PAPER FEEDER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper feeder having a removable handle while maintaining the operability of a paper feeding tray.SOLUTION: A paper feeder includes: a paper feeding tray for storing a plurality of papers; an accommodating unit for accommodating the paper feeding tray such that the tray can be inserted or extracted; a handle provided to the paper feeding tray for operating the insertion or extraction of the paper feeding tray; and locking means for locking or unlocking the paper feeding tray to or from an accommodating position in the accommodating unit. The locking means locks the paper feeding tray to the accommodating position by allowing a locking part provided to the paper feeding tray to engage with a locked part provided to the accommodating unit. The locking means unlocks the paper feeding tray by allowing the locking part to be moved by interlocking means moving with movement of the handle and disengage from the locked part. The handle is removable from the paper feeding tray and has biasing means for urging the paper feeding tray in the extracting direction of the paper feeding tray.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5