Sheet supply device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12252362-B2
Application number	US-202217750519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2022
Priority date	May 23, 2022
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

A sheet supply device includes a cassette, a housing, a first roller, and a first rib. The cassette is capable of accommodating a sheet. The housing movably supports the cassette in a first direction. The first roller is supported by the housing. The first roller is rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The first roller includes a pair of flanges spaced apart from each other in the second direction. The first rib protrudes downward from the cassette. The first rib has a lower end surface in contact with the first roller between the pair of flanges. The first rib extends in the first direction. The first rib has a first width of a first portion in the second direction wider than a second width of a second portion in the second direction. The first portion is disposed between the pair of flanges in a state where the cassette is accommodated in the housing. The second portion is disposed between the pair of flanges in a state where the cassette is pulled out from the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet supply device, comprising:
a cassette configured to accommodate a sheet;
a housing that movably supports the cassette in a first direction;
a first roller supported by the housing and configured to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first roller comprising a pair of flanges spaced apart from each other in the second direction; and
a first rib protruding in a downward direction of the cassette, comprising a lower end surface in contact with the first roller between the pair of flanges, extending in the first direction, and having a first width in the second direction of a first portion wider than a second width in the second direction of a second portion, the first portion disposed between the pair of flanges in a state where the cassette is accommodated in the housing, the second portion disposed between the pair of flanges in a state where the cassette is at least partially withdrawn from the housing,
wherein a width of the first rib in the second direction gradually increases from the second portion to the first portion,
wherein the first width of the first portion is smaller than an interval between the pair of flanges in the second direction, and
wherein an end surface of the first portion in the second direction is in contact with the pair of flanges in the second direction.

2. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first rib having a width in the second direction gradually increasing from the second portion to the first portion.

3. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first rib comprises a first side surface in the second direction that is parallel to the first direction, and a second side surface in the second direction that intersects the first direction.

4. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first rib comprises a first region including the first portion and having a constant width in the second direction, and
the first rib having a width in the second direction gradually increasing from the second portion to the first portion.

5. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second rib protruding downward from the cassette, extending in the first direction, and spaced apart from the first rib in the second direction; and
a second roller supported by the housing, configured to rotate about the rotation axis parallel to the second direction, and in contact with a lower end surface of the second rib, the second roller having a constant diameter of an outer periphery surface.

6. The sheet supply device according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a retracting device configured to retract the cassette into the housing, wherein
a distance between the retracting device and the first rib in the second direction is shorter than a distance between the retracting device and the second rib in the second direction.

7. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a retracting device configured to retract the cassette into the housing.

8. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the sheet supply device is configured to supply the sheet in a direction from a second rib to the first rib.

9. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the interval between the pair of flanges in the second direction increases from an inner side to an outer side of the first roller in a radial direction.

10. The sheet supply device according to claim 1 , wherein
the first rib comprises a groove configured to accommodate a lubricating oil in the lower end surface.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a printer;
a scanner; and
a sheet supply device, comprising:
a cassette configured to accommodate a sheet;
a housing that movably supports the cassette in a first direction;
a first roller supported by the housing and configured to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first roller comprising a pair of flanges spaced apart from each other in the second direction; and
a first rib protruding in a downward direction of the cassette, comprising a lower end surface in contact with the first roller between the pair of flanges, extending in the first direction, and having a first width in the second direction of a first portion wider than a second width in the second direction of a second portion, the first portion disposed between the pair of flanges in a state where the cassette is accommodated in the housing, the second portion disposed between the pair of flanges in a state where the cassette is at least partially withdrawn from the housing,
wherein a width of the first rib in the second direction gradually increases from the second portion to the first portion,
wherein the first width of the first portion is smaller than an interval between the pair of flanges in the second direction, and
wherein an end surface of the first portion in the second direction is in contact with the pair of flanges in the second direction.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the first rib having a width in the second direction gradually increasing from the second portion to the first portion.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the first rib comprises a first side surface in the second direction that is parallel to the first direction, and a second side surface in the second direction that intersects the first direction.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the first rib comprises a first region including the first portion and having a constant width in the second direction, and
the first rib having a width in the second direction gradually increasing from the second portion to the first portion.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a second rib protruding downward from the cassette, extending in the first direction, and spaced apart from the first rib in the second direction; and
a second roller supported by the housing, configured to rotate about the rotation axis parallel to the second direction, and in contact with a lower end surface of the second rib, the second roller having a constant diameter of an outer periphery surface.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a retracting device configured to retract the cassette into the housing, wherein
a distance between the retracting device and the first rib in the second direction is shorter than a distance between the retracting device and the second rib in the second direction.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising:
a retracting device configured to retract the cassette into the housing.

18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the sheet supply device is configured to supply the sheet in a direction from a second rib to the first rib.

19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the interval between the pair of flanges in the second direction increases from an inner side to an outer side of the first roller in a radial direction.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the first rib comprises a groove configured to accommodate a lubricating oil in the lower end surface.

Assignees

• Toshiba Tec Kk

Inventors

• Yamamoto Mikio

Classifications

• B65H2402/60

  Coupling, adapter or locking means · CPC title

• B65H2801/06

  Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers · CPC title

• B65H2402/32

  Sliding support means · CPC title

• B65H1/04

  adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile · CPC title

• B65H2601/324

  Removability or inter-changeability of machine parts, e.g. for maintenance · CPC title