the recording medium P. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the height of the upper surface of the cutout part  32  is lower than the height of the portion of the front wall  12 A where the cutout part  32  is not formed by the height H 1 . Therefore, the operator P 1  easily accesses the back side of the loading unit  16  in the device depth direction (that is, the Z direction) from the cutout part  32  of the front wall  12 A. 
     Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the workability at the time of disposing the recording medium P on the loading unit  16  is improved as compared with the configuration in which the upper surface of one wall of a pair of walls has the same height. 
     In addition, in the paper feeding device  10 , the drawer tray  26  that stores a recording medium different from the recording medium P is provided below the front wall  12 A. Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the recording medium P can be disposed on the loading unit  16  from the drawer tray  26  side. 
     Further, in the paper feeding device  10 , the loading unit  16  projects upstream of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B in the transport direction (that is, the arrow A direction) of the recording medium P, and a space between the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B is open upstream in the transport direction of the recording medium P. Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the size of the paper feeding device  10  can be reduced as compared with a configuration having a pair of walls between which the entire loading space is interposed. 
     In addition, in the paper feeding device  10 , the projecting portion  34  is provided which projects from the opening and closing member  20  and which fills a gap between the cutout part  32  and the opening and closing member  20  in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 . Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the inside of the device can be prevented from being seen through the cutout part  32  in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20  as compared with the configuration in which the lower surface of the opening and closing member has a uniform shape. 
     In addition, in the paper feeding device  10 , the overlapping portion  35  that overlaps the cutout part  32  in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the recording medium P is provided at the edge of the projecting portion  34  in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 . Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the inside of the device can be prevented from being seen through the space between the projecting portion  34  and the cutout part  32  as compared with the configuration in which the projecting portion and the cutout part do not overlap in the state where the loading space is closed by the opening and closing member. 
     Here, the paper feeding device  300  of the first comparative example will be described with reference to  FIGS. 16, 18, and 19 . As shown in  FIG. 16 , in the paper feeding device  300  of the first comparative example, the inside of a tip end portion  304 A of the opening and closing member  304  is formed of, for example, a resin member in a planar shape. That is, as shown in  FIG. 18 , in the state where the loading space S above the loading unit  16  is closed by the opening and closing member  304 , a reinforcing portion disposed between a frame portion  80  and a frame portion  82  on both sides of the main body portion  302  in the depth direction is not provided inside the tip end portion  304 A of the opening and closing member  304 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , in the paper feeding device  300 , a horizontal frame portion  310  that connects the frame portion  80  and the frame portion  82  to each other is provided at an intermediate portion of the frame portion  80  and the frame portion  82  in the vertical direction. In addition, a lower horizontal frame portion  312  that connects the frame portion  80  and the frame portion  82  is provided at the lower end portion of the frame portion  80  and the frame portion  82 . Note that,  FIG. 19  schematically shows only the skeleton of the paper feeding device  300 . Therefore, at the time of closing the opening and closing member  304  (see  FIG. 18 ), when an external force in an arrow F direction (that is, a direction toward the back side of the device) is applied to the upper portion of the frame portion  80  on the front side of the device, the force is transmitted to the frame portion  82  from the frame portion  80  through the horizontal frame portion  310  of the intermediate portion in the vertical direction. As a result, the deformation of the frame portion  80  in the device depth direction is increased. 
     In contrast, in the paper feeding device  10  of the present exemplary embodiment, the reinforcing portion  90  is provided upstream of the opening and closing member  20  in the transport direction of the recording medium P, and reinforces the frame portions  80  and  82  between the upper portions of the front wall  12 A and the rear wall  12 B in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 15 , at the time of closing the opening and closing member  20 , when an external force in an arrow F direction (that is, a direction toward the back side of the device) is applied to the upper portion of the frame portion  80  on the front side of the device, the force is transmitted to the frame portion  82  from the frame portion  80  through the reinforcing portion  90 . More specifically, when an external force in the arrow F direction is applied to the frame portion  80 , the frame portion  80  is slightly deformed, the side wall portion  84 A of the bracket  84  on the upper side of the frame portion  80  abuts on the vertical wall portion  90 C of the reinforcing portion  90 , and the force is transmitted from the frame portion  80  to the reinforcing portion  90  (see  FIG. 12 ). Furthermore, the vertical wall portion  90 C is slightly displaced on the back side of the reinforcing portion  90  in the device depth direction and abuts on the side wall portion  86 A of the bracket  86  on the upper side of the frame portion  82 , and the force is transmitted from the reinforcing portion  90  to the frame portion  82  (see  FIG. 12 ). In this case, the amount of deformation of the frame portions  80  and  82  is reduced by the reinforcing portion  90  being stretched. 
     Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the deformation of the frame portions  80  and  82  and the brackets  84  and  86  is reduced as compared with the configuration in which the supporting body is not reinforced in the state where the loading space is closed by the opening and closing member. 
     In addition, in the paper feeding device  10 , in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 , the bracket  84  on the upper side of the frame portion  80  is provided with the side wall portion  84 A facing the reinforcing portion  90 , and the bracket  86  on the upper side of the frame portion  82  is provided with the side wall portion  86 A facing the reinforcing portion  90 . Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the deformation of the frame portions  80  and  82  and the brackets  84  and  86  is reduced as compared with the configuration in which the reinforcing portion does not abut on the supporting body. 
     In the paper feeding device  10 , in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 , the gap is provided between the vertical wall portion  90 C on the front side of the reinforcing portion  90  and the side wall portion  84 A, and the vertical wall portion  90 C of the reinforcing portion  90  is configured to abut on the side wall portion  84 A due to a slight deformation of the frame portion  80 . Similarly, in the state where the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20 , the gap is provided between the vertical wall portion  90 C on the back side of the reinforcing portion  90  and the side wall portion  86 A, and the vertical wall portion  90 C of the reinforcing portion  90  is configured to abut on the side wall portion  86 A when the frame portion  82  is slightly deformed. Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the side wall portions  84 A and  86 A is prevented from interfering with the opening and closing of loading space S by the opening and closing member  20  in contrast to the configuration in which the end surface of the reinforcing portion abuts on the contact surface in the state where the loading space is closed by the opening and closing member. 
     In addition, in the paper feeding device  10 , the latch  110  that holds the state in which the loading space S is closed by the opening and closing member  20  is provided on the reinforcing portion  90  side in the opening and closing member  20 . Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , a latch failure is less likely to occur as compared with the configuration in which the latch is provided on the side opposite to the reinforcing portion in the opening and closing member. 
     In the paper feeding device  10 , the frame portion  80  is provided with the bracket  84  having the side wall portion  84 A, and the bracket  84  is provided with the rod  112  to which the hook  110 A of the latch  110  is locked. Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , assembly of the rod  112  is facilitated as compared with the configuration which provides the lock portion with which the latch is locked to the frame portion as an example of the supporting body. 
     In addition, in the paper feeding device  10 , the upper surface of the cutout part  32  is disposed above the frame portion  80  and the bracket  84 . Therefore, in the paper feeding device  10 , the appearance from the outside of the paper feeding device  10  is improved as compared with the configuration in which the upper surface of the cutout part is disposed below the attachment portion. 
     Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus  200  including the paper feeding device  10 , the workability at the time of disposing the recording medium P on the loading unit  16  is improved as compared with the configuration in which the upper surface of one wall of the pair of walls has the same height. 
     Supplementary Explanation 
     In the exemplary embodiment, although the overlapping portion  35  that overlaps the cutout part  32  in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the recording medium P is provided at the edge of the projecting portion  34 , the present disclosure is not limited to the configuration. For example, the overlapping portion that overlaps the projecting portion in a direction intersecting with the transport direction of the recording medium P may be provided at the edge of the cutout part. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the position, depth, and the like of the cutout part  32  are changeable. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, the shape of the reinforcing portion  90  is changeable. 
     Although the handle  60  is provided on the front wall  12 A side of the opening and closing member  20  in the device depth direction, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the handle may be provided near the central portion of the opening and closing member in the depth direction. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with respect to the specific exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to such an exemplary embodiment, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other exemplary embodiments are possible within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.