MEDIUM STACKING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
A medium stacking device includes a medium stacking part stacking a medium, and a first movement part movably provided with respect to the medium stacking part. The first movement part has a first medium restriction part restricting a position of the medium, and a first movement restriction parts including a plurality of restriction members, each of which engaging with the medium stacking part and restricting a direction of the movement of the first movement part.
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The present application is related to, claims priority from and incorporates by reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-181664, filed on Aug. 23, 2011.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, especially relates to a configuration of a medium stacking device including a guide for a medium to be stacked.
BACKGROUNDConventionally, in such a medium stacking device, in order to regulate a position of a sheet in a width direction which is orthogonal to a carrying direction of the stacked sheet, two sheet guides have been disposed at the left and right of the sheet (see JP Laid-Open Patent Application No. H8-034525 (page 3, FIG. 1).
However, since the conventional sheet guide cannot completely prevent an incline of the guided medium, the medium is sometimes inclined with respect to the carrying direction. One of objects of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned problems by a simple configuration.
SUMMARYA medium stacking device of the present invention includes a medium stacking part stacking a medium, and a first movement part movably provided with respect to the medium stacking part. The first movement part has a first medium restriction part restricting a position of the medium, and a first movement restriction part including a plurality of restriction members, each of which engaging with the medium stacking part and restricting a direction of the movement of the first movement part.
According to the present invention, the first movement part can minimize the incline of the medium which is being carried.
In
A manual feed tray 300 is provided with a medium stacking device 302, a pickup roller 303, a feed roller 304 and a retard roller 305. The recording sheets 370 (
The sheet carrying part 40 carries each of the recording sheets 52 that are separated into a sheet and fed from the sheet feeding part 30 to an image forming part 10 via carrying roller pairs 41, 42, and carries the recording sheets 370 (
The toner image forming part 11K forms a black (K) toner image. The toner image forming part 11Y forms a yellow (Y) toner image. The toner image forming part 11M forms a magenta (M) toner image. The toner image forming part 11C forms a cyan (C) toner image. In each toner image forming part 11, the photosensitive drum 12 is charged by a charging roller (not shown), image data is written on the rotating photosensitive drum 12 by a light head (not shown), and the image data is developed with toner. Thereby, each color of the toner images can be obtained on the photosensitive drum 12.
The transfer part 13 includes a transfer belt 14 carrying the recording sheet 52 carried from the sheet tray 51 or the recording sheet 370 (
A fuser 20 fixes the toner image transferred on the recording sheets 52, 370 in the transfer part 13 on the recording sheet by heat and pressure. The recording sheets 52, 370 on which the toner image is fixed are ejected on a stacking part 56 on which the printed recording sheets are stacked via a carrying roller pair 53 and an ejection roller pair 54.
Each of the axes of X, Y, and Z, in
In
Note that the manual feed tray 300 herein, for example, includes the frame 301, the medium stacking device 302, the pickup roller 303, the spring 309, and the idler gear 306.
As shown in
As shown in
The sheet guide 320 includes a guide block 350 extending in the direction of arrow A along which the stacked recording sheets are carried, and a pair of racks 355, 356 as a first movement restriction part extending in the width direction (Y axis direction) of the recording sheet. A restriction surface 351 as a first medium restriction part and a stacking surface 352a are formed in the guide block 350. The restriction surface 351 that is vertical surface with respect to Y axis, extends in the direction of arrow A, and restricts a position of the width direction of the recording sheet. The stacking surface 352a that is orthogonal to the restriction surface 351 extends in the direction of arrow A. The edges of the width direction of the recording sheets are stacked on the stacking surface 352a. Note that a pair of racks 355, 356 of the sheet guide 321 corresponds to a second movement restriction part. The restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 321 corresponds to a second medium restriction part. In this embodiment, each of the movement restriction parts is realized with two restriction members (racks 355 and 356). The number of the restriction members for one movement restriction part is preferably two, but may be three or more.
Rack holding members 353, 354 respectively holding the racks 355, 356 are formed below a plate-shaped part 352. The upper surface of the plate-shaped part 352 is the stacking surface 352a. The each rack 355, 356 projects downward from the lower surface of the plate-shaped part 352 so that the upper surface of each rack 355, 356 and the lower surface of the plate-shaped part 352 have a predetermined interval g. As shown in
The rack 355 and the rack 356 are plate-shaped members having flat surfaces in parallel to the stacking surface 352a. The racks 355 and the rack 356 are formed vertically with respect to the restriction surface 351, and have a substantially identical shape, and are formed in parallel. A restriction part 355b and a restriction part 356b are formed in one edge of the guide block side of the rack 355 and the rack 356. A restriction part 355f and a restriction part 356f are formed in the other edge of the guide block side of the rack 355 and the rack 356. In addition, in the opposite side of arrow A of the rack 355 and the rack 356, a tooth part 355d and a tooth part 356d are formed between both of the restriction parts, and in the arrow A side, a pair of bias parts 355c, 355e and a pair of bias parts 356c, 356e are formed in the neighborhood of both of the restriction parts.
As shown in
Here, the case where the sheet guide 320 shown in
For this reason, the width of the insertion part 333a is made to be wider than each width Wa1, Wa2 of the restriction parts 355b, 355f. In addition, the width of the insertion part 333a is made to be wider than each width Wb1, Wb2 of the restriction parts 356b, 356f. Furthermore, the width of the rack holding part 353 is made to be narrower than each width Wa1, Wa2 of the restriction parts 355b, 355f. The width of the guide groove 333 is formed to have a width suitable for guiding the inserted rack holding member 353. In the same manner, the width of the rack holding part 354 is made to be narrower than each width Wb1, Wb2 of the restriction parts 356b, 356f. The width of the guide groove 331 is formed to have a width suitable for guiding the inserted rack holding member 354.
At the stage where the plate-shaped part 352 abuts on the upper surface of the medium stacking plate 310, the sheet guide 320 is rotated around X axis in the opposite direction of a direction of arrow B . Thereby, the rack holding member 353 and the rack holding member 354 is respectively inserted into to the guide groove 333 and the guide groove 331, and the rack 355 and the rack 356 respectively extends in parallel via the medium stacking plate 310 on the lower surface of the medium stacking plate 310. Furthermore, until the guide block 350 is positioned at one end side of the medium stacking plate 310, the sheet guide 320 is guided and moved by the guide grooves 333, 331. Thereby, the sheet guide 320, for example, as shown in
In the same manner, a front edge of the restriction part 355f of the rack 355 of the sheet guide 321 is inserted in a direction of arrow C (
As shown in
In the same manner, the guide wall 344a and the guide wall 344b are formed on the lower surface of the medium stacking plate 310. The guide wall 344a faces the bias parts 356c, 356e of the rack 356 of the sheet guide 321. The guide wall 344b faces the abutment parts 356a, 356g of the rack 356 of the sheet guide 321. The abutment parts 356a, 356g receive bias force from the bias parts 356c, 356e, contact the guide wall 344b, and guide the movement of the rack 356 of the sheet guide 321 without shaking the sheet guide. In the same manner, the guide wall 343a and the guide wall 343b are formed on the lower surface of the medium stacking plate 310. The guide wall 343a faces the bias parts 355c, 355e of the rack 355 of the sheet guide 321. The guide wall 343b faces the abutment parts 355a, 355g of the rack 355 of the sheet guide 321. The abutment parts 355a, 355g receive bias force from the bias parts 355c, 355e, contact the guide wall 343b, and guide the movement of the rack 355 of the sheet guide 321 without shaking the sheet guide.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The plate-shaped part 352 of the guide block 350 of the sheet guide 320 installed to the medium stacking plate 310 is restricted by the medium stacking plate 310. In addition, the racks 355, 356 of the sheet guide 320 are restricted by each of the flange parts 381b, 382b of the pinion gears 381, 382. Accordingly, the sheet guide 320 is not detached below (here, the minus side of Z axis). In addition, since the widths of the racks 355, 356 are respectively formed wider than the widths of the guide grooves 331, 333 of the medium stacking plate 310. Accordingly, the sheet guide 320 is not detached above (here, plus side of Z axis). In the same manner, the sheet guide 321 installed to the medium stacking plate 310 is configured so as not to detach in upper and lower directions with respect to the medium stacking plate 310.
Note that, as shown in
As shown in
Meanwhile, the abutment parts 356a, 356g of the sheet guide 321 contact the guide wall 344b of the medium stacking plate 310 by bias from the bias parts 356c, 356e, and restrict an mesh position of the pinion gear 382 and the rack 356 as well as a movement range of the sheet guide 321 with respect to the medium stacking plate 310. In the same manner, the abutment parts 355a, 355g of the sheet guide 321 contact the guide wall 343b of the medium stacking plate 310 by bias from the bias parts 355c, 355e, and restrict an mesh position of the pinion gear 381 and the rack 355 as well as a movement range of the sheet guide 321 against the medium stacking plate 310.
As shown in the above figure, the sheet guides 320, 321 have the same identical figure. Restriction surfaces 351, 351′ face each other and extend in the direction of arrow A. And the racks 355, 356 of the sheet guide 320 and the racks 355′, 356′ of the sheet guide 321 are disposed so as to be alternately positioned in the direction of arrow A. Furthermore, the pinion gear 381 is disposed so as to mesh with each of the racks between the rack 356 of the sheet guide 320 and the rack 355′ of the sheet guide 321 extending each other in parallel. The pinion gear 382 is disposed so as to mesh with each of the racks between the rack 355 of the sheet guide 320 and the rack 356′ of the sheet guide 321.
A length in the direction of arrow A of the guide block 350 (350′) is defined as L. A diameter of each pitch circle (standard circle) 381p, 382p of each pinion gear 381, 382 disposed in line in direction of arrow A is defined as d. A position relationship between the rack 355 (355′) and the rack 356 (356′) extending in parallel to the rack 355 will be explained.
A hypothetical center line being the perpendicular bisector between each of rotation centers 381c, 382c of the pinion gears 381, 382 and extending in a width direction (Y axis direction) of the stacked recording sheet is defined as P. A distance from the hypothetical center line P to the rotation center 381c is defined as X. A distance from the hypothetical center line P to the rotation center 382c is defined as X.
At this time, a distance from the hypothetical center line P to a pitch line (standard line) 355p′ of the rack 355′ being an engagement position of the pinion gear 381 is defined as Z. The distance Z is obtained by the following Formula:
Z=X−d/2.
The tooth part 355d (
Y=2X.
The tooth part 356d (
In addition, with respect to the restriction surface 351′ having the length L in the direction of arrow A, the substantially center in the direction of arrow A of the restriction surface 351′ is disposed so as to coincide with the hypothetical central line P, and at least one of the racks 355′, 356′ is disposed in the direction of arrow A side (downstream side) and the opposite side of the direction of arrow A side (upstream side) based on the substantially center. Note that, in the drawing, rack 355′ on the downstream side, rack 356′ on the upstream side. In this case, obviously shown in the arrangement in
Z>w1, and
K=L/2−(Z+d)>w2.
By forming in this manner, the sheet guide 320 and the sheet guide 321 having the same shape can be disposed and face each other, can be installed to the medium stacking plate 310.
Note that, here, the substantially center in the direction of arrow A of the restriction surface 351′ is disposed so as to coincide with the hypothetical central line P. However, if the substantially center mentioned herein indicates the hypothetical center line P being included in a region having a length of L/2±20%, same effects can be obtained by the arrangement of the line P.
In addition, the engagement position mentioned herein is a position where the pinion gear 381 meshes with the racks 355′, 356, and the pinion gear 382 meshes with the racks 355, 356′.
As shown in
The above mentioned engagement position is merely one example. The engagement position may be a position in a region where a range h1 and the range h2 intersect. The range h1 is from the addendum to the dedendum of the tooth part 381a of the pinion gear 381. The range h2 is from the addendum to the dedendum of the tooth part 355d′ of the rack 355′. For example, as shown in
In addition, for example, the tooth part 355d of the rack 355 and the tooth part 356d of the rack 356 have the identical pitch and the identical phase viewed from the restriction surface 351 in the sheet guide 320 shown in
In the above mentioned configuration, operation of the sheet guides 320, 321 in the medium stacking device 302 of the manual feed tray 300 will be explained with reference to
Firstly, the medium stacking device 302 is pushed down against bias of the spring 309 by an operation device (not shown), so that the contact part 311 of the medium stacking device 302 shown in
At this time, each of the restriction surfaces 351 of the sheet guide 320 and the sheet guide 321 are symmetrically moved away from and toward a line connecting each of the rotate center s of the pinion gears 381 and 382 (see
As mentioned above, since the tooth part 355d of the rack 355 and the tooth part 356d of the rack 356 are configured to have the identical pitch and the identical phase viewed from the restriction surface 351, and the pinion gear 381 and the pinion gear 382 have the identical shape, even if a rack and pinion is configured with the two racks 355, 356 in this way, sliding motion can be smoothly performed.
After determination of a position of the width direction of the recording sheet 370 on the medium stacking device 302 is performed as mentioned above, position restriction by an operation device (not shown) is unlocked, and as shown in
For example, when the recording sheet 370 skews in the direction of arrow Ma, the rear edge side in the direction of arrow A of the restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 321 receives a pressure force Fa from the recording sheet 370 generated by skew, and the front edge side in the direction of arrow A of the restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 320 receives a pressure force Fc from the recording sheet 370 generated by skew. At this time, a movement force Fd is generated at the front edge side of the sheet guide 321 toward the center direction to rotate in the direction of arrow Mc, a movement force Fb is generated at the rear edge side of the sheet guide 320 toward the center direction to rotate in the direction of arrow Md.
At this time, the movement force Fd, which is generated at the front edge side of the sheet guide 321, is led to the front edge side of the sheet guide 320 via the rack 355′ of the sheet guide 321, the pinion gear 381, the rack 356 of the sheet guide 320 shown in
In a case where the recording sheet 370 skews in the direction of arrow Mb, in the same manner, a pressure force which each sheet guide 320, 321 respectively receives from the recording sheet 370 is cancelled.
As mentioned above, according to the medium stacking device of the embodiment, since the pinion gears 381, 382 arranged at the positions being separated in the direction of arrow A respectively link to the racks extending from the sheet guides 320, 321, even if skew is generated in the carried recording sheet, an incline of the sheet guides 320, 321 is suppressed, and the skew of the recording sheet can be diminished.
Second EmbodimentThe image forming apparatus employing this medium stacking device 402 has main different points from the image forming apparatus employing the above mentioned medium stacking device 302 of the first embodiment shown in
Accordingly, the same reference numbers are put to, and explanation and figures are omitted for parts of the image forming apparatus employing this medium stacking device 402 that are common with the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment mentioned above (
In
As shown in
The idler gear 400 respectively meshes with each upper layer gear 481d, 482d of these pinion gears 481, 482 at the center parts of the pinion gears 481, 482 and causes the pinion gear 481 to link to the pinion gear 482.
Note that, here, the sheet guide 420 corresponds to a first movement part. The sheet guide 421 corresponds to a second movement part. The pair of racks 455, 456 of the sheet guide 420 corresponds to a first movement restriction part. The pair of racks 455, 456 of the sheet guide 421 corresponds to a second movement restriction part. The restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 420 corresponds to a first medium restriction part. The restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 421 corresponds to a second medium restriction part.
In the above mentioned configuration, operation of the sheet guide 420, 421 in the medium stacking device 402 of will be explained with reference to
Firstly, the medium stacking device 402 is pushed down against bias of the spring 309 by an operation device (not shown), so that the contact part 311 of the medium stacking device 302 shown in
At this time, each of the restriction surfaces 351 of the sheet guide 420 and the sheet guide 421 are symmetrically moved away from and toward and a line connecting each of the rotate centers of the pinion gears 481 and 482 (see
Thereby, after determination of a position of the width direction of the recording sheet 370 on the medium stacking device 402 is performed as mentioned above, position restriction by an operation device (not shown) is unlocked and as shown in
For example, when the recording sheet 370 skews in the direction of arrow Ma, the rear edge side in the direction of arrow A of the restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 421 receives the pressure force Fa from the recording sheet 370 generated by skew. At this time, the front edge side of the sheet guide 420 generates the movement force Fd toward the center direction to rotate in the direction of arrow Mc.
These forces generated by skew toward the direction of arrow Ma cause the pinion gear 481 and the pinion gear 482 (
As mentioned above, according to the medium stacking device of the embodiment, since the pinion gears 481, 482 arranged at the positions being separated in the direction of arrow A link to the idler gear 400, even if skew is generated in the carried recording sheet, thereby, since an incline of the sheet guides 420, 421 is suppressed, and the skew of the recording sheet can be diminished.
Third EmbodimentThe image forming apparatus employing this medium stacking device 502 has a main different point from the image forming apparatus employing the above mentioned medium stacking device 302 of the first embodiment shown in
Accordingly, the same reference numbers are put to, and explanation and figures are omitted for parts of the image forming apparatus employing this medium stacking device 502 that are common with the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment mentioned above (
The extending part 555 of the sheet guide 520 is formed to have a width forming a necessary minimum gap to guide and smoothly slide a side part 555b and a side part 555a. The side part 555b is guided by the guide wall 342a formed in the medium stack plate 310 and the side part 555a is guided by the guide wall 342b formed in the medium stack plate 310. In the same manner, the extending part 556 of the sheet guide 520 is formed to have a width forming a necessary minimum gap to guide and smoothly slide a side part 556b and a side part 556a. The side part 556b is guided by the guide wall 341a formed in the medium stack plate 310 and the side part 556a is guided by the guide wall 341b formed in the medium stack plate 310.
Note that, here, the side parts 555a, 555b of the extending part 555 and the side parts 556a, 556b of the extending part 556 correspond to an abutment part. The guide walls 341a, 341b, 342a, and 342b correspond to support parts.
In addition, the extending part 555 of the sheet guide 521 is formed to have a width forming a necessary minimum gap to guide and smoothly slide a side part 555b and a side part 555a. The side part 555b is guided by the guide wall 342a formed in the medium stack plate 310 and the side part 555a is guided by the guide wall 343b formed in the medium stack plate 310. In the same manner, the extending part 556 of the sheet guide 521 is formed to have a width forming a necessary minimum gap to guide and smoothly slide a side part 556b and a side part 556a. The side part 556b is guided by the guide wall 344a formed in the medium stack plate 310 and the side part 556a is guided by the guide wall 344b formed in the medium stack plate 310.
The flange 581 restricts detachment of the extending part 556 of the sheet guide 520 and the extending part 555 of the sheet guide 521 below (here, the minus side of Z axis. The flange 582 restricts detachment of the extending part 555 of the sheet guide 520 and the extending part 556 of the sheet guide 521 below (here, the minus side of Z axis). Accordingly, the respective sheet guide 520 and the sheet guide 521 herein individually move without linking each other.
Note that, here, the sheet guide 520 corresponds to a first movement part. The sheet guide 521 corresponds to a second movement part. The pair of extending parts 555, 556 of the sheet guide 520 corresponds to a first movement restriction part. The pair of racks 555, 556 of the sheet guide 521 corresponds to a second movement restriction part. The restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 520 corresponds to a first medium restriction part. The restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 521 corresponds to a second medium restriction part.
In the above mentioned configuration, operation of the sheet guides 520, 521 in the medium stacking device 502 will be explained.
Firstly, the medium stacking device 502 is pushed down against bias of the spring 309 by an operation device (not shown), so that the contact part 311 of the medium stacking device 302 shown in
At this time, since the sheet guide 520 and the sheet guide 521 do not link each other, they need to be individually moved by a user.
After determination of a position of the width direction of the recording sheet 370 on the medium stacking device 502 is performed as mentioned above, position restriction by an operation device (not shown) is unlocked and as shown in
At this time, in the case where skew generates in the recording sheet 370 and a pressure force acts on the restriction surface 351, since a farthest side part of an extending part from a point of action of force contacts the guide wall of the medium stacking plate 310, skew can be reduced in comparison with the case where only one extending part having similar dimension accuracy is used.
For example, in the case where the sheet leading side (direction of arrow A side) of the restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 520 shown in
In the same manner, in the case where the sheet trailing side (opposite side of direction of arrow A side) of the restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 520 shown in
As mentioned above, according to the medium stacking device of the embodiment, even if skew is generated in the carried recording sheet, thereby, since an incline of the sheet guides 520, 521 is suppressed with respect to the sheet carrying direction (the direction of arrow A), and the skew of the recording sheet can be diminished. Furthermore, according to the explanation on
Note, in the embodiment, the sheet guide to which the two extending parts are provided is shown as an example. However, same effects can be obtained by a sheet guide having two or more extending parts.
Fourth EmbodimentA medium stacking device employing the sheet guide 620 (621) has a main different point from the image forming apparatus employing the above mentioned medium stacking device 502 of third embodiment shown in
A shape of the extending part 655, 656 of the sheet guide 620 (621) corresponds to a shape of the rack 355, 356 of the sheet guide 320 (321) shown in
In the above mentioned configuration, since method of setting recording sheets on the medium stacking device is identical to that of the above mentioned third embodiment, the explanation of the method will be herein omitted.
When a set recording sheet is carried in the direction of arrow A, for example, in a case where a sheet leading side (side of direction of arrow A) of the restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 621 shown in
In the same manner, in a case where a sheet trailing side (opposite side of direction of arrow A) of the restriction surface 351 of the sheet guide 620 shown in
As mentioned above, according to the medium stacking device of the embodiment, even if skew is generated in the carried recording sheet, thereby, since an incline of the sheet guide 620, 621 is suppressed with respect to the sheet carrying direction (the direction of arrow A), and the skew of the recording sheet can be diminished. Furthermore, according to the explanation on
Note, in the embodiment, the sheet guide to which the two extending parts are provided is shown as an example. However, same effects can be obtained by a sheet guide having two or more extending parts.
Through the specification, a pair of racks (355, 356), a pair of extending parts (555, 556), and another pair of extending parts (655 and 656) are disclosed as the restriction members for the movement restriction parts. However, the restriction members are not necessarily only two components, but may be three or more components which function to regulate the movement of the sheet guide.
In the above mentioned embodiments, applications of the present invention to an electrographic printer are explained. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and may be applied to a multifunction printer (MFP), a facsimile device, a photocopy machine, and the like. In addition, in the above mentioned embodiments, applications of the present invention to manual feed trays are explained. However, the present invention may be applied to a cassette tray, an Auto Document Feeder (ADF), and the like.
Claims
1. A medium stacking device, comprising: wherein
- a medium stacking part stacking a medium; and
- a first movement part movably provided with respect to the medium stacking part;
- the first movement part has a first medium restriction part restricting a position of the medium, and a first movement restriction part including a plurality of restriction members, each of which engaging with the medium stacking part and restricting a direction of the movement of the first movement part.
2. The medium stacking device according to claim 1, wherein
- the restriction members are provided substantially in parallel with respect to a medium carrying direction, and
- the restriction members substantially vertically extend with respect to the medium carrying direction.
3. The medium stacking device according to claim 1, wherein
- each of the restriction members includes an abutment part, and
- the medium stacking part has a support part contacting the abutment part.
4. The medium stacking device according to claim 3, wherein
- each of the restriction members has a bias part for biasing the abutment part against the support part.
5. The medium stacking device according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a gear part rotatably held by the medium stacking part, wherein one of the restriction members has a tooth part engaging with the gear part.
6. The medium stacking device according to claim 2, wherein
- the first movement restriction part has two of the restriction members, and one of the restriction members is positioned at an upstream side along the medium carrying direction, the other of the restriction members is positioned at a downstream side along the medium carrying direction.
7. The medium stacking device according to claim 1, comprising:
- a second movement part disposed so as to face the first movement part and movably provided with respect to the medium stacking part, wherein
- the second movement part has a second medium restriction part restricting the position of the medium, and a second movement restriction part including a plurality of other restriction members, each of which engaging with the medium stacking part and restricting a direction of the movement of the second movement part.
8. The medium stacking device according to claim 7, wherein
- the restriction members of the first medium restriction part and the restriction members of the second medium restriction part are provided substantially in parallel each other, and
- the restriction members of the first movement restriction part substantially vertically extend with respect to the medium carrying direction and toward the second medium restrict part,
- the restriction members of the second movement restriction part substantially vertically extend with respect to the medium carrying direction and toward the first medium restriction part.
9. The medium stacking device according to claim 8, wherein
- each of the first movement restriction part and the second movement restriction part includes an abutment part, and
- the medium stacking part has two support parts, one support part contacting the abutment part of the first movement restriction part, the other support part contacting the abutment part of the second movement restriction part.
10. The medium stacking device according to claim 9, wherein
- each of the first movement restriction part and the second movement restriction part has a bias part for biasing one of the abutment parts into the corresponding support part.
11. The medium stacking device according to claim 8, further comprising:
- a first gear part and a second gear part rotatably held by the medium stacking part and provided along the medium carrying direction and at a substantially middle of the first and second medium restriction parts, wherein
- the restriction members of the first movement restriction part respectively have a tooth part engaging with the first gear part and another tooth part engaging with the second gear part, and
- the restriction members of the second movement restriction part respectively have a tooth part engaging with the first gear part and another tooth part engaging with the second gear part.
12. The medium stacking device according to claim 7, wherein
- the first movement part and the second movement part have an identical shape.
13. The medium stacking device according to claim 8, further comprising:
- a transferring part engaging with the first gear part and the second gear part and linking the first gear part to the second gear part.
14. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- the medium stacking part according to claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 21, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 28, 2013
Applicant: Oki Data Corporation (Tokyo)
Inventor: Keigo MATSUMOTO (Tokyo)
Application Number: 13/590,442