# US 8,540,234 B2 · Image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 8,540,234 B2
- Document ID: US8540234B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/617,532
- Filed: 2012-09-14
- Published: 2013-05-30
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2011-11-24
- Assignees: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Yasunori Akatsuka; Tomitake Aratachi
- Inventors: Yasunori Akatsuka; Tomitake Aratachi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540234B2

## CPC

- B65H 1/14: comprising positively-acting mechanical devices {(B65H1/025 takes precedence)}
- B65H 3/0669: {Driving devices therefor}
- B65H 2403/47: Ratchet
- B65H 2403/72: Clutches, brakes, e.g. one-way clutch +F204
- B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES

## Abstract

An image forming apparatus is provided that includes a swing member swinging between a first position where a force for moving a pressing plate upward is transmitted to the pressing plate and a second position where transmission of the force is interrupted, a latchet mechanism that forbids the pressing plate to move downward and includes a latchet gear rotating in conjunction with a motion of the pressing plate and a latching member that is movably attached to the swing member and configured to forbid rotation of the latchet gear by engaging with the latchet gear, and a pressing member that applies a pressing force to the latching member when the swing member is in the second position and does not apply the pressing force to the latching member, and render the latching member movable relative to the swing member when the swing member is in the first position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet;
a loading unit configured to be loaded with a plurality of sheets stacked thereon;
a feed roller disposed above the loading unit, the feed roller being configured to contact the sheets stacked on the loading unit and feed the sheets toward the image forming unit;
a pressing plate configured to move upward the sheets stacked on the loading unit;
a swing member configured to swing between:
a first position where a force for moving the pressing plate upward is transmitted to the pressing plate, and
a second position where transmission of the force to the pressing plate is interrupted;
a latchet mechanism configured to forbid the pressing plate to move downward, the latchet mechanism comprising:
a latchet gear configured to rotate in conjunction with a motion of the pressing plate; and
a latching member movably attached to the swing member, the latching member being configured to forbid rotation of the latchet gear by engaging with the latchet gear; and
a pressing member configured to:
when the swing member is in the second position, apply to the latching member a pressing force to press the latching member against the latchet gear, and
when the swing member is in the first position, not apply the pressing force to the latching member, and render the latching member movable relative to the swing member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the pressing member is attached to the swing member and configured to swing integrally with the swing member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the latching member is attached to be swingable up and down relative to the swing member around a swing shaft disposed lower than the latchet gear.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the latching member comprises:
an arm section that extends from the swing shaft toward the latchet gear; and
a claw section provided at a distal end of the arm section in a direction in which the arm section extends, and
wherein the arm section is configured to extend substantially horizontally in a state where the latching member engages with the latchet gear.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein the claw section is formed substantially in a right triangle shape when viewed along a direction parallel to an axis line direction of the swing shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the pressing member comprises an acting portion that extends from a side of the swing shaft to a side of the claw section, and
wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises a projection provided to one of the latching member and the acting portion, the projection being configured to protrude toward a different one of the latching member and the acting portion such that the pressing force is applied to the latching member via the projection when the swing member is in the second position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein the swing member comprises a restricting portion configured to restrict the acting portion from moving toward the latching member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the claw section comprises a slanted section formed to face the swing shaft when viewed along the direction parallel to the axis line direction of the swing shaft.