Paper supply tray for image forming device

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paper supply tray for an image forming device, such as a copier, multi-function machine, facsimile machine, or the like.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

FIG. 3 shows an exterior view of a general image forming device. Paper supply trays 31, 32 are provided on the front, and a manual paper supply tray 33 is provided on the side of this image forming device 30.

A handhold 41 is usually provided on the front of these paper supply trays 31 (32, 33) as shown in FIG. 4; and a user inserts fingers into this handhold 41 and withdraws the paper supply tray 31 from the image forming device 30.

The form of this handhold 41 is described. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view in the direction of the arrow at right angles to the section B-B′ of the handhold 41 in FIG. 4; and as shown in FIG. 5, the handhold 41 is provided so as to form a recess in the front of the paper supply tray, and a groove L is formed in the upper portion of this recess so that the tray can be withdrawn with the fingers as noted above. Normally, it is assumed that a user will be in a standing position to withdraw the paper supply tray 31; this groove L is provided in the upper portion of the recess because the user's palm is up and the fingers are inserted from below.

For example, a constitution is known wherein a finger hole for the fingers to pass through is provided in the bottom panel of the paper supply tray, and the user inserts fingers in the finger hole from below with the user's palm facing upwards and pulls on the handhold.

However, the structure of such a handhold 41 (groove L) gives rise to difficulties in the following type of case.

For example, when a person in a wheelchair withdraws the paper supply tray 31, the user's own wheelchair is in the way when the paper supply tray 31 is withdrawn to the front (shown by the arrow F) as shown in FIG. 6A.

In such a case, as shown in FIG. 6B, it would be convenient if the user could sit sideways with respect to the front of the image forming device 30 and withdraw the paper supply tray 31 to the right or left of the wheelchair user (shown with the arrow S). For this reason, a structure for the handhold 41 which is easily used from the side is required.

In the case of the manual paper supply tray 33, operation is difficult for the user when standing to the front of the image forming device 30, because the paper supply tray 33 is traditionally disposed on the side of the image forming device 30. In this case as well, a structure for the handhold 41 which is easily used from the side is similarly required.

The present invention was developed in view of the foregoing problems; and it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper supply tray which is easily withdrawn regardless of the user's angle with respect to an image forming device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to resolve the problems noted above, the following means are used in the present invention.

The present invention presupposes a paper supply tray for an image forming device which comprises a handhold having a recess of a specified form. In such a paper supply tray, the sides of the recess has a step, for moving the interior backwards towards the exterior relative to the forward end thereof, formed around the periphery thereof. Thereby, regardless of the angle from which the fingers are inserted, the fingers can hook on the step and apply force to the paper supply tray, and the paper supply tray can be easily withdrawn.

Moreover, the specified form may appropriately be an oval or the like, but is not limited thereto.

Accordingly, the paper supply tray can be easily withdrawn regardless of the position of the user with respect to the image forming device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the paper supply tray according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the handhold of the paper supply tray according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exterior view of a general image forming device.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional paper supply tray.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the handhold of a conventional paper supply tray.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show how the paper supply tray is withdrawn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the paper supply tray 1 according to the present invention. This paper supply tray 1 is used removably with an image forming device such as a copier, multi-function machine, facsimile machine, or the like; the method by which the tray is used and the like are explained in the background of the invention and a description is omitted. A handhold 2, comprising a recess of a specified form into which fingers are inserted when this paper supply tray 1 is withdrawn from the image forming device, is disposed on the front of this paper supply tray 1. Moreover, the specified form may appropriately be an oval or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The form of this handhold 2 is described. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view in the direction of the arrow at right angles to the section B-B′ of the handhold 2 in FIG. 1; as shown in FIG. 2, the handhold 2 is provided so as to form a recess in the front of the paper supply tray 1, and a step D, for the interior to be moved backwards towards the exterior, relative to the forward end thereof, is provided peripherally on the sides of this recess.

The step D being formed on the periphery means that, however the section B-B′ is rotated in the plane parallel to the front of the paper supply tray 1 (as shown by the arrow R) in FIG. 1, the step D has the vertical appearance shown in FIG. 2.

By forming the step D on the periphery in this manner, the paper supply tray 1 is easily withdrawn regardless of the angle at which the fingers are inserted and force applied to the handhold 2. In other words, the paper supply tray can be easily withdrawn regardless of the position of the user with respect to the image forming device.

As above, a paper supply tray, which is easily withdrawn regardless of the position of the user with respect to the image forming device, can be provided.

Moreover, for the present invention, a paper supply tray for an image forming device was described as an example, but the structure of the handhold 2 relating to the present invention is not limited to paper supply trays for image forming devices and can be applied generally to trays such as for desks or the like.

The paper supply tray for an image forming device relating to the present invention is effective as a paper supply tray which is easily withdrawn regardless of the position of the user relative to the image forming device. Also, the structure of the handhold disclosed in the present invention is not limited to paper supply trays for image forming devices, and may also be applied to trays for desks or the like.