# US 11,221,577 B2 · Sheet feeding cassette, 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 11,221,577 B2 - Document ID: US11221577B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/930,501 - Filed: 2020-07-16 - Published: 2021-01-28 - Granted: 2022-01-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-22 - Assignees: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. - Applicants: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc. - Inventors: Dang Long Bui; Arata Nakamura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11221577B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/6502: {Supplying of sheet copy material; Cassettes therefor} - B65H 1/266: {Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer (B65H1/027 takes precedence)} - B65H 2405/11161: by at least a protruding portion arrangement - B65H 2405/11163: Portion pivotable around an axis parallel to transport direction - B65H 2405/11171: around an axis parallel to transport direction - B65H 2405/12: Parts to be handled by user - B65H 2407/10: Safety means, e.g. for preventing injuries or illegal operations - B65H 2407/20: for manual intervention of operator - B65H 2601/321: Access - B65H 2601/322: Replenishing - B65H 2801/06: Office-type machines, e.g. photocopiers - G03G 2215/00383: Cassette - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract The sheet feeding cassette includes a cassette frame, a first lift plate and a second lift plate. The cassette frame includes a bottom plate and side plates extending in the feeding direction. The bottom plate and the side plates form a sheet placement space. The first lift plate is disposed on the bottom plate, configured to rotate up and down around a first axis extending along a width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, and configured to lift a leading end portion in the feeding direction of the sheet. The second lift plate is configured to rotate up and down around a second axis extending along the feeding direction and to lift a side end portion along the feeding direction of the sheet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet feeding cassette attached to an apparatus main body in a detachable manner and on which a sheet to be fed in a predetermined feeding direction is placed, the sheet feeding cassette comprising: a cassette frame including a bottom plate and side plates extending in the feeding direction, the bottom plate and the side plates forming a sheet placement space; a first lift plate disposed on the bottom plate, configured to rotate up and down around a first axis extending along a width direction perpendicular to the feeding direction, and configured to lift a leading end portion in the feeding direction of the sheet; a second lift plate configured to rotate up and down around a second axis extending along the feeding direction and to lift a side end portion along the feeding direction of the sheet; a first lift mechanism configured to rotate the first lift plate up and down; and a second lift mechanism configured to rotate the second lift plate up and down, wherein the second lift mechanism includes: a link lever turned around a third axis facing the second axis in the width direction and extending in the feeding direction to turn the second lift plate; and an operation lever provided on an outer side surface of one of the side plates to operate the link lever. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 1, configured to be attached to the apparatus main body in a detachable manner in the feeding direction, wherein the operation lever is turned around a fourth axis extending along the width direction of the cassette frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 2, wherein the link lever is provided with a first bevel gear which rotates around the third axis, the operation lever is provided with a second bevel gear which rotates around the fourth axis, and the link lever and the operation lever are coupled with each other by an engagement of the first bevel gear with the second bevel gear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 3, wherein the second axis is parallel to the third axis, the second lift plate is provided with a first plate-shaped portion extending from a base portion of the second lift plate, the link lever is provided with a second plate-shaped portion extending from a base portion of the link lever, the first plate-shaped portion is supported by the second plate-shaped portion from a lower side, and the second plate-shaped portion extends to a longitudinal half position of the first plate-shaped portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 4, wherein the cassette frame has a storage part formed into a recess in which the second lift plate can be stored, and the link lever holds the second lift plate in a protruding position where the second lift plate protrudes from the storage part, in a state where a tip end of the link lever comes into contact with a lower surface of the second lift plate at right angles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sheet feeding cassette according to claim 5, wherein a tip end of the second lift plate is positioned higher than the side plates in the protruding position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus comprising: the sheet feeding cassette according to claim 1; and an image forming part which forms an image on the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette.