Patent ID: 8684347

Claim:
A sheet amount indicator for use in a sheet-feeding tray, the sheet-feeding tray including a sheet stacking part having a base plate where sheets are stacked, the base plate being configured to rise up for feeding of a topmost sheet stacked, the sheet amount indicator comprising: a viewing part disposed on an outer surface of the sheet stacking part; an indicator member configured to move as seen through the viewing part; a cooperative mechanism configured to move in accordance with a vertical movement of the base plate; and an amplifying mechanism disposed outside the sheet stacking part and connected to the cooperative mechanism so as to amplify the movement of the cooperative mechanism to transmit the amplified movement to the indicator member wherein the cooperative mechanism includes a first arm having a front part, a middle part and a rear part, the front part extending outside the sheet stacking part, the middle part being configured to pivot the first arm in a vertical direction around a fulcrum disposed on the sheet-feeding tray, and the rear part being in contact with the base plate, and wherein the entire front, middle, and rear parts are coplanar.