SHEET CASSETTE, FEEDER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

摘要

A sheet cassette (1) includes a first sheet accommodation section (3), a second sheet accommodation section (5), and a restricting section (7). The restricting section (7) includes a lever section (70), a first engagement section (38a), and a second engagement section (78a). The lever section (70) is shiftable between a first engaged position, a second engaged position, and a disengaged position. The first engaged position is a position where a distal end portion (76) protrudes from a sheet loading surface (F2) of a second bottom (50) with no sheets loaded on the second bottom (50), and the first engagement section (38a) and the second engagement section (78a) are in engagement. The second engaged position is a position where the distal end portion (76) is pushed down out of the first engaged position in accordance with the number of sheets loaded on the second bottom (50), and the first engagement section (38a) and the second engagement section (78a) are in engagement. The disengaged position is a position where the engagement between the first engagement section (38a) and the second engagement section (78a) is released. Strength of the engagement between the first engagement section (38a) and the second engagement section (78a) is larger when the lever section (70) is in the second engaged position than when the lever section (70) is in the first engaged position.

主权项

1. A sheet cassette configured to be loaded with a plurality of sheets and to be adjustable in size, the sheet cassette comprising:
a first sheet accommodation section having a first bottom on which the plurality of sheets are loaded; a second sheet accommodation section having a second bottom on which the plurality of sheets are loaded, the second sheet accommodation section being configured to be attached to the first sheet accommodation section so as to be slidable between a retracted position where the second sheet accommodation section is retracted in the first sheet accommodation section and an extended position where the second sheet accommodation section is drawn out from the first sheet accommodation section in an extending direction; and a restricting section configured to restrict sliding of the second sheet accommodation section in the retracted position, wherein the restricting section includes:
a lever section extending from the second bottom in the extending direction and having a distal end portion in the extending direction that is swingable in upward and downward directions;a first engagement section disposed in the first bottom; anda second engagement section disposed in the lever section and configured to be engageable with the first engagement section, the lever section is shiftable between a first engaged position, a second engaged position, and a disengaged position while the second sheet accommodation section is in the retracted position, the first engaged position being a position where no sheets are loaded on the second bottom, the distal end portion protrudes from a sheet loading surface of the second bottom, and the first engagement section and the second engagement section are in engagement, the second engaged position being a position where the distal end portion is pushed down out of the first engaged position in accordance with a number of sheets loaded on the second bottom, and the first engagement section and the second engagement section are in engagement, the disengaged position being a position where the lever section is lifted out of the first engaged position, and thus the engagement between the first engagement section and the second engagement section is released, and strength of the engagement between the first engagement section and the second engagement section is larger when the lever section is in the second engaged position than when the lever section is in the first engaged position.