Bypass feeder and door on an image forming apparatus

摘要

A bypass feeder, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes an opening/closing unit opening and closing with respect to an apparatus body between a unit closed state and a unit open state, a bypass tray opening and closing with respect to the opening/closing unit between a tray closed state and a tray open state, a linkage including a flexible-member fixing member and connecting the opening/closing unit to the apparatus body, and a flexible member having one end fixed to the fixing member and the other end fixed to the bypass tray. When the opening/closing unit is changed to the unit open state while the bypass tray is rotated away from the opening/closing unit to the tray open state, the fixing member of the linkage shifts by pulling the flexible member to hold the bypass tray at a substantially horizontal line with respect to a sheet loading surface.

主权项

1. A bypass feeder attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, the bypass feeder comprising:
an opening/closing unit having a first fulcrum; the opening/closing unit configured to rotate about the first fulcrum and to open and close with respect to the apparatus body between a unit closed state in which the opening/closing unit is disposed at a position close to the apparatus body and a unit open state in which the opening/closing unit is disposed at a position separated from the apparatus body; a bypass tray having a sheet loading surface on which a sheet is loaded and having a second fulcrum, the bypass tray configured to rotate about the second fulcrum and to open and close with respect to the opening/closing unit between a tray closed state in which the bypass tray is disposed at a position close to the opening/closing unit and a tray open state in which the bypass tray is disposed at a position separated from the opening/closing unit; a linkage including two arms having a first arm and a second arm and a fixing member to openably connect the opening/closing unit to the apparatus body, the fixing member being provided at an intermediate part of one of the first arm or second arm; a support having one end fixed to the fixing member of the linkage and other end attached to an elastic member in the bypass tray; and a first through-hole in the opening/closing unit and a second through-hole in the bypass tray, wherein the support passes through the first and second through-holes, and wherein the bypass tray covers the elastic member such that the support extends through the second-through hole from an inside of the bypass tray to an outside of the bypass tray.