Packing member

Abstract

A packing member for packing a sheet feeding device includes a packing bag, a first cushioning material, a second cushioning material, a connecting member connecting the first cushioning material and the second cushioning material, a third cushioning material, and a tubular member. The first cushioning material and the second cushioning material are contacted to an inner surface of the tubular member by an elastic force of the connecting member and tension of the packing bag generating with mounting of the first cushioning material, and the second cushioning material and the third cushioning material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packing member for packing a sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet, wherein the sheet feeding device includes an upper surface having a substantially rectangular shape and a bottom having an area larger than an area of the upper surface, said packing member comprising:
 a packing bag made of polyethylene or polypropylene and configured to pack the sheet feeding device;   a first cushioning material including a first engaging portion and mounted to a corner portion of the upper surface of the sheet feeding device in a state in which the sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag;   a second cushioning material including a second engaging portion and mounted to a corner portion of the upper surface of the sheet feeding device in the state in which the sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag, wherein the corner portion to which said second cushioning material is mounted is adjacent to the corner portion to which said first cushioning material is mounted;   a connecting member connecting said first cushioning material and said second cushioning material and including a first bent portion bent so as to engage with said first engaging portion and a second bent portion which is bent so as to engage with said second engaging portion and which opposes said first bent portion through the sheet feeding device in a bent state; and   a third cushioning material mounted to the bottom of the sheet feeding device in the state in which the sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag; and   a tubular member accommodating the sheet feeding device in a state in which said first cushioning material, said cushioning material and said third cushioning material are mounted to the sheet feeding device,   wherein said first cushioning material and said second cushioning material are contacted to an inner surface of said tubular member by an elastic force of said connecting member and tension of said packing bag generating with mounting of said first cushioning material, said second cushioning material and said third cushioning material.   
     
     
         2 . A packing member according to  claim 1 , wherein said first cushioning material and said second cushioning material are slits in which said bent portion and said second bent portion engage, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . A packing member according to  claim 1 , wherein with respect to a direction in which said tubular member is dismounted from the sheet feeding device in the state in which the sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag, a contact distance of said first cushioning material and the inner surface of said tubular member is longer than a contact distance of said first cushioning material, said packing bag and the sheet feeding device, and a contact distance of said second cushioning material and the inner surface of said tubular member is longer than a contact distance of said second cushioning material, said packing bag and the sheet feeding device. 
     
     
         4 . A packing member according to  claim 1 , wherein in a state before the sheet feeding device is accommodated in said tubular member, an interval between a contact surface of said first cushioning material with the inner surface of said tubular member and a contact surface of said second cushioning material with the inner surface of said tubular member is broader than an interval between a contact surface of the sheet feeding device with said first cushioning material and a contact surface of the sheet feeding device with said second cushioning material. 
     
     
         5 . A packing member according to  claim 1 , further comprising,
 a fourth cushioning material which is mounted to a corner portion of the upper surface of the sheet feeding device in the state in which the sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag and which includes a third engaging portion engaging with said first bent portion, said corner portion to which said fourth cushioning material is mounted is different from said corner portions to which said first cushioning material and said second cushioning material are mounted, and   a fifth cushioning material which is mounted to a corner portion of the upper surface of the sheet feeding device in the state in which the sheet feeding device is packed in said packing bag and which includes a fourth engaging portion engaging with said second bent portion, said corner portion to which said fifth cushioning material is mounted is different from said corner portions to which said first cushioning material, said second cushioning material and said fourth cushioning material are mounted.   
     
     
         6 . A packing member according to  claim 5 , further comprising,
 a second connecting member connecting said first cushioning material, said second cushioning material, said fourth cushioning material and said fifth cushioning material and including a third bent portion so as to engage with said first cushioning material and said fourth cushioning material and a fourth bent portion which is bent so as to engage with said second cushioning material and said fifth cushioning material and which opposes said third bent portion through the sheet feeding device in a bent state,   wherein said fourth cushioning material and said fifth cushioning material are press-contacted to the inner surface of said tubular member by an elastic force of said second connecting member and the tension of said packing bag.