Printing medium feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus using the same

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a body, a photosensitive drum, an openable and closable member openably and closably formed at the body and having a transfer roller which is opposed to the photosensitive drum and transfers an image onto a printing medium, a printing medium pushing member pushing the printing medium to an outside of the body in association with an opening and a closing of the openable and closable member, an elastic member elastically supporting the printing medium pushing member to the outside of the body, and a pressing member formed at one side of the openable and closable member to press the printing medium pushing member toward an inside of the body.

1 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a body;    a photosensitive drum disposed in the body;    an openable and closable member disposed on the body, the openable and closable member comprising a transfer roller disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum;    a printing medium pushing member for pushing the printing medium towards an outside of the body in association with an opening of the openable and closable member;    an elastic member biasing the printing medium pushing member towards the outside of the body; and    a pressing member disposed at one side of the openable and closable member for pressing the printing medium pushing member towards the inside of the body.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the printing medium pushing member comprises: 
 a support portion hinged to the body; and    a printing medium pushing portion extending from one end of the support portion to push the printing medium.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein 
 the elastic member comprises a wire spring.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein 
 a first end of the elastic member is connected with the printing medium pushing member and a second end of the elastic member is connected with the body.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein 
 the wire spring comprises a hook portion and a lock portion.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein 
 the support portion of the printing medium pushing member comprises a wire spring locking portion to accommodate the hook portion of the wire spring, and    the support portion comprises a groove to accommodate an outer surface of the lock portion of the wire spring.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein 
 the pressing member comprises a pressing protrusion for contacting the support portion of the printing medium pushing member.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a registration unit disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum for aligning a leading end of the printing medium; and    a fixing unit disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum for fixing an image onto the printing medium.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein 
 the printing medium pushing member is disposed between the registration unit and the photosensitive drum on a printing medium feeding passage.    
   
   
       10 . A printing medium feeding apparatus of an image forming apparatus comprising: 
 an openable and closable member adapted to be disposed on a body of an image forming apparatus, the openable and closable member forming a portion of a printing. medium feeding passage, the openable and closable member exposing the printing medium feeding passage when opened;    a printing medium pushing member for pushing a printing medium away from the printing medium feeding passage in cooperation with the openable and closable member;    an elastic member biasing the printing medium pushing member away from the printing medium feeding passage; and    a pressing member disposed at one side of the openable and closable member for pressing the printing medium pushing member towards the printing medium feeding passage.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the printing medium pushing member comprises: 
 a support portion hinged to the body; and    a printing medium pushing portion extending from one end of the support portion to push the printing medium.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein 
 the elastic member comprises a wire spring.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein 
 a first end of the elastic member is connected with the printing medium pushing member and a second end of the elastic member is connected with the body.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein 
 the wire spring comprises a hook portion and a lock portion.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein 
 the support portion of the printing medium pushing member comprises a wire spring locking portion to accommodate the hook portion of the wire spring, and    the support portion comprises a groove to accommodate an outer surface of the lock portion of the wire spring.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein 
 the openable and closable member further comprises a first feeding roller for feeding the printing medium and a second feeding roller which is opposed to the first feeding roller.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein 
 the pressing member comprises a pressing protrusion for contacting the support portion of the printing medium pushing member.    
   
   
       18 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 a body;    a photosensitive drum for forming images disposed on the body;    a transfer roller disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum to form a transfer nip;    means for registering a printing medium disposed upstream of the photosensitive drum;    means for fixing an image on a printing medium disposed downstream of the photosensitive drum, the photosensitive drum, transfer roller, registration means, and fixing means defining a printing medium feeding path;    a pushing member for pushing the printing medium away from the printing medium feeding path, the pushing member being biased away from the printing medium feeding path; and    an openable and closable member disposed on the body for exposing a portion of the printing medium feeding path, the openable and closable member comprising a pressing member for pressing the printing medium pushing member towards the printing medium feeding path.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the printing medium pushing member comprises: 
 a support portion pivotably disposed on the body; and    a printing medium pushing portion extending from the support portion to push the printing medium.