Sheet stop mechanism and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A first operation restriction portion forms a first step between the first operation restriction portion and a first operation portion. A second operation restriction portion forms a second step between the second operation restriction portion and a second operation portion. A first locking portion releases locking of a locked portion when a first push of pushing the first operation portion or a second push of pushing the second operation portion is performed. When the sheet stopper is rotated in response to the first push, a second locking portion stops the sheet stopper in a first upright state. When the sheet stopper is rotated in response to the second push, the second locking portion allows the sheet stopper to rotate beyond the first upright state. A third locking portion stops the sheet stopper in a second upright state.

1 . A sheet stop mechanism provided at a downstream end portion in a sheet discharge direction of a sheet loading surface configured to receive a sheet discharged from a sheet discharge port, the sheet stop mechanism comprising:
 a sheet stopper supported rotatably around a shaft portion, and including a movement restriction portion formed on a first side of the shaft portion and an operation portion and a locked portion formed on a second side of the shaft portion;   a first operation restriction portion configured to form a first step between the first operation restriction portion and a first operation portion which is a part of the operation portion and restrict downward movement of a finger which pushes down the first operation portion;   a second operation restriction portion configured to form a second step larger than the first step between the second operation restriction portion and a second operation portion which is a part of the operation portion and restrict downward movement of the finger which pushes down the second operation portion;   a first locking portion configured to lock the locked portion to hold the sheet stopper in a housed state in which the movement restriction portion is housed in a recess formed in the sheet loading surface, and release the locking of the locked portion by being elastically deformed by a force received from the locked portion when a first push of pushing down the first operation portion to a position of the first operation restriction portion or a second push of pushing down the second operation portion to a position of the second operation restriction portion is performed;   a second locking portion configured to, when the sheet stopper is rotated in response to the first push, lock the locked portion to stop the sheet stopper in a first upright state in which the movement restriction portion extends from the sheet loading surface in an obliquely upward direction on a downstream side of the sheet discharge direction and, when the sheet stopper is rotated in response to the second push, be elastically deformed by a force received from the locked portion to allow the sheet stopper to rotate beyond the first upright state; and   a third locking portion configured to, when the sheet stopper is rotated beyond the first upright state, locks the locked portion to stop the sheet stopper in a second upright state in which an acute angle formed with respect to the sheet loading surface is smaller than that in the first upright state.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet stop mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first operation portion and the second operation portion are formed side by side in a width direction that intersects the sheet discharge direction, and   the first operation restriction portion and the second operation restriction portion are formed side by side in the width direction.   
     
     
         3 . The sheet stop mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein
 one molded member made of synthetic resin includes the first locking portion, the second locking portion, the third locking portion, and a bearing portion configured to support the shaft portion formed in the sheet stopper.   
     
     
         4 . An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a sheet conveying device configured to convey a sheet along a sheet conveying path and discharge the sheet from a sheet discharge port of the sheet conveying path;   a printing device configured to form an image on the sheet conveyed along the sheet conveying path;   a discharge tray including a sheet loading surface configured to receive the sheet discharged from the sheet discharge port; and   the sheet stop mechanism according to  claim 1  which is provided in the discharge tray.