Paper output tray and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10065828-B2
Application number	US-201715652529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2017
Priority date	Jul 22, 2016
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

A paper output tray includes: a tray main body where sheets discharged from an apparatus main body are stacked; a first extension tray which is to be housed in the tray main body on a lower surface side thereof so as to be pullable forward from a front end of the tray main body; and a second extension tray which is rotatably supported by the first extension tray and is expandable from a closed state, in which the second extension tray is folded on the upper surface of the first extension tray, to an open state in which the second extension tray extends forward of the first extension tray. The first extension tray has a support portion extending downward from the upper surface where the sheets are stacked, and the second extension tray is rotatably supported by the support portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A paper output tray holding sheets, which are discharged, the paper output tray comprising:
a tray main body having an upper surface and a lower surface side opposite to the upper surface, the upper surface being a sheet holding surface;
a first extension tray configured to be (i) housed on the lower surface side of the tray main body and (ii) pulled out from the tray main body in a sheet discharge direction; and
a second extension tray which is rotatably supported by the first extension tray and which is rotatable to be in a closed state in which the second extension tray is folded with respect to the first extension tray and an open state in which the second extension tray is open with respect to the first extension tray so that a sheet holding region is wider than that in the closed state,
wherein, in a case where the second extension tray is located above the upper surface of the tray main body and the first extension tray is housed in the tray main body on the lower surface side thereof, the second extension tray is configured to move toward the open state when a discharged sheet contacts the second extension tray.

2. The paper output tray according to claim 1 , wherein the second extension tray includes a plurality of push-out portions against which a leading end of the discharged sheet abuts in a state in which the first extension tray is housed in the tray main body and the second extension tray is folded on the upper surface side of the tray main body, a first push-out portion of the plurality of push-out portions being (i) adjacent to a second push-out portion of the plurality of push-out portions and (ii) located at a position farther from a rotation center line of the second extension than the second push-out portion, an angle θ 1 formed between the first push-out and the sheet holding surface of the second extension tray is set to be larger than an angle θ 2 formed between the second push-out portion and the sheet holding surface of the second extension tray.

3. The paper output tray according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide portion with which a guided portion of the first extension tray slidably engages, the guide portion being provided on a lower surface of the tray main body, the guided portion of the first extension tray including an engaging convex portion, the guiding portion of the tray main body including an engaging concave portion, the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion being engageable with each other,
wherein in a state in which the first extension tray is housed in the tray main body and the second extension tray is folded on the upper surface side of the tray main body, the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are set to a positional relationship where the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion are not engaged with each other.

4. The paper output tray according to claim 1 , wherein the tray main body is provided with an insertion port for housing the first extension tray and also provided with a light shielding sheet for shielding a gap between an edge of the insertion port and the first extension tray.

5. The paper output tray according to claim 1 , wherein:
a support portion of the first extension tray which rotatably supports the second extension tray is provided with a regulation surface orthogonal to a rotation center line of the second extension tray in the vicinity of the rotation center line,
the second extension tray includes a first abutment surface and a second abutment surface, which face the regulation surface, provided so as to have different phases in a circumferential direction around the rotation center, and
in the open state of the extension tray, the position of the first abutment surface in a direction parallel to the rotation center line is regulated by the regulation surface, and in the closed state of the second extension tray, the position of the second abutment surface in a direction parallel to the rotation center line is regulated by the regulation surface.

6. The paper output tray according to claim 5 , wherein:
the tray main body is provided with a protruding portion for regulation;
the second extension tray is provided with a third abutment surface which faces the protruding portion for regulation via a predetermined gap in a direction parallel to the rotation center line in a housing state in which the first extension tray is housed in the tray main body, with the second extension tray being in the closed state; and
in the housing state, the position of the second extension tray with respect to the tray main body in the direction parallel to the rotation center line is regulated by the third abutment surface and the protruding portion for regulation.

7. The paper output tray according to claim 1 , wherein in the open state of the second extension tray, a rotation support surface provided on the second extension tray abuts against a distal end portion of the first extension tray.

8. The paper output tray according to claim 1 , wherein:
the second extension tray includes a front receiving portion, the front receiving portion protruding so as to face a front end portion of the tray main body at a front end of the second extension tray in a closed state with respect to the first extension tray, and
when the first extension tray is housed, the front receiving portion of the second extension tray abuts against the front end portion of the tray main body, thereby positioning the housing position of the first extension tray.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an apparatus main body; and
the paper output tray according to claim 1 .

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein
the paper output tray also functions as a door for opening and closing an opening portion provided in an upper portion of the apparatus main body.

11. The paper output tray according to claim 1 , wherein
a rotational axis of the second extension tray is located below a virtual surface obtained by extending the upper surface of the tray main body.

12. A paper output tray holding sheets, which are discharged, the paper output tray comprising:
a tray main body having an upper surface and a lower surface side opposite to the upper surface, the upper surface being a sheet holding surface;
a first extension tray configured to be (i) housed on the lower surface side of the tray main body and (ii) pulled out from the tray main body in a sheet discharge direction; and
a second extension tray which is rotatably supported by the first extension tray and which is rotatable to be in a closed state in which the second extension tray is folded with respect to the first extension tray and an open state in which the second extension tray is open with respect to the first extension tray so that a sheet holding region is wider than that in the closed state,
wherein the first extension tray has a support portion extending downward from a virtual surface obtained by extending the upper surface, the second extension tray is rotatably supported by the support portion, and a rotational axis of the second extension tray is located below the virtual surface obtained by extending the upper surface of the tray main body.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Takeuchi Masaaki
• Yokota Akinori
• Harada Yuko

Classifications

• B65H2601/255

  Jam · CPC title

• B65H2405/111646

  involving extension members pivotable around an axis parallel to bottom surface and perpendicular to transport direction · CPC title

• B65H31/02

  with stationary end support against which pile accumulates · CPC title

• B65H31/20 Primary

  adjustable for different article sizes · CPC title

• B65H2405/11151

  with surface inclined upwardly in transport direction · CPC title