Medium conveying device and image forming apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296576-B2
Application number	US-201414581024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2014
Priority date	Dec 27, 2013
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A medium conveying device includes a medium placing tray provided on a main body of an image forming apparatus to be openable and closable. The medium placing tray includes a placing portion on which a medium is placed. The medium conveying device includes a first displacement member including a contact portion that contacts the medium placed on the placing portion and a first engaging portion, and a second displacement member including a second engaging portion that engages the first engaging portion. A detecting unit detects a displacement state of the second displacement member. A determination unit determines the presence or absence of the medium on the placing portion based on a detection result of the detection unit. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engage and disengages from each other in conjunction with opening and closing operation of the medium placing tray.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medium conveying device provided on an image forming apparatus, the medium conveying device comprising:
a medium placing tray provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus so as be openable and closable with respect to the main body, the medium placing tray including a placing portion on which a medium is placed;
a first displacement member including a contact portion that contacts the medium placed on the placing portion and a first engaging portion;
a second displacement member including a second engaging portion that engages the first engaging portion;
a detecting unit that detects a displacement state of the second displacement member; and
a determination unit that determines presence or absence of the medium on the placing portion based on a detection result of the detection unit,
a feeding unit that feeds the medium on the placing portion in a medium conveying direction; and
a first roller provided downstream of the feeding unit in the medium conveying direction, the first roller being rotatable about a rotation axis,
wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engage each other and disengages from each other in conjunction with opening and closing operation of the medium placing tray,
wherein the first displacement member is displaced so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis coaxial with the rotation axis of the first roller.

2. The medium conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engage each other in conjunction with the opening operation of the medium placing tray.

3. The medium conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion disengage from each other in conjunction with the closing opening operation of the medium placing tray.

4. The medium conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is disposed upstream of the first rotation axis in the medium conveying direction, and
wherein the first engaging portion is disposed downstream of the first rotation axis in the medium conveying direction.

5. The medium conveying device according to claim 1 , wherein the feeding unit includes a second roller and a holder that rotatably holds the second roller,
wherein the holder is rotatable about the first rotation axis.

6. The medium conveying device according to claim 5 , wherein the holder includes a third engaging portion,
wherein the third engaging portion rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the medium placing tray, and
wherein the third engaging portion engages the first displacement member to rotate in a same direction as the first displacement member.

7. A medium conveying device provided on an image forming apparatus, the medium conveying device comprising:
a medium placing tray provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus so as be openable and closable with respect to the main body, the medium placing tray including a placing portion on which a medium is placed;
a first displacement member including a contact portion that contacts the medium placed on the placing portion and a first engaging portion;
a second displacement member including a second engaging portion that engages the first engaging portion;
a detecting unit that detects a displacement state of the second displacement member; and
a determination unit that determines presence or absence of the medium on the placing portion based on a detection result of the detection unit,
wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engage each other and disengages from each other in conjunction with opening and closing operation of the medium placing tray;
wherein the second displacement member is rotatable about a second rotation axis;
wherein the second displacement member includes a to-be-detected portion detected by the detecting unit; and
wherein the to-be-detected portion is disposed on a side of the second displacement member opposite to the second engaging portion with respect to the second rotation axis.

8. A medium conveying device provided on an image forming apparatus, the medium conveying device comprising:
a medium placing tray provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus so as be openable and closable with respect to the main body, the medium placing tray including a placing portion on which a medium is placed;
a first displacement member including a contact portion that contacts the medium placed on the placing portion and a first engaging portion;
a second displacement member including a second engaging portion that engages the first engaging portion;
a detecting unit that detects a displacement state of the second displacement member; and
a determination unit that determines presence or absence of the medium on the placing portion based on a detection result of the detection unit,
wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engage each other and disengages from each other in conjunction with opening and closing operation of the medium placing tray;
wherein the second displacement member is linearly movable, and includes a to-be-detected portion detected by the detecting unit.

9. The medium conveying device according to claim 7 , wherein the detection unit includes a mechanical switch having a switch lever, and
wherein the switch lever is switched by the to-be-detected portion.

10. The medium conveying device according to claim 8 , wherein the detection unit includes a photosensor having a light detector, and
wherein a light received by the light detector is interrupted by the to-be-detected portion.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising the medium conveying device according to claim 1 .

12. An image forming apparatus comprising the medium conveying device according to claim 7 .

13. An image forming apparatus comprising the medium conveying device according to claim 8 .

14. The medium conveying device according to claim 7 , wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engage each other in conjunction with the opening operation of the medium placing tray.

15. The medium conveying device according to claim 7 , wherein the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion disengage from each other in conjunction with the closing opening operation of the medium placing tray.

16. The medium conveying device according to claim 7 , wherein the contact portion is disposed upstream of the first rotation axis in the medium conveying direction, and
wherein the first engaging portion is disposed downstream of the first rotation axis in the medium conveying direction.

17. The medium conveying device according to claim 7 , wherein the feeding unit includes a second roller and a holder that rotatably holds the second roller,
wherein the holder is rotatable about the first rotation axis.

18. The medium conveying device according to claim 17 , wherein the holder includes a third engaging portion,
wherein the third engaging portion rotates in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the medium placing tray, and wherein the third engaging portion engages the first displacement member to rotate in a same direction as the first displacement member.

Assignees

• Oki Data Kk

Inventors

• Kobayashi Yuta

Classifications

• G03G2215/00725

  of sheet presence in input tray · CPC title

• B65H1/04

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

• B65H7/04

  responsive to absence of articles, e.g. exhaustion of pile (B65H7/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G03G15/6502

  Supplying of sheet copy material; Cassettes therefor · CPC title

• B65H7/14

  by photoelectric feelers or detectors · CPC title