Sheet Conveying Device Having Sheet Supply Tray, and Image Recording Apparatus Incorporating the Sheet Conveying Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020002108-A1
Application number	US-201916570741-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 13, 2019
Priority date	Mar 28, 2017
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sheet conveying device includes: a tray; a roller; a roller arm; a lever; and a dust proof cover including: a first cover, a second cover, and a pressure piece. The roller arm is movable between an abutment position where the roller abuts on the tray and a separation position where the roller is away from the tray. The second cover is movable between a first position in proximity to the tray and a second position away from the tray. The pressure piece is away from the lever to permit the roller to be positioned in the abutment position when the second cover is in the first position, and presses the lever to move the roller to the separation position when the second cover is in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sheet conveying device comprising:
a housing; a sheet supply tray supported to the housing and pivotally movable about a first pivot axis between a closed position in proximity to the housing and an open position away from the housing, the sheet supply tray having a sheet supporting surface on which a sheet to be conveyed is supported; a feed roller configured to feed the sheet supported on the sheet supply tray into the housing; a roller arm supporting the feed roller, the roller arm being supported to the housing and pivotally movable about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis between an abutment position where the feed roller is in abutment with the sheet supply tray and a separation position where the feed roller is positioned spaced apart from the sheet supply tray; a lever provided at the roller arm and pivotally movable about the second pivot axis together with the roller arm; and a dust proof cover configured to cover a portion of the sheet supporting surface, the dust proof cover comprising:
a first cover supported to the housing and pivotally movable about a third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis;
a second cover supported to the first cover and pivotally movable about a fourth pivot axis parallel to the third pivot axis between a first position in proximity to the sheet supply tray and a second position away from the sheet supply tray; and
a pressure piece provided at the second cover and pivotally movable about the fourth pivot axis together with the second cover, the pressure piece being away from the lever to permit the feed roller to be positioned in the abutment position in a state where the second cover is in the first position, and the pressure piece pressing the lever to move the feed roller to the separation position in a state where the second cover is in the second position.

2 . The sheet conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the first cover comprises:
a first main cover disposed at a position facing the sheet supporting surface; and a pair of first side covers each extending from each side end portion of the first main cover toward the sheet supply tray, wherein the second cover comprises: a second main cover disposed at a position facing the sheet supporting surface; and a pair of second side covers each extending from each side end portion of the second main cover toward the sheet supply tray.

3 . The sheet conveying device according to claim 2 , further comprising a pair of side guides provided at the sheet supply tray and movable in a widthwise direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet, the pair of side guides being configured to regulate a position of the sheet supported on the sheet supply tray in the widthwise direction,
wherein the pair of first side covers and the pair of second side covers are positioned outside of the pair of side guides in the widthwise direction even in a state where the pair of side guides provides a maximum distance therebetween in the widthwise direction.

4 . The sheet conveying device according to claim 2 , wherein the pair of first side covers and the pair of second side covers are positioned inside of the sheet supporting surface in the widthwise direction.

5 . The sheet conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein, in the dust proof cover, at least the second cover is made of a transparent material.

6 . An image recording apparatus comprising:
a sheet conveying device; and an image recording portion configured to record an image on the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying device, the sheet conveying device comprising:
a housing;
a sheet supply tray supported to the housing and pivotally movable about a first pivot axis between a closed position in proximity to the housing and an open position away from the housing, the sheet supply tray having a sheet supporting surface on which a sheet to be conveyed is supported;
a feed roller configured to feed the sheet supported on the sheet supply tray into the housing;
a roller arm supporting the feed roller, the roller arm being supported to the housing and pivotally movable about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis between an abutment position where the feed roller is in abutment with the sheet supply tray and a separation position where the feed roller is positioned spaced apart from the sheet supply tray;
a lever provided at the roller arm and pivotally movable about the second pivot axis together with the roller arm; and
a dust proof cover configured to cover a portion of the sheet supporting surface, the dust proof cover comprising:
a first cover supported to the housing and pivotally movable about a third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis;
a second cover supported to the first cover and pivotally movable about a fourth pivot axis parallel to the third pivot axis between a first position in proximity to the sheet supply tray and a second position away from the sheet supply tray; and
a pressure piece provided at the second cover and pivotally movable about the fourth pivot axis together with the second cover, the pressure piece being away from the lever to permit the feed roller to be positioned in the abutment position in a state where the second cover is in the first position, and the pressure piece pressing the lever to move the feed roller to the separation position in a state where the second cover is in the second position.

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Aoki Hirotaka

Classifications

• B65H2402/441

  movable for facilitating access to area inside the housing, e.g. pivoting or sliding · CPC title

• B65H2405/324

  between operative position and non operative position · CPC title

• B65H3/0661 Primary

  for separating inclined-stacked articles with separator rollers above the stack · CPC title

• B65H3/0684

  on moving support, e.g. pivoting, for bringing the roller or like rotary separator into contact with the pile · CPC title

• B65H2402/46

  Table apparatus · CPC title