# US 10,768,567 B2 · Automatic mounting apparatus and image forming apparatus including same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,567 B2 - Document ID: US10768567B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/744,612 - Filed: 2016-07-07 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-14 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Applicants: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Young Goo Kang; Ji Hoon Woo; Jin Soo Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768567B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/6508: {Automatic supply devices interacting with the rest of the apparatus, e.g. selection of a specific cassette (matching the image with the size of the copy material G03G15/5095)} - 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} - B65H 2402/32: Sliding support means - B65H 2402/60: Coupling, adapter or locking means - B65H 2405/114: Side, i.e. portion parallel to the feeding / delivering direction - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - G03G 2215/0067: Damping device - G03G 2221/1654: Locks and means for positioning or alignment - G03G 2221/1684: using extractable subframes, e.g. on rails or hinges - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract An image forming apparatus comprises a housing, a cassette insertable into the housing to store printing sheets; an automatic mounting apparatus provided between the housing and the cassette and to allow the cassette to be mounted thereon, where the automatic mounting apparatus comprises an engaging portion configured to protrude on a side surface of the cassette, a rail portion provided in the housing, and a locking device provided at the rear side of the rail portion to interfere with the engaging portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming apparatus comprising: a housing; a cassette insertable into the housing, the cassette including an idle roller provided on a side surface of the cassette and an engaging portion protruding from a side surface of the cassette and positioned ahead of the idle roller toward a rear side of the cassette; a rail portion provided in the housing; and a locking device, provided on a rear side of the rail portion, to interfere with the engaging portion, wherein a rear end portion of the rail portion is bent downward, and wherein the idle roller is to slide on the rear end portion of the rail portion to accelerate toward the locking device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking device comprises a case, a locking lever mounted on the case, and an elastic member connecting the locking lever to the case. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the case is provided with a first hole extended horizontally and a second hole including a bent shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elastic member provides an elastic force so that the locking lever moves horizontally. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of elastic members. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image forming apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of elastic members is mounted on a link mounted on the case. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a protrusion formed in the case, wherein the link is formed to surround a portion of the protrusion so as to be pivotable with respect to the protrusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The image forming apparatus of claim 6, wherein the elastic member comprises a first elastic member connecting one side of the link to the locking lever and a second elastic member connecting the other side of the link to the case. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The image forming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the locking lever is movable along the first hole and the second hole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a protrusion formed on a first side of the locking lever, wherein the protrusion is insertable into the first hole. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image forming apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a pin mounted on a second side of the locking lever opposite to the first side, wherein the pin is movable along the second hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The image forming apparatus of claim 11, wherein one side of the elastic member is mounted on the pin and the other side of the elastic member is mounted on the case. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The image forming apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second hole comprises a sliding hole extended horizontally and a locking hole bent downward from the sliding hole. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The image forming apparatus of claim 2, wherein the locking lever comprises a pressing portion bent from one end portion thereof in a first direction and an interference portion bent from the other end thereof in the first direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The image forming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engaging portion comprises a first engaging portion protruding on the side surface of the cassette, a second engaging portion being spaced apart from the first engaging portion in the front side, and a connecting portion connecting the first engaging portion to the second engaging portion. ### Claim 16 An automatic mounting apparatus comprising: an idle roller to couple to a side surface of a cassette; an engaging portion to protrude from the side surface of the cassette and to be positioned ahead of the idle roller toward a rear side of the cassette; a rail portion to couple to a side surface of a housing; and a locking device, provided on a rear side of the rail portion, to interfere with the engaging portion, wherein a rear end portion of the rail portion is bent downward, and wherein the idle roller is to slide on the rear end portion of the rail portion to accelerate toward the locking device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The automatic mounting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the locking device comprises a case, a locking lever mounted on the case, and an elastic member connecting the locking lever to the case. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The automatic mounting apparatus of claim 17, wherein the case is provided with a first hole extended horizontally and a second hole including a bent shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The automatic mounting apparatus of claim 18, wherein the locking lever is movable along the first hole and the second hole. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The automatic mounting apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a protrusion formed on a first side of the locking lever, wherein the protrusion is insertable into the first hole.