Sheet side guiding device, sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The sheet side guiding device includes a tray on which sheets are placed, a side guide provided on the tray to be slidable in a direction normal to the feeding direction of the sheet and configured to guide side portions of the sheets to be fed, a rubber sheet provided on the tray in the sliding direction of the side guide, a lever provided pivotably on the side guide via a pivot mechanism and an engagement stopper nail portion provided for the end portion of the lever and configured to detachably engage with the rubber sheet to lock the side guide to the tray.

1 . A sheet side guiding device comprising: 
 a tray on which sheets are placed;    a guide member provided on the tray to be slidable in a direction normal to a sheet feeding direction and configured to guide side portions of the sheets to be fed;    an elastic member provided on the tray along a sliding direction of the guide member;    a lever provided pivotably on the guide member via a pivot mechanism; and    a nail portion provided for an end portion of the lever and configured to detachably engage with the elastic member.    
   
   
       2 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the elastic member, with which the nail portion engages, is made substantially plane.  
   
   
       3 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide member comprises a regulating portion configured to regulate floating-up of the guide member from the tray.  
   
   
       4 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever is elastically urged by an urging member in a direction in which the end portion of the lever abuts against the guide member, and 
 the guide member includes a stopper portion that receives the end portion of the lever urged.    
   
   
       5 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein a pivot of the pivot mechanism that supports the lever rotatably is provided at a position where the nail portion resists against the elastic member while the guide member receives a force in a direction in which the guide member moves away from a side edge of the sheets to incline the lever.  
   
   
       6 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 5 , wherein the nail portion points in a direction in which the engagement stopper nail portion serves to resist against the elastic member while the guide member receives a force in a direction in which the guide member moves away from a side edge of the sheets to incline the lever.  
   
   
       7 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is a rubber sheet.  
   
   
       8 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever is formed of a synthetic resin material.  
   
   
       9 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the nail portion is harder than the rubber sheet.  
   
   
       10 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide member includes first and second side guides that guide respective sides of the sheets, and the first and second side guides are movable in directions in which the side guides move away from the sides of the sheets by a same amount.  
   
   
       11 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever is integrated with the guide member.  
   
   
       12 . The sheet side guiding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever is provided at substantially a central portion of the guide member in the paper feeding direction.  
   
   
       13 . A sheet feeding device comprising: 
 a tray on which sheets are placed;    a sheet feeder configured to feed the sheets placed on the tray to a sheet receiving portion;    a guide member provided on the tray to be slidable in a direction normal to a sheet feeding direction and configured to guide side portions of the sheets to be fed;    an elastic member provided on the tray in a sliding direction of the guide member;    a lever provided pivotably on the guide member via a pivot mechanism; and    a nail portion provided for an end portion of the lever and configured to detachably engage with the elastic member.    
   
   
       14 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a tray on which sheets are placed;    a sheet feeder configured to feed the sheets placed on the tray;    an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet fed by the sheet feeder;    a guide member provided on the tray to be slidable in a direction normal to a sheet feeding direction and configured to guide side portions of the sheets to be fed;    an elastic member provided on the tray in a sliding direction of the guide member;    a lever provided pivotably on the guide member via a pivot mechanism; and    a nail portion provided for an end portion of the lever and configured to detachably engage with the elastic member.