# US 10,479,626 B2 · Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,626 B2 - Document ID: US10479626B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/935,933 - Filed: 2018-03-26 - Published: 2018-07-26 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-30 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Satoshi Koga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479626B2 ## CPC - B65H 1/04: adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile - B65H 1/266: {Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer (B65H1/027 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/6502: {Supplying of sheet copy material; Cassettes therefor} - G03G 15/6529: {Transporting (G03G15/6555 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/6552: {Means for discharging uncollated sheet copy material, e.g. discharging rollers, exit trays} - G03G 21/1695: {for paper transport} - B65H 2405/1122: movable linearly, details therefor - B65H 2511/11: Length - B65H 2511/20: Location in space - B65H 2801/12: Single-function printing machines, typically table-top machines - G03G 2221/1684: using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet containing unit and a sheet feeding device to feed sheets in the sheet containing unit. The sheet containing unit includes a main body to hold sheets, a drawer member capable of being drawn from the main body, a restricting member movable in a direction parallel to a sheet feeding direction, a first retaining member disposed at the main body, and a second retaining member disposed at the drawer member. The drawer member holds the sheets together with the main body when drawn from the main body. The restricting member restricts an upstream end position of the contained sheets. The first retaining member retains the restricting member at a first position. The second retaining member retains the restricting member at a second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a sheet stacking plate on which sheets are to be stacked; a cassette main body configured to support the sheet stacking plate; a regulating device disposed at the cassette main body to be movable in a first direction and movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and configured to regulate an end position of the sheets; a plurality of first engaged portions disposed at the cassette main body in a moving direction in which the regulating device is configured to move; and a plurality of second engaged portions disposed at the cassette main body in the moving direction of the regulating device, wherein the plurality of second engaged portions are arranged at positions separated from the plurality of first engaged portions with respect to a direction intersecting the moving direction of the regulating device; wherein the regulating device includes: a holding member, a lever disposed rotatably at the holding member and configured to be operated, an elastic member, a first engaging portion configured to be urged by the elastic member to engage with the plurality of first engaged portions, a second engaging portion movable in a vertical direction and configured to engage with the plurality of second engaged portions, and an urging portion provided at the lever and configured to urge the second engaging portion, wherein, as seen from an axial direction intersecting the moving direction of the regulating device in a state in which the second engaging portion engages with a second engaged portion, the urging portion is disposed between a first surface of the lever and a second surface of the lever opposite to first surface with respect to the moving direction, and the urging portion is disposed completely above the elastic member, and wherein a rotational movement of the lever moves the second engaging portion upward by the urging portion in a state in which the first engaging portion engages with the first engaged portion by the elastic member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion has a protrusion to be inserted into a first engaged portion, and wherein the second engaging portion has a teeth shape, including more than one tooth, to be engaged with the second engaged portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is larger than the teeth shape in a height direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion has a slope guided to the first engaged portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lever is movable around a rotation axis, and wherein the lever is configured in such a manner that the second engaging portion is moved in a vertical direction by the lever being rotated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the regulating device is configured to regulate a position of a trailing edge of sheets. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first engaged portions includes a plurality of grooves, and wherein the first engaging portion is able to be inserted into a groove of the plurality of grooves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of first engaged portions includes a flat portion between the groove and a second groove in the moving direction, and wherein the first engaging portion moves upward by coming into contact with the flat portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first elastic member engaging portion is urged downward by the to keep engagement with a first engaged portion when the urging portion moves the second engaging portion upward by the rotational movement of the lever. ### Claim 10 An image forming apparatus comprising: an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a sheet stacking plate on which sheets are to be stacked; a cassette main body configured to support the sheet stacking plate; a regulating device disposed at the cassette main body to be movable in a first direction and movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and configured to regulate an end position of the sheets; a plurality of first engaged portions disposed at the cassette main body in a moving direction in which the regulating device is configured to move; and a plurality of second engaged portions disposed at the cassette main body in the moving direction of the regulating device, wherein the plurality of second engaged portions are arranged at positions separated from the plurality of first engaged portions with respect to a direction intersecting the moving direction of the regulating device; wherein the regulating device includes: a holding member, a lever disposed rotatably at the holding member and configured to be operated, an elastic member, a first engaging portion configured to be urged by the elastic member to engage with the plurality of first engaged portions, a second engaging portion movable in a vertical direction and configured to engage with the plurality of second engaged portions, and an urging portion provided at the lever and configured to urge the second engaging portion, wherein, as seen from an axial direction intersecting the moving direction of the regulating device in a state in which the second engaging portion engages with a second engaged portion, the urging portion is disposed between a first surface of the lever and a second surface of the lever opposite to first surface with respect to the moving direction, and the urging portion is disposed completely above the elastic member, and wherein a rotational movement of the lever moves the second engaging portion upward by the urging portion in a state in which the first engaging portion engages with the first engaged portion by the elastic member. ### Claim 11 A sheet feeding apparatus comprising: a sheet stacking plate on which sheets are to be stacked; a cassette main body configured to support the sheet stacking plate; a regulating device disposed at the cassette main body to be movable in a first direction and movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and configured to regulate an end position of the sheets; a plurality of first engaged portions disposed at the cassette main body in a moving direction in which the regulating device is configured to move; and a plurality of second engaged portions disposed at the cassette main body in the moving direction of the regulating device, wherein the plurality of second engaged portions are arranged at positions separated from the plurality of first engaged portions with respect to a direction intersecting the moving direction of the regulating device; wherein the regulating device includes: a holding member, a lever disposed rotatably at the holding member and configured to be operated, an elastic member, a first engaging portion configured to be urged by the elastic member to engage with the plurality of first engaged portions, a second engaging portion movable in a vertical direction and configured to engage with the plurality of second engaged portions, and an urging portion provided at the lever and configured to urge the second engaging portion wherein, as seen from an axial direction intersecting the moving direction of the regulating device in a state in which the first engaging portion engages with the first engaged portion, the urging portion is disposed between a rotation range of the lever, and the urging portion is disposed completely above the elastic member, and wherein a rotational movement of the lever moves the second engaging portion upward by the urging portion in a state in which the first engaging portion engages with the first engaged portion by the elastic member.