SHEET FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAME

Abstract

A sheet feeding device includes a sheet feeding tray, a first moving assembly, and a second moving assembly. The sheet feeding tray accommodates a sheet. The first moving assembly moves the sheet feeding tray in a sheet feeding direction. The second moving assembly moves the sheet feeding tray in a direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-129317, filed on Jun. 26, 2015, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device.

Related Art

Conventionally, sheet feeding devices are known, which include a sheet feeding tray movable between a position where a sheet of paper is taken in and out and a position where the sheet is fed to an image forming apparatus, and which feeds the sheets accommodated in the sheet feeding tray to the image forming apparatus sheet by sheet.

Usually, an image forming apparatus requires a use space including an installation space where an apparatus body is installed and a work space where the operator can perform work of taking in and out the sheet outside the apparatus body. Further, the apparatus body requires at least an inner space in which a sheet feeding tray and a sheet feed path for conveying the sheet from the sheet feeding tray in the sheet feeding direction are provided, and thus a plan shape of the apparatus body is often long in the sheet feeding direction.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a sheet feeding device that includes a sheet feeding tray, a first moving assembly, and a second moving assembly. The sheet feeding tray accommodates a sheet. The first moving assembly moves the sheet feeding tray in a sheet feeding direction. The second moving assembly moves the sheet feeding tray in a direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure would be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a schematic configuration of a sheet feeding device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which sheet is jammed on a sheet feed path while straddling a sheet feeding tray and an apparatus body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a straddling jammed sheet removal operation in the sheet feeding device;

FIG. 4B is a side view of the sheet feeding device as viewed from the apparatus body;

FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding device;

FIG. 5B is a side view of the sheet feeding device as viewed from the apparatus body;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a structure of a sheet feeding tray;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a partial structure of the sheet feeding tray;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the straddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding device;

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in a sheet feeding device according to variation 1 of the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in a sheet feeding device according to variation 2 of the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a straddling jammed sheet removal processing operation in the sheet feeding device according to the variation 2 of the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in a sheet feeding device according to variation 3 of the above-described embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a straddling jammed sheet removal processing operation in the sheet feeding device according to the variation 3 of the above-described embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a straddling jammed sheet removal processing operation in a sheet feeding device according to variation 4 of the above-described embodiment.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner and achieve similar results.

Although the embodiments are described with technical limitations with reference to the attached drawings, such description is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and all of the components or elements described in the embodiments of this disclosure are not necessarily indispensable.

Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. In the drawings for explaining the following embodiments, the same reference codes are allocated to elements (members or components) having the same function or shape and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted below.

Hereinafter, a tandem-type color laser copier in which a plurality of photoconductors is arranged side by side is described below as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The image forming apparatus 1000 includes a printer unit 100, a sheet feeding device 200 mounting the printer unit 100 thereon, a scanner 300 secured on the printer unit 100, and the like. Further, the image forming apparatus 1000 includes an automatic document feeder 400 secured on the scanner 300.

The printer unit 100 includes an image forming unit 20 made of four sets of process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K for forming images of four colors including yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Y, M, C, and K attached to the respective reference numerals indicate members for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black (the same applies to the following description).

In addition to the process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, an optical writing unit 21, an intermediate transfer unit 17, a secondary transfer device 22, paired registration rollers 49, a belt fixing-type fixing device 25, and the like are disposed.

The optical writing unit 21 includes a light source, a polygon mirror, a f-θ lens, a reflection mirror, and the like, and irradiates surfaces of photoconductors described below with laser light based on an image data.

Here, configurations of the respective process cartridges 18 are nearly the same. Therefore, hereinafter, the attached suffixes (Y, C, M, and K) for distinguishing the colors are omitted in the following description, and a configuration and an operation of the process cartridge 18 are described. The process cartridge 18 is mounted to the apparatus body by being inserted into a mount space in the apparatus body from a front side to a depth side of the device. The process cartridge 18 includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 1, a drum cleaning unit arranged around the photoconductor 1, a charging unit and a developing device 4. A radiating portion is formed on a side surface of a developing casing of the developing device 4.

The developing device 4 includes a developing device as a developer bearer that supplies a toner to a latent image bearer on a surface of the photoconductor 1 and develops an image while moving on the surface, and a developing casing that forms a developer container in which a two-component developer made of the toner and a carrier is stored. The developing device includes a magnet roller made of a plurality of magnets fixed inside, and a cylindrical developing sleeve that contains the magnet roller and is made of a non-magnetic material rotated around the magnet roller. The developing sleeve is rotated around the magnet roller that forms a plurality of magnetic poles, so that the developer is moved on the developing device with the rotation.

When developing bias is applied from a developing power source as a developing bias applicator to the developing sleeve of the developing device, a developing electric field is formed between the developing sleeve and the photoconductor 1 in a developing region. With this developing electric field, the toner in the developer on a surface of the developing sleeve is supplied to the latent image bearer on the surface of the photoconductor 1, and the latent image bearer on the photoconductor 1 is developed, in the developing region.

The surface of the photoconductor 1 is uniformly charged by a charging unit as a charging device. The surface of the photoconductor 1, to which the charging processing is applied, is irradiated with the laser light modulated and deflected by the optical writing unit 21. Then, a potential of the irradiated portion (exposed portion) is decayed. With this decay, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 1. The formed electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 4 as a developing unit and becomes a toner image.

The toner image formed on the photoconductor 1 is primarily transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 110 described below. A post-transfer residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor 1 after the primary transfer is cleaned with a cleaning blade. Charge of the cleaned photoconductor 1 is removed by a charge remover. Then, the photoconductor 1 is uniformly charged by the charging unit, and is returned to an initial state.

The above series of processes are similar among the process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K.

Next, the intermediate transfer unit is described using FIG. 1. The intermediate transfer unit 17 includes the intermediate transfer belt 110, a belt cleaning device 90, and the like. Further, the intermediate transfer unit 17 includes a transfer stretching roller 14, a transfer drive roller 15, a secondary-transfer backup roller 16, four primary transfer bias rollers 62Y, 62M, 62C, and 62K, and the like.

The intermediate transfer belt 110 is stretched taut by a plurality of rollers including the transfer stretching roller 14. Then, the intermediate transfer belt 110 is endlessly moved in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 by rotation of the transfer drive roller 15 driven by a belt drive motor.

The four primary transfer bias rollers 62Y, 62M, 62C, and 62K are disposed to be in contact with an inner circumferential face side of the intermediate transfer belt 110, and receive application of primary transfer bias from a power supply. Further, the primary transfer bias rollers 62Y, 62M, 62C, and 62K press the intermediate transfer belt 110 against the photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K from the inner circumferential face side to respectively form primary transfer nips. In each of the primary transfer nips, a primary-transfer electric field is formed between the photoconductor and the primary transfer bias roller due to influence of the primary transfer bias.

A Y toner image formed on the photoconductor 1Y for yellow is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 110 due to influence of the primary-transfer electric field and nipping pressure. M, C, and K toner images formed on the photoconductors 1M, 1C, and 1K for magenta, cyan, and black are sequentially superimposed and primarily transferred on the Y toner image. With this primary transfer of superimposition, a four-color superimposed toner image as a multiple toner image (hereinafter, referred to as four-color toner image) is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 110.

The four-color toner image superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 110 is secondarily transferred to a sheet of paper that is a recording medium with a secondary transfer nip described below. The post-transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 110 after passage of the secondary transfer nip is cleaned with the belt cleaning device 90 that nips the belt between the belt cleaning device 90 and the transfer drive roller 15 on the left side in FIG. 1.

Next, the secondary transfer device 22 is described. The secondary transfer device 22 that stretches the sheet conveyance belt 24 with the two stretching rollers 23 is disposed below the intermediate transfer unit 17 in FIG. 1. The sheet conveyance belt 24 is endlessly moved in an anti-clockwise direction in FIG. 1 with rotation and drive of at least one of the stretching rollers 23.

One of the two stretching rollers 23, which is disposed on the right side in FIG. 1, nips the intermediate transfer belt 110 and the sheet conveyance belt 24 between the stretching roller 23 and the secondary-transfer backup roller 16 of the intermediate transfer unit 17. With the nip, a secondary transfer nip where the intermediate transfer belt 110 of the intermediate transfer unit 17 and the sheet conveyance belt 24 of the secondary transfer device 22 are in contact with each other.

Then, secondary transfer bias, which has a polarity opposite to the toner, is applied to this one stretching roller 23 by a power supply. With this application of the secondary transfer bias, a secondary-transfer backup electric field that electrostatically moves the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 110 of the intermediate transfer unit 17 from the belt side toward the other stretching roller 23 side is formed in the secondary transfer nip.

The four-color toner image subject to the influence of the secondary-transfer backup electric field and the nipping pressure is secondarily transferred to the sheet sent by the paired registration rollers 49 described below to the secondary transfer nip in synchronization with the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 110.

Note that a charger that charges the sheet in a non-contact manner may be provided, in place of the secondary transfer system that applies the secondary transfer bias to one of the stretching rollers 23, as described above.

A plurality of sheet feeding cassettes 44 that can accommodate a plurality of sheets in a state of a bundle of sheets is layered and disposed in a vertical direction in the sheet feeding device 200 provided below the apparatus body.

Each of the sheet feeding cassettes 44 presses a sheet feeding roller 42 against the top sheet of the bundle of sheets. Then, the sheet feeding roller 42 is rotated to send the top sheet toward a sheet feed path 46.

The sheet feed path 46 that receives the sheet sent from the sheet feeding cassette 44 includes a plurality of paired feed rollers 47, and paired registration rollers 49 provided near the end of the sheet feed path 46. Then, the sheet feed path 46 conveys the sheet toward the paired registration rollers 49. The sheet conveyed toward the paired registration rollers 49 is nipped between the rollers of the paired registration rollers 49.

Meanwhile, the four-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 110 proceeds in the secondary transfer nip with the endless movement of the belt, in the intermediate transfer unit 17. The paired registration rollers 49 feeds the sheet nipped between the rollers at timing when the sheet can be stuck to the four-color toner image in the secondary transfer nip. Accordingly, in the secondary transfer nip, the four-color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 110 is stuck to the sheet. Then, the image is secondarily transferred onto the sheet to become a full-color image on the white sheet.

The sheet on which the full-color image is formed as described above passes the secondary transfer nip with the endless movement of the sheet conveyance belt 24, and is then sent from the sheet conveyance belt 24 to the fixing device 25.

The fixing device 25 includes a belt unit that endlessly move the fixing belt 26 while stretching the fixing belt 26 with two rollers, and a pressure roller 27 that is pressed toward one of the rollers of the belt unit.

The fixing belt 26 and the pressure roller 27 are mutually in contact and form a fixing nip, and nip the sheet received from the sheet conveyance belt 24.

The roller pressed by the pressure roller 27, of the two rollers in the belt unit, includes a heat source therein, and heats and presses the fixing belt 26 with heat generation. The pressurized fixing belt 26 heats the sheet nipped in the fixing nip. The full-color image is fixed to the sheet due to influence of the heat and the nipping pressure.

The sheet to which the fixing processing is applied in the fixing device 25 is stacked on a stacker 57 provided outside a left side plate in FIG. 1 of a printer housing, or is returned to the secondary transfer nip for forming the toner image on the other surface.

When a document is copied, a bundle of document sheets is set on a document table 30 of the automatic document feeder 400.

Note that, in a case of bound documents, which are bound in a book manner, the documents are set to an exposure glass 32. Prior to this setting, the automatic document feeder 400 is opened from the apparatus body, and the exposure glass 32 of the scanner 300 is exposed. After that, the bound documents are pressed by the automatic document feeder 400.

After the documents are set as described above, and when a copy start switch is pressed, a document reading operation by the scanner 300 is started.

However, when the document sheet is set to the automatic document feeder 400, the automatic document feeder 400 automatically moves the document sheet to the exposure glass 32, prior to the document reading operation.

In the document reading operation, first, both of a first mover 33 and a second mover 34 start to travel, and light is emitted from a light source provided in the first mover 33. Then, reflection light from a document surface is reflected by a mirror provided in the second mover 34, passes through an imaging lens 35, and is incident on a reading sensor 36. The reading sensor 36 builds image information based on the incident light.

In parallel to such a document reading operation, devices in the process cartridges 18Y, 18M, 18C, and 18K, the intermediate transfer unit 17, the secondary transfer device 22, and the fixing device 25 start driving.

Then, the optical writing unit 21 is driven and controlled based on the image information built by the reading sensor 36, and the Y, M, C, and K toner images are formed on the respective photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. These toner images becomes the four-color toner image superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 110.

Further, at nearly the same time with the start of the document reading operation, a sheet feeding operation is started in the sheet feeding device 200. In this sheet feeding operation, one of the sheet feeding rollers 42 is selected and rotated, and the sheets are sent out from one of the sheet feeding cassettes 44 accommodated in a paper bank 43 in a multistage manner. The sent sheets are separated in a separation roller 45 sheet by sheet, and proceeds to the sheet feed path 46, and then is conveyed by the paired feed rollers 47 toward the secondary transfer nip.

Sheet feeding from a bypass tray 51 may be performed, in place of the sheet feeding from the sheet feeding cassette 44. In this case, after the bypass feeding roller 50 is selected and rotated to send the sheets on the bypass tray 51, a separation roller 52 separates the sheets sheet by sheet, and feeds the sheet to a bypass sheet feed path 53 of the printer unit 100.

In a case where a multi-color image made of two or more colors of toners is formed, the image forming apparatus 1000 stretches the intermediate transfer belt 110 in a posture where an upper stretched face of the intermediate transfer belt 110 becomes nearly parallel, and brings all of the photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K into contact with the upper stretched face.

In contrast, in a case where a monochromatic image made of only the K toner is formed, the image forming apparatus 1000 causes the intermediate transfer belt 110 to take a posture of being inclined leftward in FIG. 1 by a mechanism, and separates the upper stretched face from the photoconductors 1Y, 1M, and 1C for yellow, magenta, and cyan.

Then, the image forming apparatus 1000 rotates only the photoconductor 1K for black, of the four photoconductors 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, in an anti-clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and forms only the K toner image. At this time, as for yellow, magenta, and cyan, not only the photoconductor 1, but also the developing device is stopped, to prevent unnecessary consumption of the photoconductor 1 and the developer.

The image forming apparatus 1000 includes a controller 150 including a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the devices below in the image forming apparatus 1000 and the like, and an operation display unit including a liquid crystal display, various key buttons, and the like.

The operator can select one of three simplex print modes in which an image is formed only one side of the sheet by sending an instruction to the controller 150 with a key input operation to the operation display unit. The three simplex print modes include a direct ejection mode, a reverse ejection mode, and a reverse decurling ejection mode.

Next, the sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment is described.

First, an example of a sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment is described. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a configuration of the sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sheet feeding device 200 includes a sheet feeding tray 201 that is slidable in the sheet feeding direction between a position where a sheet P is taken in and out and a position where the sheet is fed to an apparatus body 500, and is slidable in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. The slide direction is not limited to the direction perpendicular to the sheet feed ding direction, and may be a direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction. Further, the sheet feeding device 200 includes a feed roller 202 that feeds the sheet P to the apparatus body 500 side and a sheet pressing arm 203 as a pressor that presses the sheet P against a tray base 201a of the sheet feeding tray 201.

Then, a pair of side fences 201b that holds and guides the sheet P according to the size of the sheet P from both sides in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction is provided in the sheet feeding tray 201. The sheet P is conveyed by the feed roller 202 to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2 through a sheet feeding port 500a of the apparatus body 500. A pair of first guide rails 201c as a first moving assembly that guides the sheet feeding tray 201 in the sheet feeding direction is provided at a back side of a bottom plate of the sheet feeding tray 201.

Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B, a pair of second guide rails 201g as a second moving assembly that guides the sheet feeding tray 201 in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction is also provided at the back side of the bottom plate of the sheet feeding tray 201. Note that, at the apparatus body 500 side, paired separation rollers 501 that separate the sheets P fed by the feed roller 202 sheet by sheet is provided. These paired separation rollers 501 is made of a first roller that comes in contact with a front face of the sheet P and conveys the sheet P to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction, and a second roller that comes in contact with the back face of the sheet P and is rotated to return the sheet P to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction.

Further, a sheet pressing arm 203 is held by an arm holder 204, and is moved up and down with respect to the upper surface of the sheet P to press the sheet P, or cancel the pressing. To be specific, when sliding to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 2, the sheet pressing arm 203 is lowered by a mechanism of the arm-swing control cam 205 secured to the housing and presses the upper surface of the sheet P. At that time, the arm holder 204 is also moved together with the tray base 201a of the sheet feeding tray 201. Meanwhile, when sliding to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2, the sheet pressing arm 203 is raised by the mechanism of the arm-swing control cam 205, and the pressing to the upper surface of the sheet P is cancelled.

Further, the sheet feeding tray 201 includes a tray side cover 201d and a tray front cover 201e, and a tray handle 201f is attached to the tray front cover 201e. Note that the arm-swing control cam 205 may be switched by a mechanical cam or may be electrically switched by a motor or the like.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which the sheet is jammed on the sheet feed path in a state of straddling the sheet feeding tray and the apparatus body. As illustrated in FIG. 3, there is a possibility that the sheet P is jammed on the sheet feed path in a state of straddling the sheet feeding tray 201 and the apparatus body 500 due to a set state of the sheet P or a delay of feed timing of the sheet P. To be specific, the jammed sheet (hereinafter, referred to straddling jammed sheet) P remains in a state of straddling the feed roller 202 and the paired separation rollers 501, and is in a so-called straddling jammed state. In this state, when the operator slides the tray handle 201f in a direction of pulling the sheet feeding tray indicated by arrow C in FIG. 3, the straddling jammed sheet P interferes with the housing of the apparatus body 500 and the like and is torn, and the torn sheet remains on the sheet feed path. This remaining sheet is referred to as remaining sheet. In some cases, the remaining sheet may be led to another failure. For example, when the sheet feeding tray is pulled out, the remaining sheet may be dropped behind the sheet feeding tray. In this case, in a case of the sheet feeding device that cannot be taken out from the apparatus body, a service person needs to handle the failure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a straddling jammed sheet removal operation in the sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sheet feeding device and FIG. 4B is a side view of the sheet feeding device as viewed from the apparatus body side. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the sheet pressing arm 203 is supported by a rotation axis 203a. When the sheet jam in the straddling jammed state occurs, the sheet pressing arm 203 is rotated and lowered around the rotation axis 203aby the mechanism of the arm-swing control cam 205, and presses the straddling jammed sheet P on the tray base 201a from above. In this state, the operator moves the tray handle 201f illustrated in FIG. 4A to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 4A, and slides the sheet feeding tray 201 along the pair of first guide rails 201c. Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P can be pulled out of the sheet feeding port 500a of the apparatus body 500 in conjunction with the slide of the sheet feeding tray 201 without requiring labor to manually pull out the straddling jammed sheet P by the operator. Note that, as for an amount to pull out the sheet, the straddling jammed sheet P can be pulled out as long as the amount corresponds the length of one sheet in the sheet feeding direction. However, the amount may be a moving amount to move a leading end portion of the straddling jammed sheet P at the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction to an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to a boundary of the sheet feeding tray 201 and the apparatus body 500. To be specific, the amount corresponds to the length of the sheet stretched to the apparatus body side in the sheet feeding direction, and is smaller than the length of one sheet in the speed feeding direction. Further, if the sheet feeding tray 201 can be moved in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction in a state where the sheet feeding tray 201 is moved to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction, the sheet feeding tray 201 is moved to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction and the straddling jammed sheet P is pulled out of the apparatus body 500, and then, in the state, the sheet feeding tray 201 may be pulled out in the direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding device of the example. FIG. 5A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sheet feeding device and FIG. 5B is a side view of the sheet feeding device as viewed from the apparatus body. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a structure of the sheet feeding tray. FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a partial structure of the sheet feeding tray. The operator slides the sheet feeding tray 201 as illustrated in FIG. 5 to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5 along the pair of first guide rails 201c from the state of the sheet feeding tray 201 illustrated in FIG. 4, to return the sheet feeding tray 201 to the position where the sheet is fed to the apparatus body 500. At this time, the pressing to the straddling jammed sheet P by the sheet pressing arm 203 is cancelled in advance by the mechanism of the arm-swing control cam 205.

Further, the leading end portion of the straddling jammed sheet P at the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is butted against the nip and the roller surface of the paired separation rollers 501, thereby not to follow the slide of the sheet feeding tray 201 to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5. The paired separation rollers 501 serve a function as a stopper. Further, the tray base 201a presses the straddling jammed sheet P to the feed roller 202 in a state where a pressure rotation shaft 206 is coupled with a lifting cam assembly 502, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Then, the straddling jammed sheet P is relatively moved with respect to the slide of the sheet feeding tray 201 to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated inside the sheet feeding tray 201 in a case where the sheet feeding tray 201 is returned to the position where the sheet is fed to the apparatus body 500.

Here, to convey the sheet P on the sheet feeding tray 201, the sheet P on the sheet feeding tray 201 is raised and is pressed against the feed roller 202, and the feed roller 202 is rotated, so that the sheet P becomes conveyable. There is a method of raising the tray base 201a by a motor or the like and a method of raising the tray base 201a by the cam assembly and the pressure spring when the sheet feeding tray is pressed in the direction of being set to the apparatus body. The example employs the latter method. To be specific, when the sheet feeding tray 201 is set to the image forming apparatus, a connection pin 206a of the pressure rotation shaft 206 at the sheet feeding tray 201 side is inserted into a groove provided in a rotation shaft of the lifting cam assembly 502 at the apparatus body side. At that time, force in an extending direction of a pressure spring 503 attached to a lifting mechanism supporting member 504 secured to the housing of the apparatus body or the like is applied to the pressure rotation shaft 206 due to the shape of the groove of the lifting cam assembly 502. The pressure rotation shaft 206 is coupled with the tray base 201a, and the tray base 201a rises by spring force (contraction force) of the pressure spring 503. Therefore, the sheet P rises and is pressed against the feed roller 202, and becomes a feedable state. When the sheet feeding tray 201 is pulled out of the apparatus body 500, the pressure rotation shaft 206 is pulled up from the lifting cam assembly 502, and the tray base 201a is lowered to the bottom surface of the sheet feeding tray 201 by its own weight. Further, in FIG. 3, when the tray base 201a is moved to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 3, the pressure rotation shaft 206 is pulled out from the lifting cam assembly 502.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the operator pulls the tray handle 201f to a front side (the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction). Then, the sheet feeding tray 201 in which the entire straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated is pulled out in the front direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. 8 along the pair of second guide rails 201g illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 5B. Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P can be pulled out without interfering with the housing of the apparatus body 500 and the like. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the pressure rotation shaft 206 is pulled up from the lifting cam assembly 502, and the tray base 201a is lowered to the bottom surface of the sheet feeding tray 201 by its own weight. Note that, when the sheet feeding tray 201 in which the entire straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated is pulled out, the straddling jammed sheet P is not necessarily pressed by the sheet pressing arm 203. However, by pressing the straddling jammed sheet P, the straddling jammed sheet P accommodated in the sheet feeding tray 201 can be reliably pulled out. According to the example, even if the sheet feeding tray is pulled out in the direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction, the straddling jammed sheet does not interfere with the apparatus body and thus is not torn. Therefore, processing work to remove the torn sheet and work to treat the another failure caused by the torn sheet become unnecessary, and simplification of the sheet jam processing work can be improved.

Variation 1

Next, a variation (hereinafter, this variation is referred to as “variation 1”) of a sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment is described. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding device according to variation 1 of the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 9, a remaining sheet sensor 401 that detects whether a straddling jammed sheet P exists on a sheet feed path is provided between a sheet feeding tray 201 and an apparatus body 500 in a sheet feeding device 200 of the variation 1. Usually, determination of a sheet jam of the sheet P is performed such that a sheet ejection sensor is provided at a sheet ejection port, and when the sheet ejection sensor cannot detect the sheet at sheet ejection timing, the sheet ejection sensor determines that the sheet jam of the sheet ejection has occurred, and passage of sheets is stopped. At that time, when the remaining sheet sensor 401 detects the sheet P, the remaining sheet sensor 401 determines that the straddling jam has occurred. When the remaining sheet sensor 401 does not detect the sheet, the remaining sheet sensor 401 determines that the sheet jam of sheet ejection in another place has occurred. When it is determined that there is a remaining sheet by the remaining sheet sensor 401 after the sheet jam of sheet ejection is determined with such a detector, sheet jam display or a display light emitting diode (LED) is lighted on a liquid crystal display (LCD) on an operation panel. Alternatively, a voice announce or a guide display notifying that “a straddling jam has occurred, please move the sheet feeding tray in the horizontal direction and remove the straddling jam” is output, and removal processing of the jammed sheet is prompted. After the processing is executed, no sheet remains in the remaining sheet sensor. Therefore, a voice announce or a guide display notifying that “the straddling jam has been removed, so the sheet feeding tray can be pulled out” is output. Accordingly, the sheet feeding tray can be prevented from being wrongly pulled out in a front direction at the time of occurrence of the straddling jam.

Variation 2

Next, another variation (hereinafter, this variation is referred to as “variation 2”) of a sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment is described. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding device according to variation 2 of the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 10, in a sheet feeding device 600 of the variation 2, a first position sensor 601 and a second position sensor 602 that detect a predetermined position of a sheet feeding tray 201 are provided, in addition to the remaining sheet sensor 401 in the sheet feeding device of the variation 1. The first position sensor 601 is a sensor that detects the position of the sheet feeding tray 201 that feeds a sheet to an apparatus body 500. Meanwhile, the second position sensor 602 is a sensor that detects the position of the sheet feeding tray 201 when the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid along a pair of first guide rails 201c at the maximum to the left side in FIG. 10. Further, a tray drive motor 603 as a drive source for sliding the sheet feeding tray 201 in a sheet feeding direction, and a lock solenoid 604 as a restrictor that allows (cancels the restriction of)/does not allow (restricts) slide of the sheet feeding tray 201 in a front direction. Then, the tray drive motor 603 and the lock solenoid 604 are controlled by the controller 150. Note that the tray drive motor 603 may be a stepping motor or a DC motor. The lock solenoid 604 includes, for example, a hook in a movable member, and the hook is hooked on a housing of the sheet feeding tray, so that the slide of the sheet feeding tray 201 to the front side is restricted. On the other hand, when the hook is unhooked, the slide of the sheet feeding tray 201 to the front side becomes available. From the above, even if a straddling jam occurs, cancellation is automatically performed without bothering an operator, and the sheet feeding tray cannot be wrongly pulled out during the cancellation. Therefore, mechanical damage during the cancellation of the straddling jam can be prevented.

Note that, when removal of a remaining sheet is performed by sliding the sheet feeding tray 201 to an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 10, the remaining sheet sensor 401 is confirmed again, assuming a case where the remaining sheet cannot be removed at one time. It is more reliable to employ a method of repeating the above operation again when it is determined that there is a remaining sheet, to remove the remaining sheet. Further, since the straddling jam is detected and automatically removed, alert display or a voice announce notifying the operator that “a straddling jam has occurred, so cancellation is in progress” is output to an LCD on an operation panel. It is necessary to cause the sheet feeding tray not to be pulled out in the front direction when the sheet feeding tray is slid in the sheet feeding direction, Further, it is necessary to lock the sheet feeding tray 201 not to be pulled out in the front direction, using the lock solenoid 604.

Next, a straddling jammed sheet removal processing operation in the sheet feeding device according to the variation 2 is described according to the operation flow of FIG. 11. When feeding of the sheet P is started in FIG. 11, the sheet feeding tray 201 of FIG. 10 is locked with the lock solenoid 604 so as not to be pulled out in the front direction (steps S101 and S102). Then, a sheet jam of the sheet P occurs, drive of the feed roller 202 is stopped, and the feeding of the sheet P is stopped (steps S103 and S104). When the straddling jam is determined with the remaining sheet sensor 401 (YES in step S105, step S106), an arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and the straddling jammed sheet P is pressed by a sheet pressing arm 203 from above (step S107). Then, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by the controller 150, the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 10 until the second position sensor 602 detects the sheet feeding tray 201, and the straddling jammed sheet P is pulled out through a sheet feeding port 500a of the apparatus body 500 (step S108, YES in S109, and step S110).

Following that, the arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and the pressing to the jammed sheet P by the sheet pressing arm 203 is cancelled (step S111). Then, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by the controller 150, the sheet feeding tray 201 is slit to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 10 until the first position sensor 601 detects the sheet feeding tray 201, and the sheet feeding tray 201 is returned to a position where the sheet is fed to the apparatus body 500 (step S112, YES in S113, and step S114). Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray 201.

Following that, the lock is cancelled by the lock solenoid 604 so that the sheet feeding tray 201 can be pulled out in the front direction along a pair of second guide rails 201g (step S115). When the straddling jam is not determined with the remaining sheet sensor 401 in step S105, the controller 150 determines a sheet jam other than the straddling jam has occurred, that is, a sheet jam has occurred in a different place from a sheet feed path between the sheet feeding tray 201 and the apparatus body 500 (NO in step S105 and step S116). Note that a tray base 201a is also operated up and down in accordance with the operation of the sheet feeding tray 201. Therefore, the straddling jammed sheet removal processing is automatically executed without generating a sheet residual by the remaining sheet.

Variation 3

Next, another variation (hereinafter, this variation is referred to as “variation 3”) of a sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment is described. FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of straddling jammed sheet removal processing in the sheet feeding device according to variation 3 of the present embodiment. In variation 3, when a sheet is stopped at a remaining sheet sensor 401 and becomes a straddling jam, the controller 150 calculates a sheet feed distance from a send amount (drive amount) of a feed roller 202, for the sheet P sent from a sheet feeding tray 201. For example, since the sheet P is always conveyed in a sheet ejection direction at the same speed, if the feed roller 202 is driven by a stepping motor, the controller 150 calculates the sheet feed distance with a drive pulse amount from when the straddling jam is detected to when the feed roller 202 is stopped. Further, if the feed roller 202 is operated by receiving transmission from another drive using a clutch, the controller 150 calculates the sheet feed distance with a time from when the straddling jam is detected to when the feed roller 202 is stopped.

If the remaining sheet sensor 401 is used as another means, and a time when the sheet jam occurs and the feed roller 202 is stopped is converted from a time when the straddling jammed sheet P has passed through the remaining sheet sensor 401, the controller 150 calculates can obtain a sheet stop position from the remaining sheet sensor 401 and calculate a moving amount (pull amount) of the straddling jammed sheet P. The moving amount of the straddling jammed sheet P can be calculated with a total of a defined moving amount A and a moving amount a even in the conversion from the feed roller 102 or the conversion from the remaining sheet sensor 401. Then, the controller 150 calculates the sheet feed distance from when stop of the straddling jammed sheet P is determined in the remaining sheet sensor 401. The sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 12 by a tray drive motor 603 by the controller 150, by a feeding distance corresponding to the moving amount, and the straddling jammed sheet P is removed. Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet removal processing is automatically executed without generating a sheet residual by the remaining sheet.

Next, a straddling jammed sheet removal processing operation in the sheet feeding device according to variation 3 of the present embodiment is described according to the operation flow of FIG. 13. When feeding of the sheet P is started in FIG. 13, the sheet feeding tray 201 of FIG. 12 is locked by a lock solenoid 604 not to be pulled out in a front direction (steps S201 and S202). When a sheet jam occurs, drive of the feed roller 202 is stopped, and the feeding of the sheet P is stopped (steps S203 and S204). When the straddling jam is determined with the remaining sheet sensor 401 (YES in step S205, and step S206), the controller 150 calculates the moving amount of the sheet feeding tray 201 from the stop position of the jammed sheet P (step S207). Then, an arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and the straddling jammed sheet P is pressed by a sheet pressing arm 203 (step S208). Then, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by the controller 150, and the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 12, by the calculated moving amount of the sheet feeding tray. The straddling jammed sheet P is pulled out through a sheet feeding port 500a of an apparatus body 500 (steps S209 and S210).

Following that, the arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and the pressing to the jammed sheet P by the sheet pressing arm 203 is cancelled (step S211). Then, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by the controller 150, and the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 12 until a first position sensor 601 detects the sheet feeding tray 201, and the sheet feeding tray 201 is returned to a position where the feed is fed to the apparatus body 500 (step S212, YES in step S213, and step S214). Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated inside the sheet feeding tray 201.

Following that, the lock is cancelled by the lock solenoid 604 so that the sheet feeding tray 201 can be pulled out in the front direction along a pair of second guide rails 201g (step S215). When the straddling jam is not determined with the remaining sheet sensor 401 in step S205, the controller 150 determines that a sheet jam other than the straddling jam has occurred, that is, a sheet jam has occurred in a different place from a sheet feed path between the sheet feeding tray 201 and the apparatus body 500 (NO in step S205 and step S216). Therefore, the straddling jammed sheet removal processing is automatically executed without generating a sheet residual by the remaining sheet.

Variation 4

Next, another variation (hereinafter, this variation is referred to as “variation 4”) of a sheet feeding device according to the present embodiment is described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a straddling jammed sheet removal processing operation in the sheet feeding device according to variation 4 of the present embodiment. When feeding of a sheet P is started in FIG. 14, a sheet feeding tray 201 of FIG. 12 is locked by a lock solenoid 604 not to be pulled out in a front direction along a pair of second guide rails 201g (steps S301 and S302). When a sheet jam of the sheet P occurs, drive of a feed roller 202 is stopped, and the feeding of the sheet P is stopped (steps S303 and S304). When the straddling jam is determined with a remaining sheet sensor 401 (YES in step S305, and step S306), an arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and the straddling jammed sheet P is pressed by a sheet pressing arm 203 from above (step S307). Then, the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 12 by a tray drive motor 603 by a control unit until the remaining sheet sensor 401 does not detect the sheet feeding tray 201 (step S308 and NO in step S309). Further, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by the controller 150, and the sheet feeding tray 201 is slid to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow B in FIG. 12, by a defined moving amount A, and is then stopped. The straddling jammed sheet P is then pulled out through a sheet feeding port 500a of an apparatus body 500 (steps S310 and S311).

Following that, the arm-swing control cam 205 is switched, and the pressing to the straddling jammed sheet P by the sheet pressing arm 203 is cancelled (step S312). Then, the tray drive motor 603 is driven by the controller 150. The sheet feeding tray 201 is moved to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 12 until a first position sensor 601 detects the sheet feeding tray 201, and the sheet feeding tray 201 is returned to a position where the sheet is fed to the apparatus body 500 (step S313, YES in step S314, and step S315). Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet P is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray 201. The lock is cancelled by the lock solenoid 604 so that the sheet feeding tray 201 can be pulled out in the front direction along the pair of second guide rails 201g (step S316). When the straddling jam is not determined with the remaining sheet sensor 401 in step S305, the controller 150 determines that a sheet jam other than the straddling jam has occurred, that is, a sheet jam has occurred in a different place from a sheet feed path between the sheet feeding tray 201 and the apparatus body 500 (NO in step S305 and step S317). Therefore, the straddling jammed sheet removal processing is automatically executed without generating a sheet residual by the remaining sheet. Further, the moving amount to pull the sheet feeding tray to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction is smaller than the example and the variations 1 to 3, depending on a stop position of the straddling jammed sheet, and a time required for the straddling jammed sheet removal processing can be shortened.

The above-described embodiment is an example, and exerts a specific effect in each of the aspects below.

(Aspect A)

In a sheet feeding device, such as the sheet feeding device 200, including a sheet feeding tray, such as the sheet feeding tray 201, that accommodates a sheet, such as the sheet P, a first moving assembly, such as the first guide rail 201c, that enables the sheet feeding tray to be movable in a sheet feeding direction, and a second moving assembly, such as the second guide rail 201g, that enables the sheet feeding tray to be movable in a direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction are included. According to the present aspect, during movement of the sheet feeding tray by the first moving assembly, a jammed sheet remaining on a sheet feed path (hereinafter, the jammed sheet is referred to as straddling jammed sheet) is held in the sheet feeding tray by an operator or a holder in a state of straddling the sheet feeding tray and an image forming apparatus, so that the straddling jammed sheet becomes in conjunction with the movement of the sheet feeding tray. Then, by moving the sheet feeding tray such that a leading end portion of the straddling jammed sheet at a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction is moved to an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to a boundary of the image forming apparatus and the sheet feeding tray, using the first moving assembly, the state in which the sheet straddles the sheet feeding tray and the image forming apparatus can be cancelled. Therefore, by moving the sheet feeding tray to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to a position where the sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus, using the first moving assembly, before moving the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, using the second moving assembly, the sheet can be placed not to be superimposed on the image forming apparatus as viewed from the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction. Following that, by moving the sheet feeding tray to the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, using the second moving assembly, the sheet can be pulled out without being in contact with the image forming apparatus. For example, the sheet feeding tray is moved in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, using the second moving assembly, in a state where the sheet feeding tray, which has been moved to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the position where the sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus, is kept as it is. The sheet at that time can be pulled out together with the sheet feeding tray that holds the sheet by the operator or the holder, without being in contact with the image forming apparatus. Further, for example, the sheet feeding tray in the state of being moved to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the position where the sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus is returned to the position where the sheet is fed to the image forming apparatus, using the first moving assembly. At this time, for example, by cancelling the hold to the sheet feeding tray of the sheet by the operator or the holder and making the sheet freely movable, the sheet is relatively moved with respect to the movement of the sheet feeding tray and is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray. The sheet feeding tray in the state is moved in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, using the second moving assembly. At that time, the sheet is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray, and can be pulled out without being in contact with the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the straddling jammed sheet can be removed without being torn, and processing work to remove the torn sheet is eliminated, and work to treat another failure caused by the torn sheet can be eliminated. Therefore, the sheet jam processing work can be simplified. Further, according to the present aspect, a space in which the sheet feeding tray is pulled out in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, using the second moving assembly, exists at a front side in a short direction of the image forming apparatus having a long plan shape. Therefore, the image forming apparatus is not larger than a conventional configuration in which the space in which the sheet feeding tray is pulled in the sheet feeding direction exists at a front side in the long direction of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the straddling jammed sheet can be pulled out of the image forming apparatus without being torn while an increase in a size of the device is suppressed, whereby the sheet jam processing work can be simplified.

(Aspect B)

In (Aspect A), a holder, such as the sheet pressing arm 203, is included that holds the sheet in the sheet feeding tray so that the sheet is movable together with the sheet feeding tray at least during movement of the sheet feeding tray by the first moving assembly. According to the present aspect, by causing the sheet feeding tray to hold the straddling jammed sheet by the holder, during movement of the sheet feeding tray by the first moving assembly, the effort to press the straddling jammed sheet by the operator can be obviated, and the straddling jammed sheet can reliably held in the sheet feeding tray, and can be stably pulled out in conjunction with the movement of the sheet feeding tray.

(Aspect C)

In (Aspect B), after the sheet feeding tray is moved using the first moving assembly to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to a boundary of the sheet feeding tray and the image forming apparatus to which the sheet is fed, the holder cancels holding of the sheet to the sheet feeding tray and a stopper restricts movement of the sheet to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction. The sheet feeding tray is moved using the first moving assembly to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction such that the sheet is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray, and then the sheet feeding tray is moved in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction using the second moving assembly. According to the present aspect, the straddling jammed sheet moved to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to the image forming apparatus is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray. The sheet feeding tray is moved in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction and the sheet can be taken out of the image forming apparatus together with the sheet feeding tray. Accordingly, the straddling jammed sheet can be removed without being torn. Therefore, removal of the torn sheet and treatment of another failure caused by the torn sheet are eliminated, and the sheet jam processing work can be simplified.

(Aspect D)

In (Aspect C), the holder includes a pressor, such as the sheet pressing arm 203, to press the sheet from above. According to the present aspect, the straddling jammed sheet can be made movable together with the sheet feeding tray with the simple configuration.

(Aspect E)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect D), a sensor, such as the remaining sheet sensor 401, is included that detects the sheet stopped on a sheet feed path, and a controller, such as the controller 150, prompts processing of removing the sheet on determination that the sheet exists on the sheet feed path when the sheet feeding tray is moved in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction. The controller moves the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction using the second moving assembly on determination, based on a detection result of the sensor, that the sheet does not exist on the sheet feed path when the sheet feeding tray is moved in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction. According to the present aspect, when the sheet jam occurs, the operator can be prevented from wrongly moving the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction.

(Aspect F)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect E), the first moving assembly includes a drive source such as the tray drive motor 603. According to the present aspect, when the sheet jam occurs, the jammed sheet can be automatically removed from the image forming apparatus without bothering the operator.

(Aspect G)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect F), a restrictor, such as the lock solenoid 604, is included that restricts movement of the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction. When the sheet jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, the movement of the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction is restricted by the restrictor,. According to the present aspect, the sheet feeding tray can be prevented from being wrongly moved in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, and the straddling jammed sheet can be prevented from being torn.

(Aspect H)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect G), a controller, such as the controller 150, is included that calculates a moving amount of the sheet feeding tray to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction to remove the sheet based on positional information of the sheet existing on the sheet feed path. According to the present aspect, by moving the sheet feeding tray to the upstream side in the sheet feeding direction, by the moving amount calculated by the controller, unnecessary movement of the sheet feeding tray can be suppressed, and a time require for the straddling jammed sheet removal processing can be shortened.

(Aspect I)

In (Aspect A) to (Aspect H), on determination, based on the detection result of the sensor, that a sheet jam has occurred in a place other than the sheet feed path when the sheet does not exist on the sheet feed path, a controller, such as the controller 150, prompts processing of removing the jammed sheet in the place. According to the preset aspect, by prompting the removal processing of the jammed sheet in that place, when the place of the sheet jam is a place other than the sheet feed path, the operator can perform appropriate removal processing of the jammed sheet.

(Aspect J)

In an image forming apparatus including a sheet feeder that feeds a sheet to an image forming unit, the sheet feeding device according to (Aspect A) to (Aspect I) is included as the sheet feeder. According to the present aspect, an image forming apparatus that can improve simplification of processing work to remove a jammed sheet when a sheet jam occurs on a sheet feed path in a state where the sheet straddles the sheet feeding tray and an apparatus body.

Numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the above teachings, the present disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. With some embodiments having thus been described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims.

Claims

1. A sheet feeding device comprising:

a sheet feeding tray to accommodate a sheet;

a first moving assembly to move the sheet feeding tray in a sheet feeding direction; and

a second moving assembly to move the sheet feeding tray in a direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction.

2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a holder to hold the sheet in the sheet feeding tray so that the sheet is movable together with the sheet feeding tray at least while the sheet feeding tray moves using the first moving assembly.

3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, further comprising a stopper to restrict movement of the sheet,

wherein, after the sheet feeding tray moves using the first moving assembly to an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction with respect to a boundary of the sheet feeding tray and an image forming apparatus to which the sheet is fed,

the holder cancels holding of the sheet to the sheet feeding tray and the stopper restricts movement of the sheet to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction,

the sheet feeding tray moves using the first moving assembly to the downstream side in the sheet feeding direction such that the sheet is accommodated in the sheet feeding tray, and

then the sheet feeding tray moves in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, using the second moving assembly.

4. The sheet feeding device according to claim 2, wherein the holder includes a pressor to press the sheet from above.

5. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor to detect the sheet stopped on a sheet feed path; and

a controller to determine whether the sheet exists on the sheet feed path, based on a detection result of the sensor,

wherein the controller prompts processing of removing the sheet, on determination that the sheet exists on the sheet feed path when the controller controls the sheet feeding tray to move in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, and

wherein the controller moves the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction using the second moving assembly on determination that the sheet does not exist on the sheet feed path when the controller controls the sheet feeding tray to move in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction.

6. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first moving assembly includes a drive source.

7. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a restrictor to restrict movement of the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction,

wherein, when a sheet jam occurs in an image forming apparatus, the movement of the sheet feeding tray in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction is restricted by the restrictor.

8. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a controller to calculate a moving amount of the sheet feeding tray to an upstream side in the sheet feeding direction to remove the sheet, based on positional information of the sheet existing on a sheet feed path.

9. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor to detect the sheet stopped on a sheet feed path; and

a controller to determine whether the sheet exists on the sheet feed path, based on a detection result of the sensor,

wherein, on determination that the sheet does not exist on the sheet feed path when the controller controls the sheet feeding tray to move in the direction intersecting with the sheet feeding direction, the controller determines that a sheet jam has occurred in a place other than the sheet feed path and prompts processing of removing the sheet.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image forming unit to form an image on a sheet; and

the sheet feeding device according to claim 1 to feed the sheet to the image forming unit.