Paper feeder and image forming device

Abstract

A paper feeder includes a guide surface arranged on a paper feed cassette and a roller arranged on a cassette storage unit. When the paper feed cassette is moved along a storing direction thereof inside the cassette storage unit, the guide surface placed on the roller is slidably moved by rotation of the roller. In the paper feeder, since the cassette storage portion includes a placement surface on which the guide surface is placed by surface contact at a storage position where the paper feed cassette is stored in the cassette storage unit, the stored paper feed cassette can be maintained in a stable condition, and oscillation of the paper feed cassette generated when the papers are transported can be reduced.

1 . A paper feeder comprising:
 a paper feed cassette arranged to accommodate papers and including at least one guide portion; and   a cassette storage unit arranged to store the paper feed cassette and including at least one rotating member and at least one placement portion on which the at least one guide portion is placed at a storage position at which the paper feed cassette is stored; wherein   when the paper feed cassette is moved along a storing direction of the paper feed cassette, the at least one guide portion placed on the rotating member is slidably moved by rotation of the at least one rotating member.   
   
   
       2 . The paper feeder according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guide portion is placed on the at least one placement portion by surface contact. 
   
   
       3 . The paper feeder according to  claim 2 , wherein a longitudinal dimension in the storing direction of a portion on which the at least one guide portion is placed by surface contact is greater than a maximum width dimension in the storing direction of the papers accommodated in the paper feed cassette. 
   
   
       4 . The paper feeder according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one rotating member protrudes above the at least one placement portion towards a side of the at least one guide portion of the paper feed cassette. 
   
   
       5 . The paper feeder according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one rotating member is a substantially cylindrical member including a rotating shaft arranged in a horizontal direction that is substantially perpendicular to the storing direction. 
   
   
       6 . The paper feeder according to  claim 5 , wherein the paper feed cassette includes a rotating member engaging portion to be engaged with the at least one rotating member at the storage position. 
   
   
       7 . The paper feeder according to  claim 6 , wherein the rotating member engaging portion is a concave portion having a substantially semicircular shape arranged along an outer peripheral surface of the at least one rotating member. 
   
   
       8 . The paper feeder according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one rotating member is arranged on a rear side of the placement portion in the storing direction of the cassette storage unit. 
   
   
       9 . The paper feeder according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one step portion is arranged for the at least one rotating member to pass over when the paper feed cassette is moved from the storage position. 
   
   
       10 . The paper feeder according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one step portion is arranged between the at least one rotating member engaging portion and the at least one guide portion of the paper feed cassette. 
   
   
       11 . An image forming device comprising the paper feeder according to  claim 10 . 
   
   
       12 . A paper feeder comprising:
 a paper feed cassette arranged to accommodate papers and including at least one guide portion; and   a cassette storage unit arranged to store the paper feed cassette and including at least one rotating member and at least one placement portion on which the at least one guide portion is placed at a storage position at which the paper feed cassette is stored; wherein   when the paper feed cassette is moved along a storing direction of the paper feed cassette, the at least one guide portion placed on the rotating member is slidably moved by rotation of the at least one rotating member;   the at least one guide portion is arranged on a lower surface of a guide rail disposed on an outer side surface of respective side walls on both sides with respect to the storing direction of the paper feed cassette.   
   
   
       13 . The paper feeder according to  claim 12 , wherein a front side in the storing direction of the guide rail protrudes from the side wall that is arranged on a rear side of the paper feed cassette so as to define a protruded portion. 
   
   
       14 . The paper feeder according to  claim 13 , wherein a protrusion-shaped latching portion is arranged on an upper surface of the protruded portion. 
   
   
       15 . The paper feeder according to  claim 14 , wherein a stick-shaped guide bar extending along the storing direction is arranged above the at least one placement portion. 
   
   
       16 . The paper feeder according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one guide portion is placed on the at least one placement portion by surface contact, and a longitudinal dimension in the storing direction of a portion on which the at least one guide portion is placed by surface contact is greater than a maximum width dimension in the storing direction of the papers accommodated in the paper feed cassette. 
   
   
       17 . The paper feeder according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one rotating member protrudes above the at least one placement portion towards a side of the at least one guide portion of the paper feed cassette, and the paper feed cassette includes a rotating member engaging portion to be engaged with the at least one rotating member at the storage position. 
   
   
       18 . The paper feeder according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one rotating member is arranged on a rear side of the at least one placement portion in the storing direction of the cassette storage unit. 
   
   
       19 . The paper feeder according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one step portion is arranged between the at least one rotating member engaging portion and the at least one guide portion of the paper feed cassette such that the at least one rotating member passes over the at least one step portion when the paper feed cassette is moved from the storage position. 
   
   
       20 . An image forming device comprising the paper feeder according to  claim 19 .