Sheet supplying apparatus, image forming apparatus
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorWataru Ikeda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
It is an object of the present invention to provide method for receiving sheets for a sheet supplying apparatus. The method includes converting an up and down motion of a tray to a rotational motion of a rotary member by a movement conversion mechanism, converting the rotational motion of the rotary member around a rotational axis to a linear motion of a cylindrical member parallel to the rotational axis by the rotary member and a cam and slider mechanism, and elastically pressing an end portion of the cylindrical member of the cam and slider mechanism in the rotational axis direction to lift the tray by a compression spring.
Claims20
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a sheet supplying apparatus having a tray on which a plurality of sheets are stackable;
- a guide mechanism configured to guide the tray in an up and down direction;
- a movement conversion mechanism configured to convert an up and down motion of the tray to a rotational motion;
- a rotary member supported to be rotatable around a rotational axis and comprising transmitted portion configured to receive the rotational motion converted from the up and down motion of the tray in cooperation with the movement conversion mechanism and a driven portion configured to receive a rotational driving force to lift the tray;
- a cam and slider mechanism having a protrusion which integrally rotates with the rotary member and a cylindrical member through which the rotary member is inserted, the cylindrical member having a spiral groove formed on an inner surface thereof, and configured to convert the rotational motion of the rotary member around the rotational axis to a linear motion of the cylindrical member parallel to the rotational axis;
- and
- a compression spring configured to elastically press an end portion of the cylindrical member of the cam and slider mechanism parallel to the rotational axis to lift the tray.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a tray on which a plurality of sheets are stackable;
- a guide mechanism configured to guide the tray in an up and down direction;
- a movement conversion mechanism configured to convert an up and down motion of the tray to a rotational motion;
- a rotary member supported to be rotatable around a rotational axis and comprising a transmitted portion configured to receive the rotational motion converted from the up and down motion of the tray in cooperation with the movement conversion mechanism and a driven portion configured to receive a rotational driving force to lift the tray;
- a cam and slider mechanism having a protrusion which integrally rotates with the rotary member and a cylindrical member through which the rotary member is inserted, the cylindrical member having a spiral groove formed on an inner surface thereof, and configured to convert the rotational motion of the rotary member around the rotational axis to a linear motion of the cylindrical member parallel to the rotational axis;
- a compression spring configured to elastically press an end portion of the cylindrical member of the cam and slider mechanism parallel to the rotational axis to lift the tray;
- a sheet conveyer configured to convey a sheet stacked on the tray along a conveying path;
- and
- an image forming unit configured to form an image onto a surface of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyer.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a tray on which a plurality of sheets are stackable;
- a shaft configured to rotate as the tray moves in an up and down direction;
- a cam and slider mechanism having a protrusion which integrally rotates with the shaft and a sleeve through which the shaft is inserted, the sleeve having a spiral groove formed on an inner surface thereof, and configured to convert the rotational motion of the shaft to a linear motion of the sleeve;
- a compression spring configured to elastically press an end portion of the sleeve to lift the tray;
- a sheet conveyer configured to convey a sheet stacked on the tray along a conveying path;
- and
- an image forming unit configured to form an image onto a surface of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.