US 12,147,184 B2
Paper feeder and image forming apparatus
Yoshinori Shiraishi, Sakai (JP)
Assigned to SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Sakai (JP)
Filed by SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Sakai (JP)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/710,194.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-062624 (JP), filed on Apr. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0317616 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 1/04 (2006.01); B65H 1/14 (2006.01); B65H 1/26 (2006.01); G03G 15/00 (2006.01); G06K 15/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/6502 (2013.01) [B65H 1/14 (2013.01); B65H 1/266 (2013.01); G06K 15/16 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A paper feeder, comprising:
a main body; and
a paper feed cassette capable of being inserted and pulled out in a first direction relative to the main body,
wherein the main body has
a pull-in device that pulls the paper feed cassette to a mounting position, and
a support member that supports the paper feed cassette,
the support member has
a guide frame having a first horizontal surface extending in the first direction, and
a first roller contacting the paper feed cassette from below,
the paper feed cassette has
a bottom portion on which paper is placed,
a side wall standing from the bottom portion and extending in the first direction,
a rail horizontally protruding outward from the side wall and contacting the first roller, and
a second roller contacting an upper surface of the guide frame, and
in an area where the rail contacts the first roller, when the paper feed cassette is pulled in by the pull-in device, the rail includes a first inclination that is inclined to be lower from a front end of the rail, and from a front portion of the main body toward a back portion of the main body,
wherein the rail further includes a second inclination that is connected to a back end of the first inclination on the back portion of the main body and that is inclined to be higher from the front portion of the main body toward the back portion of the main body,
wherein the second inclination is inclined in a form of a staircase,
wherein the second inclination includes two or more inclined surfaces and one or more second horizontal surfaces connected to the two or more inclined surfaces.