Sheet stacker, sheet tray, image forming apparatus, and composite image forming apparatus

Abstract

A sheet stacker includes a body to stack a sheet, a fence to regulate a position of the sheet, and a support. The body includes a groove extending in a predetermined direction. The support includes a support portion to support the fence and a projection extending in the predetermined direction. The groove engages with the projection in a sheet stacking direction to secure the support. The fence is supported to be rotatable about the support portion of the support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sheet stacker comprising:
 a body to stack a sheet, the body including a groove extending in a predetermined direction;   a fence to regulate a position of the sheet; and   a support including:
 a support portion to support the fence; and 
 a projection extending in the predetermined direction, 
   the groove to engage with the projection in a sheet stacking direction to secure the support,   the fence supported to be rotatable about the support portion of the support.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a plurality of projections including the projection is provided in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction,   a plurality of grooves including the groove is provided in the direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and   the plurality of projections engages with the plurality of grooves in the sheet stacking direction.   
     
     
         3 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a rotation fulcrum of the fence is located within a range corresponding to a width of the projection in the predetermined direction.   
     
     
         4 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a rotation fulcrum of the fence is located on an outer surface of the support portion.   
     
     
         5 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the support portion has a semi-cylindrical shape.   
     
     
         6 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the support portion has a triangular prism shape.   
     
     
         7 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the support portion has a hemisphere shape.   
     
     
         8 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the fence slidably rotates about the support portion.   
     
     
         9 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the support portion has a cylindrical shape.   
     
     
         10 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein a portion of the fence supported by the support portion has a cross-sectional arced concave shape.   
     
     
         11 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the support portion has a cylindrical shape, and   a portion of the fence supported by the support portion has a cross-sectional arced concave shape.   
     
     
         12 . The sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the support portion is made of an elastic body.   
     
     
         13 . A sheet tray comprising the sheet stacker according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sheet tray is drawably inserted in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . An image forming apparatus comprising the sheet stacker according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A composite image forming apparatus comprising the sheet stacker according to  claim 1 .