Patent ID: 7404555

Claim:
A paper feeder for an image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feed tray attachable to a tray receiver of a main apparatus body by moving in a tray moving direction perpendicular to a direction of feeding paper loaded in the feed tray; and a tray positioning mechanism for contacting one of said paper feed tray and said main apparatus body as said paper feed tray is attached to said tray receiver, to restrict movement in said tray moving direction of said paper feed tray, said tray positioning mechanism being attached to the other of said paper feed tray and said main apparatus body; said tray positioning mechanism having a contact portion for contacting one of said paper feed tray and said main apparatus body, a position of said contact portion being adjustable in said tray moving direction; wherein said tray positioning mechanism includes a fixed member fixed to the other of said paper feed tray and said main apparatus body, and a contact member having said contact portion, said fixed member and said contact member being relatively movably connected to each other, at least one of said fixed member and said contact member having a plurality of reaction force receiving surfaces for receiving a contact reaction force of said tray positioning mechanism, said reaction force receiving surfaces formed continuously and provided in different positions in said tray moving direction, respectively, to allow said fixed member and said contact member to be relatively moved, thereby selecting a desired reaction force surface from said plurality of reaction force receiving surfaces to switch to an operative state to vary and adjust the position in said tray moving direction of said contact portion.