Connection mechanism, and paper feeding unit and image forming apparatus equipped with connection mechanism
AssigneeKyocera Mita Corporation
InventorsSeiichi Shirasaki, Masahiko Miyazaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection mechanism connecting a sheet feeding unit, supplying a paper to an image forming apparatus, with the image forming apparatus or other sheet feeding unit, the connection mechanism comprising: a connection member disposed on a frame of the sheet feeding unit and rotatably supported on the frame; and an engaging member disposed on the image forming apparatus or the frame of the other sheet feeding unit, wherein: the connection member is rotated between an engaging position where the connection member engages with the engagement member and a retracting position where the connection member disengages with the engaging member and retracts from the engaging position.
Claims8
A connection mechanism connecting a sheet feeding unit to an image forming apparatus or to a further sheet feeding unit, for supplying paper to the image forming apparatus or to the further sheet feeding unit, the connection mechanism comprising:
- a connection member disposed on a frame of the sheet feeding unit and rotatably supported on the frame;
- and
- an engaging member disposed on the image forming apparatus or on a frame of the further sheet feeding unit, wherein:
- the connection member is rotatable around a rotational axis between an engaging position where the connection member engages with the engaging member and a retracted position where the connection member disengages from the engaging member and retracts from the engaging position;
- the connection member is disposed on an upper part of the frame of the sheet feeding unit;
- the engaging member is disposed on a lower part of the image forming apparatus or on a lower part of the frame of the further sheet feeding unit;
- when the connection member is located at the engaging position, a part of the connection member protrudes outside from an upper part of the frame of the sheet feeding unit, and when the connection member is located at the retracted position, the connection member is stored within the frame of the sheet feeding unit;
- and
- while a sheet feeding cassette in the sheet feeding unit is pulled out, the connection member is movable to the engaging position or to the retracted position by rotating an end part of the connection member, distanced from the rotational axis, from inside the frame of the sheet feeding unit.
A combination of a sheet feeding unit, a further sheet feeding unit, and an image forming apparatus, the sheet feeding unit supplying paper to the image forming apparatus, the sheet feeding unit being connectable to the image forming apparatus and to the further sheet feeding unit, the combination comprising:
- a frame of the sheet feeding unit;
- at least one connection member disposed and rotatably supported on the frame of the sheet feeding unit;
- and
- at least one first engaging member disposed on the frame of the sheet feeding unit, wherein:
- each of the at least one connection member is rotatable around a rotational axis between an engaging position where each of the at least one connection member engages with a second respective engaging member, disposed on the image forming apparatus or on a frame of the further sheet feeding unit, and a retracted position where each of the at least one connection member disengages from the respective second engaging member and retracts from the engaging position,
- the frame of the sheet feeding unit includes a cassette insertion slot into which a sheet feeding cassette is inserted, and
- each of the at least one connection member is rotatable to the engaging position or to the retracted position from an inner wall side of the frame of the sheet feeding unit while a sheet feeding cassette in the sheet feeding unit is pulled out.
A combination of a sheet feeding unit, a further sheet feeding unit, and an image forming apparatus, the sheet feeding unit supplying paper to the image forming apparatus, the sheet feeding unit being connectable to the image forming apparatus and to the further sheet feeding unit, the combination comprising:
- a frame of the sheet feeding unit;
- at least one connection member disposed and rotatably supported on the frame of the sheet feeding unit;
- and
- at least one first engaging member disposed on the frame of the sheet feeding unit, wherein:
- each of the at least one connection member is rotatable around a rotational axis between an engaging position where each of the at least one connection member engages with a second respective engaging member, disposed on the image forming apparatus or on a frame of the further sheet feeding unit, and a retracted position where each of the at least one connection member disengages from the respective second engaging member and retracts from the engaging position, each of the at least one connection member being configured so as to turn freely around the rotational axis,
- the frame of the sheet feeding unit includes a cassette insertion slot into which a sheet feeding cassette is inserted, and
- each of the at least one connection member is rotatable to the engaging position or to the retracted position from an inner wall side of the frame of the sheet feeding unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.